Review: Ascend by Amanda Hocking

Ascend by Amanda Hocking
Trylle Trilogy #3
Release Date: April 24th, 2012
Number of Pages: 336
Publisher: St.Martin’s Griffin
Source: Raincoast Books

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.

If there is one thing I really liked about this novel, it is the world Amanda Hocking had created. Was it my favorite book in the series? No. Why? I simply felt that it was slightly rushed, and that the ending wasn’t fitting to what I was expecting. I was expecting at least one of the main characters to have an unhappy ending. I find it hard to believe that after a war, a marriage, a love triangle, everyone seems happy.

I’m a little on the fence when it comes down to saying if I like Wendy or not in this book. The thing is, on one side, I liked that she is trying to do what is right for her people and that she is trying to do her job as princess and future queen. On the other side, I felt like she was a walking contradiction. One second, she is saying she can’t, and then she does it, then she says something else and do the opposite. That annoyed me. Still, I’m happy with her evolution and the maturity she gained through the three books.

Now, there are other characters that made me feel contradicted. Finn made me mad most of the time, as he is worse than Wendy when it comes down to doing the opposite of what he is saying. I mean, isn’t supposed to stay away? Yet, HE STILL IS THERE! Now, on the other side of the triangle, there is Loki. Loki, that I do like, and grew to like him better than Finn. Why? Loki is ready to fight, to run away with Wendy if she is ready to give him a chance.

If we talk about Wendy’s love life, I can’t not talk about Tove. Why are they FREAKING getting married?? I mean, Wendy isn’t his type, there is no romantic love between those two, and there will never be. I was really disappointed that they did decide to go through with it.

Finally, Elora and Wendy seems to understand each other, and get to share a loving moment together, instead of what we have seen in the first two books. It still left with so many unanswered questions about her, which could be nicely answer in anther short story (Please Amanda? Pretty, pretty please??)

I was expecting a little more, and felt a little cheated that everyone seems to get their happily ever after. I may have felt slightly let down with this third book, but I’m really excited to read more from Amanda Hocking. Overall, as a series, it is really great. I really enjoyed it, and will definitely recommend it to fans of this genre.

Review: Torn by Amanda Hocking

Torn by Amanda Hocking 
Trylle Trilogy # 2 
Release Date: February 28th, 2012
Publisher: St.Martin’s Griffin

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.

When I read Switched a couple of three months ago, I really enjoyed it. It was captivating and I really liked the concept of the book, the idea of changeling. Book two was a little less addicting to me, which is understandable as the middle books often ends up being a bridge between the first book and the third book. 

It is easy to see why she named the novel Torn. Everyone seems to be torn between many options. Wendy is starting to get torn between her obligation and her love for Finn. I liked that she was trying to take her responsibilities more seriously, but I felt like she was doing it for the wrong reasons, simply because Finn decided that his duty (and hers) were more important than their feelings. Finn made me so mad when he just decided that she needed to be with someone more her level. I mean, COME ON! If you love someone, shouldn’t you fight a little for him or her? 

 I really liked that we got to see a little more about her father, and the Vittra. Of course, if I talk about the Vittra, I can’t really forget about Loki. I really liked him. I’m hoping we’ll get to see more of him in the third book. There’s a thing about him that makes him addicting. He is strong, sensible, and he is really a great match for Wendy. If she can’t be with Finn, I wish it would be with him. After all, Wendy isn’t really Tove’s type. Toe’s a great friend, but a future husband? There won’t be much love, or passion between those two. Maybe a great friendship, but still... Another character I was glad to learn more about was Elora. I think it helps us understand a little more about her motivation, the reasons she acts the way she does with her daughter. One character I was really glad to see coming back is Matt. I love him as a brother, even if its relationship with Wendy isn’t as great as it used to be. 

 Overall, I did enjoy this novel. Was I a little disappointed over where the story is going? Yes. I’m just rooting for Fin and Wendy so much!! I can’t wait to see where the story is going; I hope we’ll also see more of Loki. The Trylle series is set in an amazing world that really made me want to read more of this series. A series you should really check out.

Have you read this series?

What did you think of it?

Who are you rooting for when it comes to Wendy's love life?

Review: Switched by Amanda Hocking

Title: Switched

Author: Amanda Hocking

Series: Trylle Trilogy #1

Release Date: January 3^rd, 2012

Number of Pages: 293

Publisher: St.Martin’s Griffin

Source: Bought

When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - a world both beautiful and frightening, and Wendy's not sure she wants to be a part of it.

This book really made me curious. Trolls? Changeling? That caught my attention. I still wasn’t really sure about what to expect about this book. It is one the most successful self-published book, but still, I feared that all the hyped would make my expectation too high. Fortunately, I found it to be excellent. It was nicely written and captivating from the very start.

The world really intrigued me. Trolls that don’t look like the classic trolls? That was original. I love the entire world she created, the whole history and traditions of there culture. The characters were a nice aspect of the novel, but it wasn’t what I found to be the strongest. The strongest was the world for me.

I find myself torn when it comes down to Wendy. I find myself both liking her and being annoyed by her. I wish she had fought a little more for what she wanted, for whom she wanted to be with. On the other side, I felt she was a great narrator, as she sounded honest and true. Her human family (other than her mother) really was charming. They were amazing, especially her brother. Now, Finn, on the other hand, annoyed me at first, because he was clearly acting both really nice or like an ass. He liked her, that much was clear. I understood why he couldn’t tell her, but still! She liked him and so did he. The real mother really annoyed me. She was so cold, which is understandable for a queen. Yet, I can’t like her.

Overall, this was a fast paces novel that kept me addicted from page one. I can’t wait to read the sequel, as it is coming soon.