Stalpi

Susso #2

by Stefan Spjut

What if...?
A large wolf escapes its captors.
A cult leader breaks out of psychiatric care.
A disillusioned woman is forced to end her self-imposed exile.

Stefan Spjut's latest novel explores the ancient notion that our forests may be inhabited by beings we do not understand, creatures neither animal nor human, living in the shadows . . .

Thriller, horror fiction, suspense, Trolls is set ten years on from Stallo, as Susso's world once again starts to shift around her.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Thriller, Mythology, Sweden

370 pages, Hardcover

First published April 11, 2017

Reviews

[Magdalena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dual review with Swedish first and then English!

SWEDISH REVIEW

Stalpi är uppföljaren till Stallo som kom några år sedan. 10 år har gått sedan barnarövaren Lennart Brösth åkte fast i första boken, nu har han rymt från psyket och Gudrun är orolig att han kommer ge sig på Susso då hon var den som gjorde att hans sekt förintades. Susso däremot har dragit sig undan från världen och lever i en lite stuga lång från allt och alla. Men så stöter Gudrun på Sussos barndomskamrat Diana och Gudrun ber Diana att åka och checka Susso. Tyvärr lyckas Diana åka dit vi absolut fel tidpunkt...

Stalpi är en intressant om än komplex bok, Jag måste erkänna att trots att det bara var några månader sedan jag läste Stallo var början av boken en aning osammanhängande och det tog ett tag för mig att komma ihåg vilka alla dessa människor vad och vad som hände i Stallo. Det hjälpte inte att att de norska karaktärerna pratade norska i boken. Jag gillar språket, men läsa det hejdar tyvärr bokens flyt. Till skillnad från Stallo kändes dock denna bok mycket strukturerad utan en massa onödiga detaljer. Dock, var jag inte så intresserad av Anders berättelse i denna bok. Föredrog at läsa om vad som hände med Susso och Diana.

Stalpi läses bäst efter att man har läst Stallo, då har man en bakgrundsbild och det är lättare att hänga med i handlingen i denna bok. Jag tycker dock att man inte riktigt fick svar på allting i denna bok, fick en känsla av att detta är bara början...

Tack till Albert Bonniers Förlag för recensionsexemplaret!

ENGLISH REVIEW

A wolf is captured and transported south. But, the car never reaches its destination and the men who come into contact with the animal will it end badly for. Anders is undergoing a transformation that scares away his family and one day is a strange woman is in his bed. She speaks of a village in northern Lapland, which has been devastated by lots of suicides. Now other people have moved in there and she wants them to go. But, of course, they can come empty-handed.

Susso and Diana were once close friends. Then, they drifted apart. Diana moved to the coast and became a doctor, Susso stayed and became nothing. Besides troll hunters of course. At least that was what the newspapers wrote. When Diana's travels to her old friend who has isolated herself outside of Vittangi doesn't she suspect that she gets into something she can never get out from and that it will have devastating consequences for those she loves.

Sussos mother Gudrun has for years know that the fragile peace will one day be broken and when she learns that child abductor Lennart Brösth has escaped and she is sure that he will come for Susso who was the one behind his arrest and the end of his sect.

Stalpi is one of the Sami languages, many words for wolf and it's on the tracks from this gray creature that plot revolves in Stefan Spjuts new novel. This stand-alone story is connected to Stallo and it's a second part of the Norrbotten legend of Susso Myrén and the curse that hangs over her family.

If you believe in trolls then you are just weird, but if you know that they exist, then you are cursed.

**********

Stalpi is the sequel to Stallo that came a few years ago. Ten years have passed since child kidnapper Lennart Brösth was caught in the first book, now he has escaped from and Gudrun is worried that he will attack Susso when she was the one that destroyed his sect and the one behind his capture. Susso however, has withdrawn from the world and lives in a little cottage far from everything and everyone. But, then Gudrun encounters Susso's childhood friend Diana and Gudrun asks Diana to go and check Susso. Unfortunately, Diana manages to get there in the worst time possible.

