By Their Cold Fingers

by Timothy Bryan

Greenland, 1408. Norse Villagers at the end of the settled world struggle against an endless winter, but an unholy predator from the arctic steppe soon makes the weather the least of their concerns.

Genres: Horror, Historical Fiction, Historical, Audiobook

290 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 15, 2022

Reviews

[Sofija · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Hidden Gems Books for the review copy.
This book is truly a hidden gem. It surprised me with how well-written and how captivating the story is. The story is set in Greenland in 1408. We are introduced to the main characters Kristian and his father, Erik, fishing in a river near their settlement. While having a hearty man-to-man conversation about Kristian's broken heart, they discover a mutilated body of a priest tangled up in their fishing net. Who could've committed such a horrendous crime?

In the following chapters, the rest of the important characters are introduced, who we will be following till the end. Sigri, Kristian's love interest, crushed under societal pressures, has to marry an Icelandic merchant, Thorstein, and bring prosperity into their settlement. The winters are getting harsher, and the supplies are harder to get. It is only natural that a woman must sacrifice true love to be able to satisfy her father's wishes and spark hope in her people's hearts. Thorstein is a cunning, greedy businessman desperately looking to escape with his wife from the place which is no longer getting him any money. Furthermore, Thorstein notices Kristian's longing glances and tight-lipped pining over Sigri. Sigri's father, Rand, and Erik are worried about the potential culmination of those unfortunate circumstances.

Beyond the day-to-day drama of the Eastern settlement's villagers looms something dangerous. In the darkness of a mountain cave resides a creature familiar only to the Inuit people - the Keelut. His presence is always followed by an ominous thick white fog and brings terror and death. The villagers are forced to put aside their petty worries and face the mysterious killer slowly claiming their neighbors' lives. Do the villagers have what it takes to fight off the unavoidable threat of the mythical creature, or will they have to run for their lives?

This is a great piece of medieval historical horror fiction. I went into this book knowing almost nothing about the plot, with no expectations, so I was shocked to discover how good it is. The writing style is beautiful. Every chapter begins with carefully crafted, crystal-clear images of the snowy mountains, desolate regions, villagers' farms, and the roads winding through the forest. The descriptions of snowy nights and windy days instilled a feeling of piercing cold in me. I spent the whole day reading this book and couldn't warm up for the life of me. Now that is masterful writing.

The story is well-paced and cleverly executed. While the main characters' lives unfold, the story's tension rises because we get parallel intermezzos of the Keelut's hunt for other villagers. The inevitable encounter of the Keelut and our main characters is getting closer with every page. That was my favorite part. From the beginning, I was so invested in the story that every threat to one of the characters had me squealing in suspense. Without spoiling anything, that last chapter is a banger.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

They have some great horror authors, but Timothy Bryant is my favorite. He mixes history and horror so seamlessly together it makes it frightening. His books are always in a different place and this one is in Greenland. While Christian and his dad Eric are fishing the net gets caught on something. They’re surprised and excited when they see lots of fish in their net, but when Christian pulls it up he isn’t prepared for The dead preacher that is connected to it. It is a true evil that only haunts the holy men and that includes the eskimos medicine man. Christian thought his biggest problem would be getting over shisky marrying her Who rich merchant from Greenland, but when he realizes him and his dead head the only tools that affect this invisible entity his problems get much bigger. With the help of the villagers and an Eskimo girl they will come together to fight the unknown demon but can they beat it? I love Timothy Bryant stories they are always different and always in a different place or time. I have really come to look forward to his new books. I get so excited when it’s time to sit down and read his new horror story and this one was no exception the only negative is now I have to wait for the next book. Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review but all opinions are definitely my own I absolutely loved this book.

