Loukko by 
The annual Kuvastaja Award, presented by the Finnish Tolkien Society Kontu (Shire) to the best Finnish fantasy novel of the year, has been awarded to Emmi Itäranta for her novel SNOWSINGER! The finalists were selected from Finnish fantasy novels published in 2025. The winner was announced yesterday at the Helsinki Book Fair selected by a panel of experts.
We warmly congratulate Emmi Itäranta on this well-deserved recognition!
The jury described the winning novel as follows:
“Linguistically beautiful and deeply compelling.”
“The brutal fates suffered at the hands of violent outsiders leave deep scars and fuel a thirst for revenge, a need to reclaim what has been taken.”
“The Kalevala-inspired world is crafted in a way that feels both familiar and wholly original.”
“Nature plays a central role throughout the novel, as do its evocative descriptions, particularly in the seamless integration of spell-casting figures into the women of Pohjola.”
“A coming-of-age story that follows a young girl named Lauha on her journey to becoming Louhi, the ruler of Pohjola, portraying both her human flaws and her unwavering strength as a protector of her people.”
REQUEST MATERIALS FOR THE SNOWSINGER HERE
SNOWSINGER is a mythic fantasy novel that reimagines the origins of Louhi, the legendary ruler of Pohjola from the Kalevala. The story follows a young girl named Lauha, whose peaceful childhood is shattered when her homeland is invaded, setting her on a path shaped by loss, survival, and the determination to reclaim what was taken from her.
Set in a richly imagined world inspired by Finnish mythology, the novel explores themes of power, identity, revenge, and belonging, while portraying Lauha’s transformation into the feared and powerful Louhi.
SNOWSINGER by Emmi Itäranta
Lumenlaulaja, Teos 2025, 410 pp.
Rights sold:
FINLAND: Teos (orig.)
ESTONIA: Argo
JAPAN: Mizuiro Books
Reading materials:
Full English translation & synopsis
