Rutabaga's Reads 2019: Part 12

Not to be left out, middle-grade (MG) novels have been making their run on my bookshelves. Here is 2019’s third MG compilation.

Escape from the Isle of the Lost (June 4, 2019) by Melissa de la Cruz.

*This is the fourth novel in a series.*

Oh how far they’ve come! Where once Mal, Evie, Jay and Carlos looked toward nothing but living up to their wicked upbringing and villainous parents, they have made positive names for themselves and are looking toward graduation. Mal is Lady Mal, learning the customs of Auradon royalty at her boyfriend’s side, Auradon’s King Ben. Evie, ever a delight, has expanded into creating custom graduation gowns for her classmates and is working toward saving for something specific. Jay, never knowing what it meant to be a team player before Auradon, finds himself with an unbelievable option: go pro with R.O.A.R. or pursue it at university? And Carlos, well, Carlos is a year behind the other three, so he’ll remain at Auradon Prep, but he’s got a charming girlfriend in Jane, daughter of Fairy Godmother. It’s too bad that Uma hasn’t been seen recently. What evil is she plotting beneath the waves? Hint: She’s found threads of magic and convinces Hades to team up with her. Will she finally overtake Mal and exact her revenge?

            The fourth Disney Descendants novel, “Escape from the Isle of the Lost” is as delightful as a confectionery full of sweets. This middle-grade novel isn’t the type where evil curdles your insides and makes you want to keep the light on. There is maniacal laughter, threatening words and even a mind-controlling spell, but the tone continues to side with the light. Fun, adventure and friendship continue to rule the story (as does the teenage king). A must-have for current fans; potential new fans will want to start the series at the beginning.

            Book One: Isle of the Lost

            Book Two: Return to the Isle of the Lost

            Book Three: Rise of the Isle of the Lost

The Poe Estate (Sept. 15, 2015) by Polly Shulman.

*This is the third novel in an unofficial series.*

When her parents fall on hard times, Susannah “Sukie” O’Dare and her parents move in with her 91-year-old Cousin Hepzibah in the ancient, spacious Thorne Mansion. Rumor is that it’s haunted. And it is. Hepzibah understands Sukie where her parents wouldn’t. Sukie can see and communicate with her deceased sister, Kitty. As in life, Kitty aims to protect Sukie, but ghosts can’t change, so it’s upsetting as Sukie changes. Kitty often appears at will, but Sukie can summon her with a whistle she gave her before her death. It turns out that Sukie doesn’t only have a sensitivity to Kitty’s ghost. There are objects that she responds to when she touches them. She even finds out she can fly on a Hawthorne broom, which has been in the family for generations. She meets Dr. Elizabeth Rew and Andre Merritt of the New-York Circulating Material Repository at a flea market, along with their large “dog,” Griffin, and they become an invaluable help, along with classmate Cole Farley, who has seemingly matured from the boy who tormented her in the past. Sukie (“Spooky,” according to Cole) and Cole may have descended from fictional literary characters and are themselves connected by Windy (Sukie’s relation) and Phinny (Cole’s relation), whose story is tragic and also unfinished. With the help of her new friends, can Sukie find Windy’s treasure? What will Sukie discover about literary materials being “real,” including entire haunted houses, and her family’s own Thorne Mansion?

            Succeeding Shulman’s “The Grimm Legacy” and “The Wells Bequest,” this is a delightful middle-grade edition to that set. I have loved the modern fantasy of each of the stories,  the humor and the adventure, the lilt and imagination. Hints of a youthful budding romance are present but not noisome. Though I haven’t read most of the stories referenced, I enjoyed how cleverly Shulman wove in all the literary references. It’s always fun to see familiar characters from the other stories, though it can be read as a standalone. It’s its own treasure of supernatural shenanigans and fantastical exploration. I don’t expect I’d be alone in wishing that the New-York Circulating Material Repository were a real place, where I could check out the seven-league boots or a magic carpet or maybe just stay overnight in a haunted house and meet the retired repositorian neighbors living in other haunted houses in the Poe Annex. Walk quickly through the Lovecraft Corpus, though.

            Book One: The Grimm Legacy

            Book Two: The Wells Bequest

Reflection: A Twisted Tale (Mar. 27, 2018) by Elizabeth Lim.