Stalpi is an interesting albeit complex book, I must admit that even though it was only a few months ago that I read Stallo was the beginning of the book a little disjointed, and it took a while for me to remember who all these people what and what happened in Stallo. It did not help that the Norwegian characters spoke Norwegian in the book. I like the language, but reading it stops, unfortunately, the books flow. However, contrary to Stallo did this book feel much more structured without a lot of unnecessary details. Nonetheless, I was not so interested in Anders story in this book. I much preferred Susso and Diana's storyline.

I think that Stalpi is best read after you have read Stallo, then you have the background, and it is easier to keep up with the plot of this book. However, I did feel that not everything was answered in this book and it feels like this is just the beginning...

Thanks to Albert Bonniers Förlag for the review copy!

[Liinukka · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at about 60%
I tried. I forced myself to read over 200 pages even while I wasn't enjoying any of it, but there no point. This book isn't for me. Staalo was ok, it wasn't mind-blowing but I liked it, but this...a real let down. I liked it so little I might even say it only deserves one star, maybe 1,5.
***
Tämä oli iso pettymys. Spjutin edellisestä kirjasta pidin. Ei se maatajärisyttävä ollut, mutta eheä ja hyvin rakennettu tarina, johon mytologia ja kansanperinen-elementit oli integroitu todella taitavasti. Tässä kirjassa ne jäävät hatarina taka-alalle ja tuntuvat suorastaan tuhlaukselta. Niin hyviä ideoita, mutta niin huonosti hyödynnettyjä. En edes tajunnut, että Susi on jatko-osa Staalolle ja että edellinen kirja olisi ollut hyvä lukea uudelleen, jotta olisi saanut palautettua mieleen sen tapahtumia ja henkilöitä.
Inhorealismi on tässä kirjassa isossa roolissa, mikä oli suurimpia syitä sille, etten kyennyt nauttimaan lukemisesta yhtään. Tietyssä määrin se olisi sopinut tarinan tyyliin, mutta tässä mikään ei oikeuta sen määrää. Tarina on muutenkin hyvin epätasainen ja sekava eikä millään lailla nautinnollinen saati kiinnostava lukea. Ainut asia, josta pidin oli kerronta. Se on hyvää - kerrottu tarina ei.
Jossain sivun 250 paikkeilla päätin lopulta, että antaa olla, en nauti lukemisesta yhtään ja pahimmillaan tämä kirja saattaa tuhota lukuinnon pitkäksikin aikaa, joten päätin lopettaa lukemisen siihen. Loppuun kurkistin sen verran, ettei se jää kaivelemaan, mutta ei kyllä tee mieli lukea enää yhtään enempää Spjutin kirjoja tämän jälkeen.
Annan kirjoille todella harvoin kahta tähteä huonompia arvioita, mutta tämän kohdalla pettymys ja tasonlasku edellisestä oli niin kova, että 1,5 tähteäkin tuntuu anteliaalta.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

En av mina största pet peeves när det kommer till böcker är när frågor inte får svar eller handlingen inte får någon direkt upplösning. Den här innehåller båda dessa saker, vilket naturligtvis drar ner betyget en aning.
Men den är också sådär makabert obehaglig emellanåt, människor kan vara minst lika läbbiga som troll, så det är ju ett plus.
Så för att kompensera så blev det ett precis i mitten betyg.

[Lizajakobsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lika bra som Stallo. Köksbänksrealismen lika spännande som trollen. Finns en anledning till att Knausgård gillade dem.

[Kristin Kvilhaug · Rating 3 out of 5]

Om ikke det kommer en oppfølger blir jeg sur.

[Ken Fredette · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought I would be happy with this book but it ran together so much I had a hard time finishing it. Stefan would have a paragraph going with some people and then the next paragraph he would be talking about other people. I couldn't keep track. The premise was a good one but it was hard to follow. The ending wasn't there with any meaning.

[Isabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5. Det her va en skuffende oppfølger…

[Sarah B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found parts of this book very confusing... perhaps it's something from the translation into English or maybe some cultural thing I'm unaware of. Either way it affected my enjoyment of this book. And it's large enough that I'm taking away a star in rating.. when I started reading it, I was just simply very confused as to what was going on and what the characters were talking about. This went on for just a bit over the first 100 pages. After that it got better and I began to grasp the plot and who these people are. But 100 pages is a lot to read in puzzlement. A lot of people would just give up. But I read about half the book in a single sitting...I did get hooked on it and that says something too.

Another thing I noticed that adds to the confusion is that each chapter is with a different character. But the chapters just start and you are often trying to guess which character that chapter is with! Whose viewpoint? The author should have added the character's name at the top of each chapter as it would have greatly helped! Sadly that does not exist.

This book has a very unique view point on trolls. The premise is that trolls can be around you but you don't realize they are trolls! And there are plenty of them in here. They are not the huge, lumbering giant-like creatures you see in movies. Some in fact are very tiny and others are indeed large but they are not what you expect them to be. Of course I don't want to ruin the surprise of how they look...but forget the trolls you see in Harry Potter or in Lord of the Rings. The book has lots of action, danger and unexpected twists. Some really twisted scenes too (especially the thing with the mask).

The trolls in this book create a ton of havoc, trouble, heart ache, fear and confusion.. they are not very nice. They tear a few families lives apart and believe they are in the right. They can easily turn intelligent people into blubbering idiots who stare off into space and have no idea what's going on. Worse they have their own factions and they don't seem to like each other. The human characters, people like Anders, Susso, Diana and Lennart, are just unfortunately caught up in the mess along with some other poor suckers. The book can be violent and yet a bit sad. But I did enjoy reading it, maybe because it was different.

I liked some of the characters. Oddly enough, I think I liked the squirrel the most? I guess I'm just a person who likes animals. 😀

The main plot revolves around a lady trying to rescue her friend Susso and Susso believes in trolls. But surely that is madness...or is it?

So if you can get past the confusion at the beginning of the book, you might enjoy it. I'd probably rate it 3.5 stars.

[Tero Vainio · Rating 2 out of 5]

Staalo oli kiehtova kauhuromaani, tämä sen jatko-osa ei niinkään. Oudon maailman rakennus saa antaa tilaa sekavalle ja väkivaltaiselle Napapiiri-westernille. Paras kohta: "Ne ovat varmaankin kahdeksantoista karaatin kultaa. Suomessa standardi on vain neljätoista karaattia. Suomessa kaikki on vähän huonommin."

[Jenny Kangasvuo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mmehh. Tykkäsin Spjutin edellisestä kirjasta eli Staalosta paljon: päähenkilöt olivat raikkaita, juoni arvaamaton, pohjoista mytologiaa oli käytetty oivaltavasti ja moninaiset kertojat tekivät tarinasta yllätyksellisen.

Sudesta puolestaan puuttuivat mielenkiintoiset hahmot, kertojien vaihtelu teki juonesta vain sekavan, juonenkäänteinä oli ällöttävää väkivaltaa ja loppuratkaisukin oli tylsä deus ex machina. Ainoa plussa on se, että tarinan jännite kesti, ja luin viimeiset sata sivua putkeen pystymättä lopettamaan. Loppuratkaisun laimeus kuitenkin lässäytti jännitteen pahasti.

Lisäksi juonessa oli useita epäloogisuuksia, joista jäi sellainen fiilis, että kirjoittaja ei ole miettinyt juonenkäänteiden seurauksia aivan loppuun asti. Kaikkea ei voi ratkoa ja selittää sillä, että "no peikot vaan pystyy vaikuttamaan ihmisen mieleen".

[Ronkeli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man måste ju läsa Stallo först om man vill njuta av den här boken. Och man ska läsa Stalpi snart efter det. Jag minns inte riktig vad hände i Stallo och Spjut skriver så att det kan vara svårt att veta vem "han" eller "hon" är just nu, men 4/5 stjärnor får den här boken i alla fall.

[Alex]

Nej, bara nej. Varför envisas författaren med att förspilla ett så intressant koncept

[Hazel · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF.

[Emma Giles (byo.book) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Super meh.

