I really enjoyed the pacing and story. I think there was just the right amount of science/volcano talk in addition to having a solid story surrounding the main character. I didn't agree with or enjoy the main character or her decisions but her story was interesting to follow nonetheless. Would definitely read more by this author.

The Fires - by Björnsdóttir, Sigríður Hagalín

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

In the shadow of ancient volcanoes, where the earth's fiery heart pulses, Sigríður Hagalín Björnsdóttir weaves a gripping tale of love, catastrophe, and the raw power of nature. "The Fires" is a heart-wrenching thriller.

After an eight-hundred-year slumber, the volcanoes in Iceland's most populated region bubbles to life. Earthquakes ripple through the land, and the headlines scream warnings.

Volcanologist Anna Arnardóttir, a woman who has dedicated her life to understanding the molten forces beneath the earth's crust, faces her greatest challenge yet. The catastrophe at hand is not just geological—it's personal.

Björnsdóttir masterfully intertwines the geological upheaval with the turmoil of human passion. As Anna grapples with the impending disaster, she discovers that love can be as unpredictable and destructive as a volcanic eruption. Caught between her duty to a nation and her love for her children, her lover, and her past, Anna embarks on a perilous journey—one that threatens not only her life but her very soul.

The prose crackles with tension, mirroring the seismic activity beneath Iceland's surface. Anna's desperation leaps off the page, her rationality crumbling as she confronts the dual fires of love and catastrophe. Björnsdóttir captures the raw vulnerability of a woman torn between duty and desire, her heart as fragile as the trembling earth.

The vivid descriptions of Iceland's volcanic landscapes transport readers to a realm where danger lurks beneath every moss-covered rock. This novel is not your typical love story, it's a tempest of emotions set against a backdrop of geological upheaval.

"The Fires" burns bright as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit despite natural and emotional turmoil. Björnsdóttir's storytelling ignites a fire within, urging us to cherish our fragile connections.

Dear readers, I highly recommend you take a chance on this unique novel.

Volcanologist Anna Arnardóttir has it all. A husband that loves her, a family that makes her happy, a beautiful, spacious house in the suburbs, and a fulfilling job. She has been fascinated by geology and volcanology since she was little. Her father was also a prominent scientist in the field. When a series of earthquakes begin, things start to get complicated.

Overall, The Fires is a good novel and a very well-researched one. But there are so many places where the story dragged. Detailed descriptions of volcanic activity are scattered all over the book. If volcanology is your thing, this is an excellent book for you. However, it contains far too much detail for the average reader. Although volcanoes are an interesting topic, these descriptions often distracted me while reading this story.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book ahead of time in exchange for a review. It didn't disappoint! Must read!!

"The Fires" by Sigríður Hagalín Björnsdóttir is a mesmerizing and haunting novel that explores the depths of human resilience and the indomitable spirit in the face of tragedy. Set against the backdrop of a devastating natural disaster, Björnsdóttir weaves a compelling narrative that delves into the complexities of grief, love, and the indelible marks left by loss.

The story takes place in a small coastal town where a catastrophic fire engulfs the lives of its inhabitants, leaving a trail of destruction and shattered dreams in its wake. Björnsdóttir's writing is evocative and lyrical, painting a vivid portrait of the ravaged landscapes and the emotional turmoil of the characters. The imagery is powerful, capturing both the beauty of the town and the overwhelming devastation caused by the flames.

The strength of "The Fires" lies in its richly developed characters, each grappling with their own personal demons and navigating the aftermath of the tragedy. The author delves deep into their psyches, allowing readers to connect with their pain, sorrow, and ultimately, their resilience. The protagonist's journey, in particular, is a testament to the human capacity for survival and finding hope amidst despair.

Björnsdóttir's prose is imbued with a rawness and authenticity that infuses every page with emotional intensity. The pacing is deliberate, mirroring the ebb and flow of the characters' healing processes. The novel's structure, with its interweaving narratives and nonlinear timeline, adds layers of depth and intrigue to the storytelling.

"The Fires" also explores profound themes of community, unity, and the power of human connections in times of adversity. It examines the way tragedy can bring people together, fostering resilience and the rebuilding of lives. Through interconnected storylines, the novel underscores the importance of compassion, empathy, and collective healing.

