BOOK DESCRIPTION
It was like something out of a fairytale…
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?
This beautifully written tale is narrated from the perspectives numerous a number of vivid individuals including our main character Sophie (aka Lexi) a complex individual who suffered from a wide range of relatable issues. I felt a strong connection with her and a lot of empathy because I also suffer from some of her issues including feeling worthless, unwanted and unloved. I also have the same relationship with my mother that Lexi had with her own. I thought Lexi was a fantastic character who had a wicked sense of humour even when everything was going wrong in her life. Her interactions with little Gaia were really sweet and heart warming and it was lovely witnessing the bond that developed between them as the story unfolded. Knowing that Lexi suffered from issues caused the reader to doubt some of her narratives when she started experiencing strange events. Was she having hallucinations, was her mind or someone else playing tricks on her or were supernatural forces and mother nature wrecking havoc on what they viewed as trespassers on their territory? Little six year old Gaia was a very realistic blend of sweet little angel and obnoxious spoilt brat. A adorable little princess who wasn't allowed to play with dolls and for all intents and purposes was like a tiny Rupunzel trapped in a draughty old house surrounded by trees and wild animals. Interspersed throughout the story was chapters that slipped back in time, were narrated from the perspective of Gaia and Coco's beloved mumma Aurelia and took the reader through the events leading up to what happens in the intense prologue. I had mixed feelings about her and her husband Tom, how reliable were their descriptions of each others behaviour? Was Aurelia suffering from anxiety and paranoia and imagining things? Or were their thoughts, actions and behaviour being manipulated by outside forces? And how do mysterious housekeeper Maren and Aurelia's bubbly friend Derry fit into the story? I loved the isolated setting,the old house surrounded by a deep forest, the snow adding a alien feeling and atmosphere to the story. I always think that forests can seem sinister and otherworldly even in broad daylight never mind in the dead of night when you can hardly see and all you can hear is your own footsteps that sound so.loud no matter how carefully you tread or maybe it's not your footsteps,maybe it's the footsteps of whoever or whatever is pursuing you.
This is a extremely well written, atmospheric story that is a mesmerizing blend of domestic drama, thriller and mystery with a added dash of Norwegian folk lore and a sprinkle of the supernatural. A intense, spine chilling sense of foreboding permeates the pages, the reader can't escape the feeling that something horrifying is going to happen. I really enjoyed this enthralling story and would happily read more of this talented author's books in the future. This is definitely going to be one of my favourite reads of this year. Worth far more than five stars and very very highly recommended.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
PUBLICATION DATE: 15th October 2020
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