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pilebythebed's review against another edition
4.0
Epic fantasy tends to fall into a bit of a rut – dragons, dwarves, prophecies, royalty. And even urban fantasy, the grungier sub-genre that lives more comfortably on modern streets has its common tropes. So it is important to remember that the fantasy genre grew out of a multitude of roots and can provide the basis for a range of stories.And while there is a bit of Scandinavian horror around such as Sweden’s John Ajvide Lindqvist. And much like Icelandic crime fiction has risen on the back of the Scandi-noir trend, we now have Shadows of the Short Days – grimdark, Icelandic urban fantasy with a mythological edge. Originally written in Icelandic by author Alexander Dan Vilhjálmsson, and now translated into English by the author. And it is a wild ride.
Garún is a graffiti artist with a twist. She uses a magical substance called Delýsíð in her graffiti which gives it the capacity to affect emotions. Garún has plenty of emotions of her own. She is a Belndingur, half human and half huldufólk, and so not welcome anywhere. She lives in Reykjavík but is fighting against the authorities, trying to foment revolution. Meanwhile her ex-boyfriend Sæmundur is taking a darker path. Expelled from the university for trying to experiment in the dark mystical art of Galdur he decides to continue his studies regardless of the real danger of demonic possession or worse.
As is obvious from the previous paragraph there are plenty of concepts, names and new words for a reader to get their head around. There is a glossary at the back of the book, but in some ways it is better for readers to immerse themselves in the language - everything is either explained or comes clear from the context. And the immersion technique heightens the experience of being in this strange, modern magical alternative Reykjavík. Through the plot, Vilhjálmsson manages to seamlessly visit all of the different areas of this city – the mirror city of Rukkovik and the realms of the three legged, aggressive raven-like Náskári and water dwelling Marbendill.
Shadows of the Short Days is intense and dark urban fantasy. The characters, particularly Sæmundur are fairly unlikeable, Garún literally wrapping herself in a rage infused blanket for the last third of the novel. And there is plenty of body horror and violence. But it is all of a piece and creates a dark but fascinating world and while it is a little unclear where it is going, that is better than running on the familiar lines of epic fantasy. The book ends in, if anything a darker place for its main characters and its world, setting up for a second and final planned volume.
Garún is a graffiti artist with a twist. She uses a magical substance called Delýsíð in her graffiti which gives it the capacity to affect emotions. Garún has plenty of emotions of her own. She is a Belndingur, half human and half huldufólk, and so not welcome anywhere. She lives in Reykjavík but is fighting against the authorities, trying to foment revolution. Meanwhile her ex-boyfriend Sæmundur is taking a darker path. Expelled from the university for trying to experiment in the dark mystical art of Galdur he decides to continue his studies regardless of the real danger of demonic possession or worse.
As is obvious from the previous paragraph there are plenty of concepts, names and new words for a reader to get their head around. There is a glossary at the back of the book, but in some ways it is better for readers to immerse themselves in the language - everything is either explained or comes clear from the context. And the immersion technique heightens the experience of being in this strange, modern magical alternative Reykjavík. Through the plot, Vilhjálmsson manages to seamlessly visit all of the different areas of this city – the mirror city of Rukkovik and the realms of the three legged, aggressive raven-like Náskári and water dwelling Marbendill.
Shadows of the Short Days is intense and dark urban fantasy. The characters, particularly Sæmundur are fairly unlikeable, Garún literally wrapping herself in a rage infused blanket for the last third of the novel. And there is plenty of body horror and violence. But it is all of a piece and creates a dark but fascinating world and while it is a little unclear where it is going, that is better than running on the familiar lines of epic fantasy. The book ends in, if anything a darker place for its main characters and its world, setting up for a second and final planned volume.
parke20j's review against another edition
2.0
Although I enjoyed the premise of the book and the world, I could not get behind either of the main characters. I could not connect to either, and didn't care what happened to them in the end.
torfi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
readerpants's review against another edition
3.0
Yeah, that was Not For Me. Grim, bleak fantasy horror with very dense and confusing worldbuilding... perhaps due to the translation? Hard to track, especially the politics.
It didn't feel clunkily translated as a lot of world lit does, however, so kudos to the translator on that front.
It didn't feel clunkily translated as a lot of world lit does, however, so kudos to the translator on that front.
sailfin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
dlmiddle's review against another edition
It wasn’t something that I was excited to read. It was interesting at points but right now not something I was gravitating towards to finish.
wildflower09's review
Life is too short to read books with unlikeable, unrelatable and unreadable characters
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Drug use, Classism, and Drug abuse
cjdawn236's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
This book was way too dark and the characters too unlikable for me.
gerbilreads's review against another edition
5.0
Brilliantly dark and subversive and enthralling to the end.