Synopsis
'An eerie novel that will keep you up late into the night.' - Eowyn Ivey
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Years ago, a child went missing. Now it might happen again.
Unnur is a single mother to her beloved daughter, Lilja, and lives a deliberately quiet life in Reykjavík, working at a bakery under a fake name and trying to forget the last summer of her childhood. But when her ex-husband returns to Iceland with his new girlfriend, Unnur's carefully crafted reality begins to fray.
Because years ago, Unnur's childhood best friend, Freyja, disappeared and maybe this new woman had something to do with it. Maybe she might do the same thing to Unnur's daughter.
Faced with the risk of losing her daughter, Unnur must look to her past and remember what happened all those years ago. Where did Freyja go? And what did Unnur do?
Steeped in Icelandic folklore and myth, Freyja is at once a gripping story of a child's disappearance, a testament to the power of a mother's love, and an enthralling tale of redemption and forgiveness from a gifted new voice.
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'Mythic and atmospheric, Freyja tingles the senses like an incipient freeze. I love an icy noir that builds complicated relationships and unique settings, and Freyja fits the bill perfectly. A twisty, compelling read.' - Janelle Brown
'I was overwhelmed by this book-by sentences so sharp they could draw blood, by sheer adrenaline, by the wind and rock of Iceland, by the exploration of memory and grief, and most of all, by the unflinching deep dive into what motherhood means. There's plenty of terror-and even more love-in these pages.' - Gin Phillips
'A spectacular novel that deftly defies genre, Freyja is gripping mystery and a literary tour de force. Margrét Ann Thors masterfully chronicles a mother's love for her child, memories impossible to repress, and the torment of guilt. Original, stunning, and unforgettable.' - Binnie Kirshenbaum
'In haunting, razor-sharp prose, Thors conjures a vivid portrait of motherhood and myth, testing just how far the ties that bind us to our families, our histories, and our cultures can be stretched until they snap. Like the Icelandic winter storm, Freyja will chill you to the bone' - Melissa Larsen
__________________________________________________________
Years ago, a child went missing. Now it might happen again.
Unnur is a single mother to her beloved daughter, Lilja, and lives a deliberately quiet life in Reykjavík, working at a bakery under a fake name and trying to forget the last summer of her childhood. But when her ex-husband returns to Iceland with his new girlfriend, Unnur's carefully crafted reality begins to fray.
Because years ago, Unnur's childhood best friend, Freyja, disappeared and maybe this new woman had something to do with it. Maybe she might do the same thing to Unnur's daughter.
Faced with the risk of losing her daughter, Unnur must look to her past and remember what happened all those years ago. Where did Freyja go? And what did Unnur do?
Steeped in Icelandic folklore and myth, Freyja is at once a gripping story of a child's disappearance, a testament to the power of a mother's love, and an enthralling tale of redemption and forgiveness from a gifted new voice.
__________________________________________________________
'Mythic and atmospheric, Freyja tingles the senses like an incipient freeze. I love an icy noir that builds complicated relationships and unique settings, and Freyja fits the bill perfectly. A twisty, compelling read.' - Janelle Brown
'I was overwhelmed by this book-by sentences so sharp they could draw blood, by sheer adrenaline, by the wind and rock of Iceland, by the exploration of memory and grief, and most of all, by the unflinching deep dive into what motherhood means. There's plenty of terror-and even more love-in these pages.' - Gin Phillips
'A spectacular novel that deftly defies genre, Freyja is gripping mystery and a literary tour de force. Margrét Ann Thors masterfully chronicles a mother's love for her child, memories impossible to repress, and the torment of guilt. Original, stunning, and unforgettable.' - Binnie Kirshenbaum
'In haunting, razor-sharp prose, Thors conjures a vivid portrait of motherhood and myth, testing just how far the ties that bind us to our families, our histories, and our cultures can be stretched until they snap. Like the Icelandic winter storm, Freyja will chill you to the bone' - Melissa Larsen
Details
06 August 2026
9781806173754Imprint: Zaffre
Reviews
An eerie novel that will keep you up late into the night. Unnur is desperate to escape the past and protect her young daughter, but she will learn that memory is fickle and changelings lurk in the shadows. Margrét Ann Thors beautifully evokes Iceland, with its cold winds, wave-battered cliffs, and mysterious folk tales. Gripping and heartfelt.
Mythic and atmospheric, Freyja tingles the senses like an incipient freeze. I love an icy noir that builds complicated relationships and unique settings, and Freyja fits the bill perfectly. A twisty, compelling read.
I was overwhelmed by this book-by sentences so sharp they could draw blood, by sheer adrenaline, by the wind and rock of Iceland, by the exploration of memory and grief, and most of all, by the unflinching deep dive into what motherhood means. There's plenty of terror-and even more love-in these pages.
A spectacular novel that deftly defies genre, Freyja is gripping mystery and a literary tour de force. Margrét Ann Thors masterfully chronicles a mother's love for her child, memories impossible to repress, and the torment of guilt. Set in a backdrop rich with folklore, it's a page-turner, but try to resist turning the pages too quickly, lest you miss the grace of the prose and profound psychological insights. Original, stunning, and unforgettable.
