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Troll King Trilogy #1
The Troll King
Offers a look at the "true" history of trolls, from their early days as great warriors in the land of Bonespittle through their enslavement that soon led to their reputation as mean and evil creatures who live as servants to ogres and ghouls. Original.
216 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
July 14, 2019
The first book in a trilogy of children’s fantasy books. It’s set in a fantasy world with ghouls, gnomes, trolls, ogres, and faeries. But it’s set in the land of the “bad guys”, so that’s a bit different than usual.
For centuries, sorcerer Stygius Rex has ruled ogres, trolls, the ghouls, and gnomes in fear. Now, Rex has seen a vision and has decided that he’s going to build a bridge over the Great Chasm, from his land Bonespittle to the Bonny Woods which is home to the ferocious elves and pixies. Of course, Rex intends to conquer that disgustingly forested land. To do that, he needs workers.
Enter our hero Rollo. He’s a fourteen year old troll and one of the apprentices of a master bridge builder. Trolls live under bridges and that’s why the Troll Town has a lot of bridges. Sadly, trolls are also the most oppressed race in this nation and so Rex sends his ogres to kidnap trolls and force them to work. Unfortunate Rollo is the first one to be kidnapped.
Despite being a troll, Rollo is quite a typical main character. He’s not very brave but when needed, he will do the right thing. He’s scared of Rex but he’s basically a good-natured boy who doesn’t like the sorcerer’s plans. The ghoul General Drool also frightens him. And there’s a young troll girl whom he admires and tries to talk to.
It’s a fun, quick read. It’s rather a straightforward story of finding out that things aren’t necessarily as you have been told they are (hmmm… maybe some adults need to (re)learn that as well...) It doesn’t quite end in a cliffhanger but definitely has a hook to the next book.
For centuries, sorcerer Stygius Rex has ruled ogres, trolls, the ghouls, and gnomes in fear. Now, Rex has seen a vision and has decided that he’s going to build a bridge over the Great Chasm, from his land Bonespittle to the Bonny Woods which is home to the ferocious elves and pixies. Of course, Rex intends to conquer that disgustingly forested land. To do that, he needs workers.
Enter our hero Rollo. He’s a fourteen year old troll and one of the apprentices of a master bridge builder. Trolls live under bridges and that’s why the Troll Town has a lot of bridges. Sadly, trolls are also the most oppressed race in this nation and so Rex sends his ogres to kidnap trolls and force them to work. Unfortunate Rollo is the first one to be kidnapped.
Despite being a troll, Rollo is quite a typical main character. He’s not very brave but when needed, he will do the right thing. He’s scared of Rex but he’s basically a good-natured boy who doesn’t like the sorcerer’s plans. The ghoul General Drool also frightens him. And there’s a young troll girl whom he admires and tries to talk to.
It’s a fun, quick read. It’s rather a straightforward story of finding out that things aren’t necessarily as you have been told they are (hmmm… maybe some adults need to (re)learn that as well...) It doesn’t quite end in a cliffhanger but definitely has a hook to the next book.
January 26, 2022
This is the best book I've read all year!
The Troll King was an exciting pageturner that caught my attention from the start. The cover art is colorfully magical and gives a great imagery of the main character and the world around him. It catches your eye to draw you in and once you open it, you never want to close it again.
The Troll King's storyline is charming and funny. This book is filled with hideous characters that you cant help but love and such an awesome underdog group of fairytale races. The journey we follow is noble, dangerous and adventurous and we go along with a shy yet surprisingly bold protagonist.
There's love. There's magic. There's strategy and war. There's fantasy galore and I loved every single word of it.
This copy belongs to Tata (my grandmother) so I have to return it but I MUST own it for myself so I WILL find a copy one day and add it to my library VERY SOON!
When I find it, I'll read it again before it hits the shelf.
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!!
The Troll King was an exciting pageturner that caught my attention from the start. The cover art is colorfully magical and gives a great imagery of the main character and the world around him. It catches your eye to draw you in and once you open it, you never want to close it again.
