Runaway Cone

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  • ID: 342
  • Added: 2025-09-10
  • Updated: 2025-09-10
  • Formats: 35
  • Reviews: 3
Reviews
barnesandnoble.com · Unknown · 2025-09-20
intriguing 4.17

Readers found 'Stallo' by Stefan Spjut to be a unique blend of crime and horror with Nordic folklore, praising its clever plot and well-developed characters. Some noted the slow start and multiple perspectives as challenges, but overall, the book's atmospheric setting and intriguing mystery kept them engaged.

Many readers were drawn to 'Stallo' for its unique combination of crime, horror, and Nordic folklore. The book's slow start and multiple perspectives were noted as potential drawbacks, with some readers finding it challenging to keep track of the various characters and their storylines. However, once the plot picked up, readers were captivated by the atmospheric setting and the intriguing mystery at the heart of the story. The characters, particularly Susso and Torbjörn, were praised for their down-to-earth nature and development throughout the book. The ending was also highlighted as a strong point, tying everything together nicely while leaving readers with something to think about. Despite some initial reservations, many readers found 'Stallo' to be a worthwhile and engaging read, with its blend of folklore and crime making for a unique and memorable experience.


Quick quotes

    Monsters. How could she possibly read that word without sneering? What she was looking for were hardly monsters, but still it was here among the monster researchers that she found her sympathisers...

    One of the best books I’ve read in quite sometime. A perfect mix of mystery , fantasy and folklore. The setting is evocative, you just want to curl up in a blanket with a hot beverage and stay safe from the things that lurk in the dark.

    This is one of the weirdest books I've read in a long time — weirdly wonderful, that is.

lovereading4kids.co.uk · Unknown · 2025-01-23
fascinating 4.00

The book is a fascinating and frightening exploration of Swedish folklore, focusing on the mythical creatures known as stallo. The strength of the novel lies in its well-developed characters and engaging premise, which draws readers in and keeps them invested throughout.

The book delves into Swedish folklore, centering around the mythical creatures called stallo. The narrative is built on a credible and engaging premise, making it both fascinating and somewhat frightening. The characters, such as Susso and her mother, as well as Seved and Börje, are well-developed and compelling. Their stories and interactions drive the plot forward, making it as much about the characters' lives as it is about the mythical elements. The book's strength lies in its ability to keep readers invested in the characters' fates, making it a compelling read.


Quick quotes

    Tapping into a wealth of Swedish folklore, Stefan Spjut has built a fascinating — if frightening — story around a credible and engaging premise.

    The strength of Stallo lies in the characters with which the novel is populated, from Susso and her mother, to Seved and Börje who act as keepers for the giant creatures of the novel’s title: stallo are mythical shape-shifting creatures from the far northern depths of Sweden.

    From the outset, we’re invested in the lives of these people, and it is as much our need to know who they are and what will become of them that propels us through the story as it is the relatively straightforward plot itself.

guardianbookshop.com · Unknown · 2024-01-25
chilling 4.00

Stefan Spjut's 'Stallo' is a slow-burning Scandi-horror novel that explores the disappearance of children and the belief in giant trolls, with humans being the most terrifying elements. The book is compared to 'Let The Right One In' for its restrained horror style.

Stefan Spjut's 'Stallo' begins with a young child disappearing into the woods in 1978, with the mother believing the child was taken by a giant troll. The story fast-forwards to 2004, where another boy disappears, and a photographer investigates the possibility of giant trolls. The novel is a slow-burning Scandi-horror that focuses on the terrifying nature of humans rather than the supernatural. It is compared to John Ajvide Lindqvist's 'Let The Right One In' for its restrained horror style. The book is praised for its atmospheric and chilling portrayal of folklore and the unknown.


Quick quotes

    It's the humans that are the most terrifying.

    Stefan Spjut's 'Stallo' begins, like the new hit Swedish TV series, 'Jordskott', with a young child disappearing into the woods.

    As ever, it's the humans that are the most terrifying.