All the Horses of Iceland

By: Sarah Tolmie

Narrated by: Ulf Bjorklund

A hypnotic historical fantasy with gorgeous and unusual literary prose, from the captivating author of The Fourth Island.

Everyone knows of the horses of Iceland, wild, and small, and free, but few have heard their story. Sarah Tolmie's All the Horses of Iceland weaves their mystical origin into a saga for the modern age. Filled with the magic and darkened whispers of a people on the cusp of major cultural change, All the Horses of Iceland tells the tale of a Norse trader, his travels through Central Asia, and the ghostly magic that followed him home to the land of fire, stone, and ice. His search for riches will take him from Helmgard, through Khazaria, to the steppes of Mongolia, where he will barter for horses and return with much, much more.

All the Horses of Iceland is a delve into the secret, imagined history of Iceland's unusual horses, brought to life by an expert storyteller.

©2022 Sarah Tolmie (P)2022 Tantor

immersive historical fiction

I loved getting a real sense of what it would be like to live and trade in Central Asia in the 9th century. This is a time and location usually ignored by historical fiction.

Just a pleasant and relaxing story

I enjoyed listening to this book as it was a beautiful story. A simple story in times when things were slower. If you need something to slow your mind and ease into your evening, this could be the book for you.

Unique and Fascinating

The narrator, Ulf Bjorklund, does an amazing job bringing this story to life. I wouldn't have liked the story nearly as much if I had read it with my eyes, as his voice perfectly drew me in to what felt like an epic travel tale, despite being a short novella! The story itself transported me to the 9th century, where the magical/otherworldly elements enhance a fascinating journey from Iceland to Mongolia. The harsh, often violent realities of the time (including for women) were presented (and accepted by the story's characters) in a matter of fact manner. I loved it!

Not sure how to title this!

I downloaded this book thinking I would learn some of the history of the Icelandic Horses and some of the mythology surrounding them. This book is complete Norse mythology. Had I realized, I'm sure I would have passed on this but since it was so short, I listened. If you like mythology, you will enjoy it. It wasn't for me. I enjoyed the narration.