The Glass Key

by Amanda Geard

In Ireland, Maggie has grown up hearing her mother tell her the bedtime story of The Glass Key. It's a Nordic fairytale passed down by Maggie's grandmother Anna Swan, who mysteriously left her home one stormy night years ago, never to return. Now Maggie's grandfather has died and going through his things, Maggie is shocked to discover a faded wartime letter, asking him to take in a baby. In that moment she realises that Anna Swan was a woman of many secrets.

Only by travelling to Norway and discovering the story of four brave young women whose lives were forever changed by the occupation of their tiny islands, can Maggie uncover the shocking truth about her family - and finally unlock the mystery of the glass key...

As epic as the Norwegian landscape it so vividly describes, The Glass Key is a sweeping journey of a novel that will stay with you for ever.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical, Womens Fiction, Ireland

432 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 18, 2026

About the author

Amanda Geard is the bestselling author of THE MOON GATE and Richard & Judy Book Club pick THE MIDNIGHT HOUSE which was a UK Heatseeker and a top 10 kindle bestseller. Both novels are translated into ten languages. Her new book, THE GLASS KEY, will be published in May 2026 and has already sold across the world.

She has always loved novels with multiple timelines, ones which weave a complex web that resolve as the reader turns the final page, where secrets lie just beneath the surface if only the characters know where to look. She’s also a geologist who explores and maps the earth’s remote places. She splits her time between Ireland, Norway and ‘the field’.

“The inspiration for my first novel, THE MIDNIGHT HOUSE, appeared in the rafters of our Irish home, a two-hundred-year-old stone building perched on the edge of the Atlantic. Hidden there was a message, scratched into wood: 'When this comes down, pray for me. Tim O’Shea 1911'. As I held that piece of timber in my hands, dust clinging to my paint-stained clothes, I was humbled that a person’s fingerprint could, in a thousand ways, transcend time, and I wanted nothing more than to capture that feeling of discovery on the page.

My second novel, THE MOON GATE, is set across three locations: Tasmania (the place I grew up), London (where I lived for years in a houseboat on Paddington Canal) and County Kerry, Ireland (my home). Each of these places is special to me and I hope the settings, as much as the characters, will reach out from the page and reassure you that – in this world – you are not alone.

Finally, THE GLASS KEY is coming in May 2026 and I couldn’t be more excited! The inspiration for this novel began in April 2011. As Kate and Wills walked down the aisle, my soon-to-be husband and I walked onto an isle, a 52-acre Norwegian one, one hundred kilometres north of the Arctic Circle.
It was for sale.
It was love at first sight.
We were 29.
We bought the island, learned to live. The Glass Key pays homage to this, weaving in the struggles of four women in Occupied Norway and the lengths they’ll go to to survive. Expect love and sacrifice. Expect tears. Expect hope. I can’t wait to share this book with you soon!”


You can find more information about Amanda Geard and her books on Instagram (@amandageard) or contact her at www.amandageard.com – where you can also join her mailing list for updates on books, events and giveaways.

Reviews

[Madeline Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Glass Key is beautifully written and brimming with mystery, family secrets, and heart. Geard’s evocative prose unlocks the past with striking detail, taking readers to wartime Norway through vivid landscapes that are utterly transportive. With richly drawn characters and the poignant exploration of love, loss, and legacy, this story will be loved by fiction readers everywhere.

I was lucky to get an advanced read of this book and loved it!

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving seamlessly between 1940 and 2005, The Glass Key is a beautifully written and emotionally book that blends mystery, love story, and historical drama into one compelling journey.

At its heart lies the mystery of Anna Carlsen whose disappearance in 1940 casts a long shadow across generations. In 2005, her story resurfaces, setting in motion a moving hunt for the truth. As past and present intertwine, long-buried secrets begin to surface, revealing threads that connect love, loss, and memory.

Amanda Geard’s writing captures atmosphere between the tension of wartime Europe and the modern-day.. The dual timeline igradually draws you deeper into both eras.

This is not just a mystery, but a story of identity and the ways in which the past shapes the present. It’s a story about longing and resilience, about the courage it takes to confront painful truths and about love that endures beyond time.

[Louise Fein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a huge Amanda Geard fan ever since falling in love with her debut, The Midnight House, so I’ve been eagerly awaiting her third novel, The Glass Key. Like both her other novels, this is a book to sink into, to be transported and moved by. Geard always creates such an incredible sense of place and this was no exception. Her descriptions of both Ireland and Northern Norway are so vivid, I was there, walking alongside her beautifully drawn characters. This is a novel full of intrigue and mystery; of love, loss, war and adventure. I lived every page and there were tears at those emotive last scenes. I loved this book and savoured every sentence. I will be recommending it to everyone.

[laura_does_books · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favourite historical fiction read is a story based on fact and because I know very little about the Nazi occupation of Norway, I found this as interesting as I did entertaining.

Synopsis:
Split between 2005 and 1940, we follow Maggie in modern day Ireland searching for clues into the unexplained disappearance of her grandmother Anna in 1959 when Maggie’s mother Freja was only a child.
Maggie grew up listening to the Nordic fairytale called The Glass Key which Freja had learnt from her own mother Anna.
This epic tale takes Maggie to Norway where she begins to uncover the incredible story of a group of courageous young women whose lives were forever changed after the Nazi occupation of the islands where they lived.
Will Maggie be able to unlock the secrets of her mother’s past and discover the mystery of the glass key…

My thoughts:
A transporting, captivating and powerful story about sisterhood, survival and sacrifice.

So evocative of time and place, I was swept away by the adventures of these brave and selfless women who repeatedly risked their own lives for the greater good.
I was as invested in both Maggie’s story in the present day as I was with Anna’s experiences during the war.

The author’s stunning descriptions of the Norwegian landscapes were so vividly and richly drawn and Amanda’s obvious knowledge and love for this part of the world sang out loudly from every page.

I really enjoyed the unsettling feeling of jeopardy as the peaceful lives of the island’s inhabitants were ended by the Nazi occupation and where the threat of exposure lurked round every corner.
There was an unexpected plot twist towards the end of the book and the last part was so thrilling, I was kept up late reading as I had to learn the outcome.


If you love a historical fiction book to really get your teeth into with interesting and engaging characters, then this is the book for you.

