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The Otherworld #6
Curse of the Troll
Elva was once a faerie princess, bound to the Seelie King and renowned throughout the land. Until that was all stripped from her in a single moment. Now, she has recreated herself as a warrior woman. Fierce and strong, she is sent to the Ice Mountain where a beast reigns. Watch him, kill him if necessary, but do not fall in love.
Donnacha was once a dwarven noble, until the Troll Queen saw him. She curses him into the form of a bear. The only way to break the curse is to marry her daughter. But when a certain faerie princess enters the picture, he realizes there might be another way to free him.
Determined to hate each other, they quickly realize there's more to people than just appearances. When the Troll Queen steals him away, breaking her part of the deal, Elva must follow the bear she fell in love with east of the sun and west of the moon. To save him, she would give up everything.
Donnacha was once a dwarven noble, until the Troll Queen saw him. She curses him into the form of a bear. The only way to break the curse is to marry her daughter. But when a certain faerie princess enters the picture, he realizes there might be another way to free him.
Determined to hate each other, they quickly realize there's more to people than just appearances. When the Troll Queen steals him away, breaking her part of the deal, Elva must follow the bear she fell in love with east of the sun and west of the moon. To save him, she would give up everything.
230 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 18, 2019
132 people are currently reading
2057 people want to read
About the author
Emma Hamm
73 books4,513 followers
We all know you don't really care about reading my background. Enjoy Cap instead.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
April 2, 2022
Finally finished the series! That too just a few days before exams start! Yay me! Loved the last installment in the series. This is so relatable to many women who have suffered loss and been scarred by people who they thought were their soulmates, their true love. It shows how difficult and slow healing looks like and how you are left to not only left to pick up the pieces back but how you don't know who you are and what you want from life anymore.
The book portrays how people often blame themselves for their experience in a toxic relationship. They wonder what went wrong, how everything just evaporated within a few moments, how they became so trapped? Why did they lower their standards so much? But tbh what doesn't kill you makes you only stronger! So stay strong, you can get out of this void and define your happiness on your own terms.
This was one book I was very hesitant to pick up cuz it hit too close to home. But am glad I did. It was healing in its own way. And yes, not only toxic relationship is physically abusive, sometimes emotional and mental damage is harder to heal from than the physical scars.
Oh and this book covers the story of Elva, who was the consort of Fionn in the first book, please read the first two books before reading this one.
The book portrays how people often blame themselves for their experience in a toxic relationship. They wonder what went wrong, how everything just evaporated within a few moments, how they became so trapped? Why did they lower their standards so much? But tbh what doesn't kill you makes you only stronger! So stay strong, you can get out of this void and define your happiness on your own terms.
This was one book I was very hesitant to pick up cuz it hit too close to home. But am glad I did. It was healing in its own way. And yes, not only toxic relationship is physically abusive, sometimes emotional and mental damage is harder to heal from than the physical scars.
Oh and this book covers the story of Elva, who was the consort of Fionn in the first book, please read the first two books before reading this one.
March 26, 2019
3 slightly Low Stars
So, this story is about Elva and Donnacha. Elva was first introduced in Heart of the Fae as the drug addicted and beautiful consort to the corrupted Seelie king (Eamonn’s twin brother). Once she finally leaves him and loses her position, she transforms herself into a warrior, and tries to regain faith in herself, and it is this version of herself that we meet in The Faceless Woman and The Raven’s Ballad (Elva is the sister of ). In the Curse of the Troll, a ‘East of the Sun, West of the Moon’ retelling, Elva takes centre stage.
Then there is the male lead the Dwarf Donnacha, who has been cursed/transformed into a Bear by the Troll Queen, until he breaks and concedes to marry her delightfully awful and airheaded daughter. The arrival of Elva gives him hope there may be another way to end his curse.
Donnacha embodies the gentle strength and warmth Elva needs, she is strong but the scars from her past still sting. I liked both characters but I wanted more spark and heat, some very small skim reading did take place at one point.
For me this book was a lot slower than the author’s other books. The only real action happens near the end, and the character interactions felt very tentative at times. It wasn’t an awful read, it was ok, but it didn’t ensnare my attention and hold it tightly like the previous books. I loved the premise of this book, but for some reason I didn’t love the execution. There's a lot of telling in here and I wanted more showing.
Nevertheless, despite not loving this book I do see myself re-reading book 1,2,4 and 5 in this series, which I did love. And I may give this one a re-read at some point.
Acquired via KU.
So, this story is about Elva and Donnacha. Elva was first introduced in Heart of the Fae as the drug addicted and beautiful consort to the corrupted Seelie king (Eamonn’s twin brother). Once she finally leaves him and loses her position, she transforms herself into a warrior, and tries to regain faith in herself, and it is this version of herself that we meet in The Faceless Woman and The Raven’s Ballad (Elva is the sister of ). In the Curse of the Troll, a ‘East of the Sun, West of the Moon’ retelling, Elva takes centre stage.
