Ascend #3 by Amanda Hocking

Genre: Trolls

Paperback: 326 Pages

Published: April 24, 2012

Series: Trylle

            1. Switched

            2. Torn

            3. Ascend

Rating:★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Wendy Everly is facing an impossible choice. The only way to save the Trylle from their deadliest enemy is by sacrificing herself.  If she doesn’t surrender to the Vittra, her people will be thrust into a brutal war against an unbeatable foe.  But how can Wendy leave all her friends behind…even if it’s the only way to save them?

The stakes have never been higher, because her kingdom isn’t the only thing she stands to lose. After falling for both Finn and Loki, she’s about to make the ultimate choice…who to love forever. One guy has finally proven to be the love of her life—and now all their lives might be coming to an end. 

Everything has been leading to this moment.  The future of her entire world rests in her hands—if she’s ready to fight for it.

My Review:

             This is it. The Queen is on her death bed. The King wants her throne. And the only one standing in his was is Wendy. He will do anything and everything in his power to get what he wants. Even if that means killing his own daughter.

             This final book has great character development, heart pounding action, and excellent romance. Wendy can be overly dramatic. If you have read my reviews for the first and second book, then you know how irritated I got with her character. She is making rash decisions and not giving any thought to the advice being thrown at her. Sure she has soon to be-queen status, but that doesn't mean she can do what ever she wishes. She needs to think of her people and kingdom and not put everyone's life in danger. However, she still had her witty humor that had me chuckling at times. 

           The other characters in this book have grown on me. I really liked Tove, but I wished we had gone deeper into his character. Finn was ridicules. I came to hate him by the end of this series. In the second book he became very cold and moody towards Wendy and she got tired of it. So when Finn finally decided he wanted Wendy, she had already moved on to Loki. I have to say that I came to love Loki. Sure he was a bad guy who turned good, but his character was very well developed.  Mysterious, strong willed, and genuine--he was a great character with a heart. I didn't expect this love triangle to end up like it did, but it was less cliché with real consequences. However, I wasn't really amazed by the ending. Everyone got a happily ever after which isn't a bad thing. But I was hoping for more action and a emotional roller coaster ride.

         The series as a whole was fascinating. I liked learning about Trolls and the world Hocking created was very imaginative. Definitely a quick read, enjoyable, and fun.  

Torn #2 by Amanda Hocking

Torn by Amanda Hocking

Genre: Trolls

Paperback: 324 Pages

Published: February 28, 2012

Series: Trylle

            1. Switch

            2. Torn

            3. Switch

Rating:★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

When Wendy Everly first discovers the truth about herself—that she’s a changeling switched at birth—she knows her life will never be the same. Now she’s about to learn that there’s more to the story…

She shares a closer connection to her Vittra rivals than she ever imagined—and they’ll stop at nothing to lure her to their side. With the threat of war looming, her only hope of saving the Trylle is to master her magical powers—and marry an equally powerful royal. But that means walking away from Finn, her handsome bodyguard who’s strictly off limits…and Loki, a Vittra prince with whom she shares a growing attraction.

Torn between her heart and her people, between love and duty, Wendy must decide her fate. If she makes the wrong choice, she could lose everything, and everybody, she’s ever wanted…in both worlds.

As a special gift to readers, this book contains a new, never-before-published bonus story, “One Day, Three Ways,” set in the magical world of the Trylle.

My Review:

Torn was a very interesting story to read. I don't think I have ever read about trolls before so this was a new idea that I liked a lot. At first I pictured these trolls to be like this:  

.....you know kind of fun and colorful! But as I read this book, I realized they were cruel and terrorizing. In the first book we meet Wendy who finds out she's a troll and was switched at birth by her mother, who happens to be the queen of trolls. Which makes Wendy a princess. As this book continues, we reunite with Wendy inside this strange new world she is still figuring out. However, we go deeper into this world of Trylle. Wendy starts to learn the politics behind switching children and what role she has to play in the near future.

            We also get to meet characters from the previous book, accompanied by new ones who are fascinating. There was Finn, the sweet protector who Wendy has a crush on. Then we have Loki, the dangerously irresistible bad boy turned good. He is a great new addition to this series. Loki creates more tension and makes Wendy rethink what she knows. He pushes her to think outside the box and finally Wendy has come to her senses. She has stopped taking orders from everyone and has started to put her foot down. She is more feisty, protective and mature. Then we get to meet Matt, Wendy's brother who is so supportive and caring, especially when Finn starts acting cold and moody---which I was a bit torn (haha) about; I was hoping their romance would continue. But fear not! There is new 'flirtation' developing and it has a forbidden love feeling to it.

            Torn was an interesting sequel to Switch and I enjoyed learning more about the feud between Trylle and Vittra. I now understand why they are enemies. However, it doesn't excuse the fact that the Vittra are still the bad guys. So if your interested in a quick read with enjoyable characters I definitely recommend this. 

Switched by Ammanda Hocking

Genre: Trolls

Paperback: 318 Pages

Published: January 12, 2010

Series: The Trylle Series

            1. Switched

            2. Torn

            3. Ascend

Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

            When Wendy Everly was six years old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. Eleven years later, Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. She’s not the person she’s always believed herself to be, and her whole life begins to unravel—all because of Finn Holmes.
          Finn is a mysterious guy who always seems to be watching her. Every encounter leaves her deeply shaken…though it has more to do with her fierce attraction to him than she’d ever admit. But it isn’t long before he reveals the truth: Wendy is a changeling who was switched at birth—and he’s come to take her home.

          Now Wendy’s about to journey to a magical world she never knew existed, one that’s both beautiful and frightening. And where she must leave her old life behind to discover who she's meant to become....

My Review:

          I'm sure by now everyone knows Amanda Hocking's story. She is self-published with multiple book deals. Before all the craziness, I read this book. Even before the rave reviews this book received, I loved the storyline. I didn't need a review to tell me how good this book was. I knew that already. Switched is entertaining and a light read. It's about a girl named Wendy Everly who has been accused by her mother of being a monster. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy realizes her mother was right.

          When a mysterious guy appears in Wendy's life her entire knowledge of who she is, is completely changed. Finn Holmes convinces Wendy to go with him to her world,  where she belongs( since she will be the future queen of the trylle). Once she gets there she discovers why her mother switched her, who she really is and what is in store for her.

Wendy is a strong-willed girl however, there are times in the book when I just want to slap her. I mean c'mon stop being a baby. I like the character of Wendy, but I feel like she acted very childish at times. She completely falls in love with Finn Holmes, who I have to say is kind of a jerk. He tells her to her FACE he didn't want to be with her BUTTTTT she keeps going after him ( please show a little pride). Overall this book was a good read but I would have liked to see more character development in Wendy and Finn as well.            
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