You guys! Do you remember Stolen Songbird by Danielle L. Jensen, right? I think I have mentioned it a couple (or a hundred) times on the blog. It’s an awesome book about trolls, magic, a hidden city and a love story so beautiful, it certainly made my heart ache. Check my review here for more book info.
Anyway, there are many things to love about Stolen Songbird, but for me, the romance and the city of Trollus is what stands out the most. Although the city is cursed and buried deep within a mountain, the trolls have made of Trollus a magical place to live in both dark and beautiful. I wish I could jump inside the book and see for myself the places Tristan and Cécile wandered together (and the rest of the city too).
That’s why I’m absolutely thrilled of having Danielle stop by the blog today. She’s here to talk about The Top Three Romantic Locations in Trollus described from actual scenes of the book. Pretty cool, right? But first, here’s a little bit about Danielle:
About the Author:
Danielle was born and raised in Calgary, Canada. At the insistence of the left side of her brain, she graduated in 2003 from the University of Calgary with a bachelor’s degree in finance. But the right side of her brain has ever been mutinous; and in 2010, it sent her back to school to complete an entirely impractical English literature degree at Mount Royal University and to pursue publication. Much to her satisfaction, the right side shows no sign of relinquishing its domination.
{ Guest Post }
The Top Three Romantic Locations in Trollus
There are quite a few places in Trollus that
are very unpleasant, such as the mines and the labyrinth. However, there are a
few locations that one might visit with the intention of stealing a few kisses.
These descriptions are excerpts from STOLEN SONGBIRD. You might also like to
check out my slowly growing inspirations board on Pinterest.
are very unpleasant, such as the mines and the labyrinth. However, there are a
few locations that one might visit with the intention of stealing a few kisses.
These descriptions are excerpts from STOLEN SONGBIRD. You might also like to
check out my slowly growing inspirations board on Pinterest.
The
Glass Gardens
Glass Gardens
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| (Source: Tarrith, DeviantArt) |
I set off, the white gravel on the pathway crunching
beneath my feet. On either side rose glass hedgerows, each branch and leaf
blown with exquisite attention to detail, guiding me towards the center of the
garden. I paused from time to time to examine delicate flowers, bushes, and
even trees that soared beyond the pools of light cast by the widely spaced
lampposts. There was beauty all around me, but it was like walking in any
garden in the darkness of night – I had no sense of the whole, only the little
pieces revealed by too few circles of light…
beneath my feet. On either side rose glass hedgerows, each branch and leaf
blown with exquisite attention to detail, guiding me towards the center of the
garden. I paused from time to time to examine delicate flowers, bushes, and
even trees that soared beyond the pools of light cast by the widely spaced
lampposts. There was beauty all around me, but it was like walking in any
garden in the darkness of night – I had no sense of the whole, only the little
pieces revealed by too few circles of light…
Out of habit, I began to
sing to relieve my frustration. Softly at first, but my voice was drowned out
by the endless roar of the waterfall, so I sang louder. I could sing over a
full orchestra, but tonight I fought the waterfall for supremacy. I walked
until I found a gazebo, and it became my stage. I chose the powerful pieces
belonging to heroic women, my heart hammering and my lungs aching from the
sustained effort. It made me feel alive, stronger than the elements and more
powerful than the seas. I sang with my eyes closed and imagined I was in
faraway places, free to roam and love as I pleased. When I opened them, it
seemed I had been transported far away, to a place not of darkness, but of
light. All around me, the garden was glowing with an impossible brilliance.
Nothing on this earth could be so beautiful.
sing to relieve my frustration. Softly at first, but my voice was drowned out
by the endless roar of the waterfall, so I sang louder. I could sing over a
full orchestra, but tonight I fought the waterfall for supremacy. I walked
until I found a gazebo, and it became my stage. I chose the powerful pieces
belonging to heroic women, my heart hammering and my lungs aching from the
sustained effort. It made me feel alive, stronger than the elements and more
powerful than the seas. I sang with my eyes closed and imagined I was in
faraway places, free to roam and love as I pleased. When I opened them, it
seemed I had been transported far away, to a place not of darkness, but of
light. All around me, the garden was glowing with an impossible brilliance.
Nothing on this earth could be so beautiful.
