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A review by nila
Luftslottet som sprengtes by Stieg Larsson
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
FIVE FRICKIN' STARS!!!!
If I had to nitpick, I'd say the lead-up to the "big event" was a bit long, I would've wanted it to have lasted longer, especially considering all the information the reader is presented for during the first 550 pages. Larsson's writing has just gotten better and better in this series. Gone are the awkward product placements, the random English terms, and there are fewer "experiemental" expositions (are whatever you call them). I still think it's weird that he keeps referring to characters with their full names, even Salander and Blomkvist... Speaking of names, there's also a sequence in the book that annoyed me to bits because Larsson for some reason had to name two secondary/minor characters Benny, and another one where two characters named Niedermann and Nieminen were interacting. Needlessly confusing, in my opinion.
Again, a warning of how graphic the descriptions of violence, sex and all kinds of terrible things. DO NOT READ if you are sensitive to it! I've done my best to include all the content warnings I could think of.
But the stars of the show are all the women. Honestly, whatever kind of female character you want, they're in this book. Flawed, ambitious, insecure, innocent, naïve, assertive etc. etc. My personal favorite being Annika Giannini. Throughout the entire book I just wanted more from her, and then in the end when she had her moment, I was basically just fistpumping the air every paragraph. One of my favorite literary characters, for sure!
If I had to nitpick, I'd say the lead-up to the "big event" was a bit long, I would've wanted it to have lasted longer, especially considering all the information the reader is presented for during the first 550 pages. Larsson's writing has just gotten better and better in this series. Gone are the awkward product placements, the random English terms, and there are fewer "experiemental" expositions (are whatever you call them). I still think it's weird that he keeps referring to characters with their full names, even Salander and Blomkvist... Speaking of names, there's also a sequence in the book that annoyed me to bits because Larsson for some reason had to name two secondary/minor characters Benny, and another one where two characters named Niedermann and Nieminen were interacting. Needlessly confusing, in my opinion.
Again, a warning of how graphic the descriptions of violence, sex and all kinds of terrible things. DO NOT READ if you are sensitive to it! I've done my best to include all the content warnings I could think of.
But the stars of the show are all the women. Honestly, whatever kind of female character you want, they're in this book. Flawed, ambitious, insecure, innocent, naïve, assertive etc. etc. My personal favorite being Annika Giannini. Throughout the entire book I just wanted more from her, and then in the end when she had her moment, I was basically just fistpumping the air every paragraph. One of my favorite literary characters, for sure!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical trauma, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Torture, Trafficking, and Stalking
Minor: Homophobia and Panic attacks/disorders