The Troll King's storyline is charming and funny. This book is filled with hideous characters that you cant help but love and such an awesome underdog group of fairytale races. The journey we follow is noble, dangerous and adventurous and we go along with a shy yet surprisingly bold protagonist.
There's love. There's magic. There's strategy and war. There's fantasy galore and I loved every single word of it.
This copy belongs to Tata (my grandmother) so I have to return it but I MUST own it for myself so I WILL find a copy one day and add it to my library VERY SOON!
When I find it, I'll read it again before it hits the shelf.
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!!
January 3, 2025
I first read this trilogy in elementary school, it’s such a cute little fantasy!
August 3, 2021
I read this in elementary school and I am wanting them for my book collection! This series was my first real fantasy series I have ever read!
March 17, 2020
I really liked the book. You can read multiple times and you won't get bored. If this happens to any book like this one then it's a great book.If you like mystery and the jaws theme song playing on your head every single word you read then you HAVE to read this book. I loved the part when Rollo who was a troll met his new friend who was a fairy named Clipper. The part i hate is on the girl who he loves pays no attention to him until he is a hero. then she wants to get married to him, and he says YES. WOW. If i was him i would definitely say no and then walk away.Even though he loves her the only reason she wants to be with him is so that she can be famous as well. That just makes me sad for him. Rollo has to work hard because he doesn't want to anger the powerful sorcerer. But when he travels with him and finds out his fairy friend who his being kept a prisoner he finds out whose side he should really be on.
December 30, 2020
Ketika pinjam buku ini dari library sebelah, saya gak punya ekspektasi apa2, karena sejujurnya saya gak suka baca fantasi. Ada sih yang saya suka tapi gak banyak.
Ini juga bacanya setelah teronggok beberapa lama di rak buku di rumah. Tapi sekali angkat dan buka halaman pertama, malah suka!
Petualangan Rollo si troll muda ini ternyata seru banget. Sebelum saya sempat bosan, ceritanya sudah pindah scene dan seru aja gitu. Dari deskripsi trolls, gnomes, ghouls, ogres, saya cuma bisa bayangin Shrek 😅 tapi kayaknya aslinya mereka jauh lebih jelek dari itu.
Endingnya digantung untuk menuju sequelnya: The troll queen. Hmm di perpus sebelah ada gak ya? 🤔
Ini juga bacanya setelah teronggok beberapa lama di rak buku di rumah. Tapi sekali angkat dan buka halaman pertama, malah suka!
Petualangan Rollo si troll muda ini ternyata seru banget. Sebelum saya sempat bosan, ceritanya sudah pindah scene dan seru aja gitu. Dari deskripsi trolls, gnomes, ghouls, ogres, saya cuma bisa bayangin Shrek 😅 tapi kayaknya aslinya mereka jauh lebih jelek dari itu.
Endingnya digantung untuk menuju sequelnya: The troll queen. Hmm di perpus sebelah ada gak ya? 🤔
June 26, 2018
I found this book at a second hand shop and the cover caught my eye. It was a fun and quick read. while it can be read as a stand alone, the ending does leave you hanging a bit, so I might need to go find the rest of this series for some closure. We get to follow young Rollo the troll as he learns to discover truth on his own, rather than what the evil rulers tell him it is. He also gets to meet a fairy, and despite all the tales of them being evil and horrible, they become friends.
June 24, 2018
A fun beginning to a simplistic middle grade adventure. The characters are very straightforward and the prose is awkward at times, with heavy-handed exposition, but the setting is original and the plot is engaging. A quick read, The Troll King ends positively and makes you want to read the next one right away.
