I first came across Michael Scott Rohan’s WINTER OF THE WORLD series as a boy, and it was one of the books that turned me onto the fantasy genre as a whole. What set’s him apart from the rest of the generic Tolkien-clones are the vivid characters he creates (the relationship between Elof and his true love will set even the the crustiest heart aflutter….) and the truly vivid world building. The author draws upon and ice age setting and mixes it with Finnish folklore and the still-vivid trope of a Lost Civilization, creating something unique.
There are tons of novels out there that draw upon North European folklore. Most of them don’t get beyond the stereotypes and are forgotten as quickly as they are read. This book sticks in your mind.
—Reposted from Amazon
