Set during the brutal winter of 1941, the narrative unfolds in Leningrad, where the city is besieged by German forces. Amidst the chaos, residents face unimaginable challenges as they confront starvation, extreme cold, and pervasive fear. The story captures the struggle for survival in a city gripped by despair, highlighting the resilience of its inhabitants against the backdrop of war and suffering.
Set in a remote Hungarian village, the story delves into the mysterious deaths of local men, raising questions about the influence of witchcraft and the desire for revenge. As the community grapples with fear and suspicion, the narrative explores themes of superstition, the impact of past grievances, and the search for truth amidst chaos. The unfolding drama invites readers to consider the fine line between myth and reality in a tightly-knit society.
The bleak Hungarian plain, 1914, an isolated village shrouded in superstition and rumours of witchcraft...'I have made mistakes. As surely as though eight women are twisting in the wind now, in my own way, I've been twisting in the wind my whole life. At least that's what I tell myself when I cannot face up to what I am and what I've done...' Outcast from village life, Sari is tormented by a loneliness like no other. The daughter of a Taltos, Sari has the second sight and a reputation as a witch. At the outbreak of war, the men of the village are called away to fight and a powerful bind develops between the women left behind. Sari for the first time, finds herself with friends. However, these friendships come at a price as the women struggle to hold on to the freedom that war has brought them. As the village mid-wife turns to boiling fly-paper to source its arsenic, problems are solved with sinister undertones.
Von den schönen Engeln des Todes – nach einer wahren Begebenheit Ein abgeschiedenes ungarisches Dorf am Vorabend des 1. Weltkriegs: Die junge Sari steht in dem Ruf eine Hexe zu sein und wird von allen gemieden. Als aber die Männer in den Krieg ziehen, findet an den Frauen des Ortes eine wundersame Verwandlung statt: Ein offenerer Geist hält Einzug, und selbst Saris Gesellschaft wird mit einem Mal geschätzt. Die Kriegsjahre bringen Entbehrungen und Not; doch für die Frauen von Falucska ist es auch eine Zeit des Erwachens zu einem neuen, freieren Leben. Nach Kriegsende kehren die Männer zurück, doch kaum eine Frau ist bereit, ihre Eigenständigkeit wieder aufzugeben. Die Lage im Dorf spitzt sich zu – und Sari trifft eine schreckliche Entscheidung … „Poetisch, bewegend und verstörend – eine unvergessliche Lektüre.“ The Gloss Magazine