Writing alum Margrét Ann Thors '16 will publish her debut novel, Freyja, with Spiegel and Grau on August 4, 2026.
The novel follows single mother and baker Unnur, who lives a quiet life under an assumed last name with her daughter, Lilja, in Reykjavik, Iceland. When her ex-husband returns with his new girlfriend who seems to know more about Unnur's past than she lets on, Unnur is forced to face the harrowing memory of a childhood friend's disappearance, and the possibility that she may be responsible.
Professor Emerita of Professional Practice in Writing Binnie Kirshenbaum called the book “a spectacular novel that deftly defies genre, Freyja is gripping mystery and a literary tour de force. Margrét Ann Thors masterfully chronicles a mother’s love for her child, memories impossible to repress, and the torment of guilt. Set in a backdrop rich with folklore, it’s a page-turner, but try to resist turning the pages too quickly, lest you miss the grace of the prose and profound psychological insights. Original, stunning, and unforgettable.”
Thors is an Icelandic-American writer based in Reykjavík, Iceland. She received her MFA from Columbia University and teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in the English department at the University of Iceland. Her writing has appeared in Glamour, Creative Nonfiction, Ós Pressan, Storychord, and elsewhere. Freyja is her debut novel.
