Title: Stolen Songbird (The Malediction Trilogy #1)
Author: Danielle L. Jensen
Release Date: 1st April 2014
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Find on: Goodreads
Quick Review: For those who have loved Seraphina and Graceling comes another truly fabulous fantasy...
For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the ruins of Forsaken Mountain. Time enough for their dark and nefarious magic to fade from human memory and into myth. But a prophesy has been spoken of a union with the power to set the trolls free, and when Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she learns there is far more to the myth of the trolls than she could have imagined.
Cécile has only one thing on her mind after she is brought to Trollus: escape. Only the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time, wait for the perfect opportunity.
But something unexpected happens while she’s waiting – she begins to fall for the enigmatic troll prince to whom she has been bonded and married. She begins to make friends. And she begins to see that she may be the only hope for the half-bloods – part troll, part human creatures who are slaves to the full-blooded trolls. There is a rebellion brewing. And her prince, Tristan, the future king, is its secret leader.
As Cécile becomes involved in the intricate political games of Trollus, she becomes more than a farmer’s daughter. She becomes a princess, the hope of a people, and a witch with magic powerful enough to change Trollus forever.
Detailed Review: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is one of the few times when I've promptly reviewed a book in the next few hours after reading it.
This book literally begged to be reviewed. I don't think I've ever been this eager to express my opinion about a certain book until it has driven me to madness to not tell everyone how much I loved this book.
And by love, I mean L-O-V-E. I feel like I've found my soulmate. That may seem like an exaggeration, but this is the closest description I can give that shows my true feelings while reading Stolen Songbird.
So, you must be wondering... What was so GOOD about this book that it has elicited such a prompt review from me? Well, first, let me name a list of things that really make a book deliciously good:
1. Deep and well-developed characters
2. Intriguing setting
3. A simple plot with twists that make it seem complex
4. Many secrets waiting to be uncovered beyond the written words...
5. A killer ending, in other words, a CLIFFHANGER.
6. Writing style that brings the characters to live and helps you connect to them easily
7. An original central idea that brings liberation from other ideas that are too common or mainstream (and romance, if possible)
Stolen Songbird had them all- the 'Seven Points'. Besides a few other books, I think this book more than fully met my expectations. I couldn't have asked for a better book.
This book was written from the first person, mainly from Cecile's point of view, but also sometimes from Tristan's point of view. This was an especially good style of writing to use because it let you put yourself in the character's shoes as easily as they were your own.
The factor that made me love this book the most, was the characters. It's always the characters. Cecile is a great heroine, who is stubborn and always cares for others before herself. She is willing to protect the people she love and empathises with those who are in pain. Although she may be weak compared to the trolls in terms of strength, she is strong in character. Tristan, was another go-getter for me. He was absolutely charming. When I first read about him, I think I fell in love with him before Cecile. Who wouldn't want to be with a boy who is handsome, strong and (later revealed in the book) also a kind-hearted person? There were other characters that made this book seem a whole interesting. And I believe it's the characters that give the book a vibrant and colourful story. Where's the beauty in an empty canvas without the colours, right?
And then, THE TWISTS. Yes, more than one. Jensen was a true artist. She laid the twists like breadcrumbs on a road, waiting for you to stumble on them and possibly die from food poisoning after eating them. In a good way. Only a person with experience could lay them out so artfully and nicely.
ALSO, the romance. It's just GOOD. No, scratch that. It makes me go dizzy when I swoon over those parts. It's awesome. Need I say more?
Finally, that ending. Makes. Me. Want. The. Sequel. So. Much. You don't know how badly I need the sequel right NOW. I'm willing to go on my knees to beg the author to let me read whatever she has started writing for the second book.
And, if you are a cover judger reading this review, that cover is GORGEOUS.
Brief Review: With a kick-ass heroine that is comparable to Katniss or Tris and wholesomely good characters, this book made a spectacular debut. An original idea for a story, some twists, awesome romance, completes the whole picture, which, I must say, is flawless. The ending makes it impossible to not read the second book either. Jensen really did a great job and has evidently overworked herself to produce this book. I couldn't have asked for a better debut.
This is one of the few times when I've promptly reviewed a book in the next few hours after reading it.
This book literally begged to be reviewed. I don't think I've ever been this eager to express my opinion about a certain book until it has driven me to madness to not tell everyone how much I loved this book.
And by love, I mean L-O-V-E. I feel like I've found my soulmate. That may seem like an exaggeration, but this is the closest description I can give that shows my true feelings while reading Stolen Songbird.
So, you must be wondering... What was so GOOD about this book that it has elicited such a prompt review from me? Well, first, let me name a list of things that really make a book deliciously good:
1. Deep and well-developed characters
2. Intriguing setting
3. A simple plot with twists that make it seem complex
4. Many secrets waiting to be uncovered beyond the written words...
5. A killer ending, in other words, a CLIFFHANGER.
6. Writing style that brings the characters to live and helps you connect to them easily
7. An original central idea that brings liberation from other ideas that are too common or mainstream (and romance, if possible)
Stolen Songbird had them all- the 'Seven Points'. Besides a few other books, I think this book more than fully met my expectations. I couldn't have asked for a better book.
This book was written from the first person, mainly from Cecile's point of view, but also sometimes from Tristan's point of view. This was an especially good style of writing to use because it let you put yourself in the character's shoes as easily as they were your own.
The factor that made me love this book the most, was the characters. It's always the characters. Cecile is a great heroine, who is stubborn and always cares for others before herself. She is willing to protect the people she love and empathises with those who are in pain. Although she may be weak compared to the trolls in terms of strength, she is strong in character. Tristan, was another go-getter for me. He was absolutely charming. When I first read about him, I think I fell in love with him before Cecile. Who wouldn't want to be with a boy who is handsome, strong and (later revealed in the book) also a kind-hearted person? There were other characters that made this book seem a whole interesting. And I believe it's the characters that give the book a vibrant and colourful story. Where's the beauty in an empty canvas without the colours, right?
And then, THE TWISTS. Yes, more than one. Jensen was a true artist. She laid the twists like breadcrumbs on a road, waiting for you to stumble on them and possibly die from food poisoning after eating them. In a good way. Only a person with experience could lay them out so artfully and nicely.
ALSO, the romance. It's just GOOD. No, scratch that. It makes me go dizzy when I swoon over those parts. It's awesome. Need I say more?
Finally, that ending. Makes. Me. Want. The. Sequel. So. Much. You don't know how badly I need the sequel right NOW. I'm willing to go on my knees to beg the author to let me read whatever she has started writing for the second book.
And, if you are a cover judger reading this review, that cover is GORGEOUS.
Brief Review: With a kick-ass heroine that is comparable to Katniss or Tris and wholesomely good characters, this book made a spectacular debut. An original idea for a story, some twists, awesome romance, completes the whole picture, which, I must say, is flawless. The ending makes it impossible to not read the second book either. Jensen really did a great job and has evidently overworked herself to produce this book. I couldn't have asked for a better debut.
Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'
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