In BLACK SAND AND BLOOD, I send Dýri and Sóllilja to a famous black beach in Iceland. 

Why? Because in Iceland skeljaskrímsli – shell monsters – reportedly walk up out of the sea and onto beaches… Why not this one?

Iceland’s black sand beaches, especially Reynisfjara near the village of Vík, have become incredibly popular because they offer something genuinely otherworldly. The dramatic black volcanic sand creates a stark, almost alien landscape that feels nothing like typical golden beaches.

What makes this beach so photogenic and memorable is the contrast—jet-black sand against white foam from powerful Atlantic waves, with towering basalt columns rising from the water. The famous Reynisdrangar sea stacks jutting from the ocean add to the mythic quality (local legend says they’re trolls turned to stone at sunrise).

There’s also an element of raw power and danger that’s thrilling. The beaches are beautiful but unforgiving, with “sneaker waves” that can appear without warning, which adds to their wild, untamed appeal. For visitors used to calm, sunny beaches, Iceland’s black sand shores offer something more primal—a reminder of the volcanic forces that shaped the island, paired with stunning natural beauty.

Which makes it the perfect setting to force Dýri and Sóllilja to confront their long-simmering attraction.