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Synopsis (From GoodReads):
Beneath the mountain, the king’s reign of tyranny is absolute; the one troll with the capacity to challenge him is imprisoned for treason. Cécile has escaped the darkness of Trollus, but she learns all too quickly that she is not beyond the reach of the king’s power. Or his manipulation.
Recovered from her injuries, she now lives with her mother in Trianon and graces the opera stage every night. But by day she searches for the witch who has eluded the trolls for five hundred years. Whether she succeeds or fails, the costs to those she cares about will be high.
To find Anushka, she must delve into magic that is both dark and deadly. But the witch is a clever creature. And Cécile might not just be the hunter. She might also be the hunted…
Review:
After reading Danielle L. Jenson's Stolen Songbird recently, I hurriedly got my hands on it's sequel, Hidden Huntress. The book is an action packed tale full of royal intrigue, dark magic, the strong romance between Cécile and Tristan, and the domineering presence of Cécile's mother, Genevieve.
As she rushes to fulfill her oath to find the witch, Anushka, Cécile must contend with the strong desire of her mother to have Cécile become a great opera singer. Genevieve is the ultimate stage mother! Although Genevieve is the current star of the opera, she is ready to retire and have Cécile take her place. Is her mother looking out for her, or is there something else motivating Genevieve to push Cécile so hard? The mystery is complex and fun for the reader to solve!
The love story between Cécile and Tristan grows even stronger in this book. As their love for each other deepens, they must each shed their emotional layers and trust in each other. This is tough for most people to do. Can anyone let their guard down totally, exposing deep secrets and fears, and not get hurt? Cécile wonders how Tristan will react when he learns of the lengths she goes to in order to help him. Can he love her despite what she has done?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The comparison between the human world and the troll world seem to show that some behaviors such as greed, jealousy, and love are universal. As Cécile moves toward possibly freeing the trolls, she must think about the consequences. Would she sacrifice the happiness of all her friends in Trollus to keep the human world safe? Would being ruled by the trolls be better or worse than being ruled the current Regent? And who is she to make such a decision?
I see this conflict between the human world and the troll world as an analogy for the real-life conflicts of today. When we demonize a population, it is much easier to marginalize them and treat them as less. This is why I love fantasy novels. They have so much to say but will envelop it in a story that is entertaining and compelling. This is a wonderful book. I can't wait for the third installment, due out in May 2016!
Rating: 
Source: Public Library
Format: Paperback
Recommendation: If you like adventure and fantasy you will enjoy this.
Will I read more from this author: Yes!
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