Thank you to @headlinebooks for sending me this lovely hardback copy for my honest review.

[Lydia Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The glass key is a beautifully written dual-timeline story with one foot in a Norwegian Archipelago during the 1940’s & one in County Kerry in 2005. Gradually Maggie & her mother, Freya, uncover the family secrets hidden in Helebore House following the death of grandfather/father Atticus. Eventually they manage to answer all of those questions back in Freya’s birthplace. I loved the wonderful settings & the sweeping ‘saga’ style of this book, the way the two timelines knitted together & the beautifully descriptive writing. For me, the only downside was the slow burn to get to the nub of the story. I felt that a stricter structural edit would have been beneficial as it felt just a little too long-winded in places which jarred the reading experience. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the story & the author notes at the end were really fascinating.

[Mairead Hearne (swirlandthread.com) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Glass Key by Amanda Geard published with Hachette Ireland June 18th and is described as ‘breathtaking, as epic as the landscape it so vividly describes.’

Set between Kerry and Norway, this latest novel from Geard is very much inspired by these two locations that she knows only too well. In 2011, at the age of 29, Geard, and her husband, purchased a Norwegian Arctic island near the coastal town of Bodø . As she said herself, it felt like stepping back in time and she knew someday that she would write a book about it. As a geologist, her career took her across the globe and she eventually settled in Co. Kerry, which she now calls home. They sold their island in the Norwegian archipelago and settled into renovating an old house in Kerry but part of her always felt that calling for Norway. They now have a small cabin there that they return on occasion between work projects. It is here that she finally put pen to paper and began writing The Glass Key, the story she always knew she would one day write since that day in 2011. The passion that Tasmanian born Amanda has for both Kerry and Norway shines through in this beautiful and immersive tale.

Maggie never knew her grandmother Anna Swan, When Maggie’s mother, Freja, was a child, Anna disappeared without a trace. Over the years, Maggie’s grandfather, Atticus, refused to talk about Anna. Contrary and cantankerous, few knew what his own history was, particularly his actions during the war years. Now Atticus has died and his home, Hellebore House, is on the market. Maggie is distraught. She has always felt a connection with the house but Freja’s memories are different. Freja felt abandoned by her mother and she associates the house and its ghosts with that time.

Maggie starts to sort out her grandfather’s belongings and, on hearing a few snippets from locals, she begins to consider the possibility that the truth to Anna’s disappearance is possibly within her reach. Maggie is running away from her own life in the city and this distraction is providing her with an alternative to her own dark thoughts. Maggie, with a little encouragement, decides to embark on an adventure that will eventually take her to Norway where she will uncover the secrets of her family’s past.

Using a dual timeline the reader is transported back to Norway in 1940 as the Nazi machine roles into town and the people across the land are facing into some extremely shocking times. Four courageous women play centre stage in this heartbreaking story of strength, bravery and determination where the personal cost is enormous. Geard immerses the reader completely in another time, another era with meticulous attention to detail and with characters that jump off the pages.

I shed a tear, I smiled, I could easily visualise the landscape of this Norwegian archipelago. Seamlessly weaving the past into the present The Glass Key is a sweeping story of love, compassion, damaged lives, grief, redemption and so much more. It is another stunning novel from the fabulous Amanda Geard who captures moments exquisitely and truly gives all her readers exactly what they want – a fulfilling read with a beautifully textured and evocative story.

[Margarita Mitreva · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Maggies familie gaat al jarenlang een Iers sprookje rond, gebaseerd op een Scandinavische mythe. Het verhaal gaat over een glazen sleutel en werd vroeger verteld door haar grootmoeder. Op een stormachtige avond verdween zij echter spoorloos en keerde nooit meer terug. Dat mysterieuze verdwijnen houdt Maggie en haar familie al jaren bezig.

Wanneer Maggies grootvader overlijdt, wordt tussen zijn spullen een brief uit de oorlogstijd gevonden. In deze brief vraagt Maggies grootmoeder hem om een baby in huis te nemen. Maggie besluit uit te zoeken wat deze brief betekent en reist naar een afgelegen eiland in Noorwegen. Daar ontdekt ze een bijzonder verhaal over vier vrouwen tijdens de bezetting in de Tweede Wereldoorlog.

Langzaam wordt duidelijk hoe hun levens verbonden zijn met Maggie, haar familie en het mysterie van de glazen sleutel.

De glazen sleutel is een meeslepende roman over familiegeheimen, verlies, liefde en de invloed van het verleden op het heden.

[Amanda Geard]

In just two weeks, The Glass Key publishes, and I can't wait to share it with you! I loved writing this novel, which was inspired by a very random holiday my soon-to-be husband took during the long weekend of the royal wedding in April 2011. As Kate and Wills walked down the aisle, Baz and I walked onto an isle, a 52-acre Norwegian one, one hundred kilometres north of the Arctic Circle.

It was for sale.

It was love at first sight.

We were 29.

This, my lovely Goodreads friends, was the beginning of The Glass Key. All those years ago.

The island was in an archipelago called Fleinvær and we arrived on Good Friday. The locals invited us to their traditional Easter egg hunt and that night shimmering northern lights touched the sea. As a salmon dawn broke, we knew we were in trouble. We put a deposit on the island (which cost a fraction of the price of a bedsit in London. Its cabin was simple) no running water, no electricity. A twenty-five square metre box on the edge of the wild Atlantic.

We bought a small boat. Grew potatoes. Brewed yarrow beer. When autumn came, we picked buckets of cloudberries. From a fisherman, we learned to lay halibut lines, where to find uer (red fish), when to dry cod. It amazed us how island life connected seamlessly with previous generations – fishing, gathering eider down, preparing for winter. Saving everything ‘just in case’. On our island, with its lack of creature comforts, I had stepped back in time.

It might have been 1940 … and many of the stories I heard hailed from then, a wartime theatre underrepresented in English language fiction. How islanders had tucked away their radios, hidden their flags, watched bombs rain on the coastal city of Bodø.

I became obsessed with that time, just as I had become obsessed with living on an island. Here in my third book, The Glass Key, a fictional version of the archipelago comes to life. It’s home to four young women, each strong in their own way. There’s no electricity, no water. They lay halibut lines, fish for uer, dry cod. Brew yarrow beer, collect cloudberries. And in 1940, as war grips their world, they rescue a castaway who alters their lives forever.

They also tell stories, as the islanders do today. A mix of Nordic folklore and fairy tales. I came up with the concept of a key made of glass … which opens a locked box containing a truth. The key may only be used once, then it shatters, so that the truth may never be locked away again. This theme runs through the novel as Maggie Murphy travels from Ireland to Norway in 2005 to unravel her family’s mysterious past.

We sold the island in 2018 when we moved to Ireland for work. My heart still aches when I think of it. A few years later, we bought another Norwegian cabin, a run-down century-old farmhouse north of the islands. It needs work. We spend two months there every year, waking up at whatever temperature it is outside. I wrote much of The Glass Key wrapped in a blanket overlooking the fjord. Thinking of our island. Missing it terribly. A piece of my heart is still there. Will always be there. Because you can leave an island, but I don’t believe an island can ever leave you.

Amanda x

[Maria Kring · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Glass Key – Amanda Geard
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5

Thank you so much to Amanda for my super early copy of this book - I’m incredibly honoured.

The Glass Key is everything I’ve come to expect from Amanda Geard: sweeping, emotional, and utterly immersive. A story steeped in love, loss, and long-buried secrets, it moves between Ireland and wartime Norway with such care and depth that I found myself completely absorbed from the very first page.

As someone from a Scandinavian country, this book gave me an unexpected and powerful sense of nostalgia. The customs, traditions, and rhythms of life felt deeply familiar, and I could draw so many parallels that made the connection to the story even stronger. If there’s one thing Amanda does unbelievably well, it’s creating settings so vivid you can smell the sea, feel the breeze, and hear the echoes of the past woven into the landscape.

The mystery surrounding Anna Swan and the fairytale of The Glass Key unfolds beautifully, blending historical fiction with family secrets in a way that feels both intimate and epic. It’s emotional without ever feeling manipulative, and every revelation lands exactly where it should.

A breathtaking, stay-up-all-night read that will linger long after the final page. Amanda Geard has done it again - a truly unforgettable novel.

[Chantal Agapiti · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story written in a dual timeline:
- WWII in Einevaer (Norway)
- 2005 in Kerry (Ireland)

There generations of women are portrayed in those years: a grandmother, a mother and her daughter.
As her grandfather past away, the granddaughter begins her quest for truth. The truth behind her grandmother’s disappearance forty years ago.
Her mother was a teenager, and she had a great bond with her mother. Yet one night she’d vanished from their Irish home.

This journey will take you through rough times, yet in an unbelievable setting up in the arctic where a heart shaped island lies.
The women who lived there were already brave to cope into such an environment, and the war only put them further to the test.

The author depicts different kinds of love made of sisterhood, womanhood, friendships and more. The kind of unconditional loyalty,
anyone could only dream of. And that’s the true essence of feeling whole and at home.

I adored this story and recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity.

[Kim Coenen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wanneer Maggie’s grootvader overlijdt, stuit ze tussen zijn bezittingen op een mysterieuze brief uit de oorlogsjaren. De afzender? Haar grootmoeder, de vrouw die ooit op een stormachtige avond spoorloos verdween. In de brief vraagt ze hem om een baby in huis te nemen. Maar waarom? En van wie was het kind?
Al sinds haar jeugd hoort Maggie het intrigerende familieverhaal over de glazen sleutel, een Scandinavische mythe die van generatie op generatie wordt doorgegeven. Wat ooit klonk als een sprookje, blijkt dieper geworteld in de werkelijkheid dan ze ooit had kunnen vermoeden.
Vastbesloten de waarheid te achterhalen, reist Maggie naar een afgelegen eiland in Noorwegen. Daar ontrafelt ze het aangrijpende verhaal van vier moedige jonge vrouwen tijdens de bezetting – en ontdekt ze hoe hun levens onlosmakelijk verbonden zijn met dat van haar eigen familie.

Mijn ervaring:
Wat een intrigerende, mysterieuze en pakkende historische roman. Het verhaal ontvouwt zich rondom het mysterie van een verdwenen grootmoeder, maar groeit gaandeweg uit tot een gelaagde en soms complexe roman die je volledig in zijn greep houdt. Amanda Geard heeft een beeldende en sfeervolle schrijfstijl. Ze weet het ruige Noorse landschap zo levendig te beschrijven dat je je er echt waant. Op toegankelijke en vloeiende wijze houdt ze de complexe en verschillende verhaallijnen helder. Daarbij zorgt de combinatie van mysterie en emotionele diepgang voor een spannend, oprecht en ontroerend verhaal.

In het heden is Maggie een overtuigend en krachtig hoofdpersonage, gedreven door nieuwsgierigheid en een diep gevoel van gemis. In het verleden geven de vier jonge vrouwen tijdens de bezetting het verhaal extra gewicht. Hun keuzes, angsten, twijfels en zorgen zorgen voor een sterke psychologische gelaagdheid. Elk personage draagt zijn of haar eigen geheimen en innerlijke strijd met zich mee en niemand is overduidelijk goed of slecht. Dat maakt de personages menselijk en herkenbaar en geeft het verhaal een realistisch gevoel.

Het verhaal is opgebouwd uit meerdere tijdlijnen. Hierdoor vallen de puzzelstukjes langzaam op hun plek en wordt de spanning geleidelijk opgebouwd. Het tempo ligt niet extreem hoog, maar voelt precies goed: rustig waar nodig om emoties echt binnen te laten komen, en sneller op momenten waarop de onthullingen dichterbij komen. Dit zorgt ervoor dat je blijft doorlezen, gedreven door de nieuwsgierigheid naar hoe alles samenkomt.

In het verhaal draait het om familie, identiteit en de impact van het verleden op het heden. Geheimen, oorlog en opoffering vormen de kern van het verhaal, maar ook liefde en verbondenheid spelen een belangrijke rol. De roman laat op indrukwekkende wijze zien hoe keuzes uit het verleden generaties lang kunnen doorwerken. Vooral de emotionele ontknoping maakte veel indruk en gaf het verhaal nog meer diepgang.

