Trollheim: Tale of Sýstir

by Georgia Summers

When their mother is burned at the stake, Sýstir and Ada have two run or die. For fans of The Ten Thousand Doors of January and Circe, this lyrical tale of magical realism rooted in Nordic folklore is written by a no.1 Sunday Times bestselling author.

Young Sýstir’s world is small and seemingly quiet, but shrouded in secrets. Outside of the cottage where she lives with her beloved mother and adored older sister, lurks the constant danger of being discovered by the villagers for what she truly unwanted, dangerous, Huldra. When their mother is accused of being a witch and dragged to the stake, the sisters must run for their lives. 

Sýstir finds herself alone in the Dark Forest that she later comes to know as Trollheim - a magical realm for mythical beings and a sanctuary for those with nowhere left to turn. Here she finds a kindred spirit in the rogue Troll Agagkantor who takes her in and encourages her to live life as her true self, to understand and use the powers she has been hiding away. However, Agagkantor carries secrets of his own and Sýstir comes to realize that her loyalty might have been misplaced. In the end she has no other choice but to sacrifice everything in order to protect that which matters most - her home.

Genres: Fantasy, Adult

Kindle Edition

First published March 3, 2026

About the author

Georgia Summers is half-British, half-Trinidadian, and spent most of her life living across the world, including Russia, Colombia, and the US. When she’s not doing bookish things, she’s planning her next great adventure. She currently lives in London, but she dreams of one day living in a haunted château with a ghost that cleans.

Reviews

[Maria P · Rating 5 out of 5]

° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓛;𝓓𝓡 ✧˖°
An emotionally devastating folklore-fantasy perfect for readers looking for a tragic tale bridging YA and Adult fiction, with an uncomfortable reflection into the human experience and characters you can't help but love despite their flaws.

° ˖✧ 𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 ✧˖°
4.5 ⭐
0 🌶️

° ˖✧ 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
"To know humankind is to suffer," he says. "And how you have suffered, Systir."

"After all, grief reminds us that we loved, once, and were loved in return."

"You're already home, Little Bird. Where else would you ever need to be?"

"What are you?" she hisses.
"I am what you made of me," Systir says softly, pulling her tail free.

° ˖✧ 𝓢𝔂𝓷𝓸𝓹𝓼𝓲𝓼 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂 ✧˖°
After her mother is executed for witchcraft, Sýstir escapes alone into Trollheim, a hidden refuge for mythical beings. Taken in by the troll Agagkantor, she searches for her missing sister while uncovering dangerous secrets of her own.

° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
🪵 Nordic Folklore
🫶 Found Family
🌱 Coming of Age
🪞 Exploration of Humanity
💔 Tragedy
🔑 Secrets & Betrayals
🛖 Small Community

° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝓦𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 ✧˖°
🪦 Grief
💀 Character/Animal Death
🩸 Violence
🥀 No HEA

° ˖✧ 𝓛𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
+ Emotionally Devastating
+ Strong Connection to Characters
+ Relatable and Dark Themes
+ Powerful Opening and Twists
+ Suspenseful Tension
+ Rich, Mystical World
+ Middle-ground between YA and Adult Fiction
+ A Lifetime in a Standalone

° ˖✧ 𝓓𝓲𝓼𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
- Slow Pacing
- Ambiguous Ending

° ˖✧ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ✧˖°
This book destroyed me in the best way. I thought I was distant enough, but the characters sneak up on you and suddenly it's like I was Systir struggling through life just trying to find somewhere to belong. And that's all she really ever wanted. As a half-human half-creature, she didn't really fit in either space and was forced to create her own home and kin.

Fitting in is a relatable theme for everyone, though I can't imagine many of us have been through quite as many horrors as Systir. The book begins right after a traumatic event - Systir and Ada are running away from their burning house with their mother inside. You can feel the distressing restless energy through the pages - it's really uncomfortable.

It felt like the entire book I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Now, Systir will have something good, right? Right? And there are moments of sunshine in between the grey, but they only serve to rip even more tears from you later. And I did cry, several times (once in a really public place which was very embarrassing but no regrets). But it was also really cathartic.

