North Is The Night by Emily Rath (book review)

There has always been a tendency for storytellers to take traditional myths and folk tales and embroider, update or provide a new perspective eg T. Kingfisher. Many authors of fantasy works include elements of various religious pantheons as a part of a greater whole eg Roger Zelazny. The majority of these approaches has been to use tradition from Europe as it is familiar to both readers and writers in the English language. More recently, use has been made of legends from further afield, particularly where the writer is drawing on their own heritage. It makes for interesting reading.

One of the European pantheons that has largely been ignored belongs to the Finnish tradition. Emily Rath is an American with Finnish heritage and has chosen to explore this in ‘North Is The Night’. Since the tales were originally handed down by word of mouth, it is reasonable that she deliberately hasn’t stuck to the original scripture. The story revolves around Siiri and Aina, who have been friends from childhood and are largely inseparable. The setting is 11th century Finland at a time when Swedish Christian missionaries were attempting to convert the Finnish tribes. The girls’ village is on the shores of a Lake Päijänne, the second largest lake in Finland. There have been stories of girls going missing and there is speculation about why. What Siiri and Aina don’t expect is to be confronted in front of witnesses by Kalma, the goddess of Death. To protect Siiri, Aina goes voluntarily with Kalma.

The novel is told in first person from both Siiri and Aina in parallel, telling the events that happen to each of them. Aina is taken to Tuonela, the land of the dead. She and six other girls are the only living beings there, except for chickens. They are kept separated and fed only bread that turns mouldy after the first mouthful. Being a compassionate person, she befriends a raven who visits her in her cell. Later, the cruel Queen Tuonetar of Tuonela assigns the girls tasks. Aina is sent to Loviatar, the blind goddess of illness and disease but who is in charge of the looms. From her, Aina learns that King Tuoni is held captive by the Queen. He apparently wants the afterlife to be more like Heaven that the Hell the Queen prefers. He can only be released by marriage as he never actually married the Queen and the raven Aina befriended is the only part of his soul that can roam free. Resigned to spending the rest of her life in Tuonela, Aina becomes determined to set him free.

Meanwhile, Siiri is determined to get Aina back from Tuonela. The only person who has apparently been there as a living person and returned is the shaman, Väinämöinen. She is resolved to seek him out and learn his secrets so she can rescue her friend.

This is a novel about two young women who choose their own paths despite the odds stacked against them. As such is a good tale but it lacks some of the richness of description other writers would have put into it. Saunas have long been a feature of Finnish life but as the kind used in this book is likely to be a smoke sauna rather than the type most of are familiar with, more descriptions of such and similar eg the houses and the boats, would add to the atmosphere Rath is trying to create.

Rath admits to playing with the deities of Finnish folklore and deviating from her source material, the Kalevala. That is very acceptable as no reader wants other works regurgitated and prefers the author to put their own spin on it. There are other features that are not acceptable. While she is of Finnish heritage and has probably visited the country, she is still an American and as such needs to make sure her research is immaculate. It isn’t. On at least two occasions, they are eating potatoes, a tuber that did not arrive in Europe until the 16th century, neither did the tobacco that the shaman is happily smoking. Other issues revolve around terminology. The lake is described as the colour of a blue jay’s wing. As the bird is a North American resident and the narrative is first person, it is not a description that could have been used. Similarly, a caribou is a descriptor for the North American sub-species of reindeer and not found in Finland. The term ‘tea’ is used frequently. What they are drinking are herbal beverages or tisanes. The usage of the term tea is a corruption of the Chinese and again was not introduced to Europe until the 16th century. Another issue with terminology is the word ‘tattoo’. Yes, many European pagan tribes inked images and runes onto their skin, until the Christian church banned the practice as a form of witchcraft. but the word ‘tattoo’ is Polynesian and didn’t reach Europe until 18th century. As the story is told first person, like tea, ‘tattoo’ is not a word that neither Siiri nor Aina would have in their vocabulary. This is the problem with setting a novel at a particular historical time. If this had been a pure fantasy with totally imagined countries and societies, she might have been forgiven.

They would not find fallow deer in the woods since they are a Southern European species and would not survive the winters. The herds that currently live in Finland are introduced and need winter protection.

There is also a problem with using American terms. For example, the plant known as fireweed in North America is actually what UK readers would call rosebay willowherb. In Finland, it is called maitohorsma. Since the language the characters speak and think in is likely to be a version of Finnish, it would be good to have more local terms and a glossary for the unfamiliar. A pronunciation guide would also be helpful. There is also a tendency to put in phrases and concepts that are unlikely to have been part of the culture, such as ‘supper parties’. When something is historically based, authenticity is desired.

While many of these points may seem trivial and most readers might not notice, the inconsistences do drag the knowledgeable reader out of the story and once one is recognised the ready will, be put on guard, looking out for more.

Pauline Morgan

June 2025

(pub: Arcadia/Quercus, 2025. 570 page enlarged paperback – advanced copy – hardback. Price: £20.00 (UK). ISBN: 978-1-52944-355-4)

check out website: www.quercusbooks.co.uk