Switched

I don't know what it is but I absolutely love Amanda Hocking's writing. Her books just have a way of entertaining me. This book was very unique in the whole troll thing. While the Trylle are not actual trolls in the sense of what we consider trolls, they are still technically trolls and that was great for me.

I really enjoyed Wendy as a character. She was definitely different than other Trylle and I think a lot of that had to do with her upbringing in a more modest household with Matt and Maggie. Finn was also great and he clearly will do anything to keep Wendy safe even if that means leaving her.

Wendy's mom (both moms really) are the exact opposite of what you would want in a world you don't fit into. Willi and Tove sound like they are going to be great friends to Wendy going forward in this trilogy.

This was a great introduction into the land of trolls and I can't want to see how the events of Switched unfold in Torn.

Amanda Hocking has taken an un tapped world of fantasy and made it into reality with her novel, Switched. Here you've entered a world full of Trylle or as it's coined in the world by most: trolls.

From the moment you meet the protagonist named Wendy Everly, you know her life isn't normal. Her mother tried to kill her before the age of 10 and she ends up moving around to almost 10 different schools by the time she is 15. Her brother Matt and aunt Maggie are what keep her grounded because they love her unconditionally, no matter the mood Wendy is in. Although, throughout the book she was truly just a child in the way she acted which is explained as a trait in those of the Trylle; having a short temper. I did find it annoying at times, but luckily some of the other Trylle were worst in character than Wendy, so she was a sign of relief throughout the novel. I do however love how passionate she is about her family and the bond that was created.

Along the way you meet Finn, mysterious and also comes off at first as arrogant. But once you get to know him, you realize his secret and his ways for this attitude. Behind those brown earthy-tone eyes, lies a someone who has been through a lot and mastered the importance of a strong-will. I admired him for that but at times I kind of wanted to shake the poor boy because he was so convinced he wouldn't let his emotions get in the way of his job. Something that can be hard no just in a fictional world, but in the real world too.

Beyond that, the bond of Wendy and Finn is very much alive in this book. I love how the tension is there, so enriched with fire that keeps on burning through the novel. The love/hate dynamic is engaging for a reader and kept me intrigued. The dialogue interactions between the two was alive and kicking, sometimes kicking: “A foolish man thinks he knows everything. A wise man knows he doesn't,” Finn replied absently, still looking down at the book. “That's such a fortune-cookie answer,” I said with a laugh, and even he smirked at me. (Hocking, 184)

Then the callus interaction of Kim and Elora with Wendy was tricky. I noticed how cold both were. Kim was frigid and dark, while Elora was intimidating and stoic with the power she had. But the way Elora was described physically in the book made me picture the actress from Revenge, Madeleine Stowe who plays Victoria Grayson, the dark haired beauty of a mother was a cold-hearted way of dealing with people. She is powerful and ruthless, just like Elora. (If there was a movie for this book, I hope someone sends her agent a script to play Elora, because she is perfect!)

This novel has kept me engaged. It's a rare thing and amazing at the same time when this happens and I highly praise books that can do this easily. The world of the Trylle has been very fascinating. From the way the scenery is described to the characters that live in this community, it's no secret that it's filled with magic and adventure.

The real intensity comes in around Chapter 22, when the plot takes on a big twist that later will help lead into an ending that is hard to forget, let alone into the sequel of the trilogy. Hands down this book has been excited, interesting, even fun to read. It took me longer because for two weeks straight I was sick and had a cough that left be unable to read (I once coughed for an hour straight!)

Anyway, all in all, I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves stories about mythological creatures in a new twist and light. The way that Amanda Hocking used trolls and took it to a place that hasn't been tapped into yet for young adult literature is fantastic and really well thought out. I'm excited to read the next installment and the final book in the trilogy as well!

Honestly I wish I could give this 0 stars. I hate that I didn't like Switched as much as I wanted to. This type of poor execution of a book makes me want to rant about how terrible it was. I didn't like the main character, Wendy, didn't like that ALL of the questions she had went unanswered because by the end I felt like I was left with one big question on my forehead. I don't even know what the purpose for this first installment in the series was. Usually the first book is the base, when you first get introduced to most of the characters–which this book did do–and when you get the background/details necessary to somewhat discern what the rest of the series will be about–which this book failed to do. The latter frustrated me to no end.

It's when I got to the very last page in the book that I realized everything that had previously occurred–all the action that took place, the secret behind Wendy's true identity–had no significance whatsoever.

SPOILER: She ended up right back where she started.

I'm sorry if this sounds incoherent but I skimmed through the majority of the book, hoping that by some miracle it would reel me in enough to take notice of the little details that make books unique in their own right. Obviously, that did not happen and I felt reading this book was a waste of my time.

Full of page turnery goodness. Like the Princess Diaries meets troll, if the trolls were very, very cool.

I bought this trilogy after reading a short blurb about it and finding it in eBook format for .99 or $1.99 (I can't remember). It was okay. The writing is off somehow, strangely I can't really describe it. Maybe it feels like an immature writer? Sentences are sometimes abrupt, like the complete opposite of a run-on sentence. The story kind of drags for a bit as Wendy develops her unexplainable crush on Finn and then suddenly, it's over. Instances that should take just a couple of pages to explain go on for chapters and then parts that should be drawn out she just spits out in literally 4 paragraphs.

I don't know. It's weird. Wendy is a slightly annoying spoiled brat who thinks everyone should do what she wants and then when she's put into a position to have exactly that she wants nothing to do with it. She falls for the guy she can't have (of course), but it's hard to explain why she becomes so attached to him considering she didn't like him all that much before.

It's hard to believe that this trilogy has been picked up to be made into a movie. The story is kind of different that anything else since it's about a different kind of supernatural, but it's not really exciting enough and the writing is definitely worse than Stephenie Meyer's. I guess they'll just have someone else write the screenplay and that will be that.

Oh well. I'm in no hurry to read the next two, but I'll probably get around to it eventually.

This was a decent story. It started off strong with a twisted situation when the main character is a child. Characters were introduced well. I did get slightly annoyed when Wendy becomes a bit snively about her whole situation. However, the story kept me interested enough to want to find out what happens. The ending was a bit abrupt. Probably to get you hooked enough to grab the next book. Which I did, since the series is pretty fair priced overall.
Also, every time I see the word Princess, I'm reminded of the “Excuse me Princess” clip from the Zelda cartoon.

Started 1/4/11