As Red as Blood

The first two chapters portray a more interesting book than what it ended up being. There are some really well written parts, and some very flat parts. There were places where I wonder if there just wasn't a good way to translate it into English from Finnish the big twist for example I know Finnish doesn't use gendered pronouns so I'm curious how the whole Polar Bear pronoun thing worked originally. That said the plot itself is nothing special, something to drive the action but for me it's the writing style that really drives this book. Entertainment wise I'd say it's analogous to grabbing a random thriller movie off a shelf. Doesn't feel like time wasted, but not anything worth remembering.

Would not reread. Will read the sequel, not show more willing to commit to reading the whole trilogy yet. Would not recommend unprompted, and not sure what is stand out about the book enough that would prompt me to recommend it.

There was one bit that seemed unnecessarily cruel: Having the dead body be naked ontop of everything else just felt intensely degrading. While the book obviously knew it was cruel and I think was trying to say something on the topic of how women get treated in these situations, it ultimately didn't do enough work and just came off as a shock-value thing.

Update: The library only has the one book in the trilogy, and looking at reviews of the next book it sounds like the hanging questions don't really get tied up nicely. Not interesting enough to go hunt down two more books. show less

As Red As Blood by Salla Simukka is an intriguing fast paced mystery that will introduce young adult readers into what a grown up crime novel is like. Filled with compelling and intriguing characters and enough twists and turns to make the most jaded mystery reader lose their mind.

"...As she sewed, gazing out at the snow, the needle pricked her finger, bringing forth three drops of blood, which fell onto the snow. Seeing the beauty of the red upon the white, she thought within herself, 'Would that I had a child as white as snow, as red as blood, and as black as the wood in this window frame..."

In the cold Artic winter, seventeen year old Lumikki Andersson arrives at school. She is a solitary figure, not part of the crowd but not unique show more enough to be separate from it. Separated from her parents, she lives alone in a studio apartment and attends a prestigious art school. She blends in quietly, unless she wanted, no one would ever notice her. And that is how she wants it to be. To blend in. To not be noticed. To be on her own. Only that is about to all change. Stepping into the dark room of her photography classroom she stares at all the paper hanging and drying in the dark. Euros. Five hundred euro bills hanging and drying and there are dozens of them. And the stench. The smell of blood that fills the room. She rushes out and sits on her own. What can she do? What should she do? Does she call the principal? The police? Or does she do nothing? Deciding to take one of the bills to the principal she returns to the dark room, to find it empty. No money. Just the old rancid smell of blood on the blood. And there was the boy, the one with the backpack who just rushed past her. The one who never carries a backpack.

Everything changes for Lumikki as the money and the rich kids and the mob all want to know what she knows. Who the money belongs to and why was it drenched in blood?

Lumikki's solitary life is about to break open and everything she tried to build, to hide from her past is about to come rushing back. If she can survive long enough.

As Red as Blood is a well written crime novel set in the Nordic winter with young adult characters, which unfortunately will lend itself to comparisons to The Girl With Dragon Tattoo and that is just too bad. Because those kind of comparisons are just bad, lazy marketing. It is not a young adult Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and Lumikki is not Lizbeth. What it is, is a very well plotted crime novel that is quick paced and built upon strong characters.

Lumikka is smart, damaged and fiercely independent. Having been abandoned or betrayed by her parents at a young age and abused by family members, though how she was betrayed and how she was abused is vague in this story, she has become self-reliant. Living on her own and moving on with her life. She stumbles upon this mystery and though reluctant at first, is drawn into solving the puzzle of the bloody money. The young new friends that are involved are foolish and immature and don't realize how much trouble they are really in until it is too late. Until it is up to Lumikka to somehow save them all.

I found the writing crisp and moving, something that can be lost in a book that is translated. The plot well crafted and strong. As Red as Blood did come to something of an abrupt end and for me I would have liked something more fleshed out, but overall a well written novel that if not for the age of the characters, would not be pigeon holed as a young adult book.

A very good read. show less

So let's call Lumikki Andersson what she rightfully is, shall we? She's a bad-ass. Seriously. When I read the synopsis for this book I was definitely hoping for an action packed story. For something raw and intriguing. While I didn't exactly get everything that I was waiting for, I did fall unexpectedly in love with Lumikki's character. This isn't a girl who lets others take advantage of her. Oh, no. She's quick-thinking, cunning and all around interesting. If there's one thing I can take away from this book, it's that I'd follow Lumikki into danger any day.

Her fellow characters, on the other hand, I think I could have done without. I actually did a dual-read of this book. Half the time I was listening to it on audio, and the other half show more of the time I was reading the ebook. Sometimes an audio is a saving grace for me when I'm not exactly in love with a story. The narrator has the opportunity to make or break things for me. In this case, both felt about the same. Lumikki's so called "friends" were exactly what you'd expected the rich to be. Bratty, self-involved, and really tough to like. I never felt a true connection between them and Lumikki, and so I couldn't really invest myself in her willingness to put everything on the line for them.

