In 'The Silent Land' by Graham Joyce, a young British couple, Zoe and Jake, find themselves alone in a deserted French Alps village after surviving an avalanche while on a ski vacation. As they navigate the eerie landscape, they grapple with mysterious phenomena and a sense of isolation that challenges their reality. The novel weaves elements of suspense, spookiness, and emotional depth, exploring themes of love, survival, and the nature of existence with a haunting and atmospheric narrative style.

Characters:

The main characters, Zoe and Jake, are relatable yet underdeveloped, embodying love and companionship in a surreal setting.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style blends evocative descriptions with suspenseful narration, though it can occasionally veer into clunky territory.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around a couple trapped in a deserted ski resort following an avalanche, exploring themes of survival and existential quandaries.

Setting:

Set in a snowy, isolated ski resort, the setting plays a crucial role in establishing an eerie and haunting atmosphere.

Pacing:

The pacing is engaging overall, facilitating suspense, but it does experience moments of repetition and slow pacing.

It was snowing again. Gentle six-pointed flakes from a picture book, settling on her jacket sleeve. The mountain air prickled with ice and the savour of pine resin. Zoe pulled the air into her lungs, ...

Notes:

The cover of The Silent Land is very appealing and fits the snowy theme of the book.

The book creates a suspenseful atmosphere from beginning to end, making it a page-turner.

The main characters, Zoe and Jake, are a married couple caught in an avalanche during a ski trip in the French Pyrenees.

After the avalanche, they return to find the resort deserted and experience strange phenomena.

The writing style is poetic and strong, often evoking deep emotions and reflecting on love and loss.

Many readers felt a strong connection to the characters, experiencing their fear and love as they navigated their strange circumstances.

The book has elements reminiscent of classic horror, eliciting comparisons to works like The Shining.

While the story unfolds, readers can often predict outcomes, but the journey is still compelling.

The novel explores themes of companionship, survival, and the nature of reality.

Joyce's writing style blends elements of thriller, horror, and romance, creating an intriguing reading experience.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Contains themes of death, existential crisis, and hints at mental health issues.

Has Romance?

A significant focus on the deep romantic relationship between the main characters, highlighting both their love and struggles.

From The Publisher:

Award-winning novelist and cult favorite Graham Joyce transports readers to a mysterious world of isolation and fear with a hypnotically dark story about a young couple trapped by an avalanche in the remote French Pyrenees. . . a daring and powerful novel about love, loss, and rebirth.

In the French Pyrenees, a young married couple is buried under a flash avalanche while skiing. Miraculously, Jake and Zoe dig their way out from under the snow-only to discover the world they knew has been overtaken by an eerie and absolute silence. Their hotel is devoid of another living soul. Cell phones and land lines are cut off. An evacuation as sudden and thorough as this leaves Jake and Zoe to face a terrifying situation alone. They are trapped by the storm, completely isolated, with another catastrophic avalanche threatening to bury them alive . . . again. And as the couple begin to witness unset-tling events neither one can ignore, they are forced to con-front a frightening truth about the silent land they now inhabit.

Award-winning author Graham Joyce has written a mysteri-ous masterpiece, a tour de force that will thrill fans of Peter Straub and the hit television show Lost.

Reader Stats (5):

Want To Read (5)

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About the Author:

GRAHAM JOYCE, a winner of the O. Henry Award, the British Fantasy Award, and the World Fantasy Award, lives in Leicester, England, with his family. His books include "How to Make Friends with Demons," "Smoking Poppy," "Indigo" (a "New York Times "Notable Book of 2000), "The Tooth Fairy" (a "Publishers Weekly" Best Book of 1998), and "Requiem," among others.

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The Silent Land

Graham Joyce