Amazon:
The grieving widower.
The motherless daughters.
A beautiful house in the woods.
Deep in a remote Norwegian forest, Lexi has found a new home with architect Tom and his two young daughters. With snow underfoot and the sound of the nearby fjord in her ears, it’s as if Lexi has stepped into a fairy tale
But this family has a history – and this place has a past. Something was destroyed to build their beautiful new house. And those ancient, whispering woods have a long memory.
Lexi begins to hear things, see things that don’t make sense. She used to think this place heavenly, but in the dark, dark woods, a menacing presence lurks.
With darkness creeping in from the outside, Lexi knows she needs to protect the children in her care.
But protect them from what?
My reading experience:
Firstly I would like to thank the publisher, author and Netgalley for my free ARC.
This is an incredibly thrilling story – atmospheric, compelling, intriguing and vividly scary. I haven’t read anything like this in a long time. It is laden with Nordic folklore, the power of nature and the inescapable compulsion of mind over body.
Lexi is struggling with her life. She hits rock bottom when she steals the identity of an unfortunate random girl on a train to apply for a job which she is then offered. Life now has potential and opportunities. Soon she is on a first class flight to Norway to a home with views of forests and a fjord. Events that follow require Lexi to dig deep, to find hidden resilience, to use the power of her mind over body in a good way. She discovers her strength, her resolve, and ultimately her people.
Themes: relationships, betrayal, deceit, foster care, suicide, folklore, abandonment, parenting, love, trust
I can’t recommend this book enough, but probably a good idea to keep the lights on! I have pre-ordered my hard copy for the book design and to read again!
Appletree Books 