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Revontuli
In a land marked by the rhythm of migrating reindeer and the rituals of an ancient religion, a way of life is drawing to a close. War is coming to the Finnmark, and brings with it unsuspected inhumanity. Revontuli tells the coming of age of a Sami girl during World War II, a time of trial that leaves Marit and the village of Karasjok forever changed. Already torn between the heritage of her Norwegian father and her mother’s indigenous Sami culture, Marit discovers a bigger world through Hans, the German officer billeted in their home. Their forbidden love will challenge Marit’s beliefs and allegiances. Set in the forests above the Arctic Circle, where Norway meets Finland, Revontuli is inspired by true stories.
242 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 9, 2020
Great book. So evocative and will written. Took me to av place and time I knew very little about with wonderfully with characters in a meticulously researched setting. While it was a great story, what drew me in more was the unique setting and easy writing style. Wonderful book.
January 6, 2014
Revontuli's a good read. I now know a whole hard magical Arctic world above Europe. Andrew Eddy’s novel connects me to this northern Sami world, decades ago, during its occupation as a peripheral theatre in the huge European conflict of WWII. The stark events shaped the lives of real people living there today.
The author tells Marit's life over decades. Her exuberance, her life force, unfolds in her explorations and attachments as they work into and against their wartime context, and in her new life after the war. It's a beautiful story, beautifully made. Marit, too, is now part of my life. I love her bright youth, and her mature reflective present.
For readers the question, the tension, is never about “how this story will end.” You start by knowing the chronological ending. The adventure is deeper - getting to know the places as Marit goes around them, understanding the war history as Marit experiences its events, meeting the people as she and they see each other, and accompanying her evolving character as she lives.
In this, Revontuli is not like a mainstream American movie. I enjoy Hollywood flicks - I leave the cinema drained by the chase, and lifted by the final win.
Revontuli, though, is more like a film in European, Japanese or Canadian traditions. When I close the last pages, I bring this new story with me, enriched by it.
The author tells Marit's life over decades. Her exuberance, her life force, unfolds in her explorations and attachments as they work into and against their wartime context, and in her new life after the war. It's a beautiful story, beautifully made. Marit, too, is now part of my life. I love her bright youth, and her mature reflective present.
For readers the question, the tension, is never about “how this story will end.” You start by knowing the chronological ending. The adventure is deeper - getting to know the places as Marit goes around them, understanding the war history as Marit experiences its events, meeting the people as she and they see each other, and accompanying her evolving character as she lives.
In this, Revontuli is not like a mainstream American movie. I enjoy Hollywood flicks - I leave the cinema drained by the chase, and lifted by the final win.
Revontuli, though, is more like a film in European, Japanese or Canadian traditions. When I close the last pages, I bring this new story with me, enriched by it.
January 17, 2014
Solid storytelling for a first novel and told from a very unique perspective for a WWII story (I don't believe Hitler is even mentioned). Karasjok is not the first theater of war that comes to mind when WWII is mentioned, but the fact that war even reached this Sami village reminds us that it really was a WORLD war. The emotional currency of the first part of the book seems to be bought for free: Nazi cruelty is just as atrocious (and systematic) when directed at Serbian prisoners in the north as it is towards Polish Jews in the south. The reactions to these atrocities on the part of Marit are prototypical (she could be any youth from anywhere) and only begin to become a unique source of inner turmoil after Hans enters the story line. The sense of place and Sami culture in the last half of the book is integral and essential to the story, but at the onset seems to be a tacked-on geography lesson. I think the flash-forward and flashback chapters are a good framework and effective, but some of devices are a little cliche (the unopened letters, the son speaking for the father). I especially liked the shamanistic aspects of these Sami people and the authenticity of Marit's angst. Covers a lot of ground for a shorter novel.
September 9, 2016
I received a review copy of this book.
This novel is set in a fascinating world: the far northern reaches of Norway just across the Finnish border. It is a unfamiliar locale of long, dark winters, brief summers, reindeer herds, the Sami people and the glory of the Northern Lights (Revoltuli in Finnish). It is set during World War II and the Nazi occupation of the area, with flash-forwards to the present time.
