The Swell

Spellbinding. Entranced by dark, icy, mythical Iceland and captivated by two generations of women and their struggle for agency, I could not put The Swell down. Evocative and heartbreaking, this is a story of sisterhood, with a page-turning mystery at the heart of the novel. * Anya Bergman, international bestselling author of The Witches of Vardo *
A deeply satisfying, deftly woven novel of female power and resistance, and of feminisms both implicit and explicit. Early and late 20th century Iceland are both beautifully evoked in Kat Gordon's rich, captivating prose. Highly recommended. * Anna Hope, author of Expectation *
In beautiful, crisp prose The Swell examines the saga of one family and the often complicated role of the women within it. An addictive and twisty read. * Liza Klaussman, author of Tigers in Red Weather *
Spellbinding.I could not put The Swell down.Evocative and heartbreaking, this is a story of sisterhood, with a page-turning mystery at the heart of the novel. * Anya Bergman, author of The Witches of Vardo *
Thoroughly bewitching. Kat Gordon's spare prose is as beautiful as it ishaunting. * Freya Berry, author of The Birdcage Library *
Gripping, bewitching, and laced with atmosphere, reading The Swell was a wonderfully sensory experience. * Harriet Constable, author of The Instrumentalist *
A skilful, measured, atmospheric mystery set in Iceland and weaving across two timelines. Kat Gordon is a master storyteller. * Cathryn Kemp, author of A Poisoner's Tale *
Beautiful and powerful, a story of courage and survival that echoes across generations. Kat Gordon presents us with a compelling tale of two women living in very different times in the 20th century, both striving for change in the face of danger and oppression. The harsh, often lightless, landscape mirrors the struggle for liberation for these young women. I am sure this haunting, melancholic yet ultimately hopeful novel will appeal to readers of Elizabeth O'Connor's Whale Fall. * Emily Critchley *
Set against a dramatic and treacherous Icelandic landscape, The Swell is a cinematic and compelling story of hope, autonomy and transformation. * Elle Machray, author of Remember, Remember *