Book Review: To the Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey

Having been magically blown away by Eowyn's debut The Snow Child back in 2012, I was so excited to hear of Eowyn's second novel, To the Bright Edge of the World. Also set in Alaska, this is the quite beautiful tale of Allen and Sophie Forrestor told in diary entry form as well as letters and reports. Allen has been charged with a dangerous, but once in a lifetime chance of navigating Alaska's so far impassable Wolverine River. This undiscovered territory which previous attempts at have ended in tragedy. This decision isn't one for Allen to take lightly especially as it will mean leaving his new wife Sophie by herself for a year or more and the niggling worry that he may not return.

It is so easy to get swept up in Sophie and Allen's story. You get both their intimate character viewpoints from each of their diary entries and it doesn't take long to get completely absorbed in their own adventures. This writing style worked really well as not only do you get to know Sophie and Allen so well, you feel like you are moving along in time with them.

I was so pleased to see the magical elements that made The Snow Child the enchanted story that it was appear in To the Bright Edge of the World. Eowyn has woven that same magical delight in this as she did with The Snow Child, but with a darker and more realistic feel.

Eowyn makes you feel like you are discovering Alaska along with Allen for the very first time. I was absolutely enraptured and fascinated by the untouched territory of the Wolverine River and the native Americans. This felt like more than a story to me, it felt like I was experiencing history firsthand. The stunning descriptions were just so eloquently put and it made the story seem almost precious. Eowyn has once again created this almost electric atmosphere when describing Alaska and I have such a hankering to go there.

To the Bright Edge of the world is a real gem of a novel, I can't wait to see what Eowyn has in-store for us next.

To the Bright Edge of the World is out now and available from Foyles

Curl up with a cup of Twinings Tea!