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Freyja
The unsolved case of a young girl’s disappearance reopens after twenty years in this moody, atmospheric debut of suspense set in Reykjavík and the Icelandic coast.
Unnur has secrets. A single mother to a beloved daughter, Lilja, she lives a deliberately quiet life in Reykjavík, working at a bakery under an assumed last name and pushing away haunting visions of the last summer of her childhood. Her safety—and Lilja’s—now hinges on discretion. But when her ex-husband returns to Iceland and brings with him a new girlfriend, who seems to know more about Unnur than she’s letting on, Unnur may finally have to face what happened long ago on a black sand beach in the remote Dark Valley—and the possibility that she might be responsible for the disappearance of her otherworldly friend Freyja.
As a cold case investigation reopens and the intricate threads of past and present begin to tangle, Unnur must race to recover the broken memory of what happened all those years ago, or risk losing her daughter. 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.
Unnur has secrets. A single mother to a beloved daughter, Lilja, she lives a deliberately quiet life in Reykjavík, working at a bakery under an assumed last name and pushing away haunting visions of the last summer of her childhood. Her safety—and Lilja’s—now hinges on discretion. But when her ex-husband returns to Iceland and brings with him a new girlfriend, who seems to know more about Unnur than she’s letting on, Unnur may finally have to face what happened long ago on a black sand beach in the remote Dark Valley—and the possibility that she might be responsible for the disappearance of her otherworldly friend Freyja.
As a cold case investigation reopens and the intricate threads of past and present begin to tangle, Unnur must race to recover the broken memory of what happened all those years ago, or risk losing her daughter. 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.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published August 4, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 374 reviews
August 10, 2026
"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."
In 1991, a little girl Freyja disappeared from the beach. She was Unnur's best friend bring raised by Elias. Twenty years later, Freyja has moved to a different town under an alias working at a bakery and raising her daughter Lija by herself. Her husband appears with his new girlfriend and her little girl named Freyja. She seems to know a lot about Unnur. When she begins to receive odd items from her past, she thinks she knows who is behind it all. This is unsettling as we weave through the story in Unnur's head, compounded by the fear and safety of her daughter.
Outstanding debut! I can't say enough about this Nordic Noir steeped in folklore and mythical tales. When the mystery was solved, I just sat there thinking about all the other things and people, piecing it together. This is great! Thank you NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau for this incredible ARC in exchange for my honest review.
In 1991, a little girl Freyja disappeared from the beach. She was Unnur's best friend bring raised by Elias. Twenty years later, Freyja has moved to a different town under an alias working at a bakery and raising her daughter Lija by herself. Her husband appears with his new girlfriend and her little girl named Freyja. She seems to know a lot about Unnur. When she begins to receive odd items from her past, she thinks she knows who is behind it all. This is unsettling as we weave through the story in Unnur's head, compounded by the fear and safety of her daughter.
Outstanding debut! I can't say enough about this Nordic Noir steeped in folklore and mythical tales. When the mystery was solved, I just sat there thinking about all the other things and people, piecing it together. This is great! Thank you NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau for this incredible ARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 17, 2025
I LOVED this book. The writing is phenomenal - it's thrilling, addictive, and utterly unputdownable.
I've read and enjoyed a handful of other books by Icelandic authors (big fan of Hildur Knutsdottir) but this book had a little something extra because it was written by an American-Icelandic author, so it included the the author's unique perspective and experience of both cultures. On its face, this book is a mystery about lost children but it's also SO so much more. The book includes background about the history of Iceland and it's relationship with America and American soldiers. It also delves into the beliefs and history of folklore once a central to the lives of native Icelanders, while also recognizing that times change and strict adherence to ancient beliefs today is less common. An American in Iceland might deem these ancient beliefs and folklore to be fairy tales, but to undermine their role and importance to Icelandic culture would be a mistake.
This story alternates between 1990 and 2018. The 1990 chapters reexamine Unnar's (main character) childhood in Iceland following her traumatic forced relocation by her aunt to live at a farm with strangers in the Dark Valley. This is where she meets and loses Freyja and the story begins.
In 2018, Unnar is single after a divorce and living with her daughter in Reykjavik. This is where her ex-husband introduces her to his new (morally questionable) girlfriend, Loa, and her daugher, Freyja, and a new Freyja disappears.
