After David Lagercrantz stepped away from the Millennium series, Swedish author Karen Smirnoff took up the challenge of carrying Lisbeth Salander’s story forward. Beginning in 2022, Smirnoff has published two novels that preserve the series’ signature blend of corruption, conspiracy, and moral fire while injecting her own distinct style. Let’s rank these two entries and see how they measure up.
Our Rankings
2) The Girl with Ice in Her Veins (2024)
Smirnoff’s second entry expands the world with a snowbound conspiracy in northern Sweden. The atmosphere is tense, the stakes personal, and Salander is once again caught between family ties and brutal enemies. While gripping, it feels slightly less streamlined than her debut, placing it at number two.
1) The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons (2022)
Smirnoff’s introduction to the series reinvigorates Salander with fresh energy. Set against a backdrop of political intrigue and personal reckoning, the novel recaptures the sharp intensity of the original trilogy while carving out its own identity. Dark, fast-paced, and layered, it proves Smirnoff was the right choice to continue Lisbeth’s saga.
Final Verdict
Karen Smirnoff has shown that Lisbeth Salander’s story still has claws. With The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons standing tall and The Girl with Ice in Her Veins following closely, her contributions ensure the Millennium series remains a powerful force in modern thriller fiction.
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