Prepare to be bewitched by Iceland and the book that has enchanted readers for decades – and imprisoned one of them.
Elva loves Iceland for many reasons – the epic landscape of gods and volcanoes, weather that’s the polar opposite of her home in Australia, and the fact that it’s where her mother might have gone back to when she disappeared. Iceland is where Elva’s beloved grandfather – the famous children’s book author – lives in a remote village and where the beings that haunt her imagination reside.
Elva is interested in the odd things people make – Victorian collectibles, old spells, taxidermy, fairy tales. The weird, the wonderful and the sometimes macabre. She’s got a few quirks of her own that she’s (mainly) keeping under control. Except one.
Working in a shop of curiosities, studying at an Icelandic language school, Elva begins to explore her obsessions, and when her grandfather suffers a stroke, they threaten to overtake her. Then she meets Remy, a painter who’s got some secrets of his own …
In her captivating debut, Rijn Collins has created a beautifully evocative portrait of an enchanted mind in an enchanting place – a story of everyday magic, both dark and light; of families and the shadows they can cast; of the delights and dangers of the imagination. Fed to Red Birds will transport you to remote corners of both the world and the human heart.
Buy a copy of Fed to Red Birds here.
Read some great reviews from our Preview readers here:
This novel was a beautiful but eerie journey to Iceland and into the life of the protagonist Elva. Elva has a great love for Iceland, its language, which she is striving to learn, and some of its people whom she has befriended. She has a job at a curiosity shop filled with strange items and she herself is filled with strange desires and obsessions. The characters she mixes with are accepting of her and become a loving found family. I felt a great sense of place portrayed in Iceland’s cold beauty and enjoyed my trip immensely, I wanted more! Such a great debut, I loved it! Kirsty, NSW, 5 Stars
This was a charming read. Thoughtful and beautifully written, it created the characters and the background to form an engrossing tale of a young woman who grew up without her mother, a father locked in his study, and a grandfather who wrote a magnificent fairytale. This is not a high-powered drama or action-packed story. It is a thoughtful and caring tale about Elva’s emotional journey and I think it would appeal to anyone who enjoys exploring the mindset of the characters, not just the actions. I loved the book, really loved the writing style and the way it transported one to a different country. For me, a good book is one which takes one into another world, and this book did that. I felt that it explored the part that myths and magic play in our lives how trauma can affect us and the healing power of love. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book and I congratulate Rijn Collins on this very readable tale and look forward to reading more by her. Angela, VIC, 5 Stars
Fed to Red Birds was not what I expected, though I’m not sure what I was expecting honestly. I felt a little uncertain of what was happening in the first chapter or two but before long became invested in Elva’s journey. The descriptions of the characters and scenery were great and it left me wanting to visit the Cabinet of Curiosities, as well as Reykjavík. Various aspects of Elva’s story were hinted at throughout most of the book but not explicitly explained until necessary. This aspect of Rijn’s writing kept me engaged and invested. I did wish for further exploration of some events though. The ending also felt a little abrupt to me, though suited to the tone of the book, and on reflection was appropriate. I would love a sequel to hopefully address my unanswered questions. Overall, I enjoyed Rijn’s writing and the story, and would love to read more of her work. Chrissie, WA, 5 Stars
Fed to Red Birds is an exquisite piece of work that was beautiful to read. Rijn Collins provided a nuanced view of the theme of mental illness, intertwined with grief, self-discovery and belonging. I was drawn in by the contrast of the familiar Australian landscape against the harsh but beautiful Icelandic main setting of the novel. Elva, Grace, Tolli, Afi and Remy make for a wonderful cast of main characters who were all multifaceted and loveable. Toni, NSW, 5 Stars
