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Ice Land
A beautiful epic of love, longing, redemption, and enchantment in the tradition of Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon
Iceland, AD 1000
Freya knows that her people are doomed. Warned by the Fates of an impending disaster, she must embark on a journey to find a magnificent gold necklace, one said to possess the power to alter the course of history. But even as Freya travels deep into the mountains of Iceland, the country is on the brink of war. The new world order of Christianity is threatening the old ways of Iceland's people, and tangled amidst it all are two star-crossed lovers who destiny draws them together-even as their families are determined to tear them apart
Infused with the rich history and mythology of Iceland, Betsy Tobin's sweeping novel is an epic adventure of forbidden love, lust, jealousy, faith and magical wonder set under the shadow of a smoldering volcano.
Iceland, AD 1000
Freya knows that her people are doomed. Warned by the Fates of an impending disaster, she must embark on a journey to find a magnificent gold necklace, one said to possess the power to alter the course of history. But even as Freya travels deep into the mountains of Iceland, the country is on the brink of war. The new world order of Christianity is threatening the old ways of Iceland's people, and tangled amidst it all are two star-crossed lovers who destiny draws them together-even as their families are determined to tear them apart
Infused with the rich history and mythology of Iceland, Betsy Tobin's sweeping novel is an epic adventure of forbidden love, lust, jealousy, faith and magical wonder set under the shadow of a smoldering volcano.
354 pages, Paperback
First published February 7, 2008
18 people are currently reading
1930 people want to read
About the author
Betsy Tobin
11 books42 followersBetsy Tobin was born in the U.S. and moved to England in 1989, where she now lives with her husband and children. Her first novel, Bone House, was short-listed for the Commonwealth Prize, and won the Herodotus Prize in the United States. Her other novels include The Bounce, Ice Land, and Crimson China. Crimson China was Radio 4 Book At Bedtime in the UK, and was short-listed for Epic Romantic Novel of the Year.
Her latest book, THINGS WE COULDN'T EXPLAIN, is available for pre-order now on Amazon in the UK. (Digital ebook available in August. Paperback coming in November 2014!)
Watch the trailer at: ...
Her latest book, THINGS WE COULDN'T EXPLAIN, is available for pre-order now on Amazon in the UK. (Digital ebook available in August. Paperback coming in November 2014!)
Watch the trailer at: ...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews
April 23, 2014
A unique and unforgettable take on the Norse gods.
The culture of Iceland is explored, during the time period when Christianity just begins to encroach on the old religion via Norway. It's a beautiful blend of myth and history, weaving such characters as gods, half-gods, "dwarves" and "giants" into a tapestry of characters who feel lush and real.
The book does a marvelous job of turning the original legend of Freya's necklace into a plausible story (as long as you're willing to accept a few premises, such as the concept of a woman turning into a falcon with the aid of a magic cloak.) As various characters struggle for possession of the legendary necklace, the Brisingamen, it becomes clear that they are really struggling with various aspects and facets of love. Their individual conflicts play out against the violent and chaotic landscape of Iceland, culminating in inevitable geologic tragedy that still has a bit of a silver lining.
The structure leans more toward the literary, with focus on prose and style, so if that's not your thing you probably won't enjoy Ice Land. However, if you are a fan of rich words, poignant emotion, and experimental structure, this is one you won't want to miss.
I listened to the audiobook with Davina Porter narrating. Every time Porter opens her mouth solid gold falls out, so if you want a bonus treat, get the audiobook version of Ice Land and enjoy.
The culture of Iceland is explored, during the time period when Christianity just begins to encroach on the old religion via Norway. It's a beautiful blend of myth and history, weaving such characters as gods, half-gods, "dwarves" and "giants" into a tapestry of characters who feel lush and real.
The book does a marvelous job of turning the original legend of Freya's necklace into a plausible story (as long as you're willing to accept a few premises, such as the concept of a woman turning into a falcon with the aid of a magic cloak.) As various characters struggle for possession of the legendary necklace, the Brisingamen, it becomes clear that they are really struggling with various aspects and facets of love. Their individual conflicts play out against the violent and chaotic landscape of Iceland, culminating in inevitable geologic tragedy that still has a bit of a silver lining.
