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helendipietro's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I was so excited to read this book after being engrossed in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and was thrilled to learn more about Lisbeth Salander’s fascinating yet horrific backstory. In my eyes, she is still an iconic, fierce, smart and strong female character who is a good person with morals. She is ‘the woman who hated men who hate women’ and she will go to any lengths to get revenge on badly behaving men.
‘Don’t fight Lisbeth Salander. Her attitude towards the rest of the world is that if someone threatens her with a gun, she’ll get a bigger gun.’– Total badass!
The plot was a lot more complicated that the first book and there were times when I felt a little lost. The character development was brilliant though but I wanted more from Blomkvist, the journalist, as I really enjoyed the parts of the first book when they were working together - hoping for this in the next book!
I absolutely love the messaging in these books and the issues that are portrayed; Larsson touches on corruption at all levels in this tale of women being used and abused. I felt like this book was a lot more brutal, dark and twisted but that isn’t a complaint! Although a slight complaint I do have, and a reason not for giving 5 stars, was the tedious details in certain parts of the book that just weren’t needed and I found the ending frustrating. Especially because I’ve left the third book at home and I’m staying away!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Domestic abuse, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Gore and Lesbophobia
jnn314's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I don't think this storyline was quite as compelling as the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (i.e. Men Who Hate Women (I'll never understand why the translators nixed the original titles)). However, it does speak to the perspective of a woman who has been wronged at every turn and could not count on the systems in place to properly protect her. It is a powerful revenge story that will take you on an adventure. My only gripe with it, really, is that it was a bit slow going for a while. Given that it is over 700 pages, there may have been room for some compressing of events. The ending, though, was worth it all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Torture
Minor: Gore and Blood
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