November 1, 2018
I'm a sucker for fairy tales. If you know me, that fact has been established. So of course when I came across this BEAUTIFUL cover art while thrifting one day, I had to have this book in my collection. I've just now got around to actually reading it, and I was happy to find that the story itself was just as pleasant and magical as that gorgeous illustration by Omar Rayyan. I wish that I had found this book as child, and I'm really excited to share it with my nephew now. Trolls, fairies, gnomes, a magical landscape with names like "Bonespittle" and "Bonny Woods"- literally everything I loved as a kid. (Who am I kidding, I still love it)
The Troll King ended with a slight cliffhanger, but for an older reader like myself, I think it works just fine as a stand alone story. You can pretty easily fill in the gaps about what happens next. There is something so very comforting and relaxing about children's literature. At least there is if you can ignore that dull, aching throb of nostalgia coursing through your heart. Or is that just me? Regardless, I feel lighter after having read this book.
The Troll King ended with a slight cliffhanger, but for an older reader like myself, I think it works just fine as a stand alone story. You can pretty easily fill in the gaps about what happens next. There is something so very comforting and relaxing about children's literature. At least there is if you can ignore that dull, aching throb of nostalgia coursing through your heart. Or is that just me? Regardless, I feel lighter after having read this book.
March 17, 2018
This is an unfortunately little known, under-rated, fabulously fun book that I highly recommend for young fantasy readers out there. This is the kind of literature that can inspire a love of reading and I'm sad I have had it all these years only to have read it now.
February 17, 2019
We weren't super interested in most of this story. It took us a long time to plug through this one, and my kids wanted to stop and switch books several times....but I just have to finish whatever book I start.
January 9, 2023
I enjoyed this book so much! I live in a mythical forest in my head so reading settings like this takes me to my happy place. The ending is abrupt- I’m planning on reading the Troll Queen as soon as it arrives in the mail! Love the characters🖤
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2018
Charming read!
September 25, 2018
A cute read
February 18, 2023
Probably more of a 3.5. I liked it and would like to read the rest of the series. I have more thoughts percolating, but nothing substantial yet.
March 7, 2026
Wow what a magical book. This was such a fun read! Everything was explained in so much detail i could visualize everything. Makes me want to paint troll town. Onto book 2 😊 highly recommend!
February 9, 2022
I really enjoyed this book series as a kid, so when I saw it the other week at a used book shop, I grabbed it and its sequel to see how they held up. So, this is kind of a review of the whole series...
While it definitely read as a middle-grade fantasy adventure with a relatively basic plot, I still appreciated the world and the characters, who really grow on you over time. It also has the always fun viewpoint of the "good guy is the 'bad' guy," since the hero is Rollo, a troll, from the wasteland of Bonespittle. The book has a nice "don't judge people by their appearances" vibe, but the series also gets pretty dire when main characters die and we face the consequences of bringing them back...
The world isn't complicated; there's "bad guys" (like trolls, goblins, gnomes, and ghouls) in a wasteland, fairies and elves in a beautiful forest, and a giant chasm with a lava river between them. Very clear-cut. But our hero is Rollo, a troll who is "volunteered" to help the tyrannical king of his world build a bridge over the chasm, and in the process learns magic and realizes that fairies aren't as frightening as he's been told. Despite this, we as readers also realize that the "good" guys aren't really that perfect either. Consequently, this book points out that it's really people's actions and choices that make them good or bad, not where they're from or what they look like. And while I'd definitely say that the writing is definitely at the perfect level for the intended audience, I was still about to enjoy going back to Bonespittle and the Bonny Woods as an adult for a very quick little jaunt.
I'd definitely recommend this for anyone in the intended age range, and even those above looking for a quick easy read. However, I'd definitely say read the whole series; it's pretty short, and you don't really get the whole development from the first book.
While it definitely read as a middle-grade fantasy adventure with a relatively basic plot, I still appreciated the world and the characters, who really grow on you over time. It also has the always fun viewpoint of the "good guy is the 'bad' guy," since the hero is Rollo, a troll, from the wasteland of Bonespittle. The book has a nice "don't judge people by their appearances" vibe, but the series also gets pretty dire when main characters die and we face the consequences of bringing them back...