The structure leans more toward the literary, with focus on prose and style, so if that's not your thing you probably won't enjoy Ice Land. However, if you are a fan of rich words, poignant emotion, and experimental structure, this is one you won't want to miss.
I listened to the audiobook with Davina Porter narrating. Every time Porter opens her mouth solid gold falls out, so if you want a bonus treat, get the audiobook version of Ice Land and enjoy.
October 21, 2009
I gave this 5 stars because it is EXACTLY the sort of book I like. As soon as it came out, I was prepared to buy it, and I rarely buy books anymore.
Ice Land takes place in Iceland, one of several countries I have never visited but am obsessed with and intend to visit ASAP. It's 1000 A.D., the year when Iceland officially converted to Christianity. Some of the old Norse gods are beginning to get unsettled, worrying about the possibility of their world falling into ruin (Ragnarok). A large volcano is beginning to show signs of impending danger. Meanwhile, the Icelandic people deal with the same hopes and troubles as always.
The story is narrated in the present tense (this was the only part that kind of threw me off--it's very unusual, and intended to evoke an epic mood). The speaker is the Norse love goddess Freya, who is going to try to influence the future by going on a quest to get a legendary necklace from the dwarves.
**Here, I think it's essential to mention that although it doesn't happen in the book, Freya drives a CAT-DRAWN CHARIOT. Too awesome!!!**
Freya's quest leads her to a lot of unexpected people and situations, and some uncomfortable decisions. Her story eventually becomes enmeshed with another plotline, a Romeo-and-Juliet scenario in which a young woman named Fulla is torn between her duty to her grandfather (who wants her to marry well) and her love for a man from a rival family.
There's adventure, romance, and beautiful descriptions of Iceland including GEOLOGY. I love geology, especially when it's so dramatic!
I already like romantic historical fantasies and this one had all the extras that I would like, so since it was right up my alley, I liked it a lot.
Ice Land takes place in Iceland, one of several countries I have never visited but am obsessed with and intend to visit ASAP. It's 1000 A.D., the year when Iceland officially converted to Christianity. Some of the old Norse gods are beginning to get unsettled, worrying about the possibility of their world falling into ruin (Ragnarok). A large volcano is beginning to show signs of impending danger. Meanwhile, the Icelandic people deal with the same hopes and troubles as always.
The story is narrated in the present tense (this was the only part that kind of threw me off--it's very unusual, and intended to evoke an epic mood). The speaker is the Norse love goddess Freya, who is going to try to influence the future by going on a quest to get a legendary necklace from the dwarves.
**Here, I think it's essential to mention that although it doesn't happen in the book, Freya drives a CAT-DRAWN CHARIOT. Too awesome!!!**
Freya's quest leads her to a lot of unexpected people and situations, and some uncomfortable decisions. Her story eventually becomes enmeshed with another plotline, a Romeo-and-Juliet scenario in which a young woman named Fulla is torn between her duty to her grandfather (who wants her to marry well) and her love for a man from a rival family.
There's adventure, romance, and beautiful descriptions of Iceland including GEOLOGY. I love geology, especially when it's so dramatic!
I already like romantic historical fantasies and this one had all the extras that I would like, so since it was right up my alley, I liked it a lot.
July 3, 2009
Ice Land is a somewhat fanciful take on the legends of the Old Norse Gods set in the year 1000. It is told through the point of view of several characters in alternating chapters - from Freya who can don her feathers and fly like a bird, orphaned Fulla who does not wish to marry the man her grandfather has chosen, Vili son of the sworn enemy of Fulla's family who can't stay away from Fulla, the half-dwarf Dvalin who dwells inside the mountain with his half brothers, as well as the Norns who foreshadow the building turmoil within the great mountain Hekla. The actions of the various characters begin to intertwine and ultimately lead them to their ultimate fate at the hands of the angry volcano Hekla.
