An internationally bestselling epic of faith, myth, and passion set against the harsh beauty of late 19th-century Norway.
For generations, the remote village of Butangen has lived under the shadow of its 700-year-old stave church and two legendary bells, cast in memory of conjoined twins Halfrid and Gunhild Hekne. The bells ring on their own in times of impending disaster—a dark warning that has governed local life for centuries.
In 1879, two outsiders arrive to disrupt Butangen's fragile quiet:
- Kai Schweigaard, a young, reform-minded pastor who arranges to sell the ancient church to a museum in Dresden to build a modern sanctuary for his congregation.
- Gerhard Schönauer, a sophisticated German architect tasked with dismantling the structure piece by piece for transport across the fjord.
Caught between them is Astrid Hekne, a fierce young woman who dreams of a life beyond the village's rigid traditions. As Gerhard uncovers the church's hidden pagan carvings and Astrid fights to preserve her family's heritage, a bitter confrontation ignites between progress and ancient belief—setting off a chain of events that will echo through generations.
Praise for Lars Mytting:
"A beautiful evocation of a place and a culture, a melding of old Norse tradition with the encroaching modern world." — Booklist
Praise
“Evocative…a beautiful example of modern Norwegian folklore.”The Guardian
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Booklist“Mytting has created something beautiful, a perfect evocation of a place and a culture, a melding of old Norse tradition with the encroaching modern world…every element of the setting and those who inhabit it is crafted with consummate skill. This first in a trilogy will have readers eagerly awaiting the next by this accomplished author.”
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"Its magic pure and its mysteries primordial, Lars Mytting’s novel The Bell in the Lake is a tour de force set in the untamed wilds of Norway. . . Both heartbreaking and awe-inspiring, The Bell in the Lake is an unforgettable novel that celebrates untamed faith."Foreword Reviews
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“beautiful… Mytting’s novel was based on local stories, but it is his evoking of the parsonage interior, the turn of the seasons and their physical impress on man and beast that give this book its vividness.”Historical Novels Review
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"In this first book of a magic-fueled historical trilogy, progress, religion and superstition are three forces fighting for the soul of a late-19th-century Norwegian village."BookBrowse
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"The Bell in the Lake is a real page-turner. Mytting keeps the action moving, and brings enough emotion and passion into play to fully engage readers...And Mytting is quite the master of the quickly-sketched atmosphere: much of the novel is set in deep winter, and he conveys the cold exceptionally well; this is an ideal in-front-of-the-roaring-fireplace read."The Complete Review
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"Lars Mytting is a masterful novelist. In The Bell In The Lake, he skillfully evokes a dark, moody, and tragic romance with masterful descriptive narrative and quirky, empathetic characters...Mytting presents us with a multidimensional story that blends romance, adventure, architecture and a cultural clash between the old ways and modernism."The Girly Book Club
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"The Bell in The Lake is a rare gem. It has a beautiful depth and interestingly developed characters. The compelling storyline is flawlessly woven with sharp prose and undeniable humor. Excellently balanced story with history and suspense makes it a seamless read."Mystery and Suspense Magazine
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