Then there is the male lead the Dwarf Donnacha, who has been cursed/transformed into a Bear by the Troll Queen, until he breaks and concedes to marry her delightfully awful and airheaded daughter. The arrival of Elva gives him hope there may be another way to end his curse.
Donnacha embodies the gentle strength and warmth Elva needs, she is strong but the scars from her past still sting. I liked both characters but I wanted more spark and heat, some very small skim reading did take place at one point.
For me this book was a lot slower than the author’s other books. The only real action happens near the end, and the character interactions felt very tentative at times. It wasn’t an awful read, it was ok, but it didn’t ensnare my attention and hold it tightly like the previous books. I loved the premise of this book, but for some reason I didn’t love the execution. There's a lot of telling in here and I wanted more showing.
Nevertheless, despite not loving this book I do see myself re-reading book 1,2,4 and 5 in this series, which I did love. And I may give this one a re-read at some point.
Acquired via KU.
June 29, 2021
Curse of the Troll is a unique East of the Sun and West of the Moon retelling that adds a lot of interesting new elements to the story it's based off of. Both the main characters are well written on their own, but their romantic relationship felt really rushed. Considering the length of this book and how much of the story Elva and Donnacha spend separated, it felt like they spent hardly any time together. They way the characters loved each other felt genuine, but they got to that point way too fast to feel real. Because the second half of this story is driven by romance, which was somewhat lacking, it was hard to get into this book. Overall, this wasn't bad, and I loved Elva and Donnacha as characters, but I feel like this story could have benefitted from a longer format.
March 16, 2019
I have always loved Elva. This girl has had one heck of a life. I am so pleased she got her own story, and a happily ever after worthy of her. She is strong. Donnacha is the perfect hero for Elva. Absolutely no other would have handled her so well. Elva is one tough girl, but she has still been traumatized and requires gentleness. Donnacha is just the perfect combination of gentle strength she needed to walk through life.
This story was awesome. I wholeheartedly enjoyed walking along with Elva and Donnacha as they discovered how to break the horrid curse the troll queen put upon him.
I love everything about this series. The whole thing is a delightful romp through Irish mythology and fairy tale retellings. Absolutely start at the beginning and work your way through this amazing series.
This story was awesome. I wholeheartedly enjoyed walking along with Elva and Donnacha as they discovered how to break the horrid curse the troll queen put upon him.
I love everything about this series. The whole thing is a delightful romp through Irish mythology and fairy tale retellings. Absolutely start at the beginning and work your way through this amazing series.
March 6, 2019
If you're familiar with Emma Hamm's Otherworld series, you know and love Elva. First introduced in HEART OF THE FAE, Elva is the drug addicted consort to the evil Seelie king. Once she wises up and leaves, she transforms into the warrior woman we meet in THE FACELESS WOMAN and THE RAVEN'S BALLAD, but always is on the sidelines. Finally, Elva comes into her own in CURSE OF THE TROLL, a "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" retelling.
Donnacha is a dwarf lord cursed to be a bear by the evil Troll Queen for refusing to marry her daughter. In an attempt to break the curse, Donnacha seeks the aid of a warrior woman who must live in his ice castle for a year. Upon Elva's arrival, they seem to have a connection. As they spend more time together, the kindhearted Donnacha begins to help Elva mend her broken soul... until a grave mistake is made and Elva must find Donnacha and save him from the trolls' clutches... east of the sun and west of the moon.
It was utter magic. Donnacha is the sweetest, kindest, most humble hero around. You just want to hug his furry bear body. His patience and understanding are a beautiful balm for Elva's rough edges. Elva is a wonderful and complex heroine who knows she's struggling and is doing the best she can. The two together made me smile.
The conflict and plot were clear and well thought out, making the pages fly by. I loved seeing more creatures than the traditional Seelie/Unseelie and how Elva begins to perceive them and her world.
The ending was utterly heartwarming. It's everything you've ever wanted for the mistreated and misunderstood Elva. I loved every page of this novel and would highly recommend it to fans of The Otherworld series.
Advanced copy provided by the author. This in no way influenced my honest review.
Donnacha is a dwarf lord cursed to be a bear by the evil Troll Queen for refusing to marry her daughter. In an attempt to break the curse, Donnacha seeks the aid of a warrior woman who must live in his ice castle for a year. Upon Elva's arrival, they seem to have a connection. As they spend more time together, the kindhearted Donnacha begins to help Elva mend her broken soul... until a grave mistake is made and Elva must find Donnacha and save him from the trolls' clutches... east of the sun and west of the moon.
It was utter magic. Donnacha is the sweetest, kindest, most humble hero around. You just want to hug his furry bear body. His patience and understanding are a beautiful balm for Elva's rough edges. Elva is a wonderful and complex heroine who knows she's struggling and is doing the best she can. The two together made me smile.
The conflict and plot were clear and well thought out, making the pages fly by. I loved seeing more creatures than the traditional Seelie/Unseelie and how Elva begins to perceive them and her world.
The ending was utterly heartwarming. It's everything you've ever wanted for the mistreated and misunderstood Elva. I loved every page of this novel and would highly recommend it to fans of The Otherworld series.