[Sara Jesus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I dont usally read horror books, but I did enjoy reading this book because of the beauthiful setting and the characters drama delimas.
I felt like I was in Greeland with the norse community. I felt the cold and the pain. Is a very claustrophobic book, with plenty of suspense and good representations of the travelers for the nort of Europe.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[TheNinjaReadsHorror]

I will not submit a rating as I DNF'd this one. I got to 53% and am throwing in the towel. I really gave it my all and this is actually my first DNF since I was a kid, if that tells you anything. But it just could not keep my interest and has been a grind to get through. I would categorize this as folk horror since this is a story about the Keelut, an Inuit malevolent spirit-creature, in a rural/tundra setting in the early 1400s in Greenland.

[Kevin Halter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this book. From the writing to the subject matter and the setting and characters. It was the whole package.

I plan on rereading it again this winter.

More please.


received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a great horror Norse book, it had great elements of the horror genre. I was invested in the story and what was going on with the characters. I loved the concept and was glad it delivered on the premise.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[T · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Points for this being an imaginative horror and in a setting where the landscape itself is a character. However, it was very dense (despite it clocking in at just under 300 pages) and I struggled at times to get through it. And that’s even with it taking place in Norse Greenland and being based on indigenous mythological creatures!

Also, the epilogue should probably have been the prologue…

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good historical horror novel set in Greenland. Interesting characters and situations make it a compelling read.

[Katy The Sleepy Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth book by Timothy Bryan that I have read, and I have yet to be disappointed. His horror filled books are nothing short of brilliant. I received this book free from the author for an honest review.

The story takes place in Greenland, in 1408. It begins outside a remote Norse village where we find, Erik and his son Kristian are fishing in a effort to get enough food for themselves and the village for the upcoming winter. Times have been harder than usual as the winters seem to get more and more brutal as the years go by. The town has very few livestock and not enough hay to feed the ones they have. Their net is suddenly full of fish, and they can't believe their luck. That is until Kristian sees something caught in the net and starts pulling. A dead clergyman from the Eastern village is dead, the fish eating his corpse. Hes been gutted. Who or what could have done this? The island is plagued by an ancient evil. Can the villagers come together to overcome it, or will they have to flee their beloved homeland?

The twenty chapters of this book are nothing short of spectacular. The characters are interesting and well fleshed out. The setting descriptions are so vivid, it's like you're actually there. Greenland has long been a fascinating place to me that I had hoped to see one day. The story has horror and supernatural elements to it and has nice pacing, complete with twist ending. A must read for any horror fan.

https://thesleepyreader-reviews.blogs...

[Ken Fredette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Timothy Bryan is a U.S. author, who is into horror stories and is proud of it. This is Two stories one now and one from over a thousand years ago. The story is based on how Greenlanders (Vikings) left Greenland. And how the Danish took over. It seems possible with all the stories that Timothy makes real. But I don't believe in mystical beings, maybe you do. The other part is current and the two people are looking at a TV and horrible things are happening. Timothy is responsible for altering your reality. It was a good read.

[Tina Lincoln · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical Horror with Love and Truth
What a Wonderful Horror story! Wow, that sounds really bad,.. however, that is what this story is! It is a horror story, but it is not just about blood, guts, and scary... This has the love of family, history, Lineage of Tribes that must move to Live! I am always taken aback by Mr. Timothy Bryan's writing... it has real history in there, it is not JUST a horror story! There is love, and love lost, but it is not just a lovestory, it has family history, and reasons that peoples MUST move to live on. I really like the style of this story too, as it has its own way.
Thank you Mr. Timothy Bryan for a Great Story!

[Helene Aalborg · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only finished this because I am very stubborn and hate not knowing what happens in the end. Turns out, not that much, and I’ve just laboured through 194 pages of pretty poorly structured and linguistically uninspired writing to get there.

1.5 stars, cool premise, poor execution.

[Joshua Hair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come.

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

This was a great story. I loved it right from the beginning. This was well written, A well thought out plot with amazing characters. The end was an unexpected shock! I highly recommend this book.

[J. Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a well paced story. Not quite what I was expecting. For me, there was some unanswered questions, but overall I enjoyed this read.

