Stolen Songbird (Malediction Trilogy, #1)

by Danielle L. Jensen

[paperbackjedi]

Cécile de Troyes is ready to leave the farm and take to the stage and sing with her absentee mother who just so happens to be a little famous. She’s waited her whole life to sing on stages around the world and her chance is finally here. She’s turning 17, her mother is coming to collect her, and a whole new life is about to begin. Until she’s kidnapped and taken to the trolls to be a troll prince’s new bride. The city of Trollus is strange and beautiful, full of ruthlessness and beauty. Cécile is determined to escape, but the longer she stays within the mysterious city, the stronger her ties to it become. Until she’s not sure which life she’s meant for. It doesn’t help that the troll prince is gorgeous and brilliant. What’s a girl to do?

I was hesitant to read this book because I wasn’t sure how I felt about trolls. AND I WAS SO WRONG. Seriously, this book was so good. I started reading it at 10pm on a Saturday night and didn’t stop until I was done at 4am. The characters are smart and layered. There’s a good mix of black, white, and grey in their moral compasses and they’re strongly written. The troll prince, Tristan, is a joy to read. He’s incredibly funny and witty. He’s also just a little bit done with everything. His dialogue is spot on and at times, hysterical. Cécile also presents herself as a pretty strong heroine. Though at times unsure of herself or her worth, she’s passionate about the things she believes in and is unfailingly good. It’s a complicated situation in Trollus and everyone’s got a stake in it.

The plight of the trolls and the world they live in is delightfully interesting. It’s part of the overarching mystery of the series so I won’t get too far into it, but the trolls have magic and it’s very powerful. Unfortunately, because of a witch’s curse, they can’t leave their cave. The entire situation is made complicated because of troll politics. Over the course of time, trolls have mated with humans and there’s an entire faction of trolls that are considered lesser due to their bloodlines. Made even more complicated is the fact that there are numerous royal troll houses vying for control and they all want out of the cave and into the real world so that they can rule over the humans (well, at least some want this). The entire mess of a situation is incredibly intriguing and it contributes to the depth of many of the characters. I applaud Jensen for her attention to detail and gift at explaining strange and intricate circumstances while creating real issues that her characters and readers will find themselves invested in. And at the forefront of everything is magic and power; who has it, who wants it, and how will they use it.

The relationships in Trollus are complicated and many. Tristan’s relationship with his parents and grandmother is definitely weird and at times, dangerous. Family issues are a huge plot point for both Tristan and Cécile as the novel goes on and you begin to understand why they are who they are and how those ties have shaped their world views. The romance between Cécile and Tristan is both fun and frustrating because of the situation they find themselves in. Their interactions and exchanges are funny and well-written and you find yourself rooting for them, despite their differences (in species and in thought). I found myself smiling at them often and at the same time, wanting to knock sense into them for being idiots. All in all, this was a truly fun read and I was surprised at much how I ended up liking it. If you like strong characters with strange backstories, complicated loyalties, and clever dialogue, you will love this. Bonus if you enjoy magic and political intrigue. I give it four sugars and a very enthusiastic thumbs up.