The world isn't complicated; there's "bad guys" (like trolls, goblins, gnomes, and ghouls) in a wasteland, fairies and elves in a beautiful forest, and a giant chasm with a lava river between them. Very clear-cut. But our hero is Rollo, a troll who is "volunteered" to help the tyrannical king of his world build a bridge over the chasm, and in the process learns magic and realizes that fairies aren't as frightening as he's been told. Despite this, we as readers also realize that the "good" guys aren't really that perfect either. Consequently, this book points out that it's really people's actions and choices that make them good or bad, not where they're from or what they look like. And while I'd definitely say that the writing is definitely at the perfect level for the intended audience, I was still about to enjoy going back to Bonespittle and the Bonny Woods as an adult for a very quick little jaunt.
I'd definitely recommend this for anyone in the intended age range, and even those above looking for a quick easy read. However, I'd definitely say read the whole series; it's pretty short, and you don't really get the whole development from the first book.
January 5, 2010
Rollo the troll lives in the land of Bonespittle. Bonespittles population mostly consists of trolls, ogres, gnomes, and ghouls. They are all lead by the cruel and evil last wizard Stygius Rex. Ghouls and gnomes are treated the best, and ogres are treated okay, but trolls are treated like slaves. Rollo gets himself an adventure he is captured by ghouls and forced to build a bridge over the Great Chasm (a big ditch) with a bunch of other trolls for Stygius Rex. With magic and adventure, Rollo learns of lies and wrongful secrets and leads the trolls to freedom.
This book was amazing. It was adventurous and magical. I couldn't put this book down it is definitely one of the best books I have read.
I recomend this book to all children who enjoy a good fantasy.
This book was amazing. It was adventurous and magical. I couldn't put this book down it is definitely one of the best books I have read.
I recomend this book to all children who enjoy a good fantasy.
March 15, 2014
This book was a whimsical little read which I really and thoroughly enjoyed. And I discovered it as an adult! There are no really heavy themes to worry about, but a lot of great environments and characters to fill up your imagination for a short journey. I also think the cover art is fantastic. It's the reason I picked up the book in the first place. :) I'll be introducing my kids to this one when it's time.
June 13, 2011
It's a really cute story and I had a lot of fun reading it. I would suggest it more to younger readers, ones maybe in fourth or fifth grade, but older readers can enjoy it as well as a light read. It was an adorable story of someone low on the ladder rising up to the top, similar to Benjamin Franklin, so I know any American would enjoy this tale.It's basically ingrained in their DNA to do so.
February 2, 2016
Oh I'm going through a nostalgic phase here.. Not as good as 10 year old me remembered it being but still overall a cute, creative kids story with a unique protagonist which is nice, especially for that age group. Even young me got sick of all the perfect beautiful smart people in books after while and wanted something different.
October 23, 2009
The Troll King is one of those books that really does not make that much sence. its about this kingdom and the trolls that live there do not like him that much because he is making all of these really dumb rules.
January 8, 2013
A fun fantasy series with a sense of humor, especially good for kids grades 3-5. Full of adventure and lots of great characters that make kids laugh: trolls and ogres decomposing villains! What more could you ask for?
March 22, 2016
"It was ok" is a very accurate description. There was nothing really wrong with it but it doesn't feel like it will stick with me very well either. It also ended really abruptly. I guess it's part of a trilogy, but I don't think I am interested enough to read the rest.
April 23, 2023
Good little story for older elementary students and middle-schoolers. A young troll learns he has some magical powers that aid him in overcoming the ghouls, ogres, and gnomes, as he comes to appreciate the fairies. Engaging story for the young at heart.
August 29, 2008
Another series that my kids and I read together. Very funny and we really enjoyed laughing together!
November 14, 2010
Not sure if it was just my book, but there were a lot of grammar and spelling mistakes.
Otherwise a cute book.
Otherwise a cute book.
September 30, 2013
I had never heard of these books but when I found them I could not put them down. I love these books and would highly recommend! It was not something I would normally pick up but it's amazing.
February 23, 2008
this book was so good! all I can say is I loved it!
May 23, 2008
I enjoyed this book, and looking forward to read the sequels. If only I could get them...:P
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews