Picture a Norwegian storyteller weaving tales where faeries lurk in shadowy forests and historical killers haunt the page—meet Camilla Bruce! With a knack for blending the magical with the macabre, Bruce has carved a unique niche in speculative and historical fiction. Her debut, You Let Me In, hooked readers with its eerie faerie folklore, while her chilling true-crime novel In the Garden of Spite proved she’s a literary shapeshifter. Let’s dive into the world of this rising star whose stories enchant and unsettle in equal measure.
The Making of Camilla Bruce
Born in central Norway, Camilla Bruce grew up in a forest beside an Iron Age burial mound, a setting that feels ripped from her own novels. This mystical backdrop, coupled with a childhood steeped in Grimm’s and Norwegian fairy tales, sparked her love for the supernatural. With a master’s degree in comparative literature, Bruce honed her craft while co-running a small press specializing in dark fairy tales. Her early foray into fan fiction, written in English despite her Norwegian roots, laid the groundwork for her distinctive voice. Now living in Trondheim with her son and cat, Bruce channels her folklore-rich upbringing into stories that blur reality and myth.
Camilla Bruce’s Unforgettable Stories
Bruce’s debut, You Let Me In (2020), is a speculative thriller that dances between psychological drama and faerie lore. The story follows Cassandra Tipp, a reclusive novelist whose manuscript unravels secrets about a sinister ‘Pepper-Man’ made of twigs and bones. Critics praised its haunting prose and unreliable narrator, a hallmark of Bruce’s style. Her sophomore novel, The Witch in the Well (2022), dives deeper into Norwegian folklore, exploring a town’s dark history through rival writers obsessed with a 19th-century ‘witch.’ Bruce’s historical fiction, like In the Garden of Spite (2021), reimagines the life of serial killer Belle Gunness with chilling intensity, while All the Blood We Share (2022) unearths a murderous family’s secrets. Her latest, At the Bottom of the Garden (2025), promises gothic thrills with a killer protagonist. Bruce’s writing—lush, unsettling, and layered with folklore—invites readers to question reality itself.
Why Camilla Bruce Matters
Camilla Bruce is redefining speculative fiction by grounding it in Norwegian folklore and human complexity. Her ability to weave supernatural elements with psychological depth has earned her a dedicated following and critical acclaim, with outlets like BuzzFeed and Publishers Weekly lauding her atmospheric storytelling. By tackling themes like trauma, obsession, and female agency, Bruce’s work resonates with readers seeking more than just chills. Her historical novels shine a light on forgotten figures, blending true crime with empathy, making her a vital voice in contemporary literature.
- Born: Central Norway
- Key Works: You Let Me In (2020), In the Garden of Spite (2021), The Witch in the Well (2022), All the Blood We Share (2022), At the Bottom of the Garden (2025)
- Fun Fact: Her cats inspired the eerie premise of You Let Me In!
Snag You Let Me In or The Witch in the Well and dive into Camilla Bruce’s spellbinding blend of folklore and suspense!