Ones to Watch in 2019: The Glass Woman Caroline Lea.

Jon Eriksson buried one wife this year. How long before he buries a second?

1686, Iceland.
Rosa is leaving her home in Skalholt.
Betrothed unexpectedly to Jon Eriksson she travels 
to the isolated, windswept village of Stykkisholmur. 
Here, the villagers are suspicious of outsiders – 
especially one from the everdark edge of civilisation.

But Rosa harbours her own suspicions.
Her husband buried his first wife alone in the dead of night. 
He will not talk of it. Instead he gives her a small glass 
figurine. She does not know what it signifies.

The villagers look on them both not only with suspicion
– but dread. They whisper dark threats.
There is an evil here – she can feel it.

Alone and far from home, 
Rosa sees the darkness coming. 
She fears she will be its next victim . . .

Set in a seventeenth century Iceland haunted by witch trials and besieged by volcanic upheaval, The Glass Woman is a rich and compelling tale of superstition and salvation, love and fear.

Oh I DEVOURED this book. Haunting, chilly, beautifully created, 17th Century Iceland comes alive on the page and you feel for  it’s inhabitants who struggle daily to survive..

Into this epic landscape comes Rosa, who marries for practical purposes not love and who comes to believe she may be in grave danger from Husband Jon, the death of his first wife being  surrounded by gossip, intrigue and dark mutterings of witchcraft..

Caroline Lea paints a deeply sinister picture of  Rosa’s new home and draws you into this relentlessly harsh environment where death is only ever a breath away. Rosa is an amazingly engaging character, fiercely independent internally whilst outwardly projecting obedience, you get totally caught up in her wish to know the secrets hidden from her.

The whole thing is entirely gorgeously addictive, I found the growing relationship between Rosa and Jon utterly riveting, with  the community around them and it’s suspicious nature both dividing them and drawing them together.

I won’t give too much away but this is both clever and pitched perfectly, even the mundane day to day tasks are vividly drawn, there is not a single dull moment.

The Glass Woman is melancholy and heart breaking, a tale to fall into, it is unpredictable and so so good. Loved it.

Don’t miss it!

Highly Recommended.

 

You can purchase The Glass Woman (Penguin: Michael Joseph) Here.

Happy Reading!

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