[Les Gehman · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is really unfortunate that this book did not live up to its promise. The basic idea of trolls living among us is fascinating, and the story within this book is really very good. However, there are still a number of problems that keep this book from reaching its potential.

Trolls comprises a large number of short chapters with each chapter following a different character (and there are a lot of characters). Unfortunately, it gets really confusing as to which character each chapter is describing. Sometimes it took me nearly a page to determine the point of view of a chapter. Also, the vast number of different characters, who are only marginally introduced, if at all, make it difficult to follow the thread of the story sometimes.

One character is written in a first person narrative, while the remaining characters are written in a third person narrative. This isn't necessarily bad, but didn't seem to serve any purpose.

Since the book jumps from character to character, and place to place so often it is hard to follow the basic thread of the story. However, Trolls succeeds in creating a very mysterious and creepy environment which I really enjoyed.

All-in-all, not a bad book. It just failed to reach its potential. (Also, I have to wonder if some of the difficulties were due to the translation.)

(Note: a copy of this book was provided to my by the publisher as a LibraryThing Early Reviewer.)

[Jacob Berg · Rating 1 out of 5]

Inte alls lika tät och spännande som första boken. Har svårt att hänga med i tid och rum, vilka karaktärer som befinner sig var och när. Detta kan bero på läsaren eller så beror det på författaren. Susso falnar som huvudperson och blir intetsägande, både i bokstavlig mening men också för mig som läsare. Detta kan visserligen förklaras av hur - och framförallt med vem - hon har levt mellan böckerna. Ett sådant öde som hennes borde dock beröra oavsett hur apatiskt hon framträder, men jag känner mig likgiltig.
Det känns heller inte speciellt trovärdigt att Diana enträget väljer att riskera hela sin tillvaro och sin familj enkom av motivet att hjälpa sin barndomskompis. Hade en latent romantisk förälskelse uppdagats hade jag kunnat acceptera det.

Ljuspunkten i boken var ärligt talat de två udda herrarna Harr och hans kompis, som jag nu inte minns namnet på. Vilka är de? Där vaknade nyfikenheten.

Synd på ett så magiskt universum! Första boken var rasande bra.

[Susanna · Rating 1 out of 5]

No mutta hyi! Ällöttävä. Ja täysin mahdoton näköjään ymmärtää jos ei ole Staaloa pohjalla... Olisin halunnut pitää tästä, mutta niin ei nyt käynyt. Samperi, että olivatkin osanneet tehdä erittäin loistavan takakannen ja haksahdin tähän.

[Johan Persson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tio år har gått sedan Susso Myrén räddade ett barn från stallofolket. Trollen som gömmer sig i djurskepnader. Nu har Lennart, ledaren för sekten som tjänade stallo, rymt och han är ute efter hämnd.

Det tog mig lång tid att ta mig igenom uppföljaren till Stallo, trots att den är 200 sidor kortare. Delvis för att den ibland är seg och för mycket av en transportsträcka, men oftare faktiskt för att jag kände sådant obehag inför den.

Till skillnad från första delen blir Stalpi snabbt mycket otäck. Extra mycket eftersom man vid det här laget känner karaktärerna väl. Jag tycker om Susso, vårdbiträdet som liksom fastnat i livet, blev kvar efter gymnasiet när kompisarna flyttade för att plugga, och verkar ganska nöjd med det. Jag vill inte att otäcka saker ska hända henne, eller hennes mamma Gudrun, en typ av rivig norrbottnisk tant som är enkel att känna igen. Men otäckt blir det. Framåt slutet får Gudruns sambo Roland, en rejäl jordnära gubbe som ibland verkar nästan trög, en större roll att spela och visar sig vara oväntat handlingskraftig.

De nya karaktärerna, Sussos vän Diana, Dianas make Håkan och veterinären Anders vars liv rasar samman när han stöter på ett väsen i form av en varg (Stalpi är ett samiskt ord för varg) är långt ifrån lika intressanta. Den här bokserien borde handla om familjen Myrén och hur fotot som Gudruns naturfotograf till pappa tog för länge sen plågat dem i generationer.

