Land of Snow and Ashes: a Review

 

Apologies for being away so long chaps! It's been a difficult time at work and time to actually blog has been very very scarce. However I am back and am hoping to set out some form of schedule to make this easier on both you guys and on me! Anyway a big thank you to the lovely  Pushkin press for sending me this excellent novel in exchange for an honest review. 

Let's begin...

Land of Snow and Ashes is a story all about a small bombed out town in Lapland and the secrets the remains of the local prisoner of war camp hides under the snow. However, a new journalist in town is starting to open it all back again and some secrets are meant to be kept hidden.

This book is both fascinating and thrilling with twists that will keep you guessing whilst teaching you about a completely different part of World War 2 history. In England when we hear famous WW2 moments we think of Dunkirk, Churchill, and the thousands of innocents killed in the Nazi death camps.  England's WW2 is a narrative we see all the time. What you probably didn't know is Finland's experiences of WW2 and they were very different to England's experiences. Finland actually considers WW2 three different conflicts. The last two are the ones focused on in this book. The translation note is essential reading in this book. Please do not skip it as it gives you vital context to understand what is going on.

The story follows a former translator and the camp and our aforementioned journalist who is trying to find someone lost most of the time. In the desolate landscape the two hurtle closer to an ending that may not satisfy either of them.

This book is utterly compelling,heart rending and eye opening. In particular it focuses on the plight of the Sami people. The indigenous people of lapland and the treatment they were subjected to.

One Of the most poignant friendships in the book is the bond between Ikeri and Bigga Marja, a young Sami girl who knows everyone. Her slowly teaching photography to Bigga Marja only for her to become better than her teacher is one of the most powerful and beautiful images in this book.

This is a book about remembering the past and trying when you can to move past it without forgetting the lessons learned. A truly brilliant gem of a thriller that will stay with you long past the last haunting page.