A Review of The Land of Frost
By Milica Kostić
I believe
that most readers will agree with me when I say that the first impression upon
reading The Scent of Legacy, the first part of the Arkona Purpure trilogy, is best described as absolute surprise. At
first, the novel seems like a love story, but somewhere in the middle it
changes its course and takes a completely different direction, taking the
readers on an amazing journey into the heart of Slavic mythology, in an utterly
natural and vivid manner. I consider this approach to be a unique phenomenon in
contemporary literature.
Drina
Steinberg’s novels can most certainly be classified as epic fantasy. However,
the author has managed to put a playful twist on the original genre and give a
special appeal to an exciting, yet little-known topic. Ever so subtly, by
letting the readers in on the secrets of Slavic mythology,she brings its magic
into their lives, making it a cherished and well-loved element of their
reality.Within this mythological framework, Drina Steinberg deals with the
destinies of her characters, their emotional relationships, carefully
illustrating what it is like to be a woman in the contemporary society.
Another
important feature of this trilogy is its attention-grabbing quality. Simply
put, both novels keep the readers on their toes the whole time. You will surely
read them in one sitting.
After the
first part of the trilogy, The Land of
Frost had big shoes to fill. However, not only has itlived up to the expectations,it has surpassed them.
With the
foundations set in The Scent of Legacy, the second part of the trilogy, The Land of Frost, opens with scenes set
in the mythological realm.Moving further away from the traditional “women’s
voice” in literature, the author writes about battle, blood, and murder in an
extraordinarily vivid manner, while remaining true to herself and the main
character’s feminine perspective.
Another
interesting motif is that of parenthood, most readily observable in the
relationship between Purpure and her daughter. Despite being aware of her great
task and the fact that her daughter is of divine origin, Purpure is, above all,
a woman whose main role is that of a mother and her child’s protector.
Less
prominent, but still immensely powerful and deeply emotional is the
parent-child relationship between gods. The humanness of this relationship, the
pain, the regret, the sacrifice, and, finally, love, speak of the universality
and supreme quality of emotions, making gods appear mortal and familiar in the
readers’ eyes.
The Land of Frost is a novel
characterized by strong emotions, building up and leading to a truly intense
and emotional ending. Apart from leaving a strong impression on the readers,
the ending leaves plenty of room for a great sequel and leaves the readers
craving for more.
