AH@BadassBookReviews

Never in my reading experience have I come across a sexy troll. Never. Ever. Until now.

Debut author Danielle Jensen managed to convince me that trolls could be attractive, even sexy. Especially a certain troll named Tristan.

Stolen Songbird was a captivating read. Once I got into the book, I really could not put it down. I think that I enjoyed it because it was told from the main characters’ points of view: Cecile de Troyes and Prince Tristan. Most of the first part of the story is told from Cecile’s point of view as she is kidnapped and sold for her weight in gold to the trolls. We learn a lot about her character. Cecile is a talented soprano, destined to join her mother in the big city to sing for large audiences. She’s smart, compassionate, and caring. What I like most about Cecile is her ability to take a horrible situation and see the good. She takes advantage of her captivity in Trollus to learn more about the world and the people around her. In doing so, she forms some very useful friendships.

It’s certainly not easy being a prince or a troll, let alone the Prince of the Trolls. Prince Tristan certainly has his work cut out for him. Expected to marry and bond to Cecile to fulfill a prophecy, Tristan is not happy with the situation. It’s not because he is not attracted to Cecile, he most certainly is, and he just doesn’t think that she belongs in his world. Prince Tristan comes off as being aloof and uncaring, when in fact he does care for Cecile a great deal. As a leader, Tristan is quite capable although others in his world vie for leadership roles. Tristan also possesses a very strong magic: it is his magic that keeps his world intact.

Tristan and Cecile develop a genuine affection for each other. When Cecile realizes that Tristan is not a threat, she begins to discover the world around her and sees the conditions of the people inhabiting Trollus. Trollus is a pretty brutal society. Trolls cannot leave the world at all. Humans can come and go at their own risk as the tunnels leading to Trollus are full of deadly creatures called Sluags. Trollus is full of full blooded trolls, half trolls, and humans. Full blooded trolls have the most magical power. Those without magic are given menial labor and are eventually fed to the sluags.

Stolen Songbird is an awesome debut for Danielle Jensen. I enjoyed her take on trolls, so very different from the childhood fairy tales I was used to. I’m eagerly anticipating the next book in the series.

Thank you to Strange Chemistry for a review copy of this book.

Review posted on Badass Book Reviews. Check it out!