*This is the fourth in a series and the first of them featuring a different author.*

When one male is conscripted into service from each family, Fa Mulan steals away into the night to take her injured father’s place. She goes with nothing more than her father’s armor, his sword, Mushu – the family’s guardian dragon – and Cri-Kee – her lucky cricket. They ride Khan, her trusty steed. Women do not serve in the military, so she goes as Ping, the son that her family never talked about. Mulan proves her mettle as Ping and is dedicated to her regiment, so when Captain Li Shang is grievously wounded, she travels to Diyu to bargain with its ruler, King Yama. (Diyu, in Chinese mythology, is their underworld.) She travels there with ShiShi, the guardian of the Li family, normally noted as a great stone lion. King Yama declares she can bring Shang back, but only if she makes it before sunrise, otherwise she will remain in Diyu forever and neither her family nor her friends will ever know what befell her. The obstacles in their way will try to trick her into remaining, trap her or even cause her death. Time already seems too short. Will it be just enough to save Shang and herself? Or will she soon count herself among Diyu’s residents?

            In this twisted tale from Disney and author Elizabeth Lim, the beloved “Mulan” classic is turned on its head. I wasn’t sure what to expect, so I was pleased that I enjoyed the tale. It was fast-paced and maintained Mulan’s warrior strength while still giving her something to grapple with. This tale is an adventure where the girl saves the boy; no damsels-in-distress here! As it’s Disney, the readers know that any ominous situations are going to right themselves later, so there’s no reason to worry about the fate of the characters. I enjoy a twisted fairytale done well, and I thought this one was done tastefully. Readers will recognize scenes from the 1998 film as flashbacks to Mulan’s life, thus making the character even more familiar.

Rutabaga's Reads 2015: Part 2

While a slim portion of my blog has seen middle-grade novels in posts, this is my first compilation of middle-grade books since the first month I began this blog (see: August 2012). These books are good choices for anyone teaching those around 8-12 years of age or want to personally read stories that are lighter fare than, say, young adult, new adult or adult novels.

            I’d like to thank my brother and sister-in-law for “The Wells Bequest.” It was one of several I received from them this past Christmas.

A Tangle of Knots (Feb. 5, 2013) by Lisa Graff.

Most everyone has a Talent. Yes, Talent with a capital T. The Fair are generally middle children – the Middlings – without any Talent. Talents range from something as ordinary as whistling to the phenomenal ability to bake the perfect cake for anyone. Cady (short for Cadence) has that ability. She’s Talented enough to create it all: the perfect pie, muffin, bread or even the perfect pizza if she wanted to. But above all else, she loves to bake cakes. She’s also an orphan, and her caretaker, Miss Jennifer Mallory, has been on the alert for her perfect family. She’s highly skilled at it (after all, her Talent is matching). Only when Cady finds her perfect family will she allow herself to bake her own perfect cake for her Adoption Day party.

            Cady has a weeklong trial period with Toby Darlington, and it might be right, but it might not be. Still, by staying with Toby, Cady meets new people: The Owner, a grumpy man obsessed with powder blue St. Anthony’s suitcases, V, a 60-year-old woman who’s lost her speech after a stroke, and the Asher family of five. Mr. Asher is a businessman with a soft spot for orange nougat, Mrs. Asher is a knitting Talent with an interesting hair pin, eldest Zane is a thieving troublemaker with a spitting Talent (“worthless”), Will has a Talent for getting lost (though he feels he’s never once been lost in six years), and Marigold is a Fair middle child, though she’s hopeful she’ll discover her Talent with the help of a red Talent bracelet. Somehow these people are all connected, and they will discover their connection with some discreet nudging by a giant-of-a-man in a gray suit.

            Graff’s literary world, including the very real town of Poughkeepsie, New York, is like our own, but with a drop of magic. There is a simplicity to the story that makes it easy to read, yet still includes rich layers. There are tasty-looking cake recipes at different points in the book, and her story is much like its own cake recipe. It is full of charm, warmth, regrets, Talent, fun and youthful adventure with a dash of whimsy and a sprinkling of magic all mixed together to create a well-written story that is quietly magical and totally pleasant for a light palette. Rich, but not heavy, and light, but not too fluffy. It’s a good mix, and it’s a mix that, if it could smile, might smile that type of grin that suggests it knows more than it’s letting on.

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin (Apr. 9, 2013) by Liesl Shurtliff.

