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Embers
Two siblings, one crime. One long-buried secret.
17-year old Ellen never wanted a holiday. What is there to do in a mining town in the northernmost corner of the country, with no one but her brother Simon – a boy with Asperger’s and obsessed with detective stories – for company?
Nothing, until they stumble upon a horrifying crime scene that brings them into a generations-long conflict between the townspeople and the native Sami. When the police dismiss Simon’s findings, he decides to track down the perpetrator himself. Ellen reluctantly helps, drawn in by a link between the crime and the siblings’ own past. What started off as a tedious holiday soon escalates into a dangerous journey through hatred, lies and self-discovery that makes Ellen question not only the relationship to her parents, but also her own identity.
17-year old Ellen never wanted a holiday. What is there to do in a mining town in the northernmost corner of the country, with no one but her brother Simon – a boy with Asperger’s and obsessed with detective stories – for company?
Nothing, until they stumble upon a horrifying crime scene that brings them into a generations-long conflict between the townspeople and the native Sami. When the police dismiss Simon’s findings, he decides to track down the perpetrator himself. Ellen reluctantly helps, drawn in by a link between the crime and the siblings’ own past. What started off as a tedious holiday soon escalates into a dangerous journey through hatred, lies and self-discovery that makes Ellen question not only the relationship to her parents, but also her own identity.
311 pages, Paperback
First published March 4, 2021
About the author
Josephine Greenland
2 books11 followersJosephine Greenland, born 1995, is a Swedish author currently working as a teacher in Edinburgh. She has a BA in English from the University of Exeter and an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Birmingham. Her short fiction and poetry has been published in 14 journals online and in print. Embers is her first novel, and was written during her MA.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 13, 2021
Loved it ❤
“You are telling a part of truth, not all of it . You are not actually lying at all “
The book is interesting in a way that you get to know many different new things about different tribes and maybe you would believe in blood relations a little more than you actually do now .
So the story is about two teenagers named Ellen and Simon so they live in a stressed family and their parents decide to send them to a trip as they are dealing with rough times and might get divorced so to distract their kids they send them to savrtjokk as it was the place where there great grandfather lived but Ellen couldn’t make it to the funeral so it would be nice for her to have a visit and explore the city .
So technically it is a crime investigation / drama / thriller book which starts by the dead of reindeers and two teenagers try to solve the case as they think the police is hiding some things but with finding the culprit they find so much more About their relationships with their great grand parents and other relatives . Also there are elements of supernatural or rather illusional stuff going on which in the end is explained to be fair and natural .
The smarter one , Simon decided to do the investigation as he was always interested in detectives and he himself was good at it . But things didn’t go as Simon thought and it became far worse and for that you need to read the book as it’s the main element of suspense I am talking about .
The book was nice and I learned really new Swedish words and much more about Sami tribe and other things . Its a light read and nothing very intense happens like death of someone or other things . Its a good read for teenagers I would say as the protagonist themselves are in there teens and solving mysteries .
Do read it and you won’t be disappointed I can make this sure . 300 pages approx and all written well , easy language except for some Swedish words but there is a small section for all the meanings of the Swedish words , so that also is not a problem . It short , every thing is great go read it !
Happy Reading..
“You are telling a part of truth, not all of it . You are not actually lying at all “
The book is interesting in a way that you get to know many different new things about different tribes and maybe you would believe in blood relations a little more than you actually do now .
So the story is about two teenagers named Ellen and Simon so they live in a stressed family and their parents decide to send them to a trip as they are dealing with rough times and might get divorced so to distract their kids they send them to savrtjokk as it was the place where there great grandfather lived but Ellen couldn’t make it to the funeral so it would be nice for her to have a visit and explore the city .
So technically it is a crime investigation / drama / thriller book which starts by the dead of reindeers and two teenagers try to solve the case as they think the police is hiding some things but with finding the culprit they find so much more About their relationships with their great grand parents and other relatives . Also there are elements of supernatural or rather illusional stuff going on which in the end is explained to be fair and natural .
The smarter one , Simon decided to do the investigation as he was always interested in detectives and he himself was good at it . But things didn’t go as Simon thought and it became far worse and for that you need to read the book as it’s the main element of suspense I am talking about .
The book was nice and I learned really new Swedish words and much more about Sami tribe and other things . Its a light read and nothing very intense happens like death of someone or other things . Its a good read for teenagers I would say as the protagonist themselves are in there teens and solving mysteries .