After the release of a book about Freyja's disappearance in 1991, Unnar is taunted by someone who knows about her past in the Dark Valley and her connection to Freyja before she went missing. After Loa's daughter goes missing and Unnar is framed, Unnar realizes that the present day disappearance of Freyja is intrinsically connected to the disappearance of her Freyja from the Dark Valley. One mystery cannot be solved without solving the other and if she cannot prove who is framing her for Loa's daughters disappearance, she may never see her daughter again.
This story is a melding of two worlds for Unnar: the Dark Valley and the Bright Valley. Folklore and logic. Two Freyjas. Two continents. Two cultures. Two sisters. Pagan beliefs and Christianity. Good and evil. Life and death.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough if you love dark mysteries, Nordic settings, and folklore. It's packed full of twists and turns, unexpected discoveries, found family, history, suspense, trauma, grief, unconditional love, forgiveness, and growth. It also had a great ending (imo). This book is a MUST READ for mystery lovers. I will be recommending to everyone I know. I can't wait to read the author's next work.
(I also personally loved the connection to Connecticut because I also live in Fairfield County.. and visited Iceland but that is less unique to just me.)
Thank you, NetGalley and Spiegel and Grau, for the eARC!! <3
I've read and enjoyed a handful of other books by Icelandic authors (big fan of Hildur Knutsdottir) but this book had a little something extra because it was written by an American-Icelandic author, so it included the the author's unique perspective and experience of both cultures. On its face, this book is a mystery about lost children but it's also SO so much more. The book includes background about the history of Iceland and it's relationship with America and American soldiers. It also delves into the beliefs and history of folklore once a central to the lives of native Icelanders, while also recognizing that times change and strict adherence to ancient beliefs today is less common. An American in Iceland might deem these ancient beliefs and folklore to be fairy tales, but to undermine their role and importance to Icelandic culture would be a mistake.
This story alternates between 1990 and 2018. The 1990 chapters reexamine Unnar's (main character) childhood in Iceland following her traumatic forced relocation by her aunt to live at a farm with strangers in the Dark Valley. This is where she meets and loses Freyja and the story begins.
In 2018, Unnar is single after a divorce and living with her daughter in Reykjavik. This is where her ex-husband introduces her to his new (morally questionable) girlfriend, Loa, and her daugher, Freyja, and a new Freyja disappears.
After the release of a book about Freyja's disappearance in 1991, Unnar is taunted by someone who knows about her past in the Dark Valley and her connection to Freyja before she went missing. After Loa's daughter goes missing and Unnar is framed, Unnar realizes that the present day disappearance of Freyja is intrinsically connected to the disappearance of her Freyja from the Dark Valley. One mystery cannot be solved without solving the other and if she cannot prove who is framing her for Loa's daughters disappearance, she may never see her daughter again.
This story is a melding of two worlds for Unnar: the Dark Valley and the Bright Valley. Folklore and logic. Two Freyjas. Two continents. Two cultures. Two sisters. Pagan beliefs and Christianity. Good and evil. Life and death.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough if you love dark mysteries, Nordic settings, and folklore. It's packed full of twists and turns, unexpected discoveries, found family, history, suspense, trauma, grief, unconditional love, forgiveness, and growth. It also had a great ending (imo). This book is a MUST READ for mystery lovers. I will be recommending to everyone I know. I can't wait to read the author's next work.
(I also personally loved the connection to Connecticut because I also live in Fairfield County.. and visited Iceland but that is less unique to just me.)
Thank you, NetGalley and Spiegel and Grau, for the eARC!! <3
August 5, 2026
(4.25 stars)
Thank you to Spiegel & Grau and Spotify Audio for the opportunity to read and listen to advance copies of Freyja, a wonderful debut by Margret Ann Thors.
If you’re a fan of Nordic Noir, or if you’ve never even heard the term, I recommend checking out Freyja. It’s filled with Icelandic atmosphere and folklore, all wrapped in an intriguing and twisty mystery that stretches over decades.
The story bounces between 1991 and 2018. As a young girl, Unnar is left at a remote farm by her aunt. There she encounters another girl, close to her age, Freyja, and they become friends. In 2018, Unnar is living in Reykjavik, working at a bakery, when her past catches up with her. I don’t want to say more. You should read this one for yourself!
I loved the atmosphere and could picture the scenes, having recently returned from a visit to Iceland. You don’t need to have been there to soak up the sense of place, however. The narrator, Colleen Prendergast, did a good job with most of the voices (and a great job pronouncing the Icelandic names and place names), but I wasn’t a fan of the voice she used for Unnar’s 7-year-old daughter.
