Out of the Ashes

Beneath the Birch Tree

Ásta’s life is turned upside-down when her father marries a woman with a shocking secret. Her distaste for her step-mother is only matched by her new-found desire to protect her step-sister, and she makes plans for their escape.

Brynja fears everything--including her new sister--but as time goes on, she realizes how many lies she’s been told by her mother. Worse, she finds herself caught in a quandary--she can keep herself safe only at the expense of the sister she’s come to depend on.

When her grandson's betrothed arrives on the farm, and Jóhanna discovers there is more to the situation than appears on the surface, the wisewoman's confusion--and concern for her grandson’s life--begins. She finds an unexpected ally in a young woman who is only just realizing her talent.

Each in her own way, they must work toward their common goal--saving the people they love.

Inspired by “The Wonderful Birch” and the culture of settlement-era Iceland, “Out of the Ashes” is part of the “Beneath the Birch Tree” saga, a series of fairy-tale re-tellings.