The Repentants

Inspired by the real-life, unsuccessful attempt by Scottish landowners to annex Iceland for the British Empire, The Repentants is a chilling tale of two women forever bonded in their exile to the world’s most desolate prison. From the Women’s Prize long-listed author of The Maiden, Kate Foster.

St Monans, Fife, Scotland 1770. Two women, a sabbath breacher and a flirt, are forced to publicly repent in church for their sins. Wealthy housewife Florrie and salt serf Eliza form a quick and unusual bond over their mutual shame. So when Florrie’s husband Jonny decides she must accompany him to Ísafjörður, Iceland, where he is to open a new salt mine, Florrie insists Eliza comes as her maid.

Isolated and fearful, surrounded by ice and darkness, the two women grow ever closer. And that’s when Jonny reveals the sinister truth – he plans to leave Florrie in Iceland, imprisoned and banished in order to restore his own fragile reputation back home.

Now Florrie must try to escape – whatever it takes. But when she turns to Eliza for support, she realizes nothing is as it seems in this strange and hostile land . . .