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

BOOK REVIEW - THE FAERIE RING by KIKI HAMILTON - THE FAERIE RING # 1

By : Kiki Hamilton
Published By ; Tor Teen
Released : Available Now
Details : Hardback, 343 Pages

RATING : 4.25 DEBUT STARS!!!

Book Blurb : Taken From Goodreads

Debut novelist Kiki Hamilton takes readers from the gritty slums and glittering ballrooms of Victorian London to the beguiling but menacing Otherworld of the Fey in this spellbinding tale of romance, suspense, and danger.


The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki’s blood.


Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen’s son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist.


Prince, pauper, and thief—all must work together to secure the treaty…



BOOK REVIEW:



I really enjoyed The Faerie Ring. I thought Kiki did a wonderful job of drawing the reader visually into London and the streets Tiki roamed, and the characters that Tiki came into contact with, whether she was stealing from them or borrowing a book from the kindly Mr Potts.


I quite liken her visual writing to be like Cassandra Clare. Seeing the streets of London and all the other places Kiki takes us to and the little details.


Tara Kathleen aka Tiki aka Teeks is the 16 yr old lead in this story. She does not hesitate to steal for her little family. Tiki does what she needs to do to put cheese, bread and coal on the table. I put myself in Tiki’s shoes and being a mother of 3 children myself I know I would do what I needed to do if my family was starving.


To live in the cold in Victorian London, trying to survive and spending your day on the streets dressed as a boy, filthy from head to toe, picking pockets to make sure something small was in your family’s bellies takes talent. There is no room for a conscience or your little family will starve or die from the cold. Tiki is very mature for her age and takes on quite a lot of responsibility and not everything goes according to plan. She is quick thinking, but is not always the wisest.


I love Toots, Shamus, Clara and Fiona who make up Tiki’s family of orphans.


The first book in this series is more about getting to know the characters, and introducing some Fey. I am looking forward to the next instalments in the series as we will get to understand more about Ms. Hamilton’s, Fey world. We get a small glimpse of the Otherworld, a taste of the dangers lurking and what the Ring means to humanity and what Tiki was willing to give up for humanity to keep her little Clara safe. Not necessarily the most well thought out plan on Tiki’s behalf , but she is only 16 and she is fiercely driven to protect her little family that she loves.


I really like Rieker. He is strong and believable. I probably would have liked to not hear the words, ‘ I love you ’ in this book . I think the relationship between Tiki and Rieker moved at a great steady pace , building trust is not an easy thing for Tiki. But , I would have liked a bit more left open about where that was heading, being a 4 book series I thought there was room to bring that later.


Prince Leo, I love how switched on his character is, now Arthur, hehe! is a little different. Prince Leo puts two and two together and is the smart one amongst the brothers. Leopold is a character I hope to read more about. He doesn’t let much slip by him.


Kiki has left some little snippets in The Faerie Ring I think as bread crumbs for further installments. I am rather interested in Isabelle.


Just a personal observation, I couldn’t help having a chuckle as the ring on the book cover is a tad girlie engagement ring looking and when you know where the ring ends up at the end of this book, I do have a thought that it could have been a more errrr...what’s the word. A ring that looked a bit stronger or bigger...well you know what I mean if you have read the book.


Kiki has a wonderful imagination and a great eye for writing scenes beautifully. I am looking forward to ‘The Torn Wing’ to see where Kiki takes us in her Fey world.

Michelle

BOOK COVER RELEASE!!!!! WOO HOOT!!! ORIGINAL SIN by LISA DESROCHERS

I love the cover !! I can't wait to read more about Luc and Gabe in the sequel to Personal Demons, Original Sin.
The cover for Personal Demons had Gabe in the background. Interesting that Luc is in the background of this cover!!!!

Go to Lisa Desrochers blog http://lisadesrochers.blogspot.com/2010/12/original-sin-cover-reveal-and-first.html  follow the instructions and enter the competition to have a chance to win an Arc...yayayayay!!!

ORIGINAL SIN - Personal  Demons series, book # 2

Luc Cain was born and raised in Hell, but he isn't feeling as demonic as usual lately--thanks to Frannie Cavanaugh and the unique power she never knew she had. But you can't desert Hell without consequences, and suddenly Frannie and Luc find themselves targeted by the same demons who used to be Luc's allies.


