Three women controlled by one man – their charismatic husband Elijah, leader of their cult who dictates every aspect of life in the remote Scottish settlement of Halcyon.
But cracks have begun to form in the community’s idyllic facade, and Elijah’s increasingly erratic behaviour begins to test the loyalty of the women who love him, especially when he reveals his intention to take a fourth wife, sixteen-year-old Mim.
Deceived and isolated by the husband they share, Aoife, Ruth, and Deborah must set years of animosity aside and come together as danger mounts within their isolated community.
A powerful story of coercive control, motherhood and extraordinary women, The Wives of Halcyon asks questions about how we perceive faith and family.
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The Wives of Halcyon by Eirinie Lapidaki was published on 20 May 2024 by Legend Press. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review.
This review was originally published in the June edition of The Mature Times
This is an extraordinary debut novel from an author who seems so at ease in her writing.
The reader meets three very different women; divided by age, heritage and background but with one strong connection. All three of them; Aoife, Ruth and Deborah are the wives of Elijah, the founder and leader of Heaven on Earth.
Elijah is a charismatic man whose followers obey his every word. Their home is the settlement of Halcyon in the Scottish Highlands. Isolated and distant from the nearest town, encircled by a high fence, the followers have given up their previous lives to prepare for ‘The End’. Families do not live together, the children of Halcyon are separated from their birth parents, and mothers and fathers are punished if they try to establish any bond with their own offspring.
The three ‘sister wives’ do not always like each other, and the story is told in their voices. When Elijah announces that he is to take another wife; sixteen-year-old Mim, the cracks begin to show. Elijah’s behaviour has changed and his wives are increasingly unhappy, but reluctant to anger him, or his second-in-charge, John.
However, these strong women do come together and their plans will change their lives forever. The dangers they face are terrifying, yet their solidarity is stronger.
This is an astute and gripping tale of coercive control, about power and about misplaced trust. The isolated Scottish setting adds such depth to the narrative and the bonds of motherhood are beautifully portrayed.
A novel that raises questions about power that can be gained by one man’s charisma and words. Female characters who are precisely drawn, exposing their flaws and vulnerability, but most especially, their strength.
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She began writing her debut novel, The Wives of Halcyon, while working as a bookseller at Waterstones, and early chapters won a Northern Writers Award from New Writing North.
Eirinie is currently working on her next novel, about the wellness industry and its impact on womens bodies, inspired by her battle with the chronic condition adenomyosis.
She lives in Gateshead with her husband, her daughter and her dog.
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