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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
Maija, husband Paavo, and their two daughters trade homes with a relative and move to the Swedish Lapland in 1717. Paavo is a fisherman but has become afraid of the water, making this a good chance for the family to start new. As they move to the mountains, the two daughters come across a dead body. Maija finds other settlers to come examine the body and learns of the dynamics on the mountain. There are a few other families, a priest in the valley, a nobleman and his wife, and the local Lapps. Maija has to wade through old relationships and dredge up past history to determine who has murdered this man. The information does not come easy. When the ghost of this man starts visiting Frederika and she can hear the mountains, the family must quickly find out what happened before anyone else gets hurt.
The majority of this book takes place over the winter and the cold hung over this book giving it an incredibly dreary feeling. Getting through the book, at times, was almost like trying to wade through waist-high snow like the characters. In addition to the winter was the dark. There is no sunlight over the winter in this part of the world and despite all the descriptions for this and the eeriness the book had, I still had troubles picturing this forever night. Despite this, the atmosphere as a whole was incredibly well written.
Reading this book made me feel like I was back watching the TV show Lost. They both keep throwing twists and turns at you and there are varying degrees of supernatural elements at work, but you either never get a full resolution or the questions never get answered. In addition, virtually no hints were dropped about who was responsible. It made for a rather frustrating read, despite being a page turner near the end. I wanted the author to give me some resolution but hardly anything was solved until the last few pages which made things feel unfinished. Some things were never fully explained to my satisfaction either. Like what Frederika did about the wolves and why the letters were kept from Maija.
The majority of this book takes place over the winter and the cold hung over this book giving it an incredibly dreary feeling. Getting through the book, at times, was almost like trying to wade through waist-high snow like the characters. In addition to the winter was the dark. There is no sunlight over the winter in this part of the world and despite all the descriptions for this and the eeriness the book had, I still had troubles picturing this forever night. Despite this, the atmosphere as a whole was incredibly well written.
Reading this book made me feel like I was back watching the TV show Lost. They both keep throwing twists and turns at you and there are varying degrees of supernatural elements at work, but you either never get a full resolution or the questions never get answered. In addition, virtually no hints were dropped about who was responsible. It made for a rather frustrating read, despite being a page turner near the end. I wanted the author to give me some resolution but hardly anything was solved until the last few pages which made things feel unfinished. Some things were never fully explained to my satisfaction either. Like what Frederika did about the wolves and why the letters were kept from Maija.
An intense, atmospheric novel set in 18th century Sweden -- artful, intriguing, and very, very bleak. This is one of those novels where you have to dig through the characters' limited knowledge and put all the little clues together, but this one sometimes felt like too much work.
A Finnish family takes over a homestead at the base of a ominous mountain called Blackåsen. Their daughters find another settler murdered and the family's introduction to their fellow settlers is the way they react to the death of this man, who was disliked and feared by most of them.
The mother, Maija, tries to solve the murder mystery, finding an unlikely partner in the local priest, but both of them have troubled pasts that will come back to haunt them. And the locals have so many secrets. And did I mention this is really, really bleak? Because there's winter than never lets up, barely any daylight, shortages of food, some possible triggers for sensitive readers, like, ghosts & malevolent spirits.
A Finnish family takes over a homestead at the base of a ominous mountain called Blackåsen. Their daughters find another settler murdered and the family's introduction to their fellow settlers is the way they react to the death of this man, who was disliked and feared by most of them.
The mother, Maija, tries to solve the murder mystery, finding an unlikely partner in the local priest, but both of them have troubled pasts that will come back to haunt them. And the locals have so many secrets. And did I mention this is really, really bleak? Because there's winter than never lets up, barely any daylight, shortages of food, some possible triggers for sensitive readers, like
Spoiler
parental murder/suicide and child molestation (implied, but not detailed)
This was haunting. The setting as much a character than the people it was about.
A 3.5, but rounded up to 4 stars for the writing itself. Ekbäck has a haunting writing style that I found myself really enjoying, despite not being wholly sucked into the overall plot itself. The way she describes the winters and the isolation is beautifully done.
About 20 pages into Wolf Winter, I assumed that I would be giving it five stars since I loved Ekback's style -- the dark, threatening mood of the Nordic-noir mystery (I love the term "Nordic noir," but it's not mine; I lifted it from a blurb on the back of the book. A blurb on the inside pages says, "Scandi-noir," but that's not quite as cool.); however, once the spirits of the dead started getting involved, and not just in a figurative way, my opinion changed a bit. I expected mystery, so the fantasy (I'm not sure that's the right word here) element bothered me, especially as it becomes stronger as the book progresses. The back of the book mentions the mountain looming as a "foreboding presence," but I didn't realize that it meant this in other than a mysterious mood setting sort of way.
