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Troll #1
Troll
At the age of sixteen, Abby is undergoing major household changes. Her mom is getting ready to remarry and her new step-brother is driving her insane. She is just trying to keep herself busy with school and her part-time job when a most deliciously handsome stranger moves to her little seaside town and won't leave her alone.
New arrival Wilhelm is unlike any other student at Abby’s school. His emerald eyes and tattooed body don’t truly reveal what he really is: a creature emerged from thousands of miles underground, seeking revenge, treasure, and a key that once belonged to an old enemy – a key Abby wears suspended from a chain around her neck. Why she has it is a mystery that Wilhelm will need to solve, and fast, in order to defeat a powerful mortal adversary.
As an attraction between Abby and Wilhelm develops, more creatures like Wilhelm are drawn from beneath the ground to Abby’s town; wreaking havoc as they offer Abby’s classmates the fulfillment of their deepest desires. Will Abby and her new family survive as a game of magical warfare is unleashed? Her ability to reverse Wilhelm’s bargain depends on it.
New arrival Wilhelm is unlike any other student at Abby’s school. His emerald eyes and tattooed body don’t truly reveal what he really is: a creature emerged from thousands of miles underground, seeking revenge, treasure, and a key that once belonged to an old enemy – a key Abby wears suspended from a chain around her neck. Why she has it is a mystery that Wilhelm will need to solve, and fast, in order to defeat a powerful mortal adversary.
As an attraction between Abby and Wilhelm develops, more creatures like Wilhelm are drawn from beneath the ground to Abby’s town; wreaking havoc as they offer Abby’s classmates the fulfillment of their deepest desires. Will Abby and her new family survive as a game of magical warfare is unleashed? Her ability to reverse Wilhelm’s bargain depends on it.
299 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 6, 2015
252 people are currently reading
1370 people want to read
About the author
Ashley C. Harris
41 books1,500 followers★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Sign up to be notified of Ashley's new releases & book giveaways here: http://eepurl.com/DFPFb
USA Today and international bestselling author Ashley C. Harris loves to write page-turning sci-fi, fantasy, and paranormal romances.
She has authored over twenty-six novels, and two of her screenplays have been produced into independent films.
In addition to writing, Ashley has worked behind-the-scenes in television for almost a decade, including working on a morning and evening news show that aired on ABC.
She is a reading addict and Star Wars enthusiast who loves to dream, spend time with her husband, and obsess over biblical mysteries.
Keep an eye out for her newest releases at www.AshleyCHarris.com.
USA Today and international bestselling author Ashley C. Harris loves to write page-turning sci-fi, fantasy, and paranormal romances.
She has authored over twenty-six novels, and two of her screenplays have been produced into independent films.
In addition to writing, Ashley has worked behind-the-scenes in television for almost a decade, including working on a morning and evening news show that aired on ABC.
She is a reading addict and Star Wars enthusiast who loves to dream, spend time with her husband, and obsess over biblical mysteries.
Keep an eye out for her newest releases at www.AshleyCHarris.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
September 4, 2017
Troll (Troll #1) by Ashley C. Harris is a teen fantasy book and I thought it was a good book for the audience it was shooting for. I think adults might not enjoy it or find it a bit on the slow side but I think teens or middle age kids will enjoy it. I rated it for the age group it was targeting. It had great fantasy, hint of romance, clean (a kiss was in there), and good characters and a decent plot. If I were a middle age kid I might like it except for the romance, I never went for that, I was all sci-fi and fantasy, lol.
June 1, 2017
The Troll is a YA fantasy story that mixes magical creatures, such as trolls, knights and the human world. Specifically, we can see Abby, a high school girl, who had lost her best friend, Leo and her cousin when they were only kids. One day, a new student, Wilhelm, appears at her school and strange things happen around Abby's life.
Wilhelm is a troll who's on a mission. He needs to get something in order to succeed and that leads him in Abby's life. Many things will be revealed down the road and they will all fall into a crazy and dangerous adventure that will leave victims on its path..
When I say trolls, you shouldn't think about these sweet little creatures...
Think of something more terrifying on its true form , but with the ability to look like humans whenever they wish to. They have lots of powers, especially the royal ones and Will is tired of being treated always as inferior and wants to take revenge for what Klaus and the other royals did to him.
I have to admit that at first this book was moving in a slow pace and I struggled, but as I gave it more time, it sucked me into its world and it ended up fascinating me. I really enjoyed this story, although I did cringe a couple of times with a few mistakes or with a few graphic scenes.
What I loved the most in this story was the adventure, the angst and the twists near the end of the book. I didn't see these coming and that evil cliffhanger now makes me crave for the following book in the series!! I have so many questions, I need to read it, because I need to know!! The suspense is killing me, Ashley!
Overall, I think that it was a great YA fantasy book and even though it's not usually the genre that I pick to read, it intrigued me and it makes me want to read more. If you like reading this kind of books, go ahead and grab the book! :)
Wilhelm is a troll who's on a mission. He needs to get something in order to succeed and that leads him in Abby's life. Many things will be revealed down the road and they will all fall into a crazy and dangerous adventure that will leave victims on its path..
When I say trolls, you shouldn't think about these sweet little creatures...
Think of something more terrifying on its true form , but with the ability to look like humans whenever they wish to. They have lots of powers, especially the royal ones and Will is tired of being treated always as inferior and wants to take revenge for what Klaus and the other royals did to him.
I have to admit that at first this book was moving in a slow pace and I struggled, but as I gave it more time, it sucked me into its world and it ended up fascinating me. I really enjoyed this story, although I did cringe a couple of times with a few mistakes or with a few graphic scenes.
Revenge was an illusion like that: it always seems like it will make things finally feel right, but it's never truly satisfying, and the pain just increases until it boils over.
What I loved the most in this story was the adventure, the angst and the twists near the end of the book. I didn't see these coming and that evil cliffhanger now makes me crave for the following book in the series!! I have so many questions, I need to read it, because I need to know!! The suspense is killing me, Ashley!
