Title: The Girl Who Played with Fire
Author: Stieg Larsson
First published June 1, 2006
503 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780307269980 (ISBN10: 0307269981)
Rating: 4.25
Overview
In Peter David’s Spider-Man, readers are taken on an exhilarating ride through the life of the beloved Marvel superhero. Orphaned at a young age, Peter Parker is raised by his Aunt May and Uncle Ben in Queens, New York.
He’s a studious teenager who longs for the attention of the beautiful Mary Jane Watson. But when he is bitten by a genetically altered spider, everything changes.
Suddenly, Peter is gifted with incredible powers and becomes Spider-Man!
Follow Spider-Man as he navigates the challenges of having extraordinary abilities, all while fighting to save innocent lives from danger. Despite his heroic actions, the media tears him apart, leaving Spider-Man to struggle with his newfound fame.
The ultimate test comes when he faces off against his archnemesis, the Green Goblin, high above the streets of New York. Will Spider-Man be able to keep his vow to fight crime and save countless lives?
Find out in this action-packed adventure.
About the Author
Stieg Larsson, also known as Karl Stig-Erland Larsson, was a notable Swedish journalist and writer until his passing in 2004. During his tenure as a journalist and editor of Expo magazine, Larsson played a critical role in uncovering and documenting extreme right and racist organizations in Sweden.
He left behind a legacy of unpublished thrillers and manuscripts when he passed away at the age of 50. The first three books, including The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, were posthumously published and became international bestsellers.
At the age of 15, Larsson witnessed a rape and was unable to prevent it. This traumatic experience haunted him throughout his life, and he later named the heroine in his Millennium trilogy after the girl who was raped, Lisbeth.
Larsson’s work often explores the theme of sexual violence against women.
One of Larsson’s personal quotes reads, “To seek revenge for yourself or your friends is not only a right but an absolute duty.”
Editoral Review
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson is a gripping thriller and the second in the Millenium series. Larsson was a Swedish journalist and author who wrote these novels before his untimely death in 2004, leaving behind a legacy of page-turning mysteries with fiercely independent women as the lead characters.
This novel highlights the social problems of Sweden, such as organized crime, human trafficking, and political cover-ups. Set in Stockholm, the story’s protagonist, Lisbeth Salander, is accused of three murders and goes underground to solve the crime herself.
The novel revolves around the murders and the involvement of social elites and the Swedish government. Larsson’s style is fast-paced, and the themes he covers are dark and harrowing.
He addresses the corrupt Swedish justice system while also featuring strong women characters who face misogyny and violence. Larsson simultaneously introduces the intricate workings of computer hacking and investigation, making it a novel fitting for tech enthusiasts.
Larsson’s writing is skillfully crafted, vivid, and full of nuance with his ability to portray the Swedish social context of the novel with meticulous detail. The novel’s pacing is well-realized as the plot unfolds, and it involves unique twists that tie together the different arcs.
It keeps the reader engaged up until the nail-biting climax. The characters are also incredibly crafted, Salander being the star attraction.
She’s enigmatic, flawed, and skilled, and a character that many can admire. The supporting cast is equally given significant importance, and they all contribute to the unfolding of the story.
The book’s weakness is in its portrayal of women. While strong, Salanders character is also overtly sexualized, and her violent history sadistically highlighted.
However, these aspects of her character contribute to her backstory and her current lifestyle. The book does acknowledge its problematic stereotypes surrounding women.
The Girl Who Played with Fire is a fantastic thriller novel that keeps up its momentum from the beginning till the end. It’s a novel that stands on its own, but also flows naturally through the series.
Recommended for fans of psychological, nerve-wracking thrillers with a strong female lead. It receives 4 out of 5 stars, and it’s a worthy addition to any crime fiction or thriller fan’s library.
