What do you think?
Rate this book
Trylle #3
Ascend
The third book in Amanda Hocking's Trylle Trilogy
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 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 an 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?
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 24, 2012
About the author
Amanda Hocking
82 books15k followersAMANDA HOCKING is the author of over twenty young adult novels, including the New York Times bestselling Trylle Trilogy and Kanin Chronicles. Her love of pop culture and all things paranormal influence her writing. She spends her time in Minnesota, taking care of her menagerie of pets and working on her next book.
Several of her books have made the New York Times Bestsellers list. Her zombie series, The Hollows, has been adapted into a graphic novel by Dynamite. She has published over twenty novels, including The Kanin Chronicles, the Watersong quartet, My Blood Approves series, the Valkyrie duology, and Freeks .
For more info about her and her books, here are some other places to check out and ways to contact her:
Website: www.hockingbooks.com
Amazon Author Page: Amanda Hocking
Patreon: Amanda Hocking
Instagram: @amanda_hocking
BlueSky: AmandaHocking.bsky.social
Threads: @amanda_hocking
YouTube: aehocking
Facebook: Amanda Hocking Fans
Etsy: Hocking Books by Amanda
TikTok: @amanda_hocking
Goodreads: Amanda Hocking
Spotify : Amanda Hocking
Several of her books have made the New York Times Bestsellers list. Her zombie series, The Hollows, has been adapted into a graphic novel by Dynamite. She has published over twenty novels, including The Kanin Chronicles, the Watersong quartet, My Blood Approves series, the Valkyrie duology, and Freeks .
For more info about her and her books, here are some other places to check out and ways to contact her:
Website: www.hockingbooks.com
Amazon Author Page: Amanda Hocking
Patreon: Amanda Hocking
Instagram: @amanda_hocking
BlueSky: AmandaHocking.bsky.social
Threads: @amanda_hocking
YouTube: aehocking
Facebook: Amanda Hocking Fans
Etsy: Hocking Books by Amanda
TikTok: @amanda_hocking
Goodreads: Amanda Hocking
Spotify : Amanda Hocking
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,898 reviews
February 29, 2020
For the first time, Wendy is someone to whom you actually can give the kingdom, and it doesn't feel like a baby being handed matches and canister of petrol.
Tove is still is the purest soul in this wholes series, and he is just so lost in his sad life. I really wish we had more of their marriage or maybe just the two of them working together. I really enjoy them on the page together even if I do not ship them. The day after helping the survivors, I hoped that they would move in their relationship. It was something. But no... Don't get me wrong; I'm team Loki since the first book even though that he isn't there. But I really want to see something between Tove and Wendy. I ship them as BFFs.
When Wendy was honest with Finn, I was so happy. Shea told him the same thing I was thinking about him since the first book.
Really glad that there was a minimum of Matt and Rhys.
Anyway, the end was not written properly; there is so much to change. The author missed an amazing opportunity on how to finish this series.
Tove is still is the purest soul in this wholes series, and he is just so lost in his sad life. I really wish we had more of their marriage or maybe just the two of them working together. I really enjoy them on the page together even if I do not ship them. The day after helping the survivors, I hoped that they would move in their relationship. It was something. But no... Don't get me wrong; I'm team Loki since the first book even though that he isn't there. But I really want to see something between Tove and Wendy. I ship them as BFFs.
When Wendy was honest with Finn, I was so happy. Shea told him the same thing I was thinking about him since the first book.
Really glad that there was a minimum of Matt and Rhys.
Anyway, the end was not written properly; there is so much to change. The author missed an amazing opportunity on how to finish this series.
January 9, 2011
With bittersweet feelings, I bring you this review of 'Ascend'. This is the last book in The Trylle Trilogy. It is just as enthralling as the first two books in the series. I am not giving spoilers here. You will want to experience the evolution with the cast of Trylle for yourself. Some may cry, some may cheer, but in my opinion, Hocking has written one of the best series in YA fantasy.
We left Wendy in 'Torn' engaged to her friend Tove. They really are a perfect match for each other and would be the strongest King and Queen Trylle has had in a very long time. The problem is that neither is in love with the other. That hasn’t changed in 'Ascend'. Their friendship and their sense of duty play a big part in the final book. Finn is still the brooding tracker, handsome as ever, and just as dedicated to his duty as Wendy and Tove are to theirs. He is also still in love with Wendy. Willa and Matt had developed a forbidden relationship and that hasn’t changed in 'Ascend'. But, will they be able to be together in the end? Ah, that is a question. Willa does a lot of growing in this book and her relationship with Matt has changed her for the better. I think you will be surprised what an eye opener Matt has become for Willa, whether they are able to stay together or not, his influence has left a lasting mark. Elora was having a rough time the last we saw her, and you will learn so much more as to why she is the cold hearted Queen we know her to be today. And Loki, the gorgeous, sarcastic, and strong Vittra Markis. No one knows if he is a good guy or a bad guy. Does he truly have feelings for Wendy or is he playing her to gain strength for the Vittra? Well, this gets answered in 'Ascend', and man oh man, it will be…interesting. He brings a spark into the mix that is fun and scary at the same time.
I think I liked and was annoyed by each character of this book at some point or other. I was annoyed at Tove for being so nice and responsible, but liked him because he was so nice and responsible. To me, he poses a threat to Wendy finding true love. Wendy annoyed me for putting the kingdom first over her own happiness, but then I liked her because she really grows up and takes life by the horns. Remember this, Wendy is forced to do a lot of growing up and becomes quite the woman to be reckoned with. Finn I wanted to slap because he has never fought for Wendy like I wanted, yet I liked him because when it is all said and done, he loves Wendy and does want to be with her. Elora has been so cold and distant, but she does something in 'Ascend'' that just melted my heart. And Loki. I think he has become one of my favorite characters because he’s just one you want to hate, but can’t. Regardless of his ultimate role, I appreciate his sharp wit. I laughed out loud at some of his come backs.
I can’t give away the ending, but I can give you my opinion of a few questions I know I had before reading 'Ascend'. What happens with:
Wendy and Finn? What should happen.
Wendy and Tove? Not what I hoped for or expected.
Wendy and Loki? Lots of fighting and a truce.
Wendy and Elora? An understanding.
Wendy and the Vittra King? An understanding.
Wendy and Matt? He will always be her big brother.
Another thing I can say is there is a big battle coming between the Trylle and the Vittra. This battle is key and we get to see some awesome troll powers at work.
In the end, I agree with all the decisions each character makes. I think the evolution and growth of the characters to be unique and this book doesn’t fit some generic mold of YA fantasy. I did feel twinges of sadness at some outcomes and joyous grinning at others. Some will die, but the future of the Trylle ends up in the best hands. I will say that much. Hocking has mentioned on her blog she has toyed with the thought of a possible spin-off with some of the minor characters. So, here’s hoping we haven’t seen the last of her troll world we have grown to love. Don’t hate me for not doing spoilers. I promise this is a good read! Nothing will be left unsaid or undone. I hugged my Kindle when I was finished.
We left Wendy in 'Torn' engaged to her friend Tove. They really are a perfect match for each other and would be the strongest King and Queen Trylle has had in a very long time. The problem is that neither is in love with the other. That hasn’t changed in 'Ascend'. Their friendship and their sense of duty play a big part in the final book. Finn is still the brooding tracker, handsome as ever, and just as dedicated to his duty as Wendy and Tove are to theirs. He is also still in love with Wendy. Willa and Matt had developed a forbidden relationship and that hasn’t changed in 'Ascend'. But, will they be able to be together in the end? Ah, that is a question. Willa does a lot of growing in this book and her relationship with Matt has changed her for the better. I think you will be surprised what an eye opener Matt has become for Willa, whether they are able to stay together or not, his influence has left a lasting mark. Elora was having a rough time the last we saw her, and you will learn so much more as to why she is the cold hearted Queen we know her to be today. And Loki, the gorgeous, sarcastic, and strong Vittra Markis. No one knows if he is a good guy or a bad guy. Does he truly have feelings for Wendy or is he playing her to gain strength for the Vittra? Well, this gets answered in 'Ascend', and man oh man, it will be…interesting. He brings a spark into the mix that is fun and scary at the same time.
I think I liked and was annoyed by each character of this book at some point or other. I was annoyed at Tove for being so nice and responsible, but liked him because he was so nice and responsible. To me, he poses a threat to Wendy finding true love. Wendy annoyed me for putting the kingdom first over her own happiness, but then I liked her because she really grows up and takes life by the horns. Remember this, Wendy is forced to do a lot of growing up and becomes quite the woman to be reckoned with. Finn I wanted to slap because he has never fought for Wendy like I wanted, yet I liked him because when it is all said and done, he loves Wendy and does want to be with her. Elora has been so cold and distant, but she does something in 'Ascend'' that just melted my heart. And Loki. I think he has become one of my favorite characters because he’s just one you want to hate, but can’t. Regardless of his ultimate role, I appreciate his sharp wit. I laughed out loud at some of his come backs.
I can’t give away the ending, but I can give you my opinion of a few questions I know I had before reading 'Ascend'. What happens with:
Wendy and Finn? What should happen.