Do read it and you won’t be disappointed I can make this sure . 300 pages approx and all written well , easy language except for some Swedish words but there is a small section for all the meanings of the Swedish words , so that also is not a problem . It short , every thing is great go read it !
Happy Reading..
July 14, 2021
It was a great book and I enjoyed reading it.
August 8, 2021
Embers is a first novel by Josephine Greenland. I downloaded it from Net Galley. It's a mystery that takes place amidst conflict between contemporary Swedes, and Sami reindeer herders who want to preserve their traditional way of life.
The young protagonists of Embers are Ellen and Simon. It seemed to me that although Ellen was a good deal older than Simon, she seemed less definite in her opinions. Simon, an autistic seven year old, was far more certain. He was also very determined to find out who has been killing reindeer.
An individual who is identified as responsible for crimes is portrayed sympathetically in this novel. I think that mysteries in which those who have committed crimes are portrayed in a complex manner are better written than the ones in which the perpetrators are portrayed as stereotypical villains. I thought that Embers is a superior first novel.
For my complete review see https://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/2...
The young protagonists of Embers are Ellen and Simon. It seemed to me that although Ellen was a good deal older than Simon, she seemed less definite in her opinions. Simon, an autistic seven year old, was far more certain. He was also very determined to find out who has been killing reindeer.
An individual who is identified as responsible for crimes is portrayed sympathetically in this novel. I think that mysteries in which those who have committed crimes are portrayed in a complex manner are better written than the ones in which the perpetrators are portrayed as stereotypical villains. I thought that Embers is a superior first novel.
For my complete review see https://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/2...
May 16, 2021
Read in exchange for honest review (Net Galley) Deep family tensions run through this novel. Siblings, sent on a holiday to the past home of their Grandfather, discover a gruesome attack on a herd of reindeer that everyone seems to want to ignore. Deeply buried secrets, conflict and prejudices affecting the native reindeer herders, the Sami, are stirred up as the siblings are determined to investigate the crime.
Occasionally a confusing cast of characters, but on the whole I was engaged by the mystery. Would recommend to mid to upper secondary YA and Adult readers.
Occasionally a confusing cast of characters, but on the whole I was engaged by the mystery. Would recommend to mid to upper secondary YA and Adult readers.
June 1, 2021
I rate this 3.5, I believe this is a book I would have bought as a young teenager. The novel is labeled "age group 9-12" on the Swedish market, and I doubt I would have even glanced at this book before age 11-12. I believe it is more suited for the age group 12+, the protagonist is about to graduate from upper secondary school, it's not a person a 12 year old would relate to. As I had this age group in mind, I felt the characters came off a bit too old and wise for a person aged 9-12 would understand.
However, I believe this novel is well written and it is a stunning debut. The details in the scenery are incredible. The plot is nice and easy to follow, not too predictable and not too complicated. The ending felt a bit long, I could have been without the family drama and reunion, but it made for a nice and sweet closure, as a book for youngsters should be.
However, I believe this novel is well written and it is a stunning debut. The details in the scenery are incredible. The plot is nice and easy to follow, not too predictable and not too complicated. The ending felt a bit long, I could have been without the family drama and reunion, but it made for a nice and sweet closure, as a book for youngsters should be.
April 5, 2021
Two siblings, Ellen and Simon, travel to Northern Sweden with rather dull expectations for their holiday. However, after their discovery of a circle of twelve reindeer heads in a glade in the forest, they are led down a path of discovery they could never have expected.
When I read the blurb of the book I thought why would anyone want to kill a reindeer. I have read many books where people get killed —and in particularly unpleasant ways too — but it is so shocking and intriguing to read of animals killed merely for killing’s sake. It’s odd, we eat animals often and think very little of how that piece of meat ended up on our plates. But I think it is universally felt throughout society that the killing of animals merely for the sake of killing them is incredibly unsettling.
Greenland has done a phenomenal job of creating a book that is well balanced; the characters are incredibly well developed, including the supporting roles and minor characters, they all feel so real; the setting is described with such beautiful detail that you can imagine yourself transported to this little mining town in the northernmost part of Sweden; and the pacing is great, the climax of the novel went at such a great speed, I couldn’t put the book down. So often you read crime or mystery novels that are heavily weighted in favour of the plot and spend little effort in developing characters or creating an evocative and beautiful setting. Greenland does not make the mistake of putting all of her eggs in one basket.
The character that stands out to me most is Simon. Simon has Aspergers and so immediately becomes fixated on solving the case. He is smart, funny, intuitive and courageous; a really fun character who is written so thoughtfully; he is brilliant!