I'm really not inclined to go further into the plot line, the other reviewers have recapped the story well enough and there's plenty of additional info on the legends at Wik and other sites. It did sound promising enough for a light fantasy, but unfortunately it ultimately failed in the final execution, particularly the alternating point of views. I never connected with any of the characters, the writing flat and lifeless (as were the characters), and due to my ignorance of the Norse legends I really didn't grasp what was going on until well after page 200 - not a good thing for a 370 page book. The only part I really did like was inside the mountain with the dwarfs - had to flashback on a favorite book from my childhood, .
Since this book is still being prepared for final publication I would request the editors put in a brief cast of characters or summary of the people in these legends and not presume that the reader knows them ahead of time. In the end, it's a very light piece of fluff that kept me entertained for 30-40 minutes a day whilst doing the cardio but I certainly had no problem putting it down and forgetting it once I was done.
I'm really not inclined to go further into the plot line, the other reviewers have recapped the story well enough and there's plenty of additional info on the legends at Wik and other sites. It did sound promising enough for a light fantasy, but unfortunately it ultimately failed in the final execution, particularly the alternating point of views. I never connected with any of the characters, the writing flat and lifeless (as were the characters), and due to my ignorance of the Norse legends I really didn't grasp what was going on until well after page 200 - not a good thing for a 370 page book. The only part I really did like was inside the mountain with the dwarfs - had to flashback on a favorite book from my childhood, .
Since this book is still being prepared for final publication I would request the editors put in a brief cast of characters or summary of the people in these legends and not presume that the reader knows them ahead of time. In the end, it's a very light piece of fluff that kept me entertained for 30-40 minutes a day whilst doing the cardio but I certainly had no problem putting it down and forgetting it once I was done.
May 13, 2019
Although I am not as steeped in Norse mythology as some, I know enough about it to understand and admire what Betsy Tobin was trying to do with this book, and I think she succeeded beautifully. She pulled a tale from the 14th c Saga of Olaf Tryggvason, added her own elements, and created a wonderful story that I found utterly captivating. This is far more fantasy than historical fiction, nevertheless she has grounded her tale in the very real setting of early medieval Iceland. Her descriptions of the landscape are wondrous, and her portrayal of the lives of the early settlers of Iceland ring true. She has, quite successfully, brought the Norse gods and one particular goddess down to earth. I loved it.
September 23, 2009
What a disappointment. I was really excited about this book because the little teaser sounded so enticing. First of all, it took me quite a while to get accustomed to the authors writing style. The plot jumped back and forth between characters that had no depth whatsoever as the author found odd ways to connect them. I felt like I was reading a fantasy version of Six Degrees of Separation. I found Ice Land to be dry and shallow with underdeveloped characters in a bizarre plot that was not the least bit interesting. I give every book a chance to the 100th page… I wish I had put this down long before that.
April 12, 2011
This book was not my cup of tea. The mediocre love story, the disjointed narrative, the boring dialogue, the flat characterizations… I don’t even know where to begin. Tobin’s writing didn’t appeal to me and neither did her novel. It wasn’t awful, it had potential and there were vaguely interesting concepts but I don’t think I’ll be recommending this one to anyone or rushing into another of Tobin’s titles.
I admit I picked up this book largely because it was hailed as “a beautiful epic of love, longing, redemption, and enchantment in the tradition of Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon.” Bradley is one of my all-time favorite authors and many her novels are among my favorite reads so I thought this one would be a slam dunk. The tag line was probably added by the publishers to sell copies. Unfortunately for Tobin, it set a very high set of expectations which her storytelling fails to achieve.
Like others, I feel that the book would have benefited from a character list with descriptions. Maybe even a brief review of the stories themselves. I fall in with those that know nothing about these myths and as a result the novel comes off fragmented and disorganized.
Diana Gabaldon stated that Ice Land is “a story of sex, love, blood, and the twilight of the gods, punctuated with hot pools, boiling magma, and volcanic explosions. Very steamy!" No offense to Ms. Gabaldon, but my morning coffee is steamier than this book. Not that I was looking for a steamy read but the love story left my snoozing. I couldn’t have cared less about the outcome and kept asking myself when I was going to see the passion or even a connection between Tobin’s lovers.
I believe Tobin bit off more than she should have. There is just too much here: the star-crossed lovers, the invasion of Christianity, the quest for the necklace. As a result, no aspect is particularly compelling. For me, Ice Land is an easily forgettable read that failed to make an impression.