Overall, I think that it was a great YA fantasy book and even though it's not usually the genre that I pick to read, it intrigued me and it makes me want to read more. If you like reading this kind of books, go ahead and grab the book! :)
December 1, 2015
Sixteen is a difficult age for most sixteen year olds but if your Mum’s fiancé has recently moved in bringing his obnoxious, spoilt son with him, it isn’t really the best of scenarios. Abby keeps herself busy working hard at school and in the local library but really misses her best friend, Leo Smith, who disappeared from her life five years ago along with her cousin. She’s been bullied at school for years and is regularly the butt of the ‘popular’ pupils. When she encounters a strange new boy in the library, she’s perplexed by him. When he turns up at school and is in the same class as her things just start being weird as he denies ever meeting her before, introduces himself as Wilhelm and she starts doubting herself though she really doesn’t trust him at all but doesn’t know why.
As secrets from the past are revealed, the attraction between Abby and Wilhelm develops and mysterious events ensue. When her step brother starts talking about trolls, her Mum asks Abby to play along, little knowing that Wilhelm is a troll and life as they have known it is in danger if he manages to get the key Abby has protected for so long. Wilhelm is focused on gaining the key but can’t stop being attracted to Abby and seeking to protect her without really knowing why. As more magical creatures like Wilhelm are drawn to this small seaside town can they all survive the magical wars that accompany them?
This is a fast paced, exhilarating and enthralling adventure. It is superbly written from multiple points of view and is a real page turner. The characters are robust, well defined and complex, the plot is a rapid roller coaster ride with so many twists and turns you’re never quite sure where you’ll end up! I do, however, have a major complaint about this novel - I need the sequel to find out what happens next, please!
Thanks to the author, publisher and Barclay Publicity, too, for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for this, an honest review.
As secrets from the past are revealed, the attraction between Abby and Wilhelm develops and mysterious events ensue. When her step brother starts talking about trolls, her Mum asks Abby to play along, little knowing that Wilhelm is a troll and life as they have known it is in danger if he manages to get the key Abby has protected for so long. Wilhelm is focused on gaining the key but can’t stop being attracted to Abby and seeking to protect her without really knowing why. As more magical creatures like Wilhelm are drawn to this small seaside town can they all survive the magical wars that accompany them?
This is a fast paced, exhilarating and enthralling adventure. It is superbly written from multiple points of view and is a real page turner. The characters are robust, well defined and complex, the plot is a rapid roller coaster ride with so many twists and turns you’re never quite sure where you’ll end up! I do, however, have a major complaint about this novel - I need the sequel to find out what happens next, please!
Thanks to the author, publisher and Barclay Publicity, too, for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for this, an honest review.
July 11, 2017
I loved it! First time reading a book where the main character is a troll. Beautifully written and highly recommend!
My Rating: 5 stars
My Rating: 5 stars
October 5, 2016
I knew it! Ok now that I got that off my chest can I say wow? A full in depth review is to follow but wow. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this and now I'm like holy hell when is the next book coming out?!
October 28, 2015
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
Troll is a totally new take on paranormal. It is the first in a new young adult series, by the same name, from author Ashley C. Harris. I don't know about you, but I have never read a young adult paranormal book that features trolls. And I am a little ashamed to admit that my understanding of them is practically nonexistent.(the closest I have to a depiction in my mind are from frozen haha) Troll takes the reader on a fast paced exhilarating journey underground to the world of the trolls. Plus there are the knights, who are the enemies of the Trolls. Plus, there is a romance and mystery surrounding Wilhelm and Abby. Yep, lots going on to keep your attention.
I really liked the mystery surrounding Abby, and Abby herself. She was my favorite part of the story. I was really interested in Abby's friendship with Leo, but he was mainly in the beginning of the story, and I found the that part to be really confusing. Even after reading the whole book, I am still a little confused. (I get the main gist, but it was really jumbled.)
Another highlight of Troll for me was watching the warring nature of the Trolls. Wilhelm in particular. I loved that Ashley C. Harris didn't make apologies for their slightly mean nature. They take children, they kill knights- and people, and they even have fun doing it. That is who they are, and that is who Wilhelm is. The change in him while he was around Abby was subtle, which I also appreciated. He didn't wake up one morning, suddenly in love. He is who he is, but that doesn't mean he is a villian. Far from it. Watching him with Abby was a lovely slow burn romance, and I thought it was perfect for the mood of the story.
The trolls v. knight aspect of the story was where I had my biggest hold up. It is where almost all of my confusion stemmed from and it kind of felt incomplete. I really hope that there will be a prequel added in to give us some back story on the knights and on the trolls. I would love to know why they are the way they are today. When did they start fighting? Why? It wasn't really addressed. I know there was some more information at the end, and it looks like we are going to get some answers in the second book, but I still think a prequel would be well served to story the readers some of the history of the trolls, and of the knights.
Bottom Line: If you like paranormal books and love reading about new creatures and new takes on them, check out Troll. It was a really interesting read.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Troll is a totally new take on paranormal. It is the first in a new young adult series, by the same name, from author Ashley C. Harris. I don't know about you, but I have never read a young adult paranormal book that features trolls. And I am a little ashamed to admit that my understanding of them is practically nonexistent.(the closest I have to a depiction in my mind are from frozen haha) Troll takes the reader on a fast paced exhilarating journey underground to the world of the trolls. Plus there are the knights, who are the enemies of the Trolls. Plus, there is a romance and mystery surrounding Wilhelm and Abby. Yep, lots going on to keep your attention.
I really liked the mystery surrounding Abby, and Abby herself. She was my favorite part of the story. I was really interested in Abby's friendship with Leo, but he was mainly in the beginning of the story, and I found the that part to be really confusing. Even after reading the whole book, I am still a little confused. (I get the main gist, but it was really jumbled.)
Another highlight of Troll for me was watching the warring nature of the Trolls. Wilhelm in particular. I loved that Ashley C. Harris didn't make apologies for their slightly mean nature. They take children, they kill knights- and people, and they even have fun doing it. That is who they are, and that is who Wilhelm is. The change in him while he was around Abby was subtle, which I also appreciated. He didn't wake up one morning, suddenly in love. He is who he is, but that doesn't mean he is a villian. Far from it. Watching him with Abby was a lovely slow burn romance, and I thought it was perfect for the mood of the story.
