Love, Loss, Happy Never After

I’ll begin this review by covering some reasons why you shouldn’t read this book. Most importantly, do not pick this up thinking this is one of Larssen’s humorous titles, like Why Odin Drinks. Whilst that book is absolutely hilarious, Land, in contrast, is a brutal, emotionally draining read and, with a strapline like ‘Love, Loss, Happy Never After’, this should come as no surprise. This is grimdark, after all, and the casually offhand way in which the gods deal with people is very anxiety inducing if you’re fond of a particular character. There’s also lots of gay sex. And I mean lots of it. If that’s a problem for you then this book will definitely not be your cup of cosmic tea.

The reasons why you should read this book, however, are many. Larssen is a gifted writer, and Land contains his typical mix of humour and insightful observations. There are strong echoes of Terry Pratchett here, particularly during Maya’s encounter with the Norns (one of my favourite passages). The cast of characters is also wider than in Children, offering more opportunity for interesting interactions, and I loved the appearance of the elves (after all, this is Iceland).

Consequently, this is a novel with many different strands, using just enough humour to lighten the darkness. Larssen also likes to keep you guessing, and Land begins in such a strange way I will confess I struggled to get into this, initially asking myself the question, “What the hell is going on?” until I realised magic was at play. Then the pieces fell into place, the off-putting opening of insta-love (not really a spoiler) taking on a much crueller aspect as things become clear.

This is a dark tale – probably slightly too dark for my personal tastes. Does anyone in this novel have a healthy, wholesome relationship? No. Relationships in Land are like weapons, and the character of Herjolf in particular is an expert at reading and exploiting them when it comes to Magni. Similarly, Maya’s mother, Freya, is so irredeemably awful that every scene in which she appeared summoned an urge in this reader to stab something.

Magni and his alter-ego Modi are also two very different characters. Magni’s many personalities combined with his fragmented memory, which sometimes causes the story to jump, leaving gaps behind, make some of his chapters read like you’re experiencing them through a fever dream. Whilst Magni endures many struggles in Land, in contrast Maya might just have found her true purpose. In my view, Children felt more like it was Magni’s story, whereas Land belongs to Maya, even though each character gets 50% of the chapters in the book.

Land is a story which deals in past trauma and painful relationships, where true love isn’t always enough to overcome every obstacle. It’s not a relaxing last thing before bed kind of read. It’s more of an, “Argh. Stop. No! Don’t hurt me, please…” read. There’s an ever-present sense of unease, and frequently when you turn the page Larssen will be there, ready to jab you in the eye with a sharp pencil as the latest turn of events experienced by his unfortunate characters unfolds.

If you like your stories to explore the more unpleasant side of human nature and to be full of emotional pain, you’ll find that and more in The Ten Worlds Cycle. There’s also lots to think about as you read this novel, and Larssen understands human nature and our ability to hurt each other all too well. Is it possible to find redemption? Perhaps, but as this saga continues it’s clear the path will not be easy. The ending of Land certainly takes us into heartbreaking territory.

Larssen clearly realised his readers might need to seek medical help at the end of Land, so he has also included a bonus short story. Well, This is Awkward shows off Larssen’s lighter, more humorous side and the story is the perfect way to help you recover from all the trauma you’ve experienced. I’ve rarely read a writer with such range and versatility, and these two stories sitting side by side illustrates the point perfectly. Larssen is a brilliant author and everything he puts out demonstrates this. Land is no exception.