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Millennium #7
The Girl in the Eagle's Talons
Lisbeth Salander returns, in a trailblazing new installment to the best-selling Millennium series.
Change is coming to Sweden’s far north: its untapped natural resources are sparking a gold rush with the criminal underworld leading the charge. But it’s not the prospect of riches that brings Lisbeth Salander to the small town of Gasskas. She has been named guardian to her niece Svala, whose mother has disappeared. Two things soon become clear: Svala is a remarkably gifted teenager—and she’s being watched.
Mikael Blomkvist is also heading north. He has seen better days. Millennium magazine is in its final print issue, and relations with his daughter are strained. Worse still, there are troubling rumors surrounding the man she’s about to marry. When the truth behind the whispers explodes into violence, Salander emerges as Blomkvist’s last hope.
A pulse-pounding thriller, The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons sees Salander and Blomkvist navigating a world of conspiracy and betrayal, old enemies and new friends, ice-bound wilderness and the global corporations that threaten to tear it apart.
Change is coming to Sweden’s far north: its untapped natural resources are sparking a gold rush with the criminal underworld leading the charge. But it’s not the prospect of riches that brings Lisbeth Salander to the small town of Gasskas. She has been named guardian to her niece Svala, whose mother has disappeared. Two things soon become clear: Svala is a remarkably gifted teenager—and she’s being watched.
Mikael Blomkvist is also heading north. He has seen better days. Millennium magazine is in its final print issue, and relations with his daughter are strained. Worse still, there are troubling rumors surrounding the man she’s about to marry. When the truth behind the whispers explodes into violence, Salander emerges as Blomkvist’s last hope.
A pulse-pounding thriller, The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons sees Salander and Blomkvist navigating a world of conspiracy and betrayal, old enemies and new friends, ice-bound wilderness and the global corporations that threaten to tear it apart.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published November 4, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,748 reviews
August 2, 2023
2.5 stars, rounded down
I was a huge fan of the original Lizbeth Salander books by Stieg Larson. And I didn’t mind the fourth in the series, by David Lagercrantz. Now, Karin Smirnoff is trying her hand at the series, with book seven. But I can’t say her attempt has much to recommend it. The bad guys are all cliche villains. The writing is choppy and uninspiring or maybe that’s the translation. I don’t know. The plot was confusing and meandered. As expected, there’s misogyny and sexual violence. But it really takes until the halfway point before the action ramps up.
Once again, the story tackles corporate and government corruption. I did find it a nice twist that wind power is seen as the industry being taken over by the criminal element.
Major portions of the book involve Mikael and Lizbeth’s family situations. In Lizbeth’s case, it’s her niece. Now, it’s one thing to have Lizbeth appear all super human. But it starts to truly beggar reality to have a thirteen year old also be some kind of savant, capable of opening safes by feel.
The book veers between multiple POVs, which seemed designed to just move the story forward without adding anything to the drama. I really disliked how the author included characters’ thoughts in italics.
I typically rate an action story on how easy it is to envision how it plays out. Unfortunately, this one also lacks in that department. The book ends with a cliffhanger, so I expect there will be another in the series. But I, for one, won’t be reading it.
My thanks to Netgalley and Knopf for an advance copy of this book.
I was a huge fan of the original Lizbeth Salander books by Stieg Larson. And I didn’t mind the fourth in the series, by David Lagercrantz. Now, Karin Smirnoff is trying her hand at the series, with book seven. But I can’t say her attempt has much to recommend it. The bad guys are all cliche villains. The writing is choppy and uninspiring or maybe that’s the translation. I don’t know. The plot was confusing and meandered. As expected, there’s misogyny and sexual violence. But it really takes until the halfway point before the action ramps up.
Once again, the story tackles corporate and government corruption. I did find it a nice twist that wind power is seen as the industry being taken over by the criminal element.
Major portions of the book involve Mikael and Lizbeth’s family situations. In Lizbeth’s case, it’s her niece. Now, it’s one thing to have Lizbeth appear all super human. But it starts to truly beggar reality to have a thirteen year old also be some kind of savant, capable of opening safes by feel.
The book veers between multiple POVs, which seemed designed to just move the story forward without adding anything to the drama. I really disliked how the author included characters’ thoughts in italics.
I typically rate an action story on how easy it is to envision how it plays out. Unfortunately, this one also lacks in that department. The book ends with a cliffhanger, so I expect there will be another in the series. But I, for one, won’t be reading it.
My thanks to Netgalley and Knopf for an advance copy of this book.
July 5, 2023
Oh My Gosh! This is truly awful! Stay away!
June 29, 2023
The Girl in the Eagle's Talons is the latest Millennium book, this written by Karin Smirnoff, the third author to take her hands at penning the eclectic suspense novels. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a chance to read this one... while I love all the exposure to Lisbeth Salander, I do think there was something quite off with the translation. Too any weird phrases where I knew what was supposed to be said and hadn't been. It also was written too simple in the beginning and had me struggle to stay interested. But a third in, things took shape and had some classic drama. I still miss the original, and the over-arching story of Salander's family. But the connections between all the characters here was done very well.
August 20, 2023
This is probably the last book that I will read in this series. I really enjoyed the first three books in the Millennium series that introduced us to the characters of Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkist. The next three books, after the death of the original author, Steig Larssson, were OK, but began to lose steam with the new author, David Lagercrantz. It should have stopped there. But now there is a third author to continue this series.
In this, the seventh book, and possibly first book in a new trilogy, Lisbeth Salander, a gifted computer hacker, is now part owner of Milton Security and is still as unconventional as usual, but now she is faced with taking in her thirteen-year-old niece, Svala. Svala is as precocious as Lisbeth was in her youth, except now it seems overdone.
Blomkist no longer works as a journalist for Millennium magazine, because it's now only a podcast. He soon uses his investigative skills to unravel a convoluted scheme of bribery, theft, kidnapping, and murder that involves his new son-in-law. I must say that his interaction with his grandson is touching though.
I had such high hopes going into reading this book. However, the topics of wind farming, mining, and reindeer herding didn't hold my interest, the narrative didn't flow well, and the suspense that existed in the earliest books was lacking.
Karen Smirnoff, the third author to step into this popular series, may be a talented Swedish author and I can't be sure that something might have been lost in the translation of the story or if it just wasn't right for me, but I will continue to remember the first three books fondly.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
In this, the seventh book, and possibly first book in a new trilogy, Lisbeth Salander, a gifted computer hacker, is now part owner of Milton Security and is still as unconventional as usual, but now she is faced with taking in her thirteen-year-old niece, Svala. Svala is as precocious as Lisbeth was in her youth, except now it seems overdone.
Blomkist no longer works as a journalist for Millennium magazine, because it's now only a podcast. He soon uses his investigative skills to unravel a convoluted scheme of bribery, theft, kidnapping, and murder that involves his new son-in-law. I must say that his interaction with his grandson is touching though.
I had such high hopes going into reading this book. However, the topics of wind farming, mining, and reindeer herding didn't hold my interest, the narrative didn't flow well, and the suspense that existed in the earliest books was lacking.
Karen Smirnoff, the third author to step into this popular series, may be a talented Swedish author and I can't be sure that something might have been lost in the translation of the story or if it just wasn't right for me, but I will continue to remember the first three books fondly.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 8, 2023
First of all, I must say right up front that I am a big fan of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy and consider it some of the best mystery/suspense trilogies that I have ever read. I loved reading those books and was deeply saddened by his unexpected passing and ensuing estate battles between his father/brother and his longtime live-in girlfriend and fiancée. I personally think she got robbed and mistreated in ways that I cannot express without getting downright angry. Mostly, I miss Stieg not getting to continue writing his wonderful series and further developing his unique and riveting characters.
Putting that aside, I had very mixed feelings when it was announced that the father/brother were hiring another writer to continue the series. In my mind no one could come anywhere near capturing the magic that Stieg produced and it was hard not to have a feeling of a money grab. In 2015, a new author, David Lagercrantz, wrote “The Girl in the Spider’s Web” and I read it. In 2017, he followed it up with “The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye”. In 2019, his third and final Millennium novel – “The Girl Who Lived twice” – was published.
Lagercrantz treated his three books – numbers four through six in the series – as a second trilogy in the millennium series, using the final one to wrap up his storylines of exploring Lisbeth’s family history and her personal feud with her evil twin, Camille.
Overall, I was really surprised by Lagercrantz’s marked improvement from his first book through to third. Let’s be honest, taking on Stieg’s Millennium series has a bar so high that it is virtually impossible for anyone to come close to his unique ability to tell an intricate and layered story that draws heavily on our emotions. That is no insult to any writer. It is simply the truth. Still, I believe that Lagercrantz was able to successfully capture a little bit of the Stieg magic and make it work on a smaller level.
After finishing the Lagercrantz’s follow books, I really didn’t want to see the Larsson family find another author to take up the mantle of writing of further stories. I would much have preferred for them to allow Blomkvist and Lisbeth to rest in peace. I didn’t really think there was much left to discover in those characters that had not already been shared and didn’t want to demean the quality of Stieg Larsson’s great legacy.
Now, four years later, a new writer - Karin Smirnoff – is taking the reins of moving Blomkvist and Lisbeth forward in a new adventure. I don’t envy her in this formidable and literally impossible task. I really debated as to whether or not I really wanted to read this book, but in the end, curiosity got the best of me… And I paid the price for it…
*** WARNING – BEFORE YOU READ FURTHER, KNOW THAT ALTHOUGH I WILL AVOID SPOILERS, THERE WILL BE STRONG AND CRITICAL COMMENTS SHARED THAT WILL NOT BE PRETTY ***
“The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons” is a tough and painful read. I wanted to like this book and spend more quality time with our two heroes for the ages - Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander. Really, I did. I was hoping for a resurgence and return to glory. But alas, that was not to be.
My following comments are going to come across harsher than intended, but I don’t want to sugarcoat it either. The truth is there are a lot of problems with this book. Let me get started.