“Heavens,” I gasped,
clutching the gazebo railing and blinking at the brilliant light.
clutching the gazebo railing and blinking at the brilliant light.
“More like hell, really,
but the Artisans’ Guild has done a good job disguising it.” I whirled around.
Tristan was standing at the foot of the gazebo steps. “You’ve a lovely voice. I
can’t say I’ve ever heard anything like it.”
but the Artisans’ Guild has done a good job disguising it.” I whirled around.
Tristan was standing at the foot of the gazebo steps. “You’ve a lovely voice. I
can’t say I’ve ever heard anything like it.”
Tristan’s
Bedroom (Gasp!)
Bedroom (Gasp!)
Alone, with only Zoé’s
diminishing ball of light for company, I wandered through Tristan’s cluttered
room. Not an inch of wall space had been left bare, and I examined the assorted
collection of artwork, tapestries, and maps in an attempt to find insight into
the mind of the creature I’d just married. There were landscapes, seascapes,
and cityscapes I recognized as Trianon. He had a great many paintings of men on
horseback galloping after foxes, boars, and deer. Unlike the other rooms in the
palace, no prevailing theme dominated, only a wild and random representation of
the world outside of Trollus. The normal, unmagical, Isle of Light.
diminishing ball of light for company, I wandered through Tristan’s cluttered
room. Not an inch of wall space had been left bare, and I examined the assorted
collection of artwork, tapestries, and maps in an attempt to find insight into
the mind of the creature I’d just married. There were landscapes, seascapes,
and cityscapes I recognized as Trianon. He had a great many paintings of men on
horseback galloping after foxes, boars, and deer. Unlike the other rooms in the
palace, no prevailing theme dominated, only a wild and random representation of
the world outside of Trollus. The normal, unmagical, Isle of Light.
A mantle took up one wall,
and I saw with amusement that he’d nailed a painting of burning logs in the
empty space where a real fire ought to have been. A small sitting area
surrounded the fireplace, reminding me for a moment of home. But only briefly:
this room was cold, unfamiliar, and empty, which our farmhouse never was. I
settled down in one of the chairs, pulling my cold feet underneath me, and
began to sort through the large stack of books on the table. They were novels:
adventures of pirates on the high seas, tales of knights slaying dragons,
mysteries set in the underworld of cities on the continent.
and I saw with amusement that he’d nailed a painting of burning logs in the
empty space where a real fire ought to have been. A small sitting area
surrounded the fireplace, reminding me for a moment of home. But only briefly:
this room was cold, unfamiliar, and empty, which our farmhouse never was. I
settled down in one of the chairs, pulling my cold feet underneath me, and
began to sort through the large stack of books on the table. They were novels:
adventures of pirates on the high seas, tales of knights slaying dragons,
mysteries set in the underworld of cities on the continent.
The tunnel we entered was
loud with the sounds of rushing water, and soon the faint glow of Trollus faded
away, leaving only my little light and Tristan’s larger one to illuminate our
path.
loud with the sounds of rushing water, and soon the faint glow of Trollus faded
away, leaving only my little light and Tristan’s larger one to illuminate our
path.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
We walked a little further
until the cave walls fell away and Tristan pulled me to a halt. The river water
spilled down an incline worn smooth by the current, but to either side of its
banks, the incline was terraced with large steps. The structure was entirely
flooded with water, forming a large, dark lake.
until the cave walls fell away and Tristan pulled me to a halt. The river water
spilled down an incline worn smooth by the current, but to either side of its
banks, the incline was terraced with large steps. The structure was entirely
flooded with water, forming a large, dark lake.
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| (Source: http://susanpolgar.blogspot.ca/) |
“The parade grounds.”
Tristan’s light shot away from us, growing brighter as it traveled until it
shone like a minute sun.
Tristan’s light shot away from us, growing brighter as it traveled until it
shone like a minute sun.
“Stones and sky,” I
whispered, trying to take it all in. I’d never seen a building so huge.
Designed like a vast, circular theatre, tiered seating rose up from all sides,
the topmost barely illuminated by Tristan’s magic.
whispered, trying to take it all in. I’d never seen a building so huge.
Designed like a vast, circular theatre, tiered seating rose up from all sides,
the topmost barely illuminated by Tristan’s magic.