I lived and breathed Systir's world, witnessed practically a decade of her existence all in a single book. It's really interesting because the pacing itself is very slow, but there's so much life crammed into those pages. So many lessons, friends, love. But also grief, heavy and pure. There's so much to learn from a story like this.

Trollheim walks the line between YA and Adult beautifully and in a way that appeals to me greatly. The first half of the book Systir is practically entirely a teenager, and we really get to see the influences on her and her naivety. Then, how that cocktail of experiences add up to who she is by the end. There's a lot of darkness in this story that it wouldn't make sense for a younger audience to read, but that's not to say that as adults we can't learn from this too.

With how emotionally intense this read was, I'd really hoped for an ending that punched me in the gut too. Instead, we're given somehow an even more tragic ending without the impact I expected. It's open and vague, and at first I was frustrated. Looking back on it a day later, and I think that perhaps it is the ending Systir needs. The one she maybe deserves, even. And however misguided, there's always hope.

Thank you to Georgia Summers and Titan Books for the opportunity to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Chewable Orb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trollheim: Tale of Sýstir by Georgia Summers
4 🔮 orbs
Est. Pub. Date: May 19, 2026
Titan Books

Tranquil chaos…

💡 Orbs Prologue: I have long since passed. My troll body gave way to the nature of time. As a petrified stone, I sit in a graveyard overlooking green swathes of forestry known simply as the Trollheim or the Dark Forest. Filled with magical beasts, often referred to as väsen, we occupy this place in utmost benevolence. From above, my innate senses remain aware of the incoming changes, much like the winter season’s stark reminder amid the flurries of freezing snow. This year, it would seem we have a visitor, an outsider who, dear reader, in her own naivety, brings forth a new set of complexities to our land. Agagkantor, our self-exiled ex-leader, has brought this lost huldra into his home as family, saving her from certain death, but at what cost?

🧐 A small glimpse: Follow the gnomes peddling their wares as author Georgia Summers takes readers on a wondrous journey. Similar to a Puritan witch hunt, Sýstir and her sister, Ada, have become motherless in a pyre-infested town ravaged by skepticism and hate. Proving that persecution holds no boundaries over those who attack for fear of the unknown. On the run from the local soldiers, Ada and Sýstir become separated, and Sýstir is left to fend off the bitter cold alone. With hungry wolves on the prowl, a troll named Agagkantor provides protection and safety in his personal cave dwelling. A coming-of-age story rings true, and Sýstir questions everyone in her past, propelling her to gather an inner strength with guarded intensity. For Sýstir is half huldra, half human, both of which have raised skepticism of those within this magical community, particularly those of the troll leader, Queen Hilda. More than anything, Sýstir wants to feel accepted, a part of a family with whom she can share memories and let her cow-like tail hang freely without fear. With the overseeing tree, Natteskur, providing peace among the creatures of Trollheim, relationships remain hospitable. However, there is a darkness lurking, a dark heart pumping a rabid evilness through spidery-like veins and forever changing this beautiful landscape.

👍 Orbs Pros: Being that I reside in Norway, anything Scandinavian-lore-related is fascinating to me. What captivated me more was a similar tie-in with witchery that caught me off guard. After reading Brom’s Slewfoot, I wholeheartedly admit that I have begun to become enamored by this subject matter. Fairy-tale-like vibe! If you love trolls, gnomes, and an emotional rollercoaster, you may indeed enjoy this novel. Discovery! Huldras! What are they? Beautiful succubus-like creatures, with singing prowess and seductive natures, armed with a strange cow-tail. For some reason, trolls became more than just what I had pictured in my simple mind, as big, oafish characters carrying the proverbial clubs. Georgia Summers does an excellent job at creating characters with complex depth, ones that will have me give trolls and gnomes their proper respect in the future.

👎 Orbs Cons: The older sister! What happened? Without giving too much away, I was a bit shocked by how this relationship panned out. Perhaps that is due to the very nature of how Sýstir changed, but what once was of the utmost importance was simply thrown by the wayside, and I, for one, was not a fan! Parts seemed to drag! Perhaps it could have used fewer pages?