I knew nothing of this area and hadn't known that the German occupation of Norway had ranged this far north so this book presented some new and fascinating history. The Sami people, some still nomadic and some in settled communities with the Norwegians were part of a world that has the nature of fantasy, but existed in the all-too-real past.
The language and exposition are simple and straightforward. I would recommend this book for the middle grade or young adult reader. I found its plot predictable and, since the book began at the present time, the denouement is known from the get-go. The author's clear love for northern Scandinavia and the ways of its inhabitants made me tolerant of a well-worn plot line.
This novel is set in a fascinating world: the far northern reaches of Norway just across the Finnish border. It is a unfamiliar locale of long, dark winters, brief summers, reindeer herds, the Sami people and the glory of the Northern Lights (Revoltuli in Finnish). It is set during World War II and the Nazi occupation of the area, with flash-forwards to the present time.
I knew nothing of this area and hadn't known that the German occupation of Norway had ranged this far north so this book presented some new and fascinating history. The Sami people, some still nomadic and some in settled communities with the Norwegians were part of a world that has the nature of fantasy, but existed in the all-too-real past.
The language and exposition are simple and straightforward. I would recommend this book for the middle grade or young adult reader. I found its plot predictable and, since the book began at the present time, the denouement is known from the get-go. The author's clear love for northern Scandinavia and the ways of its inhabitants made me tolerant of a well-worn plot line.
January 25, 2014
I was given a review copy of this book.
From the start, I knew this book would break my heart, so I think I was reluctant to open up to it at first. Once I did, I became completely absorbed. The story is not unique - forbidden love during wartime - but the main two characters are subtle and interesting. Marit is both straightforward and hesitant, in a complex combination, and many times I wanted to push her forward, to make her say and do things that she never did choose to do. At some point I had to accept that what seemed like missed chances were choices she was making. I'm left thinking about grieving for something that never happened, and wondering whether it's a relief if - far later - you learn it never could have been.
From the start, I knew this book would break my heart, so I think I was reluctant to open up to it at first. Once I did, I became completely absorbed. The story is not unique - forbidden love during wartime - but the main two characters are subtle and interesting. Marit is both straightforward and hesitant, in a complex combination, and many times I wanted to push her forward, to make her say and do things that she never did choose to do. At some point I had to accept that what seemed like missed chances were choices she was making. I'm left thinking about grieving for something that never happened, and wondering whether it's a relief if - far later - you learn it never could have been.
March 19, 2014
I was attracted to this book, because of it's setting in the Nordic circle which I know so little about. I wasn't disappointed - the author had researched the culture well & the impact of a war not their's on a small isolated village.The story was intriguing apart from the romantic theme. Unfortunately, I found the flick between life before & after a little confusing & sometimes irritating. I also struggled a bit with the similarity of names & indeed the old woman with 2 names used randomly.However, I couldn't put the book down - yes it was sad but you gained resilience along with the characters and continued on with them.
I hope that this author will attempt more with the Arctic setting and it's inhabitants and their manner of living, despite the 21st. century.
I hope that this author will attempt more with the Arctic setting and it's inhabitants and their manner of living, despite the 21st. century.
January 18, 2014
Revontuli (Northern Lights) unearths a unique side of World War II history that even the most dedicated of the genre’s readers may not have encountered. This entrancing story of a young girl falling in love with the German soldier occupying her home is a version of the star-crossed lovers tale that is so controversial and intense, it grips you instantly. Author Andrew Eddy tells this story with a beautiful voice and style while simultaneously mesmerizing us with the lesser known historical events that took place during WWII in the Arctic Circle where Norway meets Finland, a place where the Northern Lights glow.
—Stephanie Carroll, Author of “A White Room”
—Stephanie Carroll, Author of “A White Room”
March 20, 2014
Revontuli, a story about Woarld War II that takes place in northern Norway making this different from most stories set in this period. However, the love story is pedestrian. The writing is good but, this should be classified as young adult literature.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews