Malve von Hassell is a freelance writer, researcher, and translator. She holds a Ph.D. in anthropology from the New School for Social Research. She has published nine books and a number of journal articles. The book was awarded a Five Star Medal by The Historical Fiction Press Awards in 2021.
Pushing the boundaries of time-slip fiction and of imagination, award winning author Malve von Hassell's 'The Amber Crane' is a tale of a journey from the past into an unimaginable future, set in two devastating wars three hundred years apart and steeped in the lore and legends of amber from the shores of the Baltic Sea.
The book was awarded the Coffee Pot Book Club Silver Medal for Young Adult Historical Fiction and Fantasy in 2021 and an Honorable Mention for Historical Dual Timeline / Timeslip fiction by the Historical Fiction Company
In this highly praised novel, a mysterious piece of amber takes Peter, an amber guild apprentice in Pomerania in the waning years of the Thirty Years’ War, on a journey in time from the Thirty Years' War to World War II.
Clutching precious amber found in a clump of seaweed, Peter has a choice to make. Despite the severe penalties imposed on such an action, Peter keeps the amber and works on it in secret, with potentially disastrous consequences for people close to him. Meanwhile, unaware of the amber piece’s magical powers, Peter finds himself drawn into a world three hundred years in the future where he gets embroiled in the troubles of a mysterious stranger.
The Amber Crane is an enjoyable historical fiction that introduces readers to the amber trade, medieval guilds, the historical region Pomerania along the Baltic Sea, and two major wars in that same region, three hundred years apart. Written for young adults 12+, the book would also be enjoyed by adults, especially by readers interested in history. There is no outright graphic violence, even though violence and the holocaust are all referenced. Hence, it would be suitable for younger readers. The main character is 15.
Readers have given the new historical fiction novel high praise:
“The historical background of this novel has been depicted with a keen sense of understanding for both periods. Malve von Hassell has penned a novel of intrigue, danger, and consequence. All actions have outcomes, and this book gives a wonderfully rounded idea of the significance of Peter taking the pieces of amber, breaking the rules, and how it affects the lives of those around him. Everyone is affected in some way by his actions, and that extends far into the future, three hundred years into the future, to be exact. Taking the amber had both good and bad outcomes, and this novel explores the idea of just how far the effect of one decision can spread.
The Amber Crane by Malve von Hassell is a novel that is well crafted. Like a master craftsman working with the finest of ambers, this novel is an object of beauty and elegance.” Coffee Pot Book Club editorial review
“Malve von Hassell does an outstanding job in setting up a very exciting and unique story from the opening pages and inciting incident.”
“The author has a knack for sentence structure and word usage which engages a reader every step of the way as if pulled along by the magical amber stone. This is recommended for someone who wants a taste of fantasy and history woven into one, focusing more on the characters rather than the massive details of the Thirty Years War and WWII." Historical Fiction Company editorial review
“Malve von Hassell brings us dreamscapes of endurance and light amidst the twin horrors of the Thirty Years and Second World Wars she has thoroughly researched. Peter harnesses the magical properties of his secret amulets, which catapult him into time travel and the parallel settings of 1644 and 1944. Despite a backdrop of unspeakable devastation, this is not a dark tale.”
“The Amber Crane is a well-paced and truly engaging coming-of-age story filled with adventure, mystery, intrigue, and romance. This superbly crafted novel successfully weaves together elements of historical fiction and science fiction fantasy to portray how its young heroes face challenges and overcome adversity in a sophisticated narrative spanning three centuries and two devastating wars. Highly recommended!”
Other works by Malve von Hassell include:
The Struggle for Eden: Community Gardens in New York City (Bergin & Garvey 2002)
Homesteading in New York City 1978-1993
The Divided Heart of Loisaida (Bergin & Garvey 1996)
Letters from the Tooth Fairy (Amazon KDP 2012/2020)
Turtle Crossing (Amazon KDP 2021),
Dott’s Wonderful Travels and Adventures (Two Harbors Press, 2012), a translation and annotation of a German children’s classic by Tamara Ramsay
The Falconer’s Apprentice (namelos, 2015), her first historical fiction novel for young adults
Alina: A Song for the Telling (BHC Press, 2020), set in Jerusalem in the time of the crusades
Tapestry of My Mother's Life: Stories, Fragments, and Silences: Awarded a Five Star Medal by The Historical Fiction Press Awards in 2021.
She has edited her grandfather Ulrich von Hassell's memoirs written in prison in 1944, Der Kreis schließt sich - Aufzeichnungen aus der Haft 1944 (Propylaen Verlag 1994)
Malve von Hassell is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at malvevonhassell@optonline.net. All of her books are available at online retail outlets. More information is available at her website at https://www.malvevonhassell.com.
About Malve von Hassell
Malve von Hassell was born in Italy and spent part of her childhood in Belgium and Germany before moving to the United States. She is a freelance writer, researcher, and translator. She holds a Ph.D. in anthropology from the New School for Social Research and has taught at Queens College, Baruch College, Pace University, and Suffolk County Community College. Currently, she is working on a biographical work about a woman coming of age in Nazi Germany.
Contact:
Malve von Hassell
malvevonhassell@optonline.net
https://www.malvevonhassell.com
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