Wendy and Tove? Not what I hoped for or expected.
Wendy and Loki? Lots of fighting and a truce.
Wendy and Elora? An understanding.
Wendy and the Vittra King? An understanding.
Wendy and Matt? He will always be her big brother.
Another thing I can say is there is a big battle coming between the Trylle and the Vittra. This battle is key and we get to see some awesome troll powers at work.
In the end, I agree with all the decisions each character makes. I think the evolution and growth of the characters to be unique and this book doesn’t fit some generic mold of YA fantasy. I did feel twinges of sadness at some outcomes and joyous grinning at others. Some will die, but the future of the Trylle ends up in the best hands. I will say that much. Hocking has mentioned on her blog she has toyed with the thought of a possible spin-off with some of the minor characters. So, here’s hoping we haven’t seen the last of her troll world we have grown to love. Don’t hate me for not doing spoilers. I promise this is a good read! Nothing will be left unsaid or undone. I hugged my Kindle when I was finished.
June 1, 2011
First, let me address the fact that I do love the series as a whole. Now, that being said, I found this to be the worst book in the trilogy. I read through the reviews & to be quite honest, I am totally appalled that people acually enjoy Wendy ending up with Loki. I despised him from his introduction. I was totally team Finn, but in the second book, I didn't mind if she ended up with Tove. They seemed well suited for each other. It would have been great to have them fall in love despite the marriage being arranged before they ever met.
Also, the author really started to aggravate me with Tove, his character in this book became so lame. He was such a strong force in the 2nd book & being Wendy's husband, he should have remained a strong main character, not so far on the back burner. And what happened to Rhys? Seriously? Just because he started dating, does not mean he would totally ignore Wendy & Matt.
uggh. im more frustrated with my disgust for loki. to me its like bella ending up with mike from the twilight saga. it doesn't make sense & frustrates me to no end. *rant over*
hopefully, i am not the only one who feels this way, but sadly, judging by the reviews left already...i probably am.
Also, the author really started to aggravate me with Tove, his character in this book became so lame. He was such a strong force in the 2nd book & being Wendy's husband, he should have remained a strong main character, not so far on the back burner. And what happened to Rhys? Seriously? Just because he started dating, does not mean he would totally ignore Wendy & Matt.
uggh. im more frustrated with my disgust for loki. to me its like bella ending up with mike from the twilight saga. it doesn't make sense & frustrates me to no end. *rant over*
hopefully, i am not the only one who feels this way, but sadly, judging by the reviews left already...i probably am.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2011
The third book in Amanda Hocking's Trylle trilogy was definitely a huge disappointment. After reading the first two books, I thought the story was interesting and had an intriguing storyline but overall, the entire trilogy went downhill fast.
In this third book, Wendy is stuck having to make decisions for the good of the kingdom or for what she really wants in life. You go through her struggles of marrying someone that she doesn't love and falling in love with the enemy. She also struggles with the growing conflict she has with her mother and the warring tensions she has with her father.
Overall, I thought the romance in this story was definitely ridiculous. She falls in love with Loki, a Vittra royal, from the enemy kingdom who she doesn't really have feelings for in the first place. If anything, it seemed like he was a stalker and she ended up magically falling in love with him with no real development of their feelings for each other.
Then, the entire time, I'm thinking that Wendy is in love with Finn, her tracker and that something would happen in the end with him because he is a different class and I thought Wendy would make changes to that once she is Queen but nothing happens between them. Nothing. Apparently, because Finn never fought for Wendy, she gives up on her love for him. However, in the first two books, that is all Wendy can think about is Finn and in comes Loki ... Seriously?
And the cheating was terrible too. I couldn't get over that in the story.
I feel like the author wrote this book about a girl who everyone falls in love with and she apparently gets everyone's cake and eats it too. Pretty much inhales it at this point.
I did not like this book or the series. Definitely not worth anyone's time. Seriously a big fail and huge disappointment. I don't know why there are good reviews for this series because it was just terrible!!
In this third book, Wendy is stuck having to make decisions for the good of the kingdom or for what she really wants in life. You go through her struggles of marrying someone that she doesn't love and falling in love with the enemy. She also struggles with the growing conflict she has with her mother and the warring tensions she has with her father.
Overall, I thought the romance in this story was definitely ridiculous. She falls in love with Loki, a Vittra royal, from the enemy kingdom who she doesn't really have feelings for in the first place. If anything, it seemed like he was a stalker and she ended up magically falling in love with him with no real development of their feelings for each other.
Then, the entire time, I'm thinking that Wendy is in love with Finn, her tracker and that something would happen in the end with him because he is a different class and I thought Wendy would make changes to that once she is Queen but nothing happens between them. Nothing. Apparently, because Finn never fought for Wendy, she gives up on her love for him. However, in the first two books, that is all Wendy can think about is Finn and in comes Loki ... Seriously?
And the cheating was terrible too. I couldn't get over that in the story.
I feel like the author wrote this book about a girl who everyone falls in love with and she apparently gets everyone's cake and eats it too. Pretty much inhales it at this point.
I did not like this book or the series. Definitely not worth anyone's time. Seriously a big fail and huge disappointment. I don't know why there are good reviews for this series because it was just terrible!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2015
"Don't act on everything your heart says, but make sure you listen to it. Sometimes your heart is right."
Well, where should I start? This book... This series... *cries with happy tears
One of my biggest problems in reading a final book of the series is the separation anxiety that I always get. With this book, I found myself experiencing the same. It's hard to let go of a series that basically makes you feel attached to the story, the characters, and its world.
Ascend is another one of those series-enders that basically make you feel happy and sad at the same time because of its unforgettable closure. I love how the series ended in a sweet and satisfying appeal.
So much had happened in this book. Wendy's character became more developed. She became more responsible, strong, and independent. Same goes with the supporting characters -- especially Loki, Tove, Finn, Willa, and the rest of the gang.
What made this book a remarkable one was the unpredictability. My oh my, the romance's plot twist really surprised me! I was like, 'WOW, am I really reading what I'm reading???" Because OMG, MY SHIP IS SAILING SO BEAUTIFULLY and it's FOR REAL!!
I practically swooned! I won't be mentioning who Wendy ended up with because it's a huge spoiler but OMG, the romance really got me in my feels!!!
"I don't think I've ever really felt like I had a home before. Not until I met you."
What just stopped me from rating it a perfect 5 was the action scenes. As a final book of the series, the action should be intense and extremely boundless -- scenes that will wow you and give you goosebumps. But in this book, the action scenes were kind of lame and they were just basically heard from the characters and were not really seen. I was expecting really mind-blowing action scenes where supernatural powers are exhibited. There was none. :(
But all in all, this book made a really great ending, emotion-wise. I love the romance, the characters, and the satisfaction I got after reading this. Trylle trilogy is one of the loveliest YA fantasy series I've ever come across!
Rating: 4 Stars
January 15, 2011
http://librarytalker.blogspot.com/201...
With Wendy's wedding approaching and war on the horizon, she must now make preparations to keep her people from dying. The choices she makes now will either guarantee the future of the Trylle or destroy them completely.
Final thoughts: Ugh. I am so disappointed by this book. It was an absolute mess. Hocking seems to have realized late in the game that she needed to resolve points from her first two books in this trilogy and she kind of just jams those resolutions in without any honest flow. There's also a Bella Swan element here of Wendy constantly wanting to go out and save the day on her own and having the men who love her constantly tell her they won't lose her like that and "never do that again".
Hocking also seems to have no idea about the realities of war and she even seems to forget the time period she's in. A whole city has been attacked and Wendy first sends 10 people out to go help them. Those 10 people come across the attackers in a forest and surprise them. But if everyone is driving cars and cities aren't that far away, how come the attackers stopped at all and how did the 10 scouts (who are in cars driving on roads) just happen to come across them in the forest? Later, Wendy herself goes out to the town, makes one round in the palace ballroom that's being used as a hospice, and then she goes out and cleans the town. Yup. She and the others clean. No rescuing of anyone. No burying. Cleaning.
The romance part isn't handled well either. Wendy has three guys in her life, but the person she seemed to want the most for the first two books is just kind of there in this one and she's suddenly deeply in love with someone else.
Another similarity to Meyer's work is the seeming need for everyone to have a happy ending. Breaking Dawn annoyed me because everyone ended up happy. Ascend is similar. All things work out for everyone good and nice. Bad guys are no longer around and/or bad. Blah blah blah. I could go on and on for days about the problems in this book.
Hocking needs an editor desperately. Her FAQ says that she writes each book in about three weeks. It really shows in this one. Writing a book and self-publishing it doesn't mean it's necessarily worth reading and this one isn't.
With Wendy's wedding approaching and war on the horizon, she must now make preparations to keep her people from dying. The choices she makes now will either guarantee the future of the Trylle or destroy them completely.
Final thoughts: Ugh. I am so disappointed by this book. It was an absolute mess. Hocking seems to have realized late in the game that she needed to resolve points from her first two books in this trilogy and she kind of just jams those resolutions in without any honest flow. There's also a Bella Swan element here of Wendy constantly wanting to go out and save the day on her own and having the men who love her constantly tell her they won't lose her like that and "never do that again".