We all know the name, but for many years, Rumpelstiltskin only knows himself as Rump. Rump is the butt of many a joke (pun intended) and only has one friend, Red, who’s interestingly touchy on the subject of her “strange” granny. Things turn interesting for Rump when he finds an old spinning wheel. With nothing to spin but straw, imagine his surprise when he spins that straw into gold. But as anyone knows, especially if you watch ABC’s Once Upon a Time, magic always comes with a price. For Rump in his little village, The Mountain, gold equals food. Not a fair share, mind you, for the miller (Oswald) is a fat, greedy man with a beautiful daughter named Opal and rotten sons named Frederick and Bruno. When gold-obsessed King Barf – that is, King Bartholomew Archibald Reginald Fife – comes to town and discovers skeins of spun gold, Oswald declares that Opal has the gold-spinning magic, and King Barf immediately whisks her away. Rump feels obligated to help her through terrible trades (especially her firstborn), but even more regrettable is that the magic dictates that he must accept the trade. He sets out to find his stiltskin, which The Witch of the Woods said is the one thing that can free him from his bindings. He’s also in search of his real name.

            In this tale, pixies aren’t sweet as pixy stix or as adorable as Disney fairies. They’re gold-craving and can be downright mean, biting you left and right (note: dirt deters pixies). This tale; however, is beguiling, light-hearted and inventive. It actually has you rooting for Rump. This story would also be good for classroom discussions. While the story contains humor and uncharacteristically hospitable trolls and messenger gnomes, it also contains tough stuff like the death of a loved one, despair and famine. Then there’s the avarice of both the miller and the king. “Rump” not only has a good back story for the character, but a good backbone as far as plot goes, and a good deal of spunk in Red. This fantasy contains familiar fairytale elements infused with innovative world-building and emotional depth. Summed up, it’s a quaint, little novel that’s as good as gold (pun intended).

The Wells Bequest (June 13, 2013) by Polly Shulman.

There is a new group of pages working at the New-York Circulating Material Repository, a [mostly] magical place which lends out objects instead of books, and Leo Novikov isn’t one of them. Yet. His science teacher, Ms. Kang, recommends the repository when he inquires about an idea for his science fair project. Science fairs are a big deal, considering he comes from a family of scientists. Unfortunately, he feels like the dumb one. He attends Manhattan Polytechnic Academy, which his older sister, Sofia, commonly referred to as “Tech for Dummies.” Now that Leo attends the school, Sofia tells others that the students there “are really very creative.” But is Leo creative or losing it? After all, he sees a tiny version of himself and a girl named Jaya Rao – she’s real! – on a small time machine. And they talk to him!

            Once Leo’s a page, he learns the ropes at the Repository, including its more impressive magical qualities. And in the basement is the Wells Bequest, a secret collection of objects from science fiction novels. It’s the perfect place for a time machine! When a very serious threat arises, Leo and Jaya decide the time machine is their only hope. They have to whisk themselves to Nikola Tesla’s lab in 1895. What adventures will they find there?

            I enjoyed this middle-grade novel just as much as Shulman’s “The Grimm Legacy.” In fact, this story is a companion to that one. The story starts off running – Leo meets the tiny versions of himself and Jaya in the first chapter – and doesn’t take a breather. Whereas the Grimm Collection focuses on magical fairytale objects, this one focuses on science fiction and Leo’s character is perfect as an inventor, one who makes plenty of mistakes and whose inventions don’t always do as anticipated. There’s excitement, adventure, peril, humor and nerd-fare (this is a great thing). This clever story read very quickly. All of the science and the science fiction makes for an engaging read but without overdoing the scientific stuff. Shulman keeps it fun. For example, Leo uses, “Schist!” as a curse, but it’s not an actual curse word. Schist is “a kind of rock. It’s what happens to hot sandstone when it gets squished really hard for a few million years.” Jaya mentions, “It sounds really bad – in a good way.” And the best part, as Leo points out, is, “Even strict teachers can’t object to a word from a vocabulary list, right?” Ha.

            I don’t know if she’s going to continue with stories involving the New-York Circulating Material Repository, but I hope she is. There are two additional Special Collections mentioned in this story that she hasn’t yet made novels out of. They are: the Lovecraft Corpus (objects from gothic stories and horror) and the Gibson Chrestomathy (a collection of cyber stuff such as A.I. and computer viruses). In the meantime, this great little tale puts readers in a landscape of science fiction made reality. So fun!

