Kate Foster

The Mourning Necklace proofs are here and I am just so excited to share Maggie’s astonishing story …

What a huge, huge honour for The Maiden to be on the Women’s Prize for Fiction Longlist 2024. I can’t WAIT to read the wonderful books on this list. Thank you everyone for your support @womensprize @panmacmillan @curtisbrownbooks

✨𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙇𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙁𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙮✨ "𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒎. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒓, 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒔  𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒂𝒊𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒔." Today's captivating first lines are taken from 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴, the latest book from @katefosterauthor , who is one of my favourite historical fiction authors. I'm so excited to read this one and be part of the blog tour later this month. 𝗦𝗬𝗡𝗢𝗣𝗦𝗜𝗦: Her scandal. His revenge. The unforgettable new historical novel from award-winning author, Kate Foster. St Monans, Fife, Scotland 1790. Two women are forced to publicly repent in church, one for adultery the other for breaching the sabbath. Wealthy housewife, Florrie, and salt serf, Eliza, form a quick and unusual bond over their mutual humiliation. So when Florrie's husband decides she must accompany him on a trade venture to Iceland, she insists Eliza comes as her maid. Far from home, isolated and fearful, the two women grow ever closer. Then Florrie's husband reveals his sinister plan: he will leave her in Iceland, banished for the shame she has cast upon him. Florrie must escape, but when she turns to Eliza for help she realizes nothing is quite as it seems . . . Inspired by an attempt by Scottish merchants to annex Iceland as a remote prison for the British Empire, The Repentants is a chilling tale of betrayal, exile and survival from the Women's Prize long-listed author of The Maiden, Kate Foster. _______ Thank you so much @bookbreakuk and @mantlepressbooks for my copy 💚 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 is out May 28th 💬 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑲𝒂𝒕𝒆'𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒕 𝑺𝒄𝒐𝒕𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅. 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒕? [ᴀᴅ/ᴘʀ]

We're still not over this stunning cover for #TheRepentants - the brand-new novel from the Women’s Prize-longlisted @katefosterauthor ! 🤩 Its 1770 and Eliza and Florrie are sent to Iceland, from their home in St Monans, Fife, to atone for their sins by Florrie's husband. Will they be able to survive in this harsh landscape? After all, nothing is as it seems in this strange and hostile land. . . Inspired by real history, this is an unforgettable story about how society judges women - and how those women survive. 'Thought-provoking and mesmerising' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Blew my ever-loving mind!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Historical fiction at its most intimate and unsettling’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Quietly fierce' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Kate Foster is now firmly on my must read list' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Early reader reviews Out 28 May, available to pre-order now.

✨ GIVEAWAY ✨ To celebrate the upcoming new novel from the Women's Prize-longlisted author of #TheMaiden, @katefosterauthor - we're thrilled to be offering ONE lucky reader the chance to win this exclusive bundle! 😍 1 x winner will receive: 💚 An advanced proof copy of The Repentants 🩷 The Mourning Necklace in paperback 💙 The King's Witches in paperback 💜 The Maiden in paperback 🕯️ Plus, a gorgeous 'Northern Lights' candle from @osmology.aery Simply enter via the link in our bio. Good luck! Competition closes at 23:59 on 27th April 2026. Open to UK entrants only. Entrants must be 18+. Terms and conditions apply.

We're excited to announce that @katefosterauthor will be going on tour to celebrate the release of her new book #TheRepentants! 🖤 Inspired by the real-life, unsuccessful attempt by Scottish landowners to annex Iceland for the British Empire, #TheRepentants is a gripping, book club read about how society judges women—and how those women survive. Kate will be visiting @nottinghillbookshop , @booknook_shop , @waterstones_edi , @morpethwaterstones and @maddingcrowdbooks 🌊 We can't wait to see you there! Link in bio for tickets 🎟️

We are delighted to be welcoming the award-winning, @katefosterauthor , back to the shop on Thursday 28th May at 7pm, as she chats to @cesarealdo about the publication of her enthralling, deeply compelling and at times chilling new work of historical fiction, The Repentants. St Monans, Fife, Scotland 1790. Two women are forced to publicly repent in church, one for adultery the other for breaching the sabbath. Wealthy housewife, Florrie, and salt serf, Eliza, form a quick and unusual bond over their mutual humiliation. So when Florrie’s husband decides she must accompany him on a trade venture to Iceland, she insists Eliza comes as her maid. Far from home, isolated and fearful, the two women grow ever closer. Then Florrie’s husband reveals his sinister plan: he will leave her in Iceland, banished for the shame she has cast upon him. Florrie must escape, but when she turns to Eliza for help she realizes nothing is quite as it seems . . . Inspired by an attempt by Scottish merchants to annex Iceland as a remote prison for the British Empire, The Repentants is a chilling tale of betrayal, exile and survival from the Women’s Prize long-listed author of The Maiden, Kate Foster. Book your tickets today! #KateFoster #TheRepentants #TheMaiden #TheKingsWitches #TheMourningNecklace @panmacmillan

