The Second Best Whore in Town: And other stories inspired by wise women, wenches, and witches

The daughter of a warrior-king seeks induction into the wonders of the written word; a grieving widow refuses to part from her husband's heart; a modern-day seal wife loses the one magical object that could free her to return to her own life. Drawing on years of research into chronicles, ballads, manuscripts, and the half-remembered lore of Scotland's past, Mairi Kidd brings to life women both historical and imagined, their voices resonant with courage, cunning, and rebellion. Whether confronting the constraints of marriage, the dangers of clan feuds, or the injustices of the law, these characters refuse to be mere footnotes in the tales of men. This unforgettable collection draws together nine new short stories of survival, rebellion, and magic by the acclaimed author of The Specimens and Poor Creatures, Mairi Kidd.