The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop (Mar. 12, 2013) by Kate Saunders.

A stout but beautiful cat with golden-brown fur and green, square-shaped eyes recruits twins Lily and Oscar (a.k.a. Oz) Spoffard to work for the Secret Ministry of the Unexplained (SMU) as, naturally, secret government agents. That is, after she defends Lily from the derisive wallpaper of her new bedroom. Demerara, the cat, is a secret agent herself. She is invisible to most, knows of magic, is immortal and can talk. She’s self-important and completely vain over her appearance. In other words, she’s often very cat-like. She recruits the twins and fellow Skittle Street resident Caydon Campbell to join the SMU because they are magic, even though they didn’t know it. The three eleven-year-olds have learned that an evil gang wants a secret chocolate recipe, one infused with magic. But they also have to ward off their great-great-uncle (Isadore), long-thought dead, who was the murderer of his two brothers in 1938. It turns out he’s immortal! They have the help of, not only Demerara, but Spike, an immortal, talking rat, and the SMU team, which may or may not include an invisible ghost elephant named Edwin.

            What a cute story! The title is what initially drew me to this middle-grade novel of family dynamics (the good, the bad and the annoying), secrets (to protect their parents, of course), fantasy and magic. Saunders has put obvious thought into her characters and given them enough depth to make them feel real – even within the magical quality of the book – without overwhelming the story with too many character traits to remember. The chocolate shop on Skittle Street hasn’t been filled with chocolate confections for decades, but with the Spoffards, it is filled with youthful suspense, cheekiness, humor and a sense for righting past wrongs and preventing future devastation. Isadore’s dependence on alcohol is definitely off-putting, but it is not a focus of the story, and should therefore not take away from it. “Whizz Pop” takes places in London amongst British folks, so I would recommend adopting a British accent while reading this fun romp-of-a-tale. :-)

Rutabaga's Reads 2012: Part 2

This is Part 2 of Rutabaga’s Reads 2012. I would enjoy reading your comments on any of these books you have also read. What did you like or not like about the book? Or if you haven’t read the books, tell me which one captures your interest. And definitely clue me in on any books that you’ve read that have captivated you or really made you think.

13 Treasures (Apr. 12, 2010) by Michelle Harrison.

In this middle-grade fantasy novel, debut author Harrison introduces readers to Tanya, a 13-year-old with the second sight. She can see fairies, but not the adorable pixies we’d expect in Tinker Bell’s world. No, these fairies are mischievous and sometimes downright mean. She is sent to live at her unfriendly grandmother’s place, Elvesden Manor, the wooded area around it which is replete with fairies. After an unplanned, but still forbidden, trek into the woods with the groundskeeper’s son, Fabian, Tanya and Fabian become interested in the identity of the “ghost” they encountered. With the help of Red, a girl who also has the second sight to see fairies, and Mad Morag, who many in the town deem to be a witch, Tanya learns more about the mystery of Hangman’s Wood and a fifty-year-old story.

            While I did not love this story, I still found it to be an interesting take on fairies. Harrison creates a masterful world around Elvesden Manor, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys upper middle-grade fantasy works. Maybe wear some red, though …

Bad Girls Don’t Die (Apr. 21, 2009) by Katie Alender.

In this YA supernatural thriller debut from Alender, Alexis Warren is a typical angst-y teen who’s anti-social and anti-cheerleader. She likes to dye her hair (pink makes a good statement) and wreak minor havoc (like stage an anti-fashion show during a school club’s fashion show). She feels she can go full steam ahead in her own way and on her own time by herself. But when she notices strange glowing light around their house, and her sister, Kasey’s, blue eyes occasionally go green, she knows that she can’t handle this on her own. She gains the help of two people she’d never purposely plan on crossing social paths with: Megan Wiley, cheerleading captain and [covert] class clairvoyant, and Carter Blume, class vice president and … potential boyfriend?

            While there were moments when the book felt very obviously contrived, for the most part, it was a solid supernatural read for the YA set. Alender gives Alexis an authentic teenaged voice, which is also humorous. This book would be a choice read for girls who want to be spooked, but only a little.

Cleopatra’s Moon (Aug. 1, 2011) by Vicky Alvear Shecter.

