I received the second volume of Olav Audunssøn as part of a NetGalley giveaway.

Olav Audunssøn has everything he thought he'd ever wanted: he has control of his family estate, Hestviken, and Ingunn, the foster-sister-turned-bride whose legitimacy he'd fought so hard for, is by his side. Yet their life together is plagued by sadness: Eirik, the illegitimate child Ingunn gave up, is living far from his mother, Olav and Ingunn's own attempts to bear a healthy child are unsuccessful and lead to her prolonged illness, and Olav is widely distrusted by the larger community. Olav attempts to make amends for his past sins, convinced that doing so is the only way to peace, but finds it difficult, and with his wife--the only person to whom he'd ever felt a meaningful connection--weak and ailing, his isolation and despair grows to terrifying new heights.

After reading the first volume, it was nice to continue Olav and Ingunn's story, though this volume is rather dark (and the first isn't a walk in the park). It's a beautifully written, complicated relationship--their bond forged in childhood, the mixed feelings they both feel about the other and their union, and the tragedies that continue to befall them--all making for a tragic but moving tale. We left Olav in a rather dark place, literally and figuratively, and I'm interested to see where life takes him.