Highly recommended.
Thank you to Spiegel & Grau and Spotify Audio for the opportunity to read and listen to advance copies of Freyja, a wonderful debut by Margret Ann Thors.
If you’re a fan of Nordic Noir, or if you’ve never even heard the term, I recommend checking out Freyja. It’s filled with Icelandic atmosphere and folklore, all wrapped in an intriguing and twisty mystery that stretches over decades.
The story bounces between 1991 and 2018. As a young girl, Unnar is left at a remote farm by her aunt. There she encounters another girl, close to her age, Freyja, and they become friends. In 2018, Unnar is living in Reykjavik, working at a bakery, when her past catches up with her. I don’t want to say more. You should read this one for yourself!
I loved the atmosphere and could picture the scenes, having recently returned from a visit to Iceland. You don’t need to have been there to soak up the sense of place, however. The narrator, Colleen Prendergast, did a good job with most of the voices (and a great job pronouncing the Icelandic names and place names), but I wasn’t a fan of the voice she used for Unnar’s 7-year-old daughter.
Highly recommended.
August 31, 2026
Ugh, this book sounded so good, but the only mystery that was compelling was why on earth was the cold case detective such a FREAK???
August 5, 2026
5 stars—I LOVED this one! Freyja follows Unnur, a single mom living a quiet life in Reykjavík with her 7-year-old daughter, Lilja. She works at a bakery under an assumed last name and has spent years trying to bury the memories of one summer from her childhood—when her best friend, Freyja, mysteriously disappeared from a black-sand beach in Iceland’s remote Dark Valley. 👀🌊🖤
Twenty years later, Unnur’s past comes roaring back when the cold case surrounding Freyja’s disappearance is reopened. 😳🔍 Even worse, Unnur’s memories of that night are broken and unreliable, leaving her with the terrifying possibility that she may have had something to do with what happened to Freyja. 😬🫣 When her ex returns to Iceland with a new girlfriend who seems to know a little too much about Unnur’s past, things get even more unsettling. 👀❄️
Y’all… the ATMOSPHERE! 🙌🏻🌊❄️ Between the black-sand beaches, rugged Icelandic coast, folklore + mythology, missing girl, buried memories, and past + present slowly colliding, I was completely hooked. 🤯📖 I especially loved the Icelandic folklore woven throughout and how it constantly had me questioning what was memory, myth, or reality. 👀🧚🏻♀️✨
Absolutely loved this debut + can’t wait to see what Margrét Ann Thors writes next! ❤️📚🙌🏻 Do rec the audio! 🎧 Pub. 7/4/26
Twenty years later, Unnur’s past comes roaring back when the cold case surrounding Freyja’s disappearance is reopened. 😳🔍 Even worse, Unnur’s memories of that night are broken and unreliable, leaving her with the terrifying possibility that she may have had something to do with what happened to Freyja. 😬🫣 When her ex returns to Iceland with a new girlfriend who seems to know a little too much about Unnur’s past, things get even more unsettling. 👀❄️
Y’all… the ATMOSPHERE! 🙌🏻🌊❄️ Between the black-sand beaches, rugged Icelandic coast, folklore + mythology, missing girl, buried memories, and past + present slowly colliding, I was completely hooked. 🤯📖 I especially loved the Icelandic folklore woven throughout and how it constantly had me questioning what was memory, myth, or reality. 👀🧚🏻♀️✨
Absolutely loved this debut + can’t wait to see what Margrét Ann Thors writes next! ❤️📚🙌🏻 Do rec the audio! 🎧 Pub. 7/4/26
August 7, 2026
In this debut novel set in two time periods in Iceland, Margret Ann Thors has created a suspenseful story of memory vs truth, guilt and its cost over time, and unresolved childhood issues that have been hidden well into adulthood and resulted in altered behavior. The story is narrated by Unnur and action is divided between Reykjavik in 2018 and Dark Valley, on the coast, in 1991.
to be continued…
Thanks you to Spiegel & Grau and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
to be continued…
Thanks you to Spiegel & Grau and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
November 23, 2025
Freyja is a novel with a mystery at its center about a girl who disappeared many years ago. Unnur is the protagonist, who is a loving mother to her daughter Lilja. She also knew Freyja as a girl when she was taken to live in a home in the Dark Valley. What follows is the slowly unfolding story of what happened with Freyja’s disappearance in the past, as well as Unnur’s plight dealing with her ex-husband’s request for joint custody of their daughter after returning to Iceland. Stranger still, he brings along a new girlfriend, whose daughter bears the same name as the girl who vanished many years ago.