[Luci · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me, Stalpi was a book I bought when traveling just to have something to occupy myself on the road. I was not expecting much of it and only realized that this was a sequel after reading about third of it, when I still couldn't figure out what was going on. It was a confusing experience, to say at least. I attributed most of it to the fact, that I didn't read the first book, but even with this consideration, it was hard to enjoy.
Long paragraphs that jumped from one thought to another were not the worst thing, even though it was getting annoying after some time. Untitled chapters, where I spent at least half a page deciphering who's point of view we're actually reading, were much worse. Simple name or something that would hint on who's talking would definitely make the whole experience more enjoyable.
I usually like to read different types of Scandinavian literature, be it mystery or thrillers. I enjoy the different writing style, the dark environment, mysterious storytelling etc. But it certainly takes some skills to walk the fine line between few enjoyable hints and leaving the reader groping in the dark.
All and all, it was an interesting book with some unfortunate flaws that somehow ruin the overall enjoynment. It was hard to keep track of the timeline throughout the book, let alone through one chapter. The premise was promising and I was interested in how it will all unfold, but the ending was a huge let down. I wasn't expecting anything special, but after everything the author tried to build up, the conclusion was disapointing

[Aidi Jen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I rarely DNF a book, and I forced myself to finish this one—purely because the beginning was promising.
The opening really gripped me, and I was excited… until everything slowly started unraveling. That’s when I discovered this is actually book two in a duology—but there’s no indication anywhere on the cover or description that this is part of a series. That completely set me up for confusion.
Then came the constant POV switches, with zero chapter headings or character indicators. I had to play detective every few pages just to figure out whose perspective I was reading. It was like a game of “guess who” that never ended—and not in a fun way. The cast of characters was huge, and many of them clearly had backstories or connections established in book one, which I had no context for whatsoever.
By the time I realized how lost I was, I was already halfway through and too stubborn to quit. I even bought the audiobook just to push through this mess. And for what? No resolution. A terrible ending. Nothing made sense by the end, and I was left frustrated and unsatisfied.
I’m genuinely angry about this reading experience. If you're considering picking this up—double-check that you’ve read book one first. Otherwise, prepare for a confusing, overcrowded, and ultimately disappointing ride.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm really not sure how I feel about this book. I received a free print ARC from the publisher via LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program in exchange for my honest review. I didn't realize when I requested this that it was actually a sequel. Trolls is set 10 years after the end of Stallo, and I can't help but think Stallo must have more background information, particularly Troll lore, that would have been helpful to understanding the events of this book. I spent the majority of the 456 pages of this novel feeling rather lost and struggling to keep some of the characters straight. I don't know how much of that is an issue with the translation or a problem with the source material.

That being said, I found this book difficult to put down. Yes, it was rather slow and confusing. I definitely would have like more Troll lore instead of having to figure out on my own that the trolls are basically shapeshifters, come in all sizes (from bears to mice), and are mostly cruel, evil creatures. What I was able to figure out was fascinating. Mostly, though, the book was unsettling, which is a good thing for an October read. The pacing seemed a bit off. There would long sections that were rather dull, but then something horrific would happen. I don't think it works as a stand-alone, but I'd have to read Stallo to know that for sure. I'm just not sure I can stomach the gore that I'm sure Stallo will have, if I can even find a copy in the US.

This is a book that will get under your skin, though. I feel almost as though the trolls have gotten into my mind and I'm going to have to find Stallo somewhere, even if I have to order it from the UK. So, yes. I have to say that I recommend it. It will definitely stick with you long after you close the cover.

[Catherine Whitaker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just nonsense. Things seemed fine at the beginning of the book but it was like several different unconnected stories were happening and none of them were being explained at all.

Huge events happened "off screen" and were referred to in vague terms during whole chapters where nothing happened aside from conversations with no real substance.

Characters were named without description or described without names, so even if you were reading about the same person you'd never have known that was the case. Not one single person in the book had any kind of storyline finished.

