A compelling and complex mystery, strong storytelling, and lyrical writing combine for an engrossing read.-Publishers Weekly In The Shadow Land, Elizabeth Kostova, a master storyteller, brings vividly to life an unfamiliar country-Bulgaria-and a painful history that feels particularly relevant now. You won't want to put down this remarkable book.-Claire Messud, author of The Woman Upstairs In this brilliant work, what appears at first a minor mystery quickly becomes emblematic of a whole country's hidden history. Lyrical and compelling, The Shadow Land proves a profound meditation on how evil is inflicted, endured, and, through courage and compassion, defeated. Elizabeth Kostova's third novel clearly establishes her as one of America's finest writers.-Ron Rash, author of The Risen The Shadow Land is thrilling, and not just as a gripping tale. It's also thrilling to watch such a talented writer cast her spell. The central character actually begins this deft novel in an urn, only to emerge as one of the most memorable characters I've encountered in a long time.-Richard Russo, author of Everybody's Fool Transporting . . . draws us into Bulgarian history and character revelation like an elegant, mysterious labyrinth. Page-turning, evocative, and richly imagined.-Dominic Smith, author of The Last Painting of Sara de Vos Praise for Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian Quite extraordinary . . . Kostova is a natural storyteller. . . . She has refashioned the vampire myth into a compelling contemporary novel, a late-night page-turner.-San Francisco Chronicle Hypnotic . . . a thrill ride through history.-The Denver Post Part thriller, part history, part romance . . . Kostova has a keen sense of storytelling and she has a marvelous story to tell.-Baltimore Sun Kostova's vampire is no campy Lugosi knockoff. . . . Blending history and myth, Kostova has fashioned a version so fresh that when a stake is finally driven through a heart, it inspires the tragic shock of something happening for the very first time.-Newsweek Praise for The Swan Thieves Exquisite.-The Boston Globe Engrossing.-O: The Oprah Magazine Stunning . . . A beautifully written tale of art, love and an obsession triggered by both.-Associated Press sakriti opis