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Regal House Publishing

Pub date September 3, 2024

ISBN 978-1646035083

Price $20.95 (USD) Paperback, $9.49 Kindle edition

Author interview

Set in a 1930s Arctic whaling station, Reeves’s meticulously researched tale follows a grieving couple as they search for solace in the harsh environment. Tor, a seasoned beluga whaler, and his wife Astrid, an expert in Arctic vegetation, are marooned at their isolated whaling outpost when their plans to rendezvous with a ship back to Norway go awry. Trapped in the unrelenting grip of winter darkness and besieged by treacherous polar bears, savage storms, and bone-chilling temperatures, the couple faces an additional challenge: Astrid’s sudden pregnancy. The narrative unfolds with a dual perspective, alternating between Astrid’s poignant letters to Birk and Tor’s reflections on those letters, discovered years later. This structure delves deeply into the couple’s struggles as they cope with grief. At the same time, Reeves skillfully bridges the physical and spiritual aspects of the story, drawing readers into the space where reality and inner experiences overlap. Her prose is excellent when it comes to depicting the harsh Arctic environment—the biting cold, endless darkness, and strong smells—while also delving into the characters’ inner emotions and beliefs.  This interplay between the concrete and abstract aspects of life adds depth to the story, inviting readers to ponder the delicate harmony between physical experiences and spiritual ponderings during times of hardship and perseverance. Raw, poignant, and taut; a stunner.

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