The Fire

A quietly devastating portrayal of a marriage . . . Krien beautifully conveys Rahel's sense of impotent frustration, familial tensions and the thwarted desires of middle age
[A] slim yet powerful novel about families and relationships . . . subtle and psychologically astute . . . acutely observed
With her trademark hypnotic prose, Krien looks at the nuances of a relationship with honesty and clarity. A stylish, subtle read that digs deeps into the human psyche.
The intersecting of a troubled past, uneasy present and increasingly uncertain future makes for a quiet, reflective read
Deeply engaging . . . Beautifully written, subtle and shines a light on the feelings and desires of middle-aged women
Impactful
The Fire examines the endurance of long-time love through a couple finding themselves cocooned in an isolated farmhouse for three weeks.
[A] perfectly paced, nuanced, forgiving story of good, flawed people with a family secret at its heart
The plot develops with summery lightness, and the intellectual depth of this book is gradually revealed.
Daniela Krien's The Fire achieves the masterstroke of touching upon the existential without flaunting it.
She writes clearly and without frills. Her language is never banal, but always artfully literary.