Show-stopping news from Germany: Bastei Lübbe has pre-empted Niilo Sevänen‘s Eternal Winter series in a three-volume deal.
Described as Umberto Eco meets George R.R. Martin and mixing historical facts with Finnish myths and classical tropes of the fantasy genre in an atmospheric background, The Path of Eternal Winter is one of the most interesting contemporary fantasy titles from the Nordics and has been collecting raving reviews since its release. This is Niilo Sevänen‘s debut as novelist, but the public may recognise his name as the frontman of the melodic death metal band Insomnium. As the subject matter of Eternal Winter is also the theme of Insomnium‘s most successful album, the book has been turning heads and gathering international attention since the news of its publication reached the Insomnium fandom, which counts over 80.000 followers worldwide, and is currently on tour in Europe.
The series mixes an extensive background research on real historical events and Finnish folklore and an entertaining prose resulting in a page-turning read that wraps together a well-structured plot, an entertaining style and great marketing potential.
In The Path of Eternal Winter (Eternal Winter #1) it is the year 1007, it has been winter for seven years and we follow Orpheus, a lute player who is fond of taverns and drinking rather than responsibilities and hardships, but he is left with no choice but to take on custody for little Halla, his niece, who is being chased by mercenaries. The pair embark on a perilous escape, which results in an even more dangerous journey towards a destroyed Rome.
On a parallel storyline, we follow Duchess Theofanu as she tries to track down her son, who went missing when the world froze over years before. Rumor has it that the Eternal Winter came about when a witch was summoned in Ireland and she traveled to Rome, bringing destruction, and ultimately taking the throne, but nothing is known of the fate of the troops that defended the Holy City.
Who is the Witch, that some call the Anti-Christ, and where does she come from? And why does an eerie crow haunt Halla’s dreams, suggesting she should meet the Witch?
The Chasm of Eternal Winter (Eternal Winter #2) will be out in autumn 2025, picking up where The Path of Eternal Winter left us hanging, and we genuinely can’t wait.
Part of the German deal is also The Gate of Eternal Winter, a novella exploring the lore behind the series also published in audio format by Gummerus.
Bastei Lübbe is one of the major publishers in Germany, ranked as the largest independent publisher of the country and the 3rd largest audiobook publisher in Germany. Their extensive list includes best-selling authors like Dan Brown, among others.
Rock on, and don’t miss out on this title!