Sunfall (2024)

When Sigurpall first told me about this treatment, I didn’t like the sound of it at all. Everything felt gray and distant. Eight weeks at the end of the world didn’t sound appealing, but then again, nothing did at that moment.

Una is on the brink of burnout and is sent to the remote Westfjords for a new treatment program called Anima. In a small seaside village during the darkest winter months, a handful of people confront what Hakon, the leader of the program, deems most important: facing the darkness within themselves. In this isolated setting, memories from Una’s past begin to resurface, her childhood in a small basement apartment with her mother and her brother.

As the stability of the treatment program, and Una’s own sense of self, begins to falter, everything she has kept frozen inside her starts to unravel, and her perception of reality begins to shift.

Sunfall is a captivating novel about light and darkness, a novel about the consequences of childhood trauma—but it can be said that it takes the subject matter a step further and describes how one can become frozen in the role of a victim, allowing it to color their perception of reality.

Reviews

Literary Discovery of the Year

JBG, VISIR.IS

The imagery is enchanting, and perhaps therein lies the main strength of the story; the metaphors and the language are so captivating that it is hard to tear oneself away from the reading. Furthermore, the metaphors are often quite humorous, and the story as a whole is significantly humorous, even as it tackles serious subjects. At times, the humor is even pitch black ... The structure is carefully thought out, making it easy to surrender oneself to the story ... It is impossible not to feel affection for the narrator, Una, despite her being far from perfect. She is cold yet warm, soft to the bone while also being rock hard. Thus, she is both well-written and a convincing character, and the same can be said for the other characters in the book, who tend to blend into one another ... The story is characterized by original imagery, subtle humor, and clever character creation, showcasing the author's skill with the language as a beautiful witness.

SB, MORGUNBLADID DAILY

Sunfall is an exciting and intriguing book. From the very first moment, [the narrator] strikes a chord with the reader, and they genuinely care about what happens to her. This is one of those books that leaves the reader hungry for more. ... There's hardly a better endorsement for a book than that.

SS, LIFDU NUNA