Reviews with content warning for Violence - The Lost Village

This book was crazy to read. I was so curious what was going on in Silvertjän and so invested in this story. I thought about all different possibilities.

How Matias was responsible for all of this or that the whole village decided to leave in a mystery because the economy was doing badly because of the mine. Then to find out it was indeed mostly Mathias fault. I think the plot was kinda weak compared to the whole story that was building up. And I would've loved to know how he hypnotised an intire village without some persons thinking it was crazy what they were doing. Even if it was a cult. So the end leaved me still kinda confused. But I do have to say that the stories you read from Elsa's view were really well written to the point I felt so sick.

So the book was well written, but I feel like the plot could be much more stronger.

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castamere's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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winifred_k22's review

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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asmei's review

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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sar_she_her's review

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Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

The writing is a mixed bag, nonetheless overshadowed by *atrociously* unredeemable representation of mental health and autism.

The use of those themes feels insensitive, exploitive, and gratuitous in a way that made me feel sick. Probably most painful portrayal of scapegoating I've ever read, just in very poor taste.

The great spooky mood-setting and abandoned/archival imagery could have been woven into a really good story, if only there had been better character development.

While the aforementioned poor decisions of representation were effective "shock-value" (at best a brutal commentary on exploitation of zealots and group-think) the storytelling could have been just as effective without the horrible representation.

Too bad, bc someone recommended it, and I was hoping to like it and recommend to my friends in Sweden. But now I certainly won't, especially with them being caring teachers and parents.

I'm truly surprised the mainstream was so enchanted by the good elements of her writing, and could so easily overlook and accept the horrendous facets.

What bugs me ultimately is having someone from a more privileged demographic sensationalize the exploitation of an underprivileged group. It's problematic and a form of misappropriation essentially having the credit go to, and focus be on, an artist who thinks something "would be a good idea" but at the cost of representing *others'* stories or trauma.

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