Everything was a loose end, made worse by the fact that nothing had ever been clear in the first place. Absolutely bizarre book. It was like reading a bunch of unconnected thoughts scribbled down by someone on drugs who thought they were telling a story but had no idea what they were actually saying.

[Vackravyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not like this as much as Stallo. My problems were:
1. It was to disturbing/disgusting for my personal taste.
2. It felt too rushed. I preferred the slower pace of Stallo.
3. It felt incomplete. It left me with a lot of unanswered questions and sometimes the transition between scenes left wondering if I missed to read something.
4. The characters motivations were not fully explained. Like why did stava help Diana? Why and how did the bear die? Etc.

Stefan spjut is a skilled writer and the story is still intriguing, exciting and new but it left me a little to confused. I'll hope the next installment will answer them.

[Maria (miamaria_348) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stalpi är uppföljaren till Stallo som kom för ett par år sedan. Jag verkligen älskade Stallo med de nordiska övernaturliga väsen som fanns i boken. I denna bok så fortsätter berättelsen. Det tog ett bra tag för mig att komma ihåg alla personer då det var ett tag sedan jag läste första boken. Den känns lite segare än den första men jag gillar att få veta vad som hänt med Susso och hennes vänner. Om det skulle bli fler böcker så hoppas jag att de inte är lika svåra att komma in i som denna som var bra men saknade det där speciella som Stallo hade.

[Nina Eriksen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elsket Stallo, og likte Stalpi veldig godt. Spjut har en måte å formidle på som gjør at jeg ikke setter spørsmålstegn bak om det finnes troll, jeg godtar det bare som den naturligste del av verden. Jeg synes kanskje Stalpi var noe forvirrende til tider, fordi det var lenge siden jeg hadde lest Stallo, og mye var glemt siden da. En liten oppfriskning av både karakterer og handling hadde gjort seg i forkant.
Fem stjerner fordi jeg virkelig liker universet han har skapt, troverdigheten med det, og fordi jeg virkelig håper det kommer flere bøker i serien som går dypere inn i trollenes mytologi.

[JP · Rating 2 out of 5]

What if trolls did exist, in the shape-shifting form spanning both humans and all types and sizes of woodland creatures, with powers to nudge the human psyche? I liked the originality and many of the plot devices, but too many other factors limited my overall experience with this book. Although the characters were strong, there were too many to get to know well. Moreover, because the characters could change form and the chapters changed over quickly, the reader frequently has to work to figure out who is currently in focus. It was still an enjoyable read, but it wasn't overly captivating, and it didn't finish strong to me.

[Merel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sarjan ensimmäisen osan lukemisesta on jo useampi vuosi, joten en enää muistanut hahmoista ja tapahtumista juuri mitään.

Tämä toinen osa tuntui todella sekavalta ja juoneltaan mitäänsanomattomalta. Ihan liikaa dialogia, josta ei saa selvää kuka puhuu, ja moniin asioihin viitataan vain jotenkin ylimalkaisesti, joten kerronnallisesti tämä ei toimi. Kauheasti pedataan jotain tapahtuvaksi, mutta sitten loppu onkin epämääräinen ja tylsä.

Tämän perusteella en välitä lukea enempää kirjailijan tuotantoa, jos näitä tämän sarjan kirjoja tulee vielä lisää. 1,5 tähteä olisi ehkä osuvampi kuin 2.

[Grant DeArmitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

What Spjut did really well with this novel is building a cold, alien mood. Its worldview is next to hopeless, which is an interesting choice for stories about magic creatures living in the forest. But the flipside of that is that his characters felt really underdeveloped. I couldn't quite track their arcs and didn't get resolution for any of them by the end.

This book would've worked better as a medieval painting - haunting, strange, but ultimately unmoving.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeg er så i tvil om hvor mange stjerner denne skal få! Likte jeg den? Jo, i den grad det er mulig å like en bok med så groteske detaljer at jeg nærmest kjente stanken av uvaskede kropper, sår og det som verre var ... Jo - jeg likte den. Ikke like godt som Stallo, men likevel. Håper på en bok til om Susso & co, for slutten kom veldig brått på, historien føles ikke avsluttet.