Review: Switched by Amanda Hocking

 

Book:  Switched (Amanda Hocking)
Series or Stand-Alone: Series (Trylle Trilogy #1)
Pages: 304
Genre: Young Adult
Publication Date: July 12^th, 2010

Description (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 finds out her mother might've been telling the truth.

With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - and it's one she's not sure if she wants to be a part of.

The first book in the Tyrlle Trilogy, Switched by Amanda Hocking is like a breath of fresh air in the young adult paranormal market. I’ve read countless books about vampires, werewolves and faeries, but never one about trolls.

Hocking gets the ball rolling right from the start, with a gripping and intense scene. The book begins with Wendy recalling her sixth birthday party – the day when her mother tried to kill her with a kitchen knife. Wendy’s mother was always convinced that she was a monster – a changeling who killed her real child, Michael.

We soon discover her mother was right, well partially, when Wendy is found by a trylle tracker, Finn. Finn has come to collect Wendy and bring her back to her real family, where he says she will find a better life. Wendy, however is not so sure - she loves her brother and her Aunt and doesn’t want to leave them behind. However, she eventually does go with Finn – after she suffers a kidnapping attempt from a rival troll community.

The entire story was incredibly gripping; I had a very difficult time putting this one down. Wendy is an unusual heroine – she is incredibly grumpy and quick to anger, but she is also very passionate and loyal to those she loves. Although she is not much of a people person, she has a great relationship with her older brother Matt.

Matt is the one who saved Wendy from her mother and he has ended up filling the parental role. While I loved the relationship between these two, it did bother me how little Wendy seemed to think about him when she is living with the trolls. She occasionally lets her thoughts rest on him, but never tries to call him or anything. She gets caught up in her new life and kind of puts him on the back burner.  

I also really enjoyed Wendy’s love interest, Finn. When Finn is first introduced, he comes off as unusual and slightly creepy. Wendy doesn’t really know what to make of him, but she feels pulled to him just the same. As the story evolves, Finn develops into a rather likable character and coincidentally a perfect match for Wendy. Things aren’t all rainbows and rosebuds for these two though – they are faced with plenty of challenges and setbacks along the way.

The plot was also extremely engaging and well-developed. Parts of it seemed a little out of place – like all of the manners lessons that Wendy has to go through after she returns to the trolls. They fit in with the plot, but they upset the pacing a bit. I wouldn’t say that the story dragged by any means, but it wasn’t always smooth either. 

I must say though, that Hocking did a marvelous job crafting the Trylle world. I think that when you are writing a story about trolls you are fighting an uphill battle. I mean, everyone has preconceived notions about what kind of creature a troll is – I know I instantly think of a large, ugly, creeper who lives under a bridge. But, Hocking is able to overcome all of that and invent a mesmerizing world that goes against everything I associated with trolls in the past. 

Switched was an impressive start to a series that was chock-full of excitement, adventure and attitude. The characters are all entertaining – especially Wendy. She is sarcastic, determined, driven and incredibly funny. She doesn’t take crap from anybody and has no problem speaking her mind. If you are a fan of paranormal or supernatural young adult stories, I would not hesitate to pick up a copy of Switched!

Review: The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

Book: The Replacement (Brenna Yovanoff)
Stand-Alone or Series: Series, The Replacement #1
Pages: 352

Genre: Young Adult
Description (From Goodreads):

Mackie Doyle is not one of us. Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, he comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood, and consecrated ground, Mackie is fighting to survive in the human world.

Mackie would give anything to live among us, to practice on his bass or spend time with his crush, Tate. But when Tate's baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably into the underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem. He must face the dark creatures of the Slag Heaps and find his rightful place, in our world, or theirs.

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff is unlike anything I've ever read before. The book takes the age old tale of a changeling and puts a modern twist on it. Mackie, the stories protagonist, was switched at birth with a little boy. He is a being from underground who was brought up as a regular boy.

Yovanoff did a wonderful job with Mackie - is a character that you can rally behind and he truly wants to do the right thing. When Tate's little sister disappears he wants to help her find Natalie, but he is unsure whether or not he should get involved. His whole life he was taught not to draw attention to himself, because his family, especially his father, is afraid the town will turn on him.

I also adored Mackie's sister Emma. She was easily my favorite character. Emma has always looked out for Mackie. She was there when Mackie was switched with her biological brother and therefore obviously knows he what he is, yet she has always loved him unconditionally. She is the only one in her family that really shows her love and Mackie would do anything for her.

While I love the idea of The Replacement as well as Mackie and Emma; I did have a few issues with the story. First of which was Mackie and Tate's relationship. I found their love story to resemble one of those scrambler rides at a theme park. They were constantly changing directions - one minute they couldn't stand each other and the next they were pulling each others clothes off. And it wasn't a passion love/hate relationship. Tate hated Mackie because he refused to help her find her sister. That isn't something that you easily forgive. I just did not understand it at all. Then, once they did get together, Tate kept saying that it wasn't only because Mackie finally agreed to help her. But, I think that was exactly what it was. There were no scenes beforehand in which they bonded - they just mostly screamed at one another. So, where exactly did this attraction come from?

The other portion of the story that I took issue with was the way to town was so accepting of this whole baby stealing thing. I just do not believe that an entire town would be okay with some creepy underground creates snatching and killing off their children in exchange for some luck. That just does not sit well with me. Maybe if they were told everyone who die if they didn't let them take a few kids... maybe I could understand that. But giving up their kids for some good crops or whatever? I just don't buy it.

But even with these faults, The Replacement was an enjoyable read, that was unique and entertaining. I did have a few flaws, but I think that it was still worth the read.