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strawfly14's review against another edition
5.0
Tenía muchas ganas de volver a dar a un libro de Camilla cinco estrellas, cosa que creo que no pasaba desde el sexto (este es el décimo). Lo he leído en poco más de 24h y me ha enganchado muchísimo. La historia me ha llamado la atención desde el principio y la verdad es que creo que ha combinado muy bien los tres tiempos de las tres situaciones. No sé, la verdad es que desde que publicó La princesa de hielo tengo predilección por esta autora dentro del género por lo que siempre cojo con ganas sus libros y los leo de tirón, pero este me ha enganchado más que los últimos. Y la página final me ha parecido maravillosa, la forma de unir los tres tiempos.
fingernegl's review against another edition
3.0
I think this is the first real crime book I have read. At least the first Nordic one. I found the book to be pretty fine - not extraordinary, but definitely enjoyable.
I got through the book relatively quick, and I will admit, it was rather captivating. I was very interested in figuring out the connection between the mysteries, and of course also, finding out who the murderer was. Despite these captivations, I experienced certain parts of the book to be quite disappointing.
There are three storylines in the book: the current one, the one 30 years ago and one from the 1600's. As a person, who loves historical books or plots (whether it is fictional or not), I did, in contrast to other readers, enjoy reading the historical storyline about Elin. At least for the majority of the time. Throughout the book, I was super anxious to figure out what connection the storyline would have with the original one. Imagine my disappointment when the connection is only made clear on the last page of the book. It was really a bummer. I enjoyed the idea, but it was poorly executed, sadly.
I will also point out that this book is heavily filled with loads of characters. I do not know, if this is a common thing for Camilla, as I have not read any of her other books, but my guess would be that she kind of sees herself as an equal to one of the main characters, the author Erica, who puts most of her focus on character development and making her characters come alive once more. This was sort of confusing in the beginning, as there were plenty of adults with plenty of children to keep in mind. I tried to count the amount of characters, whose perspectives Camilla used to tell the story. The count was twenty-four, if I am not mistaking. It creates a lot of storylines from different perspectives, and well, it was a teeny tiny bit hard to keep up with until getting through a bit of the book.
The amount of different perspectives create a lot of present-day storylines. Some of them kind of felt like filler, I will admit. As an example, I was not the biggest fan of Bill's perspective. His entire storyline was build on the refugees and his boat. It felt irrelevant, as it had nothing to do with the actual case. While I do like Camilla discussing the refugee problem in Sweden, it too felt like filler. It had nothing to do with the main-plot, and really only served as a side-plot. Maybe to get a few words about her own opinion said? I do not know. I will mention, though, that I kind of liked the characters coming out of that plot. My only critique is that it probably did not serve the book with much but filling up some pages. I do see the meaning behind the sailing competition, but due to the fastpaced ending and the status as a side-plot, it ended up feeling rather irrelevant too. With so many different perspectives, I felt as though many of them did not have a proper end. Many of the characters sadly never got that last development. I can imagine, it is incredibly hard to write and develop so many characters, so I do not really blame her. I just wish I had gotten some more closure with certain characters, who are bound to not show up again in her next novel.
The book ended up feeling a bit slow at certain points, and then it just suddenly went to an entirely different pace in the end. I get it, it's the climax, but wow. It kind of left the ending feeling a bit unimpressive in a way? To be sure, I was shocked by the incidents towards the end, but I will admit that with such a long book, the ending could have been a bit less rushed. I know she probably intends to write more of these novels, meaning we will meet many of the main-main characters again, but I still would have enjoyed a nicer ending for some of the less important characters. It is a shame. I do enjoy the overall crime plot.
I was not super shocked by the actual happenings of the murderers, but I will admit that I did not see it coming before Camilla practically told us. Maybe that says something about my incapability of predicting crime. I am glad it did not end in the way that I was sensing. That would have been so much more disappointing.
Overall, this book is by no means bad! I simply had a few expectations for the book that it sadly could not live up to. I could consider picking up more of her books in the future. We will see.
I got through the book relatively quick, and I will admit, it was rather captivating. I was very interested in figuring out the connection between the mysteries, and of course also, finding out who the murderer was. Despite these captivations, I experienced certain parts of the book to be quite disappointing.
There are three storylines in the book: the current one, the one 30 years ago and one from the 1600's. As a person, who loves historical books or plots (whether it is fictional or not), I did, in contrast to other readers, enjoy reading the historical storyline about Elin. At least for the majority of the time. Throughout the book, I was super anxious to figure out what connection the storyline would have with the original one. Imagine my disappointment when the connection is only made clear on the last page of the book. It was really a bummer. I enjoyed the idea, but it was poorly executed, sadly.
