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Ascend by Amanda Hocking

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS
Addition: Paperback, library book
Genre: Young adult, fantasy
Rating: 3 out of 5
Synopsis:

Wendy Everly can barely remember what it was like to feel like a normal girl. She’d wished for her life to be different but everything is so much more complicated than she’d expected. And she certainly hadn’t dreamt she’d be getting married at eighteen to a man she didn’t love – all for the sake of duty.

As the big day approaches, Wendy can’t stop thinking about two different men – and neither of them are her husband-to-be. Finn – quiet, strong and determined to do what’s right, and Loki – dark and seductive, a sworn enemy who once saved her life. With all-out war just days away, Wendy needs to act quickly if she is to save her friends and family. But while her loyalties and duties are to her people, deeper passions are leading her elsewhere.

And as her worlds collide, Wendy must sacrifice everything she loves to save them. But will it be enough?

This is the third and final book in the Trylle series by Amanda Hocking. I have really enjoyed this series; they are well worth reading! In fact, I have lent my copy of Switched to a lady in my book club – I hope she likes it!

This story follows WendyEverly, a young adult who a few months ago was a normal girl; but now she is a troll princess and has to face huge dangers to protect her people. She must make sacrifices, such as marrying her friend Tove whom she doesn’t love, to make sure if she dies the kingdom has a strong, wise king to protect them. The danger comes from her father, the King of the Vittra tribe. Her mother, the Queen is slowly dying and the King wants to take over her tribe and be super powerful. Wendy must do all she can to save her kingdom but the king is ruthless and not afraid to slaughter people. But admist all this, Wendy is also struggling with her emotions – there are 2 guys fighting for her heart and neither are Tove, her future husband. What will she do?

I have loved this series so far, but this book let me down a little bit. The focus seemed to shift from saving her people to her boy troubles. That said, there were some great action scenes and I enjoyed reading about how Wendy felt the need to protect her people and go and help others who were in trouble. I guess what I disliked the most was there were not any consequences to her actions. The night before her wedding she makes out with Finn, then she marries Tove, but doesn’t consummate the marriage, then two weeks later sleeps with Loki. Yet when this comes out no one seems to have a problem with her and it isn’t addressed as a problem. In fact, once Wendy has defeated the Vittra she gets the marriage annulled but I felt that somewhere along the line she should have faced the consequences of having an affair.

There were scenes in this book I enjoyed. I liked how the Queen softened before her death and showed Wendy that she did love her. I loved that Matt – Wendy’s human brother – was with her the whole time. I liked the plotting, the need to help others and I enjoyed the climax when Wendy met the Vittra king. This is a good fantasy novel, with action and adventure – just too much of a love story too.

I didn’t have a favourite character to be honest. I really disliked the king, but apart from him no one stood out as sparking much emotion in me. I guess I didn’t like Wendy much due to her actions with Finn, Tove and Loki, but I did enjoy reading about her stepping into the role of Queen.

I read this book in a day – like the other ones, however I didn’t enjoy this one as much and actually felt a little let down by it. That said, this is a good young adult fantasy series. There are trolls, both beautiful and stubby; there are magical powers; there is love and romance; plus action and fighting.