Mere

A Sunday Times B ook of the Year A Press Association Book of the Year 'Beautifully written, you will be drawn into the claustrophobic world of the mere, where sinners fear the retribution of both God and the devil’ – Laura Shepherd-Robinson, bestselling author of The Square of Sevens ‘Haunting and beautiful . . . Even in Mere 's brutality, there is a rare tenderness to be found’ – Lucy Rose, bestselling author of The Lamb Norfolk, AD 990. Deep in the Fens, an order of holy sisters lives in quiet isolation, cut off from the outside world by a treacherous marsh known as the mere. Convent healer Hilda and her fellow nuns follow God’s path under the steely guidance of their abbess. But when a young servant boy goes missing in the marsh, rumour and division spread like wildfire through the community and the abbess's grip falters. Where is the boy? Who took him? Why can he not be found? Then, newly arrived Sister Wulfrun has a vision: a curse is upon them and change must be brought. As the convent is swept up in a fight for its very survival, Hilda finds herself caught in her own battle between her conscience and her growing feelings for the enigmatic Wulfrun . . . ‘Haunting and heartrending’ – Mail on Sunday ‘A forbidden and passionate love story which held me captivated to the last page’ – Anya Bergman, author of The Witches of Vardo

A Sunday Times B ook of the Year A Press Association Book of the Year 'Beautifully written, you will be drawn into the claustrophobic world of the mere, where sinners fear the retribution of both God and the devil’ – Laura Shepherd-Robinson, bestselling author of The Square of Sevens ‘Haunting and beautiful . . . Even in Mere 's brutality, there is a rare tenderness to be found’ – Lucy Rose, bestselling author of The Lamb Norfolk, AD 990. Deep in the Fens, an order of holy sisters lives in quiet isolation, cut off from the outside world by a treacherous marsh known as the mere. Convent healer Hilda and her fellow nuns follow God’s path under the steely guidance of their abbess. But when a young servant boy goes missing in the marsh, rumour and division spread like wildfire through the community and the abbess's grip falters. Where is the boy? Who took him? Why can he not be found? Then, newly arrived Sister Wulfrun has a vision: a curse is upon them and change must be brought. As the convent is swept up in a fight for its very survival, Hilda finds herself caught in her own battle between her conscience and her growing feelings for the enigmatic Wulfrun . . . ‘Haunting and heartrending’ – Mail on Sunday ‘A forbidden and passionate love story which held me captivated to the last page’ – Anya Bergman, author of The Witches of Vardo

A Sunday Times Book of the Year (December 2025) 'Beautifully written . . . A dark and disturbing tale' – Laura Shepherd-Robinson, bestselling author of The Square of Sevens Mere by Danielle Giles is a hypnotic historical novel about fear and survival, power and position, and a love that takes hold in the darkest of places. Norfolk, 990 AD. Deep in the Fens, isolated by a vast and treacherous mere, an order of holy sisters make their home. Under the steely guidance of Abbess Sigeburg they follow God’s path, looking to their infirmarian, Hilda, to provide what comfort and cures she can. But when the mere takes a young servant boy, Sigeburg’s grip falters and Hilda quickly realizes this place holds secrets darker and more unholy than she can fathom. Then proud Sister Wulfrun, a recent arrival to the convent, has a vision: a curse is upon them and change must be brought. Is she saint or serpent? To Hilda, Wulfrun is a signal bolder and brighter than any fire set – one she cannot help but follow . . . 'Chilling, dark and immersive' – Rosanna Pike, bestselling author of A Little Trickerie 'Haunting and beautiful’ – Lucy Rose, bestselling author of The Lamb 'A gem of a novel' – Costanza Casati, bestselling author of Babylonia

A Sunday Times Book of the Year (December 2025) 'Beautifully written . . . A dark and disturbing tale' – Laura Shepherd-Robinson, bestselling author of The Square of Sevens Mere by Danielle Giles is a hypnotic historical novel about fear and survival, power and position, and a love that takes hold in the darkest of places. Norfolk, 990 AD. Deep in the Fens, isolated by a vast and treacherous mere, an order of holy sisters make their home. Under the steely guidance of Abbess Sigeburg they follow God’s path, looking to their infirmarian, Hilda, to provide what comfort and cures she can. But when the mere takes a young servant boy, Sigeburg’s grip falters and Hilda quickly realizes this place holds secrets darker and more unholy than she can fathom. Then proud Sister Wulfrun, a recent arrival to the convent, has a vision: a curse is upon them and change must be brought. Is she saint or serpent? To Hilda, Wulfrun is a signal bolder and brighter than any fire set – one she cannot help but follow . . . 'Chilling, dark and immersive' – Rosanna Pike, bestselling author of A Little Trickerie 'Haunting and beautiful’ – Lucy Rose, bestselling author of The Lamb 'A gem of a novel' – Costanza Casati, bestselling author of Babylonia