Elizabeth Kostova

Kostova's new novel is a tale of immense scope that delves into the horrors of a century and traverses the culture and landscape of this mysterious country. Suspenseful and beautifully written, it explores the power of stories, the pull of the past, and the hope and meaning that can sometimes be found in the aftermath of loss. Praise for Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian "Quite extraordinary. Kostova is a natural storyteller. She has refashioned the vampire myth into a compelling contemporary novel, a late-night page-turner." ... San Francisco Chronicle "Hypnotic. a thrill ride through history." ... The Denver Post "Part thriller, part history, part romance. Kostova has a keen sense of storytelling and she has a marvelous story to tell." ... Baltimore Sun "Kostova's vampire is no campy Lugosi knockoff.

A Novel

The Shadow Land

Christine W

Lauren Attaway

I really struggled with how to review this novel. It's beautifully written, the characters are vivid, but I think I have to acknowledge that as a fast reader it shouldn't take me ages to read a book. I enjoyed this novel in parts but I'm not sure I can say I loved it or I would even recommend it. It felt as if I was torn between two books as I was reading it, and the author had made the decision to fit both stories into one. The novel jumps between two timelines, and I think both stories are fleshed out but they don't always transition smoothly between the two. Half of the book is about an American woman travelling through Bulgaria and becoming involved in the return of a lost urn and the other half of the book is the story of the dead man's life. Both stories deserve their due, although I did find the deceased man's story to be darker and ultimately more interesting. 

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Rucha Phatak

Let me first be clear that I have heard the Audible version of the book rather than reading the hard copy. This factor may have influenced my opinion of the book.

I was so eagerly waiting for The Shadow Land since it was announced. I absolutely love Kostova's first book, The Historian. The second book, The Swan Thieves, was also good but didn't come near to The Historian for me. So, I had expectations from The Shadow Land.

To tell the truth, I have enjoyed listening to The Shadow Land in parts. It may be that I would always do some other work while listening to the audiobook. The pattern of the book is very familiar as I have read the other two of her books. The main character, in this case Alexandra, gets roped in a mysterious and adventurous journey to find about a person's past, in this case Stoyan Lazarov. In the journey, the readers are often treated with beautiful and stimulating descriptions of new places, in this case Bulgaria. For me, as I know the pattern, the story lacked that element of mystery. However, I thoroughly enjoyed all the wonderful descriptions of this beautiful country that I know nothing of. I enjoyed learning more about Bulgaria through this book as well. This was a treat for me. The way everything is described, I could see it all through my mind's eye. 

The one thing is for sure that you need a patience while reading Kostova's books. They are not as fast paced as some mystery or thriller novels. Kostova slowly peels each layer of her stories to reveal the core. The Shadow Land is no different. This may be the good or bad thing depending upon the reader. 

All in all, I liked the book, and I have enjoyed reading it. However, it still does not come near The Historian for me.

Jolie

The Shadow Lands is a novel that you won’t easily forget. The reader follows Alexandra Boyd and her Bulgarian cabbie friend as they drive around Bulgaria, trying to find the people who belonged to the urn that Alexandra accidentally took. As they search for Stoyan Lazarov’s family, she learns about his tragic background and discovers that some secrets are very dangerous and people will do anything to keep them from being discovered.

******************************************************

I couldn’t get enough of this book. The way it was written, the cover, where the book was set, the storylines, the perfect blending of past and present and the right amount of mystery was what kept me reading until late in the night. I couldn’t put it down, it was that good!!

Alexandra was such a tragic figure in the beginning of the book. The loss of her brother was huge and the toll it took on her and her family was very tragic. But I also thought she was a little too trusting. I mean, after meeting the Lazarov family and accidentally taking the urn, she starts to galavant around the country with Bobby. All I could think about was that she was going to become another statistic at some point in the book. So glad that didn’t happen.

I actually really liked Bobby even though he did come across as a very secretive man. He was the first friend that Alexandra had and he was good to her. He was a bit condescending about American’s though (but I think most of the world is….lol).

What I really liked was when the book flashed back to Stoyan Lazarov and told his story. It was fascinating to look at how the communists dealt with perceived criminals (real and those in the wrong place at the wrong time like Stoyan). I had chills reading about that because of the similarities to Hitler’s concentrations camps in World War 2. Stalin was just as bad as Hitler. Just as bad :(.

To my recollection, I haven’t read a book that is set entirely in Bulgaria. I was fascinated by the customs, by its history (both good and bad) and just the atmosphere the book had while I was reading it. Again, something I couldn’t get enough of and I think, once my kids are grown, that I might have to take a trip there.

The end of the book was pretty good. The storylines were married beautifully together and the book ended with a what I thought was an HEA.

