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A review by jordanian_reads_
First Comes Summer by Maria Hesselager
5.0
Dramatic, taboo, and elemental— First Comes Summer’s story of two unnaturally close siblings in a remote Viking settlement transfixed me. The prose of author Maria Hesselager and translator Martin Aitken was gorgeous and atmospheric, especially in its descriptions of nature and its importance to Norse life. This is a tale of obsession, but it’s also an introspective character study that touches on frailty, mortality, community, and what it means to live a good life.
I found the novel’s Norse setting extremely compelling. I loved the glimpses Hesselager gave us into Viking life: the raids, the responsibilities of a midwife, the celebrations, the mythology, and the first introduction of Christianity. In this way, First Comes Summer reminded me a lot of Nicola Griffith’s Hild (one of my favorite books).
If you can deal with the unnaturally close sibling relationship, I highly recommend this novel to all my fellow translated lit and historical fiction fans! A huge thank you to Riverhead for the galley – First Comes Summer is out today!
I found the novel’s Norse setting extremely compelling. I loved the glimpses Hesselager gave us into Viking life: the raids, the responsibilities of a midwife, the celebrations, the mythology, and the first introduction of Christianity. In this way, First Comes Summer reminded me a lot of Nicola Griffith’s Hild (one of my favorite books).
If you can deal with the unnaturally close sibling relationship, I highly recommend this novel to all my fellow translated lit and historical fiction fans! A huge thank you to Riverhead for the galley – First Comes Summer is out today!