A little bit dark, a big bit beautiful, and an all-over enjoyable novel. Elva is a Melbourne girl who has moved to Iceland, her mother’s homeland and a place she feels drawn to because of its rugged beauty and silence. Fed to Red Birds is not a complex storyline but it certainly is a compelling one. Elva is dealing with the fallout of her mother leaving when she was a child, her beloved Icelandic grandfather is in hospital, and the relationship with her dad back in Melbourne is not exactly close. But she does have good friends in Iceland in Grace and Tolli, and she is fascinated with taxidermy and improving her skills. Despite Elva’s anxieties, I found reading Fed to Red Birds to be quite a calming experience. The muted colours of an Icelandic winter come out of the page, the thoughtful conversations convey the essentials of Elva’s life and the descriptions of Elva’s taxidermied animals (sometimes funny but always respectful) are so sweet. The story unfolds nicely as we learn more about Elva and her family both in Melbourne and in Iceland. I highly recommend reading Rijn Collins’ debut novel. Amelia, VIC, 5 Stars
Fed to Red Birds was a magical read. Loved the journey of getting to know Elva and what made her tick, intertwined with Icelandic gods, fairytales and myths. Such descriptive and emotional writing that instantly transports you to scenic Iceland and into Elva’s world. Fed to Red Birds shows you can only run so far from yourself before you catch up with yourself and that you need good friends like Grace and Tolli to help on your journey. Highly recommend as this book is full of heart. Simone, WA, 5 Stars
Elva has moved to Iceland from Melbourne in the hopes that she may find her mother there. She is studying the Icelandic language. She loves Iceland, the legends, myths and the wild landscape. She works in a shop that sells curios and the weird the wonderful and quirky, including her passion, taxidermy. She also has strange quirks and obsessions of her own that she is trying to live with. Liz, VIC, 5 Stars
Here Elva travels from Melbourne, Australia to her mother’s homeland of Iceland – Heimilisfangid, Reykjavik, in the hope of finding her. Elva has been there for 9 months, learning her mother’s tongue and taxidermy. She has made friends in Grace, who runs the shop “Cabinet of Curiosities”, where they sell all forms of oddities including taxidermy items. Then there’s Tolli, who plays guitar and runs a bar, and then later, Remy. They help Elva out when needed. The book is about Icelandic lore, myths and tales and what the people believe in. Sue, NSW, 5 Stars
Fed to Red Birds by Rijn Collins is a beautiful portrait of a young woman named Elva who moves from Australia to Iceland where her deceased mother was born. Elva has an enchanted mind, loves fantasy items, but is haunted by the loss of her mother and struggling with her compulsive disorders. Her grandfather, who lives in Iceland and is a famous childrens author, wrote a book that placed Elva as the main character, which has haunted Elva since she was a little girl. She has good friends who try to help but Elva knows that she has to be the one to solve her problems. This book is very intriguing, as it sounds like a fantasy but it is also a feel-good story – romantic, but highlights the power of the imagination in oneself and how people can overcome their situations with compulsive disorders without being judged. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a story with different genres and makes you feel a part of the story. Sharon, NSW, 5 Stars
Fed to Red Birds was such a cool read! It really grabbed my attention right away, although it didn’t go in the magical realism direction I was hoping for. But that’s OK, because it was still interesting and meaningful in its own way. The book dives into how our imagination can shape the world we see, both positively and negatively. Elva has to confront her past, which is made up of both real stuff and whatever she imagined – yikes! I liked the pace of the story and the writing style too. What really made it special for me were all the Icelandic place names; I had the chance to visit there a few years back, so it gave me some nice nostalgic feels. All things considered, I think this one definitely deserves four stars from me – if you’re into books with an unexpected twist, then you absolutely need to pick this one up! Kerrie, NSW, 4 Stars
This book is an unusual novel set in Iceland with the main character being an Australian girl. In some ways, it is a very strange and rather weird novel with Elva, the main character working in a curiosity shop with a major focus on taxidermy. Elva is drawn to go and live in Iceland due to her mother’s heritage being Icelandic and her grandfather still residing there in a remote part of the country. I would recommend this novel as it is compelling reading and brings together different characters from diverse countries. Anne, SA, 4 Stars
Fed to Red Birds by Rijn Collins is a really quirky and original read. I can’t say that I would normally reach for a book about a girl in Iceland with a taste for taxidermy, but I was lucky enough to win a copy for a review from Better Reading. It’s a calming read, which is surprising given the quirky nature of the main character Elva. We are introduced to her friends Grace, Tolli and Remy who represent a family of sorts for the Melbourne girl who is chasing memories of her grandfather and mother. Her grandfather has suffered a stroke and is the famous author of a children’s book that has become a classic in Iceland, but Elva takes issue when she sees the book in a store and starts buying up all the copies. It’s a quick and quirky read from a Melbournian author and I highly recommend it. Katrina, VIC, 4 Stars
