Stolen Songbird (The Malediction Trilogy, #1) in Danielle L. Jensen's Reader Group

Dec 24, 2013 Ryan Snyder rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own, hmaybe, top-2014

ARC REVIEW:
See the review on my blog, HERE

This book was AWESOME. :D It was 436 pages long (eARC) and I loved every page of it.

I loved Trollus. The world the author created was so magical. Literally magical. I could picture the world in my mind and although it was dark and limiting, it held its own beauty. I was both disgusted and fascinated by the trolls and their horrible hierarchical system that put themselves above the half-lings and humans. Their treatment of others was horrible, but as vil ARC REVIEW:
See the review on my blog, HERE

This book was AWESOME. :D It was 436 pages long (eARC) and I loved every page of it.

I loved Trollus. The world the author created was so magical. Literally magical. I could picture the world in my mind and although it was dark and limiting, it held its own beauty. I was both disgusted and fascinated by the trolls and their horrible hierarchical system that put themselves above the half-lings and humans. Their treatment of others was horrible, but as villains they were AWESOME. Some lacked sympathy, some were cowards, and some were just plain cruel.

The characters were not cut and dry. I fell in love with both Cecile and Tristan's characters. The chapters were told in intermittent POVs which I thought worked perfectly for the story. Cecile got chapter 1-7, Tristan told 8, Cecile 9-11, Tristan, 12, then 17 and so on and so forth. The story focused on her, but I never once felt like they weren't both central characters. I am very much attached to them both.

Cecile was a country girl who is kidnapped and sold to the trolls in order to wed the troll prince and break the curse keeping them trapped in Trollus. Her reactions and emotions were believable even when she was freaking out and crying. I mean.. you try being kidnapped and forced to wed a snide and rude troll who is apparently disgusted by you. She is not perfect. She is no wilting flower, but she is certainly no badass ninja. She is a happy medium, but her strength comes from her character and her desire to help others and to see the best in people. and trolls. She makes some stupid decisions, (hey, no one is perfect and I would have done the same in her shoes. Like I said, a believable character) but she realizes and recognizes her shortcomings and tries to make up for and learn from them. A very admirable character.

Tristan. Oh my gosh, I love that boy. troll. whatever. From the first sentence he uttered, full of sardonic humor and dry wit, I knew I was going to enjoy figuring him out. On the outside, he is this cold and hateful troll who despises humans and wants only to break the curse keeping his fellow trolls trapped beneath their city. But Cecile knows he is hiding something and that he is not like the other trolls. As Cecile comes to learn his true nature and feelings bit by bit, it was like she was finding a whole new person under all that hate and beauty. The information was not hard won and he is still greatly shrouded in so much mystery, but I am just dying- DYING- to read more and find out all his dirty little troll secrets.

I fell in love with a lot of the side characters as well. Victor and Victoria were thoroughly entertaining as well as Marc. He was really an integral character with so much darkness in him, I just wanted to pat his head and tell him all would be okay... but I would be lying. Because I don't know anything right now because I just finished the book and I don't know what is going to happen! D: That ending just turned the whole world on its side then smacked it and asked it "Whose your daddy now!?" I was staring at the last page mumbling, "It can't end there. You can't end it there. What happens next? WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?" *sputters* You just can't. I need to. the.. WHY?! THERE IS SO MUCH I NEED TO KNOW AND I HAVE SO LONG TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK.

You just thought you knew everything there was to know about trolls, but you have no idea. These characters are not the dinky creatures of legend. They are hard, cruel, and just as cunning and deceitful as the royals in the human worlds.

The curse, the intrigue, the world- building, and the characters were all well done. Especially the world-building and the characters.

If you love fantasies, romance, and political intrigue, then you really need to add this book to your wishlist and tell all your friends you want it for your birthday, because Oh my gosh, it is my new favorite book of this year. I am going to buy a hardback(if I can) and put that bad boy on my favorite books shelf right beside Graceling, Eon, and The Scorpio Races.
Also, this cover and title are gorgeous and both suit the book splendidly.

