November 1939: The Soviet Union invades its small, relatively defenseless neighbor Finland, just three months after the declaration of World War II. So began what is known as the Winter War. A makeshift Finnish army of soldiers, workers, and farmers must face off against columns of tanks and millions of Stalin’s Red Army fighters.

In a dramatic and deeply moving narrative based in part on diaries, journals, and accounts of participants, Norek captures the horror and tragedy of war. Soldiers go to battle with a shortage of weapons, and cold becomes both enemy and friend—causing wounds to freeze and limiting the movement of the invaders. The legendary sniper Simo Häyhä, nicknamed the “White Death,” puts terror in the hearts and minds of the Russians.

Intense, propulsive, and deeply human, The Winter Warriors is a stunning historical novel of Finnish courage and determination in the face of the Soviet invasion.

Praise for The Winter Warriors:

“Oliver Norek’s astonishing account of the Soviet invasion of Finland is gripping, horrifying, and surprisingly moving, not least for his portrait of the ‘White Death’, perhaps the greatest sniper who ever lived. Impeccably researched and beautifully written, The Winter Warriors is perfect for fans of Ben McIntyre and Robert Harris.”—Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train

“There are echoes of Vasily Grossman in this gripping, chillingly urgent story of the horrors and heroism of war.”—Andy Miller, Snowdrops

“A compelling tale of the murderous madness of war and its absurdity, of course, but also of friendship, solidarity and resistance. Once again, Olivier Norek, the humanist, blows us away.”—Le Parisien 

“Magnificent.”—L’Express

“A masterpiece.”—Figaro

“Deeply researched and masterfully paced. In this novel, red-hot despite its setting’s -40°C conditions, Norek paints the portrait of the elite Finnish sniper who personified his country’s bravery.”—Nouvel Observatoire

“Norek depicts the courage and resilience of the Finns, fighting for survival in extreme conditions.—Actualitté

“Exhaustively researched, subtle, sensitive.”—France Info

“A novel which captivates the mind and touches the heart, with echoes of the horrors of the war in Ukraine.”—Marianne

“At once epic and intimate, The Winter Warriors demonstrates how tenacity and courage can sometimes triumph in the face of far superior forces.”—Radio Télévision Suisse