The boys are helping me write today, book 5 is well underway 😍

✒️ Adevărul nu contează întotdeauna. Contează cine e crezut. 📚 Nu știam prea multe despre Fecioara când m-am apucat de ea, dar m-a prins fix prin senzația asta de incertitudine, că nimic nu e chiar sigur și că fiecare detaliu poate schimba tot. ✒️ Inspirată dintr-un caz real din Edinburgh, 1679, povestea nu e doar despre o crimă, ci despre felul în care o femeie ajunge să fie judecată înainte să fie cu adevărat ascultată și sincer, au fost momente în care am simțit nevoia să închid cartea pentru câteva clipe, doar ca să pot procesa tot ce se întâmpla. 📚 Mi-a plăcut mult atmosfera ușor întunecată, tensionată, dar atât de captivantă încât simți că trebuie să afli adevărul chiar dacă nu e atât de simplu cum pare.

The Mourning Necklace, by Kate Foster 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Having previously devoured The Maiden and The King’s Witches, I had high expectations for Kate Foster’s latest novel. In all of her writing, Foster masterfully captures the essence of women’s struggles in a bygone era, bringing their stories to life with meticulous research and nuanced storytelling. The Mourning Necklace exceeded my expectations, and I was completely submersed in Maggie Dickson’s story in 18th-century Scotland. I felt Maggie’s hopes, excitement, and darkest grief palpably, as if I was living her story. What’s remarkable about Foster’s writing is the subtlety - she doesn’t over explain any emotional weight, instead allowing the reader to absorb the depths of the characters’ experiences. The narrative is a masterclass in pacing, with moments of tenderness, brutality, and heartbreak that left me breathless. The Mourning Necklace shines a light on timeless themes such as societal injustices, gender inequality, betrayal, grief, resilience and survival. The stark reality of postpartum care, or lack thereof is particularly heart-wrenching. The narrative captures the physical and emotional toll of childbirth, and the lack of agency women had over their bodies. The way in which Foster handles such a sensitive topic at the core, allows the reader to reflect on any shared experiences with such a complex, disenfranchised grief. The Mourning Necklace is more than a historical novel; it’s a testament to the resilience of women in the face of adversity. Foster’s writing is evocative, immersive, and hauntingly beautiful. This book is a must-read if you love historical fiction, a feminist narrative, and lyrical storytelling. | Book Review, Book Recommendation, Bookstagram, Bibliophile, Scottish Historical Fiction |

Kate Foster: A hajadon A cím ne tévesszen meg senkit:valójában a skót „Maiden”-re, egy korabeli, nemesek számára használt guillotine-típusú kivégzőeszközre utal a szerző. Ugyanis Lady Christiant a szeretője és egyben nagybátyja, Lord James Forrester, meggyilkolásával vádolják. De mi vezette vajon a nemrég megházasodott fiatal lányt egy ilyen szörnyű tettre, és vajon valóban ő követte el a gyilkosságot? Az írónő tökéletesen tárja olvasói elé, milyen kiszolgáltatott volt a női nem,rangtól függetlenül, egy férfiak által uralt világban. Egyik karaktert sem tudtam igazán megkedvelni,de a szerzőnek nem is ez volt a szándéka. Kendőzetlenül, olykor ridegen tárja elénk az élet komor valóságát. Lady Christian egy nemesi hölgy, aki bár némileg jó szándékkal néz a világba, kicsinyes féltékenységének bárki áldozatul eshet. És habár megbánja, hogy döntésével egyeseket nyomorba taszít, mégsem visszakozik. Lord Forrester egy igazi nárcisztikus szörnyeteg. Gátlástalanul keresztülgázol bárkin, aki épp nem tesz a kedvére. Bosszúálló, rideg, számára az emberek játékszerek; mit sem törődik a szebbik nem érzéseivel. Violet, az örömlány, igazán nyomasztó szemszögű narratívát vitt a történetbe. Tökéletes példája annak, hogy hiába lenne egy ember nemes és jólelkű, olykor a túlélésért mindent meg kell tennünk, még ha ezzel másokat is a pusztulásba lökünk. És van-e lelkiismerete egy ilyen embernek? Véleményem szerint igen; maga is vívódik, de a kilátástalanság és a kiszolgáltatottság nyomása alatt összeroppan. Andrew: a maga módján szerette feleségét, hibázott, de segítette Christiant. A történelmi eseményeket az írónő által elejtett nyomok teszik még izgalmasabbá. Bár a karakterek egy része fikció, az írónő mégis zseniálisan használta ki a karakterük által nyújtott lehetőségeket. A Hajadon egy tökéletes társadalmi korrajz és bírálat arról, mily kevés szava volt egy nőnek, főként akkor, ha egy magasrangú férfi vesztette el az életét. Hiszen az a nő, aki házasságtörő, az egyben gyilkos is. És hiába kegyetlen egy férj, vagy bántalmazó, a gyilkosság az gyilkosság; nem szükséges a körülményeket vizsgálni főleg, ha egy nő követte el. Köszönöm @librikonyvkiado a #recenzió -s példányt!❤

So thrilled to sign copies of A Donzela in Lisbon today at the gorgeous Livraria Bertrand Chiado.