Publication Date: 1st February
Formats: Hardback, Paperback and Ebook
Prices: Hb £16.77/Pb £4.99/ Ebook £2.99
Publisher: Amazon Crossings
I would like to say a huge thank you to FMcM (Rhiannon Morris) for inviting me on another intriguing and gripping book’s tour. I would also like to say thank you to Amazon Crossing for allowing me to read and review a physical copy of this book and wow what a special book it is. I would also like to say thank you to the creative talent, Sigrídur Hagalín Björnsdóttir, for creating such an atmospheric, tense and moving tale of love, family love and sacrifice and what happens when we lose our way and break the trust of those we should keep safe from any harm, be it physical or emotional. And with a volcano added to the mix… well things are set to explode in more ways than one. Intrigued? Let’s head over to the blurb and find out a bit more.
After an eight hundred year slumber, the volcanoes in Iceland’s most populated region are showing signs of life. Earthquakes dominate the headlines. Echoes of the devastating eruptions in the past stir unease in the people.
Volcanologist, Anna Arnadottir has spent her entire life studying the volcanic powers under the earth’s crust, but even she cannot fathom the catastrophe at hand.
As a series of eruptions threaten most of Iceland’s population, she’s caught off her rational guard by the most terrible natural disaster of all – Love. The world as she knows it is about to fall apart, and so is her heart.
Caught between the safety of a nation and her feelings for her children, her lover and her past, Anna embarks on a dangerous journey to save the lives of the people she loves – and her soul.
This novel shook me like no other, I felt all the tremors and eruptions that would precede an earthquake and a volcano, no it was just reading this immensely atmospheric and dangerously beautiful book: What the author has managed to achieve is at one glance a fascinating insight into volcanology and the dangers and mishaps and human error that can lead to a catastrophic event such as peninsular of volcanos going off. And yet at the same time there’s this juxtaposition and an almost uncanny parallel with a shattering and huge turmoil in her own life when she finds herself falling in love and not with her husband but another man.
We observe as she starts to slowly unravel both in her day to day life but also as the dangers start to pile up and her increasing worry and fear for her children grow, we see her reach a climax in who to run to… does she see what her love has cost her and that her instinct to protect her children out ways that of her needing pleasure or an illicit thrill. Or does he turn her back on her family life and feel the freedom that she can only glimpse when she’s with her lover? These a tough questions for anyone, but most especially when confronted by a huge natural disaster such as a volcano erupting and that your family will most likely be in danger.
I found myself moved by the main characters plight and also hoping and praying that she realises who’s worth saving in time. I won’t spoil any more of this emotional and moving story. This all feels too real, as there have been news on Iceland’s volcanos erupting and one in which that caused many planes all over the world to lie stranded as clouds gathered in the skies creating difficulties for any flights to manoeuvre in the atmosphere safely. This book is not just about lessons learnt from a natural disaster look out, it’s more about love, family, freedom and sacrifices as well as a past that may have influenced you into taking the paths that have led up to the moment within this story. This is a masterpiece and one that has touched my heart. Please I beg you read this book as soon as you can.
Ratings: 5 🌟s with a large ☕️ and a large 🍰
Author’s Blurb:
Sigridur Hagalin Bjornsdottir studied history in Reykjavík and Salamanca and journalism at Columbia University in New York. She worked in Copenhagen before moving back to Reykjavík, where she lives with her husband, children, and stepchildren. Her bestselling debut, Island (2016), was nominated for the Icelandic Women’s Literature Prize in 2017. When she isn’t writing, Björnsdóttir works as a journalist and television news anchor at the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service. Björnsdóttir’s highly anticipated third novel, The Fires, is a bestseller and viral hit in Iceland.
I hope you have enjoyed this fascinating journey into a chaotic, upheaving, tale of devastating events such as volcanos and also how the devastating effects of that one little move to start an affair can cause so much pain and torment and whether it’s worth all of that for that one glimpse of freedom. If you are wanting a copy you can find this on Amazon. I will leave you now to say Happy Reading and see you all soon!!!
I am sorry to say but there should be a blog tour banner which I have been unsuccessful to upload, so please if you could look out for some reviews of this wonderful book on Twitter and Instagram by some lovely and wonderful bloggers!!!
Zoe's Book Nook 