The trolls v. knight aspect of the story was where I had my biggest hold up. It is where almost all of my confusion stemmed from and it kind of felt incomplete. I really hope that there will be a prequel added in to give us some back story on the knights and on the trolls. I would love to know why they are the way they are today. When did they start fighting? Why? It wasn't really addressed. I know there was some more information at the end, and it looks like we are going to get some answers in the second book, but I still think a prequel would be well served to story the readers some of the history of the trolls, and of the knights.
Bottom Line: If you like paranormal books and love reading about new creatures and new takes on them, check out Troll. It was a really interesting read.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
January 8, 2016
I won this book in a goodreads giveaway.
So the back cover of this book describes it as a "trolls meets Game of Thrones" type of thing. Just because you have characters fighting over a throne, it doesn't mean that you can just compare it to GoT alright!?
This book made me feel like this:
It was one of those books that if I had not won it, I would have dropped it before halfway through.
Yes, it was one of those painful books that made me eye-roll more times than a book should make me roll my eyes.
This book features our favorite insta-love in all of its glory. Why does the guy like her in the beginning? Eh, good question.
The main girl, Abby, was a doormat for 3/4 of the book. Her memory keeps getting wiped and whatnot and she didn't really do much. Then at the last 1/4 she suddenly becomes OP...because why not? She also suffers from the lack of confidence personality type(a staple in YA it seems).
The writing style was meh for me. There were also some grammar issues, like not starting a new paragraph when someone was speaking as well as being SUPER redundant in some parts. There was one section where it reminded you two times in the span of a paragraph that Zach was Abby's cousin.
Uh thanks, I think my memory is good enough to remember that.
There was also a huge character confusion issue in the beginning. I don't know if it was because I wasn't paying attention but I thought Wilhelm was the blind guy and Leo was alive and kicking(this is revealed early on that he is missing).
So uh yeah, that ends that. The ending itself is also very random. No, you don't just make a cliffhanger-esque ending like that and think it is okay.
Moving on to other books now.
So the back cover of this book describes it as a "trolls meets Game of Thrones" type of thing. Just because you have characters fighting over a throne, it doesn't mean that you can just compare it to GoT alright!?
This book made me feel like this:
It was one of those books that if I had not won it, I would have dropped it before halfway through.
Yes, it was one of those painful books that made me eye-roll more times than a book should make me roll my eyes.
This book features our favorite insta-love in all of its glory. Why does the guy like her in the beginning? Eh, good question.
The main girl, Abby, was a doormat for 3/4 of the book. Her memory keeps getting wiped and whatnot and she didn't really do much. Then at the last 1/4 she suddenly becomes OP...because why not? She also suffers from the lack of confidence personality type(a staple in YA it seems).
The writing style was meh for me. There were also some grammar issues, like not starting a new paragraph when someone was speaking as well as being SUPER redundant in some parts. There was one section where it reminded you two times in the span of a paragraph that Zach was Abby's cousin.
Uh thanks, I think my memory is good enough to remember that.
There was also a huge character confusion issue in the beginning. I don't know if it was because I wasn't paying attention but I thought Wilhelm was the blind guy and Leo was alive and kicking(this is revealed early on that he is missing).
So uh yeah, that ends that. The ending itself is also very random. No, you don't just make a cliffhanger-esque ending like that and think it is okay.
Moving on to other books now.
February 14, 2017
Needs work
I wanted to like this...I really did. I don't consider myself a harsh critic nor am I difficult to please, but this book was a mess. It desperately, desperately needs editing. Not just for misspelled words, but for missing words and incorrect words. I don't need a book to be perfect, but there were just way too many mistakes to overlook.
As for the story, it had the potential to be awesome but the delivery was all wrong. It felt very amateurish and the plot was all over the place. Redundant and verbose in areas as well. The twists at the end were fun and interesting but honestly, if the second book is of the same quality, it's way too expensive to risk it.
I wanted to like this...I really did. I don't consider myself a harsh critic nor am I difficult to please, but this book was a mess. It desperately, desperately needs editing. Not just for misspelled words, but for missing words and incorrect words. I don't need a book to be perfect, but there were just way too many mistakes to overlook.
As for the story, it had the potential to be awesome but the delivery was all wrong. It felt very amateurish and the plot was all over the place. Redundant and verbose in areas as well. The twists at the end were fun and interesting but honestly, if the second book is of the same quality, it's way too expensive to risk it.
June 27, 2017
Almost
This is the beginning of an interesting and compelling story. Too bad it was the first rough draft that ended up being published! I've graded plenty of high school papers that were better proofed and edited than this. I cringe at the thought that young adults might think this is an appropriate example of writing. You may be able to get away with this in the self-publishing world, but no professional author, agent, or editor would publish this in this state regardless of how good the story.
This is the beginning of an interesting and compelling story. Too bad it was the first rough draft that ended up being published! I've graded plenty of high school papers that were better proofed and edited than this. I cringe at the thought that young adults might think this is an appropriate example of writing. You may be able to get away with this in the self-publishing world, but no professional author, agent, or editor would publish this in this state regardless of how good the story.
May 14, 2017
Just about perfect
There were a few minor mistakes editing should have caught but they didn't detract from the richness of this story. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
There were a few minor mistakes editing should have caught but they didn't detract from the richness of this story. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
October 28, 2015
NO! Not another cliffhanger!! I can’t wait!! Really?? My most crucial question left for the next book!
I had a hard time at first getting into it and following what was going on and whose POV I was in. But, then I got it and I found myself starving to get to the next words and find out what would happen and figure out my many questions my mind was asking.
My light bulb should have gone off early in the book. But I did not see it coming. I didn’t see a lot of things coming. There were many twists and turns and more hands in the plot than I could have imagined. And I need to get my hands on the next book soon.
The trolls have a lot of magic. They are selfish creatures and after a lot of fun. They live underground. They use precious stones and metals to entice children so they can take them away forever. The knights are the troll’s enemy and are recruited by the age of twelve. They must kill a troll by then or they forfeit being a knight.
Abby’s friend Leo disappeared at the same time her cousin did. Leo always said he was a knight. She thought him ridiculous and playing a game. Leo has been gone for 5 years now and she always felt it her fault he was gone. She doesn’t know what happened to him and she thinks about him and her cousin often.
Abby’s father died and her mom is getting remarried to a man with a young boy, Michael, who is constantly saying a troll is following them. He tells Abby about them but she thinks he is silly. He finds a book at the library and it has notes in it from Leo. It makes Abby wonder.
Abby has been bullied and labeled a freak ever since she can remember. Now this new boy has come to her school and shows interest in her. She has never been kissed. Abby is a good person who isn’t self absorbed at all. She has a pure heart. Will, the new boy, is Wilhelm the troll. He wants something she has. But he also finds himself attracted to her and protecting her too. He doesn’t understand why.
There is a great battle coming and just as it starts; the book ends!
I did see similarities in her characters as Donna and Ryan,from the Sparks series by the same author, in that Abby is not the popular one but finds her inner strength to become a hero!
The story idea is amazing. The twists very clever! The characters believable and some hated, unsure of or pitied.
There are still so many questions that it demands you wait to get your hands on the next book because you want to know what will happen next. Because the ending of the book has to be a trick because I won’t accept it like that!!
I am team Wilhelm!
I had a hard time at first getting into it and following what was going on and whose POV I was in. But, then I got it and I found myself starving to get to the next words and find out what would happen and figure out my many questions my mind was asking.
My light bulb should have gone off early in the book. But I did not see it coming. I didn’t see a lot of things coming. There were many twists and turns and more hands in the plot than I could have imagined. And I need to get my hands on the next book soon.
The trolls have a lot of magic. They are selfish creatures and after a lot of fun. They live underground. They use precious stones and metals to entice children so they can take them away forever. The knights are the troll’s enemy and are recruited by the age of twelve. They must kill a troll by then or they forfeit being a knight.
Abby’s friend Leo disappeared at the same time her cousin did. Leo always said he was a knight. She thought him ridiculous and playing a game. Leo has been gone for 5 years now and she always felt it her fault he was gone. She doesn’t know what happened to him and she thinks about him and her cousin often.
Abby’s father died and her mom is getting remarried to a man with a young boy, Michael, who is constantly saying a troll is following them. He tells Abby about them but she thinks he is silly. He finds a book at the library and it has notes in it from Leo. It makes Abby wonder.
Abby has been bullied and labeled a freak ever since she can remember. Now this new boy has come to her school and shows interest in her. She has never been kissed. Abby is a good person who isn’t self absorbed at all. She has a pure heart. Will, the new boy, is Wilhelm the troll. He wants something she has. But he also finds himself attracted to her and protecting her too. He doesn’t understand why.
There is a great battle coming and just as it starts; the book ends!
I did see similarities in her characters as Donna and Ryan,from the Sparks series by the same author, in that Abby is not the popular one but finds her inner strength to become a hero!
The story idea is amazing. The twists very clever! The characters believable and some hated, unsure of or pitied.
There are still so many questions that it demands you wait to get your hands on the next book because you want to know what will happen next. Because the ending of the book has to be a trick because I won’t accept it like that!!
I am team Wilhelm!
January 23, 2016
This book and I battled it out. At times I was eager to read it and other times I just couldn't stand it. Love/Hate relationship?
Meet Abby -- plain, dorky but obviously beautiful girl that struggles to deal with the loss of her best friend Leo and cousin Ashlynn.
Meet Wilhelm -- the hot (I guess because I don't know -- are trolls hot??) troll that is tired of being dumped on by uppity royal trolls; so he goes off to find a magic sword to find his place in the world.
--> they meet, they quasi mutually bond, he repeatedly wipes her memories (not cool!), and some how in the end it all kind of works!?!
It's hard to explain. I really wanted to give this book a 3 and 3/4 stars-ish but went with 4 b/c the cover is really awesome. Some parts really drag and are a wee odd, but that could be due to my lack of troll lore knowledge, YET overall it is very good!!
I will be reading the next one because it ended with one heck of a cliffhanger.
Meet Abby -- plain, dorky but obviously beautiful girl that struggles to deal with the loss of her best friend Leo and cousin Ashlynn.
Meet Wilhelm -- the hot (I guess because I don't know -- are trolls hot??) troll that is tired of being dumped on by uppity royal trolls; so he goes off to find a magic sword to find his place in the world.
--> they meet, they quasi mutually bond, he repeatedly wipes her memories (not cool!), and some how in the end it all kind of works!?!
It's hard to explain. I really wanted to give this book a 3 and 3/4 stars-ish but went with 4 b/c the cover is really awesome. Some parts really drag and are a wee odd, but that could be due to my lack of troll lore knowledge, YET overall it is very good!!
I will be reading the next one because it ended with one heck of a cliffhanger.
February 29, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. I am glad that I voted for it on Kindle Scout.
I felt the writing flowed well. The characters complimented each other and the plot held my attention. This book is appropriate for high school and even middle schoolers (though a little dark). There are some fighting scenes and light romance involving kissing.
I liked how the story was spun and look forward to the next book. The book written in several character POVs. I did not find this distracting nor confusing. Each chapter is labeled with the POV to eliminate confusion.
Most of the questions that I had were answered, though I now have a few new questions due to the ending ( though I do not think the ending was a bad cliffhanger since there was closure). I look forward to reading more books by Ashley Harris.
I felt the writing flowed well. The characters complimented each other and the plot held my attention. This book is appropriate for high school and even middle schoolers (though a little dark). There are some fighting scenes and light romance involving kissing.
I liked how the story was spun and look forward to the next book. The book written in several character POVs. I did not find this distracting nor confusing. Each chapter is labeled with the POV to eliminate confusion.
Most of the questions that I had were answered, though I now have a few new questions due to the ending ( though I do not think the ending was a bad cliffhanger since there was closure). I look forward to reading more books by Ashley Harris.
January 29, 2018
It's so frustrating because if this novel had gone through another stage of editing, it would have honestly been a 5-star book.
