Nordic noir meets arctic horror in this powerful Icelandic novel which packs a mean punch. A group of Reykjavik thirty somethings who've been devastated by the economic crash take a hiking journey into the volcanic wilderness to heal financial and personal wounds. The tensions are already high among them, a reckless hedonist, a recovering alcoholic and their unreliable female partners and when they enter a zone of fog the journey takes a left turn into dread. Taking refuge in an isolated farmhouse, with a mysterious elderly couple, the scene is set for a game of truth and revelations, as animals are being butchered outside and the nearby village is a sinister repository of bones. A dark, foreboding atmosphere reigns which highlights the characters' flaws as they argue, meditate, struggle and fight for their sanity and safety. A claustrophobic tale of suspense and skewed psychology with a strong sense of unease. ~ Maxim Jakubowski
'This is Iceland's Twin Peaks' Corren The Ice Lands by Steinar Bragi is set against the backdrop of Iceland's volcanic hinterlands, four thirty-somethings from Reykjavìk embark on an ambitious camping trip, their jeep packed with supplies.
The purpose of the trip is to heal both professional and personal wounds but the desolate landscape forces the group to reflect on the shattered lives they've left behind in the city. As their jeep hurtles through the wilderness, an impenetrable fog descends, causing them to suddenly crash into a rural farmhouse.
Seeking refuge from the storm, the friends discover that the isolated dwelling is inhabited by a mysterious elderly couple who barricade themselves inside every night. As the merciless weather blocks every attempt at escape, they are forced to confront difficult questions: who has been butchering animals near the house? What happened to the abandoned village nearby where bones lie strewn across the ground? And most importantly, will they ever return home?