This author does an incredible job weaving a story about a woman whose nebulous past collides with her present life. It makes the reader question what is real and what is myth. The setting is eerie and mystical, with a unique location for the main events of the story. Most of all, the author really makes you feel for Unnur, despite questioning her sanity and honesty. This book would make an incredible mini-series or movie.
My thanks to the publisher for sending me an Advance Reader Copy of this book. Everything stated in my review is my own opinion written in my own words.
This author does an incredible job weaving a story about a woman whose nebulous past collides with her present life. It makes the reader question what is real and what is myth. The setting is eerie and mystical, with a unique location for the main events of the story. Most of all, the author really makes you feel for Unnur, despite questioning her sanity and honesty. This book would make an incredible mini-series or movie.
My thanks to the publisher for sending me an Advance Reader Copy of this book. Everything stated in my review is my own opinion written in my own words.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Appreciation to Spiegel & Grau and NetGalley for the ARC provided in return of an honest review of this book which is due out in August 2026.
Iceland is, to me, a mysterious island, full of lore, darkness, tales of the sea. This book accounts for that in many ways. The story is about single mother Unnar, who is raising a young daughter. The reader goes from present day Unnar back to Unnar's past where during her last summer in the Dark Valley something terrible happened that even Unnar can't seem to remember.
As many novels do, the chapters bounce between present and past. Many characters are introduced which tie the two together, further weaving the mystery and the thrill into the plot. What happened so long ago? Who is responsible? Will Unnar and/or her daughter be affected?
The locations of this book and descriptive writing of locations are phenomenal. As a reader, oftentimes I felt I was there. But the characters? Sadly, notsomuch. And it got more convoluted when having to jump 30 years backwards or forwards with Unnar.
It was a good book as a thriller, not great. 3 stars.
Iceland is, to me, a mysterious island, full of lore, darkness, tales of the sea. This book accounts for that in many ways. The story is about single mother Unnar, who is raising a young daughter. The reader goes from present day Unnar back to Unnar's past where during her last summer in the Dark Valley something terrible happened that even Unnar can't seem to remember.
As many novels do, the chapters bounce between present and past. Many characters are introduced which tie the two together, further weaving the mystery and the thrill into the plot. What happened so long ago? Who is responsible? Will Unnar and/or her daughter be affected?
The locations of this book and descriptive writing of locations are phenomenal. As a reader, oftentimes I felt I was there. But the characters? Sadly, notsomuch. And it got more convoluted when having to jump 30 years backwards or forwards with Unnar.
It was a good book as a thriller, not great. 3 stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
Freyja.
I visited Iceland two years ago and was captivated by its beauty and unforgiving landscapes.
I was intrigued by the premise but it's more of a character driven plot than a mystery.
The novel has several problems that kept me from enjoying it.
1. Many characters are unlikable.
Unnur, especially, was hard to like. It was difficult to believe she was a functioning adult and parent with recurring blackouts.
It's clear she suffers from repressed trauma after her childhood friend, Freyja, disappeared.
I wouldn't want her watching my child.
Although she’s presented as an unreliable narrator, her behavior comes across as unstable rather than sympathetic.
2. Too many coincidences, which completely cut me off from the story.
3. Loa, a police detective, is depicted with serious mental-health problems, and the author relies on this common trope—using her illness as the cause of criminal behavior.
4. I liked the Icelandic mythology elements, but Loa’s obsession with her dead brother and the mythic themes was over the top and off-putting.
5. The novel is short but the pacing dragged since we're in Unnur's head all the time and she can't be trusted either.
There was nothing redeeming or likable about anyone.
I liked the atmosphere and mythological themes but unlikable characters and ridiculous coincidences made this hard to like.
I visited Iceland two years ago and was captivated by its beauty and unforgiving landscapes.
I was intrigued by the premise but it's more of a character driven plot than a mystery.
The novel has several problems that kept me from enjoying it.
1. Many characters are unlikable.
Unnur, especially, was hard to like. It was difficult to believe she was a functioning adult and parent with recurring blackouts.
It's clear she suffers from repressed trauma after her childhood friend, Freyja, disappeared.
I wouldn't want her watching my child.
Although she’s presented as an unreliable narrator, her behavior comes across as unstable rather than sympathetic.
2. Too many coincidences, which completely cut me off from the story.
3. Loa, a police detective, is depicted with serious mental-health problems, and the author relies on this common trope—using her illness as the cause of criminal behavior.