This is such a great storyline and the build-up to the reveal of what happened to Leo is so original. This is the only book I have actually read while at the gym because I couldn't bring myself to put it down.
I will be reading book #2. Hopefully, there aren't as many typos.
This is such a great storyline and the build-up to the reveal of what happened to Leo is so original. This is the only book I have actually read while at the gym because I couldn't bring myself to put it down.
I will be reading book #2. Hopefully, there aren't as many typos.
May 29, 2016
I liked this story
Even though some parts of the story seemed rather rushed or unclear, overall I really enjoyed getting lost in this story for the few hours it took me to complete. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
Even though some parts of the story seemed rather rushed or unclear, overall I really enjoyed getting lost in this story for the few hours it took me to complete. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
January 18, 2016
I loved this book, my new favorite from this author! Waiting for the next book.
March 8, 2018
Taking the nightmare version of a troll and wrapping it in stunning magic, this is an exciting tale of a girl who suddenly finds herself in the middle of a war, where neither side can be considered noble or good.
Abby is sixteen and is still dealing with the fall-out from when her best friend and cousin disappeared several years before. It doesn't help that her father died and her mother is about to marry a new man and his irritating, younger son. But family life is soon not the only problem she has. Strange things start happening with havoc and disaster following in their wake. The new guy at school, Will, adds to the commotion and won't leave her alone. As her future, little brother rambles on about monsters following him, and odd happenings mount, Abby realizes there's something going on, and whatever it is, it's more than dangerous.
The first chapter starts out as a back-flash to the time when Abby's best friend and cousin disappeared, and then flips forward to when she's sixteen. While the first chapter is grabbing, it was awkward at the same time, and the flip, although noted at the chapter beginning, confused. The writing comes across very middle grade, at first, and the characters, especially Abby even after the advancement to her sixteen year old self, childish. It frustrated enough that I almost set the book down, but after reading all of the 5-star reviews, decided to hang in a little longer and give it a chance.
I'm glad I did.
After this first section, the story and Abby mature, and a multi-layered, rich fantasy tale develops into a full swing adventure. Abby has tons of potential for character development, some of which she covers in this first book, but there's tons of promise still for the rest of the series. While this first installment sets up the ground work for her character and begins to unfold her into a true heroine sometime in the future, the plot dives into an amazing amount of world building, allowing the factions and other characters to come out with full power. While Abby is the main focus of the book, it's told from around half a dozen different points of view, which is never confusing and gives the layers of intrigue and secrets tons of depth.
Action and fantasy warfare are key in this tale as it takes place in the shadows of a very modern day world. The author does a terrific job at setting up the true nightmare creature of a troll and letting them stalk humans with cunning and grace, while still opening up their entire culture and existence with something which nears sympathy. It's an interesting play of evil with a touch of humanity, which draws in just enough to appreciate the trolls, while still recognizing the horribleness of their actions.
Will is character with many faces, sides and inner battles, and probably the more interesting of the characters in this book. His secrets are gold worth, even the ones he's not aware of himself. He's a complete hero and a tricky villain all rolled up into one—and his own inner conflict is what makes him shine.
There's a type of romance going on, but it's not an easy game. Even in this area, the author keeps deception, lies, true loyalties and cunning thickly embedded and intertwined with budding feelings, which dance along with teenage uncertainty but hold promise for much more to come. It keeps the reader guessing yet knowing and hoping.
To say it's a cliff-hanger ending is an understatement. While some big secrets are uncovered, Abby—as so often in the novel—is left with a foggy memory at best. Very few, if any, strings are tied. Instead, Abby is left in the face of a new, seemingly huge, step of her journey.
But I'll definitely keep reading. While the writing itself sometimes stumbles, the plot is extremely well laid. The factions are so well developed, Will is such an interesting character, and Abby carries so much potential that it's hard not to want to see where all of this will go next.
I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed reading this enough to want to leave my honest thoughts.
Abby is sixteen and is still dealing with the fall-out from when her best friend and cousin disappeared several years before. It doesn't help that her father died and her mother is about to marry a new man and his irritating, younger son. But family life is soon not the only problem she has. Strange things start happening with havoc and disaster following in their wake. The new guy at school, Will, adds to the commotion and won't leave her alone. As her future, little brother rambles on about monsters following him, and odd happenings mount, Abby realizes there's something going on, and whatever it is, it's more than dangerous.
The first chapter starts out as a back-flash to the time when Abby's best friend and cousin disappeared, and then flips forward to when she's sixteen. While the first chapter is grabbing, it was awkward at the same time, and the flip, although noted at the chapter beginning, confused. The writing comes across very middle grade, at first, and the characters, especially Abby even after the advancement to her sixteen year old self, childish. It frustrated enough that I almost set the book down, but after reading all of the 5-star reviews, decided to hang in a little longer and give it a chance.
I'm glad I did.
After this first section, the story and Abby mature, and a multi-layered, rich fantasy tale develops into a full swing adventure. Abby has tons of potential for character development, some of which she covers in this first book, but there's tons of promise still for the rest of the series. While this first installment sets up the ground work for her character and begins to unfold her into a true heroine sometime in the future, the plot dives into an amazing amount of world building, allowing the factions and other characters to come out with full power. While Abby is the main focus of the book, it's told from around half a dozen different points of view, which is never confusing and gives the layers of intrigue and secrets tons of depth.
Action and fantasy warfare are key in this tale as it takes place in the shadows of a very modern day world. The author does a terrific job at setting up the true nightmare creature of a troll and letting them stalk humans with cunning and grace, while still opening up their entire culture and existence with something which nears sympathy. It's an interesting play of evil with a touch of humanity, which draws in just enough to appreciate the trolls, while still recognizing the horribleness of their actions.
Will is character with many faces, sides and inner battles, and probably the more interesting of the characters in this book. His secrets are gold worth, even the ones he's not aware of himself. He's a complete hero and a tricky villain all rolled up into one—and his own inner conflict is what makes him shine.
There's a type of romance going on, but it's not an easy game. Even in this area, the author keeps deception, lies, true loyalties and cunning thickly embedded and intertwined with budding feelings, which dance along with teenage uncertainty but hold promise for much more to come. It keeps the reader guessing yet knowing and hoping.