It is 1717; the Ranta family (Paavo, Maija and their daughters Fredericka and Dorotea) move to Blackåsen Mountain in Swedish Lapland. Shortly after their arrival, 14-year-old Fredericka finds the mutilated body of Eriksson, a man disliked by both the other settlers on the mountain and the Lapps who have a winter camp in the area. The locals want to blame wolves but Maija believes murder was committed and is determined to find the killer.
Maija is joined in her search by Fredericka who has inherited “gifts” which lead her into the supernatural realm especially when she becomes drawn into the shamanistic belief system of the Lapps. The local priest also delves into Eriksson’s death when his bishop insists that the murderer be identified. The perspectives of these three are given throughout, though narration is always in the third person.
Blackåsen Mountain is very much a character in the novel. It is a brooding and menacing presence throughout, especially when the wolf winter arrives, a season which a Lapp explains to Fredericka: “’it’s the kind of winter that will remind us we are mortal . . . Mortal and alone’’ (119). And the settlers certainly are isolated. There are only six homesteads on the mountain and the nearest village is a day’s travel. Even in that village only four households live year-round.
This setting is perfect for an exploration of fear. Fear of the new and the unknown permeates. When disturbing events occur, the people quickly fall back on superstitions including belief in witchcraft and sorcery. Even Maija who believes in the power of reason (189) realizes “Wise people were afraid of fear . . . [because] it was hard not to get caught in the webs of other people’s fears, especially if it concerned your children” (76). The novel also examines other human emotions. Maija observes that “Grief ate away at people until they had a different shape from before. Her mother had said many bad emotions could do the same: grief, hatred, fear . . . ”(162).
In the face of hardships, Ekbäck seems to suggest that Scandinavian stoicism is the way to proceed. A Lapp elder compares people to two trees whose crowns are intertwined; one has a twisted trunk and the other has a straight though scarred trunk. He says, “’Both of them have faced the same hardship, but they responded in different ways’’ (198). Maija makes the same point with another nature metaphor using two lakes, one which had turned into a marsh and one which remained a lake: “A being was either strong enough to hold their ground, or they became small and bottomless and started feeding on themselves” (101). Several times Maija mentions the need to “try to go on” (194). “[You] had to go on, keep moving, find new ways, look again” (213). One should not submit to fear or hatred but remain strong, like the straight tree or the large lake, and use reason.
Characters are well-developed. All of the homesteaders are clearly differentiated, though it becomes clear that all moved to the mountain to flee something or someone. Their rivalries and secrets make them all suspects. Of course, it is the characters of Maija, Fredericka and Olaus, the priest, which are more fully developed. All three are flawed and don’t always make wise choices, but all learn from their mistakes.
This is not a fast-paced thriller. It actually moves very slowly at first, but I did not find my interest lagging. I was, however, frustrated with the lack of background about the political situation. There is an author’s note at the end, but it comes too late. The references to the wars lead by the Swedish king, treasonous plots, and the threat of conscription are inserted without much explanation. It is clear that the church dominates the lives of the community and serves as an arm of the state but, again, there is little explanation of religious terms like Lady Day and Missa Candelarum.
This is a very enjoyable read. It is a historical mystery in an exotic locale with credible characters and interesting thematic development. Reading it in winter might be most appropriate but on a hot summer day it will bring a refreshing chill.
Please check out my reader's blog (http://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).
Maija is joined in her search by Fredericka who has inherited “gifts” which lead her into the supernatural realm especially when she becomes drawn into the shamanistic belief system of the Lapps. The local priest also delves into Eriksson’s death when his bishop insists that the murderer be identified. The perspectives of these three are given throughout, though narration is always in the third person.
Blackåsen Mountain is very much a character in the novel. It is a brooding and menacing presence throughout, especially when the wolf winter arrives, a season which a Lapp explains to Fredericka: “’it’s the kind of winter that will remind us we are mortal . . . Mortal and alone’’ (119). And the settlers certainly are isolated. There are only six homesteads on the mountain and the nearest village is a day’s travel. Even in that village only four households live year-round.
This setting is perfect for an exploration of fear. Fear of the new and the unknown permeates. When disturbing events occur, the people quickly fall back on superstitions including belief in witchcraft and sorcery. Even Maija who believes in the power of reason (189) realizes “Wise people were afraid of fear . . . [because] it was hard not to get caught in the webs of other people’s fears, especially if it concerned your children” (76). The novel also examines other human emotions. Maija observes that “Grief ate away at people until they had a different shape from before. Her mother had said many bad emotions could do the same: grief, hatred, fear . . . ”(162).
In the face of hardships, Ekbäck seems to suggest that Scandinavian stoicism is the way to proceed. A Lapp elder compares people to two trees whose crowns are intertwined; one has a twisted trunk and the other has a straight though scarred trunk. He says, “’Both of them have faced the same hardship, but they responded in different ways’’ (198). Maija makes the same point with another nature metaphor using two lakes, one which had turned into a marsh and one which remained a lake: “A being was either strong enough to hold their ground, or they became small and bottomless and started feeding on themselves” (101). Several times Maija mentions the need to “try to go on” (194). “[You] had to go on, keep moving, find new ways, look again” (213). One should not submit to fear or hatred but remain strong, like the straight tree or the large lake, and use reason.