While "The Fires" is a tale of profound loss and devastation, it is also a celebration of the human spirit's ability to rise from the ashes. Björnsdóttir's writing is a testament to the indomitable strength found within individuals and communities, even in the face of unimaginable challenges.

In conclusion, "The Fires" is a beautifully crafted and emotionally charged novel that leaves a lasting impact on its readers. Sigríður Hagalín Björnsdóttir's skillful storytelling, richly drawn characters, and poignant exploration of human resilience make this book a compelling and thought-provoking read. It serves as a reminder of the fragility of life, the power of healing, and the enduring strength found within the human spirit.

"We are the progeny of those who survived, with fire, ash, and hunger in our DNA. We’ve no control over it, we’re drawn to the fire like moths to a flame."

"As sun sets in ocean stream our hidden grief does us compel to hold their memories, death but a dream an adventure bold in which they dwell."

Blurb: A volcanologist discovers herself in the face of nature’s fury in this heartrending thriller. Anna Arnardóttir has fire in her blood. A second-generation volcanologist, she’s Iceland’s leading expert on the fire-breathing giants that could, without warning, reduce a country to ash.
Her work regularly puts her in harm’s way, but Anna never takes unnecessary risks, living an orderly, suburban life with her tax-lawyer husband and children. Then a series of earthquakes rocks Reykjavík, and Anna’s stable life is suddenly on shaky ground when she falls for Tómas Adler, a bohemian photographer. As Anna tumbles into a passionate affair, the earthquakes take a violent turn. Small volcanic eruptions herald disaster to come, but will she trust what she knows in her heart is about to happen? Or listen to her head and risk the safety of the entire nation? Having so much of her world and what she knows about herself upended, can she trust her instincts?

My thoughts: A book about Volcanos?? Ummmm sign me up! This book was like nothing I've read before, the study and knowledge of volcanos and all the sciencey stuff that makes them tick is so intriguing and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about it. I also enjoyed the real feelings and emotions the MC goes thru on the side, and how she handles going thru this natural disaster. The fun facts and research into this book were really good and this story will leave you on the edge of your seat! I am so glad I got to be apart of this team!! Thank you @mbc_books and the wonderful author for letting me read this with you!

I give The Fires by Sigridur Hagalin Bjoernsdottir ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I tried it. I really did. I've picked this one up and put it down several times. Unfortunately, the writing style and the overly intense geology jargon really put me off.

I've decided to accept this one isn't for me. I made it 40% in and still wasn't invested. I was hoping for something that caused me to drop everything to read, but instead, I was putting off reading, because I didn't want to read more.

I hope this is a hit for others. I do think my feelings about this book are very much in the minority.

This seems like it would be an interesting read of volcano eruptions in Iceland…there was a lot of scientific research done and quoted in the first third of the book.

I'm in trouble with rating this book and I don't think I can give it a rational star rating just right now because I feel so conflicted and I may have to review it after the experience has settled.
I wanted to love it so much because I loved the author's first book, the Island and The Fires was one of the most anticipated releases of the year for me (in English and in my language Hungarian). It is so beautifully written and the scientific explanations about how volcanoes work are so masterfully intertwined with all the happenings of the domestic drama and the parallels drawn between them and the feelings and acts of the protagonist are created perfectly.

BUT the extramarital affair part of the plot is such problematic and not reflected well that from the moment I realized that this will be the subplot I was raging almost all the time.
The problem is not that the protagonist feels the way she feels and acts the way she acts. The problem is the author let the protagonist call this feeling love all along, without anyone else reflecting on it. Calling it love INSTANTLY, calling it love even after the first encounter not ending with sex but a fight over mistrust showed this relationship is as disfunctional and lacking basis as it should be after such a short time and with such an infantile, irresponsible, idolized bohemian bad boy involved as Tómas.
I know there are different kinds of love, which even the protagonist explains, but it's clear she does not mean this once she states this is the FIRST time for her being in love in her life, erasing her 20+ years of well-functioning, affectionate, feel-home marriage all at once, just because it is not very exciting.
And keeps on calling Tómas "my love" even after aforementioned fight, and amongst the turmoil of the disaster in the final parts of the book lists her relationship with him, her "love" with him as important in her life as the loves for her husband, children and parents.
Considering all this, it is unfair to expect this relationship to stand the test of a natural disaster.