De glazen sleutel is een intrigerende, meeslepende en gelaagde roman. De sterke, realistische personages, de sfeervolle setting en de emotionele diepgang, gecombineerd met mysterie, spanning en familiegeschiedenis, zorgen voor een heerlijke leeservaring. Ook deze roman van Amanda Geard is absoluut een aanrader.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very emotional dual timeline novel! How hard it must be to have see your mum walk away when you are sixteen; how hard must it be when you start doubting about the biological family bonds? Secrets started in desperate situations during the Second World War in North Norway will follow Anna and her daughter Freja to Ireland... I enjoyed the descriptions of the Norwegian wild sea and learning about those numerous islands and their inhabitants.
The characters were convincing and I felt for them. However, the more modern timeline with its typical romantic touch was for me totally irrelevant as it is very often the case in dual timelines novels. But still, I enjoyed the rest of this emotional and thrilling novel very much.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

[Linda Hainkel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting story weaving together family secrets, WWII in northern Norway, Norwegian fairy tales, and a magical archipelago called Einevaer. I adored Amanda Gerard’s first two novels which I read 3 years ago. I was so excited when I learned she had a new novel this summer. But somehow the things I loved in her first two novels-family secrets, an historical mystery, multiple timelines, and a present day person to figure it all out for us-just didn’t work quite as well for me here. The pace of the story was incredibly slow for the first 300 pages and there were so many characters (and hidden identities!) to keep track of. There were two main timelines but she switched back and forth so frequently I found myself losing track of one timeline while reading the other. I frequently reread sections and took copious notes (which I often do when there are a lot of details to keep track of). It took me 2 weeks to get through this.

I loved the setting of Einevaer and it was beautifully described. Starting in 1940 we meet 4 young woman who are close friends. When German soldiers come to their insular island home, all of their lives are changed forever. In 2005 35 year old Maggie Murphy returns to Balinn, Ireland after a painful divorce. Her beloved grandfather Atticus Swann has died and she finds a wartime letter among his things. Her grandmother Anna Swann went missing in 1959 but her mother Freja Murphy believes her mother abandoned her and she doesn’t want to know anything more about her. But Maggie believes the letter may tell a different story and she begins to investigate. Who was Anna Swann? None of the women we meet in 1940 have that name. Could one of them have been Anna?

The final 100 pages are riveting with twist after twist. But a lot of things just didn’t make a lot of sense to me. The Glossary in the front states Einevaer is 100 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. At first I was picturing a very remote island possibly inaccessible in the winter months. We assume Einevaer is fictional but Bodo is a real city on the coast of Northern Norway. The characters in 1940 seem to pop down to Bodo like it is a short trip (in 1940!) The beautiful hand drawn map states Bodo is 10 Nautical Miles. Bodo is “just over the Arctic Circle” according to Google. So which is it-100 kilometers or 10 Nautical miles? A lot of the final twists just didn’t make a lot of sense to me either. This was not my favorite Amanda Geard novel but I will still read anything she writes.

[Helen - Great Reads & Tea Leaves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amanda Geard’s books are always an absolute treat to dive into, and her latest novel, The Glass Key, is no different.

Spanning dual timelines between modern-day Ireland and World War II occupied Norway, the story follows Maggie. Growing up, Maggie was lulled to sleep by her mother's bedtime story of a Nordic fairytale called The Glass Key, passed down from her grandmother, Anna Swan - a woman who mysteriously vanished into a stormy night years prior. When Maggie’s grandfather passes away, she unearths a faded wartime letter asking him to take in a baby, shattering everything she knew about her family. Driven to uncover the truth, Maggie travels to Norway, unlocking a powerful, heartbreaking history of four brave young women whose lives were forever altered by the Nazi occupation.

From the very first page, Geard weaves a breathtaking, multi-layered narrative that wraps around your heart, drawing you in. What makes her writing so consistently special is her extraordinary sense of place; her vivid, atmospheric descriptions of the rugged Norwegian landscape and the windswept Irish coast make you feel as though you are standing right beside the characters.

The Glass Key is an emotional tale exploring love, sacrifice, and long-buried generational secrets. The historical thread detailing the courage of the women in occupied Norway is both harrowing and deeply inspiring, brilliantly balanced by Maggie’s poignant modern-day quest for healing and identity. Geard's prose is as sharp as it is lyrical, building a slow-burn mystery that culminates in a deeply moving and satisfying conclusion. Immersive, intelligent, and rich in history, this story is Geard at her finest and a wonderful addition to her growing collection of must reads.

[Sarah Dacombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was written in a dual timeline between the early 1940’s & 2005. Based in Norway & Ireland it tells the story of Irishman Atticus Swan & Norwegian sisters, Liv & Nina, who he meets in the Archipelago Donald’s of Norway.
The islands (where you need a boat to access the shop alone!) were described with such detail I could picture everything I read. Other characters include Astrid, Leif, Gudrun & the strict, or so it seems, teacher of the tiny school on the islands.
The story goes between war time & present (ish) time & reveals what can happen with truths that are not told & secrets that are kept & not shared, lies for the greater good or were they?
I really enjoyed this book. It was well written, mysterious, sad, heartwarming & extremely emotional towards the end. I did get confused with all the characters at one point - if you read it I’m sure you will understand why - but it all comes together & makes complete sense at the end. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction that tugs at the heart strings & makes you think what if?

[Cindy Spear · Rating 5 out of 5]

With The Glass Key, Amanda Geard has once again written another epic, complex, richly layered mystery that swept through my heart like a firestorm and made me weep. This is a story of love, sacrifice, loss, war, guilt, alienation and restoration—just to name a few. It is steeped in breathtaking settings, moody atmosphere, generational secrets, identity plot twists and intriguing characters, that will hold your attention to the last page. There are events you won’t see coming and characters that will surprise you. Your heart will race faster with the twists and turns and daring acts. And then, after all that, you will feel the pain of souls in bitter conflict.

I have thought long and hard of what to say about The Glass Key— as due to the nature of it, one could easily give away information that should be reserved for the reader. So I will delicately walk through a few points so as not to spoil the experience. (Don’t ask me why but my poetic mind can picture cat footprints in the snow!) I hope to lure readers to pick this up once the winds of curiosity blow your way with a few crumbs I will share. I decided to say just a little to entice those who may not have read Amanda’s books before. Because those who have, will need no convincing.

