wthanyell's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lillamyy's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Max, Liv, Martina och Anton är fyra ungdomar som känt varandra sedan de var små. De är bästa vänner, precis som deras föräldrar. Det är nyårsafton och de firar tillsammans i en lyxig villa i Stockholm och deras föräldrar festar i villan bredvid. De har allt men bär på mörka hemligheter som kommer fram denna natt under ett Monopolspel som spårar ut och en hemsk plan med dödlig utkomst tar sin form till till tolvslaget.
Ingrid lever det perfekta livet med en framgångsrik make, villa och en väluppfostrad dotter. Victoria Brunberg har flytt från Ryssland och lever ett stillsamt liv på landet med sin man. Och Birgitta Nilsson är en omtyckt lärare med en tystlåten man och två vuxna barn. Men bakom fasaderna är deras liv något helt annat och de har fått nog. Så tillsammans, men anonyma för varandra, bestämmer kvinnorna sig för att en gång för alla slå tillbaka och bli fria.
Två fristående berättelser av Camilla Läckberg om hemligheter, svek, hämnd och att ta tillbaka sitt liv, dock på ett lite annorlunda sätt än vad kanske andra skulle gjort. Men ibland är man kanske så djupt inne i det hemska att man bara ser en väg ut ur det. Dessa berättelser höll mig intresserad och på nålar under hela tiden för att se hur det skulle gå. Så många känslor hos varje karaktär som förmedlades på enkelt och öppet sätt och gjorde att historierna fick en tyngd och ett djup. Jag gillade hur karaktärerna var skrivna och jag en liten del av mig hoppades att de skulle klara av det de ville, fast att det kanske inte var det bästa eller mest lagliga sätt att göra saker på. Väl värda att läsa.
Ingrid lever det perfekta livet med en framgångsrik make, villa och en väluppfostrad dotter. Victoria Brunberg har flytt från Ryssland och lever ett stillsamt liv på landet med sin man. Och Birgitta Nilsson är en omtyckt lärare med en tystlåten man och två vuxna barn. Men bakom fasaderna är deras liv något helt annat och de har fått nog. Så tillsammans, men anonyma för varandra, bestämmer kvinnorna sig för att en gång för alla slå tillbaka och bli fria.
Två fristående berättelser av Camilla Läckberg om hemligheter, svek, hämnd och att ta tillbaka sitt liv, dock på ett lite annorlunda sätt än vad kanske andra skulle gjort. Men ibland är man kanske så djupt inne i det hemska att man bara ser en väg ut ur det. Dessa berättelser höll mig intresserad och på nålar under hela tiden för att se hur det skulle gå. Så många känslor hos varje karaktär som förmedlades på enkelt och öppet sätt och gjorde att historierna fick en tyngd och ett djup. Jag gillade hur karaktärerna var skrivna och jag en liten del av mig hoppades att de skulle klara av det de ville, fast att det kanske inte var det bästa eller mest lagliga sätt att göra saker på. Väl värda att läsa.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Death, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug use
xsilviasfx's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
brighteyedbookworm's review against another edition
3.0
The stories themselves weren't bad. In fact, I actually quite liked them, and I found myself really empathizing with the main characters of each one - the three women of "Women Without Mercy", and the four youths of "Truth Or Dare". Camilla Läckberg also knows how to write a DAMN GOOD ending; I was incredibly satisfied with the payoff for both stories, neither one dragging on too long or cut too abruptly short.
The main reason I didn't give this book more stars is because the translation was... disjointed at best, totally awry at worst. There were MANY instances where it felt like it was being translated one word at a time (Google Translate-style), as opposed to each sentence as a whole being translated to keep things in situ. I was generally able to use context clues to figure out what was meant, but I think this book would benefit from a much more thorough translation/editing job altogether.
I do also have some minor icks when it comes to Camilla's writing in both stories. Racism and sexism are prevalent throughout the book (though in her defense, these are ((mostly)) used for exposition, to purposefully paint characters in a negative light. There is, however, rampant fatphobia and slutshaming throughout both novellas, neither of which serves that same purpose of intentionally antagonizing a character. In particular, Camilla is oddly obsessed with the weights of her characters and uses them as tools to tell us just how desirable (i.e. thin) or disgusting (i.e. fat) these characters are. This was uncomfortable to read each time it popped up, and I think the stories would've been much better off without such judgments.
The main reason I didn't give this book more stars is because the translation was... disjointed at best, totally awry at worst. There were MANY instances where it felt like it was being translated one word at a time (Google Translate-style), as opposed to each sentence as a whole being translated to keep things in situ. I was generally able to use context clues to figure out what was meant, but I think this book would benefit from a much more thorough translation/editing job altogether.
I do also have some minor icks when it comes to Camilla's writing in both stories. Racism and sexism are prevalent throughout the book (though in her defense, these are ((mostly)) used for exposition, to purposefully paint characters in a negative light. There is, however, rampant fatphobia and slutshaming throughout both novellas, neither of which serves that same purpose of intentionally antagonizing a character. In particular, Camilla is oddly obsessed with the weights of her characters and uses them as tools to tell us just how desirable (i.e. thin) or disgusting (i.e. fat) these characters are. This was uncomfortable to read each time it popped up, and I think the stories would've been much better off without such judgments.
goldfishtish's review against another edition
I understand the satisfaction of a good old fashioned revenge tale—a villain you grow to hate viscerally, the helplessness of the system failing to deal with them, the tension of an often vulnerable person secretly going up against someone more powerful, matching their brains and dedication against the villain’s arrogance and smug assurance they’re too powerful to suffer consequences, the catharsis of justice being served—but there is so little depth to these two short stories that none of that is present. I have to stop borrowing books just because they have been recently added to Libby.
emilija1033's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
lucymarva's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Racism
Moderate: Murder, Death, Death of parent, and Eating disorder