Mislabeling infatuation, lust and obsession as love, even calling it as THE love, the one and greatest love in a person's life is such a huge issue in general, giving people unrealistic expectations and misconceptions about the value of a cozy, long-lasting feel-home relationship.
I cannot ignore that the book does not do justice to this subplot. Calling this affair love is not wrong because it's extramarital but because it lacks any basis. Calling it love is not wrong because it fails in a natural disaster but because it becomes disfunctional the frist moment the pink fog lifts and you have to function apart from physical attraction and butterflies in the belly..
Someone feeling they need an adventorous affair, feeling that they are attracted to someone more at the moment than to their lifelong partner, making decisions driven by these feelings are all totally valid. But saying this is love, but 20+ years of a loving, affectionate, feel-home, happy marriage has never been love is totally not valid.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an hinest review.

The Fires is the type of book I thoroughly enjoy.. a chance to read a thrilling story and learn about something almost by accident. This book takes the disaster format and intersperses technical information not only about volcanos but also the cultural aspect they hold. The race against time and the love story kept the action going right until the end. Scandanavian literature is one of my favorites especially with a thriller twist.

The cover design caught my eye, and I thought this looked interesting.

I liked this book a lot. I thought it was very unique, and extremely clever. It had a dystopian feel, which was very interesting.

I enjoyed the way the protagonist narrated and shared her thoughts with the reader. She had a kind of raw sincerity that I found touching.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

I was hoping to like this more, unfortunately it fell flat for me. I’m not sure if it was the translation or that it wasn’t the disaster I expected. Although there is a lot of “science” info - almost reads like a text book. The disaster is about the protagonist and her life. Definitely more of a family drama with a beautiful volcanic backdrop. Its a quick read with a pretty good ending.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reading copy.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60586615-the-fires
I really enjoy man vs. nature thrillers and The Fires has that in spades. Anna is an Icelandic volcanologist in a stable but bland marriage when both her personal and professional life show dangerous rumblings. As an expert in her field, she is called on to try and predict when & where Iceland's many actively unstable volcanoes are actually going to erupt. Each chapter begins with a short scientific explanation of geological phenomenon and although interesting, it was difficult for me to keep all of the information straight due to the names having way too many consonants for my English speaking brain to translate into anything other than an unpronounceable key smash. The stress of impending natural disasters and maintaining her family relationships leave Anna feeling more than a bit unstable herself. This leads to an ill-advised affair that adds another layer of impending disaster to the story. The traditional stoicism and bleakness of Nordic Noir left me unable to really relate to the characters, however the shocking ending still managed to pack a big emotional punch.

I can't say enough about Sigríđur Hagalín Björnsdóttir's ability to wright about something that has to be totally hard to explain how volcanology can be traumatic in reality. She uses her characters quite skillfully in explaining how they have encountered the seriousness of volcano activity in her noir interpretation of their being. She uses Anna Arnardóttir and Tómas Adler as her main focus on lovers. But she makes an exception for her 8 year old being so kind to her mice in the end and this is where the noir comes into play. I loved reading about the volcanology and all the stories that Örn Ögmundsson told his daughter. This was a great book to read and it's certainly entertaining and I would recommend it to everyone to read.

Clever and thrilling novel that hooks you from the start. The story combines dangerous volcanic eruptions in Iceland and a volcanologists struggle with the ensuing disaster, family and her lover. Sigridur Hagalin Bjornsdottir combines fact and fiction and leads the reader through a gripping story to a startling finale.

This was a wonderful book, that I really enjoyed. It was extremely difficult to put down and so close to getting that 5th star. What I really loved about this book is that it's a genre hybrid. Part non-fiction teaching us about volcanoes. Both there unpredictability and the devastation they cause. The author did mention that this book was completed just weeks before the massive eruption in the same area that closed the world's air travel. It was also a fictional story that will certainly have your heart racing. Having studied volcanology as part of my degree this book is as close to the truth as you can get from a story. It is a believable and realistic story. This is definitely a shocking and emotional read. Its fast pace and show just how unpredictable volcanoes actually are. There certainly needs to be more books like this one. If you love natural disasters thrillers then this book is a must-read. This page-turner will shock you until the very end. Prepare for an emotional roller coaster ride.