I will also point out that this book is heavily filled with loads of characters. I do not know, if this is a common thing for Camilla, as I have not read any of her other books, but my guess would be that she kind of sees herself as an equal to one of the main characters, the author Erica, who puts most of her focus on character development and making her characters come alive once more. This was sort of confusing in the beginning, as there were plenty of adults with plenty of children to keep in mind. I tried to count the amount of characters, whose perspectives Camilla used to tell the story. The count was twenty-four, if I am not mistaking. It creates a lot of storylines from different perspectives, and well, it was a teeny tiny bit hard to keep up with until getting through a bit of the book.
The amount of different perspectives create a lot of present-day storylines. Some of them kind of felt like filler, I will admit. As an example, I was not the biggest fan of Bill's perspective. His entire storyline was build on the refugees and his boat. It felt irrelevant, as it had nothing to do with the actual case. While I do like Camilla discussing the refugee problem in Sweden, it too felt like filler. It had nothing to do with the main-plot, and really only served as a side-plot. Maybe to get a few words about her own opinion said? I do not know. I will mention, though, that I kind of liked the characters coming out of that plot. My only critique is that it probably did not serve the book with much but filling up some pages. I do see the meaning behind the sailing competition, but due to the fastpaced ending and the status as a side-plot, it ended up feeling rather irrelevant too. With so many different perspectives, I felt as though many of them did not have a proper end. Many of the characters sadly never got that last development. I can imagine, it is incredibly hard to write and develop so many characters, so I do not really blame her. I just wish I had gotten some more closure with certain characters, who are bound to not show up again in her next novel.
The book ended up feeling a bit slow at certain points, and then it just suddenly went to an entirely different pace in the end. I get it, it's the climax, but wow. It kind of left the ending feeling a bit unimpressive in a way? To be sure, I was shocked by the incidents towards the end, but I will admit that with such a long book, the ending could have been a bit less rushed. I know she probably intends to write more of these novels, meaning we will meet many of the main-main characters again, but I still would have enjoyed a nicer ending for some of the less important characters. It is a shame. I do enjoy the overall crime plot.
I was not super shocked by the actual happenings of the murderers, but I will admit that I did not see it coming before Camilla practically told us. Maybe that says something about my incapability of predicting crime. I am glad it did not end in the way that I was sensing. That would have been so much more disappointing.
Overall, this book is by no means bad! I simply had a few expectations for the book that it sadly could not live up to. I could consider picking up more of her books in the future. We will see.
aaiinnaa's review against another edition
5.0
Camilla Läckberg es siempre una apuesta segura, pero este tal vez sea mi favorito de sus libros que he leído, pues es más fuerte de lo que nos tiene acostumbrados y además ¡hay un poquito de bollodrama!
amn028's review against another edition
2.0
There is a lot going on in this book - multiple storylines with multiple characters. I think I was well past page 100 before I finally started getting a handle on who was who. It was a good enough read at a time when the rest of life felt crazy busy. Even though it's apparently #9 in a series, I was able to follow the story and characters well enough having never read any of the earlier books in the series.
The writing is good but there is just too much going on to get any real sense of story moving forward. It feels like the first 500 pages were slowly setting things in to action, then the last 75 are a race to the finish with no real satisfying ending.
The writing is good but there is just too much going on to get any real sense of story moving forward. It feels like the first 500 pages were slowly setting things in to action, then the last 75 are a race to the finish with no real satisfying ending.
erikadawnbraham's review against another edition
4.0
I read this as a stand-alone and do feel like I was missing some of the back store, but I enjoyed this book regardless! I did find the plot to be somewhat predictable but I enjoyed the story nonetheless!
cat_literary_world's review against another edition
3.0
TW: violação, homicídio, tiroteio
Quando li o primeiro livro da Camilla Lackberg, "Princesa de gelo", achei que tinha descoberto algo totalmente inovador. Adorei a abordagem da autora à história, a mistura do passado e do presente, o inicio dos capítulos. Para além disso, envolvi-me bastante na história das personagens principais e assim fui continuando a ler livro atrás de livro.
No entanto, chega a um ponto em que, inevitavelmente, a "fórmula" cansa e para mim isso aconteceu com o livro anterior, "Domador de leões", por isso levei tanto tempo até finalmente pegar neste "A menina na floresta".
"A menina na floresta" não me impressionou particularmente, há algumas coisas bem previsíveis (o romance da Helen e da Marie é de caras! E também foi muito evidente que o James tinha algo para "apontar" à família da Helen para lhe permitir casar-se com ela, e claro, tinha de ser sobre o primeiro homicídio). Adicionalmente, este livro, quando comparado com os restantes, é muitíssimo mais extenso (700 páginas contra as típicas 300/400). Podiam ser 700 páginas que prendessem o leitor, podiam, mas acabam por ter muita palha e a história só começa a "arrancar" nos 50/60% e a ganhar um ritmo mais interessante nos 70%. Podia ter sido metade e tinha-se contado a mesma história.