How many stars will I give The Shadow Land: 4

Why: A great, immersive book that took me from present day Bulgaria to the past and back effortlessly. I couldn’t read enough of this book. I do wish that a small glossary was included with the meanings of the Bulgarian words. My Kindle’s dictionary did not recognize the words (and didn’t have an option for Bulgarian)….lol. Also, I was left wondering about Alexandra’s scar. It was mentioned quite often and I don’t remember seeing and explanation about how and why she got it.

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Late Teen

Why: Mild violence.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

Draculelle

Soon after arriving in Bulgaria a young American helps an elderly couple into a taxi - and realises too late that she has accidentally kept one of their bags. Inside she finds an ornately carved wooden box engraved with a name: Stoyan Lazarov. Raising the hinged lid, she discovers an urn filled with human ashes. As Alexandra sets out to locate the family and return this precious item, she gradually uncovers the secrets of a talented musician shattered by oppression - and she will find out all too quickly that this knowledge is fraught with its own danger.

Amber Gibbons

machi

Rachel Kanyid

Natalia Hernandez

Susan Beddes

Ana Chirus

Liz Carpenter

Amanda Valentin

Tracey O’Rourke

Dustin Wyse-Fisher

Neva Davies

Emily S

Tanya Sutton

Amy Soukup

Mariya Tuchinskaya 

Recommend[ed]...to readers seeking outstanding and suspenseful historical fiction.’ Booklist Alexandra Boyd has travelled to Bulgaria hoping to salve the wounds left by the loss of her beloved brother. But a luggage mix-up soon after she arrives finds her holding an urn filled with human ashes. As Alexandra sets out to return the precious item to its owners she finds ever more obstacles in her path, even as her determination grows greater - and the mystery behind the significance of the urn deepens. Soon she will realise that this object is tied to the very darkest moments in the nation’s history, and that the stakes behind seeing it safely returned are higher than she could ever have imagined. Elizabeth Kostova’s new novel is a tale of immense scope that delves into the horrors of a century and traverses the culture and landscape of this mysterious country. Suspenseful and beautifully written, it explores the power of stories and the hope and meaning that can sometimes be found in the aftermath of loss. Elizabeth Kostova is the New York Times bestselling author of The Historian, which sold over three million copies, and The Swan Thieves ‘Beautifully written, gently gripping novel from the author of bestselling The Historian, in which enduring love, persistent guilt and lingering evil combine to powerful effect.’ Daily Mail ‘In this brilliant work, what appears at first a minor mystery quickly becomes emblematic of a whole country’s hidden history. Lyrical and compelling, The Shadow Land proves a profound meditation on how evil is inflicted, endured and, through courage and compassion, defeated. Elizabeth Kostova’s third novel clearly establishes her as one of America’s finest writers.’ Ron Rash Transporting...draws us into Bulgarian history and character revelation like an elegant, mysterious labyrinth. Page-turning, evocative and richly imagined.’ Dominic Smith ‘Her encounters peel back Bulgaria’s troubled recent history and comprise the biography of a nation as much of as a family...beautifully written, gently gripping novel.’ Daily Mail ‘Elizabeth Kostova’s novel brings the modern history of Bulgaria into focus. The novel is the product of experience as well as imagination...It threads tantalising strands of romance, as well as more opaque examples of heroism.’ Otago Daily Times ‘Fans will keep coming back for her authentic detail, her scope, and her sense of suspense.’ Guardian ‘The aftermath of loss, the haunting beauty of Bulgaria and an unsettling mystery surrounding an urn of human ashes all come together in Elizabeth Kostova’s elegantly written novel...Written with great zest and beautifully descriptive detail, making the soul of this novel, The Shadow Land is a fascinating, moreish read, demonstrating the power of a great story. Readers Digest ‘In The Shadow Land, Elizabeth Kostova, a master storyteller, brings vividly to life an unfamiliar country—Bulgaria—and a painful history that feels particularly relevant now. You won’t want to put down this remarkable book.’ Claire Messud, author of The Woman Upstairs ‘The Shadow Land is thrilling, and not just as a gripping tale. It’s also thrilling to watch such a talented writer cast her spell. The central character actually begins this deft novel in an urn, only to emerge as one of the most memorable characters I’ve encountered in a long time.’ Richard Russo, author of Everybody’s Fool ‘A compelling and complex mystery, strong storytelling and lyrical writing combine for an engrossing read.’ Publishers Weekly 'A capacious, Victorian-esque novel with more than a whisper of romance, it deftly conveys the beauty and mystery of this ancient land, all the while ensnaring you in a web of intrigue which encompasses the darkest horrors of Bulgaria’s hidden history.’ West Australian ‘Heart-breaking, evocative, and suspenseful, The Shadow Land explores a little-known and tragic part of European history in beautiful, restrained writing that brought me to tears several times.’ Kate Forsyth

The Shadow Land A Novel

Reviews