From the #1 bestselling author of The Historian comes a mesmerizing novel that spans the past and the present—and unearths the troubled history of a gorgeous but haunted country.A young American woman, Alexandra Boyd, has traveled to Sofia, Bulgaria, hoping that life abroad will salve the wounds left by the loss of her beloved brother. Soon after arriving in this elegant East European city, … elegant East European city, however, she helps an elderly couple into a taxi—and realizes too late that she has accidentally kept one of their bags. Inside she finds an ornately carved wooden box engraved with a name: Stoyan Lazarov. Raising the hinged lid, she discovers that she is holding an urn filled with human ashes.
As Alexandra sets out to locate the family and return this precious item, she will first have to uncover the secrets of a talented musician who was shattered by political oppression—and she will find out all too quickly that this knowledge is fraught with its own danger.
Elizabeth Kostova’s new novel is a tale of immense scope that delves into the horrors of a century and traverses the culture and landscape of this mysterious country. Suspenseful and beautifully written, it explores the power of stories, the pull of the past, and the hope and meaning that can sometimes be found in the aftermath of loss.
Praise for The Shadow Land
“A compelling and complex mystery, strong storytelling, and lyrical writing combine for an engrossing read.”—Publishers Weekly
“In The Shadow Land, Elizabeth Kostova, a master storyteller, brings vividly to life an unfamiliar country—Bulgaria—and a painful history that feels particularly relevant now. You won’t want to put down this remarkable book.”—Claire Messud, author of The Woman Upstairs
“In this brilliant work, what appears at first a minor mystery quickly becomes emblematic of a whole country’s hidden history. Lyrical and compelling, The Shadow Land proves a profound meditation on how evil is inflicted, endured, and, through courage and compassion, defeated. Elizabeth Kostova’s third novel clearly establishes her as one of America’s finest writers.”—Ron Rash, author of The Risen
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I immediately fell in love with the pace and lush descriptions in this book. The main character, Alexandra, came to Bulgaria under the guise of teaching English. She was really there as an act of penance. From the moment she is dropped off by the taxi at the wrong hotel, her story becomes tied to the strange family she attempts to help. Add a poet taxi driver, a powerful politician, and a stray dog to the mix, and you get an unforgettable narrative that pulls you in and keeps you in.
Blending the modern Bulgarian story with a tale from post World War Two highlights the changes that have happened in that country in a relatively short amount of time. Jumping back and forth between Alexandra and the mysterious musician from the past, Kostova does a peerless job of pulling together a deliberately paced, almost Gothic story. I know that everyone will be comparing this to The Historian, but this novel is quite different. The Shadow Land has its own style, its own sense of urgency, its own unique story. One of the best I’ve read in quite some time.
The Shadow Land by Elizabeth Kostova is a story of intriguing history and suspense. Elizabeth Kostova takes her reader to Bulgaria with a mystery that involves both past and present. I have enjoyed reading all of Elizabeth Kostova‘s books because of her characters, descriptions and srorylines. My thanks to the author, publisher and netgalley for making this book available to me to read and review.
The Shadow Land by Elizabeth Kostova may not be as clear of a departure from her first novel–The Historian–as some may believe.
No. There is no longed-for return of Dracula or any of his minions. However, there are many sorts of monsters, some that cast larger shadows than Dracula could ever manage.
In The Shadow Land, Kostova weaves a fictional account of a horror that might remind one of the holocaust. However, this horror is one that few westerners have heard of. It happened in Bulgaria during its “communist experience” which took place during between 1944 and 1989.
The tale begins with a stunning prologue that compares the novel to a train–not a speedy bullet train, but one that exudes noxious fumes as it clatters along meandering rails carrying unexpected cargo.
In the present, readers meet the protagonist, Alexandra, a young woman who travels to Bulgaria to teach English. Upon arriving in Sophia, she inadvertently becomes entangled in a convoluted mystery when she comes in contact with a Bulgarian family and ends up in possession of their most sacred treasure.
Later, she teams up with an interesting and surprising cohort, a young taxi driver with secrets of his own. Together, they go on an extended voyage across Bulgaria in search of answers.
Kostova reveals her love for Bulgaria by clearly painting the beauty of the country and the kindness of its people. She takes readers along for the ride, offering them the ability to join the travelers on their voyage of discovery. However, she makes it plain that there is another Bulgaria, one that hides in the shadows of the past.
From time to time, the action flashes back to the past and tells the tale of Stoyan Lazarov, a gentle artist and his loving family. By doing so, Kostova enhances the reader’s ability to relate to what happened in that sad shadow land and forces them to assimilate the horror.
Unfortunately, readers who want a fast-paced, flash-bang tale will be very disappointed. Kostova luxuriates in her complex descriptions and the extended back-story of Lazarov and his family, perhaps spurred by her personal ties to Bulgaria.
It could be said that The Shadow Land is an act of love on Kostova’s part, an attempt to bring light to dark secrets.
