Larsson, Korsell, Jonsson

“The first two books in the PAX-series are, without a doubt, the most nail-biting, page-turning thing I have read for this younger audience. This is simply brazenly thrilling. And it is very skillfully done.”
Steven Ekholm, Dagens Nyheter (SE)

“Every kid between nine and thirteen is going to want to devour the PAX-series. And their parents and older siblings will too.”
Eskilstuna Kuriren (SE)

“Brilliant beginning of a fantasy series that will have ten parts.”
Lotta Olsson, Dagens Nyheter (SE)

“This is the Swedish middlegrade series that is going to conquer the world in 2015, believe me! The Nithing Pole, the first book in a suite of ten, magically mixes nordic mythology with occultism, relationship intrigues, and horror. An urban fantasy epos that creates reading addiction.”
Västerbottens-Kuriren (SE)

“The PAX-series builds on the urban fantasy trend, where ancient monsters move into a recognizable present, but the series is superior to all the competition. A nerve-wracking, funny and often unexpected plot that unfolds in a library.”
Andreas Palmaer, Dagens Nyheter (SE)

“You are hooked from the very first page. This is exactly the kind of series we’ve been waiting for. Suspense, magic, an underdog perspective, and Nordic mythology. (…) This is really, really good; it is simply addictive.”
Barn & Ungdomsbloggen (SE)

“Very difficult to put down once you’ve started reading. Pure and simple cliffhanger-bonanza!”
Bokhora (SE)

“Sometimes we find books that turn out to be great discoveries. This was exactly the case with this first volume. I was utterly spellbound by the plot, and the illustrations by Henrik Jonsson are very good. […] I recommend this to all children from age eight and above who love to get the shivers, and for adults who are still children at heart.”
Mickaéline Et Ses Livres, Blog (FR)

“A thin book combining a good story with comic-style illustrations, in other words, a perfect combination. […] I would recommend PAX to readers who like fantasy for a younger audience. It’s also suitable for those who appreciate great, dark illustrations.”
KNIŽNÍ Louka, Blog (CZ)

“The PAX series is a fresh breeze for children’s fantasy in the Czech Republic. […] If you have young readers at home, you should definitely not miss this!”
Fanzine, Blog (CZ)

“[The Nithing Pole] is very well-written and it’s elevated by Henrik Jonsson’s illustrations in black and white to perfectly fit the atmosphere. […] I’m glad that the authors are not afraid to offer children something that’s a little rough.””
Horor-Web, Blog (CZ)

“It’s enjoyable for the adult reader, and there hasn’t been something this blatantly cool for children to read in a very long time!”
Severskedetektivky, Blog (CZ)

“The Grim is breathlessly thrilling fantasy, easy to read without simplification and without making any sacrifices to plot. Over the course of 188 pages, you ride an emotional roller-coaster –  and you have to remind yourself to breathe sometimes. There is only one problem with The Grim: it ends.”
Tidningen Kulturen (SE)

“The first two books in the PAX-series are, without a doubt, the most nail-biting, page-turning thing I have read for this younger audience. This is simply brazenly thrilling. And it is very skillfully done.”
Steven Ekholm, Dagens Nyheter (SE)

“Every kid between nine and thirteen is going to want to devour the PAX-series. And their parents and older siblings will too.”
Eskilstuna Kuriren (SE)

“This is the Swedish middlegrade series that is going to conquer the world in 2015, believe me!”
Västerbottens-Kuriren (SE)

“The Pax-series builds on the urban fantasy trend, where ancient monsters move into a recognizable present, but the series is superior to all the competition. A nerve-wracking, funny and often unexpected plot that unfolds in a library.”
Andreas Palmaer, Dagens Nyheter (SE)

“Very difficult to put down once you’ve started reading. Pure and simple cliffhanger-bonanza!”
Bokhora (SE)

“I can’t seem to be more nuanced than this: I love it. I want more…now.”
Fantastiska Berättelser (SE)

“A thin book combining a good story with comic-style illustrations, in other words, a perfect combination. […] I would recommend PAX to readers who like fantasy for a younger audience. It’s also suitable for those who appreciate great, dark illustrations.”
KNIŽNÍ Louka, Blog (CZ)

“This book really seized hold of me. When completed the series will consist of ten volumes, and each book ends with a cliffhanger making you desperate to read the rest. I honestly don’t know what to do until the third book is published.””
Perdido Em Livros, Blog (BR)

“Swedish monsters are in focus and they’re so fantastic that I’d venture to guess that horror creatures will be our next great export […] The text is interspered with comic-book style illustrations by Henrik Jonsson. He shifts perspective in a perfect rhythm; closeups of a skull are followed by evocative shadows in the distance, in a illustrative style reminiscent of Rolf Gohs’ Mysterious Two series […] The PAX series is so immediate and thrilling that it will get even the most reluctant readers to approach books, yet its most important achievement is the fact that it restores mystery to the act of reading.”
Dagens Nyheter (SE)