Characters are well-developed. All of the homesteaders are clearly differentiated, though it becomes clear that all moved to the mountain to flee something or someone. Their rivalries and secrets make them all suspects. Of course, it is the characters of Maija, Fredericka and Olaus, the priest, which are more fully developed. All three are flawed and don’t always make wise choices, but all learn from their mistakes.
This is not a fast-paced thriller. It actually moves very slowly at first, but I did not find my interest lagging. I was, however, frustrated with the lack of background about the political situation. There is an author’s note at the end, but it comes too late. The references to the wars lead by the Swedish king, treasonous plots, and the threat of conscription are inserted without much explanation. It is clear that the church dominates the lives of the community and serves as an arm of the state but, again, there is little explanation of religious terms like Lady Day and Missa Candelarum.
This is a very enjoyable read. It is a historical mystery in an exotic locale with credible characters and interesting thematic development. Reading it in winter might be most appropriate but on a hot summer day it will bring a refreshing chill.
Please check out my reader's blog (http://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault
Overall, I'm going this 4 stars because it certainly drew me into the story and kept me guessing. However, I found myself frustrated somewhat with the last 1/4, as it was almost too much to process; it's as if the author seemed to throw in something about nearly every character that was negative/horrible/mysterious. It felt overdone.
I have to say, this book didn't quite end up being what I had expected. Elements of it surprised me in a good way and I found myself drawing plenty of favourable comparisons to previous works I had read (Hannah Kent's 'Burial Rites' springs to mind here). But some elements of this book lacked proper execution and it's for this reason that, at the end of it all, I only found it 'okay'.
I'll start with what I really enjoyed - the atmosphere. Books that study human behaviour but bring in elements of the supernatural are always something I like to read, especially when nature itself works for or against the characters. There's something about the unpredictable, wild nature of an environment (in this case the surrounding marshes, mountains and bitter winter) that is fascinating to read about. Ekbäck did a great job with making her descriptions very easy to visualise and eerie, and that never stopped. Her characters were well constructed and the 'whodunnit' mystery itself was a good one. It was fun to see women/girls taking the detective role here, and Ekbäck made sure that every little thing they (and other's) did or said was important in unveiling the mystery.
That being said, this book also felt like hard work. It was slow building and contained so many sub-plots and story arcs that some felt distracting and unnecessary. Every so often, random 'twists' that had no bearing on the story were thrown in to try and keep the appearance of a moving plot, and while I liked Frederika's story-line, I really didn't connect with what was going on 'spiritually' and why. The ending failed to tie up a lot of the loose ends for me, and my understanding of the synopsis of the next book in this series says that I won't get any answers there. If you're a fan of good writing, historical thrillers and wild, daunting settings then this will be a great read. But bear in mind this is not a book that necessarily finishes what it started.
I'll start with what I really enjoyed - the atmosphere. Books that study human behaviour but bring in elements of the supernatural are always something I like to read, especially when nature itself works for or against the characters. There's something about the unpredictable, wild nature of an environment (in this case the surrounding marshes, mountains and bitter winter) that is fascinating to read about. Ekbäck did a great job with making her descriptions very easy to visualise and eerie, and that never stopped. Her characters were well constructed and the 'whodunnit' mystery itself was a good one. It was fun to see women/girls taking the detective role here, and Ekbäck made sure that every little thing they (and other's) did or said was important in unveiling the mystery.
That being said, this book also felt like hard work. It was slow building and contained so many sub-plots and story arcs that some felt distracting and unnecessary. Every so often, random 'twists' that had no bearing on the story were thrown in to try and keep the appearance of a moving plot, and while I liked Frederika's story-line, I really didn't connect with what was going on 'spiritually' and why. The ending failed to tie up a lot of the loose ends for me, and my understanding of the synopsis of the next book in this series says that I won't get any answers there. If you're a fan of good writing, historical thrillers and wild, daunting settings then this will be a great read. But bear in mind this is not a book that necessarily finishes what it started.
This isn't the type of book that I'd normally give one of my few 5-star ratings to, but I simply can't think of anything that could have been improved upon. Perhaps if GR supported half-star ratings it'd be a 4.5 instead, but the bottom line was that this book was impressive. Vivid characters, captivating plot, chilling setting, and wonderful writing. I thought the pacing was done well; the book remained suspenseful throughout. I'm guessing that it might be a little slow for some people (since I enjoyed it so much) but if you enjoy some suspense without sacrificing your prose, this is one to check out. It was so thoroughly 1717 Scandinavia, perfectly portraying the combination of superstition and religion that is the ideal vehicle for fear.