This is a wonderfully atmospheric book with a great story and interesting characters. We follow Rosa as she leaves her home and mother to travel to be with her new husband Jon after the death of his first wife. There are rumours that this death was not as natural as it was deemed and Rosa is especially wary when Jon discourages her from associating with the other villagers. He and his assistant Petur watch her every move, ensuring that she sticks only to the tasks allocated to her, refusing her entry into the upstairs room even when she starts to hear strange noises coming from it. Things get spookier as the bad weather sets in and Rosa gets even more scared of her situation. Finding help from a friend, she tries to make sense of her place in Jon's world as she also battles the spirits that haunt her.
The story contained within this book has been told before but there are changes and it's the setting that really makes it stand out. For me it was refreshing to read a book set so far in the past as to strip life down to its basics rather than the technological age in which we live today. Its remoteness, its poverty and wary villagers all added to the claustrophobic and cloying nature of the story which is told in multiple timelines and by different voices. This method of storytelling kept things fresh for me and, as it was indicated who and when, it never got mixed up.
The tension builds up nicely throughout the book and the story also gave up a few shocks along the way as it twisted towards its conclusion with relationships between the characters also changing accordingly as it progressed.
There's quite a lot of description in the book but all of it is relevant (as opposed to padding) as it adds a whole layer onto the story. As I often say in this situation, the setting is almost a character in its own right, so integral it is to the plot. Add in the magic, myth and mysticism that goes with it and you get a heartbreaking story well told.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This is one of those books that stays with you long after you've finished reading it. The characters, general plot and writing style are amazing! You get dragged into 17th century Iceland head first and it definitely doesn't let you go easily. Lea's descriptive writing is top notch and something that I fell completely in love with.

Rosa is a character that you bond with easily enough and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing her character growth through the book, from meek and feeble to being strong enough to admit to a crime she didn't commit to protect a husband she didn't love. You can easily feel through the writing what it would have been like to live in the era as a woman, not having the rights we have now and being solely reliant on a husband to provide for you, choosing your friends and what kind of life you should lead

The true evil in this book is ultimately the church and religion, making people feel that their beliefs and feelings went against god. As soon as someone admitted to another belief system it was deemed witchcraft and the penalty was burning at the stake. You cant come away from reading this book without experiencing some kind of emotion, knowing that this in fact did happen and many people were killed just for expressing beliefs others didn't agree with. I went through a rigmarole of emotions reading this book from pity at Rosa's decision to marry a man she didn't love for her mother, the fear of not knowing what or who was in the locked attic and the sadness at the inevitable but still slightly heartbreaking ending.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, thought I think there were parts where it dragged slightly and I felt like some of the plot twists were lacklustre. Lea makes up for it with her amazing writing skills and fantastic and believable characters.

I was quite glad I read this book on holiday in a warm sunny place,as it's quite dark and sinister ,both in plot and setting.It takes place in 17 th century Iceland and tells the story of Rosa ,who marries a rich widower,Jon, in order to provide for her mother.
We soon learn that Jon's first wife died in mysterious circumstances.He doesn't want Rosa to go to the nearby village,and when she does ,none of the villagers want to have anything to do with her.Jon disappears for long periods of time to,work with his apprentice Petur,a strange young man who he has adopted and with whom he has a strange relationship Rosa is forbidden to go up to the attic although she hears strange noises coming from there.Her life improves with the arrival of Pal,her childhood friend. We eventually find out what happened to Jon's first wife and what is in the attic,and the book ends on a less gloomy note .
The author conveys the oppressive atmosphere and the gloom of Iceland in winter, and the hardship faced by people who lived there at that time..The main character, Rosa, is portrayed sympathetically,but very few of the other characters are particularly likeable.
The book held my attention.I'm going to Iceland this summer-I hope it's less gloomy in July!

In 17th century Iceland, Rosa agrees to marry Jon in order to provide for her widowed mother - despite being in love with someone else. Jon is a widower, his wife died unexpectedly just a few months ago and his home is several days away. But what happened to Anna? Whose is the body found in the ice at the very beginning of the novel? Why can Rosa hear strange noises in the loft that she's not allowed to go into? Why won't Jon allow her to mix with the villagers?