Left with few options, Frannie and Luc accept the protection of Heaven and one of its most powerful angels, Gabe. Unfortunately, Luc isn't the only one affected by Frannie, and it isn't long before Gabe realizes that being around her is too...tempting. Rather than risk his wings, he leaves Frannie and Luc under the protection of her recently aquired guardian angel.


Which would be fine, but Gabe is barely out the door before an assortment of demons appears--and they're not leaving without dragging Luc back to Hell with them. Hell won’t give up and Heaven won’t give in. Frannie's guardian exercises all the power he has to keep them away, but the demons are willing to hurt anyone close to Frannie in order to get what they want. It will take everything she has and then some to stay out of Hell's grasp.


And not everyone will get out of it alive........


Check out my review of Personal Demons here on our blog, if you haven't read the book , what are you waiting for...go!!!

Michelle

BOOK REVIEW - PERSONAL DEMONS by LISA DESROCHERS - PERSONAL DEMONS # 1

By: Lisa Desrochers
Published By: TOR
Release Date : Available Now
Details: Paperback , 365 Pages

RATING: 4.5 STARS
I LIKED IT!!!!!!

Book Blurb : Taken From Goodreads

Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a bit of a wicked streak. She's spent years keeping everyone at a distance—even her closest friends—and it seems her senior year will be more of the same...until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can't seem to stay away from him. What she doesn't know is that Luc works in Acquisitions—for Hell—and she possesses a unique skill set that has the King of Hell tingling with anticipation. All Luc has to do is get her to sin, and he’s as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn’t stand a chance.


Unfortunately for Luc, Heaven has other plans, and the angel, Gabe, is going to do whatever it takes to make sure that Luc doesn’t get what he came for. And it isn't long before they find themselves fighting for more than just her soul.

But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay…for all of them.
 
BOOK REVIEW:
 
I really enjoyed Personal Demons. Looking forward to 'Original Sin', big time!!!!
Frannie is being stalked by Luc to be tagged for Hell. Gabe is there to intervene so Heaven has the chance at playing tag too. Frannie isn't some silly girl she is a Judo 'Ninja chick' , smart young lady who knows how to listen to her feelings. She also knows how to read between the lines.
Frannie , Luc and Gabe I felt were like magnets with each other. Their characters always drawn and needing each other.
 
I honestly am having trouble choosing a Team. Gabe and Luc are polar opposites yet I am drawn to both. As the reader I think to a certain degree Lisa writes the two guys like that too. One minute you are snuggling up to Gabe and the next you are revealing your bra to Luc. Hee..hee..!!!  What fun!!!
 
I like the title Personal Demons as it has a couple meanings. Frannie has her own Personal Demon with Matt her brother she lost 10 years prior . I think Frannie's mum and dad and their reactions have some explaining to do . When you give your 5 daughters the names you gave them, well , hmmmm , made me think.
 
Lisa admittedly uses cliches in this book but they really work well. It's what you should expect when talking Heaven and Hell and all its associations  , to change it would be silly, right down to the book titles,  already used a few times.
 
Grandpa and his excellent Shelby Mustang ...hmmm * wiggles eyebrows* when Frannie asks Grandpa what car the devil would drive....interesting response,  Grandpa. I may be thinking too hard about little things that were placed well spaced in this book.
 
I love the little twist in this book. It has left me with wanting to know more and a few theories for 'Original Sin'.

ORIGINAL SIN (Tor Teen, July 2011)

PERSONAL DEMONS series, book 2


When secrets and histories come to light, Frannie realizes that nobody is who she thought they were. Hell won’t give up and Heaven won’t give in. Some are willing to hurt anyone close to Frannie in order to get what they want. It will take everything she has and then some to stay out of Hell's grasp.

And not everyone will get out of it alive.


( taken from Lisa's web page)





P.S. I couldn't help showing what my Marley Bob did to my book. he got hungry during the night.....MAARRRRLLLEEEEEEYYYY!!!!

The face says.'It wasn't me', the evidence ....he was caught red handed munching away....bad!! bad!! bear!!

 
 
 

Michelle

GABE BOOK TRAILER - PERSONAL DEMONS BY LISA DESROCHERS - PERSONAL DEMONS # 1

Michelle

PERSONAL DEMONS BY LISA DESROCHERS , 2 MORE BOOKS IN SERIES

LISA DESROCHERS HAS ANNOUNCED THE NAME OF 2 MORE BOOKS IN HER PERSONAL DEMONS SERIES..YAYAYAYAYAYAYA!!!