Readers who enjoy luxuriating in complex, extended tales will love The Shadow Land. On the other hand, readers with a lack of patience or who want a quick read may jump off the train and choose not to complete the voyage of discovery.
Rougeski
I fell in love with Kostova’s first novel, The Historian. That book had everything I love. Beautiful writing, an intricate and compelling story, and depth and richness in the characters. I was excited to dig into Shadow Land. In this novel, Kostova looks at the East European country of Bulgaria and the long reach of war and politics and the lust for power. I’ll admit, the book was a slow start for me. But something in Kostova’s writing, in the depths of her passion, kept me reading. And as the threads of the story began to weave together, they created a tapestry that left me deeply moved.
The Shadow Land is a very fast read with a unique pit plot. I enjoyed the two different story lines and how they tied together.
I would have liked to learn more about the characters, especially Alexandra, but Kostova’s thoughts made me feel like I was there and for a while the reader lives deep inside the story.
I appreciate the detail given to the region and the timeline too. Elizabeth is a good story teller and makes me want to read more..
Have you ever said, I can’t imagine what she was thinking? You may never have imagined the horrors and hopes so beautifully told in this tale. This story is told from the perspective of many different people. I got caught up in adventure and invested in the characters as the story unfolded. This story reinforces the fact that music and art can enrich us all and be our saving grace at times. Definitely worth the read.
Elizabeth Kostova’s The Shadow Land takes the reader on a journey through Bulgaria before and after the fall of communism. Alexandra, a young American woman, travels to Sofia, Bulgaria to teach in the American school, arriving a bit early to become acclimated before settling into her new job. She is drawn into a compelling mystery when she accidently picks up the wrong baggage only to find out too late that she is now in possession of a bag containing an urn filled with cremains. In her quest to return the bag to its rightful owner, a family on their way to bury the ashes of their deceased loved one, she encounters adventures she’d never dreamed of that grow more and more menacing at every turn. Her Bulgarian taxi driver becomes her best friend as he helps her through this adventure, though he, along with a few other important characters, turn out not to be who they at first seem.
The story weaves together the past in the form of an unpublished memoir of life in a 1950s communist labor camp with Alexandra’s present. Though the novel jumps back and forth between time periods, it is not at all difficult to follow. The many twists and turns keep the reader eager to find out what will happen next.
As soon as our main character, and American, sets foot in Sofia, Bulgaria, her mystery begins. In this strange but beautiful country for a teaching position, Alexandra is expecting to do some sight-seeing before she begins her teaching assignment. But when she helps a young man and two elderly people who are struggling with their bas, her life changes forever. After settling the threesome in cab, Alexandra realizes that she still has one of their bags. Upon searching the bag for some id, she discovers it contains a beautiful urn filled with ashes, human ashes. Her hunt for the bag’s owners begins, revealing an unimaginable and complex mystery and leading to new and lasting friendships as well as unforgettable experiences.
This historical fiction is very well-written and peopled with realistic and memorable characters. The mystery slowly reveals itself, as the story unfurls, leading the reader into Alexandra’s past, present, and future. Although this story is a bit overly-long and drawn out in places, it is excellent.
Two stories- one past, one present come together so powerfully.
Each time I picked up this book, I was instantly transported into a remarkable Eastern European world of mystery, danger, and strong interpersonal allegiances. Time flew by and I did NOT want this book to end, ever. It is well-researched, artfully crafted, and brilliantly constructed — the work of a truly gifted writer.
In terms of plot summary, it’s the story of an American woman, still filled with grief and guilt, even though it’s been years since the death of her brother. Alexandra resolves to start over by leaving the United States to teach English in Bulgaria. But upon arrival an accidental encounter with strangers and a lost urn filled with ashes sweep her into a page-turning mystery that takes nearly 500 pages to resolve. Along the way, events slowly unravel the story of a gifted musician who gets caught up in the shadow camps where Bulgarian communists brutally punished Stalin-era dissidents alongside thousands of innocents.
But this extremely well-written book is so much richer in its exploration of profound human experiences. It shows how quickly connections can form between strangers. How deep loyalty can run in families. It’s about the ways people are able to withstand despair and hopelessness, simply by drawing on their own considerable internal resources. And most of all, how powerful love can be – in all its forms. I found reading this book a truly exceptional experience.
Not as good as The Historian but pretty darn good. Interesting characters. Excelllent, sometimes complex storyline.
Good story teller
Not nearly as good as The Historian.
This book is dark, just like Bulgaria is. If you’ve ever traveled there, you can feel the Rodopes mountains, and it’s shadows.
Not her best work.
I loved the twists and turns in the plot especially how the story moved back and forth through time. I also recommend “The Historian”, an earlier novel by Elizabeth Kostova.
After living in Bulgaria for a time, it was very gratify to finally read a book about that wonderful country.
Excellent plot. Great writing. Very interesting book.
Very original. Wasn’t sure where this book was going to take me, but I highly recommend it.
Once again, a great novel from a great writer.