**This is an ARC review of the book. Final edition may be different than the one I read. ...more

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May 10, 2014 Katerina rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

Ugh after that ending I'm in no position to express my feelings coherently,I just want to scream that I need more!

To be bound is a burden, but it is the actions we freely take that cause us the most pain.

Cécile did not choose the path that she followed at first;in the contrary,she fought it in every way she could.But she found out that the impossible can happen any time,and it is not always that bad,not when you get to discover a hidden city under a mountain,inhabited by trolls who wield magic ...more

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Apr 09, 2014 Mare rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, ya, e-book, favorites, magic, read-in-english, romance, 2014-read

WOW! I can't believe how much I enjoyed reading this book from first to last page. This is one of these books I wish were thousand pages long. I hope sequel will be out soon... ...more

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Jul 09, 2013 Perla The IB Teen Book Blogger rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, all-time-favorites

A must read, ever unfolding fantasy with deep wells of intrigue and wonder! It's given to you in bits so you always digest new discoveries before getting even more- it's never overwhelming, it's completely engrossing and forever fascinating. Adding to the amazing array of colorful characters and an amazing world built by Jensen, is the power of the main characters to make you FEEL.

Cecile and Tristan share the POV responsibilities and readers will LOVE them to bits. Tristan is analytical and Ceci ...more

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Jul 24, 2013 Louisa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: re-reads, owned-read

Loved reading this book again, I'm just so obsessed with these characters and this world!

*Second Read March 8th, 2016*
Yeah, absolutely loved rereading this book, now to read more, and hope that my Warrior Witch request will be a) approved and b) approved quickly, because I'm desperate for it!

*First Read January 24th 2014*
Oh, my, such a wonderful, amazing, so freaking good, words just have a hard time explaining it. But it's so good! ...more

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Mar 24, 2014 Rachmi rated it really liked it

Shelves: ebook, fantasy, romance

Although I can't wait to read this book, there's a part of me that doubt it will be good. As the blurb says, it's about troll while the troll I know is the kind that turn to stone under the sun, the ugly creature who loves to boil human, the one like Tom, Bert and William from The Hobbit. So I was kind of wondering how will Danielle Jensen creates it into something good, nice, if not pretty creature without being too romanticized it. Tristan, the troll prince, says the troll I know is just human

Although I can't wait to read this book, there's a part of me that doubt it will be good. As the blurb says, it's about troll while the troll I know is the kind that turn to stone under the sun, the ugly creature who loves to boil human, the one like Tom, Bert and William from The Hobbit. So I was kind of wondering how will Danielle Jensen creates it into something good, nice, if not pretty creature without being too romanticized it. Tristan, the troll prince, says the troll I know is just human made-up, a myth that far from reality. Through his voice, along with Cécile, a human girl and the main character in this story, I believe that that is true.

It's been a while since I read a fantasy book that feel like it takes place in and/or part of this world history. Most of fantasy books I read these days seem so far away from our time. Yeah I know that's why it's called fantasy but it also feels nice when I read fantasy that I feel like it's a part of human history. A story I can relate too. Reading this book bring those feeling. The troll world with their knowledge of solar system, earthquake, and all make it close to the world I know. Hence I feel like Cecile and Tristan story is a part of our world, a history that can be read and relate to. It might sound weird, but I like that feeling.

As the main characters, Cécile and Tristan are easy to love and connect with. Tristan, the heir of Trollus has different perspective of his world from his father. It leads him into rebellion. Through Cecile's eyes, I get that he's perfect and swoon worthy. He is indeed perfect but it's Cecile that makes me keep reading this book. She doesn't have strength or magic like troll, easy to bleed and needs time to heal. She's fragile compare to troll. She's human. But to me she's strong and brave. She refuses to be helpless and useless. Aside them, I also love supporting characters. Tristan friends, the twin Vincent and Victoria, I never get bored reading their antics. Marc, I love him I want him to have his own happy ending and Anais, she's surprising me through and through. I even like reading Zoe and Elise and other half-blood.