I admit I picked up this book largely because it was hailed as “a beautiful epic of love, longing, redemption, and enchantment in the tradition of Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon.” Bradley is one of my all-time favorite authors and many her novels are among my favorite reads so I thought this one would be a slam dunk. The tag line was probably added by the publishers to sell copies. Unfortunately for Tobin, it set a very high set of expectations which her storytelling fails to achieve.
Like others, I feel that the book would have benefited from a character list with descriptions. Maybe even a brief review of the stories themselves. I fall in with those that know nothing about these myths and as a result the novel comes off fragmented and disorganized.
Diana Gabaldon stated that Ice Land is “a story of sex, love, blood, and the twilight of the gods, punctuated with hot pools, boiling magma, and volcanic explosions. Very steamy!" No offense to Ms. Gabaldon, but my morning coffee is steamier than this book. Not that I was looking for a steamy read but the love story left my snoozing. I couldn’t have cared less about the outcome and kept asking myself when I was going to see the passion or even a connection between Tobin’s lovers.
I believe Tobin bit off more than she should have. There is just too much here: the star-crossed lovers, the invasion of Christianity, the quest for the necklace. As a result, no aspect is particularly compelling. For me, Ice Land is an easily forgettable read that failed to make an impression.
July 7, 2013
I had a serious book hangover after finishing this one. Absolutely gorgeous.
Nutshell blurb: We follow the lives of two women, Freya and Fulla, and the choices they make as they go through life. The story takes place in Iceland during a time when Christianity was inching its way through the populace.
It sounds really simple when I put it like that, but it was an elegant take on Norse mythology. Asgard isn’t some city in the sky. It’s actually in the mountains of Iceland and the people live alongside their gods. I will admit to my vast ignorance as far as Norse mythology and Iceland is concerned. I love mythology, but have just never gotten around to reading any from that area. I’m totally gonna now.
Fulla is a young orphan who lives with her grandfather. She’s impetuous and pushes him into making a decision that will change her life. Freya is the Freya from legend and is determined to acquire a necklace made by dwarves and will do anything to attain it. Their lives are intertwined with that of the volcano Hekla which serves as the backdrop for this beautiful story.
I was so enchanted by this book that on several occasions I was tempted to stay on the train past my stop just to keep reading. Also, when I finished it I wanted to start it all over again immediately. I have quite a backlog of books to get through, however, which is the only thing that prevented me from doing so.
Nutshell blurb: We follow the lives of two women, Freya and Fulla, and the choices they make as they go through life. The story takes place in Iceland during a time when Christianity was inching its way through the populace.
It sounds really simple when I put it like that, but it was an elegant take on Norse mythology. Asgard isn’t some city in the sky. It’s actually in the mountains of Iceland and the people live alongside their gods. I will admit to my vast ignorance as far as Norse mythology and Iceland is concerned. I love mythology, but have just never gotten around to reading any from that area. I’m totally gonna now.
Fulla is a young orphan who lives with her grandfather. She’s impetuous and pushes him into making a decision that will change her life. Freya is the Freya from legend and is determined to acquire a necklace made by dwarves and will do anything to attain it. Their lives are intertwined with that of the volcano Hekla which serves as the backdrop for this beautiful story.
I was so enchanted by this book that on several occasions I was tempted to stay on the train past my stop just to keep reading. Also, when I finished it I wanted to start it all over again immediately. I have quite a backlog of books to get through, however, which is the only thing that prevented me from doing so.
September 20, 2008
In this book Betsy Tobin uses sparse and wintry prose to bring to life the gods and goddesses of Norse mythology. The setting is Iceland in 1000 AD in the weeks before the volcano Hekla is to erupt and a new religion (Christianity) is spreading across all of Iceland. The story follows Freya, the goddess of love and fertility, on her quest to posess a special gold necklace in order to possibly prevent the great eruption. There is also Fulla, an orphan being raised by her grandfather in the midst of a dispute over land with the neigboring clan of Skallagrim and Dvalin, a half-man/half-dwarf who through a series of circumstances comes into contact with Freya which changes the course of his life forever. The book is made up of chapters alternating between the viewpoints of Freya, Fulla and Dvalin with the exception of one chapter narrated by Vili, a young man from the Skallagrim clan. Over all, an amazing novel about the power of love, faith and the shadow of fate on our lives from a talented author.
