Switched (Trylle Trilogy #1)

Hocking convinced a skeptic on this one!

When I first started reading, I was very skeptical about the world of Trylle, especially once I found out that the main character, Wendy, was a troll. However, this book forces the reader to reevaluate the stereotype surrounding trolls, and the novel actually had a pretty decent plot line.

This novel is about a heroine that can't seem to fit in wherever she goes. She didn't even fit in with her own mother and is accused of being a Changeling. Because she thinks her mother is crazy, she doesn't consider that her mom may actually be right. When a mysterious boy named Finn from her school convinces her that she is a troll, and that she must leave with him for her safety, she enters the world of Trylle.

Finally, Wendy will find a place to fit in... NOT. In fact, although Wendy tries to fit into this world and embrace her new role in life as a Princess, she does not do very well. The person she latches on to for sanity is Finn, and a love story develops as well. By the end of the novel, Wendy has a clear idea what her role is in the future, yet she is not sure of her powers and how she can live up to the challenges before her. She knows the Trylle community needs to be changed, but the novel ends with her fleeing back to her human family, because she thinks that she cannot possibly live up to the challenges before her.

If you like stories that involve the supernatural world, a heroine that rises to power, love stories, or even stories about finding yourself, this series is for you.

Disclaimer: I wrote this review after reading the entire series in three days. I know what is in the future. However, don't be sure of yourself. If you make predictions about how you think the novel will end, or attach yourself to characters, be prepared to change your mind.

“A couple things made that day stand out more than any other: it was my sixth birthday, and my mother was wielding a knife. Not a tiny steak knife, but some kind of massive butcher knife glinting in the light like in a bad horror movie. She definitely wanted to kill me.“

I absolutely love opening lines like that, which make you go “what?!” And this book contains an original creature: trolls! I’ve heard amazing things about Amanda Hocking, and I’m happy to learn that it’s all true. Switched was such a fun and unique story full of great characters! Wendy is strong-willed, quirky and feisty, and I loved her! She doesn’t truly fit into the human, and her family has to move a lot, so she’s basically stopped trying. Then when she finds out her true heritage, she doesn’t really fit in with the Trylle either. I found her easy to relate to and believable. I’m definitely cheering for her to find her place in the world.

Finn! I love forbidden romances that aren’t suppose to work out. Wendy and Finn are great together, and I hate Elora for keeping them apart! Elora is Wendy’s birth mother, but is just as cold as the woman Wendy always thought was her mother. It’s such a strong contrast between the life she left behind with her brother and aunt. They would do anything for Wendy, and she loves them just as much.

My one complaint about this book was that almost every chapter ended with an unnecessary mini-cliffhanger. There was no real point to them, since they were immediately resolved in the first few lines of the following chapter. It did keep me engaged though, and I probably would have read this in one sitting if school and life didn’t get in the way. I’d definitely recommend this one if you’re looking for a fun paranormal read without vampires, shifters, or witches.