Title: Stolen Songbird
Author: Danielle L. Jensen
Series: The Malediction Trilogy #1
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Publication date: January 29th, 2013
Page count: 324
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
Book Summary:
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.
*The Reader’s Review*
My rating: 5/5 stars!
Stolen Songbird is STUNNING you guys! It’s so far my favorite read this year and might have to say, one of the best books I’ve read in my entire life. I fell in love with everything- the hidden city of Trollus, the trolls, the magic, the love story.
I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s like this pain I’m feeling for this book is for going through something so beautiful yet so brutal, something I believe I will never ever get to experience again no matter how many other books I read and love and hurt over. The different kinds of love, trust and courage found inside this book touched me deeply and has left a very deep mark.
Like I’ve said, this book is terrific and has so many things I loved about it, but some stand up more than others. Like how Cécile is a wonderful character because she is so normal and not a damsel in distress or a heroine from the start. She grows a lot throughout the story without changing who she is. She’s not vain or greedy, nor she is selfish. She is kind, courageous and someone that lives in the now to the fullest with what she gets. She’s smart and intuitive. I loved how when she came upon this hidden city, instead of shying away from the physical appearance of most of the trolls, she took into account the beauty inside most of them, after of course, the initial shock.
And then we get Tristan, who is such a complicated character thus very hard for me to describe. Physically it’s easy, he is gorgeous and perfect, but the person-that’s the tricky part. All his life he has acted like someone who he’s not, and he has been at it for such a long time that he is actually believing it himself. Being in his mind (did I forget to mention we get dual point of views?) was a nice and necessary bridge if we ever wanted to understand his character. It’s not that difficult, but he is confusing, and to figure him out and meet the real him, gosh that was the best part in my opinion.
I loved the love story with all my heart and mind. Cécile and Tristan bonded in such a way that they left me breathless and desperate for them to be…happy. Until they get to be together and happy, I will have peace of mind. I can’t wait for my heart to swell for them once more! Their relationship is one-of-a-kind and so RARE for how it developed over time. This one feels REAL.
As for the hidden city of Trollus, I can say it’s one of the most interesting settings I have read about and loved immediately. It’s a very dark world without the sky, but I was hypnotized with the way trolls used magic to light up their lives, although sad knowing they wanted nothing more than to be free and above, away from the reigns that full-blooded trolls held them with.
I hope everyone gets to read this book and check out how incredible it is. Danielle’s debut is hands down the most fantastic, magical, complicated and intriguing book of the year! You’re in for the most delicious treat, just you wait until you meet Cécile, Tristan, Mark and the rest of the trolls. You’re going to love them, hug them, laugh with them and cry out when the right time comes. I’m terrified of waiting so long for the sequel, how in the name am I going to make it? Patience is definitely not my middle name. Seriously though, Stolen Songbird is a must read pronto, as in release day.
*On a more personal note*
I swear I ugly cried for more than half an hour after reading the last chapters of this book. I’ve encountered so many emotional scenes in countless of books I’ve read, but this one simply broke my heart into a million pieces and they drifted away wherever the wind would take them. I’m not even sure I will ever find them again.
I cried so much that my sister kicked me out of our room (so mean) because I was a sobbing mess. Then she took pity of me and made me oatmeal (so sweet, love you), setting it down beside my rocking form in the corner because I was completely lost inside. I’m still suffering from this book, and I can’t bring myself to pick another one, I cringe with just the thought of it. But I would do it again and suffer throught it all if I had my way of reading this book for the first time once more. I’d do anything.
*I received a digital review copy of Stolen Songbird by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts, I assure everything said in this review is 100% my own.*
This is so a book for me <3. I mean you had me a PRINCE 😉
Hahaha! I always think about you whenever I come across a book with a Prince inside it, BUT, I'm afraid I don't want to share Tristan with anybody except Cécile (and grudgingly so). He's just too… *sigh*.
Hahaha! I know. I would love to hoard all the princes myself 😉
I admit both cover and blurb got me intrigued, but your review is what makes me want to really read it! Wow, it sounds a wonderful story and I LOVE when a book has that kind of overwhelming power on me, so this could definitely be a very good read for me.
Thanks for the amazing review, Melissa!