First I can say it is evident The Glass Key was born of the author’s passion for the locations and topics dear to her heart. (Amanda shares in her notes at the back, her own experience of landing on and then owning an island one hundred kilometres north of the Arctic Circle). Throughout the story, I could feel the deep emotion, the agony and ecstasy, that birthed this beautiful tale. Profound serious characterisation development and exceptional descriptions of a beloved Nordic island are delivered with such sensitivity, that it is obvious nature and human experiences and temperaments are intricately woven together. We get to know each person with their fears and dreams in a changing landscape. But that does not mean we can figure out easily what direction they will head when trials come.

The novel is told in two timelines that flow seamlessly, transitioning well, supplying various aspects of the plot: where one revelation/moment starts in the present and then shifts over to the past continuing the story. One thread set in Occupied Norway, paints a vivid picture of how difficult it was for residents. The Irish landscape also weaves its magical spell, too, for the modern timeline contains a house of mystery and secrets.

I also loved the use of Maggie’s grandmother’s beautiful and tragic Nordic fairytale, The Glass Key. Maggie grew up in Ireland hearing this haunting story. Then one stormy night, Anna Swan suddenly left her home. Nobody knew what happened to her. After Maggie’s grandfather dies, she finds a letter that sets her world spinning. She must uncover the truth for her mother’s sake. This quest begins by travelling to Norway. Through various avenues and people, Maggie unravels the mystery that is connected to WW2 and four brave women. This knowledge sets her mother’s heart free to heal and they are able to ‘unlock the mystery of the glass key.’

The Glad Key is very much a relationship story that explores the many kinds of love there are and the sacrifices some will make. What lengths would you go, what sacrifices would you make, to save another that meant the world to you? Expect there will be great pain. Labour of epic proportions. And tears.

The Glass Key cuts to the bone, carves out your heart but then slowly pieces you back together again. It is raw, honest and earth-shaking. With Maggie at the helm of this quest, her mother receives answers that lead to emotional healing. The finale is powerful. It delivers restoration. As we sail on a ship of hope, through a channel of trials, with these beloved characters to the isle of their dreams, the journey ends on the shores of peace, joy and forgiveness. A beautiful, unforgettable story steeped in passion, promise and pain that leaves behind a legacy of light, love and liberty. I was fixed to the pages and tears constantly welled up in my eyes. I cannot praise this novel enough and highly recommend it. 5 Golden Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Headline Review and Netgalley for a review copy.

[Wendy(Wendyreadsbooks) Robey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Glass Key is a gorgeous dual timeline family mystery with love and loyalty at its heart. You can always rely on an Amanda Geard story to pull at the heartstrings and this is another beautifully written one. Her characters are always so believable and human, with the impact of war so vivid in the destruction of their lives and freedom. The beautiful settings of Ireland and Norway bring each of the parts of the story to life and I could feel the isolation of the islands where these women lived and worked coming from very pages. The idea of the fairytales and stories passed down from mother to daughter was beautifully woven through the story and seeing Maggie and Freja finally understand the history of their family was emotional.

[Molly Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories of the people, let alone specifically the women, of northern Norway during WWII is statically underexposed. Amanda Geard encapsulates the personalities and struggles of these various women wonderfully.

The story is well thought out and the characters felt very fleshed out, however the plot itself felt as though it was dragged out unnecessarily. The book could’ve been 100 pages shorter and had the exact same impact.

I often found myself losing track of the names and places referenced but I did enjoy the premise massively.

Overall I’d recommend the book as I felt it encouraged me to read more about Norway during the war and the characters were incredibly well developed, I just felt the plot could’ve been less convoluted.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

[Anouk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Geluisterd in plaats van gelezen. Maar op die manier was het een heerlijk boek. De perfecte balans tussen geschiedenis, oorlog, cultuur, familie en liefde. Alle verhaallijnen en personages zijn prachtig verwoven waardoor ik me geen moment verveelde. In her begin moest ik wel even wennen aan de namen om ze goed te onthouden. Het was best veel in een keer. Maar aan het eind moest ik hem uitluisteren en kon ik niet wachten tot ik hem weer aan kon zetten.

[VickydpBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dual-timeline story: modern-day Maggie follows a wartime letter from Ireland to Norway, uncovering her grandmother’s secret past and the legend of the glass key, set against WWII occupation. Rich atmosphere, sweeping landscapes, and emotional reveals.

Evocative settings, strong female characters, slow-burn mystery, heartfelt themes of sacrifice & identity.

Steady pace, not fast-paced; some subplots unfold gently.

A lush, moving family mystery linking Ireland and Norway, where a fairy-tale key unlocks long-buried wartime secrets.

[Aisha Faisal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweeping, Nostalgic, and Deeply Human: Why 'The Glass Key' Will Linger Long After the Final Page

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Headline, and Amanda Geard for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest and voluntary review! Ms Geard has delivered a sweeping, atmospheric triumph with The Glass Key. Moving seamlessly between wartime Norway in 1940 and County Kerry, Ireland, in 2005, this dual-timeline novel is a beautifully written, emotionally rich blend of historical drama, family secrets, and psychological suspense.

While the narrative is a slow burn that could have occasionally benefited from a tighter structural edit to trim some long-winded passages, the payoff is entirely worth it. The mystery of a missing matriarch and a Scandinavian myth steadily unravels into an immersive, multi-generational saga that will linger with you long after the final page.

✒️ Love, Loss, and the Ripple Effects of War

The story ignites when Maggie’s grandfather, Atticus, passes away at Hellebore House. Among his belongings, Maggie and her mother, Freya, discover a mysterious wartime letter from Ann, the woman who vanished without a trace on a stormy night decades earlier. The letter holds a baffling request: take in a baby. Driven by a profound sense of loss and burning curiosity, Maggie travels to a remote Norwegian archipelago to uncover whose child it was, and why it was hidden.

What elevates The Glass Key from a standard historical mystery is how flawlessly Geard weaves in the family myth of the Glass Key, transforming what seemed like a childhood fairy tale into a deeply rooted reality. As a reader with Scandinavian roots, the depiction of the region felt incredibly nostalgic. The local customs, traditions, and rhythms of daily life are captured with striking authenticity. Geard’s prose is wonderfully vivid; you can practically smell the salt air, feel the biting northern breeze, and hear the echoes of the past etched into the rugged, beautiful landscape.