Original Sin ( coming July 2011 )

When secrets and old histories come to light, Frannie realizes that nobody is who she thought they were. Hell won't give up and Heaven won't give in. Some are willing to hurt anyone close to Frannie in order to get what they want. It will take everything she has and then some to stay out of Hell's grasp.

Hellbent ( coming May 2012)

What happens when you can't outrun Hell—or trust the ones you love?



Some information just posted on Lisa's blog regarding confusion of book covers:

"This is the one that's currently up on Amazon and Barnes&Noble. It was an early attempt that was rejected for several reasons, including that my Main Character ( Frannie) is blond/blue. It was apparently uploaded by the Tor Art Dept. in error a few months back and even though the new cover was uploaded by Tor a month ago, it's taking the stores a while to catch on.

Sorry for all the craziness and thanks for your patience. Hope that clears up the confusion. "

 The correct cover is the yellow cover above .

Michelle

SNEAK PEEKS FROM LISA DESROCHERS NEW NOVEL , PERSONAL DEMONS

BELOW ARE SNIPPETS FROM LISA DESROCHER'S NOVEL , ''PERSONAL DEMONS''.

PLEASE NOTE ALL THESE SNEAK PEAKS/SNIPPETS HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM LISA'S BLOG PAGE AND PLACED ON OUR BLOG TO PROMOTE 'PERSONAL DEMONS' THE BOOK.

AFTER READING THE SNEAK PEAKS I CAN'T WAIT TO READ THIS BOOK!!!!

Monday, June 14, 2010

PERSONAL DEMONS TEASERS by LISA DESROCHER

So, tomorrow, I’ll give you the first three pages of Personal Demons, and they’re from Luc’s perspective, so you’ll get to see just how “bad” he really is…
 
**********************************************************************************
 
Tuesday, June 15, 2010


Sneak Peek: Personal Demons Chapter 1

Personal Demons is told from dual first person points of view. It opens with Luc, my honest to goodness (or badness, I suppose, is more accurate) demon.

CHAPTER 1

ORIGINAL SIN

Luc

If there’s a Hell on Earth, it’s high school. And if there’s anyone distinctly qualified to make that statement, it would be me. I draw a deep breath—mostly out of habit since demons don’t have to breathe—then look up at the threatening sky, hoping it’s a good omen, and pull open the heavy security door. The dingy halls are quiet since the first bell rang almost five minutes ago. It’s just me, the metal detector, and a hunched wisp of a security guard in a rumpled blue uniform. He hauls himself out of his cracked plastic chair, looks me over, and scowls.

“You’re late. ID,” he says in a three-pack-a-day rasp.

I stare him down for a few seconds, sure I could blow him over with a whisper, and I can’t suppress a smile when beads of sweat sprout on his pasty forehead. I’m glad to see I’ve still got the touch even though I’m getting really sick of this job. Five millennia in the same gig will do that to a demon. For this trip, though, the fact that failure will result in dismemberment and the Fiery Pit is all the motivation I need.

“New,” I say.

“Put your bag on the table.”

I shrug, showing him my hands. No bag.

“Give me your belt. Studs’ll set off the detector.”

I pull off my belt and toss it at the old man as I walk through the metal detector. He hands it back and hacks, “Go straight to the office.”

“No problem,” I say, already walking away.

I slide my belt back on and push through the office door. It bangs sharply off the cracked wall and the ancient receptionist looks up, startled. “Can I help you?”

The office is just as drab and poorly lit as the halls except for the brightly colored notices that cover every inch of plaster like psychedelic wallpaper. There’s a nameplate declaring the receptionist is Marian Seagrave, and I swear I can hear her joints creak as she pulls herself out of her chair. She’s got more wrinkles than a shar-pei and the requisite short, blue, curly hair of all hundred-year-old women. Her round body is clad in the uniform of the ancients: turquoise polyester slacks and a matching floral blouse neatly tucked in.

I meander up to the counter and lean toward her. “Luc Cain. First day,” I say, flashing my winning smile—the one that always keeps mortals just a little off balance.

She stares for just a second before finding her voice. “Oh…welcome to Haden High, Luc. Let me pull up your schedule.”