Which brings me to the story itself. As Red As Blood fell in middle ground territory for me. While there were definitely parts I enjoyed, it never took me over the top. When things were moving quickly, I'd find myself start to ease into the story. The entire time that Lumikki was in the heart of the action, I was absolutely ready for more. Then things would pan to the other characters, or a flash back would sneak its way in, and I was once again just waiting for more action. The fast paced portions felt the most vivid, the most well fleshed out, and I craved more.

It's a definite possibility that the next book in this series will have more of the forward movement I wanted. Truth be told, I liked Lumikki enough that I'd be willing to give the sequel a chance. Although this wasn't my favorite read of the year, there's quite a bit in As Red As Blood that holds promise. I'd say giving it a shot if it's on your TBR. show less

Lumikki Andersson is what many might describe as a loner. She purposely stays out of other people's business and problems. To do otherwise will just lead to trouble that she knows she doesn't need. But when she ends up in the middle of a life-or-death situation that three careless classmates stumbled into, she finds she has no choice but to see it through to the end. And the danger runs deeper than any of them can even imagine...

The overall story arc here is interesting. Action starts right away and pulls the reader into the world of these characters. And it's a plot that I know I found I wanted to see to the end from the first few pages. But there are a few things that just didn't quite settle for me. First, Lumikki is just a high show more school student but she acts like a highly-trained super agent at times, which I found difficult to accept. Second, the resolution seems a bit too tidy and abrupt for such a complicated story. But it is an entertaining and interesting read. It's still a page turner even with those reservations. So I'd suggest giving it a read if you like suspense.

[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.] show less

This book was totally amazing and it really lived up to its reputation. The fact that it is set to happen in the city that I was born in and have lived most of my life, is just a huge plus. It enabled me to live within the book even more deeply than I normally do, I totally saw Lumikki walking in the streets with mind's eyes and it was something truly special I have to say.
Other than that, the plot was absolutely brilliant and it hooked me to it until the very end even if it was a bit unlikely to happen in the little Finland... although somehow it seems that nowadays everything is possible anywhere in the world.
I loved Lumikki as a character, she was different when compared to the usual kind of heroine and I truly found her very show more intriguing.
All in all, I can't wait to read the next book in the trilogy. show less

As Red as Blood is the first book in a fabulously successful young adult series from Finland called The Snow White Trilogy. The books tell the story of Limukki Andersson whose name means Snow White, even though she would argue that she does not look like Snow White at all.

Limukki is not your ordinary high school senior. She’s hyper-alert to danger and has developed skills that would suit an espionage agent, all due to years of being terrorized in elementary and middle school. She may have reason to thank her childhood tormenters because those skills save her again and again after she accidentally stumbles into a deadly situation with murderous drug smugglers and clueless teenagers.

I liked Limukki and was rooting for her and will be show more reading the rest of the trilogy. So, in terms of what it needed to do, interest me enough to want to read the trilogy, As Red as Blood is a success. However, it is a bit clunky. All the skills Limukki learned from her childhood trauma were just a bit over-the-top and the actual persecutors, when revealed, turned out to overblown in all the foreshadowing, a years-long problem that perhaps could have been addressed with one talk with her parents. Maybe not, but we will never know because she never tried.

The resolution was also a bit disappointing. Limukki showed a lot of courage and intelligence, and deserved to be awake and conscious during the wrap up and clean up. I am sure it’s no spoiler that she survived since there are two more books. There’s even some foreshadowing of what they may be–a parental secret, a beloved ex-boyfriend.

But in the present, in the action of the book, Limukki is endearing. Smart, capable, and fierce. She is prepared to stand alone, but also to help a friend, or even, a new acquaintance. I like her.

I like young adult fiction. There’s a bold, creative energy in so many young adult series. As Red as Blood does feature a bold, unique character in Limukka and I am hoping in the following books, we leave behind the melodramatic characterizations of her childhood.

I received a review copy of As Red as Blood from the publisher through Blogging for Books. It continues with As White as Snow and As Black as Ebony. The second will be released in the U.S. in October and I am sure the third will come in 2018.

https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2017/02/12/as-red-as-blood-by-salla-... show less

I received a copy of this book through Amazon Kindle First.
While this book is ostensibly a retelling of Snow White, that shouldn't dissuade you from giving it a chance. It isn't one of the typical modernized retellings. I thought the story was okay. It probably would appeal to high school students, though I found it a little unbelievable. The main character is a little too lucky and insightful for a teenager.
There were some repetitive sentences / statements. The style was also a little inconsistent in places. Maybe it is a result of the translation.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but I'm not going to look for the other books in the trilogy.