Rosa is a sympathetic character, a young women far from home in a marriage that is not what she expected. There is an interesting aside in the line between Christian belief and the old sagas and use of runes, and what was considered acceptable or not. Jon's behaviour does make him out to be a controlling nightmare, and yet as the novel goes on it becomes clear what his full story is, which does render an element of sympathy for him. There's a real sense of the claustrophobic sense that Rosa has from not being allowed to mix with the other women in the village, and her increasing isolation. Overall, well written, good sense of place and an interesting historical background!

A moving story set in Iceland in 1686. It revolves around Rosa who marries and moves away from her childhood home. A compelling and
fascinating account of Icelandic folklore.

The Glass Woman is an Icelandic set retelling of Bluebeard. It’s beautifully written with exquisite prose and very visual language. Rosa is an intriguing character and her arc veers from the fairy tale in satisfying ways. I loved the setting and the author’s descriptions were very evocative. The book also has a look at difference between truth and gossip, the damage of assumptions without evidence and how gossip can be isolating. An excellent book, even if I seem to fall slightly outside the target audience.

Caroline Lea writes beautifully and creates a believably freezing 1600s Icelandic landscape on which to place her characters. It's an atmospheric tale that mirrors (and references) the sagas of that country. Until I read the Acknowledgements, I had believed the author to be from Iceland, with legend and country woven throughout the tale. It is clear a lot of research has gone into this title and it is all the better for it - it results in a truly rich and evocative story.

"A woman made of glass and stillness: perfect but easily shattered."

A tiny gift of glass is given to Rósa by her new husband whom she must marry to protect herself and her ailing mother. At the time the reader is uncertain as to whether this is a talisman, a cursed object or a metaphor, or perhaps all three.

When I first picked up this book, I did so because it was categorised as both historical fiction and as a mystery/thriller. I agree that it is absolutely historical fiction and I have to say I would not have described it as either a mystery for a thriller, except to the extent that it has a sense of foreboding about it, by way of Jane Eyre. As with that latter title, this is a story of of status, of a woman's place in history and of love in all its guises. In short, I would still have read this book if it had simply been categorised as historical fiction, which is the predominant genre here but don't pick it up expecting it to be, as one reviewer described "unputdownable", or a pacy page-turner. Do expect it to be a well-written title full of detail and dread.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and Caroline Lea for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There is a lot to love about this book: the wilderness of the Icelandic backdrop, the evocative prose steeped in witch trials and sagas, the ghostliness and creeping mystery, and the strong female character in Rosa. I found the set-up here completely compelling. Something is coming for the wives of Rosa's new husband, and the pace ratchets up all the way to the end. Nothing in this book is predictable or quite what it seems... I did at times find the perspective a little confusing. I lost my place at times, and found the book perhaps a little bulkier in word count than such a claustrophobic novel needs to be. But it's startlingly original, with beautiful prose. A novel to sink into in winter, rich with imagery and characters that feel very real.

A very well-written book, however for me, the story was not original and I lost focus a bit. It felt like reading a combination of The Miniaturist and Rebecca set in 1600's Iceland.
Rosa marries to a man and moves to another village, the only reason she agreed this marriage is to save her mother's life, as the winter is harsh and the food is scarce. But her husband has secrets too. Everyone murmurs about the first wife. Will Rosa find out what really happened?
The plot for me, was a bit predictable and I'd have enjoyed this book more if it was shorter really.

This book is set in 1600s Iceland. It's perfect for winter, very atmospheric and chilling mystery.
I enjoyed the writing and atmosphere setting. It was very realistic. However, my issue with the book was the plot was not original. I read the witchcraft mysteries, hidden secrets, victimised women of the time before. So, it didn't grab my attention after a while.
If the plot was more creative and original, I'd certainly be hooked more. I think the writer is talented for sure, and I'd pick up another book from her, but this one was not a perfect one for me.

Thanks a lot to NetGalley and the publisher for this complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

A compelling, absorbing read. If the Brontes had lived in Iceland this is the sort of book they'd have written, where the brooding landscape and inclement weather are a character in themselves. Definitely one to recommend.

Set in Iceland during the 17th century. Both the characters and plot are both written beautifully and well established.
If your a lover of historical fiction then this is the book for you.
Thank you to both NetGalley and Penguin UK for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest unbiased review

I wasn't sure what to make of this book at first. It was very much a slow burner, with a lot of scene setting and intrigue but not much happening at first. It certainly wasn't one that would bring to mind that old cliché about not being able to put it down.