The pacing is deliberate, taking its time when emotions need space to resonate and quickening as long-buried secrets finally surface. At its core, this is a heartfelt exploration of identity, resilience, and the devastating sacrifices made during the occupation. It powerfully illustrates how the choices of the past ripple across generations, culminating in an emotional, breathtaking conclusion that lands with perfect precision.

The true heart of the novel lies in its rich psychological complexity. Geard refuses to paint her characters in black and white; instead, everyone carries internal conflicts, fears, and secrets that make them feel wonderfully human.

The Present Day (2005)

Maggie: A compelling, fiercely strong protagonist. Driven by a deep sense of grief after her grandfather's passing, her quest for the truth is entirely relatable. She serves as the perfect anchor for the modern timeline as she fits the puzzle pieces together.

Freya: Maggie’s mother. Returning to her birthplace brings up its own emotional weight, and her dynamic with Maggie adds a touching layer of maternal connection to the journey of uncovering their family's origins.

The Young Women of Wartime Norway:

The wartime sections introduce several remarkable women whose lives become intertwined through friendship, survival, sacrifice, and difficult choices. Each woman feels distinct, carrying her own fears, hopes, and secrets. Amanda Geard avoids creating simplistic heroes or villains; instead, every character feels authentically human. Their struggles during the German occupation add incredible emotional and historical depth to the novel.

Atticus:

Though his passing triggers the events of the novel, his presence looms large over Hellebore House. A man who carried heavy secrets from the war years until his final breath.

The Past (1940)
Anna (Carlsen / Swan): The enigmatic center of the novel's mystery. Her sudden disappearance in 1940 casts a sixty-year shadow over her descendants, and her wartime choices form the emotional spine of the book.

The Four Young Women of the Occupation: Living through the dark days of wartime Norway, these brave characters add immense depth to the historical narrative. Geard beautifully explores their doubts, fears, and the impossible choices forced upon them by the war. None of them is entirely good or entirely bad, making their struggles with survival, resistance, and betrayal feel raw and authentic.

My Thoughts:

The Glass Key is a beautifully written, emotionally rich, and deeply immersive historical novel. The mystery surrounding Anna's disappearance keeps the pages turning, while the powerful character work and stunning settings make the story impossible to forget.

The dual timelines are expertly woven together, the historical details feel authentic, and the emotional payoff is incredibly satisfying. While the story unfolds at a deliberate pace, every chapter adds another piece to a fascinating puzzle that ultimately comes together in a moving and memorable conclusion. A breathtaking family saga filled with mystery, history, love, loss, and long-buried secrets. Amanda Geard has once again delivered a novel that lingers long after the final page.

My Verdict:

An intriguing, immersive, and richly layered novel. If you love historical fiction steeped in atmospheric settings, complex characters, family mysteries, and beautifully layered dual-timeline stories. The Glass Key by Amanda Geard is out June 18th 2026.

[Liz Fenwick]

I loved this book. In fact more than that I lived this beautiful story of love, loss and hope. Simply superb and I can’t stop thinking about it.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

County Kerry, Ireland. 2005. With a broken marriage, and failed gardening business, in her wake, Maggie Swan has returned home for the funeral of her beloved grandfather, Atticus. She has no plans to return to Dublin, and the uncertainty about what life holds for her now is clouded by her mother's determination to sell Atticus' sprawling home Hellebore House - a place where secrets lie as thick as the dust in its once stately rooms.

Maggie's grandmother, Anna Swan, left Hellebore House one stormy night in 1959, to never return. Her mother Freya, a famous author who continues Anna's tradition of telling magical Nordic fairy tales such as The Glass Key, rarely speaks of her, but Maggie has always been fascinated by the mystery of why she left that night. As Maggie begins to sift through Atticus' belongings, she comes across a wartime letter asking him to take in Anna and become her father-figure to baby Freya, which throws into question so many things she thought she knew about her family.

Maggie learns that the answers she is seeking lie in Norway, where she must go if she wants to learn the truth...

Amanda Geard is one of my favourite authors for many reasons. I adored both of her glorious previous novels, The Midnight House (2022) and The Moon Gate (2023), and my love affair with her work continues as strong as ever with this brand new gem The Glass Key.

The story unfurls in two compelling timelines: in 2015 from the perspective of Maggie, as she pursues her quest for the truth about the disappearance of Anna Swan, the grandmother she never knew; and in 1940's Norway, during the German occupation, through the voices of Anna (also known as Astrid) and Nina (custodian of the beacon on the tiny coastal island of Lysøya, with her wild younger sister Liv).

I am so excited that Amanda has chosen incredible Norway for her latest novel, a place that both fascinates me and is beloved to Amada herself. She excels in shining as insightful light on areas of history that deserve much more attention, particularly when it comes to the underrepresented roles that women have had to play, and the plight of wartime Norway is perfect fodder for her talents.

In a way that always leaves me in awe, the timelines weave beautifully together to immerse you in storylines about love, loss, family and friendship - bleeding cleverly between atmospheric locations and objects present in both timelines, and turning on pivotal moments steeped in closely guarded secrets, yearning, motherhood, and profound grief. Her characters are complicated creatures, filled out in realistic shades of grey, and they take you on an emotional journey that runs the gamut of emotional highs and lows, laughter and tears. I especially loved the sensitive way Amada explores the complexities of survival and resistance in small communities during war, particularly when it comes to collaboration with the enemy - there are stars to pin your colours to... monsters to be feared too... all inspired by real events that will send you spiralling down rabbit holes. And oh, how she uses Norse fairy tales to capture your imagination so, and perfectly echo her themes! Superb!

Once again Amanda threads elements of mystery through her story with accomplished style. The answers to Maggie's questions comes after many twists and turns, and I cried pretty much solidly through the final third of the novel unable to look away as past meets present in a series of breath-taking moments. The combined impact of revelations, reconciliations, and remembrances had me sobbing, not to mention more than one superbly wrought love-story - there are a few nice surprises from Amanda's previous visits to County Kerry too, and her communities are a joy.

There can be no doubt that The Glass Key stands loud and proud as one of my books of 2026. It has everything I want in a historical novel - just as I knew it would. More please, Amanda.