I am so excited to see what Josephine writes next, if this is the quality of her debut, then I’m expecting huge things to come!
When I read the blurb of the book I thought why would anyone want to kill a reindeer. I have read many books where people get killed —and in particularly unpleasant ways too — but it is so shocking and intriguing to read of animals killed merely for killing’s sake. It’s odd, we eat animals often and think very little of how that piece of meat ended up on our plates. But I think it is universally felt throughout society that the killing of animals merely for the sake of killing them is incredibly unsettling.
Greenland has done a phenomenal job of creating a book that is well balanced; the characters are incredibly well developed, including the supporting roles and minor characters, they all feel so real; the setting is described with such beautiful detail that you can imagine yourself transported to this little mining town in the northernmost part of Sweden; and the pacing is great, the climax of the novel went at such a great speed, I couldn’t put the book down. So often you read crime or mystery novels that are heavily weighted in favour of the plot and spend little effort in developing characters or creating an evocative and beautiful setting. Greenland does not make the mistake of putting all of her eggs in one basket.
The character that stands out to me most is Simon. Simon has Aspergers and so immediately becomes fixated on solving the case. He is smart, funny, intuitive and courageous; a really fun character who is written so thoughtfully; he is brilliant!
I am so excited to see what Josephine writes next, if this is the quality of her debut, then I’m expecting huge things to come!
February 25, 2021
"Keep it simple, keep it true".
This is exactly what Josephine Greenland does with her YA detective novel. Make no mistake, there are heavy themes addressed in this book, from the suppression of native or (ab-)original cultures to how a family does -or doesn't - deal with a neuro-diverse family member, depending on the individual doing the dealing.
However, this is a page-turner of a book. Just before hitting my teens, I used to read all the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mysteries in the local library, wherever in the world I happened to be: Embers has something of those books in its DNA, but is so much better than they ever were.
The plot revolves around the ritual slaughter of Sami-reared reindeer. Ellen,17 and Simon, 14 (and-x months and y days according to when he's asked) take a trip to their father's ancestral homeland in the far north of Sweden, partly to escape the difficult atmosphere at home in Stockholm. Simon, who is an avid fan of whodunnits, where the answer can be worked out from clues, inveigles his sister into investigating the crime with him. I'm not going to say any more for fear of spoiling the resolution. This book is a whodunnit too, after all.
The Sami-mysticism, culture and the discrimination is smoothly woven in and out of the plot: no patchwork exposition here. The exploitation of migrant workers - with a key part themselves in the events which take place - may come as a shock to those of us (me) who have always held Sweden up as an exemplar of tolerance and social democracy.
A terrific and informative read, with a Scandi-Noir-ish backdrop, this book should be in school libraries.
Embers is published by Unbound on 18th March 2021
This is exactly what Josephine Greenland does with her YA detective novel. Make no mistake, there are heavy themes addressed in this book, from the suppression of native or (ab-)original cultures to how a family does -or doesn't - deal with a neuro-diverse family member, depending on the individual doing the dealing.
However, this is a page-turner of a book. Just before hitting my teens, I used to read all the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mysteries in the local library, wherever in the world I happened to be: Embers has something of those books in its DNA, but is so much better than they ever were.
The plot revolves around the ritual slaughter of Sami-reared reindeer. Ellen,17 and Simon, 14 (and-x months and y days according to when he's asked) take a trip to their father's ancestral homeland in the far north of Sweden, partly to escape the difficult atmosphere at home in Stockholm. Simon, who is an avid fan of whodunnits, where the answer can be worked out from clues, inveigles his sister into investigating the crime with him. I'm not going to say any more for fear of spoiling the resolution. This book is a whodunnit too, after all.
The Sami-mysticism, culture and the discrimination is smoothly woven in and out of the plot: no patchwork exposition here. The exploitation of migrant workers - with a key part themselves in the events which take place - may come as a shock to those of us (me) who have always held Sweden up as an exemplar of tolerance and social democracy.
A terrific and informative read, with a Scandi-Noir-ish backdrop, this book should be in school libraries.
Embers is published by Unbound on 18th March 2021
February 23, 2021
This novel has that "just one more chapter" quality of readability, drawing you further in in a bid to find out what is at the heart of the mystery discovered by the protagonist Ellen and her autistic brother Simon. There is far more to the book than just a good yarn though, the descriptions of northern Sweden in the summer during the last days of the midnight sun are evocative (they certainly made me want to visit) and the narrative asks questions about conspiracy, identity and prejudice which linger in the mind long after the last page has been read. Highly recommended.
