Year of Wonders

Content Warning: The source material contains child death, extreme violence towards women, detailed descriptions of traumatic births, abortion, symptoms from severe illness, and painful death.

Winter’s chill deepens, and Anna’s flock is nearly lost in a snowstorm. People in the village continue to sicken, including several from the mob that murdered Anys. Elinor and Anna care for Mem in the rectory until her death five days later. Anna mourns her loss deeply, as she knows their village will suffer without Mem and Anys’s healing hands and knowledge of plant medicine. None of the assailants are prosecuted for the crime because the lawmakers fear coming to the village.

The village population is around 300, and on most Sundays at least 200 attend church in observance of the Sunday Oath, including several members of the mob who are wearing penitent robes. The only villagers who don’t attend church are the remnant of Puritans who live on the outskirts of the town with Quakers and other “nonconformists.” Mr. Stanley, a Puritan who left the parish in 1662 when it became Anglican after Charles II returned to the throne, has returned to the church and is speaking with Mr. Mompellion in hushed tones. Anna expects the sermon will be a harsh denunciation of the murderers.