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A review by elentarri
The Shapeshifters by Stefan Spjut, Susan Beard
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This book desperately needed an editor - a heavy handed one with a fat, red pen. The story starts off incredibly slowly and is particularly tedious until just after the halfway mark. There is simply too much irrelevant, extra information and not enough relevant explanation of motive. Then the pace and action picks up in the last half and the author actually gets to the good bits... provided readers manage to stay awake that long.
Spjut made use of the semi-mythical creatures known as Stallo in Sami folklore. They are referred to as Trolls or shapeshifters throughout the novel. The story alternates between a group of people that are keeping something (someone?) in the barn and basement (we never find out why they are being kept there) and Susso, who is determined to find out more about the odd creature her father photographed when she was small, and then gets involved in a kidnapping investigation. We also never find outwhy the trolls want human children since they don't seem to do anything with them except watch them .
There is simply too much boring fluff before the reader gets to the good stuff, and then there are too many questions that are never answered. This is a pity since the shapeshifter concept was interesting.
Spjut made use of the semi-mythical creatures known as Stallo in Sami folklore. They are referred to as Trolls or shapeshifters throughout the novel. The story alternates between a group of people that are keeping something (someone?) in the barn and basement (we never find out why they are being kept there) and Susso, who is determined to find out more about the odd creature her father photographed when she was small, and then gets involved in a kidnapping investigation. We also never find out
There is simply too much boring fluff before the reader gets to the good stuff, and then there are too many questions that are never answered. This is a pity since the shapeshifter concept was interesting.