[A] sparse and spellbinding novel. . . . Hesselager s deft writing throughout this mysterious story continuously unsettles in the best way possible, prompting readers to lean in even as things spiral out of control. Chicago Review of Books
Poetic, enigmatic. . . . [and] remarkable. . . . It is mysterious and utterly compelling. Center for Fiction
A magical book about love and death and the slender, enduring line that connects the two. Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
This lucent, poetic, mysterious novel takes us deep into the shrouded past, into an ancient world that is both utterly alien and achingly, recognizably human. First Comes Summer is a miniature masterpiece. Dan Chaon, National Book Award finalist and New York Times-bestselling author of Sleepwalk and Among the Missing
A terrifying tale about the special madness of obsessive love. Masterfully told, with an ending that will leave you speechless. Alma Katsu, author of The Fervor and The Hunger
Marvelously imagined and fiercely real, First Comes Summer has a tender brutality to it that feels timeless and fresh at the same time. Engrossing, primal, and very very beautiful. Alexandra Kleeman, author of Something New Under the Sun and You Too Can Have a Body Like Mine
Maria Hesselager has won and been shortlisted for several Scandinavian prizes. First Comes Summer is her first novel. She lives in Copenhagen.
Martin Aitken has translated numerous novels from Danish and Norwegian. He received the 2019 PEN America Translation Prize, among many other honors.