Senti que a autora tentou inserir demasiadas temáticas sensíveis e não o fez da melhor forma. Acabou por ser, quase tudo, uma abordagem superficial. Da crise dos refugiados aos jovens que fazem tiroteios nas escolas, há de tudo um pouco. Perdeu-se o foco no núcleo duro da história e dispersou-se muito a informação, sem conseguir cativar o leitor devidamente em nenhuma destas várias narrativas.
Finalmente, a ligação entre passado (inicio dos capítulos) e presente é muito fraquinha quando comparada com livros anteriores. Como era uma das coisas que mais gostava, fiquei desiludida.
Quando li o primeiro livro da Camilla Lackberg, "Princesa de gelo", achei que tinha descoberto algo totalmente inovador. Adorei a abordagem da autora à história, a mistura do passado e do presente, o inicio dos capítulos. Para além disso, envolvi-me bastante na história das personagens principais e assim fui continuando a ler livro atrás de livro.
No entanto, chega a um ponto em que, inevitavelmente, a "fórmula" cansa e para mim isso aconteceu com o livro anterior, "Domador de leões", por isso levei tanto tempo até finalmente pegar neste "A menina na floresta".
"A menina na floresta" não me impressionou particularmente, há algumas coisas bem previsíveis (o romance da Helen e da Marie é de caras! E também foi muito evidente que o James tinha algo para "apontar" à família da Helen para lhe permitir casar-se com ela, e claro, tinha de ser sobre o primeiro homicídio). Adicionalmente, este livro, quando comparado com os restantes, é muitíssimo mais extenso (700 páginas contra as típicas 300/400). Podiam ser 700 páginas que prendessem o leitor, podiam, mas acabam por ter muita palha e a história só começa a "arrancar" nos 50/60% e a ganhar um ritmo mais interessante nos 70%. Podia ter sido metade e tinha-se contado a mesma história.
Senti que a autora tentou inserir demasiadas temáticas sensíveis e não o fez da melhor forma. Acabou por ser, quase tudo, uma abordagem superficial. Da crise dos refugiados aos jovens que fazem tiroteios nas escolas, há de tudo um pouco. Perdeu-se o foco no núcleo duro da história e dispersou-se muito a informação, sem conseguir cativar o leitor devidamente em nenhuma destas várias narrativas.
Finalmente, a ligação entre passado (inicio dos capítulos) e presente é muito fraquinha quando comparada com livros anteriores. Como era uma das coisas que mais gostava, fiquei desiludida.
rens94's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
herlevareads's review against another edition
3.0
Ik hou ontzettend van Camilla Läckberg, laten we dat voorop zetten. Ze schrijft schitterende karakters waar ik echt mee meeleef en haar verhalen vervelen eigenlijk nooit. In Heks was het meest verassende aspect de historische fragmenten over de vrouw die uiteindelijk de 'heks' uit de titel zou blijken. Ik heb me in drie dagen door de 688 pagina's heengelezen, dus dat wil wat zeggen. Een kort overzichtje van mijn favoriete en minder favoriete aspecten:
Positief:
- Ondanks de vele karakters blijft het duidelijk wie wie is, en leef je eigenlijk met iedereen mee;
- Actuele thematiek, waar wij ook in Nederland mee te maken hebben (houding tegenover vluchtelingen) wordt van een andere kant belicht;
- Spannende plotwendingen, ik had het uiteindelijk pas richting het einde van het boek door terwijl ik meestal al veel eerder begrijp wie het gedaan heeft.
Negatief:
- De vele karakters waren niet allemaal evengoed uitgewerkt waardoor ik soms het gevoel had dat ik informatie miste;
- Ondanks het feit dat ik nooit zal zaniken over LGBT-relaties in thrillers vond ik het wat ongeloofwaardig hoe de uiteindelijke lesbische en homoseksuele relatie gebruikt werken in het plot, zeker omdat het nogal afgeraffeld werd. Een beetje van 'ja ze waren ook nog homo, dus dat was het' terwijl de 'foreshadowing' daar naar mijn idee een beetje miste;
- Ook het verhaal van de heks vond ik achteraf wat afgeraffeld. Het was niet duidelijk dat de mensen die wat met de moorden te maken hadden afstamden van de heks tot er op het einde ineens een heel kort bericht over een scholieren-essay in de strijd werd gegooid;
- Het aantal lijken ging echt van 1 naar 100, en dat was naar mijn idee niet nodig. Had liever een overlevende gezien om het schuldgevoel wat meer door te laten dringen.