“The history books say that
before the Fall, you could see the stadium from leagues away. It held fifty
thousand people at capacity, and is the largest structure we ever built. Most
of the army was here when the mountain broke, which is the only reason it
wasn’t crushed. A great deal of magic and pride.”
before the Fall, you could see the stadium from leagues away. It held fifty
thousand people at capacity, and is the largest structure we ever built. Most
of the army was here when the mountain broke, which is the only reason it
wasn’t crushed. A great deal of magic and pride.”
“When King Xavier broke the
hole the waterfall came through, he had not estimated the level of flow
accurately enough and the River Road couldn’t contain the water. Trollus
flooded and he ordered a path blasted through so that it would flood the parade
ground instead. The water seeps through the rocks at the far end, but I doubt
anything much larger than a river trout could make it all the way to the
ocean.”
hole the waterfall came through, he had not estimated the level of flow
accurately enough and the River Road couldn’t contain the water. Trollus
flooded and he ordered a path blasted through so that it would flood the parade
ground instead. The water seeps through the rocks at the far end, but I doubt
anything much larger than a river trout could make it all the way to the
ocean.”
Taking me by the hand, he led me down the steps to the
edge of the dark lake waters. A small boat was tethered to a stone pillar, and
once I was settled, he untied it and jumped in next to me.
edge of the dark lake waters. A small boat was tethered to a stone pillar, and
once I was settled, he untied it and jumped in next to me.
Oh, I love Trollus. And Tristan. <3
{ GIVEAWAY }
In celebration of Stolen Songbird’s release (April 1st), I’m giving away a paperback copy of the book! This giveaway is open international as long as the Book Depository ships free to you. Giveaway will last for the duration of the month and the winner will be contacted via email. Enter the rafflecopter below, good luck!
I have actually-though it definitely wasn't my favorite book. It was a novel called Switched, if I remember right. Stolen Songbird sounds better crafted to say the least!
It's really, really good! I hope you get to read it soon. 🙂
Trylle Series by Amanda Hocking – I really like this series 🙂
Oooh really? I'm going to check it out! 😀
Trolls…hm…oh yes! A few weeks ago, I read a middle school book called Loki's Wolves by Kelley Armstrong and Melissa A Marr. It was awesome! There were about four trolls in that book, one called Leaf.
I like that name ;). I didn't know these authors wrote a middle grade book about trolls. It must be good!
nope never! Ive read some books with trolls in them but they werent the main focus of the book 🙂
Well, you're gonna love them in Stolen Songbird! 🙂
I've read books that had trolls mentioned but never were they the main topic. Did Harry Potter have a troll in it? " Troll in the dungeon" Lol
Hahaha yes! I love that scene in HP <3
I haven't ever come across a book where the troll was a main character. But I did read books with trolls as (primary) bad characters (hobbit, LOTR) 🙂
You'll be surprised with these Trolls! LOTR is awesome, but those trolls are truly eugh. 🙂
I just read Switched by Amanda Hocking, but I really liked it and the idea of Trolls intrigues me a lot! This book is new to me, so I went to check your review for it and, I must say, you totally got my attention, Melissa! I'm veeeery curious now and I'm keeping my fingers well crossed for the giveaway 🙂
Also, lovely guest post!
Yay, I'm so glad you think so, Silvia! Trolls are a nice change from the usual vampires, werewolves, etc etc. I like different.
Trolls, never. I've read about goblins, though—The Hollow Kingdom by Clare B.Dunkle. 🙂
carla *jen7waters*
I've read few books about goblins, interesting creatures too. I'm going to check out The Hollow Kingdom, thanks!
I've read the Trylle trilogy by Amanda Hocking.
I need to read this series. 🙂
No, I haven't read a book about trolls yet. It's one of the reasons this book intrigues me.
I hope you get to read it soon! It's amazing.
No. haven't.Would really love to read one.
Good luck! 😀
Yes, I've read this book, and I loved it! <3
Yay <3
I've never actually read books about trolls!
Stolen Songbird is the perfect book to love trolls 😉
No, I haven't read a book about trolls yet.
These Trolls are GREAT! 🙂 You're gonna love them.
I've read one book about trolls! Switched by Amanda Hocking. It was a good read. 🙂
I'm coming up for interview questions for Danielle right now, and as I look more into her book, the more I want to read it! Thank you for the giveaway!