[Mana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't your standard wartime drama that leans on cheap melodrama to move the needle. Amanda Geard manages to balance a fragile, Nordic folklore vibe with the cold reality of occupied Norway. The story follows Maggie, who finds a wartime letter after her grandfather passes away, forcing her to realize her grandmother, Anna, was a woman defined by a very specific kind of silence. The journey moves from Ireland to the isolated islands of Norway, pulling back the curtain on a history far more complicated than the bedtime stories Maggie grew up with.

The heart of the book belongs to the women, particularly Nina and Anna. Their experiences during the occupation provide the necessary weight; their lives are a study in the stamina required to survive. Maggie acts as our proxy, and her growth comes from the uncomfortable realization that the people we love are often strangers with hidden depths. Then there is Liv, who remains an ethereal, fleeting figure, almost like a Nordic fairy. While she adds a mythic layer, the connection between her and Maggie’s grandfather felt too brief. I wanted more substance there to anchor the emotional stakes, but their bond remains as elusive as Liv herself.

The atmosphere captures that specific trauma where survival and betrayal occupy the same room. It forces us to look at how we package family histories into neat myths to avoid the jagged edges of the truth. We still do this today, curating our lives and burying the parts that don't fit the narrative. Geard’s writing is steady and direct, though the pacing loses some steam toward the end.

What sets this apart is the refusal to rely on forced sentimentality. The cruelty of the occupation is presented with a minimalism that hits harder because it lacks fluff. It isn’t a story of polished heroes; it’s about how people break and how they mend in ways that leave them looking completely different. The mythic element of the glass key adds beauty to a grim setting, functioning as a survival mechanism for characters who find reality too much to bear.

It is a solid, honest read that stays with you. It makes you wonder what your own family left out of their stories just to keep the peace. If you appreciate a book that values atmosphere and the complexity of human choices over easy answers, it is worth the time. Just be prepared for a slow burn that prioritizes the internal landscape of its characters over high-speed plot twists.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

The Glass Key is the second book I’ve read by Amanda Geard (The Moon Gate was the first) and I really enjoy her style of writing. Like The Moon Gate, this book takes place over different time periods and in different countries, in this case 1940s occupied Norway and County Kerry in Ireland in 2005. There is a brief diversion to Germany too and the storylines are brought together in Norway in 2005.

Maggie has always loved hearing her mother Freja tell her the Nordic fairytale The Glass Key which she had been told by her own mother, Anna Swan. Anna had disappeared one evening and was never heard from again. This of course has had a huge influence on the life of Maggie’s grandfather Atticus as well as her mother and, by default, Maggie herself. When Atticus passes away, Maggie discovers some mysterious letters that set her off on a quest to find out just what happened to her grandmother. This leads nicely into the historical aspect of the book as we journey back to Norway and meet her grandmother and other brave women who defied the German invaders.

Although I was absorbed in Maggie’s investigations into her past which led her inevitably to Norway, it was the historical aspect of the novel which really captivated me. As Maggie found out information about her grandmother, the author smoothly linked this into the past and took us back to the Norwegian islands. I really liked the characters of Anna, Nina and Liv, and finding out about their courage as they lived a difficult life under occupation. I was caught up in the whole mystery aspect of the story and often taken by surprise by the author’s revelations. This moving between the two timelines made for a well-paced and gripping read.

One aspect of this book I particularly enjoyed was finding out a bit about Norway during the Second World War. I’ve read a lot of fiction set in this era but I don’t think I’ve read anything set in Norway before. This historical aspect of the novel is obviously very well researched and the author has personal knowledge and a passion for the area. This comes through so well in her writing and brought the small islands and their community to life for me.

The Glass Key is a fabulous story of courage, secrets, sacrifice, friendship and finding where you belong. Impeccably researched, beautifully written, The Glass Key is a compelling and satisfying read.

[Patrice Van Trigt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soms heb je van die periodes dat je alleen maar fantastische boeken te lezen krijgt! Ik was weer even terug in mijn favoriete Noorwegen.

Na het indrukwekkende 'Het middernachthuis' waren de verwachtingen voor 'De glazen sleutel' hoog, maar Amanda Geard weet opnieuw te overtuigen met een meeslepende historische roman vol familiegeheimen, mysterie en emotionele diepgang.
Wanneer Maggie na het overlijden van haar grootvader een mysterieuze brief uit de Tweede Wereldoorlog ontdekt, begint een zoektocht die haar van Ierland naar een afgelegen eiland in Noord-Noorwegen voert. Daar probeert ze niet alleen de waarheid achter de verdwijning van haar grootmoeder Anna te achterhalen, maar ontdekt ze ook hoe diep het verleden verweven is met haar eigen familiegeschiedenis.
Geard blinkt uit in haar beeldende schrijfstijl. De ruige Noorse ongerepte natuur wordt zo levendig beschreven dat je je ter plaatse waant; de indrukwekkende fjorden, verlaten eilanden en stormachtige kusten zie ik zonder problemen zo voor me.

Wat mij direct aansprak, was die specifieke sfeer. Ook de Scandinavische mythe rond de glazen sleutel is prachtig verwerkt; ze geeft het verhaal een mysterieuze, bijna magische onderlaag.

De afwisseling tussen het heden en de oorlogsjaren in bezet Noorwegen houdt de spanning voortdurend vast. Vooral de verhalen van de vier jonge vrouwen in het verzet maakten indruk. Hun moed, twijfels en opofferingen zorgen voor veel emotionele diepgang. Geen enkel personage voelt zwart-wit aan, waardoor je hun keuzes begrijpt, zelfs wanneer die niet altijd eenvoudig zijn. Er is geen goed maar ook geen slecht.
Ondanks de verschillende verhaallijnen blijft alles overzichtelijk en valt alles geleidelijk op hun plaats. Het tempo is rustig wanneer emoties ruimte nodig hebben en versnelt op de juiste momenten.

De glazen sleutel is veel meer dan een historische roman. Het is een meeslepende familiesaga over liefde, verlies, identiteit en de sporen die het verleden nalaat.
De sterke vrouwelijke personages, het intrigerende mysterie en de adembenemende setting maken dat dit boek lang blijft hangen.