To say it's a cliff-hanger ending is an understatement. While some big secrets are uncovered, Abby—as so often in the novel—is left with a foggy memory at best. Very few, if any, strings are tied. Instead, Abby is left in the face of a new, seemingly huge, step of her journey.
But I'll definitely keep reading. While the writing itself sometimes stumbles, the plot is extremely well laid. The factions are so well developed, Will is such an interesting character, and Abby carries so much potential that it's hard not to want to see where all of this will go next.
I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed reading this enough to want to leave my honest thoughts.
March 22, 2017
First posted at Words Fueled by Love.
I first requested the sequel to this book, Troll Cries, and was approved for it so I went ahead and purchased this so that I could read it first. I'm not gonna lie....the covers for these two books were very eye catching and because I love pretty covers I gave them a second glance. The story sounded interesting enough so I took a chance on them.
Does anyone else have the image of the troll from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in mind? Extremely large, strong, stupid and ugly? Haha! This is NOT what these trolls look like. Undoutedly, their true troll form is quite scary, being 7 feet or more tall. Skin like rock, eyes like gem stones. But the magic they use to shield their true form makes them beautiful in human form. These trolls feed off of the emotions of others. They entice humans with their hearts desires and when a bargain is made the human is under the control of the troll.
The story is about a 16 year old girl who experienced tragedy close to her when she was younger. Her cousin Ashlynn and best friend Leo both went missing around age 12. Having been picked on by her classmates for much of her education, she's just trying to get by and get out of high school.
Then there is the underground world of the trolls. A world where there is royalty and there are those who serve the royals. Wilhelm is the child of a royal, however can not be claimed as one, so he is what is considered a mining troll. He and others like him do the grunt work. He is stronger in his abilities than most trolls and as such, is more dangerous to those who are royal. His path crosses Abby's after the death of his mother by the hands of a knight, the trolls biggest enemy, and his search to discover what she had started trying to learn. Trolls bring about chaos and destruction. They take what they want from weak humans. Wilhelm is captivated by Abby in a way that makes no sense to him and he continues to battle what he should be feeling as a troll.
The ultimate storyline is that Abby has to learn about her destiny and how Wilhelm fits in to that.
There are several POV's throughout the story including Abby, Wilhelm, Sophia, Liz, Klaus and perhaps one or two more. I caught on to some surprise twists a little earlier than they became confirmed in the story.
I had some irritations with this book. First were all the grammatical errors. Lots of typos in the Kindle version I read. I also felt like specific details weren't fleshed out until very late in the story. Once they were touched on, I suppose I could understand the need to keep it secret. The reader experiences the truth on matters such as how trolls are created at the same time the characters begin seeing the truth on the same things. My second irritation was that there seemed to be some inconsistencies. A troll can be controlled when its real name is used. This occurs when Wilhelm learns the first name of one of the royals. He uses the first name to exact control. However, later in the story the first and last name is used to control a troll, which would have been fine except for the fact that the same first name had been spoken to him before and no control was exacted.
Overall due to my irritations this fell in my average book rating. I will be picking up immediately with book two to see the ending of Abby and Wilhelm.
Top Favorite Quotes:
Revenge is an illusion like that: it always seems like it will make things finally feel right, but it's never truly satisfying, and the pain just increases until it boils over.
You are mine, I'm with you, and I've made you more than enough...
Language: 1 (light)
Mature Content: 1 (light)
Final Rating: 3 stars
I first requested the sequel to this book, Troll Cries, and was approved for it so I went ahead and purchased this so that I could read it first. I'm not gonna lie....the covers for these two books were very eye catching and because I love pretty covers I gave them a second glance. The story sounded interesting enough so I took a chance on them.
Does anyone else have the image of the troll from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in mind? Extremely large, strong, stupid and ugly? Haha! This is NOT what these trolls look like. Undoutedly, their true troll form is quite scary, being 7 feet or more tall. Skin like rock, eyes like gem stones. But the magic they use to shield their true form makes them beautiful in human form. These trolls feed off of the emotions of others. They entice humans with their hearts desires and when a bargain is made the human is under the control of the troll.
The story is about a 16 year old girl who experienced tragedy close to her when she was younger. Her cousin Ashlynn and best friend Leo both went missing around age 12. Having been picked on by her classmates for much of her education, she's just trying to get by and get out of high school.
Then there is the underground world of the trolls. A world where there is royalty and there are those who serve the royals. Wilhelm is the child of a royal, however can not be claimed as one, so he is what is considered a mining troll. He and others like him do the grunt work. He is stronger in his abilities than most trolls and as such, is more dangerous to those who are royal. His path crosses Abby's after the death of his mother by the hands of a knight, the trolls biggest enemy, and his search to discover what she had started trying to learn. Trolls bring about chaos and destruction. They take what they want from weak humans. Wilhelm is captivated by Abby in a way that makes no sense to him and he continues to battle what he should be feeling as a troll.
The ultimate storyline is that Abby has to learn about her destiny and how Wilhelm fits in to that.
There are several POV's throughout the story including Abby, Wilhelm, Sophia, Liz, Klaus and perhaps one or two more. I caught on to some surprise twists a little earlier than they became confirmed in the story.
I had some irritations with this book. First were all the grammatical errors. Lots of typos in the Kindle version I read. I also felt like specific details weren't fleshed out until very late in the story. Once they were touched on, I suppose I could understand the need to keep it secret. The reader experiences the truth on matters such as how trolls are created at the same time the characters begin seeing the truth on the same things. My second irritation was that there seemed to be some inconsistencies. A troll can be controlled when its real name is used. This occurs when Wilhelm learns the first name of one of the royals. He uses the first name to exact control. However, later in the story the first and last name is used to control a troll, which would have been fine except for the fact that the same first name had been spoken to him before and no control was exacted.
Overall due to my irritations this fell in my average book rating. I will be picking up immediately with book two to see the ending of Abby and Wilhelm.
Top Favorite Quotes:
Revenge is an illusion like that: it always seems like it will make things finally feel right, but it's never truly satisfying, and the pain just increases until it boils over.