“Urban fantasy is mixed with elements of horror. Henrik Jonssons impactful black-and-white illustrations play a great part – the sketches are excellent, very detailed and extremely scary. (…) The approachable language, the mix of text and illustrations lightening things up, and the thrilling atmosphere makes you want to put the book in the hands of even reluctant (yet brave!) readers.”
BTJ (SE)

“The Myling is actually among the best ghost stories I’ve ever read – definitely in the same league as the best horror I’ve seen in movies and on TV. Quite simply a world class ghost story!”
Old Adult Reads Young Adult (SE)

“The writing style is smooth and easy to understand, without too many difficult words. The stories always have the exact amount of scary, but never so much that it won’t be suitable for children. […] You must read this series!”
Scattys Bücherblog, Blog (DE)

“Swedish monsters are in focus and they’re so fantastic that I’d venture to guess that horror creatures will be our next great export […] The text is interspered with comic-book style illustrations by Henrik Jonsson. He shifts perspective in a perfect rhythm; closeups of a skull are followed by evocative shadows in the distance, in a illustrative style reminiscent of Rolf Gohs’ Mysterious Two series […] The PAX series is so immediate and thrilling that it will get even the most reluctant readers to approach books, yet its most important achievement is the fact that it restores mystery to the act of reading.”
Dagens Nyheter (SE)

“Queen of crime Åsa Larsson and author Ingela Korsell take on this Swedish urban fantasy series in the spirit of Roald Dahl’s The Witches and the Spiderwick series. The black-and-white full page illustrations by Henrik Jonsson are detailed comic strips which truly set the tone and enhance the elements of horror in the book. […] The Tilberi is both funny, thrilling and at times truly scary.”
BTJ (SE)

“I keep loving the series. It is suspenseful, has fantastic illustrations that are just scary enough for a 30-year-old (maybe even too scary sometimes) and the layout of the books is incredible! This is a fantastic book which I recommend for everyone, and if you happen to have a 10-year-old at home – don’t hesitate! Read it together, preferably under the covers with a flashlight, and prepare for lots of horror.”
Fantastiska Berättelser (SE)

“Åsa Larsson and Ingela Korsell are among the most space effective storytellers I’ve encountered: they write short, energetically, and so thrillingly it makes you lose your breath, and yet stil manage to squeeze in social and moral issues, youth culture, supernatural horrors, and everyday life. Rapidly, they paint surprisingly vivid mini portraits of even minor characters, and Henrik Jonsson’s dark comic book style illustrations inspire the imagination without being too scary.”
Dagens Nyheter (SE)

“Yet again, Larsson-Korsell-Jonsson succeed in creating an excellent page turner. […] As usual, I love the illustrations, the social realism and the urban fantasy.”
Barnboksprat, Blog (SE)

“This is definitely the scariest book in the series so far. […] It’s great how light is shed upon all these creatures from Swedish folklore. While reading a very good and thrilling book you also learn something about our cultural heritage. Fantastic, isn’t it?”
Fantastiska Berättelser, Blog (SE)

“The Ghoul is so thrilling and scary that it makes the hair on my arms stand on end while reading. I love it! […] I think The Ghoul is the best book in the series so far.”
Boktokig, Blog (SE)

“The PAX books are action packed and high paced! The creatures that emerge from the darkness are incredibly scary and get horribly close to me. Hair-raising and chill-inducing!”
Bokfreak, Blog (SE)

“PAX increasingly stands out as a unique series, not just as quality literature in a genre that’s rarely taken seriously, but also because it manages to put words to realities that are truly difficult. And, of course, because children simply love to read the series.”
Dagens Nyheter (SE)

“Apart from the supernatural vein, which makes the series Swedish urban fantasy, there are many elements of social realism. The brothers’ mother comes to visit, and their relationship to her and her addiction is painfully realistic. The focus is also put on the school dynamics, peer pressure and class distinctions. This is skillfully done, and with great psychological credibility, as well as the portrayal of the characters. They’re allowed to be multi-facetted and make the wrong decisions. The language is often that of the brothers; colloquial, playful, and with many expletives. It’s easy to read, often humorous, fluent, and drives the thrilling story forward. Henrik Jonsson’s eerie black and white illustrations, ooze horror and surrealism, which elevates the scary text, while at the same time making it lighter. The target readers are 9-12 year olds, especially those who like fantasy and horror. You desperately want to put these books in the hands of young, unwilling readers.”
BTJ (SE)

