The days are dark, the snow and wind are unending, and Blackåsen Mountain holds silent watch over all in the breathtaking
Wolf Winter, debut novelist
Cecilia Ekbäck's evocative exploration of the isolation, despair, and superstitions of early 1700s Swedish Lapland. Maija and Paavo, along with their daughters, Frederika and Dorotea, are the newest settlers that summer on the mountain. The discovery of a body soon after their arrival leads to speculation: Was it unearthly forces, as the other settlers claim? Or, even more sinister… someone among them? In her attempts to investigate, Maija inadvertently sets into motion a chain of events that puts herself and her family at risk. At the same time, teenaged Frederika struggles to understand the strange visions she's been experiencing and her emerging powers. Secrets are revealed and loyalties tested, all while the brutal "wolf winter" threatens their very survival. With prose as stark and beautiful as freshly fallen snow, Ekbäck's novel left us chilled and astounded. We're delighted to present it as our featured selection in Indiespensable #51.
Also included in this volume is a bag of Classic Strong Man Granola from Portland's own Blackbird Food Co. This deliciously hearty granola — full of a variety of fruits, nuts, and seeds — is a sweet and salty treat, guaranteed to give you strength to face the coldest winter's day.
And, in case you find yourself snowed in, we've included Powell's extremely popular Smellbound journal, printed right here at the City of Books on our Espresso Book Machine. You may just find the inspiration to write a novel of your own.