Hocking also seems to have no idea about the realities of war and she even seems to forget the time period she's in. A whole city has been attacked and Wendy first sends 10 people out to go help them. Those 10 people come across the attackers in a forest and surprise them. But if everyone is driving cars and cities aren't that far away, how come the attackers stopped at all and how did the 10 scouts (who are in cars driving on roads) just happen to come across them in the forest? Later, Wendy herself goes out to the town, makes one round in the palace ballroom that's being used as a hospice, and then she goes out and cleans the town. Yup. She and the others clean. No rescuing of anyone. No burying. Cleaning.
The romance part isn't handled well either. Wendy has three guys in her life, but the person she seemed to want the most for the first two books is just kind of there in this one and she's suddenly deeply in love with someone else.
Another similarity to Meyer's work is the seeming need for everyone to have a happy ending. Breaking Dawn annoyed me because everyone ended up happy. Ascend is similar. All things work out for everyone good and nice. Bad guys are no longer around and/or bad. Blah blah blah. I could go on and on for days about the problems in this book.
Hocking needs an editor desperately. Her FAQ says that she writes each book in about three weeks. It really shows in this one. Writing a book and self-publishing it doesn't mean it's necessarily worth reading and this one isn't.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2025
I first read this series when I was about 10, really got me into reading and always come back to it when I need a comfort read, this book really makes me think of home and will always have a special place in my heart 🥰
March 7, 2016
review found at: www.awesomebooknut.com
GREAT ending to a fabulous trilogy. I was beyond happy about the whole thing. Seriously. I do have some nicks but nothing super serious.
I loved seeing the development with Wendy and her mother. I loved the regret, development, love that was revealed and shared between the two.
I absolutely love the love triangle which is VERY odd for me to say. I loved that the author was able to make me rage war with myself in who I liked better. But in the end I am very happy with how that went down.
It was cool to watch Wendy ‘ascend’ (pun intended) to the throne. The meetings, the trial and error. I loved how everything wasn’t easy. I can appreciate some realness in that.
One character I would like to know more about is Tove. What an awesome, sweet character. I loved him and I hope that maybe the author will do a novella or something with his character.
One thing I was SLIGHTLY disappointed with was the final climax fight scene. There was SO MUCH built up and then……not so much action. I was okay really with but it just lacked….a little something more I guess.
Overall I loved this book and the trilogy. I finished all 3 books in three days. It was so fun and I loved the idea of it. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
Sexual Content: moderate
Violence: moderate
Language: moderate
Drugs/Alcohol: mild
GREAT ending to a fabulous trilogy. I was beyond happy about the whole thing. Seriously. I do have some nicks but nothing super serious.
I loved seeing the development with Wendy and her mother. I loved the regret, development, love that was revealed and shared between the two.
I absolutely love the love triangle which is VERY odd for me to say. I loved that the author was able to make me rage war with myself in who I liked better. But in the end I am very happy with how that went down.
It was cool to watch Wendy ‘ascend’ (pun intended) to the throne. The meetings, the trial and error. I loved how everything wasn’t easy. I can appreciate some realness in that.
One character I would like to know more about is Tove. What an awesome, sweet character. I loved him and I hope that maybe the author will do a novella or something with his character.
One thing I was SLIGHTLY disappointed with was the final climax fight scene. There was SO MUCH built up and then……not so much action. I was okay really with but it just lacked….a little something more I guess.
Overall I loved this book and the trilogy. I finished all 3 books in three days. It was so fun and I loved the idea of it. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
Sexual Content: moderate
Violence: moderate
Language: moderate
Drugs/Alcohol: mild
February 12, 2011
I can't believe Wendy and Finn didn't get their happy ending!!!!!! Seriously! The author made me fall in love with this couple and then out of no where, it's like... Oh, I'm going to fall in love with someone else instead. It was very disappointing. I did love how much Wendy changed and became the queen she was meant to be but it was a slap in the face that she chose Loki over Finn. Loki was cool and I understand how she could be with him when they were in the other place but... Finn was her love and he had a sense of duty. I understand she wanted him to fight for her and it seemed like he just accepted his place but omg. WHY!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2011
REVIEW
I read these three books back-to-back-to-back on my Kindle. The story had me so engaged, that I could not put it down. I was reading in the car, at school, on my bed, at the dinner table, and in the media room. You could call it an obsession.
In this paranormal tale, Wendy learns at the age of seventeen that she is a troll. Oh, but she isn’t just ANY troll, her past is filled with mystery, deceit, and some unexpected ancestors. Amanda Hocking carefully twisted this plot with all sorts of surprises. I guarantee that you have not read a series quite like this before.
Plain and simple – Wendy rocks! She starts out unsure and confused. I mean, who wouldn’t be questioning things if they just found out they were a troll. The beauty lies in how Wendy grows and changes. As her confidence grows, she becomes the girl (err troll) she was always meant to be.
Let’s talk romance. Wendy has more boy trolls after her than she keep track of. They are all nice in their own way, but they each have their unique traits. Finn is protective. Loki is a flirt. Tove is like a brother. I loved them all.
If you are looking for a battle, you have come to the right place. Amanda Hocking has written some of the most epic battle scenes ever. Sure these scenes are filled with the physical battle, but they also contain the emotions behind the fight. They were so real that I could FEEL them.
This series about trolls surprised and entertained me. I will definitely be looking for more Amanda Hocking books to read.
RATING
5 Loved
COVER COMMENTS
I like how the covers are so similar and work together to tell the story. I also love the turquoise and black because it has a mysterious feel to it.
I read these three books back-to-back-to-back on my Kindle. The story had me so engaged, that I could not put it down. I was reading in the car, at school, on my bed, at the dinner table, and in the media room. You could call it an obsession.
In this paranormal tale, Wendy learns at the age of seventeen that she is a troll. Oh, but she isn’t just ANY troll, her past is filled with mystery, deceit, and some unexpected ancestors. Amanda Hocking carefully twisted this plot with all sorts of surprises. I guarantee that you have not read a series quite like this before.
Plain and simple – Wendy rocks! She starts out unsure and confused. I mean, who wouldn’t be questioning things if they just found out they were a troll. The beauty lies in how Wendy grows and changes. As her confidence grows, she becomes the girl (err troll) she was always meant to be.
Let’s talk romance. Wendy has more boy trolls after her than she keep track of. They are all nice in their own way, but they each have their unique traits. Finn is protective. Loki is a flirt. Tove is like a brother. I loved them all.
If you are looking for a battle, you have come to the right place. Amanda Hocking has written some of the most epic battle scenes ever. Sure these scenes are filled with the physical battle, but they also contain the emotions behind the fight. They were so real that I could FEEL them.
This series about trolls surprised and entertained me. I will definitely be looking for more Amanda Hocking books to read.
RATING
5 Loved
COVER COMMENTS
I like how the covers are so similar and work together to tell the story. I also love the turquoise and black because it has a mysterious feel to it.
November 18, 2020
Loki really set the bar for my standards in YA love interests. If he was in a book being published right now, so many people would be obsessed with him
January 26, 2021
3,5 Sterne
Ein guter Abschluss für eine solide Trilogie. Dafür, dass ich die Reihe so spät gelesen habe (spät im Sinne von nach Erscheinungsdatum und auch spät im Sinne meines Alters :D) mochte ich sie überraschenderweise ganz gerne. Das zeigt sich schon dadurch, dass ich alle 3 Teile jetzt innerhalb weniger Wochen gelesen habe, was bei mir eher selten mal vorkommt.
Dadurch, dass die Bücher alle recht kurz sind, kommt auch keine Langeweile auf und man kann sie easy mal Zwischendurch weglesen, da der Schreibstil und die Handlung auch nicht allzu anspruchsvoll ist. Sprich: es ist kein literarisches Meisterwerk aber gute, kurzweilige Unterhaltung.
Mir gefiel wie Wendy sich hier charakterlich weiterentwickelt und sich dabei trotzdem treu bleibt. Auch die Auflösung des Liebeschaos hätte ich so nicht kommen sehen.
Leider fand ich den großen Spannungshöhepunkt etwas mau. Er war meiner Meinung nach zu spät im Buch angesetzt und wurde dadurch so überstürzt abgehandelt. Außerdem fand ich die "Lösung" bzw. den Plan dann etwas dumpf, dafür, dass da über 3 Bücher lang hingearbeitet wurde...
Auch die Kurzgeschichte am Ende des Buches hätte es für mich nicht gebraucht, das war einfach nur Kitsch. Da mochte ich das Ende des Epilogs mehr!
Ein guter Abschluss für eine solide Trilogie. Dafür, dass ich die Reihe so spät gelesen habe (spät im Sinne von nach Erscheinungsdatum und auch spät im Sinne meines Alters :D) mochte ich sie überraschenderweise ganz gerne. Das zeigt sich schon dadurch, dass ich alle 3 Teile jetzt innerhalb weniger Wochen gelesen habe, was bei mir eher selten mal vorkommt.
