1686, Iceland. A cold, windswept land where they talk of witches and fear strangers . . . 'Gripped me in a cold fist. Beautiful' Sara Collins, author of The Confessions of Frannie Langton 'A perfect, gripping winter read. I loved it' Sophie Mackintosh, author of The Water Cure ________ When R???sa is betrothed to J???n Eir???ksson, she is sent to a remote village. There she finds a man who refuses to speak of his recently deceased first wife, and villagers who view her with suspicion. Isolated and disturbed by her ...
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1686, Iceland. A cold, windswept land where they talk of witches and fear strangers . . . 'Gripped me in a cold fist. Beautiful' Sara Collins, author of The Confessions of Frannie Langton 'A perfect, gripping winter read. I loved it' Sophie Mackintosh, author of The Water Cure ________ When R???sa is betrothed to J???n Eir???ksson, she is sent to a remote village. There she finds a man who refuses to speak of his recently deceased first wife, and villagers who view her with suspicion. Isolated and disturbed by her husband's strange behaviour, her fears deepen. What is making the strange sounds in the attic? Who does the mysterious glass figure she is given represent? And why do the villagers talk of the coming winter darkness in hushed tones? A mysterious and captivating tale of love, fear and superstition, perfect for readers of The Miniaturist, The Silent Companions, and The Bear & The Nightingale. Venture to the wild, beautiful and spellbinding Orkney islands in THE METAL HEART, the compelling new story of freedom and love from Caroline Lea. ________ 'ENTHRALLING' Stacey Halls, author of The Familiars & The Foundling 'CRACKLES WITH TENSION. MOVING AND ATMOSPHERIC, I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN' Laura Purcell, author of The Silent Companions & Bone China 'MEMORABLE AND COMPELLING. A NOVEL ABOUT WHAT HAUNTS US - AND WHAT SHOULD' Sarah Moss, author ofGhost Wall 'EVOCATIVE, COMPELLING, WITH A BRILLIANT TWIST' Daily Express 'AN ICELANDIC JANE EYRE . . . COMPELLING, ATMOSPHERIC' Sunday Times 'INTENSELY WRITTEN AND ATMOSPHERIC, WITH AN UNUSUAL SETTING' Daily Mail 'A CHILLING TALE' Good Housekeeping 'LIKE A GHOST STORY TOLD AROUND A WINTER FIRE Tim Leach, author of Smile of the Wolf SHORTLISTED FOR THE HISTORICAL WRITERS ASSOCIATION DEBUT AWARD
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PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
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Good. Ex-Library Book. Has usual library markings and stamps inside. All orders are dispatched within 1 working day from our UK warehouse. Established in 2004, we are dedicated to recycling unwanted books on behalf of a number of UK charities who benefit from added revenue through the sale of their books plus huge savings in waste disposal. No quibble refund if not completely satisfied.
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Very good. All orders are dispatched within 1 working day from our UK warehouse. Established in 2004, we are dedicated to recycling unwanted books on behalf of a number of UK charities who benefit from added revenue through the sale of their books plus huge savings in waste disposal. No quibble refund if not completely satisfied.
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Very good. Simply Brit – welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there's something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality.
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Very good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books.
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Seller's Description:
Very good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books.
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This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has soft covers. In good all round condition. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 400grams, ISBN: 9781405934619.
When Rosa, an educated priest's daughter living in a small town with an ailing mother is proposed to by a rich Bóndi she says yes to help her family and her community survive the harsh winter. But how exactly did his first wife die and why does his home hide so many secrets?
In The Glass Woman Caroline Lea paints a beautiful picture of 1600s Iceland in both its culture and its people. I was actually surprised to read in the authors note at the end that she is not actually from Iceland and has only visited the country once! The book is meticulously researched, with Icelandic words, phrases and folklore woven seamlessly throughout the narrative. It is also filled in nicely with atmospheric descriptions and interesting characters that really give you a feel of being there. I only wish the glossary of Icelandic words was more easily accessible on the Kindle version although you could guess most of them as you went along.
The setting is a good choice, as is the time it is set in - with old Gods and folklore being replaced by the Bible and the accusations of witchcraft flying around the community. The country is vast and nature is wild and unpredictable, but the villages and communities are small which creates a balance of claustrophobia and intense loneliness all in one. The plot is interesting and I liked how it jumped perspective between Jon and Rosa in places as well. As characters they felt well-rounded and interesting. I liked the progression of the plot, I loved the imagery of the Glass Woman trinket and the ending was nice - leaving a standalone story that stays with you after you finish it.
I did however, feel the book dragged a little in places - it felt repetitive and this wasn't helped by similar phrases being used over and over again. For example; many objects are pressed into Rosa's hand so hard that they imprint on her palm, often she falls over and damages her wrist, feels a surge of tenderness to someone or imagines her fate is tied to an object. I also felt the timeline dates at the top of chapters were a little confusing - particularly the early Jon chapters which although were dated a month after the main timeline were actually flashbacks into Jon's past.
Overall The Glass Woman is a beautifully written story which paints a well-researched and entrancing portrait of ancient Iceland - it just felt a little repetitive in places. Thank you to NetGalley & Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for a chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
