Best Books Similar to The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Imagine being sent to the coldest, most remote farmhouse in Iceland, knowing you’ll die there soon. That’s where Agnes Magnusdottir finds herself in Burial Rites. But what makes the novel so gripping isn’t just the looming execution, it’s the way Kent explores the people around her, their prejudices, fears, and faint flickers of empathy. Every snowstorm, creaking floorboard, and frozen fjord adds to the tension. If you loved the stark, windswept setting of The Mercies and the quiet, simmering drama of female lives constrained by harsh circumstances, this one will grip you from page one.

Set in a 19th-century Norwegian village, this book feels like stepping into another world entirely. The story revolves around the strange fate of church bells, superstition, and the lives of ordinary villagers. Mytting mixes myth, folklore, and historical realism in a way that makes the landscape feel alive. You can practically hear the wind whistling through the mountains. Fans of The Mercies will enjoy the focus on community, isolation, and how natural forces shape human lives, all wrapped in a story that is hauntingly suspenseful and deeply human.

If you loved the harsh, unforgiving Icelandic setting in The Mercies, The Glass Woman will feel like home… a terrifying, beautiful home. In 17th-century Iceland, a young woman marries a mysterious man rumored to have murdered his first wife. Isolation, fear, and superstition build layer by layer, and the writing captures that constant tension of living at the mercy of both the elements and the people around you. It’s gripping, slow-burning, and perfectly atmospheric, with a protagonist whose quiet strength will stay with you. Perfect if you’re seeking books similar to The Mercies.

This one shifts to 1960s Mississippi, but it shares a key similarity with The Mercies: it’s about women finding courage in the face of oppressive societies. Stockett’s characters -two black maids and a white journalist- risk everything to speak the truth, and the relationships and moral tensions are deeply engaging. It’s heartfelt, dramatic, and empowering. Check our list of the best books similar to The Help!

This one is equal parts courtroom drama and intimate confessional. Frannie, a former slave, is accused of killing her employers in Georgian London, but the story dives into her past: her love, betrayal, and survival. Collins’ prose draws you into Frannie’s mind and heart, while also highlighting the social constraints placed on women of her era. Like The Mercies, it’s about watching a woman navigate limited choices while grappling with moral and emotional complexity, all within a meticulously researched historical setting.

Set in Renaissance Italy, The Marriage Portrait follows Lucrezia de’ Medici, a young duchess caught between duty, politics, and her own desires. O’Farrell’s prose is lush and immersive, letting you taste the wine, feel the cold stone halls, and sense the ever-present tension of courtly intrigue. If you loved the historical authenticity and focus on women navigating dangerous circumstances in The Mercies, this book delivers it in spades, blending political cunning with intimate, emotional storytelling.

Narrated by Death itself, this novel follows young Liesel in Nazi Germany as she discovers books, friendship, and rebellion. Like The Mercies, it examines how ordinary people survive, make choices, and retain their humanity in oppressive circumstances. The prose is poetic, the pacing deliberate, and the story sticks with you: a blend of hope, heartbreak, and courage. I’m sure you’ll love this piece if you are looking for books similar to The Mercies. Don’t forget to check the best books similar to The Books Thief!

For fans of Hargrave’s lyrical style, The Dance Tree is a must-read. Set during the 16th-century dancing plague in Strasbourg, it follows a woman trying to balance love, family, and survival amid chaos. The isolated community, the folklore, and the pervasive sense of dread all echo The Mercies, while still offering Hargrave’s signature warmth and deep empathy for her characters. It’s tense, poetic, and impossible to put down.

If you’ve ever wished for a Norse mythology story told from a female perspective, this is it. Following Angrboda, Loki’s lover, the novel explores love, betrayal, and revenge, giving voice to a woman often silenced in myth. The writing is lyrical and immersive, and the story feels epic while still intimate. Like The Mercies, it blends harsh natural settings, the tension of isolation, and female agency, all with a mythic twist that makes it unforgettable.

I couldn’t recommend this one enough if you loved the magical yet historical undertones of The Mercies. Sistersong is a retelling of Arthurian legend from the perspective of three sisters with magical abilities. Holland’s prose is rich and sensory, and she really captures the tension of living as women in a male-dominated, superstition-filled world. It’s atmospheric, mystical, and deeply character-driven. Perfect for curling up on a stormy evening!

A woman uncovers dark family secrets and a crime committed during WWII. Morton’s signature style -layered storytelling, historical depth, and female-driven narratives- makes it a perfect companion to The Mercies. The slow unraveling of suspense, combined with lush settings and emotional complexity, keeps you hooked until the very last page. The vibe vise, it is one of the best books similar to The Mercies.

This novel is quiet but utterly compelling. Based on Erdrich’s grandfather, it follows a Native American night watchman trying to protect his tribe in 1950s North Dakota. It’s about resilience, subtle acts of bravery, and a close-knit community under threat. If part of why you loved The Mercies was the focus on ordinary people surviving extraordinary circumstances, this novel will feel very familiar and very moving.

Here’s a magical detour, but hear me out, like The Mercies, The Night Circus immerses you in a world so vivid it feels tangible. A mysterious circus becomes a battleground for two young illusionists, and Morgenstern’s attention to detail is astonishing. The tension, romance, and richly drawn setting create a hypnotic reading experience, similar to the way Hargrave’s prose pulls you into the fjords of Norway. Don’t forget to check our list of the best books similar to The Night Circus!

If you loved the themes of survival and courage in The Mercies, The Nightingale will hit you right in the heart. Following two sisters in Nazi-occupied France, it explores bravery, resistance, and the moral compromises people make under oppression. The characters are vividly drawn, and the historical research is meticulous. It’s tense, heartbreaking, and ultimately uplifting in the way that stories about human resilience often are. Don’t forget to check the best books similar to The Nightingale!

Doerr’s story of a blind French girl and a German boy during WWII is gorgeously written, deeply atmospheric, and emotionally wrenching. The detailed historical settings, attention to small but meaningful human acts, and exploration of morality in extreme circumstances will resonate if you loved the slow-building tension and immersive landscapes in The Mercies. Check the best books similar to All the Light We Cannot See!

Set in a traveling circus during WWII, this novel explores the bond between a Jewish girl and a German trapeze artist. The circus setting adds a layer of unpredictability, isolation, and intimacy, echoing the remote Norwegian village in The Mercies. Jenoff blends meticulous historical research with deep, emotional storytelling, and the focus on women surviving in perilous situations will feel familiar.

Two women, two timelines, and a web of secrets. One is a World War I spy, the other a young woman searching for her missing cousin after WWII. The novel’s focus on courage, female agency, and survival against the odds makes it a natural recommendation for anyone who loved the women-led, atmospheric tension of The Mercies. It’s fast-paced, historically rich, and utterly engrossing.

Based on a true story, this novel follows Lale Sokolov, a Jewish man forced to tattoo his fellow prisoners, who falls in love with a fellow inmate. Like The Mercies, it immerses you in a harsh, isolated environment, where survival is uncertain and acts of love and bravery feel monumental. It’s heartbreaking, moving, and unforgettable.

Imagine living on a remote lighthouse island, where the wind never stops and every choice feels monumental. That’s the world of The Light Between Oceans. When a couple discovers a baby washed ashore, their decision to keep her leads to devastating consequences. The tension, isolation, and moral dilemmas echo The Mercies, and Stedman’s detailed, atmospheric writing makes the island and its emotional landscape come alive.