October 13, 2021
I've forgotten to write and review on this as I finished it a few days ago. But that didn't mean O didn't enjoy it quite a lot. It was an very easy story to get invested in and felt very atmospheric for me.
July 22, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Embers is about two siblings who stumble upon a horrifying crime scene that brings them into a generations-long conflict between the townspeople and the native Sami in northern Sweden.
I decided to give this book a go as I was captivated by the synopsis and the fact that the story focuses on a mystery in the Sami community, which set it apart from other YA mysteries and thrillers I’ve read before. Unfortunately, the execution was not as gripping as the synopsis, and so I was unable to push past the halfway mark.
What I enjoyed:
I found the descriptions of the Sami community and the way they were woven into the story very interesting. I particularly enjoyed learning about the traditional practices of the Sami. I also enjoyed the story’s unique setting. This is what attracted me to the book to begin with, and so I was disappointed when the plot and the characters themselves didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
What I did not enjoy:
The book began on a promising note, with the mystery being introduced right at the beginning, capturing the reader's attention from the get-go. Unfortunately, it went downhill from here. The pacing only seemed to slow and drag as it went on, meaning I began to lose interest in the mystery aspect as there was no tension to build up. A lot of characters were also being introduced in a short space and I found myself getting confused when names were being thrown around, which distracted from the plot. I also felt disconnected from the main characters and found the fact that they had been sent on holiday unsupervised unrealistic.
Overall, this was a good debut with a strong and unique setting with the potential to be a good read. Unfortunately, though, it did not quite hit the mark for me.
Embers is about two siblings who stumble upon a horrifying crime scene that brings them into a generations-long conflict between the townspeople and the native Sami in northern Sweden.
I decided to give this book a go as I was captivated by the synopsis and the fact that the story focuses on a mystery in the Sami community, which set it apart from other YA mysteries and thrillers I’ve read before. Unfortunately, the execution was not as gripping as the synopsis, and so I was unable to push past the halfway mark.
What I enjoyed:
I found the descriptions of the Sami community and the way they were woven into the story very interesting. I particularly enjoyed learning about the traditional practices of the Sami. I also enjoyed the story’s unique setting. This is what attracted me to the book to begin with, and so I was disappointed when the plot and the characters themselves didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
What I did not enjoy:
The book began on a promising note, with the mystery being introduced right at the beginning, capturing the reader's attention from the get-go. Unfortunately, it went downhill from here. The pacing only seemed to slow and drag as it went on, meaning I began to lose interest in the mystery aspect as there was no tension to build up. A lot of characters were also being introduced in a short space and I found myself getting confused when names were being thrown around, which distracted from the plot. I also felt disconnected from the main characters and found the fact that they had been sent on holiday unsupervised unrealistic.
Overall, this was a good debut with a strong and unique setting with the potential to be a good read. Unfortunately, though, it did not quite hit the mark for me.
September 7, 2021
Embers by Josephine Greenland is an idyllic blend of adventure and historical education.
The opening paragraphs grab the reader’s attention and the book continues a roller coaster of excitement as these two siblings work to solve a mystery and learn more about their family heritage.
Greenland’s character development draws you into the close relationship between a sister and her brother who needs her to buffer the outside world from his Asperger’s. She makes you feel you are right there beside Simon and Ellen.
Her use of coloured descriptors such as “corn-blue eyes” is a motif that carries through the novel adding depth to the summary.
The novel leaves the reader guessing till the very end and finishes with a flourish.
I loved this story and recommend it to anyone looking for a great story to a potential writer looking for inspiration.
The opening paragraphs grab the reader’s attention and the book continues a roller coaster of excitement as these two siblings work to solve a mystery and learn more about their family heritage.
Greenland’s character development draws you into the close relationship between a sister and her brother who needs her to buffer the outside world from his Asperger’s. She makes you feel you are right there beside Simon and Ellen.
Her use of coloured descriptors such as “corn-blue eyes” is a motif that carries through the novel adding depth to the summary.
The novel leaves the reader guessing till the very end and finishes with a flourish.
I loved this story and recommend it to anyone looking for a great story to a potential writer looking for inspiration.
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November 12, 2021'Embers is a chilling and haunting who-dunnit with a Scandi-Noir twist, set against the backdrop of the deep, Swedish forests and the mysticism of Sami folklore.'