August 25, 2009
A revolution is taking place that will surely change the lives of the gods and mortals who live together in Ice Land. Freya sets out on a desperate search for the one item that may help save her and her people. There is a necklace with an immense amount of power that is capable of changing everything.
Fulla has found her soul mate. The problem is, she has been promised to another. And if that wasn't bad enough, the love of her life is part of the enemy clan.
Will Freya's journey prove successful or will the life she's known vanish without a trace? Will Fulla marry the man that has been chosen for her or will she stand up to her family and live happily ever after?
This is one of those books that after you've read the first couple pages, you are so drawn in that the world around you ceases to exist. It's a beautiful, timeless story.
Fulla has found her soul mate. The problem is, she has been promised to another. And if that wasn't bad enough, the love of her life is part of the enemy clan.
Will Freya's journey prove successful or will the life she's known vanish without a trace? Will Fulla marry the man that has been chosen for her or will she stand up to her family and live happily ever after?
This is one of those books that after you've read the first couple pages, you are so drawn in that the world around you ceases to exist. It's a beautiful, timeless story.
March 25, 2020
This book made me miss the Vikings class I took back in college. You can tell that the historical and cultural research, for the most part, is pretty solid, but the book also has a weird blend of like... the gods are real and they live right over there but wait!!!! Christianity is afoot. Honestly this blending is done pretty well but it took me longer than it should have to really grasp that. Overall the book is very good: it’s well written, the characterization and relationship development is nicely done, and it thoroughly entrenches you in the setting of 1000 AD Iceland. My only complaint is that I’m a dumb ass and didn’t realize this is technically a ~romance novel~. Even then, there was more than enough plot to tide me over.
January 9, 2020
I loved this book. The characters came alive for me and they showed real kindness and affection toward one another. It was a lovely telling of the death of the old gods with the advent of Christianity. The tie-in of the land with the gods was beautiful....well done! I'll look for more of Ms. Tobin's books.
December 20, 2021
I'm not sure how you'd classify this book, perhaps as a cross between historical fiction and fantasy? As I don't often read fantasy and know only a little about Norse mythology, it did take me a little while to understand what was going on, bit ultimately I enjoyed the story quite a bit. The book did a nice job of tying together elements of Icelandic history, place, and mythology.
August 21, 2017
The Norse mythology bits are fascinating but this book is so woefully, painfully slow. Too slow to make it enjoyable at all. The writing lacks urgency or tension.
October 6, 2012
Ice Land is a loose retelling of Norse myth intertwined with Icelandic history. In the beginning of the 11th century, Christianity threatened the old religion and as the people's belief in the Aesir (Norse gods and goddesses) waned, Freya, the goddess of love, goes in search of the Brisingamen, a legendary necklace so powerful it may save her people. The Brisingamen was created by four dwarves, three of whom agree to sell the necklace to Freya in exchange for sexual favours. The fourth, a half-dwarf named Dvalin, changes the price and requests Freya accompany him through the land of the giants, on his own quest to help his beloved sister. Meanwhile, Fulla, a sixteen-year-old orphan has fallen in love with the son of an enemy clan and someone whom her grandfather will never approve. The stories of Freya, Dvalin, and Fulla ultimately thread together into a magical adventure peopled with gods, goddesses, humans, dwarves, and giants set against the backdrop of Iceland's unpredictable Mount Hekla.
The author assumes a basic understanding of Norse mythology, and I know very little, so in the beginning of the book, I was confused by casual references to the Aesir, specific references to Freya's history, and sporadic statements by the Norns. Quick internet research easily clarified all those things and, of course, piqued my interest in the Icelandic sagas. Students of Norse myth may be frustrated by Tobin's version, but I thought this was a well-plotted and compelling blend of fantasy and reality, though, truthfully, a bit short to do this epic story justice! I would happily have read several hundred more pages. Recommended.
