For centuries, Vidar has cherished the memory of Halla, a young, mortal woman he loved but destiny denied him, partly because she was a woman of Midguard, and he was Aesir, a son of Odin and fated to save his father's life. Now, it appears he will have a second chance when Victoria Scott steps onto a lonely island in the Sea of Norway. She is Halla reborn, and Vidar still loves her, though he knows how impossible it all is; Odin will never let him go, and the love he bears Victoria places her in danger. Victoria is more determined in this life, however, and will give him the courage to defy his father and fate. Whether or not he succeeds is another matter.

Although transitions between scenes are at times a bit rough, nonetheless, this is a haunting, yet fast paced, novel. The action seesaws between the mystic world and modern, and the point of view changes often, but stick with it to the end, you'll be rewarded with a story that feels both old and new. Fans of Charles de Lint, particularly his book Moonheart, will enjoy this.

Synopsis
Taking a job on an isolated island in the Sea of Norway, scientist Victoria Scott wants a quiet place to finish her doctoral thesis. But Victoria isn't prepared for the strange shadows outside her cabin window, the rumors of a murderous hag who sucks one's soul during sleep, and the tales of mythic monsters lurking in the forest. More frightening than the island's nightmarish mysteries: to Victoria, everything is hauntingly familiar.

When an enigmatic stranger appears on the island, Victoria's sense of foreboding peaks. For she learns that they are connected by a conflict centuries old-one that can end only with her death…