I was desperate to like this book because it sounded exciting and mildly magical. Who doesn't love a good whodunnit? and the setting sounded magnificent. Unfortunately, I only managed to push through to the halfway mark before giving up on this story (I'm sorry!). There were a few reasons for this.
The biggest reason was simply the pacing. I don't know how long the book actually is, but it really *felt* long. Interesting things do happen, but much of the book felt far longer than it need to be, and felt padded out with a lot of aimless wandering on the children's parts.
I also struggled with believability. I can't remember how old the children were supposed to be, but they read as too young for their parents to send them across the country on their own on holiday without an adult to keep an eye on them. The brother, Simon, is supposed to be autistic. I know that autism is a spectrum and that it's different for everyone, but he didn't read as autistic, he read as what someone who hadn't done much research thinks someone with autism should be. Sure, he has an obsession with murder mystery books, and he's not the best at communicating, but if it weren't that his sister keeps making remarks about how of course he would behave in a certain way, he's autistic, then you wouldn't actually know he wasn't an average, awkward kid.
When it came to the plot itself,I felt cheated that I'd soldiered on halfway through this story only for a couple of characters to pull up some publicly accessible facebook posts that incriminated two characters we already knew were involved. And then we suddenly meet granny's ghost kicking about the place, dropping cryptic clues for the girl - at that point, I couldn't keep going.
With a bit more focus and some cutting down, this book has the potential to be a great mystery, set in a fascinating location, but as it stands, it's not entirely clear what genre it's going for, and the pacing drags too much to maintain any tension. Like I said, I *did* really want to like this story, but I just couldn't force myself through the second half.
I was desperate to like this book because it sounded exciting and mildly magical. Who doesn't love a good whodunnit? and the setting sounded magnificent. Unfortunately, I only managed to push through to the halfway mark before giving up on this story (I'm sorry!). There were a few reasons for this.
The biggest reason was simply the pacing. I don't know how long the book actually is, but it really *felt* long. Interesting things do happen, but much of the book felt far longer than it need to be, and felt padded out with a lot of aimless wandering on the children's parts.
I also struggled with believability. I can't remember how old the children were supposed to be, but they read as too young for their parents to send them across the country on their own on holiday without an adult to keep an eye on them. The brother, Simon, is supposed to be autistic. I know that autism is a spectrum and that it's different for everyone, but he didn't read as autistic, he read as what someone who hadn't done much research thinks someone with autism should be. Sure, he has an obsession with murder mystery books, and he's not the best at communicating, but if it weren't that his sister keeps making remarks about how of course he would behave in a certain way, he's autistic, then you wouldn't actually know he wasn't an average, awkward kid.
When it came to the plot itself,I felt cheated that I'd soldiered on halfway through this story only for a couple of characters to pull up some publicly accessible facebook posts that incriminated two characters we already knew were involved. And then we suddenly meet granny's ghost kicking about the place, dropping cryptic clues for the girl - at that point, I couldn't keep going.
With a bit more focus and some cutting down, this book has the potential to be a great mystery, set in a fascinating location, but as it stands, it's not entirely clear what genre it's going for, and the pacing drags too much to maintain any tension. Like I said, I *did* really want to like this story, but I just couldn't force myself through the second half.
September 1, 2021
Thank you very much to Anne at Random Things Tours for having me on the tour for Embers.
Amongst the pines of a small mining town, Ellen and her brother Simon are on holiday together in Sweden. To the place where old family members grew up and a secret lies long buried.
The descriptions are lush and the world enjoyable. There’s a long history of conflict and mistrust between the townspeople and the native Sami, and Simon takes it upon himself to get to the root of it.
I often felt slightly confused at what was happening and what story you’re supposed to follow. More and more characters are introduced with new places too and I found myself lost in the woods.
I’m not really sure how to label or describe this read. If you’re wanting to follow a mystery and enjoy the scenery then you’d probably like Embers. It’s definitely ominous at times which gave it a slight nod toward the creepy factor.
Amongst the pines of a small mining town, Ellen and her brother Simon are on holiday together in Sweden. To the place where old family members grew up and a secret lies long buried.
The descriptions are lush and the world enjoyable. There’s a long history of conflict and mistrust between the townspeople and the native Sami, and Simon takes it upon himself to get to the root of it.
I often felt slightly confused at what was happening and what story you’re supposed to follow. More and more characters are introduced with new places too and I found myself lost in the woods.
I’m not really sure how to label or describe this read. If you’re wanting to follow a mystery and enjoy the scenery then you’d probably like Embers. It’s definitely ominous at times which gave it a slight nod toward the creepy factor.