Recommended! However, there may be enough reasons for some people to lose interest. I acknowledge that some parts of the story felt long in the tooth, or perhaps, as in my case, I felt a character should have gained more traction and made a significant impact on the outcome. But, overall, I rather enjoyed my experience!

💡 Orbs Epilogue: Humans! The bane of our existence! The threat to harm all walking creatures, and to what end! The tentative sounds precede a leeriness towards this huldra named Sýstir, the creatures giving her appropriate pause and space. She is not one of us! After a monumental situation transpires, the winds of the trees tell me that the tides have turned, and the trolls have become friendly with Sýstir. This existence for Sýstir, here in Trollheim, while comforting, still lacks the finality she so desperately craves. Where is her sister, Ada? Exiting the forest, she sets off in search of Ada, entering her hometown, which appeared sadly the same as when she was chased out. Yet, Sýstir was different this time. A resolute huldra invoked her powers to “take” the answers she sought. Once again, reentering Trollheim, a slash of chaos slices the dewy mist of the Dark Forest as Sýstir brings a reckoning. A narcissistic power consumes her, and for us, the väsen, a brutal transformation is about to be unleashed upon the calmness and beauty of our home!

Many thanks to Titan Books for the ARC through NetGalley. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Hamad Naif · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Titan Books for providing me with an ARC of **TROLLHEIM: TALE OF SÝSTIR — Georgia Summers**
★★★★★

Georgia Summers built her reputation on dark, mythologically rich fantasy with *The City of Stardust*, and *Trollheim* confirms that she is working in a register all her own. This is Nordic folklore rendered with the kind of lyrical conviction that makes the strange feel inevitable — a world where Huldra walk among humans and the Dark Forest is both refuge and threat, and where the line between sanctuary and danger is never quite stable.

The premise is devastating from the first pages. Sýstir and her sister Ada are Huldra, creatures whose very existence is considered dangerous, and when their mother is accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake, they have no choice but to run. Only Sýstir escapes. Taken in by the rogue troll Agagkantor, she finds herself in Trollheim, a hidden realm in the Dark Forest where mythical beings gather and the unwanted find shelter. It should be safety. But her sister is still missing, and Agagkantor is keeping secrets that reach further back than Sýstir can imagine.

What Summers does so well is hold tenderness and darkness in the same hand without letting either diminish the other. Trollheim itself is rendered with genuine imaginative generosity, a place that feels fully inhabited rather than merely decorative. And at the centre of it all is Sýstir, a protagonist whose grief and determination and hunger for belonging make every revelation land with real weight.

Lyrical, atmospheric, and quietly devastating. Summers at her most assured.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.

This was a fascinating look into the world of vaesen and Scandinavian folklore. The book takes place from the perspective of Systir, who is half human and half Vaesen and this helps us to bridge the two worlds. It also explores how hard it is for her to belong to either world, facing derision on both sides. She’s too monstrous for humans, who try to hunt her, and too human for many of the Vaesen. Her sense of belonging tends to be towards specific people who show her love and kindness, but this can be particularly devastating for her when she feels like they’ve disagreed or that they are lost to her. It was interesting to see how this shaped her personality and her reactions.

This is often beautifully written, which a gorgeous, magical world created in the dark forest. The rituals and ways of magic working are fascinating as is the history and politics that we learn through Systir’s eyes. It’s often so difficult for her to know who to trust, with characters often pushing their own agendas. This is unmooring for the reader as we rarely know more than Systir does, learning alongside her.

This was an engaging, thoughtful read with beautiful world building, affection for folklore and a complex main character.

[Nicola (readingonlocation) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trollheim: The Tale of Systir by Georgia Summers is a darker, more folkloric turn following the charm of The Bookshop Below. This is an origin story steeped in myth, isolation, and the search for belonging.

Per its title, this tale follows Systir, a half human, half Väsen girl who flees her village to carve out a life in the Dark Forest. This is not a happily ever after fairytale, but something sharper and more haunting, closer to the roots of folklore.

