Thanks to NetGalley, Manila Press, and Bonnie Books UK for this copy of "The Swell."

I want to preface that I read this book while we were buried in one foot of snow, so it was perfect to set the mood of this dual timeline story set in Iceland.

In 1910 Gudrum, her sister Freya, and their father Papi rescue Tomas from a sinking whaling ship.

In 1975, we meet Sigridur "Sigga" and her grandmother Amma who left home and raised her son (Sigga's father) as a single parent, never talking about his father.

The suspense builds as we know the timelines will converge and that Grandmother Amma is one of the two sisters, but which one?

And what does she know about the recently discovered body, estimated to have been there 50 years, found in an ice cave near her former home?

I could not put this book down! I read an eARC of this book so thank you to the author and the publisher.

This was such a fantastically written book, set in Iceland that connects two timelines about 65 years apart.

In the earlier time period we follow two sisters who live in rural Iceland in the shadow of a mountain and whose lives are changed when a shipwrecked Danish sailor comes to live with them. The later timeline in the 1970s follows a young woman who is at a crossroads in her life and having to deal with how the expectations of others aren’t aligning with her own true desires and wants for her life.

This book explores female treatment by men, what it is to challenge society’s expectations, the changing role of women in society, attitudes towards motherhood. We see the historical parallel of this between the two timelines, and how although the choices available may be different, many of the thoughts and emotions are similar.

The writing struck a good balance of beautiful setting and intrigue. I particularly liked the way Icelandic sagas were woven through the story and how this was referenced by the women in both timelines, drawing parallels with their own lives.

I found this to be a well-written, engaging novel with underlying messages balanced skilfully with plot progression, a clear love for the setting and fascinating characters.

From the cover art work to the description of the book I felt drawn to this novel. Kat did not disappoint. The setting of the story was perfection, I absorbed the folklore, the Icelandic scenery and way of life, and those girls. The sister storyline set in the past was my favourite and rich in the storytelling, the character building and the suspense of the character identities in the present day storyline. Very beautifully told and a treasure of a tale, with a very rewarding end result.

Rich in Icelandic culture and myth, The Swell delves into themes of survival, fate, and the power of women in the face of overwhelming odds. The slow unraveling of the mystery keeps you hooked, while the evocative prose captures both the stark beauty and the dangers of the land. This is a story about women rising in the face of adversity, and the secrets that refuse to stay buried beneath the surface. I couldn’t put it down.

A lovely well written tale based on folklore. This is a duel timeline novel in which I did prefer the older story to the newer one
The writing is very beautiful and the characters are well rounded while the pages are nicely descriptive of place and time
I would have preferred the pacing to be a little better but overall a good read

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

An enjoyable read.
Set over two timelines, I much preferred the earlier one, though both had very good headstrong women, not willing to bow down as expected for the females of their time.
The timelines worked well against each other, and it slotted into place nicely as the tale unfolded.
I also enjoyed the old stories incorporated into this.