A fresh and dazzling debut novel shimmering with ancient Icelandic myths and contemporary energy
‘I may have been named after the goddess Freya but mostly I got called Frey. Which made me sound less like a deity and more like a drunken brawl. Or some badly wrecked nerves. Or a thing that is always unravelling at the edges.’ this is the story of Freya Morris, daughter of sober and responsible Anna, niece of wild and unpredictable Birdie, and granddaughter of the revered poet Olafur.Olafur and his wife fled Iceland to Canada after the massive volcano eruption of 1875. As a result, Freya grows up with her mother in Connecticut, and her extended family in the Icelandic community of Gimli, Canada. A series of events leaves Freya with a sense of shame and loss: a freak accident, Freya’s kidnapping, a return to Iceland, and the accidental discovery of a long-hidden family secret. Freya’s story deftly weaves in Iceland’s history, landscape, mythology and literary heritage, spanning generations in this gripping, lyrical and heartbreaking novel. ‘this grand coming-of-age-novel boasts a dynamic set of characters and a rich bank of cultural and personal lore, making this dark, cold family tale a surprisingly lush experience’ PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred review) ‘Sunley’s astonishingly accomplished debut is a bewitching tale of volcanic emotions, cultural inheritance, family sorrows … and life-altering discoveries’ BOOKLISt