I don't think this book can begin and end better than what already has. The beginning makes me curious of the story. It draws me to read more, to know and understand the characters and their story while the ending makes sense, believable and left me wanting more. It also begins and ends with action. I think I can say that this book is full of action and tension, at least that's what I feel. It's fast-paced, though the pace is a little bit slower in the middle of the story. But it isn't a problem for me because that's where I learn more about Tristan world and their political intrigue. It doesn't mean there isn't anything happened in the middle of the story, though. I assure you, there are a lot of things happened, some predictable, some aren't. One thing for sure there is always tension in it.

All in all, I love this book. Everything in it is perfect. And should I say that it's well written with beautiful-magical worldbuilding and doesn't have an insta-love or I-feel-like-I-know-you-forever-and-can't-live-without-you kind of line? For me, it couldn't be more perfect. ...more

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Mar 23, 2014 Meida Morgenstern Lantsova rated it really liked it

err.. owkaayyy.. I think this might the first book I read that tells a story how to fight well for your love, without being cheesy and get boring in the process. Before this, in every book I read, love was only a supporting element that walks together with the plot, but it was not the ultimate goal the protagonist would like to achieve.

In this book, the protagonist, Cecile, is very determined to do anything to be with the one she eventually loved, despite everything bad that came along with it. ...more

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Mar 31, 2014 Latoya rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I loved that this book was about trolls. Jensen does an amazing job of creating a world that is realistic and entertaining. It all begins when Cecile is about to move in with her mother to train as a singer. She's out alone and gets kidnapped by someone she trusts, who then trades her to the trolls. The troll royalty believe she is the mysterious young woman mentioned in a prophecy that will relieve the curse upon the mountain in which they live. Against her will, she must marry Tristan, the pri ...more

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Dec 18, 2013 Kristina rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 1st-in-series

originally posted: http://newborrowedused.blogspot.com/2...

My Thoughts: For a debut book this was a really great read. I could not stop reading it. Even when I had other things to do, I just kept telling myself 5 more minutes. One of my favorite things was the fact that there was a romance without either a triangle or insta-love.
Cecile was an interesting character. She started as a strong female that was getting ready to jump feet first into a future she had been working her whole life towards o ...more

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Feb 16, 2014 Patrícia rated it it was amazing

Shelves: owned, fantasy, ya, leituras-2014

Opinião do blogue Chaise Longue: http://girlinchaiselongue.blogspot.pt...

Ao contrário de muitos autores, Danielle L. Jensen não cresceu a imaginar um futuro onde passasse horas a escrever, apesar de ser uma leitora ávida mas, depois de ter tirado um Bacharelato em Comércio e passado os seis anos seguintes a trabalhar nas indústrias de gás e óleo, por causa da sugestão de um colega, Danielle atirou-se a aventura de escrever.
Em 2006 começou a escrever o seu primeiro livro em segredo e terminou-o e Opinião do blogue Chaise Longue: http://girlinchaiselongue.blogspot.pt...