“I was attracted by the mythological theme (in every book they fight a character from nordic mythology and Swedish folklore) when I chose to review The Nixie. But to be honest, I kind of got cold feet when I realized I had to read five books before I came to this one. But that was before I started to read The Nithing Pole… I’m going to tell you a secret. Every time I pick up a novel my deepest wish is for it to make me feel like a child again. That is, I want to be sucked into it without being able to put the book away. I want to forget about time and just disappear inte the world that is before me. I want to go back mentally to that age, when all I asked for was for no one to bother me, and just let me read in peace. The PAX series is somewhat reminiscent of The Circle, but also of Harry Potter. I also think about Astrid Lindgren’s The Brothers Lionheart; sibling love is a guiding theme. But the world is its own, here Larsson and Korsell have succeeded in creating vivid characters who I quickly take to heart and follow. I recommend The Nixie and the rest of the PAX-series to those both young and old who may be a little tired of reading. There’s an immediate danger of strong addiction, of course, and through that a reluctance to social life for a few weeks to come…”
Dagens Bok, 7/10 (SE)

“Water plays a central part in The Nixie, the sixth part in Åsa Larsson and Ingela Korsell’s thrilling PAX series, whose suspense is heightened by Henrik Jonsson’s black and white comic book-style illustrations that don’t shy away from hair-raising expression in the portrayal of the representatives of evil.”
Göteborgs-Posten (SE)

“The Nixie is insanely thrilling. And the series’ central plot just gets increasingly interesting. […] The authors do not shy away from injustice, broken relationships, and that which is really scary and violent, while at the same time the books hold powerful love, friendship and humor. And then there’s the language that makes Viggo and Alrik bustle with life. And Henrik Jonsson’s black and white illustrations, which charge the story with even more emotions and action.”
Eskilstuna-Kuriren (SE)

“It’s finally time for the next PAX book, and this time it’s beautifully yellow! How I love to put all these books next to each other with all the different colors; it’s an incredibly beautiful book series! And apart from the aesthetic – how consistently good this is! I’ve cheered so much for the series in this blog, and I simply must continue. […] The skilled authors pull me right in from the first chapter and soon make me remember everything essential that has happened previously through small hints. Perfect! Now I just have to start waiting, waiting, and waiting for book seven: The Pesta which comes out in October.”
Carolina Läser, Blog (SE)

“I really, really love the PAX series and The Nixie. One of the great things about this book is that it’s allowed to deal with two boys with an alcoholic mother, who are now living in a foster home. It’s so wonderful that the authors write about stuff you don’t talk about. […] On op of all that, The Nixie is yet another thrilling story in the PAX-series, this time about the nixie. This everyday realism in combination with Nordic folklore, it’s so damn good I’m beside myself. I want more. A lot more. Give me the next book NOW!”
Boktokig, Blog (SE)

“This is so good! Had there been a championship for best cliffhanger, you’d definitely win first prize, Åsa and Ingela! When you’ve begun reading it’s impossible to stop. Each chapter contains such chilling suspense you just have to keep reading, whether you want to or not. […] Just looking at the book makes me want to read it. The books are designed in a new and cool way that I believe catches the eyes of all children. With colored fore-edges and cool illustrations it’s immediately super fun to read! The PAX books look like no other books, and it makes them stand out in the bookshelves!”
Agnes Bokblogg, 5/5, Blog (SE)

“No one is surprised to hear that I love the PAX books, right? They’re so darn good! Thrilling and just the right amount of funny. […] Larsson and Korsell continue to do an awesome job with the series. And Henrik Jonsson’s black and white illustrations are so good!”
Vargnatts Bokhylla, Blog (SE)

“The very best kind of page-turner.”
Lotta Olsson, Dagens Nyheter (SE)

“The fantasy elements set in the modern setting expose current social problems, for example how the tone in social media can become aggravated and how scapegoats are singled out. And also how easily a crowd can turn against that which is unknown. Weaving such themes into an urban fantasy novel for middle grade readers is commendable. […] The suspense, the fluid style, and Jonsson’s super scary black and white illustrations will attract even the most reluctant readers.”
BTJ (SE)

“Åsa Larsson and Ingela Korsell have done it again! They’ve turned up the suspense even more and now there are only three books left of the series. […] The PAX series is supernaturally good, and at the same time it is well rooted in our time. The Pesta is the most ‘realistic’ installment in this horror/fantasy series – but it’s also the most frightening. The Pesta says a lot about how much truly skilled writers can accomplish with very small means. And how insane the real world is. […] In The Pesta, the benefits and the importance of having a rich and varied language and a large vocabulary is emphasized. This is why Iris manages to crack the code of the mysterious disease. Language is thus the gateway to alternative ways of thinking, problem solving, and eventually hero status. […] The PAX series offers a positive message. While it also awakens the hunger for reading. This is true magic! Reading magic!”
Tidningen Kulturen (SE)