Dadurch, dass die Bücher alle recht kurz sind, kommt auch keine Langeweile auf und man kann sie easy mal Zwischendurch weglesen, da der Schreibstil und die Handlung auch nicht allzu anspruchsvoll ist. Sprich: es ist kein literarisches Meisterwerk aber gute, kurzweilige Unterhaltung.
Mir gefiel wie Wendy sich hier charakterlich weiterentwickelt und sich dabei trotzdem treu bleibt. Auch die Auflösung des Liebeschaos hätte ich so nicht kommen sehen.
Leider fand ich den großen Spannungshöhepunkt etwas mau. Er war meiner Meinung nach zu spät im Buch angesetzt und wurde dadurch so überstürzt abgehandelt. Außerdem fand ich die "Lösung" bzw. den Plan dann etwas dumpf, dafür, dass da über 3 Bücher lang hingearbeitet wurde...
Auch die Kurzgeschichte am Ende des Buches hätte es für mich nicht gebraucht, das war einfach nur Kitsch. Da mochte ich das Ende des Epilogs mehr!
May 29, 2023
"Second read":
I love this book. It does such a wonderful job of expanding each character’s story and seeing a change in the world they live in.
You can really see how much Wendy has grown, becoming a passionate leader who truly cares about everyone in her kingdom.
Those moments between Elora and Wendy are so special.
Finally Elora allowed herself to show the fierce love she had for her daughter. Not in grand gestures but in those peaceful moments.
Another example of Wendy’s growing maturity; she has real conversations with Finn!
I love how its the one who continually denied his feelings that is trying to hold onto the relationship they never had. Until Wendy told it straight to his face why it really would never work between them.
Great insights from an 18 year old.
Maybe Wendy was able to really examine her non-relationship with Finn because a certain person wormed his way into her heart…
No, not her husband but Vittra Markis Loki!
I love Loki.
Even though, now I can see how quickly this relationship evolved, Loki and Wendy’s relationship holds a special place in my heart. There is an intensity between them that started from the moment they met.
And not to get too ahead of myself but where we see them land at the end is one of my favourite moments ever.
Another reason why I love this series is we see how much each character grows. They’ve learned from one another and opened themselves up to possibilities they never thought possible.
I liked that the overarching threat, the Vittra King, was continued through the three novels. And the solution was not plucked out of the air. It was something we were introduced to previously.
Though, the final moment did feel a bit quick, it was still an intense moment for Wendy. Plus it showcased how much control she had gained over her abilities.
Once again, the short story is my favourite part of the book. This short is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of the Trylle series.
It is such a brilliant and sweet culmination of the journey we’d just been through. Plus it’s a totally normal moment which just makes it so much better.
I loved going back to this series and feeling the want to read again. This will always be one of my favourites.
"First read":
This the best book out of the whole series. It has love, mystery, adventure and witty humour.
The main character, Wendy, grows to be a confident, mature young woman! Plus there's some character development for all of the characters.
The story line is strong and compelling, leaving you wanting more. Plus the writing style gets better with each book.
The short story at the end is probably my favourite moment in any book I've read!
Its light and so full of joy. It creates a closure for these characters, helped by the fact that they've ended up in the best possible outcome.
You can feel the love and respect through the pages and seeing the whole crew together is wonderful.
This is a series that I loved from the beginning and will continue to remain one of my favourites.
I love this book. It does such a wonderful job of expanding each character’s story and seeing a change in the world they live in.
You can really see how much Wendy has grown, becoming a passionate leader who truly cares about everyone in her kingdom.
Those moments between Elora and Wendy are so special.
Finally Elora allowed herself to show the fierce love she had for her daughter. Not in grand gestures but in those peaceful moments.
Another example of Wendy’s growing maturity; she has real conversations with Finn!
I love how its the one who continually denied his feelings that is trying to hold onto the relationship they never had. Until Wendy told it straight to his face why it really would never work between them.
Great insights from an 18 year old.
Maybe Wendy was able to really examine her non-relationship with Finn because a certain person wormed his way into her heart…
No, not her husband but Vittra Markis Loki!
I love Loki.
Even though, now I can see how quickly this relationship evolved, Loki and Wendy’s relationship holds a special place in my heart. There is an intensity between them that started from the moment they met.
And not to get too ahead of myself but where we see them land at the end is one of my favourite moments ever.
Another reason why I love this series is we see how much each character grows. They’ve learned from one another and opened themselves up to possibilities they never thought possible.
I liked that the overarching threat, the Vittra King, was continued through the three novels. And the solution was not plucked out of the air. It was something we were introduced to previously.
Though, the final moment did feel a bit quick, it was still an intense moment for Wendy. Plus it showcased how much control she had gained over her abilities.
Once again, the short story is my favourite part of the book. This short is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of the Trylle series.
It is such a brilliant and sweet culmination of the journey we’d just been through. Plus it’s a totally normal moment which just makes it so much better.
I loved going back to this series and feeling the want to read again. This will always be one of my favourites.
"First read":
This the best book out of the whole series. It has love, mystery, adventure and witty humour.
The main character, Wendy, grows to be a confident, mature young woman! Plus there's some character development for all of the characters.
The story line is strong and compelling, leaving you wanting more. Plus the writing style gets better with each book.
The short story at the end is probably my favourite moment in any book I've read!
Its light and so full of joy. It creates a closure for these characters, helped by the fact that they've ended up in the best possible outcome.
You can feel the love and respect through the pages and seeing the whole crew together is wonderful.
This is a series that I loved from the beginning and will continue to remain one of my favourites.
April 24, 2022
What an utter disappointment this entire series has been. Even Kanin Chronicles wasn't this bad. I continue to love Matt, Finn, and Tove. Duncan, Willa, and Rhys were pretty good. But I still didn't like Wendy our MC and don't even get me started about Loki.
I knew who Wendy ends up with but as I didn't know the why or how and after reading the first two books I still couldn't understand why she ends up with Loki. I thought this book would give me closure but instead, it's made me mad because Finn would have been way better. Loki just irritates me. He thinks he's funny but he's just annoying. Also, if the writer wasn't going to go down that road then why start talking about changing stuff and traditions around..? Shouldn't it have been better to change the tradition where a princess could end up with a tracker instead of ending up with royalty or second-in-command as per normal? Seriously, what was the point of it all?
I felt so bad for Finn and even though he's found Mia, I still feel like the writer didn't do justice to his character. I also didn't like how Tove's character was sidelined in this book. I still feel bad for what Kim had to go through and continue to go through. Even though the writer had tried to tie loose ends, I'm still not satisfied with the ending. Maybe I'm in the minority but yeah I'm very disappointed.
1 star
I knew who Wendy ends up with but as I didn't know the why or how and after reading the first two books I still couldn't understand why she ends up with Loki. I thought this book would give me closure but instead, it's made me mad because Finn would have been way better. Loki just irritates me. He thinks he's funny but he's just annoying. Also, if the writer wasn't going to go down that road then why start talking about changing stuff and traditions around..? Shouldn't it have been better to change the tradition where a princess could end up with a tracker instead of ending up with royalty or second-in-command as per normal? Seriously, what was the point of it all?
I felt so bad for Finn and even though he's found Mia, I still feel like the writer didn't do justice to his character. I also didn't like how Tove's character was sidelined in this book. I still feel bad for what Kim had to go through and continue to go through. Even though the writer had tried to tie loose ends, I'm still not satisfied with the ending. Maybe I'm in the minority but yeah I'm very disappointed.
1 star
August 20, 2016
Extra Link: Amazing article by MakingFunOfStuff: How to Judge a Book by its Cover
What should I say concerning the last book of Miss Hocking's Trylle trilogy? Simply put, the whole thing is one hell of silly wish-fulfilling make-believe, with zero realism in the world-building, characters, setting and plot.
Our first and foremost problem begins with Wendy, the 'heroine' of the trilogy. In Ascend, Wendy suddenly becomes capable-leader's-material, who can keep the nobles at check? Sorry, I just can't believe it. To the end of book 2, Torn; Wendy remained a whinny, immature girl and the author had offered us NOTHING to support Wendy's transition to her more mature self.
Another character just as unbelievable as Wendy is Oren, King of Vittra and the arch villain in the story. The problem being, we barely ever have the chance to see Oren do bad things throughout the three books. For most of the time we basically only have Loki's words to proof Oren is bad, and Sara's fear to hint at how violent Oren is. But for most of the time, Oren doesn't look like a smart-enough villain to me. Towns were attacked, people were killed under his order, but none of these attacks seem to be beneficent to him in any sense. Plus, how Oren is finally defeated is purely laughable.
How about the supporting characters? Oh, they all got shove into the background, whatever potential they had in the previous book never get developed into anything deeper.
Okay, maybe the author wants to focus on Wendy, Finn and Loki, but if it were the case their love triangle is as badly written as the one among Bella, Edward and Jacob from Twilight.
Aside from flat, underdeveloped characters, the world building is as shrubby as what the first two books had offered. When another Trylle's town is under Oren's attack, we are informed that all of the Trylle's towns manage to fly under humans' radar because they all locate in very remote areas. WHAT THE HELL? Are we supposed to believe in the age of internet, Google Maps and GPS, the humans and even the USA government itself are all so stupid that they are not aware of the existence of a handful of...towns?
