3.5*

Years back I had read Kostova's famous first novel - The Historian - a Dracula spin-off of sorts. I had greatly enjoyed it, even though, compared to the OTT breathtaking storytelling of the original, it moved at a leisurely pace. What has remained with me through this time are not details of plot but, rather, impressions of poetic descriptions, lovingly evocative of the mysteries of the Eastern European setting.

This characteristic resurfaces in Kostova's latest offering, "The Shadow Land". It starts with a young American woman, Alexandra Boyd, arriving in Bulgaria, ostensibly to take up a teaching post. In reality, she has a personal reason for settling in this country - she wishes to fulfil a childhood wish of her brother, who had gone missing on a mountain trip and never returned. Through a series of coincidences, she ends up carrying an urn containing the ashes of one Stoyan Lazarov and spends the rest of the novel trying to give it back to his family, teaming up with a taxi-driver who turns out to be a poet and political activist. Eventually we learn that Lazarov was a gifted violinist and an unlikely dissident under Communist rule. And that his harrowing story could have echoes in the present...

Devoid of the Gothic and supernatural aspects which had given "The Historian" a particular twist, this novel gets off to a slow start, and (at least for me), it never really became a page-turner, even though it is, in its own way, a political thriller. At first I also felt that it was rather over-written - we get a description of the clothes of every new character and facts about Bulgaria are given to us in a style which is redolent of a tourist guide. It is, however, a novel which grows on you and I liked it much better as it progressed. I felt that it was at its best in the "historical" chapters containing Lazarov's. As a musician myself, I particularly appreciated the way musical works were described - it's never easy to convey the effects music has on its performers and listeners but Kostova manages to express the wonder and the healing power of music. This alone is enough to make the novel worth reading.

Overall I enjoyed the book, but there were some things that I wasn't craxy about. I found the way the narrative switched from third to first person a little jarring, it was hard to get a good rhythm. I liked the characters and the setting. I knew nothing about Bulgaria before so it was a refreshing change of pace. A little slow at times, but overall it was an intriguing read.

This was an intense yet beautifully written story that completely immerses the reader into the culture and history of Bulgaria, a country healing from the oppression of Communism.

It all begins with a simple mistake that occurs out of a small act of kindness. To rectify the mistake, our main character, Alexandra embarks on a journey across the country with her newfound companion, Bobby. They find themselves right in the middle of a mystery that involves the tragic story of a young musician and Communist labor camp survivor, Stoyan Lazarov. It was a sad but fascinating tale since I was not aware that these horrific camps had even existed.

This isn’t a face paced story but one that needs to be savored. The characters and settings come to life with the lush descriptions and skilled writing. You can tell the author did extensive research both on Bulgaria and on the music that Stoyan plays and speaks of throughout the story. All the writing pertaining to the music was a joy to read. My only disappointment was with the end – it felt a little forced. But I thoroughly enjoyed this unusual adventure across Bulgaria and felt like I learned about an important piece of history. 4.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy and the opportunity to read and review this book.

4.5/5 This is a beautifully written story about a journey to return a lost item to those who lost it, with lots of twists and turns along the way. There were times when I think the pacing could have been tightened up a bit to create better tension, but ultimately I enjoyed all of the characters and stops they made along their epic adventure.

'll start my saying I was a huge fan of the Historian. Kostova's writing has so much depth, full of so much description and substance. I'll admit the synopsis draw me in because it didn't give me enough details. I truly feel I went into this not knowing at all what this novel was going to be about however I feel it reads well that way.
Be prepared to learn lots about Bulgaria's dark history as Alexandra's journeys to makes amends with her beloved brother's death and to hopefully heal here emotional scars.
This is a lengthy novel but definitely worth it.
Thank you to Text Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a wonderful mystery that was surprisingly dense in history. I felt a true sense of awe in the depth and breadth of historical subplot. There are many who understand little of what happened when the Iron Curtain descended on Eastern Europe. This novel is a touching and beautiful tribute to the not so distant past that still haunts former communist countries.

I'm a very big fan of Kostova and have been eagerly awaiting her next book for ages. As usual, it was incredibly well researched and beautifully written. I do think it took a little too long for the plot to pick up, but once it did, it was well worth the wait. I thought the ending could have been fleshed out a little more, but overall it was great. The descriptions of the scenery were beautiful and the characters were very likable.

I read The Historian and loved this book, so when the opportunity arose to read and review her newest book I was excited. I have to say it did not disappoint. It captured my interest from the first page even though it really was nothing like her previous book. The characters were well developed and the plot kept you guessing until the end. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read a book from an author who has become one of my favorites.

Loved this book! I've been waiting so long for Kostova to come out with another novel; This is worth the wait!

A wonderful trip through Bulgaria, beautifully written but I wouldn't call it a thriller. More a story of loss and repentance, traveling through a different land.

I only got about 1/3 of the way through this book. The writing was good and the characters were interesting, but the pace of the story dragged on at a snail's pace. I really wanted to love this story as I don't know much about Bulgaria, but I kept putting this book down to read something else. I think it's time to admit this is just not for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this to review.

A young American woman arrives in Sofia to start a job teaching English. Her first encounter is with an elderly couple and younger man who she helps into a taxi. When they have gone she finds that she has one of their bags and that inside is an urn filled with ashes. Horrified, she recalls the brief conversation - they spoke of going to a monastery - and hails a taxi. The taxi driver, Bobby, turns out to be very helpful and over the next few days drives her to several places in Bulgaria in an attempt to reunite the ashes with presumably grieving relatives. But very soon they find they are being followed and are in danger.

There are many things to admire about this book. The descriptions of the Bulgarian countryside are excellent and give real sense of the country. The book tackles the difficult subject of Bulgaria's communist past and how this is impacting on the present. However I had several reservations about it. This is at heart the story of one man, Stoyan Lazaro, a talented violinist who' was persecuted by the communist government. It is framed by the present day story of Alexandra and Bobby and for me, Stoyan never really came to life. His story unfolds as Alexandra gradually follows clues, meeting people on the way who tell her about Stoyan's life and finally finding a testament he left. This meant that we were kept at a distance from Stoyan's experiences. The telling of his story through people he knew is a bit clunky in places and I felt it would have been better to narrate the story in a more traditional way through Stoyan's point of view. This would have led to a much shorter novel but one which was more tightly focused.

I am sure there are many readers who will love this book and allow themselves to be immersed in its highly descriptive prose but it didn't work for me.

I had high expectations for this book and it mostly met them. The beginning required a little patience and the end was very abrupt. The middle was absolutely glorious though!
Alexandra Boyd travels to Sofia, Bulgaria with the intention of teaching English in the city her deceased brother dreamed of visiting. Within minutes of setting foot in the city, Alexandra is swept into an adventure that spans the length of Bulgaria and reveals secrets that have been closely guarded for decades.
With the help of her taxi driver, turned close friend, Bobby, Alexandra attempts to return the urn containing Stoyan Lazarov's ashes to his family.
I was completely drawn into the split timeline of the story. I was just as invested in Alexandra's story as I was in Stoyan Lazarov's. The dangers of living in the political turbulence of the communist and post communist governments of Bulgaria were very compelling.
Elizabeth Kostova creates deep and engaging characters. The situations they find themselves in push them to the brink. I genuinely liked Alexandra, Bobby, and all the supporting cast of characters. Part of what made the ending abrupt an a little unsatisfying was that I was left wanting to know more - I wanted to feel like there was some closure to the story

I feel that Elizabeth Kostova's books are not to be missed, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read this one. This book is rich with history and portrays Bulgaria as a splendid setting for both the current and historical storylines.

In this story, a young woman, Alexandra, inadvertently takes a bag that belongs to an elderly couple. She is very dismayed to discover that it contains a box with the ashes of their loved one. As she tries to find them to return the box, she experiences a journey that takes her not only into Bulgarian communities, but also into the lavish history and political unrest of the area. This is a mission that will change Alexandra forever.

Alexandra's journey, both physically and emotionally, was one I thoroughly enjoyed, and I loved the historical information that was given about Bulgaria. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest review.

At first I was a bit disappointed in the book. After reading the Historian, I was ready for the same tale of suspense, intrigue and mystery. However, as I kept reading, I discovered that I became very interested in finishing this book.

The story takes place in modern day Bulgaria. A young woman in her early twenties who is still grieving over the death of her brother from 10 years ago, travels to Bulgaria. Once there she accidentally finds herself with someone else's bag. This begins a detailed search for the people who it belongs to. If you accept this book as a journey of a young woman who is slowly finding her way out of her grief and not a story of suspense and intrigue, then you will enjoy it. It is about communist Bulgaria, the suffering of innocent people who happen to find themselves in the wrong place, and the ties of family.

I am glad I continued this book. I received a complimentary e-book from Netgalley.com

Great attention to detail (though not exhaustively so) makes the scenes in this book come alive. I feel like I've had a glimpse of places to which I will never be able to travel in reality.

The interactions between characters are believable and the dialogue flows nicely. I find the plot drags a little, but would attribute that only to the fact that the main characters are traveling so much and there are many small trips within their larger journey.

Elizabeth Kostova never disappoints, in this her third novel she again weaves history effortlessly into the narrative and breathes the atmosphere of Bulgaria into her words.
I can’t do this novel justice really: this is simply another amazing book from Elizabeth Kostova, a captivating story, compelling characters and such atmosphere.

The story begins with a young woman who has travelled to Bulgaria; (in true Elizabeth Kostova style) we are drawn into all the sights and sounds of the country- immersed in it as though we are actually there. Alexandra mistakenly picks up someone else’s suitcase, it isn’t until she’s far away from its owners that she realises it contains human ashes. The story is about her trying to find the people who they belong to. We journey with her around the country finding out more about the man who was Stoyan Lazarov and more about Alexandra herself. Sometimes I wonder whose story this is Alexandra’s or Stoyan's. Later in the novel we hear Stoyan’s story and that is the point where I was stunned into silence- no spoilers here.
This is proper story, not a fast paced thriller or who-dunnit but a story about people and a country and I have learnt so much about Bulgaria and it’s history from this story.

At some points throughout the story (although you are warned before you start reading) there are these little turns from Alexandra’s story, mesmerising roads which you will follow and be drawn into. And each one is telling you more about the characters and adds so much depth to the story. But despite these twists and turns this is one of those books which you will find hard to step away from until you’ve reached that final page.

Loved it.

This novel is by Elizabeth Kostova, who is, of course, best known for her wonderful novel, “The Historian.” As such, if you are looking for more of the same, you may well be disappointed by this novel, which would be a shame. This is a very different book, but it contains much that is very special indeed and is – as you would expect – beautifully written.

The story begins with a young American woman named Alexandra Boyd, who has travelled to Sofia in Bulgaria, in order to teach and to recover from the loss of her beloved brother, Jack in a hiking accident. It is obvious that Alexandra blames herself for the loss and that she has travelled to Sofia, largely as it was a country that Jack always wanted to visit.

On her very first day, in the first in a long line of odd events, she is taken by her taxi to the wrong hotel. Tired, disorientated and yet knowing that she cannot afford the expensive hotel she has been dropped at, she turns to take another taxi. While waiting, she speaks to a group of people, including an elderly couple and another man. One of their party is in a wheelchair and, while assisting them into a taxi, Alexandra finds herself left behind with one of their bags. Burdened with her own luggage, she does not realise this until she is in her own taxi, driven by the man who is to become her companion on the strange journey she is about to embark on.

For, inside the bag is an urn, containing the ashes of a man named Stoyan Lazarov and Alexandra and cab driver, Bobby, set off to find the relatives of Stoyan Lazarov and return them. Along the way, Alexandra will discover the life story of the man whose ashes she carries so carefully and, through his life story, the history of the beguiling, beautiful and, often difficult, history of the country that is Bulgaria.

It is also the story of how Alexandra herself comes to terms with her own history and a place for herself in the world. This is a very moving, quietly deceptive novel, which you need to take at a slower pace – very much character, rather than plot, driven and masterfully written. I received a copy of the book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

I love reading anything by Elizabeth Kostova, and The Shadow Land was no different. It was such a rush reading her writing again, with a whole new story. I don't want to give anything away, but, just like The Historian, the writing is evocative, and able to transport you to Sofia, and the rest of Bulgaria, without you having to be there. The flashbacks draw you in, and really help you to connect with the story of Stoyan Lazarov, whose ashes Alexandra Boyd accidentally acquires after helping an elderly couple into a taxi.

 

These ashes are what take Alexandra on a journey, both a physical and emotional one. As she travels, she has to come to terms with the guilt she has based on her brother's disappearance.

This is a wonderful tale with many characters and their interlinking story. Would be enjoyable for anyone who likes a thriller and is very evocative of Bulgaria and its interesting history viewed by those who are Bulgarian and from an outsider's view. Elizabeth Kostova has an interesting style and each story has links that evolve as the book goes on. recommended