Stolen Songbird by Danielle L. Jensen

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Supernatural

Pages: 480

Published: April 1, 2014 by Angry Robot Angry Robot

Synopsis:

For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the mountain. When Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she realises that the trolls are relying on her to break the curse.

Cécile has only one thing on her mind: escape. But the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time…

But the more time she spends with the trolls, the more she understands their plight. There is a rebellion brewing. And she just might be the one the trolls were looking for…

How have I not read this book and how have I not heard of it until my friend recommended I read it? I feel like I’ve been living under a rock – wait if I had I probably would have heard of this book.

There is exceptional world building in this book, descriptions, information, folklore, but it is not at all boring. In fact, as I read I felt like I was dropped into this world entirely and that I was living in a world for the duration of the read.

If you like Dark Crystal or Labyrinth then I think this book would go over well with you. It felt similar in regard to mood. Even some of the trolls who have deformities have a Jim Henson vibe.

Seventeen year old Cècile de Troyes is a farm girl with a beautiful singing voice, she’s about to embark on a journey to the city to pursue her dream of an opera singer when she is abducted by a boy she once knew, she is dragged to the underground kingdom of Trollus and to her surprise it is to fulfill a prophecy.

She is to marry Prince Tristan de Montigny the crowned Prince of Trollus and yes he’s a troll.

The relationship between these two was so complex and at first I thought maybe this wasn’t to be a romance but more political intrigue? I was wrong. A delicious slow burn romance that doesn’t overshadow the world, the prophecy or intrigue.

As the plot escalates it kept me turning every page and holding my breath as I waited for the next issue. And believe me it escalates, especially the last 50 pages.

This is quite easily one of my favorite reads of 2016 and I feel like a dunderhead for not reading it earlier.

Happy Reading && Happy New Year!