*plot spoiler warning*
First, I admit I am glad that Wendy doesn't keep Finn nor Tove in the end, she doesn't deserve them anyway! I am just equally glad that Finn and Tove find happiness with someone else at the end of the book, even thought their new found happiness looks like some very clumsy attempt to please the readers.
I also don't have problem with Wendy and Finn NOT being together, therefore I don't mind her hooking up with someone else. But the real problem with Wendy's shifting her 'love' to Loki is, I don't believe there's any meaningful, mature love between them for a *second*.
I mean, the two barely know one another well at the first place. Plus, what's there in Wendy for Loki (or even Finn for the same matter) to fall in love with anyway? The author tells us Loki falls for Wendy because she is kind to him and she tries to protect him. Then how about Sara? Hasn't she always been kind to him and tried to protect him for all these years!? I understand how you can be grateful to someone who's kind to you, but it would take a lot more for gratefulness to develop into long-lasting love!
Last but not least, the love scene between Wendy and Loki also made me feel damn awkward. The whole thing just takes place all of a sudden and it's quite meaningless.
We are told that there will be a massive war between Trylle and Vittra through out two books, but when the battle finally arrives, most of the Trylle vs Vittra battle is done *off screen*, and I can't accept Wendy somehow also manages to defeat Oren, single-handed.
*end of spoiler*
The Final Words:
The whole book reads like it was written by a freaking 10 years old girl while she was playing princess-game with her freaking barbie dolls. It had been so long since the last time I encountered a YA book as poorly written and.......empty as this. But now I can confidently tell you Trylle trilogy by Amanda Hocking, is as bad and silly a series as Twilight series. Yes, they are pretty much at the same level, and this fact alone speaks volumes of what you should expect if you ever decided to read it.
What should I say concerning the last book of Miss Hocking's Trylle trilogy? Simply put, the whole thing is one hell of silly wish-fulfilling make-believe, with zero realism in the world-building, characters, setting and plot.
Our first and foremost problem begins with Wendy, the 'heroine' of the trilogy. In Ascend, Wendy suddenly becomes capable-leader's-material, who can keep the nobles at check? Sorry, I just can't believe it. To the end of book 2, Torn; Wendy remained a whinny, immature girl and the author had offered us NOTHING to support Wendy's transition to her more mature self.
Another character just as unbelievable as Wendy is Oren, King of Vittra and the arch villain in the story. The problem being, we barely ever have the chance to see Oren do bad things throughout the three books. For most of the time we basically only have Loki's words to proof Oren is bad, and Sara's fear to hint at how violent Oren is. But for most of the time, Oren doesn't look like a smart-enough villain to me. Towns were attacked, people were killed under his order, but none of these attacks seem to be beneficent to him in any sense. Plus, how Oren is finally defeated is purely laughable.
How about the supporting characters? Oh, they all got shove into the background, whatever potential they had in the previous book never get developed into anything deeper.
Okay, maybe the author wants to focus on Wendy, Finn and Loki, but if it were the case their love triangle is as badly written as the one among Bella, Edward and Jacob from Twilight.
Aside from flat, underdeveloped characters, the world building is as shrubby as what the first two books had offered. When another Trylle's town is under Oren's attack, we are informed that all of the Trylle's towns manage to fly under humans' radar because they all locate in very remote areas. WHAT THE HELL? Are we supposed to believe in the age of internet, Google Maps and GPS, the humans and even the USA government itself are all so stupid that they are not aware of the existence of a handful of...towns?
*plot spoiler warning*
First, I admit I am glad that Wendy doesn't keep Finn nor Tove in the end, she doesn't deserve them anyway! I am just equally glad that Finn and Tove find happiness with someone else at the end of the book, even thought their new found happiness looks like some very clumsy attempt to please the readers.
I also don't have problem with Wendy and Finn NOT being together, therefore I don't mind her hooking up with someone else. But the real problem with Wendy's shifting her 'love' to Loki is, I don't believe there's any meaningful, mature love between them for a *second*.
I mean, the two barely know one another well at the first place. Plus, what's there in Wendy for Loki (or even Finn for the same matter) to fall in love with anyway? The author tells us Loki falls for Wendy because she is kind to him and she tries to protect him. Then how about Sara? Hasn't she always been kind to him and tried to protect him for all these years!? I understand how you can be grateful to someone who's kind to you, but it would take a lot more for gratefulness to develop into long-lasting love!
Last but not least, the love scene between Wendy and Loki also made me feel damn awkward. The whole thing just takes place all of a sudden and it's quite meaningless.
We are told that there will be a massive war between Trylle and Vittra through out two books, but when the battle finally arrives, most of the Trylle vs Vittra battle is done *off screen*, and I can't accept Wendy somehow also manages to defeat Oren, single-handed.
*end of spoiler*
The Final Words:
The whole book reads like it was written by a freaking 10 years old girl while she was playing princess-game with her freaking barbie dolls. It had been so long since the last time I encountered a YA book as poorly written and.......empty as this. But now I can confidently tell you Trylle trilogy by Amanda Hocking, is as bad and silly a series as Twilight series. Yes, they are pretty much at the same level, and this fact alone speaks volumes of what you should expect if you ever decided to read it.
January 14, 2011
One thing I truly appreciate about the author's writing is that she doesn't draw out her books with endless filler-words. I never find myself wanting to skip past parts in boredom of endless elaboration of feelings or a situation. Her writing always seems to flow at a nice pace, keeping the reader's interest throughout the entire book.
As for Ascend, I felt it was the perfect ending to a wonderful trilogy!
In this final book, Wendy finally takes over the Trylle kingdom, after her mother passes. Before Elora passed, I was pleased to see that Wendy and Elora shared some tender and heartfelt moments together. Elora had, for the most part, come across cold and never truly expressed love towards her daughter, Wendy. After her passing, Wendy was surprised to discover that Elora had painted numerous paintings throughout her childhood, confirming the motherly love that Elora held for her. -Especially considering that Elora sacrificed a portion of her longevity, so to speak, with each painting she did.
The much-talked about love between Wendy/Finn or Wendy/Loki was a complete surprise to me. At first, I thought I wanted to see Wendy and Finn together, after their brief almost-happened love scene. When Wendy abruptly called it quits before they went too far, I was really disappointed, and didn't understand why Wendy would give up the opportunity to *finally* be with Finn. But as the story progressed, I realized what Ms. Hocking had in mind :) and my opinion completely changed. Wendy and Finn shared an emotional final "break-up" of sorts, in which she tells Finn why she moved forward with Loki, and gave up on the hope of a Wendy+Finn future. Finn never fought for her, to be with her, or just not enough. He was too driven to abide by the rules and with making her Queen, and that always seemed to get in the way of any future they would have had together. Loki, on the other hand, had gone through hell and back, essentially, for Wendy. As the story progresses with more Wendy/Loki moments, I had no disappointment what so ever about the final love outcome. They truly do seem perfect together, and though it was sad to see both Wendy and Finn have a little heartbreak, it was worth it in the end to see the final outcome.
The ending of this book was perfect, and I would not change a single thing! Wendy's tyrant of a father is put to rest, thanks to Wendy, for the majority, and both Kingdoms are finally at peace with one another. The Epilogue, especially, was just absolutely amazing. It ended so well that readers won't be left sad at the end of this trilogy, but rather happy with how things are left. It was everything I was hoping, and more!
As for Ascend, I felt it was the perfect ending to a wonderful trilogy!
In this final book, Wendy finally takes over the Trylle kingdom, after her mother passes. Before Elora passed, I was pleased to see that Wendy and Elora shared some tender and heartfelt moments together. Elora had, for the most part, come across cold and never truly expressed love towards her daughter, Wendy. After her passing, Wendy was surprised to discover that Elora had painted numerous paintings throughout her childhood, confirming the motherly love that Elora held for her. -Especially considering that Elora sacrificed a portion of her longevity, so to speak, with each painting she did.
The much-talked about love between Wendy/Finn or Wendy/Loki was a complete surprise to me. At first, I thought I wanted to see Wendy and Finn together, after their brief almost-happened love scene. When Wendy abruptly called it quits before they went too far, I was really disappointed, and didn't understand why Wendy would give up the opportunity to *finally* be with Finn. But as the story progressed, I realized what Ms. Hocking had in mind :) and my opinion completely changed. Wendy and Finn shared an emotional final "break-up" of sorts, in which she tells Finn why she moved forward with Loki, and gave up on the hope of a Wendy+Finn future. Finn never fought for her, to be with her, or just not enough. He was too driven to abide by the rules and with making her Queen, and that always seemed to get in the way of any future they would have had together. Loki, on the other hand, had gone through hell and back, essentially, for Wendy. As the story progresses with more Wendy/Loki moments, I had no disappointment what so ever about the final love outcome. They truly do seem perfect together, and though it was sad to see both Wendy and Finn have a little heartbreak, it was worth it in the end to see the final outcome.
The ending of this book was perfect, and I would not change a single thing! Wendy's tyrant of a father is put to rest, thanks to Wendy, for the majority, and both Kingdoms are finally at peace with one another. The Epilogue, especially, was just absolutely amazing. It ended so well that readers won't be left sad at the end of this trilogy, but rather happy with how things are left. It was everything I was hoping, and more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2017
It.......................................was AMAZING!!
