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Switched by Amanda Hocking (Tor)
Trolls.
I know what you're thinking. Who on earth would want to read a book about a race of fey creatures that have for the most part, been much maligned as being:
a) A race of hideous-looking beings that err on the side of short and;
b) Evil little monsters who won't let you cross a bridge without paying some sort of fee.
I know this because that was my first thought when I first heard of Amanda Hocking's Trylle trilogy and it's what has kept me back from reading it back when I first heard of her series during her self-publishing days.
Having said that, my love of fantasy reads, especially those with a focus on anything fairytale and changeling related, prevailed over my misgivings about the book and had me picking this read up in spite of myself.
And am I'm glad I did, because Amanda takes everything we know about trolls, gives it a complete overhaul and provides us with a book that dismisses any preconceived notions that we've ever had about trolls.
Switched tells the story of 17-year old Wendy Everly.
With one of Wendy's earliest memories being that of her mother accusing her of not being her child and trying to kill her in the process, Wendy has always known that she hasn't quite fit in; that there is something that sets her apart from everyone else in the small town that she's been living in.
With her ability to manipulate and influence people's decisions, it isn't until the brooding newcomer, Finn shows up and reveals that she's a changeling and is part of a race of Trylles (trolls), that she finally begins to understand just how different she really is.
Add to that the fact that she's next-in-line to inherit the throne in the world she's really from, and Wendy's life takes a whole new and dangerous turn.
For while this new world (a place called Förening) is a place of wonder and enchantment, the dangers inside the community are no less greater than the ones outside of it.
With the help of Finn, who Wendy can't help but be attracted to, she'll have to traverse through a maze of twists and turns and learn to harness her power if she wants to save the ones that she loves.
Switched is definitely a book that surprised me. It's a quick-paced and beautifully written fantasy novel that has a lot of crossover appeal.
The world Amanda's created is a unique one filled with both beauty and treachery and the characters you meet are characters you're not always sure you can trust - something which speaks very clearly of the fickle nature of fairytale creatures.
Wendy is someone you can't help but relate to. What person hasn't at one time feel as if they didn't belong?
You can't help but sympathise with her - especially given the fact that her "mother" would go through such extreme lengths to try and harm her.
What makes this such an intriguing read is that the additional characters you meet each have their own, unique background stories. These stories, or hints at them rather, are set up in such a way that you get the sense that there will be some explosive secrets that will be revealed in the books to come.
The romantic element wasn't a very straightforward one. That there is an attraction between Finn and Wendy is obvious, but there are a few big factors that come in to play and prevent Finn from acting on his feelings.
One of the reasons I love books about anything fairytale related is that often the very nature of the book, settings and the characters are contradictory.
This why I love Switched so much. On the surface, the book seems to be a light fantasy read, but Amanda is great at setting the kind of tone that speaks of the wispy, whimsy and ever changing nature of the world that she's created.
And at its very heart, is Wendy, who has to adjust and change according to the circumstances surrounding her.
Do yourselves a favour and pick this book up. It's well worth the read.
Keen on reading this book? Buy your copy now.
Read this book yet? Tell us what you thought of the book in the comment box below.
Sign up for women24's book club newsletter and stand a chance to win our top ten books from kalahari.com.
Trolls.
I know what you're thinking. Who on earth would want to read a book about a race of fey creatures that have for the most part, been much maligned as being:
a) A race of hideous-looking beings that err on the side of short and;
b) Evil little monsters who won't let you cross a bridge without paying some sort of fee.
I know this because that was my first thought when I first heard of Amanda Hocking's Trylle trilogy and it's what has kept me back from reading it back when I first heard of her series during her self-publishing days.
Having said that, my love of fantasy reads, especially those with a focus on anything fairytale and changeling related, prevailed over my misgivings about the book and had me picking this read up in spite of myself.
And am I'm glad I did, because Amanda takes everything we know about trolls, gives it a complete overhaul and provides us with a book that dismisses any preconceived notions that we've ever had about trolls.
Switched tells the story of 17-year old Wendy Everly.
With one of Wendy's earliest memories being that of her mother accusing her of not being her child and trying to kill her in the process, Wendy has always known that she hasn't quite fit in; that there is something that sets her apart from everyone else in the small town that she's been living in.
With her ability to manipulate and influence people's decisions, it isn't until the brooding newcomer, Finn shows up and reveals that she's a changeling and is part of a race of Trylles (trolls), that she finally begins to understand just how different she really is.
Add to that the fact that she's next-in-line to inherit the throne in the world she's really from, and Wendy's life takes a whole new and dangerous turn.
For while this new world (a place called Förening) is a place of wonder and enchantment, the dangers inside the community are no less greater than the ones outside of it.
With the help of Finn, who Wendy can't help but be attracted to, she'll have to traverse through a maze of twists and turns and learn to harness her power if she wants to save the ones that she loves.
Switched is definitely a book that surprised me. It's a quick-paced and beautifully written fantasy novel that has a lot of crossover appeal.
The world Amanda's created is a unique one filled with both beauty and treachery and the characters you meet are characters you're not always sure you can trust - something which speaks very clearly of the fickle nature of fairytale creatures.
Wendy is someone you can't help but relate to. What person hasn't at one time feel as if they didn't belong?
You can't help but sympathise with her - especially given the fact that her "mother" would go through such extreme lengths to try and harm her.
What makes this such an intriguing read is that the additional characters you meet each have their own, unique background stories. These stories, or hints at them rather, are set up in such a way that you get the sense that there will be some explosive secrets that will be revealed in the books to come.
The romantic element wasn't a very straightforward one. That there is an attraction between Finn and Wendy is obvious, but there are a few big factors that come in to play and prevent Finn from acting on his feelings.
One of the reasons I love books about anything fairytale related is that often the very nature of the book, settings and the characters are contradictory.
This why I love Switched so much. On the surface, the book seems to be a light fantasy read, but Amanda is great at setting the kind of tone that speaks of the wispy, whimsy and ever changing nature of the world that she's created.
And at its very heart, is Wendy, who has to adjust and change according to the circumstances surrounding her.
Do yourselves a favour and pick this book up. It's well worth the read.
Keen on reading this book? Buy your copy now.
Read this book yet? Tell us what you thought of the book in the comment box below.
Sign up for women24's book club newsletter and stand a chance to win our top ten books from kalahari.com.
