Today is release day for The Glass Woman by Caroline Lea and I’m delighted to bring you my review. This is a historical fiction novel with folklore, mystery, intrigue, and more, and I devoured it. Below you will find the book cover and description, followed by my review.
The Glass Woman by Caroline Lea
This stunning new novel is a rich and captivating tale of superstition and salvation, love and fear – for fans of The Binding, The Miniaturist and The Silent Companions.
1686, Iceland.
An isolated, windswept landscape.
Rósa is newly betrothed to Jón.
The villagers look on them with suspicion – they don’t trust outsiders.
They whisper dark threats.
There is an evil here, Rósa can feel it.
Alone and far from home, Rósa sees the darkness coming.
She fears she will be its next victim . . .
___________
‘Memorable and compelling. A novel about what haunts us – and what should’ Sarah Moss, author of Ghost Wall
‘Utterly unputdownable. Rich in superstition and mystery, it pulled me in. An incredible novel’ Ali Land, author of Good Me Bad Me
‘Haunting, evocative and utterly compelling. The Glass Woman transports the reader to a time and place steeped in mystery, where nothing is ever quite as it seems. Stunning’ Tracy Borman, author of The King’s Witch
‘Like a ghost story told around a winter fire, The Glass Woman is taut, haunting, and broodingly tense. Playing out against the harsh backdrop of the Icelandic winter, it kept me hooked all the way to the end’ Tim Leach, author of Smile of the Wolf
‘Suspenseful, gripping and beautifully drawn’ Cecilia Ekbäck, author of Wolf Winter
The Glass Woman by Caroline Lea – My Review
This book takes readers to 1686, Iceland. The writing is exquisite and the story unfolds beautifully. The atmosphere of this book is portrayed perfectly. It’s creepy, gloomy, eerie, and filled with hauntingly beautiful descriptions. I’d loved the inclusion of superstitions and folklore which added to the intrigue and mystery as the story unfolded.
Our main character Rosa is unexpectedly betrothed to Jon and she agrees so that her mother will be taken care of and survive the harsh winter that Iceland brings. Jon is a mystery and his character is so well done. The story really takes a hold when Rosa moves to Stykkisholmur and finds herself isolated and alone in his croft. The villagers don’t trust her and there are whispers of Jon having killed his first wife. Rosa is alone and far from home and strange noises and presences from the locked loft interrupt her sleep. What is hidden in the loft?
This book is one that will have you turning the pages whilst holding your breath at the same time. It transports readers to a time and place where mystery and intrigue fill the pages and nothing is ever as it seems. The supernatural elements had me hooked right the way to the end and the suspense and beautifully written prose make this one of my must reads for 2019. Memorable characters that will stay with you long after you finish the last page. This book has echoes of gothic fiction and those who enjoy historical fiction and books by the Bronte sisters will thoroughly enjoy it.
The Glass Woman is available now in ebook and hardback and is definitely worth the read.
Until next time,
Keep reading and writing,
Amanda
Amanda J Evans is an award-winning Irish author and writing coach. Amanda writes adult romance that often crosses into paranormal and fantasy. Growing up with heroes like Luke Skywalker and Indiana Jones, her stories centre on good versus evil with a splice of love and magic thrown in too. Her books have all won awards and her novella, Hear Me Cry, won the Book of the Year Award at the Dublin Writers Conference 2018. Amanda is also the author of Surviving Suicide: A Memoir from Those Death Left Behind, published in 2012.
