A great opportunity to read about the Australian mining fields. Sanna and Martti are both from FInland- a vastly different place than the Outback. She's dealing with gender issues and pregnancy; he has his own problems. There are some unwise decisions but no spoilers. A good atmospheric read.

I am a huge fan of Amazon Crossing! I love reading literature in translation and from other countries. This story set in Australia was wonderful. Sanna was a character that I could relate to and root for.

First off, the concept of this book really drew me in and kept me there almost through the end. I felt that although the book was strong at least 3/4 of the way in, the ending left me disappointed. Sanna’s story is engaging although her relationships with men feel rather triggered I think Tua did an excellent job of exploring Sanna’s motivation and providing her with meaningful growth. Tua maintains an excellent tension between characters throughout the book and I found myself unable to put the book down.

However, as Burnt Land neared it’s conclusion I felt that Tua struggled with how to resolve the tension she created. For the majority of the read I felt this was a 4-5 star reading experience. The ending (without spoilers) felt that it needed a longer book in order to reach the resolution it did–at least for me. Functionally the pacing felt rushed toward the end while it had been a wonderfully meandering journey for much of the story.
Sanna’s story and journey was visceral, intriguing and enjoyable in so far as she seems weak and vulnerable at the start but she still has the capacity to bring you in because she doesn’t wallow in self pity. Sanna wants to solve her problems and in that sense she puts herself into situations which feel tenuous and dangerous–which is the book’s tension and savior. Although the ending left me a bit underwhelmed and even a little frustrated I enjoyed the rest of the story enough that I’d recommend Burnt Land to anyone who enjoys character growth and exploration.

Oh, how I adored this book! The plot might move at a slow burn, but I just couldn't put this book down. There's contemporary family issues, romance, a little bit of mystery and suspense etc. Tua Harno's Sanna is vulnerable enough to make her relatable to readers. I really could empathize with her plight and I became so immersed in her story. Not certain if there will be a sequel, but there appears to be enough material to lead us to one.

The descriptions certainly made me feel as if I was in Australia and I would agree with another reviewer that describes this as a "coming of age story." Yes, even 30 somethings can have a late coming of age! It is certainly one I am glad that I read.

Set in the gold mines of the Australian Outback, the challenge of the environment is of the utmost importance to Sanna, since she is so unfamiliar with how this subculture works. She is naive, almost painfully so, and must fulfill her undergraduate research on gender equality in the mines. Written well and with good character development, this is worth reading, if only for the descriptions of Australia and its harsh climate.

Thank you.
Enjoyed it.
Will purchase copies for family and friends.