[Stephanie Bull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set between 2005 and wartime Norway, The Glass Key follows Maggie whose search for answers about her family's past uncovers long buried secrets stretching back to the years of German occupation. As the narrative moves between the present day and World War 2, the lives of those connected to her become increasingly entwined, revealing stories of love, sacrifice, courage and survival. Against the dramatic backdrop of Norway's rugged coastline and remote communities, Amanda Geard gradually pieces together a compelling mystery that spans generations. Rich in atmosphere and emotion, the novel explores the enduring impact of choices made in extraordinary circumstances.

I so enjoyed this sweeping, emotional tale. So much more than a historical novel, it is a book full of layers, secrets, mystery, twists and some of the most evocative scenic descriptions I have read in a long while. Seamlessly moving between 2005 and the occupied Norway of the 1940s, the story explores resilience, love, loyalty and identity while gradually revealing the hidden connections between past and present.

Foe me. the very best stories are those that allow the reader to climb into the pages and become completely immersed in the world being created. The Glass Key achieves this beautifully. The author writes with such a strong sense of place, I could almost feel the sea air, see the dramatic landscapes and experience every emotion alongside the characters. The historical detail is woven effortlessly into the narrative, enriching the story without ever slowing its pace. The mystery unfolds at exactly the right speed, with each revelation adding another layer to an already captivating story. With authentic and emotionally complex characters it is impossible not to become invested in their journeys. The breathtakingly emotional final pages are both satisfying and deeply moving.

I highly recommend this unforgettable novel, beautifully written, atmospheric and emotionally resonant, The Glass Key is a story that lingers long after the final page.

So many thanks to NetGalley and Headline Books for my advance reader copy in return for my honest and unbiased review.

[Annette Hester · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when the past becomes a whirlpool, pulling in those you love and leaving indelible marks on the future?

1959, County Kerry, Ireland. Sixteen-year-old Freja Swan is focused on writing and illustrating "The Glass Key", the fairy tale her Norwegian mother, Anna, has always told her, while also clandestinely meeting Fionn, her handsome neighbor. She has no idea that her life is about to change forever.

1940, Einevær Archipelago, Norway, 100 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. Hitler has recently invaded Norway, and while fleeing Nazi scrutiny in Oslo, Astrid finds herself among an established group of young friends: Gudrun and Leif, sister and brother whose father owns the area's most prominent business, and Nina and Liv, two orphaned sisters struggling to make ends meet. When they secretly rescue a man working for British intelligence, their lives are irrevocably changed.

2005, County Kerry, Ireland. Maggie has returned home to pay her final respects to her grandfather, Atticus. She is devastated not only by his loss, but also by the fact that her husband has left her for her best friend, her business has failed, and she has received unwanted medical news. When clues begin to surface about a long-standing family mystery, she is eager to unravel its secrets.

Thank you to Headline and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this mysterious historical novel.

A question woven repeatedly throughout this book is: What would you do for love, and how would those choices affect not only you, but also those around you? Equally compelling are the unintended consequences of lies told and truths withheld. With a title drawn from a fairy tale, one wonders whether this story will deliver a happy ending or merely serve as a cautionary tale.

I struggled to connect with the characters during the first half of the novel. However, the latter half—particularly the final quarter, when the mystery began to unfold—was both touching and compelling.

[Hollie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this wonderful book. Thank you to Amanda Geard for writing such a beautiful and lovely story.
The Glass Key is a beautiful story set in both Norway and Ireland. When Atticus Swan passes away, Hellebore House is left to his daughter, Freja, who wants to sell it due to childhood memories. Freja's daughter Maggie doesn't want her mother to sell, and while she's helping pack up her grandfather's house, she digs deeper into the story of her grandmother, Anna Swan, who left Freja when she was young.
In 1940's Norway, Astrid arrives in the archipelago to start a new life as a teacher's assistant. From there she meets Gudrun, Lief, Liv, and Nina. They become friends over time and when the German's come, everything changes and so do their relationships. They face hardships under German rule while keeping their Norwegian pride but things break under pressure.
This story captivated me from the very beginning. Seeing Maggie slowly piece together her family history that's full of secrets and finding the next lead kept me wanting to know more and more. Maggie's relationship with her parents was loving and she only wanted the best for her mum, and she wanted her to know the truth about what happened to her mother all those years ago.
In Norway, the story of Liv, Astrid, and Nina and how they helped the war while going through such hardships had me reading until 5:00am. The story and relationship between Astrid and Nina was beautiful and full of so much love. It was gripping, sad, and utterly beautiful. They were devoted to each other and their story together was my favourite part of the book.
This book is one of the best books I've read in a while. Amanda Geard knows how to write a book, and every book of hers I have devoured. She's honestly one of my favourite authors, and she's Australian!

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw this novel on Netgallery, it immediately caught my eye with the cover and blurb, so I just had to request it! I was so thankful when I got accepted to read it as I love a historical fiction book. Also Amanda Geard is a new author for me and I will be reading more of her books!

This book certainly didn't disappoint as it was deeply moving (tissues are needed), atmospheric, and had a sweeping historical mystery. It weaved together family secrets, wartime trauma, and Nordic folklore.

The author's description of the Norwegian landscape are so vivid, which added to the immersive feel.
The story moves back and forth between two starkly contrasting settings and eras, first one being County Kerry, Ireland (2005) that follows Maggie who has grown up hearing the fairytale of The Glass Key from her mother, which was passed down by her grandmother Anna Swan, who mysteriously vanished into a storm decades prior. Then the second era is the Norwegian Arctic Circle (WWII 1940's) that follows the lives of four brave young women (Astrid, Nina, Liv and Anna) navigating the brutal hardships, danger, and sacrifices of wartime occupation.

I absolutely loved the Nordic fairytale - The Glass Key that was shared in the story. It was beautiful but yet tragic!
I'm a fairytale fan so I enjoyed the deeper connection when Geard made references to the the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen who wrote the classics Nordic/European folk tales.

The only thing I would say is that I did get abit confused with all the characters and names at first but after a few chapters it all made sense and came together.

On the whole, I really enjoyed this book and unlocking the mystery. It certainly pulled on my heartstrings too!
I would recommend if you're a historical fiction fan, enjoy strong female leads and gripping emotional family drama.