Genre: Thriller
Author: Salla Simukka
Year Published: 2013
TWs: Violence, Death, Substances
My Rating: 3/5
During my visit to Finland, the snowy landscape was a breathtaking sight, resembling scenes plucked straight from a fairytale. The entire place was transformed into a winter wonderland, with every street adorned with sparkling Christmas lights and every shop dressed in festive decorations and every inch of me was frozen. Yet the sheer magic of the place was unforgettable, making it a time I wanted to hold onto.
When I stumbled upon a thriller in the form of a Snow White retelling set in Finland, it instantly took me back to the magical memories of that Finnish winter. It seemed like the perfect way to relive the extraordinary moments from my trip, weaving together the fantastical elements of the story with the magical experiences I had in Finland.
Once upon a time, there was a girl who learned to fear. Fairytales do not begin this way. Other, darker stories do.
Synopsis (spoiler-free, always)
Lumikki Andersson has always been quiet and invisible to those around her. She generally keeps to herself and does not interfere in other people’s matters. However, her life of solitude takes a sharp turn when she finds blood-stained money in the darkroom of her art school. This discovery throws her into a dangerous world of crime and corruption. She joins forces with three classmates—Elisa, Tuukka, and Kasper—who originally found the money at a party.
As she becomes entangled in a web of deceit and peril, Lumikki’s resourcefulness and intelligence are put to the test. Determined to uncover the truth behind the money, she navigates a treacherous path that leads her into the heart of a sinister drug ring led by the mysterious drug lord Polar Bear’, where her courage and quick thinking become her greatest assets.
The girl ran as those who run do not fear falling
My Thoughts
Lumikki, the main character, is an Introverted high school student who drew me in from the start. She’s intelligent yet cautious, more mature than her peers and a quick thinker. She reminded me of one of my childhood favourites (and probably yours too), Nancy Drew!
The first chapter of As Red as Blood grabs your attention right away, diving straight into the action with ‘in media res’, a writing style that I love. The book, translated from Finnish, generally flows well in its writing. However, despite being labelled as a thriller/mystery, after that great first chapter, the story takes a while to get thrilling or mysterious.
The first half was slightly dull and the characters (besides Lumikki) seemed underdeveloped and weren’t super memorable. The villains also seemed one-dimensional and in my opinion, got taken down way too easily by a bunch of teenagers. While the story picked up eventually, it seemed like Lumikki’s world was filled with extreme coincidences, and comparing this book to Six of Crows felt off.
However, I appreciated that this book isn’t just another fairy tale retelling but stands on its own. The Snow White references and wintry setting complement the story well. I think the plotline was cool but the execution needed a little work.
Despite its flaws, Lumikki’s independence and intelligence make it a compelling story and more than just a retelling. So, if you are looking for a light and interesting read, especially between heavier fantasy series, this book would be a good choice!
Happy Reading!
About the Author
Salla Simukka is a Finnish author who lives in the vibrant city of Tampere, Finland. In addition to writing, she also writes book reviews for newspapers like Helsingin Sanomat and Hämeen Sanomat. Simukka has been awarded the Topelius Prize as well as the Finland Prize.
Some other books by her include:
- Without a Trace
- Elsewhere
- Where It All Begins