Title: Switched
Author: Amanda Hocking
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Publication Date: 1.3.12
Pages: 293
Genre: Paranormal
Series: Yes (Trylle #1)
Source: ARC from publisher
Rating: A-
Summary (from Goodreads):
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.
Review:
If you haven’t heard of Amanda Hocking, you have clearly been living under a rock the last year. She is the ultimate self-publisher. Her books have been blowing up the suggestion page of my Nook since I first got it, and it’s no wonder she was granted a publishing deal. My only question is: What the heck took so long? How did people pass by this amazing writer’s talent for so long?! Her world building skills alone are top notch, but add to it great characters and original ideas, and you have the perfect storm for success.
Switched is the first book in the Trylle trilogy, and I love that Hocking breaks from the “normal” paranormal genre and introduced us to trolls. I can’t commend her enough for taking on such an original idea. It always makes me giddy when a writer taps into an unexplored idea, especially in the paranormal sphere. I mean, you can only read/write so many vampire, faery, or werewolf novels before they start to overlap.
The story follows Wendy, who is nearly killed by her mother at age six. For some reason, it took me a little time to connect with Wendy. She’s a very sympathetic character and enjoyable, but sometimes I found her a bit on the plain side. I thought she got a lot more interesting when Finn showed up, though, and watching their relationship bloom and flourish was wonderful.
I still cannot figure out why this book wasn’t given an immediate deal. Hocking is a terrific writer with a ton of raw talent. I can’t wait to see how the series ends, and what she has coming out in the future for me to enjoy.
Buy: Amazon
