For fans of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and The Dressmaker's Gift comes an emotionally gripping, beautifully written historical novel about devastating secrets, unconditional love and one woman's search for her missing sister.

Canada, 1906. Fourteen-year-old Asta Gudmundsson has immigrated with her parents to an Icelandic farming and fishing community along the unspoiled shores of Lake Manitoba. There she meets Bjorn, the son of the local mill owner and they fall deeply in love. During a night of unspeakable violence, the pair make a silent pledge to keep one another's secret. When Asta's beloved sister Freyja goes missing, Asta embarks on a life-long journey to find Freyja and bring her home.

Seventy years later, while on her deathbed, Asta travels to the past and finally discovers the truth of what happened on the fateful days that set the course for her life and the lives of everyone she loved.

Inspired by true events, this is a mystical, unforgettable story told in the spirit of the Icelandic Sagas.

Finalist in the 2019 Canadian Book Club Awards for Fiction

Shortlisted for the Margaret Laurence Award for Fiction

Sign up now to get the most out of Books2Read

Discover something great at Books2Read.

Thanks for signing up for Books2Read notifications!