This was a letdown. I read the whole book, skipping over the backstory of each (idiotic) character as it was boring, but expecting some payoff at the end. It didn't happen. There was not one character the reader could sympathise with, and the story seemed to fizzle out without any explanation. What a waste of time.

An advance copy was provided by the publisher.

Four Icelandic friends go on a weekend camping trip in a attempt to repair relationships and recover from the hit they've all taken to varying degrees from Iceland's financial crisis. Things soon go awry as a combination of poor weather and vehicle problems leave them forced to seek shelter in an old farmhouse occupied by a mysterious old couple. Events continually take a turn for the worse as the quartet find themselves in a nightmarish cycle of attempting to leave yet not making any headway.

I was expecting a more atmospheric novel, but maybe something was lacking in translation as the suspense and shocks often fell flat. I'm all for unlikeable characters in literature but this lot were more tedious than anything else. It works well when mixed with intrigue and twists but there was little of either here. I struggled to visualise the terrain too, leaving me somewhat at sea as to the group's difficulties in leaving and who was where at what time, the foursome constantly splitting up for no good reason. I normally love Nordic Noir but this was disappointing.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

The ice lands by steinar bragi is a horror read.
Set against Iceland's volcanic hinterlands, four thirty-somethings from Reykjavik - the reckless hedonist Egill; the recovering alcoholic Hrafin; and their partners Anna and Vigdis - embark on an ambitious camping trip, their jeep packed with supplies. Victims of the financial crisis, the purpose of the trip is to heal both professional and personal wounds, but the desolate landscape forces the group to reflect on the shattered lives they've left behind in the city. As their jeep hurtles through the barren land, an impenetrable fog descends, causing them to suddenly crash into a rural farmhouse. Seeking refuge from the storm, the group discover that the isolated dwelling is inhabited by a mysterious elderly couple who inexplicably barricade themselves inside every night. As past tensions within the group rise to the surface, the merciless weather blocks every attempt at escape, forcing them to ask difficult questions: who has been butchering animals near the house? What happened to the abandoned village nearby where bones lie strewn across the ground? And most importantly, will they ever return home?
This was a good read with good characters. Although slow I managed to read it. 3*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.