Okay, okay, I read this a while ago but I can still remember it!!! Trust me, I'm not failing in Spanish yet. My memory still beats an 80 year old! :)
This series was definitely one of the best reads I've had as a child before 13. But let me tell you, puberty struck early, and you know what happens. My hormones are all over the place.
This book had be blown at who to choose: Loki, or Finn??
Literally me while reading this book: "okay..........OMG, I love Finn!.....wait no, hold on....Loki's being pretty sexy too............arrgghhhhh!....No! I love Loki!.........Wait no! Finn's the one!.........HUH??!!.........Wuh?!......OK, IT"S LOKI. Period, I like him. Wait, but Finn's still really cute, though..."
Like, I need my heart to stop!!
NO, not literally, but you just can't choose!!!
Hocking has all the pre-teens stuck in her mind-capturing spell.
And you, my friend, you're going to be a mess. A MESS.
(loki's really cute...teehee!)
*ahem*
ANYWAYS, this book has all the action and adventure you need!! Just take this book and get a passport, you'll be everywhere in no time!
But yes, there's the romance to get a hold of, the characters, (your passport), but in the end, you know it's one boy or the other...
Who will you choose??
DUN-DUN-DUN!!
Okay, okay, I read this a while ago but I can still remember it!!! Trust me, I'm not failing in Spanish yet. My memory still beats an 80 year old! :)
This series was definitely one of the best reads I've had as a child before 13. But let me tell you, puberty struck early, and you know what happens. My hormones are all over the place.
This book had be blown at who to choose: Loki, or Finn??
Literally me while reading this book: "okay..........OMG, I love Finn!.....wait no, hold on....Loki's being pretty sexy too............arrgghhhhh!....No! I love Loki!.........Wait no! Finn's the one!.........HUH??!!.........Wuh?!......OK, IT"S LOKI. Period, I like him. Wait, but Finn's still really cute, though..."
Like, I need my heart to stop!!
NO, not literally, but you just can't choose!!!
Hocking has all the pre-teens stuck in her mind-capturing spell.
And you, my friend, you're going to be a mess. A MESS.
(loki's really cute...teehee!)
*ahem*
ANYWAYS, this book has all the action and adventure you need!! Just take this book and get a passport, you'll be everywhere in no time!
But yes, there's the romance to get a hold of, the characters, (your passport), but in the end, you know it's one boy or the other...
Who will you choose??
DUN-DUN-DUN!!
June 4, 2018
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Glad I'm done with the re-read*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
This review is purely for me and might contain spoilers and facts from the book to keep myself in the known at all time. It's also long and somewhat detailed.
Second re-read: 04.06.2018
We're back with the last book in the trilogy of Wendy Luella Everly (17, turns 18 in the beginning of the book). She is marrying Tove Kroner in order to save the Trylle from their deadliest enemy; the Vittra. She's not in love with him - nor is he in love with her - but they respect and like each other. Wendy's heart is also breaking because she's in love with two men; who to choose? Who is right for her? Does it matter? Can she even survive the war to come? Overall, the book is better than the first two. Wendy has grown; she's no longer so naive, weak, dumb and annoying. So there's that. The book isn't great, but it's not a horror. Also, am I the only one in the need of Tove's story?
“It was worth it,” Loki said suddenly.
“What was?” I turned back to him.
“Everything I went through,” he said. “For you. It was worth it.”
Other characters:
I've put these in a spoilers tag simply because it's a long list; contains spoilers.
“This really is for the best,” I said. “Me and you never would’ve worked out anyway. You need someone that you can protect and shelter. And I need someone to push me to take risks, so I can pull this kingdom forward.”
“There is more truth in that than I’m ready to admit,” he agreed.
I swallowed, realizing something I’d never realized before. “I never could’ve really made you happy. I would’ve fought you at everything, frustrated by your attempts to keep me safe and hold me back. We would’ve made each other miserable.”
Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (Young Adult) Paranormal/Fantasy Romance.
Series: - Series, Book Three.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Favorite character? - Tove Kroner.
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Already have.
Would I recommend this book/series? - Probably not. But yes, if you like YA, I guess.
Will I read this again in the future? - No.
New Rating - 2.5 stars.
Re-read: 30.03.15
Second rate: 4.5 stars.
First read: 01.01.12
First rate: 5 stars.
April 24, 2012
This is it. The queen is dying. The king wants her kingdom. He will do anything to get it. Only Wendy stands in the way.
The final book in the Trylle Trilogy has great character development and an excellent romance. I was, however, a bit underwhelmed by the ending. We'll get to that. First, the characters. Wendy can be a bit dramatic. She will jump to decisions in a heartbeat and that kind of annoyed me at first. It's like she doesn't stop to think before she acts. I guess I should be used to her by now but it irritated me more in this one. I think she may have been a bit too confident by her almost-queen status. But since she is almost the queen, she shouldn't make rash decisions. She seemed to do as she pleased without listening to advice thrown at her. So I did get a bit frustrated with her decisions. However, she still has her awesome sense of humor that had me giggling a few times. Next to her, we have the whole gang of side characters that I grew to admire from the first book. I loved Tove especially in this one, but we didn't delve much deeper into any of them except for Loki.
Loki is the character I was the most fond of. He is an absolutely great addition to the series. Mysterious and sincere - he's a really strong character with a lot of heart. The romance he shares with Wendy is intense and honest. It's not only Loki that's been grasping at Wendy's heart, though. Finn has never left it, but she's trying to move on. I actually quite enjoyed the way the love triangle played out in this series. It didn't turn out the way I thought it would, and that was a pleasant surprise. It made it much less cliché with real emotional consequences.
This series as a whole is not incredibly action packed. It's more about the characters and the ominous upcoming battle. This battle that finally arrives, to me, was a bit underwhelming. Having waited 2 previous books for this epic showdown, then getting it over with without much effort, not to mention a bit too perfectly, felt anticlimactic. It's very much the happily ever after ending. It wasn't bad, but I expected more emotion, more negative repercussions I guess; giving it more weight to make it memorable. Maybe I'm just a masochist. *shrugs* Regardless, I wouldn't say I was disappointed with the ending, I just wasn't wowed by it.
This whole series is definitely fun. I loved learning about the complex world of Trylle and Vittra. It's highly original. I also had a great time getting to know the numerous characters inside it. It reads a lot like a mild fantasy novel that I'd recommend for paranormal fans who are looking for something different and creative.
--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
The final book in the Trylle Trilogy has great character development and an excellent romance. I was, however, a bit underwhelmed by the ending. We'll get to that. First, the characters. Wendy can be a bit dramatic. She will jump to decisions in a heartbeat and that kind of annoyed me at first. It's like she doesn't stop to think before she acts. I guess I should be used to her by now but it irritated me more in this one. I think she may have been a bit too confident by her almost-queen status. But since she is almost the queen, she shouldn't make rash decisions. She seemed to do as she pleased without listening to advice thrown at her. So I did get a bit frustrated with her decisions. However, she still has her awesome sense of humor that had me giggling a few times. Next to her, we have the whole gang of side characters that I grew to admire from the first book. I loved Tove especially in this one, but we didn't delve much deeper into any of them except for Loki.
Loki is the character I was the most fond of. He is an absolutely great addition to the series. Mysterious and sincere - he's a really strong character with a lot of heart. The romance he shares with Wendy is intense and honest. It's not only Loki that's been grasping at Wendy's heart, though. Finn has never left it, but she's trying to move on. I actually quite enjoyed the way the love triangle played out in this series. It didn't turn out the way I thought it would, and that was a pleasant surprise. It made it much less cliché with real emotional consequences.
This series as a whole is not incredibly action packed. It's more about the characters and the ominous upcoming battle. This battle that finally arrives, to me, was a bit underwhelming. Having waited 2 previous books for this epic showdown, then getting it over with without much effort, not to mention a bit too perfectly, felt anticlimactic. It's very much the happily ever after ending. It wasn't bad, but I expected more emotion, more negative repercussions I guess; giving it more weight to make it memorable. Maybe I'm just a masochist. *shrugs* Regardless, I wouldn't say I was disappointed with the ending, I just wasn't wowed by it.
This whole series is definitely fun. I loved learning about the complex world of Trylle and Vittra. It's highly original. I also had a great time getting to know the numerous characters inside it. It reads a lot like a mild fantasy novel that I'd recommend for paranormal fans who are looking for something different and creative.
--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
February 25, 2011
I went on a reading binge and read all three books in the trilogy in a 9 hour period on Saturday. They were simple reads but still had a fun story that left you wanting to know more. I decided to combine my review in one place since they all did seem to blur together because I read it as one long story instead of three separate books. First, this is a new world that I loved reading about. Something different from the standard mythical creatures that are so big right now. The person she ends up with at the end surprised me. I don't know if it's because I read them all so quickly that I didn't see it coming, but I felt that the relationship wasn't built up enough and it seemed to catch me off guard. Also, I know that her character grew up quite a bit, and I can say I did see the progression, but I still found myself doubting her at times and not quite believing she was capable of doing what she set out to do. Wasn't in love with the Queen at first, but wow I felt for her by the third story and I couldn't believe what she went through and how hard her life was. Learning about all the sacrifices she had to make was incredible and it made me sad that Wendy didn't have more time to spend with her. I heard there will be a spin off series and I'd love to read more about this world and the other characters in this trilogy.