I liked this quirky book. Maybe it is because I’m quirky, or that I worked for fourteen years behind the scenes of a museum where taxidermy was key to identifying new species and seeing birds and bats being stuffed. Rijn Collins, takes us on a magical ride in a country that is so unique, despite the intense cold, weaving the plot steadily. Elva’s imagination is truly strange, bordering on the macabre or gothic in her mind. I enjoyed this novel because of its unique setting, someone striving to adjust and make do with a new culture. Her obsessions and passions become intertwined, which leaves the reader eager to read more and more, pondering her mind and the outcomes of her adventure in Iceland. Alison, QLD, 4 Stars
I wasn’t sure what to expect from the opening line of, but I ended up captivated. Set amongst a magical (and cold) Icelandic landscape, this story is unique. A complex Icelandic language and foreign mythology make a perfect balance to the story itself. Elva is like most of us, having her own issues and challenges, and is likeable and believable. The power and beauty of words is a message that comes across clearly and in some unexpected ways. I was captivated by the place, the people, the stories and the words themselves. Fed to Red Birds is a truly unique and enjoyable escape. Tess, TAS, 4 Stars
I found Fed to Red Birds by Rijin Collins to be a quirky, original and interesting novel. I love the character Elva, a young lady from Melbourne living in Reykjavik Iceland learning to speak her mother’s language, working in a quirky shop of curiosities, and fascinated with taxidermy. Elva is a complicated character dealing with her past, her mother that went missing, her distant relationship with her father, and her Icelandic grandfather who has just had a stroke. She is a likable character, working with her new friend Grace in a shop of curiosities, exploring her passion for taxidermy, studying the Icelandic language to pass her immigration test, and dealing with her anxieties and compulsions. The ending of this book brings all the aspects of this story together and completes it perfectly. This was an easy and enjoyable read, it kept me curious throughout and satisfied with a clear and complete ending. Fran, VIC, 4 Stars
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I loved the atmosphere created by the author and it was refreshing to have a flawed but relatable lead character. A great mixture of tone as well, at times heavy, at times lighter, and so many beautiful passages throughout. It definitely left me wanting more! Laura, VIC, 4 Stars
It took me a while to get into this book, I found it a bit strange to start with but then couldn’t put it down. Loved the theme and descriptions of Iceland. Recommended to anyone with a sense of adventure. Tina, SA, 4 Stars
There’s something a little unsettling in this intriguing story. The first line threw me, but it became pretty clear that the circumstances were, however unusual, benign. Still, a great start. Elva is in Iceland, far from her Australian home, searching for the reason for her mother’s disappearance from her life, slowly finding a way to deal with her unusual obsessions, and anxious for her famous grandfather who has suffered a stroke. Ultimately a search for truth and comfort, Elva’s journey to self-discovery is revealed in flowing, and often beautiful, prose. It’s not an ‘edge of the seat’ story, but it drew me in and had me reading well into the night to finish it. I understand Elva’s isolation, physical and emotional, and I remained anxious for her throughout. Our author, Ms Collins, has spent time in the depths of the Icelandic chill and her attraction to the country, and its language, mythology, and storytelling is a thread throughout her debut novel. She invests her characters with it, and through them we gain an insight into the strange beauty of the land. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more of Ms Collins’s work. Rod, ACT, 4 Stars
Fed to Red Birds is set in Iceland, a land of ice and volcanoes with ancient stories of trolls, fairies and spells. Fed to Red Birds suggests that sometimes we need rituals to protect ourselves. It is a story of friendships, love and the power of books. The author’s descriptions of characters and settings are detailed and real. I found this book had a beauty (not only in the Icelandic scenery) but also in the use of words. Some of the sentences were so delightful I read them several times. Elva is searching for her mother, peace from her compelling rituals and love. The story weaves between her social and work life and memories of Australia and the present in Iceland. I found the information about taxidermy and old items very interesting. I enjoyed reading Fed to Red Birds. It absorbed me from start to end. Sandra, ACT, 4 Stars