The author assumes a basic understanding of Norse mythology, and I know very little, so in the beginning of the book, I was confused by casual references to the Aesir, specific references to Freya's history, and sporadic statements by the Norns. Quick internet research easily clarified all those things and, of course, piqued my interest in the Icelandic sagas. Students of Norse myth may be frustrated by Tobin's version, but I thought this was a well-plotted and compelling blend of fantasy and reality, though, truthfully, a bit short to do this epic story justice! I would happily have read several hundred more pages. Recommended.
May 20, 2015
Meh. I was tempted to give Ice Land one star based on pure enjoyment, but I'm inclined to be generous because I don't think it's all that terribly written. It happens to hit a few of my pet peeves - other readers may get more out of it. Present tense voice (especially first person) almost never works for me, and this is no exception. The story captures some of the tragic doom of Scandinavian sagas and mythology, but almost none of the fun. In fact, the whole thing is pretty humorless, which is a quality that bugs me more and more as I get older. Tobin attempts to integrate the fantastic tales of the Norse pantheon with the more realistic sagas of Icelandic families in a way that is potentially kind of interesting, but doesn't really do anything that memorable with it. I've long seen this book on the shelf and been drawn to its pretty cover, but unfortunately the cover is still kind of the best thing about it.
September 16, 2009
Mediocre and disappointing - I had high hopes for this book but the Amazon Kindle sample was not impressive so I checked it out from the library and it was mediocre; flat prose and boring characters while Iceland just does not come through
January 3, 2017
The audiobook is so great, I know I'll also love the book. It's in my shopping cart at Amazon... Just finished reading the book, 2nd read August 2015 - also great in page form.
October 10, 2021
Ice Land does a phenomenal job of capturing the tone of a Norse myth and capturing the mystical feel of Iceland (at least from the perspective of someone who has never been there.) I thought Freya in particular was done very well; if you read the Norse myths, Freya always has almost more of a distinct character than a lot of the other Norse gods. She isn't like Loki, who exists to be chaotic, or like Thor who is fairly simple, the classic picture of a Norse god. She isn't a "bad guy" by any means, but she always seems to do things for reasons of her own. She is also one of the only women who seems to take a leading role in any of the myths. Idun has her moments, and Sif and Frigg are mentioned sometimes, but Freya takes an active role in stories she's not even a major character in. She isn't a pawn to fate like the other women are.
I thought Tobin really captured the vibe I get from Freya in the actual myths. The parts of the story that focus on Freya and Dvalin seem fairly authentic to Norse myth while also staying fresh. There was actually enough space in that narrative, I think, to fill the rest of the book. I liked how Ragnarok was portrayed as less of an end of all things and more the end of an era.
The Fulla and Vili part seemed a little less thought through to me. The plot didn't seem as inventive and it mainly served to be like "see, Iceland pretty and Christianity sure did spread."
While this book is not a romance novel, the theme of love played a big role, and I think it was the weakest part of Ice Land. Both Dvalin and Freya and Fulla and Vili are played as having an enemies-to-lovers dynamic. But enemies to lovers only works if there's a moment where one or both characters have a come-to-jesus moment where they find out that they only hated each other because of a misunderstanding or that maybe they don't hate each other after all. You can't just have two people not liking each other and then... oh, hey, I guess they like each other now.
There are two issues here. First, transition between character relationships is too abrupt and doesn't make any sense. I can't buy the relationships.
Second, this specific genre of books tends to be distant, focused on the setting and actions of the characters instead of spending a lot of time exploring their feelings. Feelings are mentioned, but not dwelled upon. I don't always mind this style of writing, and generally it lends itself well to mythology-based historical-fantasy type stories. Especially using Freya as the perspective character, who can't see into Fulla's mind and is a goddess and experiences emotions differently than us, fits with this more reserved, distant tone. It wasn't a bad choice for this book. But having super strong romantic plot lines where you don't spend a lot of time in the characters' heads just doesn't work because you can't "sell" the relationships nearly as well. That's not to say you can't have any romance in that kind of story, but it can't be as complicated a romance as it was. Because the conflicts that made the characters not get along at first were either never addressed (such as with Dvalin and Freya) or are addressed too vaguely/too late (Vili and Fulla). That whole part of the story just didn't work for me.
