Author: Danielle L. Jensen
Genre: Young Adult, High Fantasy, Politics, Magic Romance
For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the ruins of Forsaken Mountain. Time enough for their dark and nefarious magic to fade from human memory and into myth. But a prophesy has been spoken of a union with the power to set the trolls free, and when Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she learns there is far more to the myth of the trolls than she could have imagined.
Cécile has only one thing on her mind after she is brought to Trollus: escape. Only the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time, wait for the perfect opportunity.
But something unexpected happens while she’s waiting – she begins to fall for the enigmatic troll prince to whom she has been bonded and married. She begins to make friends. And she begins to see that she may be the only hope for the half-bloods – part troll, part human creatures who are slaves to the full-blooded trolls. There is a rebellion brewing. And her prince, Tristan, the future king, is its secret leader.
As Cécile becomes involved in the intricate political games of Trollus, she becomes more than a farmer’s daughter. She becomes a princess, the hope of a people, and a witch with magic powerful enough to change Trollus forever.
Commercial: Trying to be back on track after my more-than-a-month break. I’m now a working citizen of this world. Hoorah! I missed a lot of review so I’ll catch up soon! *winks*
Alright… If I remember correctly, the last high fantasy book I read was Mystic and Rider by Sharon Shinn and that’s long long long ago.
And when I finally got back to reading high fantasy, I’m so glad I’d chosen Stolen Songbird.
Amazing world building. Incredible writing. Awesome characters. No dull moments. Fierce and not-whinny-and-annoying heroine. And a swoon worthy Troll prince.
Stones and sky! I was completely engulfed in the world of Trollus. It felt like I have been living inside its world throughout the entire time I’m reading this incredible book.
I made a special order on our local bookstore (National Bookstore) last year to get a hold of this book. Oh, coz yes, our local stores don’t carry the title (insert sad face). From the very first time I saw the covers from YA Central’s cover reveal, I knew that I had to own this.
And I am extremely happy I did.
Why did I only freakin’ read this now??? I am so ashamed!
From the very moment I started reading, I was completely sucked in. I knew I won’t be able go out, to escape. I can’t take out everything Trollus (and Tristan) in my head. It felt like I’ve bonded with the book – just missing the tattooed fingers. If not for my work, I might have finished this in one or two sittings. I can only read at night, yes, and I can’t remember anymore when was the last time a book made me stay up until 5 AM! Good heavens! It was this good to make me forget sleep even if I love sleeping the most!
“They aren’t ugly, more like beautiful things that have had the misfortune of being broken.”
I love the heroine. I’ve always hated damsel in distress, annoying, whinny heroines. And I’ve always admired, strong-willed, clever, and fierce heroines. Cécile is one clever, fragile but with the will so strong as steel, fierce, brave and admirable red-head heroine. And a girl graced with angelic voice to add more to that.
“I wish I was not who I am. I wish I had met you in different circumstances, in a place far away from here, where there was no magic, politics and deception. Somewhere where things could be different between us. I wish I was someone else. But I am what and who I am, and all the wishes in the world will not change that.”
Tristan, the very charming Troll prince, is everything. He’s funny at times, very sarcastic, strong, loyal, passionate, intelligent, caring.. and he’s more than those. A boy who’s willing to do everything, who’s willing to die, and who’s willing to kill his own father for the love of his life. A troll prince who would cry a thousand tears from the overflowing emotions he feels for a human girl. It pained me so much to see his struggles on this entire adventure, and that’s the very reason I loved his character.
Incredible romance. Like, seriously, I keep on rolling all over my bed when there are Tristan-Cécile moments. And one more thing that made my reading slow down a bit was because I keep on repeating every single swoon worth sentences like 4 to 5 times.
Ah, it’s worth every single feels!
And if I were Cécile, I would marry Tristan over and over and over again.
“Beauty is supposed to be good and kind, and to discover it otherwise is like a betrayal of trust. A violation of the nature of things.”
Oh. Trollus, the magical world of Trollus. Hallow. Trianon. The Forsaken Mountain. The world is so magical. I’m so amazed with the world-building and I’m deeply overwhelmed with my own imaginations. I even dream of this. For real.
Exceptional.
I applaud Danielle L. Jensen for her great writing skills and for this awesome debut novel. There was never a dull moment on my entire adventure. There are downs but those were completely shadowed by the ups. I now have my hopes up for Hidden Huntress.
“I cannot stop the world from moving. All I can do is be prepared for when it does.”
I’ve just finished a very very good book. My heart is aching because I badly need the 2nd book. I feel empty deep down. How will I ever get over this book hangover?
BUT. On the other hand, 2 days ago, I’ve joined Ms. Danielle L. Jensen Twitter giveaway. And guess what?! OH YES YES! YOU GUESSED IT RIGHT, I’VE WON A SIGNED COPY!! A FREAKIN’ SIGNED COPY OF HIDDEN HUNTRESS!!! I SCREAMED MY LUNGS OUT I THINK TROLLUS HEARD ME.
So guys, I totally recommend this one if you want to be transported on an extreme magical adventure. One of the best high fantasy I’ve read so far. Read this. For all the feels.
Title: Stolen Songbird (The Malediction Trilogy #1)
Yes yes yes! So glad you loved this book. ❤ Stolen Songbird was my favorite book of 2014 and I think it will forever remain in my top favorites. It was SO GOOD. The feels, the magic, the romance, EVERYTHING so darn amazing. You are going to LOVE Hidden Huntress! I'm sure of it, and congrats for winning a signed copy! 🙂