Margrét Helgadóttir - The Stars Seem so Far Away - Book Review (Fox Spirit Books)


The author kindly sent me this book to read from Denmark. After really enjoying this book, I felt the need to tell you my thoughts and opinions. It's a fantastic atmospheric read which transports the reader to a post apocalyptic future. I love this type of story, but only if it has been written in the right way, which this one has. 

The book started out its life as one small story entitled 'Nora", which was picked as one of the winners of Fox Spirit Books International Talk Like a Pirate story competition. Subsequently, a number of short stories merged seamlessly to make one epic adventure that will have your pulse racing and your imagination engaged. 


The plot is deeply rooted in Nordic history and Scandinavian culture, which gives the story a European feel. This is very different to the mainstream books written from a UK perspective. The author has done a superb job of getting the narrative over to the reader.


There is an eclectic cast full of characters dealing with fragmented lives. Five very different survivors find themselves clinging on to the harsh life of raging wars, famine, plagues and a very harsh Arctic Icelandic landscape. Where humans find themselves fleeing the deadly sun, as they migrate farther and farther north. 



The book delivers a theme of loneliness which is written in beautiful prose and delivers a simplistic quality. It's just like the book title suggests, looking at the stars and working out how the encounters will connect up. It's very creative and I love the idea that we may need to travel into space one day, in the future, to seek a better planet. One that we have not damaged.

The landscape will leave you breathing in the atmospheric conditions and lung fulls of freezing air, whilst the plot will have you gripped to the frozen core. This is a great curl-up-in-a-ball read that will transport you into your own imagination. It is a cracking read and, even though it is only slim, there is a big story at the heart. A sci-fi fantasy walk into the unknown and back. 

I recommend that you seek out a copy and read it.... 


  • Paperback: 164 pages
  • Publisher: Fox Spirit Books (10 Feb. 2015)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1909348767
  • ISBN-13: 978-1909348769

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