4. I liked the Icelandic mythology elements, but Loa’s obsession with her dead brother and the mythic themes was over the top and off-putting.
5. The novel is short but the pacing dragged since we're in Unnur's head all the time and she can't be trusted either.
There was nothing redeeming or likable about anyone.
I liked the atmosphere and mythological themes but unlikable characters and ridiculous coincidences made this hard to like.
November 20, 2025
I really loved the prose. It was poetic and vivid, and so easy to read. My problem really comes with the plot. I love trying to figure out the mystery as I’m reading, using the information stated in the book to figure out the ending. Meaning things need to be set up in the book before hand. And the only time any evidence of this a third person being at the beach for Freyja’s death was that there were Polaroids taken from a third POV, and like sure maybe that’s enough for some people, but the fact that Unaar didn’t even remember until the very end, and there felt like there was really no set up for the plot reveal, it lowered my overall enjoyment of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2026
I haven’t been writing many reviews lately but this one deserves commentary. Set in Iceland, this atmospheric novel captures the beauty and starkness of the country but also the people, their way of life and folklore. A short but suspenseful novel that packs a punch!
August 2, 2026
*RECEIVED AN ARC FROM SPEIGEL & GRAU*
This book has everything I want in a psychological thriller - strong character building, a haunting childhood, neighborhood lore, and some psychosis. While a book about missing children is always hard to read, this one did it in such a delicate way that left you feeling for so many of the characters. The dark and moody atmosphere mixed with anxiety so palpable you can slice through it makes for an engaging and emotional read I didn’t want to put down.
This book has everything I want in a psychological thriller - strong character building, a haunting childhood, neighborhood lore, and some psychosis. While a book about missing children is always hard to read, this one did it in such a delicate way that left you feeling for so many of the characters. The dark and moody atmosphere mixed with anxiety so palpable you can slice through it makes for an engaging and emotional read I didn’t want to put down.
December 10, 2025
An eerie Icelandic mystery, perfectly haunting for the winter months. Years ago, a young girl named Freyja mysteriously vanished one night. Now, her friend Unnur—herself a single mother—is being forced to face the circumstances behind Freyja’s disappearance when a mystery note is slid under her door. And her ex’s strange new girlfriend only adds to Unnur’s worries…
This was an interesting story, and my favorite part was definitely the inclusion of Icelandic mythology within the plot. Sadly, the rest of the book didn’t hold up as much as many of the characters felt strange and disjointed from one another. The entire mystery surrounding Freyja was interesting at times, though unfortunately felt unsatisfying by the very end. Ultimately, not sure I’d recommend this one as a thriller/mystery (but potentially as a palate cleanser).
Enormous thanks to Spiegel & Grau for providing me with an ARC in exchange for this honest review. “Freyja” releases on 8.4.26!
This was an interesting story, and my favorite part was definitely the inclusion of Icelandic mythology within the plot. Sadly, the rest of the book didn’t hold up as much as many of the characters felt strange and disjointed from one another. The entire mystery surrounding Freyja was interesting at times, though unfortunately felt unsatisfying by the very end. Ultimately, not sure I’d recommend this one as a thriller/mystery (but potentially as a palate cleanser).
Enormous thanks to Spiegel & Grau for providing me with an ARC in exchange for this honest review. “Freyja” releases on 8.4.26!
August 19, 2026
Two girls, one goes missing, and the other can’t remember what happened. Years later, Unnur returns to Iceland from the US, now a mother and a divorcee, still questioning her own memory and what really happened all those years ago.
I really liked the Icelandic setting and the folklore elements, which gave the story something a little different. It’s definitely a slow burn, though, and I didn’t find it particularly gripping. The whole “suddenly remembering what happened” twist felt a bit old and predictable to me, and it didn’t quite work. Still, the atmosphere was great.
I really liked the Icelandic setting and the folklore elements, which gave the story something a little different. It’s definitely a slow burn, though, and I didn’t find it particularly gripping. The whole “suddenly remembering what happened” twist felt a bit old and predictable to me, and it didn’t quite work. Still, the atmosphere was great.
December 5, 2025
This was interesting because the plot kept changing every time you would think something happened. This led it to be changing when we changed years. We'd go from feeling worried that Unnur was the killer and then go to someone different, it was quite different book. I liked it in the end, it finally made sense.
September 9, 2026
From the blurb mentioning a thriller mixed with Icelandic mythology, I expected the book to be more supernatural than it is (it is not supernatural at all).
