BOOK REVIEW: SWITCHED by AMANDA HOCKING

Title:   SWITCHED 

(Trylle Trilogy #1)

Author:  AMANDA HOCKING

Publisher: Tor / Macmillan Australia
Version:  Paperback 335 (incl Torn excerpt)
Acquired:  Received from Macmillan Australia for Review



RATING:  4.5 FINE-TUNING FINN STARS!!

Description:

What if your entire world was built on a lie?

Wendy Everly knew she was different the day her mother tried to kill her and accused her of having been switched at birth. Although certain she’s not the monster her mother claims she is – she does feel that she doesn’t quite fit in...

She’s bored and frustrated by her small town life – and then there’s the secret that she can’t tell anyone. Her mysterious ability – she can influence people’s decisions, without knowing how, or why...

When the intense and darkly handsome newcomer Finn suddenly turns up at her bedroom window one night – her world is turned upside down. He holds the key to her past, the answers to her strange powers and is the doorway to a place she never imagined could exist. Förening, the home of the Trylle.

Finally everything makes sense. Among the Trylle, Wendy is not just different, but special. But what marks her out as chosen for greatness in this world also places her in grave danger. With everything around her changing, Finn is the only person she can trust. But dark forces are conspiring – not only to separate them, but to see the downfall everything that Wendy cares about.

The fate of Förening rests in Wendy’s hands, and the decisions she and Finn make could change all their lives forever..

REVIEW:

Well I'm certainly impressed!!  Amanda has given a very imaginative and very interesting world focusing on the Trylles (trolls).  Not the dumpy under the bridge variety of Troll....but the very stylish and often wealthy human looking trolls. 

We don't normally get the other side of the Trolls in stories... we get to learn in Switched the reasons behind swapping human and Trylle babies at birth - and it's a well thought out plan to ensure the continuance of their kind - and also a way to fund their stylish lifestyles! Plus the rules and regulations of living under a monarchy within normal American society.

After a childhood with a mum that attempts to kill her and is certain she is not her child, Wendy finally discovers the truth when she meets Finn - a fellow Trylle. As shocking and hard to believe as it is...Wendy must come to terms with her new found status as Princess of the Trylle....and with it comes certain danger and possible death (or at least kidnapping). 

Finn is charged with her care and also teaching her the ways of the Trylle. A job he is very well skilled for as the "right hand man" of the Trylle Queen (Wendy's true mother).  Finn's "job" is in jeopardy when his feelings towards Wendy become more than his job description allowed for. Displeasing the Trylle Queen can never end with a reward.

Wendy rebels as any teenager would and longs for the closeness that she could have Finn.  But of course this pairing was never meant to be. Finn is of a different "class" than Wendy and it's just not accepted.

Add to the romantic perils Wendy and Finn face, throw in the evil Vittra and their desire to kidnap Wendy and Amanda Hocking has given us a very enjoyable start to the Trylle Series...one which I am very eager to read further.

After being a self published author through this series (and others) originally, I am not surprised at all that Amanda Hocking was finally picked up by a big publisher. She certainly has a great talent within her that she has tapped into and I am sure has many more stories to tell and keep us entertained with.

Now a word on the book covers........

The one I have posted at the top of the blog is the final US edition cover....and I LOVE it!!!  Below are the two covers available in Australia and also UK, Asia & South Africa.  The orange tone feature is the "adult" release cover and the pink tone feature is the "young adult" release cover.  Waaaaahhhhh!!!! I want the US cover!!!

ENJOY!

MARISSA