You are mine, I'm with you, and I've made you more than enough...
Language: 1 (light)
Mature Content: 1 (light)
Final Rating: 3 stars
January 21, 2018
Wow
Didn’t know what to expect when I began reading this book but oh wow it got real good right at the end and can’t wait to continue reading and unlocking the secrets in the next book.
Didn’t know what to expect when I began reading this book but oh wow it got real good right at the end and can’t wait to continue reading and unlocking the secrets in the next book.
March 7, 2018
I loved the story. I read it fairly fast.
April 8, 2017
Amazing
Abby has a tough time dealing with the disappearance other cousin and childhood friend Leo. Her world is turned upside down when Will shows up at her school with his own quest. Abby is determined to dove the mystery of who she is and where her friend and cousin went. This book was awesome. I'm looking forward to the next one.
Abby has a tough time dealing with the disappearance other cousin and childhood friend Leo. Her world is turned upside down when Will shows up at her school with his own quest. Abby is determined to dove the mystery of who she is and where her friend and cousin went. This book was awesome. I'm looking forward to the next one.
April 4, 2017
Couldn't put it down
I've read well over a thousand books, most of them by Masters of Science Fiction This story is original. I dropped a star for proofreading errors.
I've read well over a thousand books, most of them by Masters of Science Fiction This story is original. I dropped a star for proofreading errors.
July 6, 2016
I received a free e-book in exchange for an honest review.
Review originally posted on the OneBookTwo website.
I want to get my little dislikes out of the way before we get to the good stuff. First of all there were some parts that left me a little bewildered; there is a chapter where Abby is magically transported from an art show back to her hometown school by a magical dimension-traveling lion. I am hoping this lion will be made clear in the following books because at this point he seems like a random character. The only other thing I really didn’t like (but some readers may) was the major cliff hanger ending! Normally these types of endings don’t bother me, but I felt with Troll that I was left with far more questions than answers. This being Book One in a series I am sure these will be answered by the end of the series.
badge4v4That being said Harris does a wonderful job of making her characters come to life. There is the barest hint of setting but it works for this story because you are so wrapped up in the adventures of Abby, the Trolls and the Knights. Abby and Wilhelm play off each other and awaken each other’s potential to become heroes while at the same time trying to avoid each other. This is another high point because Wilhelm can’t quite figure out why he feels this growing attraction to Abby, especially after he just lost his mate. We get the hint that the villains known as the Knights were once a good entity but have since become corrupted, killing even innocent children that fall for the Trolls bargains. While this is normally a bad thing it sets the stage for Abby to discover who she really is and possibly bring the Knights back to their good standing with the help of Wilhelm, who is both Troll and Knight. If you like fantasy elements, female leads, and potential love plots then this book is a good read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and give it a four.
If you like this book…
…you should also check out Ashley Harris’s other series Shock Me. You should also check out the Troll Trilogy by Katherine Langrish. If you like stand alone books try Troll: A Love Story by Johanna Sinisalo.
Review originally posted on the OneBookTwo website.
I want to get my little dislikes out of the way before we get to the good stuff. First of all there were some parts that left me a little bewildered; there is a chapter where Abby is magically transported from an art show back to her hometown school by a magical dimension-traveling lion. I am hoping this lion will be made clear in the following books because at this point he seems like a random character. The only other thing I really didn’t like (but some readers may) was the major cliff hanger ending! Normally these types of endings don’t bother me, but I felt with Troll that I was left with far more questions than answers. This being Book One in a series I am sure these will be answered by the end of the series.
badge4v4That being said Harris does a wonderful job of making her characters come to life. There is the barest hint of setting but it works for this story because you are so wrapped up in the adventures of Abby, the Trolls and the Knights. Abby and Wilhelm play off each other and awaken each other’s potential to become heroes while at the same time trying to avoid each other. This is another high point because Wilhelm can’t quite figure out why he feels this growing attraction to Abby, especially after he just lost his mate. We get the hint that the villains known as the Knights were once a good entity but have since become corrupted, killing even innocent children that fall for the Trolls bargains. While this is normally a bad thing it sets the stage for Abby to discover who she really is and possibly bring the Knights back to their good standing with the help of Wilhelm, who is both Troll and Knight. If you like fantasy elements, female leads, and potential love plots then this book is a good read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and give it a four.
If you like this book…
…you should also check out Ashley Harris’s other series Shock Me. You should also check out the Troll Trilogy by Katherine Langrish. If you like stand alone books try Troll: A Love Story by Johanna Sinisalo.
December 17, 2016
Troll is the first book in a series by Ashley Harris. It takes place in Florida and Abby, the main character, is about to go through some stuff that is going to change her forever. First her single mom is going to get remarried, Abby is not only going to have to deal with a step-father but a new step-brother as well. Then there are the trolls that are going to in habit her town and the knights that follow. There is magic and mayhem and Abby is stuck in the middle.
Troll was a good book and it had some of the aspects I love in books. It had magic, supernatural creatures, secrets and mystery, but for some reason I didn't find myself enjoying this book as much as I should have. The writing and the plot was fine and I did find the story interesting but it didn't have that special something that totally draws me in and excited to return back to that book's world.
These trolls aren't the good kind they are bad guys, they kidnap children and do horrible things to humans. The are monsters in looks and acts as well but Will is different some how and you have to read to find out why. As for the knights, these aren't King Arthur's knights of the round table. No these knights aren't the good guys, they have become warped over time and less human than even the trolls. The trolls and the knights are enemies and the humans in the middle get caught as collateral. Abby has a connection to both sides in this war and always seems to be right in the middle of things. Abby is kinda wimpy at first but grows stronger as the book goes on.
Troll has magic, bad guys, good guys that's not really good guys, family issues, mystery, supernatural creatures, battles, mayhem, and plot twist.
Troll was a good book and it had some of the aspects I love in books. It had magic, supernatural creatures, secrets and mystery, but for some reason I didn't find myself enjoying this book as much as I should have. The writing and the plot was fine and I did find the story interesting but it didn't have that special something that totally draws me in and excited to return back to that book's world.