The plot is that a woman who lost her childhood friend is, now, almost 30 years later, led to believe that maybe the friend is not dead. Her being an unreliable narrator due to memory loss keeps us on the edge of truly understanding the picture until the end.
The Icelandic mythology in question appeared in metaphors, characters' thoughts and analogies. For example, our narrator, with her memory problems, a few times thinks back to Odin's two ravens, Memory and Thought, of which Memory he finds more painful to lose. While it adds to the world-building and sets the scenery, this is definitely not what I expected from a book marketed as mythological. So in the end, I liked the book despite the misleading blurb.
What the book has instead of mythology to keep you enchanted is the atmosphere. The ambience of wind, ocean and days that are bleak and short, the desperation against harsh nature, the feeling of being a grain of sand fighting a battle already lost. It is the thing that Icelandic authors use to their advantage in horror, and they use it well.
The book is also surprisingly human and touching, as our heroine, who was betrayed and left alone for most of her childhood, slowly and mistrustfully finds there is a lot of love, care and sympathy on this bleak island. And it comes from friends as well as strangers.
The plot is that a woman who lost her childhood friend is, now, almost 30 years later, led to believe that maybe the friend is not dead. Her being an unreliable narrator due to memory loss keeps us on the edge of truly understanding the picture until the end.
The Icelandic mythology in question appeared in metaphors, characters' thoughts and analogies. For example, our narrator, with her memory problems, a few times thinks back to Odin's two ravens, Memory and Thought, of which Memory he finds more painful to lose. While it adds to the world-building and sets the scenery, this is definitely not what I expected from a book marketed as mythological. So in the end, I liked the book despite the misleading blurb.
What the book has instead of mythology to keep you enchanted is the atmosphere. The ambience of wind, ocean and days that are bleak and short, the desperation against harsh nature, the feeling of being a grain of sand fighting a battle already lost. It is the thing that Icelandic authors use to their advantage in horror, and they use it well.
The book is also surprisingly human and touching, as our heroine, who was betrayed and left alone for most of her childhood, slowly and mistrustfully finds there is a lot of love, care and sympathy on this bleak island. And it comes from friends as well as strangers.
Read
October 7, 2026No rating. This book is no for me. It was my serendipity book pick of the month as I usually love Iceland placed sagas and many Icelandic writers too. True most especially in the mystery genre. But after reading 50 pages, I won't proceed. It has a prime character that seems so evil. Just do not want to be embedded in the thought proclivities. They just don't seem evil, they are evil. Demonic perhaps. And the jumping and overblown language sealed the DNF deal.
What is it with the women and females killing babies or little kids in the "modern" lately? Count me out.
What is it with the women and females killing babies or little kids in the "modern" lately? Count me out.
Read
August 14, 2026Long fly from dark
all the flood come again
mix with fear
mystery
clear wide space
return hunted name
hazy claud
non blood there
foggy part of mad suttinon
clear sad at iceland
all the flood come again
mix with fear
mystery
clear wide space
return hunted name
hazy claud
non blood there
foggy part of mad suttinon
clear sad at iceland
September 27, 2026
an atmospheric and eerie cold case mystery steeped in Icelandic folklore that yanked me right out of my reading slump. this was hard to put down, especially after that 50% mark. i cannot believe this is margrét ann thors debut novel. so good, and i’ll be looking forward to more by her!!
September 28, 2026
I love the setting, and the mystery kept me guessing.
July 9, 2026
Do I have a new favorite author?
Unnur lives a deliberately small life in Reykjavík: a single mother working at a bakery under an assumed name, pushing away the memories of the last summer of her childhood. When her ex-husband returns to Iceland with a new girlfriend who seems to know far too much about Unnur's past, the quiet she's built starts to crack. Steeped in Icelandic folklore, it braids past and present as she races to recover a broken memory before it costs her everything.
I absolutely loved this one. It's beautifully written and immersive from the very first pages, so much so that at several points I had to put it down because my stomach was in knots. The dual timelines work wonderfully, and I loved inching closer to the solution without ever seeing it coming (the mystery is genuinely not obvious). The way Icelandic folklore is woven through the whole thing gives it a fantastic texture, and it left me wanting to book a trip to Iceland.
I can't wait to see what Thors writes next. For a debut, this is a remarkable one. Freyja is about to become my entire personality.