“There are so many good things to say about PAX, everything is just so spot-on! […] A perfect mix of all the best you can think of. I especially like the combination of everyday life, school, fantasy and magical creatures. […] And I have to mention the illustrations and the cover! The fantastic Henrik Jonsson is so talented!  The books really stand out in the shelf with their colorful edges and cool illustrations. […] They don’t just look like any book, they’re totally unique!”
Agnes Bokblogg, Blog (SE)

“As usual with the PAX series, The Pesta holds a fantastic combination of thrilling, imaginative adventures and nuanced portrayals of a couple of young boys growing up during difficult circumstances. […] The text has an incredible drive, is easy to read (perfect for 10-year-olds) and humorous. […] In other words: excellent!”
Lyrans Noblesser, Blog (SE)

“The first thing that makes The Pesta so good is the suspense. The pace is high throughout the book and I eagerly turn the page to find out what happens next. At the same time, I feel anxious because of how bad things can go and it almost feels as though I’m the one running from imps with my adrenaline pumping. […] This series is really incredible and everyone should read it. If you want something that makes you both happy and furious and on tenterhooks while at the same time drooling over the illustrations, this is the series for you.”
My Lifestyle by Elvira, Blog (SE)

“Good? Oh yes. Scary? Not like some of the books in the series (The Myling, The Ghoul… yes, I’m looking at you and I shiver) – it’s more thrilling, and just like in The Tilberi, this time the people are the most terrifying. People who stir up hatred through Facebook and other social media, and form a vigilance committee to take it upon themselves to restore order… eek!”
Kulturkollo, Blog (SE)

“This by many eagerly awaited eighth instalment in the series opens in total suspense. Iris is held captive by the Dark Witch, Maggie Migraine, and her spiritus. A child is engulfed by a tree; a tree where the ground around it is covered in flowers, in the middle of winter. In the midst of Christmas Eve celebrations, the Alba Serpent appears. How are the children going to defeat all of these menacing threats? […] The focus lies on Iris and Lycke-Marie more than main protagonists Alrik and Viggo, which broadens the story. Authors Åsa Larsson and Ingela Korsell also portray their difficult family situation in a psychologically authentic and moving way. They allow for light in the darkness. Henrik Jonsson’s magnificent black-and-white drawings in American comic book style strengthen the horror mood and eases up the text. […] The Alba Serpent is easy to read, moving, thrilling, and above all, really scary. The ending bids for the next book to be published – as soon as possible!”
BTJ (SE)

“An incredibly thrilling plot. […] This book leaves you curious of what will happen next in the penultimate book in this incredible series! […] I’d recommend these books to children who likes thrilling fantasy, and adults who are curious about urban fantasy for children.”
Lexie Läser, Blog (SE)

“What makes this series so amazingly good owes a great deal to the constant level of suspense and the Nordic creatures with which readers get acquainted. And the incredibly cool black and white illustrations contribute a great deal […]  Suspense and fantasy at its best!”
Bokkoll, Blog (SE)

“Talk about a long awaited book! (…) All instalments in the series have been thrilling and fast-paced, and The Alba Serpent is no exception. As I read, the pages rushed past and it was impossible to put the book down to do anything at all until it was finished. […] ”
Vargnatts Bokhylla, Blog (SE)

“The ninth and penultimate installment in the celebrated and popular PAX series includes everything from tragedy, suspense, humor and dark horror. […] The real and the supernatural strengthen one another. The scariest elements are without a doubt due to Henrik Jonsson’s magnificently detailed black and white comic book illustrations. The characters are multi-facetted; both the boys and their friends have strong and weak sides, adults as well as children. This strengthens the realism further. The setting is still the small town of Mariefred, which is made visible through text and maps. The everyday Swedish setting is a successful combination with the fantastical elements. The audience is mainly 9-12 year-old children and this series is known for attracting even unwilling readers. This engaging installment is no exception.”
BTJ (SE)

“The final part in the PAX series starts in anxiety – Viggo and Alrik may not stay with their beloved foster family. The dark witch Maggie Migraine is still a threat to Mariefred. And there’s talk about a draug – an ancient, evil demon – is about to be let loose upon the town. Great power and sacrifice is needed to put a stop to it. Here authors Åsa Larsson and Ingela Korsell tie together loose ends and threats that has been planted throughout the previous parts. The brothers’ love for each other are strengthened when they are waiting to be separated. Iris gets back in touch with her family again. However, it wouldn’t be PAX if love and the light hadn’t been intermixed with absolute darkness and danger. The Draug is the darkest and most fearsome book in the series. […] Henrik Jonsson’s skilled and detailed illustrations in black and white heighten the horror considerably. The milieu is still the small town of Mariefred. The language is easy and captivating, the atmosphere both sad and incredibly thrilling, with tiny, tiny touches of humor in the midst of the darkness. […] This last part in the series marks the end of an era.”
BTJ (SE)