These trolls aren't the good kind they are bad guys, they kidnap children and do horrible things to humans. The are monsters in looks and acts as well but Will is different some how and you have to read to find out why. As for the knights, these aren't King Arthur's knights of the round table. No these knights aren't the good guys, they have become warped over time and less human than even the trolls. The trolls and the knights are enemies and the humans in the middle get caught as collateral. Abby has a connection to both sides in this war and always seems to be right in the middle of things. Abby is kinda wimpy at first but grows stronger as the book goes on.
Troll has magic, bad guys, good guys that's not really good guys, family issues, mystery, supernatural creatures, battles, mayhem, and plot twist.
September 25, 2015
WHAT DID I THINK OF THIS STORY??!?!!!
I LOVED IT :-)
I've been looking forward to this coming out since I first saw the cover. I didn't know what to expect, would this be another Twilight but with Trolls? No, not at all, but that's what I liked about it. About half way through the story I thought I knew exactly how this was going to end, then Harris did the switch on us, surprising me in a good way.
I LOVED the world of the Trolls, though the Knight's in the book are still a little bit of a mystery, but a good mystery I can't wait to learn more about. There was a lot of vivid imagery in this novel, reminding me a small bit of Lord of the Rings and The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe series.
Over all a really good read, I WANT THE SECOND BOOK NOW!!! But thankfully Harris's booklist is growing and she has a lot of other books out there to keep us busy while we're waiting.
#TeamWilhelm #Donna&Ryan #Harrisfangirl
I LOVED IT :-)
I've been looking forward to this coming out since I first saw the cover. I didn't know what to expect, would this be another Twilight but with Trolls? No, not at all, but that's what I liked about it. About half way through the story I thought I knew exactly how this was going to end, then Harris did the switch on us, surprising me in a good way.
I LOVED the world of the Trolls, though the Knight's in the book are still a little bit of a mystery, but a good mystery I can't wait to learn more about. There was a lot of vivid imagery in this novel, reminding me a small bit of Lord of the Rings and The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe series.
Over all a really good read, I WANT THE SECOND BOOK NOW!!! But thankfully Harris's booklist is growing and she has a lot of other books out there to keep us busy while we're waiting.
#TeamWilhelm #Donna&Ryan #Harrisfangirl
June 10, 2016
Can't wait for book#2.
July 3, 2020
Slow Start, Good Ending
3.5 Stars
I'm going to get this out of the way first. This book is in need of a good editor or proofreader, due to typos, grammatical errors and extra/duplicate words. For that reason, it made it difficult to make sense of some sentences and took away from the story, hence the reason for lower stars.
For me this started very slow, and it felt drawn out. That being said, I did like the premise of the story, since I have not read a book about trolls before. I liked the character of Wilhelm, and thought he was well thought out and written. The idea of Abby was primarily good, although I felt there was something lacking in her character. Michael was also a good character, and got better as the story progressed.
There was plenty of action and adventure, and the usual teenage angst in this book, and got to be a page turner at about 60%. There was no cussing, and kissing and hugging was about it in the romance department. This wasn't a bad book, and was fairly easy to read and follow. I will be reading the next book, just to see what develops.
3.5 Stars
I'm going to get this out of the way first. This book is in need of a good editor or proofreader, due to typos, grammatical errors and extra/duplicate words. For that reason, it made it difficult to make sense of some sentences and took away from the story, hence the reason for lower stars.
For me this started very slow, and it felt drawn out. That being said, I did like the premise of the story, since I have not read a book about trolls before. I liked the character of Wilhelm, and thought he was well thought out and written. The idea of Abby was primarily good, although I felt there was something lacking in her character. Michael was also a good character, and got better as the story progressed.
There was plenty of action and adventure, and the usual teenage angst in this book, and got to be a page turner at about 60%. There was no cussing, and kissing and hugging was about it in the romance department. This wasn't a bad book, and was fairly easy to read and follow. I will be reading the next book, just to see what develops.
February 23, 2018
A very original story. the trolls and knights and their society were a new and interesting twist on the paranormal element of YA fantasy/urban fantasy. And I was certainly interested in the story as a whole and what was going on. However I was a little frustrated by the pacing in terms of discovering what was going on and I would definitely have preferred more explanation/ revelation earlier in the piece.
I liked that the romance wasn't the main focus of the story. There is one kiss and the set up is for things to progress in that way but the focus was on the trolls and how Abby's past (and future) played into that. I was a little uncomfortable with Wilheim as the hero and the presumed romantic lead because of how awful and unnecessarily cruel the trolls are as a whole.
I am certainly interested to read on and see where things go next.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
I liked that the romance wasn't the main focus of the story. There is one kiss and the set up is for things to progress in that way but the focus was on the trolls and how Abby's past (and future) played into that. I was a little uncomfortable with Wilheim as the hero and the presumed romantic lead because of how awful and unnecessarily cruel the trolls are as a whole.
I am certainly interested to read on and see where things go next.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
July 28, 2017
Promising but just another teen monster romance
I'm giving the writer credit in that the book is a fair effort and perhaps it's going to garner higher ratings from others. For me, the main protagonist, turns out to be another plain Jane that is actually beautiful, with hidden powers, and unpopular who gains popularity.
I actually enjoyed it more before the rise in popularity, feeling that was more original and interesting. And I enjoyed some other aspects regarding the plot that involve the origins of trolls and character revelations.
The middle to end were rushed, full of popularity noise and bling, and later fantastical fighting. Just left me bored and uninterested.
It started strong and died with a whimper.
I won't be giving the sequel a chance.
I'm giving the writer credit in that the book is a fair effort and perhaps it's going to garner higher ratings from others. For me, the main protagonist, turns out to be another plain Jane that is actually beautiful, with hidden powers, and unpopular who gains popularity.
I actually enjoyed it more before the rise in popularity, feeling that was more original and interesting. And I enjoyed some other aspects regarding the plot that involve the origins of trolls and character revelations.
The middle to end were rushed, full of popularity noise and bling, and later fantastical fighting. Just left me bored and uninterested.
It started strong and died with a whimper.
I won't be giving the sequel a chance.
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