Ao contrário de muitos autores, Danielle L. Jensen não cresceu a imaginar um futuro onde passasse horas a escrever, apesar de ser uma leitora ávida mas, depois de ter tirado um Bacharelato em Comércio e passado os seis anos seguintes a trabalhar nas indústrias de gás e óleo, por causa da sugestão de um colega, Danielle atirou-se a aventura de escrever.
Em 2006 começou a escrever o seu primeiro livro em segredo e terminou-o em 2008. Passou os anos seguintes a tentar publicá-lo enquanto tirava um Bacharelato em Artes Inglesas, e por causa de um revés acabou a servir as mesas num bar de desporto. Mas o seu golpe de fé deu frutos e, finalmente, o seu primeiro livro ganhou uma editora, e pouco mais de um ano depois, chega as livrarias. Stolen Songbird sairá em Abril deste ano.
Este livro tinha todos os ingredientes para me agradar, isso era certo. O que eu não sabia, era que estava prestes a descobrir um novo amor literário. Danielle L. Jensen enfeitiça-nos de imediato com este seu conto de fadas, tanto belo como tenebroso, que nos leva para um mundo amaldiçoado e esquecido, prestes a ser mudado para sempre. Com uma escrita encantatória e poderosa, Danielle faz uma estreia fabulosa com este seu Stolen Songbird, uma fantasia que nos deixará rendidos com a sua complexa obscuridade, e que não perde a doçura de uma história de encantar. Início de uma trilogia que promete reconquistar-nos página a página e amarrar-nos a cada momento, este é o livro que qualquer sonhador irá adorar.
Repleta de magia, esta história é uma teia de intrigas, amores proibidos e esperança, em que nada acontece como seria de esperar, em que a nossa imaginação é levada ao limite e cada momento serve para nos enfeitiçar. Mais do que uma história de príncipes e maldições, este é um conto sobre um povo aprisionado, não só num local onde o sol nunca entra, mas nas trevas dos seus preconceitos e natureza vil, que forma uma corte de injustiças e manipulações, onde os fortes subjugam os fracos, onde a ganância se sobrepõe a justiça e as intrigas são infinitas. Ora deformados, ora belos, estes trolls estão divididos naqueles que procuram a libertação da maldição e os que querem libertar-se das amarras da escravatura e, para todos, a chave é a mesma. Vilões ou heróis, estes trolls e a sua caverna no fundo da montanha, são o ponto central de uma trama complexa, cheia de segredos e ilusões, beleza e trevas, lendas e promessas.
Ricamente construído, este mundo floresce através de um enredo a que não falta política, magia e romance. Com um equilíbrio perfeito entre o bem e o mal, luz e escuridão, esta narrativa vai-nos apaixonando, primeiro devido à sua essência de conto de fadas, depois pela sua complexidade e detalhes que a transformam não só na luta de um povo, mas nos seus sonhos bem como os de uma cantora e um príncipe. Pois neste enredo intricado, onde reviravoltas nos sustém a respiração, onde tanto nos sentimos assoberbados pela dor como pela felicidade, onde a magia é malévola e benevolente, onde o amor nasce da desconfiança e do ódio para florescer em confiança e aceitação, onde o a liberdade depende da união e de acreditar, são os sonhos de todos os géneros e feitios, os doces e os perversos, que construem esta história.
Tão cativantes quanto a sua história, os personagens são um tesouro inquestionável. Cécile, a corajosa, impulsiva e apaixonada ave canora que é retirada do seu mundo para salvar um em que se sente presa, é uma protagonista que não é uma heroína. É uma jovem que cresce, que comete erros e aprende com eles, que sabe pedir desculpa, que acredita e luta até ao fim mesmo quando tudo parece perdido. Tristan, o príncipe misterioso, arrogante e agrilhoado a um passado que odeia, que vai aprendendo a ouvir o coração e que nem tudo é preto e branco. Marc, o leal, o desfigurado, o doce, presente a todas horas e desfeito pela dor. Cada um deles, e todos os outros, tornam este livro mais do que ele parece.
Uma estreia colossal de uma autora que promete marcar todos os que a lerem, Stolen Songbird é a fantasia que faltava, é a história que irá arrebatar cada leitor. E a boa notícia, é que ainda agora começou. ...more

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Jun 06, 2014 Chandelle rated it it was amazing

Loved this!!! LOVED IT!!
I absolutely can NOT wait for the second book! The way it ended was agonizing, I need more!!!

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Jul 21, 2014 Nadya rated it really liked it

Shelves: pinjem-lah, t

At first, i was like "What? Troll?!!! Eww...."

But it turns out to be unexpected read, and by unexpected, I mean great. Just great! ...more

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Feb 28, 2014 Justyna rated it really liked it

What an excellent and original idea for the storyline! I could be 5 stars but the first half of the book was too slow and nothing special happened. However, the other half a total roller-coaster! Can't wait for the next book in the series. A pity that it has to be next year. ...more

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Aug 11, 2013 Sara rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2014

I fucking loved this. This is absolutely my favorite read of 2014 so far- and I don't anticipate anything topping this. I want to cry because it's over. ...more

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