[Rebecca Soule · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
This book left me in the middle of the road. I love that it was based in the past, but it didn't have enough "true" detail to really make me feel that I was in that time. My favorite part was the last bit of the story in current times. I feel that could be made a sequel. I want to know exactly what the keelut is-- I want this paranormal beast/being fleshed out more. How, why, what, when and where did it come from? It needs to be fleshed out more to really drag me in and keep me there.
I received a free ARC copy and voluntarily leave this review.

[Christina Frøkjær · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horror, Indigenous monster, and Greenland 1000 years ago all in one gave me the chills the right way in October.

I've read two books by Bryant and I really like his way of writing.

When I went to school in Denmark in the 90'ties, we learned of the downfall of the Norse in Greenland when the climate became inhabitable and this story gave a great perspective on that as well.

I enjoyed every moment. Even when the main plot dragged a bit, the fear of the Keelut kept me on my toes to the very end.

[Beverly Laude · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Greenland in 1408, this is a well-written book based on Norse mythology. Times are hard and the struggle for living in the harsh environment are bad enough. Then people start disappearing and shamans and religious leaders are mysteriously killed and the small Eastern settlement has to decide if it is time to leave their beloved homeland.

The author has created a tense atmosphere with the unrelenting cold and mist, along with the horrific creatures stalking the residents. The back story of Kristian and Sigri added another element to the tale, making the characters seem more real. All in all, this was an enjoyable read if you like horror filled with tense atmospheric feelings.

The epilogue added a B-movie vibe to the book and I am glad that the author added it. I was given the chance to read an ARC of this book and chose to review it.

[Mark Finch · Rating 5 out of 5]

great story and characters

Really enjoyed this book was a great easy read - what’s next ? more from the keelut?
5* stars review
Mark Finch

[Buttercupp77 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the unforgiving early 15th century Greenland, this novel follows Norse villagers as an ancient predator targets them.

There are a number of very strong elements in this novel. I really enjoyed the setting, both geographically and historically. It was refreshing to read about climate and cultures that I haven't seen portrayed often. The pacing was on the slow side, but I found this to be a strength rather than a weakness. It helped convey that life itself was a different pace, for one thing, and it also helped reinforced the particular type of claustrophobia that living on an island can induce. I found the major characters to be strongly developed, and appreciated that many among them developed throughout the events of the novel in ways that were a little unexpected by times. There were some very pleasant surprises!

There were some areas that either gave me pause, or raised questions for me. Some elements made me question historical accuracy. In addition, I felt that the language choices felt very modern, and I would have appreciated a more archaic vernacular. (I sometimes lost sight of the era). I would also have appreciated a more drawn-out reveal of the predator - I think that would have built up more suspense, and kept me more engaged with the novel. Conversely, there was a lot left unresolved regarding the Keelut that I wish had been touched upon.

The most disappointing element for me was the portrayal of Inuit characters. While the novel was focused on, and from the perspective of, the Norse inhabitants, the Inuit characters were relegated to minor roles, and aligned closely with some stereotypical portrayals. I felt that this was a missed opportunity, especially in the latter third of the novel, though the author did include some vignettes from the perspective of Inuk characters.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this novel and am interested in reading more from this author.

I received a copy of this novel via BookSirens.

[Catriona Lovett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Freezing, Famine, Fiends, and Fear

By Their Cold Fingers is the latest horror novel by Timothy Bryan. It's the tale of 15th-century Greenlanders who already face death from the onset of increasingly long, frigid winters, when suddenly, an unknown supernatural predator begins attacking them.

I love being transported to the unusual times and places of Bryan's imaginative stories. They're so well-researched and authentic that when the horror begins, it feels shockingly real. His unusual choice to set the account in the post-Viking era also makes it a standout.

Viking exploits are a trend in current fiction but, like the American wild west, that time in Nordic culture only existed for a relatively short time. When people of over-settled Iceland sailed to Greenland it wasn't to search for rich kingdoms to plunder, it was for vacant new lands to homestead and farm. And farming supplemented by hunting game went well for them for a while.

