Mere: The Darkly Atmospheric Historical Fiction Debut of 2025

Description

'Beautifully written . . . A dark and disturbing tale' – Laura Shepherd-Robinson, bestselling author of The Square of Sevens

Mere by Danielle Giles is a hypnotic historical novel about fear and survival, power and position, and a love that takes hold in the darkest of places.

Norfolk, 990 AD. Deep in the Fens, isolated by a vast and treacherous mere, an order of holy sisters make their home. Under the steely guidance of Abbess Sigeburg they follow God’s path, looking to their infirmarian, Hilda, to provide what comfort and cures she can.

But when the mere takes a young servant boy, Sigeburg’s grip falters and Hilda quickly realizes this place holds secrets darker and more unholy than she can fathom.

Then proud Sister Wulfrun, a recent arrival to the convent, has a vision: a curse is upon them and change must be brought. Is she saint or serpent? To Hilda, Wulfrun is a signal bolder and brighter than any fire set – one she cannot help but follow . . .

'It is rare for an author to fully recreate the strangeness of the past, but Danielle Giles has done exactly that . . . A gem of a novel' – Costanza Casati, bestselling author of Babylonia

'Chilling, dark and immersive . . . I loved the originality of the story and the brave and unexpected use of language' – Rosanna Pike, bestselling author of A Little Trickerie

'An artful and atmospheric novel that reveals uncomfortable truths about the way we lived then and the way we live now’ – Annie Garthwaite, author of Cecily