Published by Cheeky Frawg Books.

5 stars (2 reviews)

This anthology of Finnish fantasy edited by Desirina Boskovich features fiction from Carita Forsgren, Mari Saario, Johanna Sinisalo, Hannu Rajaniemi, Anne Leinonen, Marko Hautala, Maarit Verronen, Olli Jalonen, Leena Likitalo, Tuomas Kilpi, Tiina Raevaara, Jyrki Vainonen, Sari Peltoniemi, Leena Krohn, and Pasi Ilmari Jääskeläinen—author of the critically acclaimed The Rabbit Back Literature Society.

What will you find within these pages? A photographer stumbles on a wounded troll, and attempts to nurse it back to health. A lonely girl discovers the flames in the family smithy are tied to an ancient portal between worlds. A modern woman excavates something sickening from the shower drain…and falls in love. A peculiar swamp holds restorative powers, for its avian and human inhabitants alike.

It Came From the North offers a diverse selection of fifteen fantastical tales from some of Finland's most respected writers, alongside up-and-coming talents who are redefining the rules of contemporary literature. …

1 edition

Hyvää!

4 stars

This was a great smörgåsbord of stories in one book, mixing fantasy, scifi, horror and more. One thing the stories had in common was an emphasis on nature, one way or another and in various degrees, with hints of the Finnish culture, giving an overall nice and cosy feeling. I also had to look up more works from some of the authors.

However, I put away the book without finishing the last story as I can't stand streams of consciousness or whatever you call it.

a very nice sampler platter

5 stars

4.5 stars rounded up i liked this a lot! themes of melancholy and surrealism, seeking and lacking human connection, a lot of it felt like murakami if murakami wasn't a misogynist and i actually liked him. the focus on surreal and lonely natural wonder made me want to read more finnish literature. this anthology was published by Cheeky Frawg, the publishing house of Jeff and Ann Vandermeer, and i can see why.

Hairball by Carita Forsgren - 4/5 weird gross and poignant, a hairball from the drain comes to life

The Horseshoe Nail by Mari Saario- 2/5 trite and kinda boring, a girl and a magic forge

Not Before Sundown by Johanna Sinisalo- 5/5 delightful, a lovesick artist discovers a baby troll. an excerpt of the novel Troll: A Love Story, which i added to my to-read list

Elegy for a Young Elk by Hannu Rajaniemi - 5/5 a virus …