Let’s start with the translation and style. I am not sure if it’s the author’s writing style or translation into English, but the style is stilted and confusing, and the flow is so awkward, especially during the first half of the book. As a reader, you are trying to get a feel for a new writer who has a different style from the previous two authors. And what comes across is an imitation of Steig’s writing. A very pale and lifeless imitation that hurts.
The prose also causes severe challenges. Smirnoff’s prose is so jilted and stilted, specially transitioning from one scene to another and back again. Many writers currently use flashbacks to tell their story- one chapter in the current world, followed by a chapter in the past, and then each chapter flips back and forth between the two time periods. Well, Smirnoff moves back and forth in time with her characters from one paragraph to another and then back again. It is choppy and uneven, leaving you in confusion, and having to stop and reread sections to make sure you really understand what is going on. In addition, she uses italic format to share what the character is thinking, so you are spending a lot of time trying to figure out along with the bouncing around in time without warning. It’s a tough reading experience.
Smirnoff also introduces a large cast of characters, which adds to a tough reading experience because there is not much shared about them and you almost need a score card to keep up with them. There is more time spent with them than with Blomkvist and Lisbeth. Lisbeth doesn’t even make an appearance until page 68 of a 351-page book while Blomkvist is basically delegated to a side role, used to introduce and connect the other characters driving the storylines.
The worst part is that Smirnoff just doesn’t know and truly understand the characters of Blomkvist and Lisbeth – how they act and behave, what internally drives them, and where their heat lies. During the first half of the book, Lisbeth is so out of character, saying and doing things that is just not her. She actually behaves in a passive and henpecked manner until the last third of the book. It just felt so off from the rebel and self-driven character that we’ve come to know and admire.
What makes it worse is that Blomkvist doesn’t even have enough screen time to act out of character, because his role turns out to be more minimal than expected. This was a real killer for me. I am sure that Lagercrantz struggle to find and capture their voices, and he finally did at certain moments, but it is so clear in this book that Smirnoff is not even close. I am puzzled as to how the editors and publisher didn’t recognize this and work to improve it before putting it out to the public. Again, it makes me worry this was more about making money rather than creating a worthwhile reading experience.
To be fair, there was something that I liked and compliment Smirnoff for. The overarching plotline and individual storylines had good promise. On paper, they would be described as multi-layered and complex, intertwining family related characters of both Blomkvist and Lisbeth with the mystery/thriller elements in interesting and dynamic ways. Blomkvist is facing the demise of his Millenium magazine in print form and fears the future in Podcast form. Lisbeth is forced to deal with a niece that is way too much like herself in attitude, intelligence, and upbringing. These are interesting and aggressive storytelling strategies that hold a lot of potential. However, As I have already described above, the problem is in the delivery. Poor writing, translation, and a lack of capturing the character’s voices ruin what that potential may have delivered.
I would even add that if you make it through the first half of the book, the second half is easier to swallow. There are even some moments in the last third that actually start to show some potential for what could be, until you realize that this book is a set-up for two more (being a trilogy), and the ending limply fizzles out in a weak and frustrating manner.
Overall, it’s pretty clear how disappointed I was with this book. There’s no need to add any more criticism and just let it go at this point. However, per news announcements, “The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons” is intended to be the first in a new Millenium trilogy by Karin Smirnoff, or what we would call books seven through nine in the series. That was made obvious with the ending, but to be honest, I am not sure that I have the patience and fortitude to read another. Maybe I am just better off wishing Smirnoff the best in her next outing, and I really mean that.
I give this a very lenient 1.5 stars (which Goodreads rounds up unfortunately).
Putting that aside, I had very mixed feelings when it was announced that the father/brother were hiring another writer to continue the series. In my mind no one could come anywhere near capturing the magic that Stieg produced and it was hard not to have a feeling of a money grab. In 2015, a new author, David Lagercrantz, wrote “The Girl in the Spider’s Web” and I read it. In 2017, he followed it up with “The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye”. In 2019, his third and final Millennium novel – “The Girl Who Lived twice” – was published.
Lagercrantz treated his three books – numbers four through six in the series – as a second trilogy in the millennium series, using the final one to wrap up his storylines of exploring Lisbeth’s family history and her personal feud with her evil twin, Camille.
Overall, I was really surprised by Lagercrantz’s marked improvement from his first book through to third. Let’s be honest, taking on Stieg’s Millennium series has a bar so high that it is virtually impossible for anyone to come close to his unique ability to tell an intricate and layered story that draws heavily on our emotions. That is no insult to any writer. It is simply the truth. Still, I believe that Lagercrantz was able to successfully capture a little bit of the Stieg magic and make it work on a smaller level.
After finishing the Lagercrantz’s follow books, I really didn’t want to see the Larsson family find another author to take up the mantle of writing of further stories. I would much have preferred for them to allow Blomkvist and Lisbeth to rest in peace. I didn’t really think there was much left to discover in those characters that had not already been shared and didn’t want to demean the quality of Stieg Larsson’s great legacy.
Now, four years later, a new writer - Karin Smirnoff – is taking the reins of moving Blomkvist and Lisbeth forward in a new adventure. I don’t envy her in this formidable and literally impossible task. I really debated as to whether or not I really wanted to read this book, but in the end, curiosity got the best of me… And I paid the price for it…
*** WARNING – BEFORE YOU READ FURTHER, KNOW THAT ALTHOUGH I WILL AVOID SPOILERS, THERE WILL BE STRONG AND CRITICAL COMMENTS SHARED THAT WILL NOT BE PRETTY ***
“The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons” is a tough and painful read. I wanted to like this book and spend more quality time with our two heroes for the ages - Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander. Really, I did. I was hoping for a resurgence and return to glory. But alas, that was not to be.
My following comments are going to come across harsher than intended, but I don’t want to sugarcoat it either. The truth is there are a lot of problems with this book. Let me get started.
Let’s start with the translation and style. I am not sure if it’s the author’s writing style or translation into English, but the style is stilted and confusing, and the flow is so awkward, especially during the first half of the book. As a reader, you are trying to get a feel for a new writer who has a different style from the previous two authors. And what comes across is an imitation of Steig’s writing. A very pale and lifeless imitation that hurts.
The prose also causes severe challenges. Smirnoff’s prose is so jilted and stilted, specially transitioning from one scene to another and back again. Many writers currently use flashbacks to tell their story- one chapter in the current world, followed by a chapter in the past, and then each chapter flips back and forth between the two time periods. Well, Smirnoff moves back and forth in time with her characters from one paragraph to another and then back again. It is choppy and uneven, leaving you in confusion, and having to stop and reread sections to make sure you really understand what is going on. In addition, she uses italic format to share what the character is thinking, so you are spending a lot of time trying to figure out along with the bouncing around in time without warning. It’s a tough reading experience.
Smirnoff also introduces a large cast of characters, which adds to a tough reading experience because there is not much shared about them and you almost need a score card to keep up with them. There is more time spent with them than with Blomkvist and Lisbeth. Lisbeth doesn’t even make an appearance until page 68 of a 351-page book while Blomkvist is basically delegated to a side role, used to introduce and connect the other characters driving the storylines.
The worst part is that Smirnoff just doesn’t know and truly understand the characters of Blomkvist and Lisbeth – how they act and behave, what internally drives them, and where their heat lies. During the first half of the book, Lisbeth is so out of character, saying and doing things that is just not her. She actually behaves in a passive and henpecked manner until the last third of the book. It just felt so off from the rebel and self-driven character that we’ve come to know and admire.
What makes it worse is that Blomkvist doesn’t even have enough screen time to act out of character, because his role turns out to be more minimal than expected. This was a real killer for me. I am sure that Lagercrantz struggle to find and capture their voices, and he finally did at certain moments, but it is so clear in this book that Smirnoff is not even close. I am puzzled as to how the editors and publisher didn’t recognize this and work to improve it before putting it out to the public. Again, it makes me worry this was more about making money rather than creating a worthwhile reading experience.
To be fair, there was something that I liked and compliment Smirnoff for. The overarching plotline and individual storylines had good promise. On paper, they would be described as multi-layered and complex, intertwining family related characters of both Blomkvist and Lisbeth with the mystery/thriller elements in interesting and dynamic ways. Blomkvist is facing the demise of his Millenium magazine in print form and fears the future in Podcast form. Lisbeth is forced to deal with a niece that is way too much like herself in attitude, intelligence, and upbringing. These are interesting and aggressive storytelling strategies that hold a lot of potential. However, As I have already described above, the problem is in the delivery. Poor writing, translation, and a lack of capturing the character’s voices ruin what that potential may have delivered.
I would even add that if you make it through the first half of the book, the second half is easier to swallow. There are even some moments in the last third that actually start to show some potential for what could be, until you realize that this book is a set-up for two more (being a trilogy), and the ending limply fizzles out in a weak and frustrating manner.
Overall, it’s pretty clear how disappointed I was with this book. There’s no need to add any more criticism and just let it go at this point. However, per news announcements, “The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons” is intended to be the first in a new Millenium trilogy by Karin Smirnoff, or what we would call books seven through nine in the series. That was made obvious with the ending, but to be honest, I am not sure that I have the patience and fortitude to read another. Maybe I am just better off wishing Smirnoff the best in her next outing, and I really mean that.
I give this a very lenient 1.5 stars (which Goodreads rounds up unfortunately).
September 21, 2023
Where oh where is Lisbeth Salander…....
Book Information
"The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons" authored by Karin Smirnoff, is a 368-page mystery/thriller published on August 29, 2023. It’s the latest release in the “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” series. Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book for review.
Summary
In the remote and resource-rich northern parts of Sweden, big changes are happening. Criminals are taking the lead in a gold rush, but that's not what brings Lisbeth Salander to the quiet town of Gasskas. She's there because she's become the guardian of her niece, Svala, whose mother has gone missing. Two things are clear: Svala has some incredible talents, and someone is keeping a close watch on her. Meanwhile, Mikael Blomkvist is heading north too. His life is falling apart as Millennium magazine is about to close, his relationship with his daughter is strained, and there are troubling rumors about her fiancé. When these rumors turn violent, Salander becomes Blomkvist's last hope.
My Thoughts
I was a huge fan of the original “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” series written by Stieg Larsson so I was excited to have a chance to read the latest installment in the series.
"The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons" by Karin Smirnoff kicks off slowly, with the first third of the book feeling somewhat uneventful. The writing frequently veers into ambiguity, leaving readers unsure about certain events, which could be attributed to artistic style, translation gaps, or less-than-stellar writing. Whatever the case, it diminishes the overall reading experience.
A notable aspect is that the series protagonist, Lisbeth Salander, is absent for a significant portion of the book, making her first appearance only around the 20-30% mark, and even then, her involvement in the narrative is limited. This may disappoint fans expecting more of Lisbeth.
The story unfolds through various viewpoints, offering insights and building intrigue at times, but also causing confusion in certain sections. The distinction between characters' thoughts and spoken words is sometimes unclear, adding to the complexity of the narrative, and making the book somewhat challenging to follow.
For me, this book doesn't fall into the category of easy reads. Between ambiguity, translation nuances, multiple points of view, numerous plotlines, and a multitude of characters, readers must have unwavering focus to navigate the storyline.
The plot itself is uneven and often confusing, particularly for those who cherished Larsson's original Lisbeth Salander. Lisbeth in this book almost appears as a different person altogether. However, the book does redeem itself in its final third, as Lisbeth becomes more involved, and various plotlines converge, injecting some much-needed excitement into the narrative.
Recommendation
While "The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons" starts slowly with occasional ambiguous writing and lacks Lisbeth Salander's presence for a considerable portion, it eventually picks up in the final third. The complex narrative structure demands attentive reading, making it suitable for dedicated fans of the series who can overlook its initial drawbacks.
Rating
2 Wind Turbine Stars
Book Information
"The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons" authored by Karin Smirnoff, is a 368-page mystery/thriller published on August 29, 2023. It’s the latest release in the “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” series. Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book for review.
Summary
In the remote and resource-rich northern parts of Sweden, big changes are happening. Criminals are taking the lead in a gold rush, but that's not what brings Lisbeth Salander to the quiet town of Gasskas. She's there because she's become the guardian of her niece, Svala, whose mother has gone missing. Two things are clear: Svala has some incredible talents, and someone is keeping a close watch on her. Meanwhile, Mikael Blomkvist is heading north too. His life is falling apart as Millennium magazine is about to close, his relationship with his daughter is strained, and there are troubling rumors about her fiancé. When these rumors turn violent, Salander becomes Blomkvist's last hope.
My Thoughts
I was a huge fan of the original “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” series written by Stieg Larsson so I was excited to have a chance to read the latest installment in the series.
"The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons" by Karin Smirnoff kicks off slowly, with the first third of the book feeling somewhat uneventful. The writing frequently veers into ambiguity, leaving readers unsure about certain events, which could be attributed to artistic style, translation gaps, or less-than-stellar writing. Whatever the case, it diminishes the overall reading experience.
A notable aspect is that the series protagonist, Lisbeth Salander, is absent for a significant portion of the book, making her first appearance only around the 20-30% mark, and even then, her involvement in the narrative is limited. This may disappoint fans expecting more of Lisbeth.
The story unfolds through various viewpoints, offering insights and building intrigue at times, but also causing confusion in certain sections. The distinction between characters' thoughts and spoken words is sometimes unclear, adding to the complexity of the narrative, and making the book somewhat challenging to follow.
For me, this book doesn't fall into the category of easy reads. Between ambiguity, translation nuances, multiple points of view, numerous plotlines, and a multitude of characters, readers must have unwavering focus to navigate the storyline.
The plot itself is uneven and often confusing, particularly for those who cherished Larsson's original Lisbeth Salander. Lisbeth in this book almost appears as a different person altogether. However, the book does redeem itself in its final third, as Lisbeth becomes more involved, and various plotlines converge, injecting some much-needed excitement into the narrative.
Recommendation
While "The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons" starts slowly with occasional ambiguous writing and lacks Lisbeth Salander's presence for a considerable portion, it eventually picks up in the final third. The complex narrative structure demands attentive reading, making it suitable for dedicated fans of the series who can overlook its initial drawbacks.
Rating
2 Wind Turbine Stars
September 7, 2023
3.5 rounded up for the new author being a female... Well, I didn't hate it, tho I guess a lot have, to me it seemed like most of the rest from what I remember. I did like Salander's niece a lot, good addition. And it was more timely & acknowledged both current issues & the passing of time on the MC's. Guess we'll see where all that goes in the next installment.
August 19, 2024
Women in Translation
Havsörnens skrik
I blame the original trilogy for my introduction to Nordic noir, and subsequent obsession with Scandinavia. Just as Fever fueled my trip to Ireland, this one is to blame for me going to Sweden.
Then, Stieg died, and another author took over. I tried the first of his books and it was not for me. While this one seems more promising, it still lacks the magic of the original. Some of it got a little meta, which I personally didn't find funny.
It's always nice to revisit a cast of characters. Though deeply flawed, I have love for both Mikael and Lisbeth. In this installment, we follow Lisbeth's niece, Svala, and her chaotic home life. I enjoyed watching Lisbeth and her niece's relationship grow, and the crimes happening concurrently.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf
Havsörnens skrik
I blame the original trilogy for my introduction to Nordic noir, and subsequent obsession with Scandinavia. Just as Fever fueled my trip to Ireland, this one is to blame for me going to Sweden.
Then, Stieg died, and another author took over. I tried the first of his books and it was not for me. While this one seems more promising, it still lacks the magic of the original. Some of it got a little meta, which I personally didn't find funny.
It's always nice to revisit a cast of characters. Though deeply flawed, I have love for both Mikael and Lisbeth. In this installment, we follow Lisbeth's niece, Svala, and her chaotic home life. I enjoyed watching Lisbeth and her niece's relationship grow, and the crimes happening concurrently.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf
September 22, 2023
Fascism from Below, Fascism from Above…
On Style:
--Predictably, negative reviews for fiction often focus on personal tastes regarding style. Style over substance is why I left the fiction of my youth to seek critical nonfiction.
--Having worked in a library when I was in school, I was constantly confronted with the paradox that many who frequent this treasure trove of ideas seek escapism. How rare it was for me to see critical nonfiction in circulation.
--Thus, my fiction reading has been stunted, with Larsson’s original trilogy (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) being the last phase of fiction I read before I realized I was still clueless with how the world worked (I mean, I was reading Dan Brown…), and left to explore nonfiction.
Re-visiting Fiction:
--While I’ve kept alive a trickle of fiction, what got me to revive my intake this year was inspiration from Graeber, a social theorist (nonfiction writer) I greatly respect, creatively engaging with mainstream fiction… from:
i) Broad commentary on the evolution of science fiction/speculative fiction/fantasy in the context of social imagination/activism, which got me to explore:
-Babel, or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution
-Everything for Everyone: An Oral History of the New York Commune, 2052–2072
-Our Shared Storm: A Novel of Five Climate Futures
-The Handmaid's Tale and The Testaments
ii) Specific analyses:
-ex. the anti-Occupy framing of Chris Nolan’s Dark Knight Rises
-ex. how Harry Potter built a magical world co-existing within modern bureaucracy (The Utopia of Rules: On Technology, Stupidity, and the Secret Joys of Bureaucracy)… I’ve always wanted to write something like The Political Economy of Harry Potter…
--So, I’ll leave my remarks on fiction’s style brief:
i) Writing style: Larsson’s original trilogy was crystal clear (remarkably so). Lagercrantz’s trilogy was fine (the last book wavers in my memory) and Smirnoff’s debut may be a slight upgrade.
ii) Fictional storyline: I now feel Lagercrantz may have been a bit conservative in not wanting to over-step in Larsson’s shadow. Regardless, I quite enjoyed Smirnoff’s expanded use of recollections. I’ve always been frustrated with linear series (including TV series) where the characters just move onto the next new adventure as if they can just shed their past for the next rebranding. Such characters lose their human depth and become mere commodities being churned out for short-term gratification.
On Substance:
--Graeber’s inspiration was not to get stuck on style, but to:
i) Take the substance in fiction seriously,
ii) Creatively play with the substance by seeing how far you can extrapolate it within the author’s fictional world (often beyond the author’s intentions, as the author is focused on the plot more than the fictional world-building),
iii) How would this play out in the real world?
--By repeating the above in a cyclic manner for this book, the following emerged:
1) Fascism from Below:
--The reason I am starting with “from below” rather than “from above” is because this book is fiction.
--Amitav Ghosh (mostly known as a fiction writer), considers why fiction seems so inadequate in imagining big picture issues like the climate crisis and potential alternatives, i.e. fiction has been predominantly used as a magnifying glass (focus on characters on a personal level) whereas the climate requires a telescope (well, satellites) and big-picture abstract thinking (“from above”; Thinking in Systems: A Primer). (Note: for this particular challenge, see Our Shared Storm: A Novel of Five Climate Futures).
--Larsson’s foundational connection is between fascism and misogyny/patriarchy. Let’s put on our Graeber hat, this time in his collaboration with archaeologist Wengrow in re-framing the history of inequality (The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity, emphases added):
…See the comments below for the rest of the review:
“2) Fascism from Above"
"3) Connecting "Fascism from Below" with "Fascism from Above""...
On Style:
--Predictably, negative reviews for fiction often focus on personal tastes regarding style. Style over substance is why I left the fiction of my youth to seek critical nonfiction.
--Having worked in a library when I was in school, I was constantly confronted with the paradox that many who frequent this treasure trove of ideas seek escapism. How rare it was for me to see critical nonfiction in circulation.
--Thus, my fiction reading has been stunted, with Larsson’s original trilogy (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) being the last phase of fiction I read before I realized I was still clueless with how the world worked (I mean, I was reading Dan Brown…), and left to explore nonfiction.