A YA novel following Cleopatra VIII Selene, the only daughter of Cleopatra the VII and Marcus Antonius. She was named Selene for the moon, while her twin brother, Alexandros Helios, was named for the sun. This historical fiction novel is told through the eyes of Cleopatra Selene beginning with the undoing of her family and the Egyptian empire on through a live-in in the court of Octavianus, the Roman ruler who caused her and her family much heartache, loss and loss of life. Cleopatra Selene vows to defeat him and return to Egypt. Like her mother, she wants to present herself as the great and powerful queen her mother was.

            Cleopatra Selene is a compelling female protagonist; she is a heroine. I found this story to be riveting; Shecter writes Cleopatra Selene’s character so well that you’ll wish history had ended up much happier for Cleopatra Selene, her brothers and their parents. But with their history being one that it is, be aware that there are many characters – even in this one story alone – and some have such similar-sounding names that it may sometimes be difficult to keep them straight. But if you can do that and appreciate historical fiction with its adventure, danger and romance, you will appreciate this book, too, as I did.

Entwined (Mar. 29, 2011) by Heather Dixon.

Azalea Wentworth of Eathesbury, Princess Royale, is the oldest of twelve princesses. They are named in alphabetical order of flowering flora “as the King liked everything very much in order.” In Dixon’s debut novel, Azalea and her sisters endure a mourning period (no colors, sunlight, suitors or dancing) after their mother’s passing, but Azalea and her sisters love to dance. And indeed, “Entwined” is based on “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” by the Grimm Brothers. Azalea finds a secret passage to a magical pavilion and the Keeper, who invites them to use the pavilion to dance as much as they want. It’s a nice relief from the Mourning above and the prospective suitors to see Azalea on “Royal Business.” But still, Azalea notes that the Keeper is not as wholly amicable as he seems. What does he want?

            Dixon did a fine job of moving the plot forward with light romance, magic, danger and communication (both fun and strained). The YA fantasy novel is reminiscent of “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” and is created in a fairy-tale world that would almost be pleasing to inhabit if it weren’t for the Keeper. I found this book to be charming and funny (especially in scenes involving Princess Bramble and/or Lord Teddie). This is a delightful read for anyone who enjoys fairy tales, but it would appeal more to girls than boys.

The Grimm Legacy (July 8, 2010) by Polly Shulman.

In this, the central character, Elizabeth Rew, is a newly hired page at the New York Circulating Material Repository, where patrons can check out a variety of rare objects. Secret objects as well, which lie in the repository’s basement and include items from the Grimm Collection. That room contains the magical items of the Grimm Brothers fairy tales, such as the Magic Mirror from Snow White and the seven-league boots. For a gal who’s been miserable at home and at a new school – save for the teacher who suggests the job to her – her work life is exciting and adventurous. But something is wrong. The magical items are beginning to disappear. Can Elizabeth and her friends find out who’s causing the disappearance of the missing artifacts?

            Reading like an upper middle-grade novel, “The Grimm Legacy” is fast-paced and entertaining. Fans of fantasy and especially, the Grimm fairy tales, will delight in this read, though without all the darkness of the actual Grimm tales or even the hit TV show “Once Upon a Time” (which I thoroughly enjoy). I recommend this to anyone looking for a fantasy read or just a good book!

 

I Was Jane Austen’s Best Friend (Sept. 28, 2010) by Cora Harrison.

That would be Jenny Cooper, also Jane Austen’s cousin. A real person (though her actual name was Jane Cooper), she is an orphan who lives with the Austen family in the year she meets the dashing Captain Thomas Williams. But Jenny is a shy girl, so how is a shy girl to go about grabbing the attentions and affections of a potential love interest? Answer: Jane Austen. Good thing Cousin Jane is around with her bevy of knowledge regarding courtship in their day with plenty of wit to go with it.

            The first thing that came to mind when I finished this YA story was that it is a cute story. One can tell that Harrison completed extensive research so as to represent the time period properly, not just in speech, but manners and attitudes as well. The book is good parts carried in fact and fiction. A charming historical romance, I anticipate you’ll like this book if you’re an Austen fan or like charming stories.

In a Heartbeat (Feb. 2, 2010) by Loretta Ellsworth.

“In a Heartbeat” goes back-and-forth between two main characters: Eagan, a rising star in the figure skating world, who’s recently died after a freak skating accident, and Amelia, who’s in need of a heart transplant due to congestive heart failure. Amelia receives Eagan’s heart and begins to notice newly acquired tastes and characteristics. For example, she craves the color purple when she hated it before. It’s Eagan’s favorite color. So now Amelia’s adjusting to a future she thought she might not have – and it includes a boy named Ari – but Eagan in her afterlife is not ready to let go. How will Amelia start to adjust? Can Eagan let go?