You’ll enjoy this if you like:
* Scandinavian mythology
* Strong character development
* Villain origin stories

I deeply felt Systir’s plight throughout, her longing for belonging and the quiet pull toward something darker. The time jumps work well to carry the story beyond a simple coming of age arc, giving it a broader weight.

And who can resist a feline sidekick? Fulgir, the wild cat companion, is a standout addition and brings a welcome thread of companionship to an otherwise lonely journey.

4.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

#TrollheimTaleofSýstir #NetGalley

[Michelle (Bamamele.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Titan Books for the preview. All opinions are my own.

Oh this was devastatingly heartbreaking. Trollheim is very different from Summers's previous books. It's a slow, character-driven folklore tale, full of vengeance and consequences. Systir is so easy to feel sorrow for; she's an outcast, she's constantly rejected, and so you feel so much hope for her when she seems to find her place in the Dark Forest. But the lies she's been told by the person she trusts the most end up breaking her.

Truly this is a dark tale; I cried quite a bit, and it really did feel bleak at times. But it's beautifully written. I think if you have the time to appreciate a slow introspective story, you would appreciate it. The end feels a little open-ended, so maybe there's still more story to be told? Hopefully another story would end with more hope (yes that's redundant, sorry).

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was interesting as I found it to be both slow-paced and yet completely bingeable. It sounds contradictory, but for me, it worked.
There is a changing timeline that runs through this story that fits our protagonist, Systir, as she grows into who she is. It doesn’t seem rushed or over developed.
As someone who enjoys Nordic-inspired stories, I felt like this one would be perfect to read beside a crackling fireplace. It has an eerie folkloric quality – like a fairytale told to children but with a darker edge.
I found the writing to be incredibly immersive and vivid. I had hoped for a more satisfying ending to the book, but I can’t fault the direction the story took, as it fits a story shaped by grief, loneliness, and a fragile sense of identity.
Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Ken Fredette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trollheim: Tale of Sýstir navigates between a friendly Troll and other forms of Huldra. She meets Queen Hilda and dislikes her because Sýstir is half human and is immediately told to die to the Troll. It is a never ending battle between these two and is the final ending. This hate permeates Sýstir through out the book and gets worse with time. She gets her followers to conduct a war with the Trolls and wins the battle but ends up being put in a prison to live out her life.

[Lily · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a sad fairy tale that unfortunately missed the mark for me, unlike Georgia Summers' other books. While I thought it would be right up my alley (I love nordic folklore!), and the book started out strong, I felt the plot was rather slow and didn't resolve in a satisfying way. I did finish it, but felt it was a challenging read and the Dark Forest itself was a bit underwritten.

[i · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Georgia Summers, Titan Books, and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Trollheim: Tale of Sýstir begins with Sýstir, a Huldra - half-human half-Vasen (fairytale creature) - and her sister fleeing their mother’s murder at the stake. Sýstir is rescued by a Troll and grows up within the Dark Forest, surrounded by other Vasen. All is not as it seems in the Dark Forest, as rot has set in and begun to seep outwards and infect the inhabitants.

This novel is a historical (perhaps 16/17th century?) fantasy inspired by Swedish fairytale creatures and is well written. The world-building was executed well (although I would’ve loved to see an expansion on the world beyond the local Dark Forest). The writing style was also engaging and I enjoyed the characterisation of each creature, as each felt unique. The character arc for Sýstir was interesting although it had it’s weaknesses (more below).

I will say that the book came across a little YA and I believe this was mainly due the first half being a ‘coming-of-age’ story more than anything. Also, as a reader, you had to suspend your belief for a few situations / plot points that didn’t quite make sense. Not in a fantastical way but more of a ‘if they know all the symptoms, why was this not addressed / identified earlier?’ and ‘if this character is cunning, why was this allowed to happen?’. For a book that is marketed as adult, these weaknesses should have been addressed better.

Overall, I wish I had Fenrir as a pet.

[Soledad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slow folklore filled story! With the twisty anger, consequences, and vengeance that comes from being outcast. Feels like a dark fireside story being told you! Thank you to Titan books and Netgalley for the eARC!