Elevating the apprehension, the disappearance of all the people, Icelander and Inuit, from several Greenland settlements is a real-life puzzle, even to their contemporaries who recorded their search for them. Modern archaeologists' excavations found suggestive evidence that inhabitants left abruptly, leaving behind essentials such as vessels for food and drink, cloth, looms, whetstones, arrows, and knives. In this novel, the sense of foreboding inspired by their vanishing is gruesomely fulfilled.

This is the third Timothy Bryan horror adventure I've enjoyed and it's character-driven, full of action, and suspenseful. The fear factor alone will make By Their Cold Fingers a hit with fans. However, this fan suggests some mild tweaks that could make it completely satisfying.

There was a particular gap in the plot where events skipped ahead and, though continuity didn't suffer, I was disappointed to not learn the details about how those characters fared. Conversely, some instances of internal dialogue and description could be trimmed a bit or translated into action. But, Bryan did an excellent job of painting a picture of what the struggle to survive in a deep freeze is like.

Don't let my nitpicking put you off, though. If a book isn't good, I simply don't finish it and avoid writing a public review at all. This one kept me reading and I loved the ending.

I'd like to thank Timothy Bryan, author and publisher, and Hidden Gems for the opportunity to read a free advance reader's copy of the book. I've written this review out of my own desire to promote it, not because of any obligation. I think it's a terrific story!

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

15th Century Greenland is an unusual setting for a book. The Norse settlement of the island which had begun with Erik the Red towards the end of the 10th century, came to an end at this time. The reasons for this are unclear, climate change could have been a factor, a mini ice age making pastoral farming no longer feasible, there could have been conflict with the Inuit population, or possibly something else. The last record of Norse activity on Greenland was the report of a marriage ceremony in 1408 betwixt Thorstein and Sigri, two characters that feature in the book. The book begins with an inuit hunter attacked and killed by a mysterious creature. This is a horror novel and the creature is revealed to be a supernatural demonic creature from Inuit folklore called a Keelut, a creature that reminds me of the Crota, a creature of Native American horror stories. The Keelut is incredibly strong, it can swim like a fish and jump like a dolphin, it has the ability to make fire and lives in a cave. Visits of the Keelut are accompanied by a glowing mist. A formidable foe for a people barely clinging to survival in the harsh Greenlandic climate.
I did find a few anachronisms, which took me out of the story. Thorstein was described as having an 'extensive library' before Gutenberg invented the printing press, this is not credible. There was also talk of meals with potatoes, potatoes at this time were only known in South America around Peru and Bolivia. Thirdly a market trader was claimed to have some dusty spectacles, whilst spectacles had been invented in Italy a couple of centuries earlier, they were highly unlikely to have reached remote Greenland by 1408.
The descriptions of snowy, desolate Greenland were beautiful.

[Book hoarder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It made me look up the history of Greenland.

The author described the surroundings very well. Every time I read, I felt cold.

Life in Greenland is hard. The winters are getting colder every year and the harvests are getting poor. The yearly seal hunt must get the settlement through the winter, but this year is different. Brutal attacks cost the lives of nearly all the hunters. Only a small group survives and makes it back to the settlement. What is this creature that terrorizes the settlement? How can it come in many forms? It is unknown to the settlers and the Inuit.

It seems impossible to defeat it. Until by coincidence there is a way… it seems…

Or is it?

It needs some editing, because a couple of times the names are switched. For example, when Sigri was talking to Kristian during the hunt, suddenly Kristian was named Erik. Misspellings: he offered a mile instead of he offered a smile.

