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The Repentants
- Author
- Kate Foster
- Publisher
- Pan Macmillan
- Publish Date
- 28 May 2026
- Run Time
- 10 hours 14 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
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What to expect
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.
'Nothing short of a masterpiece' – Janice Hallett, author of The Appeal
'A deliciously twisty tale, with a decidedly feminist slant' – Daily Mail
Praise for Kate Foster:
'The tension persists until the last page' – The Times
'Enthralling, compelling and at times chilling. Foster transports the reader back in time, bringing alive the forgotten and hidden voices of women in the past' – D. V. Bishop, author of City of Vengeance
‘Brilliant . . . the new Hilary Mantel’ – Tina Baker, author of What We Did In The Storm
Critics Review
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A powerful historical thriller with believable characters and a wonderful sense of place
The Times
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Intelligent, atmospheric 18th-century domestic noir
The Guardian
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Kate Foster is a rare and extraordinary talent. While bringing history to life, she can shock you, make you laugh, cry and gasp, but you never lose sight of the story or the important themes behind it. The Repentants is a remarkable tale that moves between Scotland and Iceland, on an emotional journey as wild as the waves between them. It’s nothing short of a masterpiece and Kate Foster’s best yet
Janice Hallett, bestselling author of The Appeal
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A small town in in Fife, Scotland, and the unforgiving landscape of Iceland are the perfect settings for a devious tale of revenge, betrayal and survival, beautifully crafted by Foster
Daily Mail
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Foster tells a gripping story of exile, betrayal and the need to survive in this gripping narrative
Radio Times
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This tense and utterly addictive read cements Foster's reputation as one of our best historical fiction authors
Heat
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A deeply evocative story of two women and the men who tried to humble them. From the salt sting of Iceland's air to the deftly drawn characters of Florrie and Eliza, woven together masterfully, I was utterly immersed inside Foster's finest novel yet
Cathryn Kemp, author of A Poisoner's Tale
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I loved it! Original, fascinating and hugely compelling, The Repentants leaves a taste of salt, sulphur and a lust for life against all odds that lingers long after the last page
Hester Musson, bestselling author of The Beholders
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I raced through The Repentants, as the plot twisted and turned in unexpected ways. This tale of three very different women all battling to reclaim some agency over their fate has many modern parallels without ever losing sight of its historical setting. A most enjoyable read
Sally Hinchcliffe, author of Hare House
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A gripping read. The lives of three very different women become entangled in the harsh Icelandic landscape. Each struggles to find agency in the 18th century world where men's needs are met, but their own must be fought for. Refreshingly different
Sarah Maine, author of The House Between Tides
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The Repentants will take you to the edge - to the remote wilds of Iceland and the remote wilds of a woman’s heart, both under siege by the men who wish to use them. A fight for survival that is witty, sharp and savage
Cari Thomas, author of Threadneedle
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A gripping tale of three women's struggles to break free from a patriarchy that treats them as chattels of little value. The environment is bitter, but revenge can be both cold and sweet . . . Foster's best yet
Alison Belsham, author of The Girls on Chalk Hill
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The Repentants is a compelling story of secrets, betrayals and triumphs, as three women battle to exert control over their own fates. A beautifully written, atmospheric page-turner of a novel
Elizabeth Lee, author of Cunning Women
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A tense drama, full of twists and turns
Historical Novel Society
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A chilling tale of betrayal, exile and survival
Platinum
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Packed with danger and determination, revelations and revenge, suspense and plot twists, The Repentants sees Foster at her masterful storytelling best!
Lancashire Evening Post
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A deliciously twisty tale, with a decidedly feminist slant
Daily Mail, Scorching Reads of the Summer
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Foster explores survival, injustice, and the strength found in female solidarity
Woman's Weekly
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It is a riveting tale, with villains in need of comeuppance and with, in Eliza, a scrappy working-class heroine striving for the freedoms that women today may take for granted
The Church Times
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Foster explores survival, injustice and the strength found in female solidarity
Chat Magazine
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Kate Foster
- Narrator
- Paula Masterton, Sofia Engstrand, Lois Chimimba
- Duration
- 10 hours 14 minutes
- Release Date
- 28 May 2026
- ISBN
- 9781035052141
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Pan Macmillan
- Genre
- Historical fiction, Modern and contemporary fiction: literary and general, Narrative theme: displacement, exile, migration, Narrative theme: love / relationships
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.'Nothing short of a masterpiece' – Janice Hallett, author of The Appeal'A deliciously twisty tale, with a decidedly feminist slant' – Daily MailPraise for Kate Foster:'The tension persists until the last page' – The Times'Enthralling, compelling and at times chilling. Foster transports the reader back in time, bringing alive the forgotten and hidden voices of women in the past' – D. V. Bishop, author of City of Vengeance‘Brilliant . . . the new Hilary Mantel’ – Tina Baker, author of What We Did In The Storm
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