Awards
Selma Prize 2023
The Fire Child by Elisabeth Berglund was awarded the Selma Prize in 2023.
The jury’s statement:
"In The Fire Child, we follow a young woman on the run. As a Merry Rider and juokiluan, Vivya has never taken anything seriously, but when her home is attacked, she suddenly finds herself responsible for stopping the invasions – and she couldn’t be less prepared. With a swift pull, author Elisabeth Berglund opens the doors to this thrilling story. We follow a protagonist completely unsuited for her task, yet forced to push herself to the limit to do what is right.
The Fire Child is a well-crafted fantasy novel that blends classic elements with unique cultures. The world-building is skillfully done, often presenting reversed gender roles with matriarchal structures. Through vivid descriptions, the author brings to life dynamic peoples with enchanting cuisines and refreshing characteristics.
There is a constant momentum that maintains the suspense, with relationships developing in parallel to the conflicts, and the supernatural elements feel natural. The writing also maintains a light tone, making unfamiliar phenomena easy to grasp, all while Vivya twists and turns, trying to mold herself to fit her role.
The Fire Child demonstrates a deep understanding of the core elements of fantasy literature. All one can do is eagerly await the sequel!"
Fantasy debut of the year 2022
The Fire Child by Elisabeth Berglund was voted Fantasy Debut of the Year 2022 by the readers of Fantasykammaren.
The nomination jury’s statement:
"A fantastic world-building in every sense of the word, and the author trusts the reader to discover the depth of the world without excessive explanations or hand-holding. Add to that an exciting story that becomes harder to put down as it progresses, with characters that gain more depth the further you read, and everything points to The Fire Child being the best fantasy debut of 2022."
Kulturrådets kvalitetsstämpel
The Heart of Time has received literary and distribution support from the Swedish Arts Council. The aim is to promote diversity and quality in publishing and to ensure that literature reaches all parts of the country. Here are some of the criteria the Swedish Arts Council uses to assess books:
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Originality in relation to contemporary publishing and genre.
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Independence in the portrayal in relation to the genre.
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The ability to push the boundaries of genre, form, and content.
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The ability to engage and move readers through deepened portrayal.
The Swedish Arts Council also offers a quality seal, Garanterat bra böcker (Guaranteed Good Books), which books receiving literary support are allowed to use.