April 13, 2021
What an utter disappointment this entire series has been. Even Kanin Chronicles wasn't this bad. I continue to love Matt, Finn and Tove. Duncan, Willa and Rhys were pretty good too. But I still didn't like Wendy our MC and don't even get me started about Loki.
I knew who Wendy ends up with but as I didn't know the why or how and after reading the first two books I couldn't understand why she ends up with Loki, I though this book would give me closure but instead it's made me mad because Finn would have been way better. Loki just irritates me. He thinks he's funny but he's annoying so irritatingly annoying. Also, if the author wasn't going to go down that road then why start talking about changing stuff and traditions around in the last couple of books? Shouldn't it have been better to change the tradition where a princess could end up with a tracker instead of ending up with royalty or second-in-command or whatever Loki was.
I felt so bad for Finn and even though he's found Mia, I still feel like the author didn't do justice to his character. I feel cheated. I also didn't like how Tove's character was sidelined in this book. I still feel bad for what Kim had to go through and continue to go through. Even though the author had tried to tie loose ends, I'm still not satisfied with the ending. May I'm in the minority but yeah I'm very disappointed.
1 star
I knew who Wendy ends up with but as I didn't know the why or how and after reading the first two books I couldn't understand why she ends up with Loki, I though this book would give me closure but instead it's made me mad because Finn would have been way better. Loki just irritates me. He thinks he's funny but he's annoying so irritatingly annoying. Also, if the author wasn't going to go down that road then why start talking about changing stuff and traditions around in the last couple of books? Shouldn't it have been better to change the tradition where a princess could end up with a tracker instead of ending up with royalty or second-in-command or whatever Loki was.
I felt so bad for Finn and even though he's found Mia, I still feel like the author didn't do justice to his character. I feel cheated. I also didn't like how Tove's character was sidelined in this book. I still feel bad for what Kim had to go through and continue to go through. Even though the author had tried to tie loose ends, I'm still not satisfied with the ending. May I'm in the minority but yeah I'm very disappointed.
1 star
June 2, 2011
Fabulous series! And also a little unexpected ending. I totally thought she would end up with the other guy but I liked how it ended!
February 7, 2011
Summary
I read this trilogy back-to-back, so instead of three books I feel like I've read on big book.
In Switched Wendy is just starting out at another new school. She has a way of getting into trouble with students and teachers. Mostly she just doesn't fit in at all. Her mother is in a mental institute for trying to kill her when she was six years old, claiming that she wasn't her daughter - but that she was some kind of monster. Apparently, her mother wasn't too far off from the truth. At her new school, Wendy meets Finn, who introduces her and walks her through her new life as a Trylle (Troll in english). Wendy was a changling, and it is time for her to come home. But it gets even better (and what could be better than dark, handsome Finn as your guide?), Wendy isn't just any Trylle, she's the princess.
In Torn it's time for Wendy to accept her role as princess and trying to behave like one, especially after she's been kidnapped for a second time. This time by her father. After a dramatic rescue, Wendy is stepping up to her duties - and doing whatever she can to do what is best for her (future) kingdom.
is Wendy's true thrust into power. She is married to a great friend who will walk next to her and help her lead her kingdom into victory and into change. But how does one kill an immortal king?
Review
I read all three of these books over a sick weekend, when I was stuck mostly in bed. This is not to speak bad of the trilogy, the thing is, I actually probably stayed in bed even more because of the books. The trilogy was very well written. Wendy is a great main character, a strong person who grows from a defiant teenager into a true leader determined to do some good. I was really impressed with the story because there were many times I was thinking that Amanda Hocking was going to go in one direction with the story - and ended not taking that route at all. The only plot point that I got right (and was happy about) was her marriage to Tove.
So what I wasn't happy about (and this is SPOILER - so please discontinue here if you wan to read)
I wanted Finn! I completely, COMPLETELY understand why Wendy chose not to go with him. He didn't fight, he didn't stand up for her. He was sucked into society. I got it. But Amanda, why did you have to write it that way?? They shared some amazing, steamy moments. Much, much better than any moment with Loki in my opinion. I understand why Loki ended up being the better fit. But STILL. Ugh.
Oh, and this is how much I didn't care for Loki. I didn't trust him. I wanted him to betray her, so she'd go back to Finn. I also wanted Tove to step up and give her a strange fit of passion and the happy ever after in that direction. I never had eyes for Loki. But I'm not the author. And I do understand why the book went the direction it did. (I keep saying that. I want to impress that this was a trilogy worth the read though!!)
I read this trilogy back-to-back, so instead of three books I feel like I've read on big book.
In Switched Wendy is just starting out at another new school. She has a way of getting into trouble with students and teachers. Mostly she just doesn't fit in at all. Her mother is in a mental institute for trying to kill her when she was six years old, claiming that she wasn't her daughter - but that she was some kind of monster. Apparently, her mother wasn't too far off from the truth. At her new school, Wendy meets Finn, who introduces her and walks her through her new life as a Trylle (Troll in english). Wendy was a changling, and it is time for her to come home. But it gets even better (and what could be better than dark, handsome Finn as your guide?), Wendy isn't just any Trylle, she's the princess.
In Torn it's time for Wendy to accept her role as princess and trying to behave like one, especially after she's been kidnapped for a second time. This time by her father. After a dramatic rescue, Wendy is stepping up to her duties - and doing whatever she can to do what is best for her (future) kingdom.
is Wendy's true thrust into power. She is married to a great friend who will walk next to her and help her lead her kingdom into victory and into change. But how does one kill an immortal king?
Review
I read all three of these books over a sick weekend, when I was stuck mostly in bed. This is not to speak bad of the trilogy, the thing is, I actually probably stayed in bed even more because of the books. The trilogy was very well written. Wendy is a great main character, a strong person who grows from a defiant teenager into a true leader determined to do some good. I was really impressed with the story because there were many times I was thinking that Amanda Hocking was going to go in one direction with the story - and ended not taking that route at all. The only plot point that I got right (and was happy about) was her marriage to Tove.
So what I wasn't happy about (and this is SPOILER - so please discontinue here if you wan to read)
I wanted Finn! I completely, COMPLETELY understand why Wendy chose not to go with him. He didn't fight, he didn't stand up for her. He was sucked into society. I got it. But Amanda, why did you have to write it that way?? They shared some amazing, steamy moments. Much, much better than any moment with Loki in my opinion. I understand why Loki ended up being the better fit. But STILL. Ugh.
Oh, and this is how much I didn't care for Loki. I didn't trust him. I wanted him to betray her, so she'd go back to Finn. I also wanted Tove to step up and give her a strange fit of passion and the happy ever after in that direction. I never had eyes for Loki. But I'm not the author. And I do understand why the book went the direction it did. (I keep saying that. I want to impress that this was a trilogy worth the read though!!)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2017
Ooohhh....the story...the action...the angst...the political problems...and much important...the roma1nce! I love it all!
This trilogy's epic!
This trilogy's epic!
September 26, 2014
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Ascend by Amanda Hocking
Book Three of the Trylle series
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: April 24, 2012
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Review copy sent by the publisher
Summary (from Goodreads):
Wendy Everly is facing an impossible choice. The only way to save the Trylle from their deadliest enemy is by sacrificing herself. If she doesn’t surrender to the Vittra, her people will be thrust into a brutal war against an unbeatable foe. But how can Wendy leave all her friends behind…even if it’s the only way to save them?
The stakes have never been higher, because her kingdom isn’t the only thing she stands to lose. After falling for both Finn and Loki, she’s about to make the ultimate choice…who to love forever. One guy has finally proven to be the love of her life—and now all their lives might be coming to an end.
Everything has been leading to this moment. The future of her entire world rests in her hands—if she’s ready to fight for it.
What I Liked:
Wowie, what an ending! What a conclusion novel! I have to admit, I'm really pleased with this series. Maybe because I binge-read the series and didn't have time to agonize over cliffhangers or the romance, maybe because I liked this series on the surface and didn't get heavily invested... but I really enjoyed this series!
In this final novel of the Trylle trilogy, Wendy gets married. And eventually, has a coronation. Wendy has a lot of growing up to do, because a wedding, and a coronation, are no joke. She must find a way to stop her cruel father from harming her Trylle power, but she also figure out how to reconcile her feelings for Loki, when she is married to Tove. As the summary states, everything has been leading to this moment.
I feel like this book was short. I think it was about the same length as the previous books, but it went by very quickly. Not very much happened in terms of large events, except for the few big ones (the wedding, the coronation, the attack on the Vittra. The plot isn't super intricate or twisty - it's very straightforward and predictable, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the book.
We don't really figure out how everything is going to work out with Wendy's father until the very end. It seems like Wendy searches for a way to defeat him for the entire book, but doesn't have an aha moment until the climax of the novel. Which is fine, because readers are left wondering what will happen.