September 20, 2021
(Thank you Netgalley and Unbound for a eARC in exchange for a honest review)
One of the best parts of this book, for me, was how it started straight into the action. In lots of mysteries I've read, it takes a couple chapters for the actual 'mystery' to happen. Whereas, in Embers, it starts straight away with Ellen and Simon discovering the dead reindeer and jumping right into starting to investigate which i appreciated. I loved how the Sami culture and traditions were woven through and found it really interesting to read about as well as learning about the traditional ways of reindeer herding.
I don't have much criticism for Embers except from how it was a bit slow in the middle (but only a little) and how it was a little unrealistic for kids their age to be sent on holiday unsupervised. Overall though, I thought this was a really good YA mystery
One of the best parts of this book, for me, was how it started straight into the action. In lots of mysteries I've read, it takes a couple chapters for the actual 'mystery' to happen. Whereas, in Embers, it starts straight away with Ellen and Simon discovering the dead reindeer and jumping right into starting to investigate which i appreciated. I loved how the Sami culture and traditions were woven through and found it really interesting to read about as well as learning about the traditional ways of reindeer herding.
I don't have much criticism for Embers except from how it was a bit slow in the middle (but only a little) and how it was a little unrealistic for kids their age to be sent on holiday unsupervised. Overall though, I thought this was a really good YA mystery
May 1, 2021
THere's a lot to like in this novel about a young autistic man and his older sister on holiday in Sweden. When they come across a circle of reindeer heads, Oliver insists that they investigate the crime. Ellen, his sister--who is also supposed to be his "minder" something Oliver clearly doesn't need, would rather go on package tours of the area. In the end, their curiosity about their own family history becomes interwoven with the killings of reindeer and other hate crimes aimed at the Sami people. Unfortunately, there are problems, too: everything is told from Ellen's perspective, and Ellen thinks that her autistic brother is difficult and unruly and a problem to be fixed. Finally she lets him go, and he proves to be just fine on his own: in fact finds his sister after she's been (rather easily) kidnapped by the culprit, who does a villain monologue before trying to kill himself. Ellen is not very observant, nor is she good at reasoning. She's not an interesting enough protagonist, and aside from Oliver, neither are the other characters. They're all rather flat and dull themselves, and their interactions with one another are awkward and odd. At first I wondered why their dialogue was so stilted, and wondered if it was because this book was translated from Swedish into English, but it appears to have been written in English. The hate crime aspect isn't explained well, and neither is much about the Sami people--in fact, more people in the novel say they're not Sami than those who do, so we learn little about the culture.
As a book featuring an autistic person, this one is ok. But I do wonder why the author chose to have an autistic character: is it for diversity? is it because a mystery might progress faster if an autistic character behaved in a stereotypical facts-oriented manner? is it to give Ellen an arc wherein she realizes that her brother is ok being who he is, and that it's the world that needs to be fixed? I can't tell.
Overall, not a terrible first novel, but one that feels very rough and in need to more development and copyediting.
As a book featuring an autistic person, this one is ok. But I do wonder why the author chose to have an autistic character: is it for diversity? is it because a mystery might progress faster if an autistic character behaved in a stereotypical facts-oriented manner? is it to give Ellen an arc wherein she realizes that her brother is ok being who he is, and that it's the world that needs to be fixed? I can't tell.
Overall, not a terrible first novel, but one that feels very rough and in need to more development and copyediting.
July 6, 2021
Ellen is reluctant to take a holiday and even more reluctant to take her brother Simon with her. The trip becomes a journey into the past and a forest of lies. It also becomes a journey to solve a grotesque crime, a crime which is connected to their own heritage - they just don't know it yet. The attempts to cover up a crime and pervert the course of justice are a something Simon can't and won't accept.
I find it interesting how both the existence and treatment of the Sámi people remain something akin to a dirty secret. The Scandinavian societies are generally perceived as forward thinking and modern in certain areas, and also often held up as examples for the rest of Europe.
The truth is that they have their fair share of problems that are kept nice and quiet, including the history of the mistreatment of their indigenous people. Unfortunately the systemic racism, irrational hatred and attempt to ignore their historical importance is still prevalent. Instead of gaining insight into the past, heritage and the mystical link they have with their surroundings - Scandinavians (not all) choose to treat the Sámi people with contempt.
I truly hope Greenland revisits this riveting sleuthing duo and writes another book featuring the siblings. The combination of the reluctant older sister, the younger brother with a lack of impulse control and their crime solving seen through the lens of a someone with Asperger's, really makes for a great read.
