The Shadow Land

A Novel

By: Elizabeth Kostova

Narrated by: Barrie Kreinik

From the best-selling author of The Historian comes an engrossing novel that spans the past and the present - and unearths the dark secrets of Bulgaria, a beautiful and haunted country.

A young American woman, Alexandra Boyd, has traveled to Sofia, Bulgaria, hoping that life abroad will salve the wounds left by the loss of her beloved brother. Soon after arriving in this elegant East European city, however, she helps an elderly couple into a taxi - and realizes too late that she has accidentally kept one of their bags. Inside she finds an ornately carved wooden box engraved with a name: Stoyan Lazarov. Raising the hinged lid, she discovers that she is holding an urn filled with human ashes.

As Alexandra sets out to locate the family and return this precious item, she will first have to uncover the secrets of a talented musician who was shattered by oppression - and she will find out all too quickly that this knowledge is fraught with its own danger.

Kostova's new novel is a tale of immense scope that delves into the horrors of a century and traverses the culture and landscape of this mysterious country. Suspenseful and beautifully written, it explores the power of stories, the pull of the past, and the hope and meaning that can sometimes be found in the aftermath of loss.

©2017 Elizabeth Kostova (P)2017 Random House Audio

Another great listen

The book moves back and forth from present day to yesteryear. I loved reading about the characters early years. The descriptions were vivid, truly making me see in my minds eyethe people and landscapes as they must have been during the wartime period.

100 pages too long.

intriguing especially because I've been to Bulgaria but about 100 pages too long. the author's note was well done.

Another beautiful piece of work!

If you've enjoyed her previous works, you will not be disappointed by the Shadow Land. Written with rich descriptions of a place I'd never thought to travel to and somehow is now on my "to-go" list. It's also very poignant in this current climate, with so many countries in the world suffering from civil unrest. I finished it in just 2 days, I could hardly set it down.

I loved it!

I loved it so much that I was sad when the story was completed! I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a compelling story that holds your attention throughout!

Lovely

I never write a review. Haunting, and lovely!!! This is a really nice way to spend a few hours listening.

My favorite ever!

I listen to audio books while exercising, walking my dog and driving. This one kept me riveted the whole time.

beautiful story

very well done intergenerational historical fiction. I feel like I know bits of Bulgaria now, and feel like I know & love the characters. A new favorite. Thanks Margo for sending me there!

AMAZING story

This author really knows what she's doing!!! Very well written and it's a great intriguing story.

Loved it!

To be sure, it is slow, but exquisitely so. She writes with such passion of imagery, you feel that you’re there. I found myself drawn back to hear that accented voice of the narrator. A most enjoyable experience. The end came all to quickly.

Too Long before Hook

I felt the first half of the book could have been condensed some without sacrificing context. In the end, it was worth reading all the way through. Although technically historical fiction, the chapters i appreciated most were the retelling of the political turmoil and corruption, the treatment, suffering and survival of the victims trapped in the aforementioned, and the descriptions of the various cities and villages modeled after real geography. My favorite character was Stoyan Lazarovi- humble, noble, respectful, respectable.