She bangs on her computer keyboard and the printer buzzes to life. It spits out my schedule—the same schedule I’ve had for the last hundred years, since the advent of the modern education system. I do my best to feign interest as she hands it to me and says, “Here it is, and your locker number and combination too. You’ll need to collect an admit slip from each of your teachers and bring it back here at the end of the day. You’ve already missed homeroom, so you should go right to your first class. Let’s see…yes, senior English with Mr. Snyder. Room 616. That’s in building six, just out the door to the right.”

“Will do,” I say, smiling. It won’t hurt to stay on administration’s good side. You never know when they might be useful.

The bell rings as I make my way out the door into the now bustling halls, and the scents of the sea of teenage humanity hit me in waves. There’s the tangy citrus of fear, the bitter garlic of hate, the anise of envy, and ginger—lust. Lots of potential.

I work in Acquisitions, but it isn’t usually my job to tag them, just to sow the seeds and start them down the fiery path. I get them going on the little ones. Starter sins, if you will. Not enough to tag their souls for Hell, but enough to send them in our direction eventually. I don’t even need to use my power…not that I’d feel guilty if I did. Guilt isn’t in the demonic repertoire of emotions. It just feels more honest when they come to sin of their own volition. Again, not that I care about being honest. It’s just too easy the other way.

In truth, the rules are clear. Unless their souls are tagged, we can’t force mortals to do anything out of character or manipulate their actions in any way. For the most part, all I can do with my power is cloud their thoughts, blur the line between right and wrong just a little. Anyone who says the devil made them do it is feeding you a line.

I stroll the hall, taking in the scents of teenage sin, so thick in the air I can taste them. All six of my senses buzz with anticipation. Because this trip is different. I’m here for one soul in particular and, as I make my way toward building 6, a crackle of red-hot energy courses through me—a good sign. I take my time, walking slowly through the throng and scoping out prospects, and am the last to arrive in class, just at the bell.

Room 616 is no brighter than the rest of the school, but at least an attempt has been made at decorating. Prints of Shakespeare’s plays—only the tragedies, I notice—grace the walls. The desks are grouped in twos and are nearly full. I walk up the center aisle to Mr. Snyder’s desk, holding out my schedule. He turns his slender face toward me, glasses perched just at the tip of his long, straight nose.

“Luc Cain. I need an admit slip…or something?” I say.

“Cain…Cain…” He rakes a hand through his thinning gray hair and scans down his class roster, finding my name. “Here you are.” He hands me a yellow admit slip, a composition book, and a copy of The Grapes of Wrath and looks at his roster again. “Okay, you’ll be seated between Mr. Butler and Miss Cavanaugh.” Then he stands, pushing up his glasses and smoothing the unsmoothable creases in his white button-down and khakis. “All right, class,” he announces. “We’re shifting seats. Everyone from Miss Cavanaugh up will shift one seat to your right. You’ll all have a new essay partner for the rest of the semester.”

Many of the good little lemmings grumble, but they all do as they’re told. I sit in the seat Mr. Snyder motions to, between Mr. Butler—a tall, skinny kid with glasses, bad skin, and obvious self-esteem issues—and Miss Cavanaugh, whose sapphire-blue eyes stare straight into mine. No self-esteem issues there. I feel the play of hot electricity under my skin as I stare back, sizing her up. And her size is definitely petite, with wavy, sandy-blond hair that she’s tied in a knot at the base of her neck, fair skin, and fire. A definite prospect. Our desks are grouped together, so it looks like I’ll have plenty of opportunity to feel her…out.
 

PERSONAL DEMONS by LISA DESROCHERS - PERSONAL DEMONS # 1

The debut novel (part of a trilogy) by author Lisa Desrochers is titled PERSONAL DEMONS.

Release date is set for September 14, 2010.

Lisa is holding a contest to win a signed ARC of Personal Demons.

Follow the link to enter.... it's well worth it!

Lisa Desrochers - July Debut Contest

Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a bit of a wicked streak. She's spent years keeping everyone at a distance—even her closest friends—and it seems her senior year will be more of the same...until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can't seem to stay away from him. What she doesn't know is that Luc works in Acquisitions—for Hell—and she possesses a unique skill set that has the King of Hell tingling with anticipation. All Luc has to do is get her to sin, and he’s as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn’t stand a chance.

Unfortunately for Luc, Heaven has other plans, and the angel, Gabe, is going to do whatever it takes to make sure that Luc doesn’t get what he came for. And it isn't long before they find themselves fighting for more than just her soul.

But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay…for all of them.