It would be good to go through the text one more time, before publishing.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Shana Congrove · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook.
A fascinating detailed fantasy-horror combined with believable characters, mystery, and action-packed scenes. I've enjoyed several of Timothy Bryan's outstanding audiobooks, but "By Their Cold Fingers" is now on my list of favorites.
As Jonathan Waters brilliantly narrates this intense and well-written story, I found myself intrigued by the author's imagination. This page turner is based in Greenland in the 1400s, where Viking-like settlers are not only trying to survive the harsh, freezing climate, where food is scarce, but also an unrelenting evil creature that is hunting them, one by one.
All throughout the story, I was mostly drawn to the two main characters, Erik and Kristian. The relationship between father and son gives the reader a sense of an emotional bond that no matter what they come up against, nothing can break it.
I highly recommend this fantastic audiobook to all lovers of horror fiction, supernatural thrillers, and great storytelling. I enjoyed this audible so much, I'm purchasing the book!

[Sentinelle23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

♥️💙😰😱 A MUST READ!

Greenland, year 1408:

In the wintry landscape of this harsh land, Kristian and his father Erik waded through the river that flowed into the ocean, inspecting their fishing nets.

Plunging their fingers into the icy water, they were happy to discover the fish trapped in their nets.

The fishing was going to be memorable...

---------------

First of all congratulations and thank you to the author for this magnificent adventure novel!

I liked everything: the author's magical writing, the story itself, the landscape and the atmosphere of the time and place, the mystery, the esoteric/Fantasy side and above all the incredible characters !

I recommend this unique and totally captivating novel for an excellent reading moment.

I sincerely hope to read the next novel by this author resolutely to follow.

[Dani Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow this book was good! While not usually my type of read (horror), the premise and historical aspect drew me in. The cover also caught my eye, and I really enjoyed the cultural aspects of the Norse people, it's clear a lot of research was put into this book.

The world building and descriptions are very nice, and the slow building suspense definitely make it a page turner, and very nicely spooky - enough to give the reader chills. There were a few spelling errors, but that is not a major issue...

The characters are fleshed out really well, and have some good development arcs, and the ending was so chilling. I think about this book long after I put it down. Such a great read!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you have read one of this blokes book then you have read them all! They all have EXACTLY the same premise/setup/characters etc. It is beyond a joke, he uses old ideas from other books (fair enough), and then churns out the same drivel over and over.

I have read this, Chindi and Despicable, I can't speak for his other books as I got so bored of the exact same story half way through Despicable I deleted it off my Kindle

I can't beleive his publisher would put up with the same story over and over, yeah it is in a different setting/time period, but it is EXACTLY the same over all 3 books.

Oh and the amount of spelling mistakes! (not the American spelling, we are used to that pathetic nonsense in the rest of the world), but the actual spelling and grammar mistakes were terrible!

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ever since “The Thing” I’ve been drawn to horror set in cold climates. This horror story set in Greenland sounded perfect for me.

The opening chapter was tense and creepy. But it i feel like the monster was introduced and named too soon so I found the rest of the book less suspenseful.

The setting and each character’s thoughts and feelings were described in a lot of detail. I think I would’ve enjoyed the book more if there were less descriptions and more dialogue. I thought the story was good though and I wanted to finish to see what happened to the characters.

I received a copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[peter david mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not connect with the characters in this book. Possibly because of their sparse existence as they do little else than hunt and covet no luxuries beyond the bare essentials. Two of the characters are rivals due to a shared interest in the same female. The creature named the keeluk is unique. We are not enlightened as to the origin of the keeluk. Is it an alien species, a mutation or a demon from hell. Judging from the ludicrous, plainly ridiculous fact that only christian weapons from the holy land and sanctified crosses can harm it, we have to assume it is a demon. Other reviewers have praised this book. It was just not for me. I prefer James Rollins and Greg Beck for this type of book.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine living on the edge of humanity in a desolate part of the world, one that grows more uninhabitable as time passes. With it getting more treacherous and less profitable for the outside world to keep risking trade with them, life is growing increasingly difficult. Add to that an ancient evil, and this has the makings of a great story to curl up to by the fire or under a warm blanket. The beautiful imagery brings the settings to life.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.