Otherwise, this is a pretty book. Tobin is not afraid to pause the story to describe things. Sometimes it almost seemed like a travel brochure for Iceland. It reads like a sweeping adventure with half the pages. Sometimes I think it could have used another 50-100 pages to really flesh out the story, but as it is, I think it is a really good adaptation of Norse Mythology. Just don't read it as a romance.
I thought Tobin really captured the vibe I get from Freya in the actual myths. The parts of the story that focus on Freya and Dvalin seem fairly authentic to Norse myth while also staying fresh. There was actually enough space in that narrative, I think, to fill the rest of the book. I liked how Ragnarok was portrayed as less of an end of all things and more the end of an era.
The Fulla and Vili part seemed a little less thought through to me. The plot didn't seem as inventive and it mainly served to be like "see, Iceland pretty and Christianity sure did spread."
While this book is not a romance novel, the theme of love played a big role, and I think it was the weakest part of Ice Land. Both Dvalin and Freya and Fulla and Vili are played as having an enemies-to-lovers dynamic. But enemies to lovers only works if there's a moment where one or both characters have a come-to-jesus moment where they find out that they only hated each other because of a misunderstanding or that maybe they don't hate each other after all. You can't just have two people not liking each other and then... oh, hey, I guess they like each other now.
There are two issues here. First, transition between character relationships is too abrupt and doesn't make any sense. I can't buy the relationships.
Second, this specific genre of books tends to be distant, focused on the setting and actions of the characters instead of spending a lot of time exploring their feelings. Feelings are mentioned, but not dwelled upon. I don't always mind this style of writing, and generally it lends itself well to mythology-based historical-fantasy type stories. Especially using Freya as the perspective character, who can't see into Fulla's mind and is a goddess and experiences emotions differently than us, fits with this more reserved, distant tone. It wasn't a bad choice for this book. But having super strong romantic plot lines where you don't spend a lot of time in the characters' heads just doesn't work because you can't "sell" the relationships nearly as well. That's not to say you can't have any romance in that kind of story, but it can't be as complicated a romance as it was. Because the conflicts that made the characters not get along at first were either never addressed (such as with Dvalin and Freya) or are addressed too vaguely/too late (Vili and Fulla). That whole part of the story just didn't work for me.
Otherwise, this is a pretty book. Tobin is not afraid to pause the story to describe things. Sometimes it almost seemed like a travel brochure for Iceland. It reads like a sweeping adventure with half the pages. Sometimes I think it could have used another 50-100 pages to really flesh out the story, but as it is, I think it is a really good adaptation of Norse Mythology. Just don't read it as a romance.
April 9, 2022
It’s a good book with lots of imagery from Iceland, a bit of romance, and steeped in Norse mythology. However, if you aren’t familiar with Norse mythology (and not the MCU universe version), it’s hard to get into the meat of the book. I ended up stopping partway, reading National Geographic’s Essential Visual History of World Mythology, and then picking this book back up since I could actually understand the myths that were playing out. If you’ve taken a college course in Scandinavian mythology, you would probably be able to jump right in. For me, I think it would have been easier to have bits of the myths presented in front of each of the major parts of the story (such as Tobin did with the Norns intros). I liked the general story, and the way Tobin wove in many Norse myths was brilliant, but if you don’t know that’s what she’s doing, it makes it hard to follow along and a bit slow.
September 26, 2024
A magical story telling of Icelandic beliefs, mythology and history.
when a race of people is universally admired, their hearts turn to stone
I think it made him feel inferior, an emotion that does not sit well among men in general
he can tell he's growing older because with each passing day he loses another slice of youthful certainty
there is something about this woman that makes me want to behave excessively, for she tethers her own manner too tightly
she has kept her dignity and faith in others
in marriage she was exacting, she held me to higher standards than I held myself
the boy lives too much inside himself, and it is impossible to do so in her presence
it will be many years, perhaps generations before order is restored. but we are alive and we are together. for these things we are grateful.
when a race of people is universally admired, their hearts turn to stone
I think it made him feel inferior, an emotion that does not sit well among men in general
he can tell he's growing older because with each passing day he loses another slice of youthful certainty
there is something about this woman that makes me want to behave excessively, for she tethers her own manner too tightly
she has kept her dignity and faith in others
in marriage she was exacting, she held me to higher standards than I held myself
the boy lives too much inside himself, and it is impossible to do so in her presence
it will be many years, perhaps generations before order is restored. but we are alive and we are together. for these things we are grateful.