            I chose this book because a description of the book had said that fans of Lurlene McDaniel would enjoy this story. (In my teen years, I read multiple books by Lurlene McDaniel.) While I can’t say I for sure agree with that, I will say that it was a stirring read. Even though the matter is intense stuff, Ellsworth’s writing is simple enough for younger readers to understand. It might even get readers thinking about the magnitude of organ donation and the theory of cellular memory.

The Kneebone Boy (Sept. 14, 2010) by Ellen Potter.

The Hardscrabble children are a strange sort. There’s Otto, who’s been mute since their mother disappeared; Lucia, who’s fiercely honest and protective of Otto; and Max, who is the cogs-turning-thinker of the three. They are sent by their father to stay at an aunt’s house, but it turns out she’s on vacation, so they detour to their great aunt’s house in Snoring-by-the-Sea. The great aunt turns out, not to be a wizened old woman, but a young and somewhat eccentric woman who lives in a castle folly. The full-sized Kneebone Castle is across the way, and they learn of a half-human prisoner (the Kneebone Boy) and perhaps find answers to their own family mystery.

            Potter tells the story from a narrator’s perspective. Although it is one of the Hardscrabble trio, it doesn’t assuredly mention which one, though I’d wager anyone who read it would have a very good guess. She writes with enough twists and turns to keep the reader’s interest, but also imparts humorous asides to garner the reader’s laughter. That’s needed to get them through to the end. This is a fun choice for middle-grade readers or anyone, really, who likes a book with a moody cover. Who all noticed the five-legged cat?

Sing Down the Moon (Sept. 28, 1970) by Scott O’Dell.

A Newberry Honor Book, this small book tells the big story of Navaho (or Navajo) Indian Bright Morning. She gets kidnapped, along with her friend, Running Bird, by Spanish slavers. A determined young girl, she escapes with her friend and Nehana, a Nez Percé girl. But not long after her return, the Navaho are driven away from their homes by the Long Knives (Americans with swords who want their land). What happens to Bright Morning and her people?

            The book may be short, but the story is not. The time setting takes place between 1863 and 1865. In 1864, The Long Walk of the Navajo occurred, a 300-mile-long (according to the book) walk. The story is bitter and moving and full of tension and courage all at once. I would guess it has been popular in classrooms over the years.

            Has anyone used this story as a history lesson in their classroom? If so, how did it go? Bright Morning and the other young people like herself were very hard workers from a very early age, quite different than most young people today. Do they understand the enormity and fear and danger of life back then? Do they understand that O’Dell created “real” characters? Though the book is fiction, the story isn’t wholly. It is rooted in reality in all its peril, bitterness and endurance.

Switched: A Trylle Novel (Jan. 3, 2012 trade paperback ed.) by Amanda Hocking.

Hocking is a native to Austin, MN. And in her Trylle (a.k.a. trolls) world, trolls aren’t strange little things with shocks of bright hair or large ugly things that carry wooden clubs. They are remarkably attractive creatures that live in Förening, which happens to be located in MN bluff country near the Mississippi River. To the disbelief of Wendy Everly, this is where she ends up with fellow Trylle, Finn. She grew up with a mother who was convinced that Wendy was a monster and that she’d been switched out with her actual child.

            In Förening she meets her birth mother, a stunningly elegant and beautiful Trylle. She’s also adamant that Wendy learn the ways of the Trylle and get rid of her horridly “ordinary” name. Naturally, Wendy is expected to learn years’ worth of knowledge in a short matter of time before her very own debutante ball. There’s also the threat of a rival Trylle tribe after her, the Vittra. And her friendship with a mänsklig is vehemently discouraged. Why? What’s a mänsklig and what is the significance of the one she befriends?

            Hocking is something of a poster child for the self-publishing world. The Trylle trilogy is an e-book bestseller. I found the idea of pretty trolls to be an interesting concept, but also found this first book in the trilogy to be too predictable. I think that if you are a big fan of the “Twilight” series, this could be a trilogy to add to your bookshelf. But I’d recommend you try something else if you’re not a “Twilight” fan or have had enough of ridiculously attractive/stunningly beautiful creatures.