Thank you to NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Unnur lives a deliberately small life in Reykjavík: a single mother working at a bakery under an assumed name, pushing away the memories of the last summer of her childhood. When her ex-husband returns to Iceland with a new girlfriend who seems to know far too much about Unnur's past, the quiet she's built starts to crack. Steeped in Icelandic folklore, it braids past and present as she races to recover a broken memory before it costs her everything.
I absolutely loved this one. It's beautifully written and immersive from the very first pages, so much so that at several points I had to put it down because my stomach was in knots. The dual timelines work wonderfully, and I loved inching closer to the solution without ever seeing it coming (the mystery is genuinely not obvious). The way Icelandic folklore is woven through the whole thing gives it a fantastic texture, and it left me wanting to book a trip to Iceland.
I can't wait to see what Thors writes next. For a debut, this is a remarkable one. Freyja is about to become my entire personality.
Thank you to NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2026
I really liked this in the beginning then it started spinning off the rails, the structure got weird, the characters started to act unnaturally, the descriptions were silly, it just needed more finesse
July 19, 2026
I was very interested in this book’s mix of mystery, Icelandic folklore, and a unique, well-developed setting. Combine this with an unreliable narrator, and you get a story that opens a bunch of different possibilities, before all coming together in the end. I personally enjoyed how much the Icelandic setting and culture was woven into the story and how the pacing of the book moved with the landscape of the past and present storylines.
There’s just enough uncertainty sprinkled throughout to keep you guessing until the end. It’s a standout debut and worth the read for lovers of the mystery and thriller genres.
Thanks NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau for the e-ARC and the opportunity to give an honest review.
There’s just enough uncertainty sprinkled throughout to keep you guessing until the end. It’s a standout debut and worth the read for lovers of the mystery and thriller genres.
Thanks NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau for the e-ARC and the opportunity to give an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a beginning! It's one thing to have an unreliable narrator. It's another to have one that knows she is and is tormented by it. When she was a child, Unnar lost her best friend Freya to the sea. Was she killed? Probably, but the body was never found. Did Unnar risk her life trying to save her? Did she drown her in a fit of rage? Unnar remembers both. How much was planted in her young mind by endless police interrogations? Is there any other possible explanation? Now a young mother with a child of her own, she still doesn't know. When her ex-husband moves back to Iceland with a new flame who also has a daughter, the old tragedy is brought into the present when Unnar discovers that the rival's daughter is named Freya.
There's something deliciously sinister hanging over this book from the first page, and I loved it. If feels like everyone is being manipulated by an unseen hand. It quickly becomes apparent that Loa, the evil new girlfriend has it in for Unnar, but why? Could she possible tie in with the original Freya? But how? The two girls were isolated from the world. They only had each other. Thor is a master at playing with Unnar's mind and keeping ours whirling. This is an excellent psychological thriller. Highly recommended!
p-h, s-n, v-s
There's something deliciously sinister hanging over this book from the first page, and I loved it. If feels like everyone is being manipulated by an unseen hand. It quickly becomes apparent that Loa, the evil new girlfriend has it in for Unnar, but why? Could she possible tie in with the original Freya? But how? The two girls were isolated from the world. They only had each other. Thor is a master at playing with Unnar's mind and keeping ours whirling. This is an excellent psychological thriller. Highly recommended!
p-h, s-n, v-s
December 31, 2025
The characters were all very thinly drawn. There were some interesting aspects to the mystery but the reveals were anticlimactic and because of the characters it was hard to be that invested. I liked the setting though.
September 21, 2026
This was an enjoyable and twisty thriller that keeps you guessing throughout and follows some really intriguing characters.
At the heart of the story is a missing girl, Freyja, and you see the story told from the now and then perspective of a narrator who was there at the time but her memories of what happened that night are very unclear. She's moved on with her life, mother to a young girl, but the past still haunts her and when she receives a note using a name that only Freyja used, everything she thought she knew is thrown in the air and she's on a mission to unlock her memories of what did happen.
Both timelines are full of intrigue, watching over Unnur as she navigates life as a single mum, and also seeing the life of Unnur as a young girl when she's shipped off to a farm to live with people she doesn't know, and that's when she became friends with Freyja. and that's where the story gets darker.
Unnur in the present then starts to find herself under investigation by child services, her ex husband back in town and more reminders of the past appearing to the point where she thinks she's going mad. It's fascinating to see her start to delve into the past with the help of a journalist, and it's much needed when the police get involved. This was a really gripping story and I loved the twists and turns.