The romance. Oh, my heart. The romance is perfect, in my opinion. Lots of things happen, like a stolen kiss, a marriage, an tryst, in that other. But OMG, you really have to read this book to understand. I love that one scene in the book, that one night. It is so spontaneous and Wendy doesn't think at all (or maybe she really does, maybe she had it all figured out) but it is perfect. I had a good feeling about the romance from the beginning.
I found the vacillating romance kind of nice, actually. It wasn't vacillating, really, because from the beginning to the end, it's obvious which guy has held Wendy's attention, from fleeting friendship to love. It's obvious which relationship was an obsession (shiny new guy syndrome), which one was a safe relationship, and which one was a true, deep, meaningful relationship. In my opinion.
Wendy is an interesting character. She acts like a child sometimes, she acts very grown and mature at other times, but honestly, I feel like she's a person that every girl can relate to, on some level? I think I really understood her, when it came to the sense of duty. For sure.
The ending is a bit cookie-cutter perfect, and everything works out so nicely. Honestly, that's fine with me, since I wasn't out to love this series or make it my next favorite thing. I would have liked to see more depth in the series plot, this book's plot, and the ending of this book in general, but that's okay. It's really fun to read these books.
What I Did Not Like:
Something that bothered me was how quickly Wendy let go of her human life? Like, she barely ever thought about the life she spent seventeen years living... that struck me as odd. There are many materialistic things that I know teenagers of today's world would not want to give up, no matter how badly they fit in (or did NOT fit in).
And I already mentioned this above, but I would have liked to see more depth in this book, and series in general. It felt very formulaic, in terms of the series plot. Become a princess, save your kingdom, kill the tyrant. Nothing more was at stake, nothing more to be done. A little cliche, I'm afraid!
Would I Recommend It:
Well, in general, I like this series, so I'd say that if you have this series, or any of the three books in this series, definitely give the series a shot! The series could use some depth, but it's a nice series to binge-read. And of course, if you've read books one and two, definitely read this book! Don't be left hanging!
Rating:
4 stars. An excellent ending to an interesting series! I think I'm ready to read Frostfire now!
Ascend by Amanda Hocking
Book Three of the Trylle series
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: April 24, 2012
Rating: 4 stars
Source: Review copy sent by the publisher
Summary (from Goodreads):
Wendy Everly is facing an impossible choice. The only way to save the Trylle from their deadliest enemy is by sacrificing herself. If she doesn’t surrender to the Vittra, her people will be thrust into a brutal war against an unbeatable foe. But how can Wendy leave all her friends behind…even if it’s the only way to save them?
The stakes have never been higher, because her kingdom isn’t the only thing she stands to lose. After falling for both Finn and Loki, she’s about to make the ultimate choice…who to love forever. One guy has finally proven to be the love of her life—and now all their lives might be coming to an end.
Everything has been leading to this moment. The future of her entire world rests in her hands—if she’s ready to fight for it.
What I Liked:
Wowie, what an ending! What a conclusion novel! I have to admit, I'm really pleased with this series. Maybe because I binge-read the series and didn't have time to agonize over cliffhangers or the romance, maybe because I liked this series on the surface and didn't get heavily invested... but I really enjoyed this series!
In this final novel of the Trylle trilogy, Wendy gets married. And eventually, has a coronation. Wendy has a lot of growing up to do, because a wedding, and a coronation, are no joke. She must find a way to stop her cruel father from harming her Trylle power, but she also figure out how to reconcile her feelings for Loki, when she is married to Tove. As the summary states, everything has been leading to this moment.
I feel like this book was short. I think it was about the same length as the previous books, but it went by very quickly. Not very much happened in terms of large events, except for the few big ones (the wedding, the coronation, the attack on the Vittra. The plot isn't super intricate or twisty - it's very straightforward and predictable, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the book.
We don't really figure out how everything is going to work out with Wendy's father until the very end. It seems like Wendy searches for a way to defeat him for the entire book, but doesn't have an aha moment until the climax of the novel. Which is fine, because readers are left wondering what will happen.
The romance. Oh, my heart. The romance is perfect, in my opinion. Lots of things happen, like a stolen kiss, a marriage, an tryst, in that other. But OMG, you really have to read this book to understand. I love that one scene in the book, that one night. It is so spontaneous and Wendy doesn't think at all (or maybe she really does, maybe she had it all figured out) but it is perfect. I had a good feeling about the romance from the beginning.
I found the vacillating romance kind of nice, actually. It wasn't vacillating, really, because from the beginning to the end, it's obvious which guy has held Wendy's attention, from fleeting friendship to love. It's obvious which relationship was an obsession (shiny new guy syndrome), which one was a safe relationship, and which one was a true, deep, meaningful relationship. In my opinion.
Wendy is an interesting character. She acts like a child sometimes, she acts very grown and mature at other times, but honestly, I feel like she's a person that every girl can relate to, on some level? I think I really understood her, when it came to the sense of duty. For sure.
The ending is a bit cookie-cutter perfect, and everything works out so nicely. Honestly, that's fine with me, since I wasn't out to love this series or make it my next favorite thing. I would have liked to see more depth in the series plot, this book's plot, and the ending of this book in general, but that's okay. It's really fun to read these books.
What I Did Not Like:
Something that bothered me was how quickly Wendy let go of her human life? Like, she barely ever thought about the life she spent seventeen years living... that struck me as odd. There are many materialistic things that I know teenagers of today's world would not want to give up, no matter how badly they fit in (or did NOT fit in).
And I already mentioned this above, but I would have liked to see more depth in this book, and series in general. It felt very formulaic, in terms of the series plot. Become a princess, save your kingdom, kill the tyrant. Nothing more was at stake, nothing more to be done. A little cliche, I'm afraid!
Would I Recommend It:
Well, in general, I like this series, so I'd say that if you have this series, or any of the three books in this series, definitely give the series a shot! The series could use some depth, but it's a nice series to binge-read. And of course, if you've read books one and two, definitely read this book! Don't be left hanging!
Rating:
4 stars. An excellent ending to an interesting series! I think I'm ready to read Frostfire now!
December 27, 2018
This book was freaking amazing! Like the whole plot and even the ending was perfect. I loved this series so much and I will definitely be rereading it very soon
January 21, 2013
Everybody deserves a Happy Ending and I just...
February 7, 2016
A lovely end to this cute series. The first time I read it, I wanted Finn and Wendy to end up together, but this time, I totally get the direction Ms Hocking went with. While Finn and Wendy had passion, duty continually got in the way of their happily ever after and after three books of this, it gets a little sickening. Loki was a wonderful character who is actually a perfect fit for Wendy and is just who she needs to help her rule her kingdom.
I love how Wendy grew throughout the series, too. She starts off so unsure and confused; fighting every change happening in her life and yelling at everyone. It got a little annoying, and yet I still got it. But by this book, Wendy understands the role she plays and what she has to do for the good of her people, whether or not it’s good for her. She becomes the Queen she was always meant to be.
This entire series was definitely fun and entertaining. The world is incredibly original and I love how the characters grow throughout the series. I’d recommend it to those who are looking for something enjoyable and creative.
I love how Wendy grew throughout the series, too. She starts off so unsure and confused; fighting every change happening in her life and yelling at everyone. It got a little annoying, and yet I still got it. But by this book, Wendy understands the role she plays and what she has to do for the good of her people, whether or not it’s good for her. She becomes the Queen she was always meant to be.
This entire series was definitely fun and entertaining. The world is incredibly original and I love how the characters grow throughout the series. I’d recommend it to those who are looking for something enjoyable and creative.
May 13, 2015
*Changing this update a little bit*
Most people should know that this is my all time favorite trilogy and if you dont well it is and you should read it!
I was looking at reviews for this book specifically and I found out that a lot of people love Loki a lot and that makes me feel like a bad person because I absolutely hated that bitch.
Finn is my love I love him so much. I cried when Wendy didn't pick him just because he was so sweet in my opinion.
You could tell he really loved and wanted to be with Wendy.
The whole Loki/Wendy thing I felt was just thrown together last minute which I hated!
And i'm gonna be honest the only reason I rated this one star was because she didn't end up with Finn AKA the one I felt was truly made for her.
But whatever I cant change this book so I will still cry about it for the rest of eternity.
Most people should know that this is my all time favorite trilogy and if you dont well it is and you should read it!
I was looking at reviews for this book specifically and I found out that a lot of people love Loki a lot and that makes me feel like a bad person because I absolutely hated that bitch.
Finn is my love I love him so much. I cried when Wendy didn't pick him just because he was so sweet in my opinion.
You could tell he really loved and wanted to be with Wendy.
The whole Loki/Wendy thing I felt was just thrown together last minute which I hated!
And i'm gonna be honest the only reason I rated this one star was because she didn't end up with Finn AKA the one I felt was truly made for her.
But whatever I cant change this book so I will still cry about it for the rest of eternity.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2012
This book was absolutely amazing. Out of the trilogy this book was the best. The romance, mystery, the story building up the ending was amazing. The storyline was phenomenal. IT WAS THE PERFECT ENDING. I couldn't think of anything more perfect.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,898 reviews