Fed to Red Birds was an intriguing story that had me engaged from the start. As a reader, knowing very little about Iceland, the setting added an element of mystique to Elva’s character and her experiences in Iceland. I completely enjoyed the glimpses of Iceland through Elva’s day-to-day life. Elva’s character added to the intrigue of the novel and for the most part, had me willing her on. The title is a clever choice that adds to the conclusion and resolution of the story. This is not a typical genre for me to read; however, I was pleasantly surprised. Jodie, NSW, 4 Stars
What an usual story – for me at least, for sure. I am always drawn to Icelandic settings but this book took me out of my comfort zone and yes it took me a bit to get into it especially as it started with Elva’s interest in taxidermy. But I am glad that I continued. It’s a bit macabre but also haunting with its Icelandic setting and Elva’s personal challenges. Dark and light, rough and fascinating as Iceland itself. Sabrina, NSW, 4 Stars
This striking novel has the reader meandering down side streets and admiring the aurora only to stumble upon death, its inevitability, and our lack of control over it. It is beautifully macabre, with the small details picked out in full colour and a landscape so vivid you will be reaching for a rug. Carol, VIC, 4 Stars
Fed to Red Birds is a beautifully written, character-driven read that has hints of mysticism and bundles of wit. Elva, a taxidermy-loving Icelandic-Aussie, gets back to her Nordic roots and shows us the precious beauty in focusing on the small simple details, whether that be the skin of a snake or the flutter of a snowflake. Collins’s writing transports you to a frigid landscape where the heart of its people completely warms you up. Highly recommend! Maddie, ACT, 4 Stars
This book is really magical and macabre at the same time. How is that possible? I read it in an afternoon and couldn’t put it down. Set in Iceland with interesting characters who felt very real when reading the book with many flaws but touchingly human. I enjoyed reading the book and found the ending satisfying. Tonie, NSW, 4 Stars
Elva-Byalla Bloom has left her childhood home amongst the tall mountain ash trees and the lyrebird inhabited fern-filled gullies of the Dandenong Ranges in Australia, and journeyed to Iceland, the birthplace of her mother and home to her beloved grandfather, Afi, a famed author of a frightening, but magical children’s book. Elva is a complicated and troubled character who endearingly introduces the stark beauty and the quirky nuances of Iceland and the people who are born or are drawn there. There is something elf-like about Elva, which makes her new friends Tolli and Grace want to look after and protect her. Original and eye-opening, this story and its stories within stories enchant and envelope the reader with an unexpected warmth and tenderness. Michelle, VIC, 4 Stars
Elva’s grandfather Abi is the author of an Icelandic folklore storybook called Fed to Red Birds, and she is named after the main character. Elva has lived all her life under the twin shadows of the book, and her mother’s abandonment when she was a child. This book tells the story of Elva trying to reconnect with her mother’s country and culture, and mend her other relationships in the process. Well written, the characters are mostly likable and interesting. The story draws you in from the first, but it is a nice, uncomplicated read. Wendi, VIC, 3 Stars
Fed to Red Birds is not the type of book I would normally read. Bewitched by the gothic, obsessed by a book… However, parts of this book I really enjoyed. Rijn was exceptional at portraying the mind battles of an obsessed young woman and her fight to live normally. The constant vigilance, the striving to hide her secret life and fit in as society expects. Being party to this was fascinating. I thoroughly enjoyed Rijn’s challenge to me to stretch my empathy and understand how much effort just living life can take. The author also explores possible life events and or reasons for the ‘obsession’ and how far back in the character’s life they began. This was not as convincing and the end of the book felt rushed. I have rated this book three stars but definitely recommend it for what it can teach us. Sallie, QLD, 3 Stars
This novel had a lot of great ingredients: Iceland, obsessions with books, fairytales, and language. A young Australian, Elva, has travelled to Iceland where her absent mother was born. The story of Elva is one of trauma, healing and hope. The pace is slow at first but does pick up. Overall an enjoyable read with some interesting themes. Kecia, NSW, 3 Stars
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