This is one of the those novels that manages to explain what is happening and why, but is scary. It takes a talented writer who can manage this - write something, be explicit with what is happening, but still capture just how unknowable the Stallo is.

I'd say more, but this is a book that you need to read. How the story unfolds is just as important as how it ends. ( )

Verano de 1978. Durante unas vacaciones en los bosques de Dalecarlia, Suecia, un niño desaparece sin dejar rastro. Su madre insiste en que un gigante se lo llevó. Pero nadie le cree.1987, Parque Nacional de Sarek, LaponiaUn fotógrafo naturalista toma una extraña foto desde su avioneta. La imagen muestra a un oso corriendo por la llanura con una criatura agarrada a su espalda. A un primer golpe de vista, se diría que es un niño, pero una observación más detenida muestra algo desconcertante: su cuerpo está cubierto de pelo y luce una larga cola. Se asemeja a un mono, pero está claro que no lo es. No es un ser humano, pero tampoco un animal conocido.2004, Kiruna, LaponiaSusso dirige una página web sobre criptozoología dedicada a la búsqueda de seres cuya existencia no ha sido probada, como el Yeti o el monstruo del lago Ness. Pero Susso tiene una obsesión: los trolls, una obsesión que heredó de su abuelo, un conocidofotógrafo. Cuando una mujer afirma haber visto a una criatura inquietante frente a su casa observando a su nieto de cinco años, Susso toma su cámara dispuesta a resolver el misterio.

Stallo is a large human-like creature in the Sami folklore and since the book is about giants that kidnap children is the title quite logical. I listen to this book while working and since it's 600 page long was the book around 25 hours long to listen to. However, by accelerating the speed to max did I manage to finish it a bit faster. And, I had a pretty good reason to wanting to speed up the story. I have never before had the speed to max before, but it was the only way for me to finish the book. Not that it was bad. The story in itself was good. However, it could have easily been cut down around 200-300 page by just taking away all the tedious uninteresting stuff that had no bearing on the story. I mean as much as I like board games am I not that interested in listening to how some of the characters playing one on Christmas day. Or, when Susso at work etc. If I had read the book would I have skimmed a lot, unfortunately, I had to listen to most of it. It was just the last 100 pages or so that I read and that I was thankful for since I could finish the book quite fast.

As for the story, I found it intriguing, and I liked how the author manages to connect the story to John Bauer and Sven Jerring. And, the whole Stallo thing with the kidnapping of children reminded me of the tv-series Jordskott and it was one of the reasons why I wanted to read this book. I liked this book, I just didn't love this book and that's because the story would have needed to trim down a bit and making it more flowing. And, it's too bad since I liked finding a Swedish paranormal book about giants.

So, all and all, not a perfect book, but still interesting to read. I do recommend reading it, and not listening to it since you can skim the less interesting parts.

Read this review and others on A Bookaholic Swede ( )

Stallo is a large human-like creature in the Sami folklore and since the book is about giants that kidnap children is the title quite logical. I listen to this book while working and since it's 600 page long was the book around 25 hours long to listen to. However, by accelerating the speed to max did I manage to finish it a bit faster. And, I had a pretty good reason to wanting to speed up the story. I have never before had the speed to max before, but it was the only way for me to finish the book. Not that it was bad. The story in itself was good. However, it could have easily been cut down around 200-300 page by just taking away all the tedious uninteresting stuff that had no bearing on the story. I mean as much as I like board games am I not that interested in listening to how some of the characters playing one on Christmas day. Or, when Susso at work etc. If I had read the book would I have skimmed a lot, unfortunately, I had to listen to most of it. It was just the last 100 pages or so that I read and that I was thankful for since I could finish the book quite fast.

As for the story, I found it intriguing, and I liked how the author manages to connect the story to John Bauer and Sven Jerring. And, the whole Stallo thing with the kidnapping of children reminded me of the tv-series Jordskott and it was one of the reasons why I wanted to read this book. I liked this book, I just didn't love this book and that's because the story would have needed to trim down a bit and making it more flowing. And, it's too bad since I liked finding a Swedish paranormal book about giants.

So, all and all, not a perfect book, but still interesting to read. I do recommend reading it, and not listening to it since you can skim the less interesting parts.

Read this review and others on A Bookaholic Swede ( )

Great little supernatural thriller, read a hundred pages at a time. ( )