The troll skull (Innbundet)

Series: Edvard Frost ekspedisjoner 1

Author:

Alexander Løken

Norwegian title: Trollskallen
Author:
Binding: Innbundet
Year: 2014
Pages: 208
Publisher: Cappelen Damm
Språk: Bokmål
Series: Edvard Frost ekspedisjoner
Serienummer: 1
ISBN/EAN: 9788202426507
Age: 10 - 14
Overview Trollskallen

Christiania, 1887

The eccentric collector has come into possession of a mystical skull, and sends an expedition force to the deepest forests of Østerdal to investigate whether the skull could be that of a troll.

14-year-old orphan and errand boy Edvard Frost suddenly finds himself on a train in his role as Professor Wolf's assistant and the guardian of the skull.

Edvard is sure of himself on the streets of Christiania, but among the pine trees, mountains and tough village girls he feels isolated. Out here is a life that he never thought he'd experience – and creatures he never believed existed.

Norway's history teems with trolls and wood nymphs, but where have they gone? Why don't we see them any longer? Where can they be hiding?

Stylish and brutal
‘The winning factor in Løken’s work is the way the narrative and novel form are situated well over 100 years back in time. It creates a retro vibe that is just as full of stylish charm as it is of suspense, and a good dose of troll combat! Most thrilling, however, is how terrifying and quite simply foul the trolls are […] He makes sure to bestow the trolls with a threatening presence that they have long lacked. All the while, Løken has created a highly interesting group to embark upon the dangerous expedition. […] And it is soon revealed that Alexander Løken commands a style and language that is splendidly suited to dealing with the book’s content. Injecting life back into trolls within Norwegian thrillers for children is no simple task, but he carries this off with aplomb. Trollskallen is a characteristically Norwegian fantasy novel, just as original as it is expertly accomplished.’
HAMAR ARBEIDERBLAD

‘Løken is skilled at building up excitement, and the trepidation quickly creeps up on the reader whether in rainy city streets or deep, dark forests. The author's efficient use of language has much to commend it: concise sentences and good use of perspective frequently make the reader jump when surprises emerge from unexpected places. […] I’m glad that the conclusion paves the way for a sequel.’
Dagbladet

A brutal expedition in a Norwegian wonderland
‘Debut author Alexander Løken has written a spirited thriller that makes use of content from Norwegian fairytales and narrative patterns with their foundation in European storytelling traditions. The novel exists comfortably within the genre boundaries on both a stylistic and thematic level. There’s barely a moment for the reader to catch their breath – from start to finish the novel seems to whizz by as good and evil once again pit themselves against one another. […] The plot is convincingly composed, with several threads that must be drawn together; we must hope that the small remaining knots in the intertwining web of narrative threads are detangled in a sequel. Løken has created a thrilling and appealing world.’
Barnebokkritikk.no

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More books by Alexander Løken:

Reviews Trollskallen

Stilig og brutalt

"Vinnergrepet hos Løken er å legge handlingen – og romanformen – drøyt hundre år tilbake i tida. Det skaper en retro-stemning som er like full av stilig sjarm som av spenning, og en bra dose rå trollkamp. Det mest spennende, er hvor skremmende, og rent ut sagt fæle, trollene er blitt. [...] I mangt er det en radikal gjenskaping av den norske troll-mytologien som Alexander Løken legger fram. Og han sørger for å gi trollene et truende nærvær som det er lenge siden sist de hadde. Samtidig har Løken skapt et særs interessant lag som drar ut på den farefulle troll-ekspedisjonen. [...] Og det viser seg snart at Alexander Løken behersker et språk og en stil som er ypperlig egnet til å hanskes med dette stoffet. Å revitalisere trollene i en norsk barneskrekkroman er ingen enkel oppgave, men han utfører den med glans. «Trollskallen» er en særegen norsk fantasyroman, og den er like original som den er dyktig gjennomført."

Geir Vestad, Hamar Arbeiderblad

Trollenes tid

"Løken er god til å bygge opp spenning, uhyggen kommer raskt snikende, i regntunge bygater som i mørk skog. Det effektive språket har mye av æren for det: Knappe setninger og god perspektivbruk, som stadig får deg til å skvette når det kommer overraskelser fra uventet hold. [...] jeg er glad for at avslutningen legger opp til en fortsettelse."

Marie L. Kleve, Dagbladet

Brutal ekspedisjon i norsk eventyrland

"Debutanten Alexander Løken har skrevet en fartsfylt spenningsroman som henter stoff fra norske undereventyr og narrative mønstre fra europeisk fortellertradisjon. Romanen holder seg både stilistisk og tematisk godt innenfor sjangergrensene. Her er knapt et hvileskjær – fra start til slutt går det som det suser, når godhet og ondskap atter en gang måler krefter. [...] Plottet er overbevisende komponert, det er etter hvert mange tråder som må knyttes sammen, og flokene som gjenstår får vi håpe blir nøstet opp i en oppfølger. Det er et tiltalende spenningsunivers Løken har skapt"

Ahmed Khaateb, Barnebokkritikk.no

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Author Alexander Løken

Alexander Løken (b. 1982), made his literary debut in 2014 with The Troll Skull (Trollskallen), the first book in the trilogy about the character Edvard Frost. The two following books were The Serpent´s egg (Ormeegget) in 2015) and The Wolf Hammer (Ulvehammeren) in 2016. The trilogy is timed at the end of the 19th century and the storylines include a lot of the classic Norwegian storytelling and mythology. The books are suitable for children who enjoy stories filled with action and knowledge.

The Dead can see you (De døde ser deg) published in 2017 is Løkens first book in the Young Adult segment. A both scary and interesting story about a society where your secrets are no longer your own.
Alexander Løken is a productive and creative writer with many more projects coming out in the years to come. He won the very first Bokslukerprisen for his debut, The Troll Skull in 2014.

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