At the heart of the story is a missing girl, Freyja, and you see the story told from the now and then perspective of a narrator who was there at the time but her memories of what happened that night are very unclear. She's moved on with her life, mother to a young girl, but the past still haunts her and when she receives a note using a name that only Freyja used, everything she thought she knew is thrown in the air and she's on a mission to unlock her memories of what did happen.
Both timelines are full of intrigue, watching over Unnur as she navigates life as a single mum, and also seeing the life of Unnur as a young girl when she's shipped off to a farm to live with people she doesn't know, and that's when she became friends with Freyja. and that's where the story gets darker.
Unnur in the present then starts to find herself under investigation by child services, her ex husband back in town and more reminders of the past appearing to the point where she thinks she's going mad. It's fascinating to see her start to delve into the past with the help of a journalist, and it's much needed when the police get involved. This was a really gripping story and I loved the twists and turns.
August 21, 2026
*4.5 Stars On My Instagram Account*
"For the rest of my life, I will feel her small wet hand in mine. I will feel how she let me go. Or maybe, I won't...sometimes my memory of this night flickers differently...I recall...holding her head underwater until the bubbles stopped...the ache of my hands...the flail of her legs--and then, their stillness..."
"Am I a monster? Am I any different from the mystic beasts that curse this stretch of sea? I'll never know. My memory of this night shifts with the tide."
...And that is just page 2 of this eerie atmospheric Nordic Noir mystery thriller, Freyja, by impressive debut author Margret Ann Thors.
In 1991 Unnar's best friend Freyja disappeared on the black sand beach of the Dark Valley along the Icelandic Coast. Now in 2018, divorced and Mom to a young daughter, the precocious Lilja, Unnar's world starts to unravel when she's informed of a new cold case unit of the Reykjavik police revisiting Freyja 's disappearance.
Adding to her stress is her ex husband showing up with his new girlfriend and the girlfriend's daughter. It is a chilling moment when the daughter's name is revealed to be Freyja! Coincidence? It's a thriller, coincidences don't exist!
Voice actress Colleen Prendergast's haunting voice adds to the unnerving feel from a child left on the dark shores of a bitter cold land to a pulsing future ready to burst from the truth.
Freyja is a new voice in Nordic Noir literature and one that is worth experiencing for every mystery thriller reader. A perfect read to chill a hot summer night.
I received free copies of this book/audiobook from Spiegel and Grau and Spotify Audiobooks via Netgalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
"For the rest of my life, I will feel her small wet hand in mine. I will feel how she let me go. Or maybe, I won't...sometimes my memory of this night flickers differently...I recall...holding her head underwater until the bubbles stopped...the ache of my hands...the flail of her legs--and then, their stillness..."
"Am I a monster? Am I any different from the mystic beasts that curse this stretch of sea? I'll never know. My memory of this night shifts with the tide."
...And that is just page 2 of this eerie atmospheric Nordic Noir mystery thriller, Freyja, by impressive debut author Margret Ann Thors.
In 1991 Unnar's best friend Freyja disappeared on the black sand beach of the Dark Valley along the Icelandic Coast. Now in 2018, divorced and Mom to a young daughter, the precocious Lilja, Unnar's world starts to unravel when she's informed of a new cold case unit of the Reykjavik police revisiting Freyja 's disappearance.
Adding to her stress is her ex husband showing up with his new girlfriend and the girlfriend's daughter. It is a chilling moment when the daughter's name is revealed to be Freyja! Coincidence? It's a thriller, coincidences don't exist!
Voice actress Colleen Prendergast's haunting voice adds to the unnerving feel from a child left on the dark shores of a bitter cold land to a pulsing future ready to burst from the truth.
Freyja is a new voice in Nordic Noir literature and one that is worth experiencing for every mystery thriller reader. A perfect read to chill a hot summer night.
I received free copies of this book/audiobook from Spiegel and Grau and Spotify Audiobooks via Netgalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
October 16, 2026
Read in anticipation of my first visit to Iceland this fall. While I enjoyed the mystery and the moving back and forth in time, what I loved was the setting and the folklore woven into the story.
TW: graphic animal cruelty and animal death on the page; child endangerment; mental illness; neglect and abuse
TW: graphic animal cruelty and animal death on the page; child endangerment; mental illness; neglect and abuse
October 24, 2026
loved the iceland and folklore of it all but everything else was lackluster. so much of it felt under-explained or thrown in for some unexplained reason. the motives were actually rather intriguing but I wish more time was spent on them
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