Switched

Amanda Hocking

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Tentative publish Date: 03 January 2012

Version: ARC from St. Martin’s Griffin (Thank you!)

Series: Trylle Series

Wendy is a changeling.   This means that she was switched at birth with a family that was specifically picked out.  This usually works well for the Trylle, but not so in Wendy’s case.  Wendy’s mother, Kim, knew that Wendy was not her child as she was supposed to have a son.  This caused Kim to try to kill Wendy at her sixth birthday party.  Because of that, Wendy and her brother Matt went to stay with their aunt Maggie and Kim was institutionalized. 

Fast forward to today.  Wendy is a high school senior and she is attending, yet another school.  Maggie and Matt have moved around to find a school that would be good for Wendy and one that she will stay in, even though this has cost Matt jobs in his chosen field, architecture.  In this new school, Wendy meets Finn, who tells her that she is Trylle or a troll.  Finn is a tracker and is one of the best.  He asks Wendy to come back to Förening, the home of the Trylle.  Wendy is shocked at this and instantly refuses.  This confuses Finn because usually people will come back with him without questions.

Things happen and finally she does go back to Förening to protect Matt and Maggie, and there she discovers that she fits in there, but doesn’t really like it.  She doesn’t understand what the fuss is about her.  She doesn’t know what will happen between Finn and her.

This book has been out in e-book for a while and I had good intentions of reading it, but the opportunity never presented itself.  I was glad to receive the copy in the mail and instantly started reading it.  I loved the synopsis I had read before and was sure that I would be engrossed in the story once I started it.  I wasn’t disappointed.  Hocking is an amazing writer and I cannot wait to read more from her.  I had to cheat though, and bought the subsequent books in eBook form.  I am also excited for them to come out in print as in my ARC, it states that each book “will include a new, never-before-published bonus short story.”  That is enough to make me buy a book. I was so excited to see the new covers.  I just love them.  They are so pretty.

 

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.

 

▪Wendy.  Of course I like Wendy.  She is the main character and what the whole series revolves around.  I wouldn’t like the series if I didn’t like her.  She has some good morals.  Even though a lot is expected of her when she reaches Förening, she stays true to herself and how she was raised.

▪Matt.  Wendy’s brother.  He looks after Wendy and feels that it is his duty to protect her.  He is, after all, the one who stopped their mother from murdering her.  He is self-sacrificing and gives up what he wants in order for Wendy to have things.  Wendy doesn’t realize this until later in the book.

▪Finn.  He likes Wendy, even though at times throughout the book, you don’t think he does.  He is wavering between what he wants and what he knows is right.  Which one will ultimately win out?

▪Rhys.  He is Wendy’s mänsklig or mänks for short.  That means, he is Matt's biological brother and he was switched for Wendy at birth.  He is truly excited about meeting Wendy and takes a liking to her instantly. 

▪Willa Strom.  She is Wendy’s only friend in Förening.  At first, Wendy doesn’t think that she’ll like her, but she eventually does.

▪Tove Kroner.  You don’t get a good sense of him in this book, but I like the fact that he doesn’t appreciate everything his mother does.

▪The new covers.  The old covers were okay, but the new ones really show off the book more!  I love them.  Good job St. Martin's Press!!

 

▪Stupid rules.  There are many rules in this book about whom can be with whom and the repercussions if you are with the wrong person/class.

▪Elora.  She is the current Queen of Förening.  I know that she has a lot on her plate, but the way she acts or comes off is mean and rude.  Constantly reminding Wendy of who is she and who she is not.    In this book, I do not like her as much as in the subsequent books.

▪Aurora Kroner.  She is manipulative.  You can tell that she is in this book.  She wants the power that the Queen has.  Being a Marksinna, her family is next in line for the Queen/Kingdom should the current monarch ever lose power.

Tentative release date: 28 February 2012

Wendy thought she finally understood who she was and what she wanted, but everything changes when the rival Vittra come after her.

She's caught between two worlds, torn between love and duty, and she must decide what  life she is meant to lead.

Tentative release date: 24 April 2012

Third and final book in the Trylle Trilogy.

With a war looming on the horizon, Wendy’s fate seems sealed.

But everything she sacrificed might be in vain if she can’t save the ones she loves.

Her whole life has been leading up to this, and it’s all coming to an end.