They Can't Burn Us All by Cathryn Kemp - ISBN: 9781787637160
Hardcover
Feminist retelling of Iceland’s witch trials; she fights back.
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They Can't Burn Us All

$45.34

  • Hardcover

    416 pages

  • Release Date

    13 September 2026

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Summary

A powerful, deeply moving and dark feminist retelling of the most famous witch trial in 17th-century Iceland, perfect for fans of The Witches of Vardo and The Mercies.

Westfjords, Iceland. 1655.

Ágústa hefur alist upp við bænir til gömlu guðanna og fylgst með föður sínum og bróður stunda rúnagaldra. En nú geisar nornaveiði um landið eld og íss, undir áhrifum mótmælareformátorísins. Ólíkt öðrum stöðum í Evrópu, eru það ekki konur sem eru dæmdar sem nornir hér,…

Book Details

ISBN-13:9781787637160
ISBN-10:1787637166
Author:Cathryn Kemp
Publisher:Transworld Publishers Ltd
Imprint:Bantam
Format:Hardcover
Number of Pages:416
Release Date:13 September 2026
Weight:618g
Dimensions:38mm x 164mm x 242mm
A-Format
B-Format
C-Format
They Can't Burn Us All by Cathryn Kemp - ISBN: 9781787637160
164 × 242 mm
A4
mm / in
What They're Saying

Critics Review

I absolutely LOVED They Can’t Burn Us All. Immersive and heartrending, They Can’t Burn Us All is a powerful and compelling retelling of 17th century witch trials … With breathtaking descriptions and meticulous historical authenticity, I was completely captivated by this vital work of witch literature * ANYA BERGMAN, author of international bestseller, The Witches of Vardø *
Kemp has created a magnificent retelling of an infamous Icelandic witch trial, beautifully handled in a story that is by turns shocking, violent and deeply moving. The desperate isolation of 17th century Iceland is brought to vivid life with its strong women and their battle for survival amid the turbulence of small, superstitious societies and vendettas. Her main character may struggle to voice her own words, but she has a compelling narrative voice that will endure * KATE FOSTER, award-winning author of The Maiden *
I utterly adored Cathryn Kemp’s debut, A Poisoner’s Tale, so I had high hopes for They Can’t Burn Us All, and I wasn’t disappointed! This is a haunting, mesmerising tale of C17th Icelandic witch trials, with descriptions so evocative you can feel the snow’s chill and hear the ravens’ cries and smell the fires burning. A dark, urgent tale of female agency and the power of both speaking out and refusing to speak * NAOMI KELSEY, author of The Burnings *
They Can’t Burn Us All is a thrilling, fiery fable, full of compassion, rage and magic. Kemp brings 17th century Iceland to vivid life; a place of deadly storms and even deadlier curses, of long-hidden secrets and lingering resentments. A timely and important reminder of the enduring power of women’s voices * DANIELLE GILES, author of Mere *
They Can’t Burn Us All is a stunning novel. An atmospheric and haunting tale of Iceland’s most famous witch trial, it shines light on an era when men were burned as witches, yet women still paid the price. The Icelandic landscape teems with life, brooding and magical, while Cathryn’s lyrical writing delivers an emotional gut-punch at every turn. A novel as gripping as it is relevant today, with an ending that will take your breath away * EMMA COWING, author of The Show Woman *
Kemp has created a magnificent retelling of an infamous Icelandic witch trial, beautifully handled in a story that is by turns shocking, violent and deeply moving. The desperate isolation of 17th century Iceland is brought to vivid life with its strong women and their battle for survival amid the turbulence of small, superstitious societies and vendettas. Her main character may struggle to voice her own words, but she has a compelling narrative voice that will endure. * KATE FOSTER, award-winning author of The Maiden, which was also longlisted for the Women’s Prize *
They Can’t Burn Us All is a stunning novel. An atmospheric and haunting tale of Iceland’s most famous witch trial, it shines light on an era when men were burned as witches, yet women still paid the price. The Icelandic landscape teems with life, brooding and magical, while Cathryn’s lyrical writing delivers an emotional gut-punch at every turn. A novel as gripping as it is relevant today, with an ending that will take your breath away. * EMMA COWING, author of The Show Woman *

About The Author

Cathryn Kemp

Cathryn Kemp is a Sunday Times bestselling ghostwriter and author, with a prolific career writing celebrity, inspirational, true crime, addiction, and nostalgia titles. Her personal memoir Coming Clean won the Big Red Read Prize for Non-Fiction. A Poisoner’s Tale is her first foray into historical fiction. When not researching dark, dangerous, and beguiling women from history, Cathryn can be found on the south coast with her son and her familiar, a ginger cat called Gingey.

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