February 21, 2018
I really wanted to like this novel. Sadly, I found the switch between the characters too abrupt to really connect with any characters. Since I'm less a scholar of Norse mythology than southern European and Egyptian, I didn't have enough innate knowledge to bridge the gaps in the narrative. Every time I picked it up, I couldn't remember where I was, who I was, and what was going on, and I found that frustrating. This could be because my life is a bit hectic in the moment and my reading time is split into smaller chunks than I'd like. Still, it's been this way for much of a year and I've only had this problem with a couple other books in that time.
June 24, 2018
Based on Norse mythology this story had several plot lines which interplayed off of one another as the tale progressed. There are themes of love, uncertainty, longing, revenge and morality throughout. The book centers around the turning point of the disappearance of the importance of the Norse gods in the lives of the human population. Some of this is brought about by natural forces and the rest by the introduction of the new Christian religion on the inhabitants of Iceland. The story kept my interest going as different scenarios unfolded and I also liked the short explanations of the Norns about the natural events that shaped and continue to shape the island.
January 31, 2020
loved loved loved this. the blending of lore and mythology and humanity was sooo well done; the different worlds of the different races were so well-drawn and the different ways in which they fit together were perfect. the romances in this were also so satisfying! i'm a sucker for a romance built almost entirely out of two people rescuing each other and journeying together, and freya and dvalin were built so well in that regard. i loved how connected the characters were, and how once those connections were made, they all got to cross paths instead of being stupidly separated for the sake of plot and drama. also did not expect so many found family feelings! awesome.
February 25, 2021
I choose this because it was compared to . Having finished it, I would say that comparison is a bit of a stretch. I did really enjoy the descriptions of Iceland and the underlying folklore of the country. But the characters and the plot just weren't very gripping.
May 25, 2022
I made it through this tome. Perhaps I don’t know enough of the mythology of the Nordic peoples, because I felt confused as the chapters changed from Freya telling her story, to stories of others to mini (what I came to think of as) ‘thought’ pages of the Norn. I did come to realize that these gods interacted with humans so much more than the gods of the Greeks & Romans. No wonder Christianity came so much easier to them. Made me think at the end.
January 12, 2025
Set in Iceland in 1000 AD, this captivating tale follows Freya on a perilous quest to retrieve a sacred necklace and protect her people. Amid bitter feuds and shifting alliances, star-crossed lovers must navigate their forbidden romance. The story also explores the cultural clash between traditional beliefs in the old gods and the rising influence of Christianity, offering a rich historical backdrop to this epic journey
February 1, 2025
Flat characters, choppy writing, and the end just kind of...happens? We learn about all these characters in the book and by the time Hekla blows, not only do I not really care about them, but the author also doesn't go into it. Like, everyone just dies and no one is really that beat up about it? Dvalin and Freya are sad but I feel like losing your entire family/race should be more devastating??? I tried to like this book because I love Norse mythology but I just couldn't get behind it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2016
I would not say this book was an epic of anything except unfulfilled potential. The love story(s?) was really just 'insta-love', and there was too much going on for it to feel like it had any real depth. Someone else said it read like an outline of a novel, skimming along the surface, and I totally agree. Disappointing. Also, the present tense was annoying.
October 15, 2017
I could not put this book down. I loved the blend of historical and norse mythology. It took about 50 pages to get into (mainly due to the number of different characters). Still, I enjoyed the story and loved the characters of Dvalin, Freya, Fulla and Sky. I do wish there was more about Odin, and Loki, but think the book was the perfect length as is.
November 5, 2017
Wow. Just terrible. Talk about boring. The writing style is flat and boring. Not even worth writing anything more. Go read something else. Oh, if anyone can give me an exact count of how many times someone sips ale or mead and wipes their mouth with the back of their sleeve in this book, I’m super curious, my guess is at least 10.
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