Then, part way through, it shifted to a dual narrative. Suddenly we had a different, first person, perspective to go along with the original, third person, viewpoint. Not only that, but this new perspective was months ahead in the narrative.

Suddenly, the book gripped me and didn't let go. Now I really didn't want to put it down, because I wanted to know how this character had got from the point we were seeing him at from his wife's point of view to the point he was clearly at in the future, first person perspective.

Loose ends were tied, mysteries were explained, hearts were broken and mended and it ended beautifully. It was definitely worth sticking with it.

The Glass Woman is set in late seventeenth century Iceland, a place I’m barely familiar with beyond a short break where my tracks passed briefly across those of the protagonists and a time about which I know very little history in my own context, let alone that of anywhere else. And yet the premise was appealing — Rosa, a young woman sent to marry Jon, a rich (relatively speaking) and powerful man who is distrusted and whose first wife is dead. And from the very beginning, I was hooked.

The timeline chopped and changed a bit as the narrative switched between Rosa and Jon and that initially confused, but as I worked out what was happening it made perfect sense as their stories headed towards an inevitable collision and a subsequent separation.

In saying what I liked about it, the old problem rears its head: how do I review without giving away too much? I shall have to stay vague. The characters were fantastic — Rosa, submissive to keep herself safe and her village fed; Jon, living in fear of the consequences of a past mistake; Pal, patiently in love with another man’s wife; jealous Pedar, the sullen misfit who works on the farm… they’re just a few of a strong cast of characters.

The land and the culture are powerful players too, and the old religion resists the oncoming of the new, and where loving the wrong person or whispering an old song can lead you to death. The harshness of a land that seemingly swallows people up — and sometimes disgorges them again — is wonderfully compelling.

I really loved this book. It drew me in, kept me absorbed, reading on and on as the inevitability of human nature came up against traditional society. There’s power, there’s greed, there’s passion and there’s death, all at play in a landscape without mercy, and too many moments of sheer, gut-wrenching drama to pick one out. Wonderful.

Thanks to Netgalley and Michael Joseph publishing for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I requested this book as I went to Iceland a couple of years ago, and it really is quite a special and unique country. So I was intrigued to read a book set there in the 17th century. It's a lovely story, following a young woman who marries and moves away from home. There are questions about magic, witchcraft, religion, what it means to be part of a community and an outsider. The descriptions of the scenery, landscape and weather are powerful, with the country itself almost being an additional character. This is a story I definitely enjoyed.

The Glass Woman is a haunting story set in 17th century Iceland. It's beautifully written and it will keep you on the edge of your seat. I loved this.

Iceland in the seventeenth century was a wonderful setting for this story. The detail of the landscape, the way of life and the scattering of Icelandic words really brought it to life. Rosa's selfless decisions and strength made for inspiring reading, and the slow uncovering of what really happened in Jon's life made this book a page-turner. I'll be looking out for the author's future books.

I wasn't sure what to expect of this book, but I am so glad that I requested it. It is set in 17th century Iceland and in essence a very simple story. After the death of her father Rosa marries Jon who promises to look after her mother who is ill, but Jon lives far away so Rosa has to leave her village and her childhood friend Pall, whom she no doubt would have married had events been different. The story is slow, but captivating and I was slowly drawn in to the lives of these people living in such extreme conditions trying to survive. It is a beautiful story and thanks to NetGalley for my free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Would definitely recommend - I loved it.

I absolutely loved The Glass Woman by Caroline Lea. Having just booked a holiday to Iceland thought it a good time to read a book set in that country. If a book is going to make you feel cold this is it! The description in so realistic you can imagine living in the almost eternal winter of the area I loved the references to the sagas and the glossary was useful. I no can't wait to visit this extraordinary place

Just like the landscape of Iceland, this tale is full of lumps and bumps and folds and twisty turns - and that is a really good thing.

A quite fascinating look at life in the 17th Century, too often still replicated. That aside, at the heart of the book is, of course, the people and what a mix of psychoses and superstitions they are. Although a work of fiction, I found myself so drawn into their lives that I became angry in several places with the injustices they heaped on each other. In fact, I am getting angry just recalling them for this short revue and so I shall stop here with a strong recommendation that you read this book for yourself and a wish that you get as angry as me.