Trollheim Book Series by Arne Lindmo

The Trollheim series, created by author Arne Lindmo and illustrator Ida Skjelbakken, is a bestselling and award-winning collection of middle-grade horror and adventure novels. Targeted at readers aged 8 to 13, the series has sold over 70,000 copies in Norway alone and is recognized for its cinematic quality and mature illustration style. The narrative follows three friends—Adam, Tara, and Tobias—as they navigate supernatural threats in the mysterious town of Trollheim.

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The World of Trollheim

The series is set in the small town of Trollheim, a location where mysterious events and hushed whispers about the surrounding woods are common. The overarching plot involves a group of children who must confront an "ancient evil" to prevent the destruction of the world. The setting is characterized by its suspenseful atmosphere and the presence of various mythological and supernatural beings, including:

• Trolls: Traditional Scandinavian monsters that inhabit the dark forests.
• Werewolves: Shape-shifting threats that add to the series' horror elements.
• Vampires and Demons: Introduced in later volumes to expand the supernatural stakes.
• Mysterious Beings: A variety of other creatures that inhabit the Troll Forest and hidden locations like Castle Crow.

Narrative Themes

The stories are described as high-stakes adventures where characters often face "the longest and most dangerous night of their lives." While primarily focused on suspense and action, the books also touch upon themes of friendship and "a little romance," making them highly relatable to the 8-13 age demographic.

Main Characters

The series centers on a trio of friends who must work together to survive supernatural encounters:

• Adam: One of the three primary protagonists facing the ancient evil.
• Tara: A core member of the group involved in the battle for the town's survival.
• Tobias: The third member of the trio who aids in discovering the secrets of Castle Crow.

These characters are frequently placed in situations where they must survive until dawn, using their wits and courage to battle forces that adults in the town often seem to ignore or speak of only in hushed voices.

Series Bibliography

The Trollheim series consists of several main entries and a standalone special. Each book focuses on a different supernatural threat or location within the Trollheim universe.

Creative Team

The success of the series is attributed to the specific backgrounds and styles of its creators.

Arne Lindmo (Author)

Born in Norway in 1981, Arne Lindmo worked as a middle-grade teacher for ten years before becoming a full-time author. His storytelling method was developed in the classroom, where he would invent the beginning and end of stories to tell his students during the school day. This experience provided him with a deep understanding of his target audience's preferences, leading to the series' high suspense and "page-turner" quality.

Ida Skjelbakken (Illustrator)

Born in 1979, Skjelbakken’s illustrations are credited as a major factor in the series' success. Her style is described by young readers as "cool, realistic, and mature," intentionally avoiding the "childish" aesthetic found in many other books for the same age group. Her work won the Ministry of Culture's award for Best Illustrations.

Awards and Recognition

Trollheim has received significant critical acclaim, particularly from juries composed of children:

• Best Children's Book of the Year 2022: Awarded to Secret of Castle Crow by the ARKs barnebokpris, featuring a jury of 11,000 children.
• Best Children's Book of the Year 2023: Awarded to Vampires and Demons by the Norli Junior reading contest, featuring a jury of 30,000 children.
• Ministry of Culture's Award: Specifically recognizing Ida Skjelbakken for the series' illustrations.

The series' international rights have been sold to several territories, including Denmark (Turbine forlag), Finland (Otava), Poland (Kropka), Russia (AST), and Slovakia (Slová). World rights are managed by Figenschou Publishing.