Overview

From Icelandic author Sigríður Hagalín Björnsdóttir comes a heart-wrenching thriller about a woman's desperate quest to save the people she loves from a natural disaster. After an eight-hundred-year slumber, the volcanoes in Iceland's most populated region are showing signs of life. Earthquakes dominate the headlines. Echoes of the devastating eruptions in the past stir unease in the people. Volcanologist Anna Arnardóttir has spent her entire life studying the volcanic powers under the earth's crust, but even she cannot fathom the catastrophe at hand. As a series of eruptions threaten most of Iceland's population, she's caught off her rational guard by the most terrible natural disaster of all--love. The world as she knows it is about to fall apart, and so is her heart. Caught between the safety of a nation and her feelings for her children, her lover, and her past, Anna embarks on a dangerous journey to save the lives of the people she loves--and her soul.

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9781799788706

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Reviews

[Sigridur Hagalin Bjoernsdottir] weaves together the hearts of men and the hearts of the earth and the magma of the earth and does it so wonderfully. The Fires is a huge success. Such a profound, well-thought-out, romantic thriller. --Kiljan, Iceland's foremost literary TV program A shocking love story as well as an existential speculation about the role of the mother, but first and foremost it is an extremely accomplished thriller. --Vidsja The Fires is a thriller, a love story, and a tragedy. It is absolutely fantastic, though one cannot help but hope that Reykjanes will not start to shake and tremble with as much force as in the book...The Fires is a must read. Except maybe for those who are very terrified of earthquakes. --Morgunbladid (5 stars)

"""Actress, producer, and narrator Nina Yndis skillfully brings out the tension that runs throughout. Her Icelandic accent adds a note of authenticity to this already riveting story. Björnsdóttir's steamy thriller should appeal to readers of romantic suspense and cataclysmic fiction and to anyone interested in learning about the geology and history of Icelandic volcanoes. Share with fans of Ragnar Jonasson's Outside or Harry Turtledove's Supervolcano Explosion."" --Library Journal ""This fiercely wrought thriller from Björnsdóttir perfectly balances science and psychology...Björnsdóttir smoothly integrates geological and historical information about Iceland's volcanos into the action. This explosive tale of adulterous passion is not just for Scandi noir fans."" --Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) ""[Sigríður Hagalín Björnsdóttir] weaves together the hearts of men and the hearts of the earth and the magma of the earth and does it so wonderfully. The Fires is a huge success. Such a profound, well-thought-out, romantic thriller."" --Kiljan, Iceland's foremost literary TV program ""A shocking love story as well as an existential speculation about the role of the mother, but first and foremost it is an extremely accomplished thriller."" --Víðsjá ""The Fires is a thriller, a love story, and a tragedy. It is absolutely fantastic, though one cannot help but hope that Reykjanes will not start to shake and tremble with as much force as in the book...The Fires is a must read. Except maybe for those who are very terrified of earthquakes."" --Morgunblaðið (5 stars)"

Author Information

Icelandic author Sigríður Hagalín Björnsdóttir studied history in Reykjavík and Salamanca and journalism at Columbia University in New York. She worked in Copenhagen before moving back to Reykjavík, where she lives with her husband, children, and stepchildren. Her bestselling debut, Island (2016), was nominated for the Icelandic Women's Literature Prize in 2017. When she isn't writing, Björnsdóttir works as a journalist and television news anchor at the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service. Björnsdóttir's highly anticipated third novel, The Fires, is a bestseller and viral hit in Iceland. Larissa Kyzer is a writer and translator of Icelandic literature. She holds an MA in literary translation from the University of Iceland as well as an MS in library and information science and a BA in comparative literature. Her published translations include novels, short stories, children's literature, nonfiction, and poetry. Her translation of Kristín Eiríksdóttir's A Fist or a Heart (Amazon Crossing) was awarded the American-Scandinavian Foundation's 2019 translation prize. The same year, she was one of Princeton University's translators in residence. Larissa served as cochair of PEN America's Translation Committee from 2019 to 2021 and runs Jill!, a virtual Women+ in Translation reading series. Find her online at www.larissakyzer.com.

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