*I received a courtesy copy*
I find it interesting how both the existence and treatment of the Sámi people remain something akin to a dirty secret. The Scandinavian societies are generally perceived as forward thinking and modern in certain areas, and also often held up as examples for the rest of Europe.
The truth is that they have their fair share of problems that are kept nice and quiet, including the history of the mistreatment of their indigenous people. Unfortunately the systemic racism, irrational hatred and attempt to ignore their historical importance is still prevalent. Instead of gaining insight into the past, heritage and the mystical link they have with their surroundings - Scandinavians (not all) choose to treat the Sámi people with contempt.
I truly hope Greenland revisits this riveting sleuthing duo and writes another book featuring the siblings. The combination of the reluctant older sister, the younger brother with a lack of impulse control and their crime solving seen through the lens of a someone with Asperger's, really makes for a great read.
*I received a courtesy copy*
May 15, 2021
🏞👫 Good start but bogged down😕
While there were elements in this story I really liked and I felt the plot started out strong, I was not overly impressed or satisfied with the whole.
Best points include:
- A good effort at portraying a teen with Asperger's autism. Simon is averse to being touched, a trove of facts and figures, can't be secretive or untruthful and can't be distracted away when he grabs on to a project (in this case the investigation of an odd mass murder of a reindeer herd);
- A glimpse of Sami life in contemporary northern Sweden; and
- A pair of resourceful sibling teen investigators who don't take no for an answer in their search for truth.
But I felt the story bogged down and got confusing in the latter half. There were anonymous flashbacks just abruptly inserted into the story, seemingly with no relevance. Eventually the who and the why are explained but this technique did not work for me. And, because I had to take breaks and come back to continue, the cast of characters was a bit too large to keep straight easily. It didn't help that Greenland often used their names instead of the relationship when writing about the children's mom, dad, and other close relatives.
Thanks to BooksGoSocial/Unbound Digital and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
While there were elements in this story I really liked and I felt the plot started out strong, I was not overly impressed or satisfied with the whole.
Best points include:
- A good effort at portraying a teen with Asperger's autism. Simon is averse to being touched, a trove of facts and figures, can't be secretive or untruthful and can't be distracted away when he grabs on to a project (in this case the investigation of an odd mass murder of a reindeer herd);
- A glimpse of Sami life in contemporary northern Sweden; and
- A pair of resourceful sibling teen investigators who don't take no for an answer in their search for truth.
But I felt the story bogged down and got confusing in the latter half. There were anonymous flashbacks just abruptly inserted into the story, seemingly with no relevance. Eventually the who and the why are explained but this technique did not work for me. And, because I had to take breaks and come back to continue, the cast of characters was a bit too large to keep straight easily. It didn't help that Greenland often used their names instead of the relationship when writing about the children's mom, dad, and other close relatives.
Thanks to BooksGoSocial/Unbound Digital and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
April 18, 2021
Free copy for review from Netgalley! 3.5 ish rounded up. I did overall enjoy reading this one although the siblings felt too young to be doing all this investigating. The book claimed they were around seventeen and fourteen but it felt like they were a couple years younger than that. The sister was meant to be in charge but Simon, her brother, completely stole the show and called the punches. She was basically along for the ride.
I wish the villain hadn’t essentially revealed themselves in the end for a final monologue—the sublings didn’t even really need to do any investigating at all to “catch” the culprit.
The setting was well done and I was creeped out by the events in the book the kids were blithely investigating. (Certainly Simon could have used a better minder...) it all could have been so much worse.
I wish the villain hadn’t essentially revealed themselves in the end for a final monologue—the sublings didn’t even really need to do any investigating at all to “catch” the culprit.
The setting was well done and I was creeped out by the events in the book the kids were blithely investigating. (Certainly Simon could have used a better minder...) it all could have been so much worse.
June 4, 2021
A beautifully written novel that will appeal to young and mature adults alike, this story is an atmospheric, account of two teenagers trying to solve a mystery while holidaying alone without their parents. The writing is superb and the slower pace of this book, succeeds in creating an evocative and vivid picture of the setting. The story takes place in a rural part of Sweden and the descriptions are steeped in the traditions and culture of the indigenous people. It was so interesting to read about a place and culture I know nothing about. The characters are incredibly interesting, and the siblings relationship is just wonderful. An amazing debut novel by an author, who I am sure will become one to watch out for in the future.
