First, thank you for sharing these reviews! I've been a fan of Sundberg's since at least 2014, and it's cool to see someone coming to it as a new fan now that she has so much more work (and of a very different nature). This is also just some really solid reviewing, i think you've summed up some things that work well and less well in SSSS better than I have ever been able to.
Personally (and this is very much agree to disagree, lol) Tuuri's death was a bigger blow to me than the other things you point out. Though I agree about a lot of stuff fizzling out toward the end of Book 1. I think while you (and tbh most of the fandom) find Lalli the most interesting character, I was really invested in Tuuri and her story. And while, as you point out, it was the perfect set up for tragedy, I just feel robbed of the rest of her story!! She had so much more to do.
What was the fanfic you saw? I browsed the tag a few years ago but don't remember anything catching my eye. I should give it another look though.
Finally -- I think I know what you mean about tonal inconsistency in DWJ, i found it offputting in *Archer's Goon* and *The Homeword Bounders*. Sometimes she's just weird. (I think this weirdness was *perfectly balanced* in *Deep Secret* though, it's my favorite of her books for this and several other reasons!) I don't remember having issues with it in Darklord of Derkholm?? TBH I don't remember the book well as a whole, but what I do remember was a parodic tone that worked for me pretty consistently, along with a family adventure story that I really liked.
But different strokes for different folks and all that. Again, thanks! I really appreciate your reviews here.
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Tuuri, SSSS fanfic, Dark Lord of Derkholm etc
Date: 2022-12-13 09:14 am (UTC)Personally (and this is very much agree to disagree, lol) Tuuri's death was a bigger blow to me than the other things you point out. Though I agree about a lot of stuff fizzling out toward the end of Book 1. I think while you (and tbh most of the fandom) find Lalli the most interesting character, I was really invested in Tuuri and her story. And while, as you point out, it was the perfect set up for tragedy, I just feel robbed of the rest of her story!! She had so much more to do.
What was the fanfic you saw? I browsed the tag a few years ago but don't remember anything catching my eye. I should give it another look though.
Finally -- I think I know what you mean about tonal inconsistency in DWJ, i found it offputting in *Archer's Goon* and *The Homeword Bounders*. Sometimes she's just weird. (I think this weirdness was *perfectly balanced* in *Deep Secret* though, it's my favorite of her books for this and several other reasons!) I don't remember having issues with it in Darklord of Derkholm?? TBH I don't remember the book well as a whole, but what I do remember was a parodic tone that worked for me pretty consistently, along with a family adventure story that I really liked.
But different strokes for different folks and all that. Again, thanks! I really appreciate your reviews here.