Re-visiting Fiction:
--While I’ve kept alive a trickle of fiction, what got me to revive my intake this year was inspiration from Graeber, a social theorist (nonfiction writer) I greatly respect, creatively engaging with mainstream fiction… from:
i) Broad commentary on the evolution of science fiction/speculative fiction/fantasy in the context of social imagination/activism, which got me to explore:
-Babel, or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution
-Everything for Everyone: An Oral History of the New York Commune, 2052–2072
-Our Shared Storm: A Novel of Five Climate Futures
-The Handmaid's Tale and The Testaments
ii) Specific analyses:
-ex. the anti-Occupy framing of Chris Nolan’s Dark Knight Rises
-ex. how Harry Potter built a magical world co-existing within modern bureaucracy (The Utopia of Rules: On Technology, Stupidity, and the Secret Joys of Bureaucracy)… I’ve always wanted to write something like The Political Economy of Harry Potter…
--So, I’ll leave my remarks on fiction’s style brief:
i) Writing style: Larsson’s original trilogy was crystal clear (remarkably so). Lagercrantz’s trilogy was fine (the last book wavers in my memory) and Smirnoff’s debut may be a slight upgrade.
ii) Fictional storyline: I now feel Lagercrantz may have been a bit conservative in not wanting to over-step in Larsson’s shadow. Regardless, I quite enjoyed Smirnoff’s expanded use of recollections. I’ve always been frustrated with linear series (including TV series) where the characters just move onto the next new adventure as if they can just shed their past for the next rebranding. Such characters lose their human depth and become mere commodities being churned out for short-term gratification.
On Substance:
--Graeber’s inspiration was not to get stuck on style, but to:
i) Take the substance in fiction seriously,
ii) Creatively play with the substance by seeing how far you can extrapolate it within the author’s fictional world (often beyond the author’s intentions, as the author is focused on the plot more than the fictional world-building),
iii) How would this play out in the real world?
--By repeating the above in a cyclic manner for this book, the following emerged:
1) Fascism from Below:
--The reason I am starting with “from below” rather than “from above” is because this book is fiction.
--Amitav Ghosh (mostly known as a fiction writer), considers why fiction seems so inadequate in imagining big picture issues like the climate crisis and potential alternatives, i.e. fiction has been predominantly used as a magnifying glass (focus on characters on a personal level) whereas the climate requires a telescope (well, satellites) and big-picture abstract thinking (“from above”; Thinking in Systems: A Primer). (Note: for this particular challenge, see Our Shared Storm: A Novel of Five Climate Futures).
--Larsson’s foundational connection is between fascism and misogyny/patriarchy. Let’s put on our Graeber hat, this time in his collaboration with archaeologist Wengrow in re-framing the history of inequality (The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity, emphases added):
We might refer to it, perhaps, as ‘inequality from below’ [hence, my “Fascism from below”]. Domination first appears on the most intimate, domestic level [ex. patriarchy in the household]. Self-consciously egalitarian politics emerge to prevent such relations from extending beyond those small worlds into the public sphere (which often comes to be imagined, in the process, as an exclusive sphere for adult men). These are the kind of dynamics that culminated in phenomena like ancient Athenian democracy. But their roots probably extend much further back in time, to well before the advent of farming and agricultural societies.--Larsson slips in little bits of history/anthropology on patriarchy/matriarchy; returning to Graeber/Wengrow:
In any case, another term – ‘gynarchy’, or ‘gynaecocracy’ – describes the political rule of women. The word ‘matriarchy’ means something rather different. There is a certain logic here: ‘patriarchy’, after all, refers not primarily to the fact that men wield public office, but first and foremost to the authority of patriarchs, that is, male heads of household – an authority which then acts as a symbolic model for, and economic basis of, male power in other fields of social life. Matriarchy might refer to an equivalent situation, in which the role of mothers in the household similarly becomes a model for, and economic basis of, female authority in other aspects of life (which doesn’t necessarily imply dominance in a violent or exclusionary sense), where women as a result hold a preponderance of overall day-to-day power.…So much more to explore in critical anthropology…
…See the comments below for the rest of the review:
“2) Fascism from Above"
"3) Connecting "Fascism from Below" with "Fascism from Above""...
August 26, 2023
A new trilogy in the Millennium series has begun--this time written by a female author, Karin Smirnoff. I read the original three books in this series but skipped the next three, unsure they would be as good. I decided to take a chance on this latest book and was pleasantly surprised. It was enjoyable to catch up with Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist as they go up against another extremely evil man and his minions. Some new characters are introduced and there's several neat twists to the plot. I've seen some quite bad reviews, but I'm happy to swim against the stream and say I found this an absorbing, entertaining thriller and look forward to more from Karin Smirnoff.
I received an arc from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
I received an arc from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
August 6, 2023
Lisbeth Salander & her Mini-Me
Review of the Knopf/Penguin Canada eBook obtained July 2023 as an ARC via Netgalley & to be published August 29, 2023 translated by Sarah Death from the Swedish language original Havsörnens skrik [The Sea Eagle’s Cry] (November 4, 2022)
[3.5 rating]
Writers of continuation series walk a fine line. If you diverge too much from the original characters and go in an entirely new direction, the old school fans might lament that diversion. If you repeat too much of the original, you may be accused of simplified pastiche and lack of originality. With The Girl in the Eagle's Talons, Swedish author Karin Smirnoff takes up the challenge and attempts to satisfy both old and new readers of the Millennium (aka The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) series. This follows the original Stieg Larsson trilogy (2005-07) and David Lagercrantz's first continuation trilogy (2015-19).
Smirnoff sets her tale in Norbotten, the northernmost county of Sweden, in the fictional town of Gasskas. The book continues with Stieg Larsson's themes of criminal organizations tied in with corrupt authorities with actions often expressed through misogyny and racism. The landscape surrounding Gasskas is the planned site of a huge windfarm project, except that holdouts among the local population of Sami reindeer herders are refusing the sell their lands. A crime conglomerate hiding under a corporate umbrella is scheming to absorb the entire project for themselves and in anticipation has corrupted a local official and enlisted a motorcycle club as enforcers. The corporate/criminal mastermind is as grotesque a figure as can be imagined.
Into this scenario the leads of the previous books are separately brought north from their base in Stockholm. Journalist Mikael Blomkvist is attending the wedding of his daughter Pernilla to a Gasskas municipal official. He is at loose ends career wise, as the investigative journal Millenium has ended its print format and is now a podcast. The feisty hacker/security consultant Lisbeth Salander is being interviewed by local social workers in an attempt to convince her to become guardian to her 13-year-old niece Svala, the daughter of deceased half-brother Ronald Niedermann, whose indigenous Sami mother has gone missing. Svala has inherited the congenital analgesia of her father, making her impervious to pain. She also has a strain of recklessness not far removed from that of her aunt.
Swedish actor Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander in the Swedish language trilogy of films adapting the original Stieg Larsson novels. Image sourced from Pinterest.
There was a sense in this book of the baton being passed. Blomkvist does gradually become involved with local Gasskas journalists, but he is in more of mentoring role rather than the investigator & writer of the exposes of the early books. Salander, although initially reluctant, does begin to accept some responsibility for her niece, even to the point of self-defense coaching. The idea of a Mini-Me Salander seems a bridge too far though. The Blomkvist/Salander partnership is held in reserve through much of the book so that this first of the new trilogy has the feel of a teaser for more to come. Certainly enough of the villains are left on the run at the end for further to be done. Old fans will certainly want to know what comes next.
The cover of the original Swedish language edition as published by Bokförlaget Polaris in 2022. Image sourced from Bokförlaget Polaris.
I read this Advance Reading Copy of The Girl in the Eagle's Talons in eBook format thanks to the publisher Penguin Random House Canada and the Net Galley website in exchange for which I provide this honest review.
Soundtrack
Ok, even if it has nothing to do with the new book, I couldn't resist revisiting the initial teaser trailer for David Fincher's English language film adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) with its cover of Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" as performed by Karen O, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Full song available here.
Other Reviews
The Cry of the Sea Eagle by Ingrid Elam, SVT Kultur, November 4, 2022. [Swedish language review]
Trivia and Links
I've avoided describing the earlier books above, but this new book's introductory section provides some brief character descriptions of the main earlier figures. For a summary of the publishing history of the earlier books with plot summaries (spoilers obviously) the Wikipedia article on the Millennium Series is quite helpful.
Author Karin Smirnoff has published an earlier Northern Sweden based trilogy known as the Jana Kippo (2018-20) series. The first of those has been translated into English as My Brother (2021).
Review of the Knopf/Penguin Canada eBook obtained July 2023 as an ARC via Netgalley & to be published August 29, 2023 translated by Sarah Death from the Swedish language original Havsörnens skrik [The Sea Eagle’s Cry] (November 4, 2022)
Lisbeth puts down the sun visor and adjusts the mirror slightly. Sticks her hand in her inner pocket. Produces a bit of blood, earth and ash and paints on the soul of a warrior.
"You look like Noomi Rapace," says Svala.
"Who?"
"Doesn't matter," says Svala. - the author winks at the fans of the Swedish language films adapting the original Stieg Larsson novels.
[3.5 rating]
Writers of continuation series walk a fine line. If you diverge too much from the original characters and go in an entirely new direction, the old school fans might lament that diversion. If you repeat too much of the original, you may be accused of simplified pastiche and lack of originality. With The Girl in the Eagle's Talons, Swedish author Karin Smirnoff takes up the challenge and attempts to satisfy both old and new readers of the Millennium (aka The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) series. This follows the original Stieg Larsson trilogy (2005-07) and David Lagercrantz's first continuation trilogy (2015-19).
Smirnoff sets her tale in Norbotten, the northernmost county of Sweden, in the fictional town of Gasskas. The book continues with Stieg Larsson's themes of criminal organizations tied in with corrupt authorities with actions often expressed through misogyny and racism. The landscape surrounding Gasskas is the planned site of a huge windfarm project, except that holdouts among the local population of Sami reindeer herders are refusing the sell their lands. A crime conglomerate hiding under a corporate umbrella is scheming to absorb the entire project for themselves and in anticipation has corrupted a local official and enlisted a motorcycle club as enforcers. The corporate/criminal mastermind is as grotesque a figure as can be imagined.
Into this scenario the leads of the previous books are separately brought north from their base in Stockholm. Journalist Mikael Blomkvist is attending the wedding of his daughter Pernilla to a Gasskas municipal official. He is at loose ends career wise, as the investigative journal Millenium has ended its print format and is now a podcast. The feisty hacker/security consultant Lisbeth Salander is being interviewed by local social workers in an attempt to convince her to become guardian to her 13-year-old niece Svala, the daughter of deceased half-brother Ronald Niedermann, whose indigenous Sami mother has gone missing. Svala has inherited the congenital analgesia of her father, making her impervious to pain. She also has a strain of recklessness not far removed from that of her aunt.
Swedish actor Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander in the Swedish language trilogy of films adapting the original Stieg Larsson novels. Image sourced from Pinterest.
There was a sense in this book of the baton being passed. Blomkvist does gradually become involved with local Gasskas journalists, but he is in more of mentoring role rather than the investigator & writer of the exposes of the early books. Salander, although initially reluctant, does begin to accept some responsibility for her niece, even to the point of self-defense coaching. The idea of a Mini-Me Salander seems a bridge too far though. The Blomkvist/Salander partnership is held in reserve through much of the book so that this first of the new trilogy has the feel of a teaser for more to come. Certainly enough of the villains are left on the run at the end for further to be done. Old fans will certainly want to know what comes next.
The cover of the original Swedish language edition as published by Bokförlaget Polaris in 2022. Image sourced from Bokförlaget Polaris.
I read this Advance Reading Copy of The Girl in the Eagle's Talons in eBook format thanks to the publisher Penguin Random House Canada and the Net Galley website in exchange for which I provide this honest review.
Soundtrack
Ok, even if it has nothing to do with the new book, I couldn't resist revisiting the initial teaser trailer for David Fincher's English language film adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) with its cover of Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" as performed by Karen O, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Full song available here.
Other Reviews
The Cry of the Sea Eagle by Ingrid Elam, SVT Kultur, November 4, 2022. [Swedish language review]
Trivia and Links
I've avoided describing the earlier books above, but this new book's introductory section provides some brief character descriptions of the main earlier figures. For a summary of the publishing history of the earlier books with plot summaries (spoilers obviously) the Wikipedia article on the Millennium Series is quite helpful.
Author Karin Smirnoff has published an earlier Northern Sweden based trilogy known as the Jana Kippo (2018-20) series. The first of those has been translated into English as My Brother (2021).
October 23, 2023
The first three books in the series are among my favourites with strong plots and great characters (especially Lisbeth Salander). I liked Book 4 as well, Book 5 was decent, but Book 6 was disappointing. I was curious about this one as it kicks off with a new author. To the credit of both David Lagercrantz & Karin Smirnoff, the characters of Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist do stay somewhat true to the original. But over the course of these 7 books, the thrill and excitement in the plot and characters is very much diminished though there are decent current themes in the stories.
The story takes us to Gasskas in Northern Sweden and both Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander get there for different reasons. Lisbeth is called by child protective services to be the guardian of 13-year-old Svala, who recently has become an orphan and is the daughter of her late half-brother. Though initially sceptical, Lisbeth strikes a bond and is protective of the intelligent girl. Blomkvist’s career is at a crossroads as the Millenium magazine is closing its print edition and will be only digital. His daughter Pernille is set to marry an influential local man, Henry Salo. There are ambitious projects for renewable energy which have been kicked off in the area, and gangs have got involved.
I liked the introduction of Svala’s character and some of the gang crime in the story. Both Blomkvist and Lisbeth come across as lower energy versions of their previous selves. The sense of excitement and anticipation, as also the brilliant interplay between Blomkvist and Lisbeth in the earlier books of the series was missing. It is also possible that the translation and average audio narration made it appear so. Hopefully, the books to come, get back to being closer to the best of the series.
Thanks to Netgalley, Quercus Audio, MacLehose Press and the author for a free electronic review copy.
The story takes us to Gasskas in Northern Sweden and both Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander get there for different reasons. Lisbeth is called by child protective services to be the guardian of 13-year-old Svala, who recently has become an orphan and is the daughter of her late half-brother. Though initially sceptical, Lisbeth strikes a bond and is protective of the intelligent girl. Blomkvist’s career is at a crossroads as the Millenium magazine is closing its print edition and will be only digital. His daughter Pernille is set to marry an influential local man, Henry Salo. There are ambitious projects for renewable energy which have been kicked off in the area, and gangs have got involved.
I liked the introduction of Svala’s character and some of the gang crime in the story. Both Blomkvist and Lisbeth come across as lower energy versions of their previous selves. The sense of excitement and anticipation, as also the brilliant interplay between Blomkvist and Lisbeth in the earlier books of the series was missing. It is also possible that the translation and average audio narration made it appear so. Hopefully, the books to come, get back to being closer to the best of the series.
Thanks to Netgalley, Quercus Audio, MacLehose Press and the author for a free electronic review copy.
September 7, 2023
I am very sorry but I did not enjoy this book. Lisbeth Salander was in this book but was not really the main character and not her usual self. The story did not flow - it was very choppy and some parts did not make sense. It is like they were trying to make Svala into a clone of Lisbeth (sort of a mini me) and just it did not work. The most interesting character was Joar the Cleaner. The rest of the villans were regurgitated versions from the previous authors - nothing original. The ending was abrupt but it did not leave me with a sense of urgency to read the next book.
August 26, 2023
Lisbeth Salander's story continues with the third writer jumping into the mix - Karin Smirnoff. Smirnoff did an awesome job picking up this story and making it exciting and true to Stieg Larsson's original concept.
Description:
Change is coming to Sweden’s far north: its untapped natural resources are sparking a gold rush with the criminal underworld leading the charge. But it’s not the prospect of riches that brings Lisbeth Salander to the small town of Gasskas. She has been named guardian to her niece Svala, whose mother has disappeared. Two things soon become clear: Svala is a remarkably gifted teenager—and she’s being watched.
Mikael Blomkvist is also heading north. He has seen better days. Millennium magazine is in its final print issue, and relations with his daughter are strained. Worse still, there are troubling rumors surrounding the man she’s about to marry. When the truth behind the whispers explodes into violence, Salander emerges as Blomkvist’s last hope.
A pulse-pounding thriller, The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons sees Salander and Blomkvist navigating a world of conspiracy and betrayal, old enemies and new friends, ice-bound wilderness and the global corporations that threaten to tear it apart.
My thoughts:
Very well written and a great addition to The Millenium series. I liked this one much better than the previous book in the series. I've seen some bad reviews, but in my case I enjoyed the story. This time Lisbeth and Mikael Blomkvist go up against corporate criminals while both are, oddly enough, in the same town dealing with family situations. I found Lisbeth's niece interesting. The story was fast-paced and exciting, and kept my attention to the end - which is somewhat of a cliffhanger that seems to indicate a follow up to come. I sure hope so as I have followed this series from the beginning.
Thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on August 29, 2023.
Description:
Change is coming to Sweden’s far north: its untapped natural resources are sparking a gold rush with the criminal underworld leading the charge. But it’s not the prospect of riches that brings Lisbeth Salander to the small town of Gasskas. She has been named guardian to her niece Svala, whose mother has disappeared. Two things soon become clear: Svala is a remarkably gifted teenager—and she’s being watched.
Mikael Blomkvist is also heading north. He has seen better days. Millennium magazine is in its final print issue, and relations with his daughter are strained. Worse still, there are troubling rumors surrounding the man she’s about to marry. When the truth behind the whispers explodes into violence, Salander emerges as Blomkvist’s last hope.
A pulse-pounding thriller, The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons sees Salander and Blomkvist navigating a world of conspiracy and betrayal, old enemies and new friends, ice-bound wilderness and the global corporations that threaten to tear it apart.
My thoughts:
Very well written and a great addition to The Millenium series. I liked this one much better than the previous book in the series. I've seen some bad reviews, but in my case I enjoyed the story. This time Lisbeth and Mikael Blomkvist go up against corporate criminals while both are, oddly enough, in the same town dealing with family situations. I found Lisbeth's niece interesting. The story was fast-paced and exciting, and kept my attention to the end - which is somewhat of a cliffhanger that seems to indicate a follow up to come. I sure hope so as I have followed this series from the beginning.
Thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on August 29, 2023.
February 10, 2024
Sin duda alguna este libro ha sido el más flojo, con diferencia, de la saga Milennium.
Dista bastante de esos adictivos libros escritos por Stieg Larsson en los que no podía parar de leer, buscando minutos a los días para seguir las aventuras de Lisbeth Salander.
Creó un personaje muy potente y poco convencional que con su pequeña y rara apariencia conseguía dejar fuera de juego hasta a los moteros más musculusos.
La historia en sí, si que me ha gustado. Va en la línea de los libros anteriores. Múltiples intereses en juego a cual más descabellado, con secretos políticos y sociales que de salir a la luz crearían el caos en toda Suecia.
Encontraremos a viejos conocidos como Mikael Blomkvist, que siempre está a la caza de la noticia. En esta ocasión su familia se verá involucrada en una trama de corrupción y dinero fácil que hará que caigan muchas máscaras. Y en el camino se encontrarán estos viejos amigos por motivos diferentes pero que acabarán convergiendo y haciendo uno el problema al que ambos se enfrentaban.
¿Entonces, qué falla? Para mí, la autora no ha sabido llevar bien el peso de la historia. Su narración me ha parecido muy caótica y me ha faltado en muchas ocasiones explicación, me ha dado la sensación de leer un guión a ratos. Muy simple y poco elaborado. Esta saga conlleva una gran responsabilidad, ya que su autor dejó un gran sello distintitivo que es muy difícil emular. No sólo basta con saber de qué va la historia y conocer a los personajes, también hay que sentirlos. Puede sonar cursi pero Stieg Larsson conseguía que me fundiera con la historia, con las emociones de Lisbeth y Mikael, que saboreara esa pizza que tanto le gusta a ella, que sintiera la emoción por una noticia que publicaría Milennium....
Le ha faltado corazón a esta historia.
Dista bastante de esos adictivos libros escritos por Stieg Larsson en los que no podía parar de leer, buscando minutos a los días para seguir las aventuras de Lisbeth Salander.
Creó un personaje muy potente y poco convencional que con su pequeña y rara apariencia conseguía dejar fuera de juego hasta a los moteros más musculusos.
La historia en sí, si que me ha gustado. Va en la línea de los libros anteriores. Múltiples intereses en juego a cual más descabellado, con secretos políticos y sociales que de salir a la luz crearían el caos en toda Suecia.
Encontraremos a viejos conocidos como Mikael Blomkvist, que siempre está a la caza de la noticia. En esta ocasión su familia se verá involucrada en una trama de corrupción y dinero fácil que hará que caigan muchas máscaras. Y en el camino se encontrarán estos viejos amigos por motivos diferentes pero que acabarán convergiendo y haciendo uno el problema al que ambos se enfrentaban.
¿Entonces, qué falla? Para mí, la autora no ha sabido llevar bien el peso de la historia. Su narración me ha parecido muy caótica y me ha faltado en muchas ocasiones explicación, me ha dado la sensación de leer un guión a ratos. Muy simple y poco elaborado. Esta saga conlleva una gran responsabilidad, ya que su autor dejó un gran sello distintitivo que es muy difícil emular. No sólo basta con saber de qué va la historia y conocer a los personajes, también hay que sentirlos. Puede sonar cursi pero Stieg Larsson conseguía que me fundiera con la historia, con las emociones de Lisbeth y Mikael, que saboreara esa pizza que tanto le gusta a ella, que sintiera la emoción por una noticia que publicaría Milennium....
Le ha faltado corazón a esta historia.
October 17, 2023
It's no secret that Stieg Larsen's trilogy was a success due to its unique premise and plot, though there's no getting around the fact that Lisbeth Salander was the reason. Bisexual, emotionally crippled yet resourceful, pairing her with Mikael Bloomqvist, editor of the magazine, Millenium, was nothing short of brilliant. There have been numerous attempts at 'stretching' the premise further. While some came close, this one 'misses the plate' entirely.
The author opens the story many years later where Bloomqvist is coping with how his estranged daughter has chosen a questionable groom while he attempts to deepen his relationship with his grandson. The secondary plot centers around construction of alternative energy sources requiring acquisition of massive amounts of land. We learn the remaining piece needed is owned by a family who refuses to sell due to how it would impact reindeer and wildlife.
The biggest problem with the narrative is it wanders continually while incorporating nearly every character from the trilogy then adds more with subsequent chapters. When coupled with confusing plots and lack of focus its anything but engaging. Using 'The Girl' in the title when Lisbeth is a secondary character makes no sense either. I'll be honest in saying I gave up after struggling through 80% of the story since it pales in comparison to the originals.
Regardless, writing is an art form and individual tastes vary. I do not recommend this as a result.
The author opens the story many years later where Bloomqvist is coping with how his estranged daughter has chosen a questionable groom while he attempts to deepen his relationship with his grandson. The secondary plot centers around construction of alternative energy sources requiring acquisition of massive amounts of land. We learn the remaining piece needed is owned by a family who refuses to sell due to how it would impact reindeer and wildlife.
The biggest problem with the narrative is it wanders continually while incorporating nearly every character from the trilogy then adds more with subsequent chapters. When coupled with confusing plots and lack of focus its anything but engaging. Using 'The Girl' in the title when Lisbeth is a secondary character makes no sense either. I'll be honest in saying I gave up after struggling through 80% of the story since it pales in comparison to the originals.
Regardless, writing is an art form and individual tastes vary. I do not recommend this as a result.
July 30, 2023
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: August 29, 2023
Lisbeth Salander is back in yet another installment of the Millenium series, this time in “The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons”, by Karin Smirnoff. “Talons” is the first Salander novel to be written (and translated) by a woman, but is the seventh novel in the series, kicked off by “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”, penned by the late Stieg Larsson.
Lisbeth Salander has come to the small town of Gasskas, not to investigate the corrupt government who is paying (and killing) off residents who refuse to give their property over to the development of the country’s new wind farm, but to claim responsibility for her niece, Svala, after Svala’s mother goes missing. Reluctantly, Lisbeth takes the girl under her wing (temporarily if Lisbeth has anything to say about it) but Svala is determined to find her mother and, to ensure Svala’s safety, Lisbeth agrees to help in the search. Mikael Blomkvist is also heading to Gasskas for an entirely different reason, his estranged daughter’s wedding. After the dissolution of Millenium, Mikael hopes to rekindle his relationship with his daughter and continue to bond with his grandson, Lukas. But Mikael’s new son-in-law is up to his ears in corruption and when Lukas is kidnapped, Mikael finds himself, once again, immersed in the lives of the powerful and the dangerous, in hopes of bringing Lukas home safe.
The Millenium series catapulted Larsson to success when “Dragon Tattoo” launched, and each novel in the original trilogy was just as captivating and intense. After his death, the novels kept on coming, penned by Swedish authors, with beloved Lisbeth at the centre. Due to this, many of the “Girl” novels can be read as stand-alones, and “Talons” is one of them.
This novel had no chapters at all, and hardly any paragraph breaks (although this was an advanced copy, so it may change in the final published version) which made the novel’s flow a bit challenging, especially since the main narrator changed frequently without warning. Lisbeth, Mikael, Svala and various other characters told their story, which was informative and helped with character development, but it took some adjustment on my end, as the reader. Due to this, and other reasons, I was not fully invested in the storyline until well past the beginning of the novel, but once “Talons” hooked me (pun not intended), I was in it until the end.
“Talons”, like its predecessors, is not an easy read, due to its government conspiracy plots and multiple characters, but it is always great to see Lisbeth and Mikael again. Smirnoff does an excellent job with the continuation of this series, and I hope that she returns as the author for a few more Lisbeth novels.
Expected publication date: August 29, 2023
Lisbeth Salander is back in yet another installment of the Millenium series, this time in “The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons”, by Karin Smirnoff. “Talons” is the first Salander novel to be written (and translated) by a woman, but is the seventh novel in the series, kicked off by “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”, penned by the late Stieg Larsson.
Lisbeth Salander has come to the small town of Gasskas, not to investigate the corrupt government who is paying (and killing) off residents who refuse to give their property over to the development of the country’s new wind farm, but to claim responsibility for her niece, Svala, after Svala’s mother goes missing. Reluctantly, Lisbeth takes the girl under her wing (temporarily if Lisbeth has anything to say about it) but Svala is determined to find her mother and, to ensure Svala’s safety, Lisbeth agrees to help in the search. Mikael Blomkvist is also heading to Gasskas for an entirely different reason, his estranged daughter’s wedding. After the dissolution of Millenium, Mikael hopes to rekindle his relationship with his daughter and continue to bond with his grandson, Lukas. But Mikael’s new son-in-law is up to his ears in corruption and when Lukas is kidnapped, Mikael finds himself, once again, immersed in the lives of the powerful and the dangerous, in hopes of bringing Lukas home safe.
The Millenium series catapulted Larsson to success when “Dragon Tattoo” launched, and each novel in the original trilogy was just as captivating and intense. After his death, the novels kept on coming, penned by Swedish authors, with beloved Lisbeth at the centre. Due to this, many of the “Girl” novels can be read as stand-alones, and “Talons” is one of them.
This novel had no chapters at all, and hardly any paragraph breaks (although this was an advanced copy, so it may change in the final published version) which made the novel’s flow a bit challenging, especially since the main narrator changed frequently without warning. Lisbeth, Mikael, Svala and various other characters told their story, which was informative and helped with character development, but it took some adjustment on my end, as the reader. Due to this, and other reasons, I was not fully invested in the storyline until well past the beginning of the novel, but once “Talons” hooked me (pun not intended), I was in it until the end.
“Talons”, like its predecessors, is not an easy read, due to its government conspiracy plots and multiple characters, but it is always great to see Lisbeth and Mikael again. Smirnoff does an excellent job with the continuation of this series, and I hope that she returns as the author for a few more Lisbeth novels.
May 5, 2024
It's hard to tell if this book was badly written, under- or over-edited, or if something has gone awry in translation from Swedish, but the first hundred or so pages are among the worst I've read in a published book. The plot is almost incomprehensible to begin with, far too many characters and strands are introduced randomly and in very unclear writing, but even individual paragraphs and sentences make little sense. The writing style - short sentences of one or two words peppered throughout - is jarring, and there is head-hopping (where the point of view of a scene jumps from one character to another) all over the place, making it difficult to follow. So much annoys - character thoughts presented in italics, the constant insertion of karate move names in fight scenes, implausible plotting and pointless digressions (what the scene in a Christmas hotel in Finland with a depressed Father Christmas who reads poetry from a girl, passes it off as his own to get published, then meets the very same girl from Sweden who has happened to turn up and visits him has to do with anything is beyond me). The much loved Lisbeth Salander and Michael Blomquivst have both changed character from the original and deserve better. Indeed Michael is almost redundant throughout the book and disappears from the finale entirely. They deserve better. The new bad guy is so ridiculous it is comical. Only avoids being a 1 star due to a marginally better 2nd half once the various plot strands pull together into something bordering on intelligible, and because of nostalgia for the original brilliant Steig Larsson books.
October 18, 2023
Stieg Larsson allegedly had plans for as many as ten novels with Lisbeth Salander, but ever since his death, and now with a second Swedish publisher taking over rights to this series and handing the reins to yet another author, it's become more clear than ever that this series really should never have continued without its original creator. The trilogy that David Lagercrantz wrote from 2015-19 at least started out reasonably well only to fizzle into forgettability - if I were to go back and reread them, I'd almost certainly knock off stars from my original hyped-up ratings and reviews. Karin Smirnoff starts a new trilogy here that's a mixed bag right from the start. At least Lisbeth gets to finally bond with a blood relative (after a fashion) with whom she has much more in common than, say, Camilla or Zala. Her niece Svala takes so much more after her, and it's interesting to see this kind of dynamic which neither Larsson nor Lagercrantz attempted. Unfortunately, Smirnoff doesn't know what to do with Blomkvist and saddles him with a pathetic and boring storyline that had me skimming pages just to get back to Lisbeth (even Larsson was prone to this flaw, but at least Blomkvist really felt like a character with agency and personality in the old days, even if Larsson idealized him in certain uncomfortable ways.) Not to mention, the book opens with some pretty gross necrophiliac type content, which really soured the experience for me. At this point, I don't see myself continuing the series...although maybe if the next one shows up on the Lucky Day table at the library in a couple of years and I've got a dearth of books on hand, who knows.
July 6, 2023
Any time a new Lisbeth Saunders novel hits the bricks, I'm on board, no matter who has penned it. But despite utilizing the requisite elements that made the original Steig Larsson trilogy so compelling, such as corporate corruption at a high level and well done action sequences, this latest installment somehow lacks the spark that makes a reader root for Lisbeth no matter what she does. This time there is a personal element to the inclusion of Mikael Blomkvist that seemed forced. Much has been made of the fact that the newest writer to take up this challenge is a woman, but that should not be the overriding reason for choice of a writer. Or a translator. The pacing was off as was the character development. Others have pointed out the difficulties in translation, and that may have contributed to my negativity.
August 24, 2023
3.5 stars
The Girl in the Eagle's Talons is the 7th book in the Millennium series, aka The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series. Stieg Larsson created the series and wrote the first three books but sadly passed away before they were published. David Lagercrantz was hired by the publisher to write the next three books. This book is Karin Smirnoff's first crack at continuing the story of Lisbeth Salander.
In my opinion, book 7 is comparable to the fourth and fifth books written by David Lagercrantz. By that I mean, there's enough going on to hold my interest and a decent attempt is made to remain true to foundation of the characters. They don't hold a candle to that original trilogy but that's next to an impossible task in my view. Karin Smirnoff did a good job moving things in a bit of a new direction and that has left me reenergized at what's to come with future books.
Thank you Knopf for sending me an advance reader's copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
The Girl in the Eagle's Talons is the 7th book in the Millennium series, aka The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series. Stieg Larsson created the series and wrote the first three books but sadly passed away before they were published. David Lagercrantz was hired by the publisher to write the next three books. This book is Karin Smirnoff's first crack at continuing the story of Lisbeth Salander.
In my opinion, book 7 is comparable to the fourth and fifth books written by David Lagercrantz. By that I mean, there's enough going on to hold my interest and a decent attempt is made to remain true to foundation of the characters. They don't hold a candle to that original trilogy but that's next to an impossible task in my view. Karin Smirnoff did a good job moving things in a bit of a new direction and that has left me reenergized at what's to come with future books.
Thank you Knopf for sending me an advance reader's copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
September 29, 2023
This is one of those books that you just need to end. From a Christmas explosion in summer, to wind farms, to men with no legs, to horrific and graphic rape scenes, to an orphan, to a kidnapping, to a wedding, to a child lock picking expert, to everything in between, this book was...weird.
I was really excited to see Lisbeth Salander back but this didn't read like the originals that I loved so much and it just never clicked for me. I listened to the audio which was fine but at times quite hard to understand and some of it was overacted.
I really wanted more Salander too, she didn't even show up until at least a third into the novel and generally felt like a peripheral character.
The wind farm aspect interested me and some scenes were excellently crafted, but overall, I was uninterested and bored. There were a lot of characters and storylines and it took too long to get back around to the ones I was interested in.
Overall, this one wasn't for me and I'll probably be skipping any additional offshoots of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Thank you to Knopf, PRH Audio, and NetGalley for the copy.
I was really excited to see Lisbeth Salander back but this didn't read like the originals that I loved so much and it just never clicked for me. I listened to the audio which was fine but at times quite hard to understand and some of it was overacted.
I really wanted more Salander too, she didn't even show up until at least a third into the novel and generally felt like a peripheral character.
The wind farm aspect interested me and some scenes were excellently crafted, but overall, I was uninterested and bored. There were a lot of characters and storylines and it took too long to get back around to the ones I was interested in.
Overall, this one wasn't for me and I'll probably be skipping any additional offshoots of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Thank you to Knopf, PRH Audio, and NetGalley for the copy.
June 6, 2024
Didn’t think I could love Lisbeth more but then you go and add a family member just like her. I need more!
January 22, 2023
Långt bättre än David Lagercrantz pastischer på Millenniumböckerna, och samma sorts patos och känsla som i Stieg Larssons böcker. Början på boken är riktigt medryckande, och det finns många väl sammanvävda trådar. Men gåtan är inte lika intressant som i Män som hatar kvinnor och actionscenerna inte lika bra som i Flickan som lekte med elden och konspirationen inte lika bra som i Luftslottet som sprängdes. Den nya intressanta rollfiguren är Svala, som blir en bra motpol till Lisbeth Salander. Pernilla, Mikael Blomqvists dotter blir dock aldrig riktigt en rollfigur att känna med och skurkarna är antingen ömkliga eller klantiga supersoldater. Ändå fanns det en stil och en känsla som gjorde att jag känner mig optimistisk inför kommande böcker.
August 29, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Unfortunately this book wasn’t keeping my attention, it’s too difficult to follow. It may be uncorrected or the translation, but the writing here is very choppy and confusing; switching between POVs where I’m not sure who is thinking or talking. It seems very unfinished.
July 12, 2023
A lot of reviewers have given this newest “Lisbeth Salander” novel high marks. Perhaps I’m missing something, but I just don’t think “The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons” is a very good novel. I found it not well written (or translated), often confusing, and wholly lacking in the energy and edginess that Stieg Larsen injected into the first three novels in the series.
In the small and remote Swedish town of Gasskas, people keep disappearing.
In the city of Stockholm, Mickey Blomkvist is one unhappy, about-to-be-ex-investigative reporter. His magazine “Millenium” is closing. His partner in the magazine and sometime lover Erika Berger won’t talk to him. Lisbeth Salander won’t return his emails. His daughter Permilla (whom he’s neglected for his career for many years) is marrying a man Blomkvist doesn’t trust: Henry Salo, the manager of the small, remote Swedish town of Gasskas. About the only thing Blomkvist has going for him is his relationship with his young grandson, Lukas, Permilla’s son and soon to be Salo’s stepson.
Blomkvist travels to Gasskas to give Pernilla away at the wedding. Henry Salo is in the middle of a real estate deal in which land will be sold to various interests for the establishment of a large wind farm which will be of great economic benefit to the town. Gangster Tycoon Marcus Branco is demanding almost the entire wind farm for himself. Henry tells him he can’t have it all because it’s been promised to other interests. Branco turns to a motorcycle gang under his control (the same gang Lisbeth battled in a previous novel) and orders the kidnapping of young Lukas at the reception following the wedding.
Coincidentally, Lisbeth Salander is also in Gasskas. Her sister-in-law, Marta (married to Lisbeth’s freakish brother-in-law Ronald Neidermann whom Lisbeth killed) has gone missing and Social Services wants Lisbeth to take charge of her 12-year-old niece, Svala, a girl of strange talents (much like Lisbeth). Marta, by the way, is Henry Salo’s old girlfriend.
Clearly, there’s a lot going on—so much that it’s difficult to keep it all straight and not get lost; not to mention that some of the coincidences are just not believable. And the characters are so wooden and dour. They almost completely lack the passion, energy, and cleverness of Stieg Larson’s original creations.
Unfortunately, the writing and translation don’t help. The text includes Swedish references that are left unexplained. Points of view sometimes seem to change mid-paragraph. (One minute, we’re in one character’s head; the next minute we’re in another’s). Much of the dialogue seems stilted and not all that believable. Some sections of the novel rely on short, choppy sentence fragments. Other sections seem to be reporting the author’s thoughts rather than the characters’. This is particularly so when it comes to the stating of various political positions including the necessity for green energy, contempt for Donald Trump, women’s inequality, how big business can corrupt politicians, etc.
All in all, a disappointing read, so much so that I quit three-quarters of the way through.
My thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with an electronic ARC. The foregoing is my honest and independent opinion.
In the small and remote Swedish town of Gasskas, people keep disappearing.
In the city of Stockholm, Mickey Blomkvist is one unhappy, about-to-be-ex-investigative reporter. His magazine “Millenium” is closing. His partner in the magazine and sometime lover Erika Berger won’t talk to him. Lisbeth Salander won’t return his emails. His daughter Permilla (whom he’s neglected for his career for many years) is marrying a man Blomkvist doesn’t trust: Henry Salo, the manager of the small, remote Swedish town of Gasskas. About the only thing Blomkvist has going for him is his relationship with his young grandson, Lukas, Permilla’s son and soon to be Salo’s stepson.
Blomkvist travels to Gasskas to give Pernilla away at the wedding. Henry Salo is in the middle of a real estate deal in which land will be sold to various interests for the establishment of a large wind farm which will be of great economic benefit to the town. Gangster Tycoon Marcus Branco is demanding almost the entire wind farm for himself. Henry tells him he can’t have it all because it’s been promised to other interests. Branco turns to a motorcycle gang under his control (the same gang Lisbeth battled in a previous novel) and orders the kidnapping of young Lukas at the reception following the wedding.
Coincidentally, Lisbeth Salander is also in Gasskas. Her sister-in-law, Marta (married to Lisbeth’s freakish brother-in-law Ronald Neidermann whom Lisbeth killed) has gone missing and Social Services wants Lisbeth to take charge of her 12-year-old niece, Svala, a girl of strange talents (much like Lisbeth). Marta, by the way, is Henry Salo’s old girlfriend.
Clearly, there’s a lot going on—so much that it’s difficult to keep it all straight and not get lost; not to mention that some of the coincidences are just not believable. And the characters are so wooden and dour. They almost completely lack the passion, energy, and cleverness of Stieg Larson’s original creations.
Unfortunately, the writing and translation don’t help. The text includes Swedish references that are left unexplained. Points of view sometimes seem to change mid-paragraph. (One minute, we’re in one character’s head; the next minute we’re in another’s). Much of the dialogue seems stilted and not all that believable. Some sections of the novel rely on short, choppy sentence fragments. Other sections seem to be reporting the author’s thoughts rather than the characters’. This is particularly so when it comes to the stating of various political positions including the necessity for green energy, contempt for Donald Trump, women’s inequality, how big business can corrupt politicians, etc.
All in all, a disappointing read, so much so that I quit three-quarters of the way through.
My thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with an electronic ARC. The foregoing is my honest and independent opinion.
September 7, 2023
Finalizada. Edición en audiolibro. Mejor que los tres últimos pero no llega al nivel de los tres primeros. No he visto la esencia original de Lisbeth, nadie ha conseguido plasmarla como su creador. Pese a todo es entretenido y no me me aburrió en ningún momento. Nota 3/5. FIN.
July 30, 2023
3 1/2 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the book's publisher for providing a free copy of this book to me in exchange for my honest review and opinion. This in no way affected my overall review and score.
I was excited to continue reading Lisbeth Salander's continued story and was anxious to see how the new (third) author, Karin Smirnoff, would handle her ongoing saga.
I really enjoyed the addition of a new major character, Lisbeth's niece, Svala. I also found Mikael Blomkvist's character going through some mid-life changes in attitude and priorities along with his attempt to form a connection with his daughter and grandson very engaging. Lisbeth herself seems to be maturing and going through a period of personal growth while still struggling with the years of abuse she endured.
The plotline itself felt a bit uneven and I think some of that may come down to the translation. It did hold my attention throughout despite this issue.
I almost felt like this was a bridge between the prior books and what is to come more so than a story that can stand on its own strengths. In other words, I am very excited to read the inevitable next book in the series. It seems like Svala will come into her own as a character and the growth in the relationship between Lisbeth and Svala will be very interesting to observe.
I do recommend this book, but the reader should keep their expectations in check while knowing the next installment will likely be very exciting.
Thank you to NetGalley and the book's publisher for providing a free copy of this book to me in exchange for my honest review and opinion. This in no way affected my overall review and score.
I was excited to continue reading Lisbeth Salander's continued story and was anxious to see how the new (third) author, Karin Smirnoff, would handle her ongoing saga.
I really enjoyed the addition of a new major character, Lisbeth's niece, Svala. I also found Mikael Blomkvist's character going through some mid-life changes in attitude and priorities along with his attempt to form a connection with his daughter and grandson very engaging. Lisbeth herself seems to be maturing and going through a period of personal growth while still struggling with the years of abuse she endured.
The plotline itself felt a bit uneven and I think some of that may come down to the translation. It did hold my attention throughout despite this issue.
I almost felt like this was a bridge between the prior books and what is to come more so than a story that can stand on its own strengths. In other words, I am very excited to read the inevitable next book in the series. It seems like Svala will come into her own as a character and the growth in the relationship between Lisbeth and Svala will be very interesting to observe.
I do recommend this book, but the reader should keep their expectations in check while knowing the next installment will likely be very exciting.
September 22, 2023
I admire any author who takes on the mantle of this epic series but surely they must do just as good or more importantly better than the original. For me this does not happen in this book. It was still a good read but I was not gripped. In fact I soon lost interest. Do I want to read more of this series? I think that I will give it a miss.
Thanks to Netgalley for the Arc.
Thanks to Netgalley for the Arc.
November 17, 2023
Always oddly curious by the Millenium series, I devoured the first few books. This led to a limping along while David Lagercrantz offered tepid novels to the series once Stieg Larsson passed away. Now, Karin Smirnoff is at the helm to lead Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander on their next adventure. A great move in a positive direction, Smirnoff dazzles and creates new life for the two protagonists, while adding a strong story that is sure to impress readers.
While no one can deny political and social change in Sweden, it is a push to tap into the country’s natural resources that has made headlines of late. While this could mean great things for the country, criminal enterprises have also made moves to ensure a monopoly over its control, ensuring their coffers will be full.
While this may be true, when Lisbeth Salander arrives in the northern community of Gasskas, windmills are their last thing on her mind. Lisbeth has been summoned to serve as guardian over her niece, Svala. Lisbeth had an awkward connection with Svala’s father and while she keeps this silent, Lisbeth tries anything in her power to brush off the task. With no mother to be found and a grandmother who has passed on, Lisbeth is the only person Svala has left.
Vowing not to send her niece to foster care, Lisbeth agrees to help, but knows that this will mean a significant hampering to her nomadic ways. Svala is gifted, but also has some childish tendencies, which distracts Lisbeth from being as sharp as she ought to be. It would seem they are both being watched from the shadows in Gasskas.
Mikael Blomkvist also has business in the north, though nothing directly to do with Lisbeth. With his life waning and Millennium into its final print edition in a podcast move, Blomkvist finds himself worrying more about his daughter. She has been a great addition to his life, but she is in trouble. Whispers lead Blomkvist to believe that a man who may soon be his son-in-law has a secret that could cause chaos for the new couple.
Blomkvist refuses to stand idly by and tries his best to investigate, which leads to a brutal attack at the couple’s nuptials. Blomkvist is injured but determined and will need Lisbeth’s assistance to reveal everything before long. Blomkvist and Salander must work together in Gasskas to save the community and their respective family units. A great return to strong stories by Karin Smirnoff.
To call this book a refreshing return to strong Millennium writing would be an understatement. Karin Smirnoff pushes away the cobwebs of past lesser writing and leaves the reader feeling excited and eager to forge onwards. A solid narrative foundation is able to push the story along, adding depth to the ever-building momentum to this series that appears to take so many odd meanderings. Smirnoff has great ideas and is sure to impress the reader with ease.
Character development proves harder to formulate this far into the series, though SmirnoffL provides an opportunity for Lisbeth Salander and Michael Blomkvist. Salander has a new angle introduced in this piece, serving as guardian, which is surely a position few readers would have pictured the gritty woman undertaking. However, she fits the job well and proves herself throughout the piece. Blomkvist is waning, father and grandfather trying to piece his place in Sweden now that work is shelved. His investigative muscle is again flexed and protective nature is on point. Smirnoff has done well to breathe some new life into the characters, adding depth and flavour by peppering strong secondary and supporting characters throughout the piece.
Plot development is key to the series, which has been hyped a great deal over the years. Scandinavian noir books have a way of pulling the reader in with strong plots and twists that never seem to dissipate. Smirnoff has done well to weave them into the larger story and build on one another with ease. Be it Lisbeth Salander dodging some of the more pig-headed people in Gasskas or Mikael Blomkvist trying to investigate how best to handle a potential familiarity mistake, the story relies on these character developments. I am eager to see where things are headed and whether Karin Smirnoff will be back with another novel, or if things are finally coming to an end, with Millennium and Stockholm in the rearview mirror.
Kudos, Madam Smirnoff, for helping pull the book back into something worth reading.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
While no one can deny political and social change in Sweden, it is a push to tap into the country’s natural resources that has made headlines of late. While this could mean great things for the country, criminal enterprises have also made moves to ensure a monopoly over its control, ensuring their coffers will be full.
While this may be true, when Lisbeth Salander arrives in the northern community of Gasskas, windmills are their last thing on her mind. Lisbeth has been summoned to serve as guardian over her niece, Svala. Lisbeth had an awkward connection with Svala’s father and while she keeps this silent, Lisbeth tries anything in her power to brush off the task. With no mother to be found and a grandmother who has passed on, Lisbeth is the only person Svala has left.
Vowing not to send her niece to foster care, Lisbeth agrees to help, but knows that this will mean a significant hampering to her nomadic ways. Svala is gifted, but also has some childish tendencies, which distracts Lisbeth from being as sharp as she ought to be. It would seem they are both being watched from the shadows in Gasskas.
Mikael Blomkvist also has business in the north, though nothing directly to do with Lisbeth. With his life waning and Millennium into its final print edition in a podcast move, Blomkvist finds himself worrying more about his daughter. She has been a great addition to his life, but she is in trouble. Whispers lead Blomkvist to believe that a man who may soon be his son-in-law has a secret that could cause chaos for the new couple.
Blomkvist refuses to stand idly by and tries his best to investigate, which leads to a brutal attack at the couple’s nuptials. Blomkvist is injured but determined and will need Lisbeth’s assistance to reveal everything before long. Blomkvist and Salander must work together in Gasskas to save the community and their respective family units. A great return to strong stories by Karin Smirnoff.
To call this book a refreshing return to strong Millennium writing would be an understatement. Karin Smirnoff pushes away the cobwebs of past lesser writing and leaves the reader feeling excited and eager to forge onwards. A solid narrative foundation is able to push the story along, adding depth to the ever-building momentum to this series that appears to take so many odd meanderings. Smirnoff has great ideas and is sure to impress the reader with ease.
Character development proves harder to formulate this far into the series, though SmirnoffL provides an opportunity for Lisbeth Salander and Michael Blomkvist. Salander has a new angle introduced in this piece, serving as guardian, which is surely a position few readers would have pictured the gritty woman undertaking. However, she fits the job well and proves herself throughout the piece. Blomkvist is waning, father and grandfather trying to piece his place in Sweden now that work is shelved. His investigative muscle is again flexed and protective nature is on point. Smirnoff has done well to breathe some new life into the characters, adding depth and flavour by peppering strong secondary and supporting characters throughout the piece.
Plot development is key to the series, which has been hyped a great deal over the years. Scandinavian noir books have a way of pulling the reader in with strong plots and twists that never seem to dissipate. Smirnoff has done well to weave them into the larger story and build on one another with ease. Be it Lisbeth Salander dodging some of the more pig-headed people in Gasskas or Mikael Blomkvist trying to investigate how best to handle a potential familiarity mistake, the story relies on these character developments. I am eager to see where things are headed and whether Karin Smirnoff will be back with another novel, or if things are finally coming to an end, with Millennium and Stockholm in the rearview mirror.
Kudos, Madam Smirnoff, for helping pull the book back into something worth reading.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
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