So much praise goes out to the author, translator, and publishers for creating this very unique book. That contains so much atmosphere and tension. I will definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for more books by this fantastic author.
The above review has already been placed on goodreads, waterstones, Google books, Barnes&noble, kobo, amazon UK where found and my blog yesterday
https://ladyreading365.wixsite.com/website/post/the-fires-by-sigridur-hagalin-bjornsdottir-amazon-crossing-4-stars under my name ladyreading365

I had to stop reading at the 13% mark. This book is very informative about volcanoes, specifically the ones in Iceland. However, the book reads like a work of non-fiction and the content is very dry. The description had a lot of promise, but I just felt like it was not delivering on the suspense/thriller aspects that could have occurred in the story.

"The Fires" by Sigríður Hagalín Björnsdóttir had decent writing and translation, and the author clearly knows quite a bit about (or has done a lot of research about) volcanoes and geology. However, I definitely don't think I would classify this as a thriller as it is being billed. It is more of a geology essay set over the background of a family drama....with a volcanic eruption sprinkled in here and there.

Volcanoes are quite the topic in this one with not much to savor the thriller appetite in me.
For example, we have tons of scientific knowledge about the Icelandic volcanoes which is nice but I was hoping for more excitement on Anna's side being she's a volcanologist.
I couldn't really get into the swing or groove with this one and sadly it seemed to develop into a political fever rather than suspense.
I'm hoping I'm wrong and me being sick with a cold is my issue tonight.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and netgalley for this ARC.

I can never resist a good Nordic noir story, and I was intrigued by The Fires as soon as I read the blurb. I loved the sound of the Icelandic setting, the focus on the volcano science and the natural disaster element, and I was excited to try a new-to-me Icelandic author in translation. I can't deny there is so much potential here in this book! Sadly, the actual story didn't exactly live up to expectations for me though for multiple reasons.

First of all, I have to stress that I still love the premise of The Fires. The natural disaster element, the volcanology, the Icelandic setting... It all had so much potential and it was one of the main reasons why I wanted to read this story in the first place. I do love it when a story manages to teach me something new along the way, so I was initially very excited by the amount of science incorporated into the plot. Then I started to wonder if I had actually picked up a non fiction title instead with only a minor fictional sideline... Because the fact is: about 60-70% of the story is basically volcanology theory, with SO much scientific details that it makes your head spin. Like I said, I don't mind learning something new, but this was just an overload of science and not enough fictional story to balance things out. I feel that only people who are extremely interested in volcanology and want to learn ALL the details will make it to the end without skimreading. (I know I didn't, even though I was interested initially.)

Another major struggle I had was with the fictional part of The Fires. Not only did it feel a bit underdeveloped after the sheer amount of scientific details, I wasn't all too happy with the content either. This mainly had to do with the fact that I never warmed up to the main character Anna, and only started to despise her even more after the active cheating element was introduced. Was her role as a volcanologist intriguing? Yes. But I really hated having to spend time with her and seeing her treat her husband and family that way. Also, insta-love much? This story would have been so much better without the romance cliches... Then again, I can't say I was a fan of the family drama included either.

I also wasn't sure what to make of the writing style itself. While I did like the almost poetical way of describing certain scenes, I did wonder why on earth the dialogues weren't properly marked. There was no punctuation whatsoever to indictate what part of the text was actually spoken out loud or who was saying it, and I actually had to reread paragraphs more than once to fully understand what was going on. I'm not sure if this was a formatting error or on purpose (I hope it was the first), but it slowed down the pace considerably and got really frustrating after a while. The pace was quite slow in general, up until the final 20% or so where all hell broke loose.

All in all, The Fires didn't end up being the exciting natural disaster thriller I thought it would be (or at least not until you reach the final part of the story). Instead, it's a rather dense and scientific oriented volcanology account with an unwanted cheating element thrown in. Definitely not for me, but it might work better for you even you don't mind the science overload or the romance cliches.