Not a weird question.
The two characters I most liked from the beginning were Lalli and Mikkel. I still do. Mikkel is the one with whom I would say I most identify, being a solid, stolid, unflappable and generally competent and practical person myself, and coming from a farm background. The more so since a lot of the jobs I have done down the years have involved being the support person for groups working in the bush. My own expertise, in real life, is bushcraft, wilderness survival and wild food, but unlike Mikkel I am a competent bush cook and a quite reasonable firstaider. I have taught bushcraft and foraging for decades, at first in term breaks from my actual job as a field botanist and botany lecturer, then when my job disappeared when my college lost funding in the GFC, as a more major part of what I do for a living. I’m now way past retiring age but still working because I have a mortgage and because I enjoy it. I don’t have the snarky sense of humour and the taste for practical jokes - but my husband does.
Lalli I like both because he is such a bushie, obviously closer to the land than to people, yet still loves his family and is loyal to his friends, and because he reminds me so much of several people I hold dear in real life.
It took me a long time to warm to Sigrun, because she reminded me far too much of someone I have had to work with in real life. That person was male, but was just as much of a type given to dashing full speed ahead whether or not they knew what they were doing, or how dangerous it was for the people around him. Sigrun eventually showed enough good qualities: loyalty, courage, supportiveness and concern for her folk - that I began to approve of her more, and now quite admire the character. I think she has grown in-story.
Tuuri also grew on me as the character developed. I disliked her weaselly side, but she had character and curiosity. I liked that, being myself somewhat of the ‘would follow an unanswered question over the edge of my own grave’ mindset. But I still think she should not have dragged Lalli into the expedition without informing him better.
Emil also annoyed me at first, the ‘bratty child of privilege and entitlement’ being a type that I find irritating, both in literature and in life. But I came to like him better as he showed that he was capable of kindness, concern, empathy and courage.
Reynir also came across initially as a careless fool, but improved with interactions with the other characters.