Al met al een hele fijne thriller die jammer genoeg richting het einde wat mij betreft een beetje leed onder afraffelen.
Positief:
- Ondanks de vele karakters blijft het duidelijk wie wie is, en leef je eigenlijk met iedereen mee;
- Actuele thematiek, waar wij ook in Nederland mee te maken hebben (houding tegenover vluchtelingen) wordt van een andere kant belicht;
- Spannende plotwendingen, ik had het uiteindelijk pas richting het einde van het boek door terwijl ik meestal al veel eerder begrijp wie het gedaan heeft.
Negatief:
- De vele karakters waren niet allemaal evengoed uitgewerkt waardoor ik soms het gevoel had dat ik informatie miste;
- Ondanks het feit dat ik nooit zal zaniken over LGBT-relaties in thrillers vond ik het wat ongeloofwaardig hoe de uiteindelijke lesbische en homoseksuele relatie gebruikt werken in het plot, zeker omdat het nogal afgeraffeld werd. Een beetje van 'ja ze waren ook nog homo, dus dat was het' terwijl de 'foreshadowing' daar naar mijn idee een beetje miste;
- Ook het verhaal van de heks vond ik achteraf wat afgeraffeld. Het was niet duidelijk dat de mensen die wat met de moorden te maken hadden afstamden van de heks tot er op het einde ineens een heel kort bericht over een scholieren-essay in de strijd werd gegooid;
- Het aantal lijken ging echt van 1 naar 100, en dat was naar mijn idee niet nodig. Had liever een overlevende gezien om het schuldgevoel wat meer door te laten dringen.
Al met al een hele fijne thriller die jammer genoeg richting het einde wat mij betreft een beetje leed onder afraffelen.
imlizzie's review against another edition
4.0
Retrouver Erica, Patrick et Fjallbacka c'est comme retrouver de vieux amis et c'est toujours avec grand plaisir que je découvre les romans de Camilla Lackberg.
L'enquête sur le meurtre de la petite Nea s'entremêle de thèmes d'actualité très brûlants et très bien traités par l'auteur, en particulier l'arrivée et l'installation de migrants syriens dans la petite localité suédoise. Comme souvent chez Camilla Lackberg les différentes histoires et personnages se suivent en parallèle et finissent par se rejoindre avec brio. Le rythme s'accélère aux trois-quart du livre et il est alors bien difficile de le refermer !
Si la 3e intrigue (celle d'une femme accusée de sorcellerie au XVIIe siècle) peut sembler un peu hors-sujet de prime abord, elle apparaît à mon sens comme un moyen très intelligent de faire le parallèle avec l'étroitesse d'esprit et la peur de l'autre qui existent encore aujourd'hui et qui peuvent avoir des conséquences désastreuses (la sorcière d'hier et le migrant syrien d'aujourd'hui).
Quelques bémols : certains personnages auraient mérité plus de développement et une fin plus conséquente comme Marie et Sanna.
Ah et puis je ne suis pas non plus ravie de l'édition Kindle : trop souvent les changements de narrateur ou de périodes ne sont pas matérialisés par des sauts de paragraphe et cela rend parfois la lecture confuse.
Au final, c'est un très bon Camilla Lackberg et c'est toujours avec plaisir et avidité que je passe quelques heures en compagnie d'Erica.
L'enquête sur le meurtre de la petite Nea s'entremêle de thèmes d'actualité très brûlants et très bien traités par l'auteur, en particulier l'arrivée et l'installation de migrants syriens dans la petite localité suédoise. Comme souvent chez Camilla Lackberg les différentes histoires et personnages se suivent en parallèle et finissent par se rejoindre avec brio. Le rythme s'accélère aux trois-quart du livre et il est alors bien difficile de le refermer !
Si la 3e intrigue (celle d'une femme accusée de sorcellerie au XVIIe siècle) peut sembler un peu hors-sujet de prime abord, elle apparaît à mon sens comme un moyen très intelligent de faire le parallèle avec l'étroitesse d'esprit et la peur de l'autre qui existent encore aujourd'hui et qui peuvent avoir des conséquences désastreuses (la sorcière d'hier et le migrant syrien d'aujourd'hui).
Spoiler
La tuerie de masse finale est un moment très fort et qui marque.Quelques bémols : certains personnages auraient mérité plus de développement et une fin plus conséquente comme Marie et Sanna.
Ah et puis je ne suis pas non plus ravie de l'édition Kindle : trop souvent les changements de narrateur ou de périodes ne sont pas matérialisés par des sauts de paragraphe et cela rend parfois la lecture confuse.
Au final, c'est un très bon Camilla Lackberg et c'est toujours avec plaisir et avidité que je passe quelques heures en compagnie d'Erica.