This was a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2026
This was a compelling and easy-to-read detective story with emotion and cultural exploration at its core. In addition to being introduced to Swedish, Sami, and Levinian cultures, I loved the dynamic between siblings Ellen and Simon as they unravelled the rather unusual crime committed, as well as how they illustrated neurodivergence, how it presents and affects people. Other themes like grief and family ties and disillusionment were also strong in Embers. Overall, I'd recommend this book to fans of thought-provoking and bittersweet reads.
March 16, 2021
In particular, I really enjoyed how the characters are brought to life in this story amongst the pines, lakes, and small towns of Sweden’s North. The scenery is vividly real, and each location is made real with strong descriptive writing. There are insights into the many cultures that collide and the characters are suitably complex and not overplayed.
August 19, 2025
Seventeen year old Ellen and her brother Simon stumble upon a shocking crime in a remote northern town. As Simon investigates, the siblings uncover long buried secrets, confront dangerous truths, and embark on a journey of self-discovery that challenges everything they thought they knew about their family.
December 4, 2021
Embers was an interesting YA mystery by a first time author. I enjoyed learning about the Sami culture and how reindeer herding was a tradition. Thanks to NetGalley and Unbound for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 19, 2023
I listened to the audiobook version of 'Embers'. While the story was sometimes hard to follow, it was a gripping story, with well constructed characters. I especially liked the characterisation of the Sami.
May 26, 2021
An absorbing YA mystery that captures the atmosphere of a Swedish mining town and the bond between a brother and sister.
July 10, 2021
A very intriguing, offbeat murder mystery! Set against a really interesting cultural background, this story kept me turning pages!
July 9, 2023
A beautifully written and interesting book infused with fascinating tidbits about Swedish and Sami culture. Fully recommended!
July 5, 2021
My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this one, I have a step brother with autism so the fact that one of the main characters had Aspergers really made me smile, he was definitely my favourite character.
Emily and her brother Simon are sent away on holiday to the place where their dad grew up, when they get there they stumble upon a crime scene that was disturbing and completely horrific but yet seemed to have some order to it, which totally fascinates Simon and he is desperate to get to bottom of it!
His sister tries her best to put him off because she knows that the police will get frustrated with any interference, and it doesn’t take long for the police to get involved and caution him, but it doesn’t put him off 😂
What follows is a totally gripping story of 4 young people trying to get to the bottom of what happened with the help of a couple of adults, but they can’t help but feel that the people who should care the most about the crime are the ones blocking them at every turn! – is everyone who they claim to be?
I loved this and devoured it in a couple of sittings. I’d definitely recommend it to fans of the crime genre!
Emily and her brother Simon are sent away on holiday to the place where their dad grew up, when they get there they stumble upon a crime scene that was disturbing and completely horrific but yet seemed to have some order to it, which totally fascinates Simon and he is desperate to get to bottom of it!
His sister tries her best to put him off because she knows that the police will get frustrated with any interference, and it doesn’t take long for the police to get involved and caution him, but it doesn’t put him off 😂
What follows is a totally gripping story of 4 young people trying to get to the bottom of what happened with the help of a couple of adults, but they can’t help but feel that the people who should care the most about the crime are the ones blocking them at every turn! – is everyone who they claim to be?
I loved this and devoured it in a couple of sittings. I’d definitely recommend it to fans of the crime genre!
May 29, 2025
Billed as YA, this is only suitable for the older end of the category, I consider, as dead animals are quite enough to upset kids of any age. Reindeer maliciously poisoned are a main feature, herded by the Sami people of the Arctic Circle and essential to their way of life. Somebody doesn't like the Sami - maybe it's the firm that hires Thai workers to pick lingonberries, or someone else.
Two kids discover the sad scene, and the police do little, the local journalist says she is too busy to investigate (with what? Nothing else happens) so the sister and brother of course look into any clues they can find. It's traditional to set a story around orphans, just so they don't have parents constantly calling them in to tea, but this shows kids of divorcing parents packed off out of the way, which works just as well but feels like limbo.
I read an e-ARC from Fresh Fiction. This is an unbiased review.
Two kids discover the sad scene, and the police do little, the local journalist says she is too busy to investigate (with what? Nothing else happens) so the sister and brother of course look into any clues they can find. It's traditional to set a story around orphans, just so they don't have parents constantly calling them in to tea, but this shows kids of divorcing parents packed off out of the way, which works just as well but feels like limbo.
I read an e-ARC from Fresh Fiction. This is an unbiased review.
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