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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
First book of 2019!! I’ve started the year on a really good note.
It was a perfect book for this time of year. I love Scandinavian mysteries and crime novels, but I’ve never read a story from Iceland. I felt so cozy in my bed, with the snow outside, while reading about this little town just under the North Pole, with snowstorms and cold weather.
The story itself was good, maybe not perfect but - you guessed it - I didn’t guess who was the killer at all 😂 also I think the translation was a bit lacking in some places, but as a future translator I can’t help but have a massive amount of respect for the translators, since Icelandic is not a really popular language.
Also after I found out Ari Thór was 24-25 (so only 1-2 years older than me) he immediately became my baby, my love and my smol bean I love him thanks.
It was a perfect book for this time of year. I love Scandinavian mysteries and crime novels, but I’ve never read a story from Iceland. I felt so cozy in my bed, with the snow outside, while reading about this little town just under the North Pole, with snowstorms and cold weather.
The story itself was good, maybe not perfect but - you guessed it - I didn’t guess who was the killer at all 😂 also I think the translation was a bit lacking in some places, but as a future translator I can’t help but have a massive amount of respect for the translators, since Icelandic is not a really popular language.
Also after I found out Ari Thór was 24-25 (so only 1-2 years older than me) he immediately became my baby, my love and my smol bean I love him thanks.
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
This fell perfectly in that zone in between cozy mystery and thriller for me--neither cheesy nor gory. Other than that, I found it disappointing, mostly in that the mildly likeable characters at the beginning never improved, and sometimes became even less likeable as the story progressed.
It would have been three stars, but it lost another half star because the ending wasn't *quite* satisfying for me.
The main plus to this book is that I've now read a book set in Iceland...
It would have been three stars, but it lost another half star because the ending wasn't *quite* satisfying for me.
The main plus to this book is that I've now read a book set in Iceland...
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Violence
Minor: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death of parent
DNF: so disappointed with my reaction to this one as it’s had so much hype.
I probably should have put it straight down as soon as I saw the first sentence “the red stain was like a scream in the silence” - argghh!
One dimensional characters a very plodding plot and way too much telling not showing.....also so many cliches within the first 200 hundred pages or so: the newly single rookie detective in a new town meets newly single female who is clearly a main protagonist...the dark foreboding weather.
200 pages was more than enough and I abandoned it.
One more thing:
Poorly translated too!
Did I say I didn’t like it?!
I probably should have put it straight down as soon as I saw the first sentence “the red stain was like a scream in the silence” - argghh!
One dimensional characters a very plodding plot and way too much telling not showing.....also so many cliches within the first 200 hundred pages or so: the newly single rookie detective in a new town meets newly single female who is clearly a main protagonist...the dark foreboding weather.
200 pages was more than enough and I abandoned it.
One more thing:
Poorly translated too!
Did I say I didn’t like it?!
I listened to Snowblind on audiobook, and although the narration was at times a little jilted it was enjoyable. It helps enormously to have the narrator use different voices for characters in the book, and this narrator didn't do that. I wouldn't go so far as to say they were 'flat' but they didn't express much emotion in their presentation and at times - coupled with the unfamiliar proper nouns - it was difficult to keep track of the characters.
Despite this, when I wasn't listening I wished I was - and that's really great. There was something appealing about the town, and the geographic isolation, and I bought the next 2 books in the Dark Iceland series.
Despite this, when I wasn't listening I wished I was - and that's really great. There was something appealing about the town, and the geographic isolation, and I bought the next 2 books in the Dark Iceland series.
This book was slow and plodding with too many characters and unnecessary details added that have no bearing on the story. This story could have been told in less than 150 pages. The main characters were poorly written and not fleshed out enough because more time was spent telling useless backstories on extraneous characters. 2.5 stars.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Gentle little Scandinavian mystery. Almost like a cozy except there's blood in the snow. I found the "detective" shallow and annoying. Rumor has it the next books are better, but I don't think I care.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Interesting mystery with a decent amount of Icelandic local color/culture and a pretty good plot.
Interesting character intro. Now I hope it gets better as the series goes on!
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes