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Synopsis (from Goodreads):
For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the mountain. When Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she realizes that the trolls are relying on her to break the curse.
Cécile has only one thing on her mind: escape. But the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time…
But the more time she spends with the trolls, the more she understands their plight. There is a rebellion brewing. And she just might be the one the trolls were looking for.
Review:
One of the joys of reading (for me) is discovering new worlds and the new creatures that inhabit it. Stolen Songbird is set in a world with trolls, witches, and magic. Cécile is about to begin a new life as an opera singer in the capital when she is whisked away and sold to the trolls. Thinking she is going to be thrown in a pot and eaten, she is terrified. But what awaits her is stranger still: she is to be married off and bonded to the crown prince of the trolls in order to break a curse. When one is bonded to their spouse, one can feel the other's emotions (a cool twist!). If one is killed, the other may die, or wish they had.
Of course, the prince, Tristan, has a hatred for humans. So Cécile feels anger, disgust, and...compassion? Who is this prince and where do his sympathies actually lie? Will she be able to break the curse? Will that put the humans she loves above ground in danger? I loved how the relationship between Cécile and Tristan develops and grows over time. There is a lot going on in the royal court of the underground city of Trollus: political maneuvering, jealousies, and conspiracies just to name a few. Cécile must quickly learn to navigate through these treacherous waters. She must also come to terms with her growing attraction to Tristan. Can she escape to the surface? Will she want to if it means it will harm Tristan?
This story combines so many elements that I love: fantasy, romance, royalty, and class consciousness. The plot is complicated but easy to follow. I adored how Cécile came to realize that the outward deformities of the trolls were not indicative of how good or evil they were. There is quite a parallel between that and real-life prejudice in general. I found Cécile's acceptance of the trolls to be lovely.
This is the beginning of a book series, the next of which is called Hidden Huntress. I am eagerly looking forward to further books in the series. If you enjoy fantasy books with complicated relationships, you will love Stolen Songbird!
Rating: 
Source: Public Library
Format: Paperback
Recommendation: If you like fantasy and romance you will enjoy this.
Will I read more from this author: Yes!
Cecile is an OUTSTANDING character. I really appreciated how she tried to make the best out of a terrible situation. She didn't sit in a corner and whine, she took charge of her own destiny and tried to work out troll politics herself!
ReplyDeleteExcellent review, I'm happy you enjoyed this one as well! Now onward to Hidden Huntress :)