Advanced copy provided by the author. This in no way influenced my honest review.
March 18, 2019
Five bright stars for Curse of the Troll.
I received an ARC for an honest review.
This story hit me out of nowhere. I enjoy Emma’s writing, I love her characters and her story telling is top notch. But I didn’t expect to fall so hard for these two characters. I didn’t expect for this book to become my favorite in the series and I certainly didn’t expect to feel so emotional over this story. This wasn’t just another good story by Emma Hamm, it’s freaking magic!
The first time we met Elva, she was broken and lost in a haze of drugs. When we meet her again, she’s still broken and a bit lost, but she’s managed to transform herself into a fierce warrior. I love Elva and I relate to her story. Maybe that’s why this book hit me the hardest. I’ve been where Elva was and I understand the hardship of putting yourself back together after you’ve been broken. Being able to witness Elva’s transformation was incredibly moving.
Then we have Donnacha. Let me preface this by telling you all that I have a deep love from Bran, our precious Raven King. But Donnacha comes in at a very, very close second. What struck me about his character is that even through his curse and the hardships he’s facing because of it, he manages to retain his humanity. He’s still a kind, gentle man. He has every reason to be cruel but instead chooses to err on the side of compassion and empathy. I love a strong man who isn’t afraid to be vulnerable.
The build up between these to characters is precious. It’s not some fast paced, lust fueled insta-love. It’s a gentle slow burn, bringing two damaged, hurting souls together little by little.
This will be a book I read again and again. I hope we get to see Elva and Donnacha again! I miss them already.
I received an ARC for an honest review.
This story hit me out of nowhere. I enjoy Emma’s writing, I love her characters and her story telling is top notch. But I didn’t expect to fall so hard for these two characters. I didn’t expect for this book to become my favorite in the series and I certainly didn’t expect to feel so emotional over this story. This wasn’t just another good story by Emma Hamm, it’s freaking magic!
The first time we met Elva, she was broken and lost in a haze of drugs. When we meet her again, she’s still broken and a bit lost, but she’s managed to transform herself into a fierce warrior. I love Elva and I relate to her story. Maybe that’s why this book hit me the hardest. I’ve been where Elva was and I understand the hardship of putting yourself back together after you’ve been broken. Being able to witness Elva’s transformation was incredibly moving.
Then we have Donnacha. Let me preface this by telling you all that I have a deep love from Bran, our precious Raven King. But Donnacha comes in at a very, very close second. What struck me about his character is that even through his curse and the hardships he’s facing because of it, he manages to retain his humanity. He’s still a kind, gentle man. He has every reason to be cruel but instead chooses to err on the side of compassion and empathy. I love a strong man who isn’t afraid to be vulnerable.
The build up between these to characters is precious. It’s not some fast paced, lust fueled insta-love. It’s a gentle slow burn, bringing two damaged, hurting souls together little by little.
This will be a book I read again and again. I hope we get to see Elva and Donnacha again! I miss them already.
March 23, 2019
!
Good lawd she has done it again! My heart soars and my smile may just crack my face what a friggin great book!
I absolutely adore the fact that this author has introduced me to fairytales I have never heard and spins a web of magic that leaves you breathless and wanting more! I have never heard the tale East of the Sun west of the moon until now. Bloody brilliant is what it is and it makes me seek and search to know more.
I love the interconnectedness (if that’s a word) of her Otherworld Series. They are separate tales and yet intertwined, we see characters we love throughout all of these books and I LOVE it!!
In this tale we get to see Elva soar, and much like a baby bird it is not without its setbacks and challenges but to see her soar is a beautiful thing! She was broken and lost and fighting to find her way back when she meets a bear. A beast cursed by a queen, a crafty manipulative woman, that draws Elva into this twisted game/adventure.
Our cursed Dwarf has won my heart in this book, he is nothing that I expected and everything that Our fierce fairie needs. ACK but I will say no more!
I love that each book I read I am introduced to new creatures both terrible and wonderful! I adore the fact that I can never guess which ones are endearing and which you will despise but I love experiencing it all. She challenges perceptions of dark and beauty and it brilliant. Brilliantly written although I will say that I wanted a little more ferocity at that one part and there may have been one hiccup but it didn’t not take away from the book at all. Very highly recommended book and series!!
Good lawd she has done it again! My heart soars and my smile may just crack my face what a friggin great book!
I absolutely adore the fact that this author has introduced me to fairytales I have never heard and spins a web of magic that leaves you breathless and wanting more! I have never heard the tale East of the Sun west of the moon until now. Bloody brilliant is what it is and it makes me seek and search to know more.
I love the interconnectedness (if that’s a word) of her Otherworld Series. They are separate tales and yet intertwined, we see characters we love throughout all of these books and I LOVE it!!
In this tale we get to see Elva soar, and much like a baby bird it is not without its setbacks and challenges but to see her soar is a beautiful thing! She was broken and lost and fighting to find her way back when she meets a bear. A beast cursed by a queen, a crafty manipulative woman, that draws Elva into this twisted game/adventure.
Our cursed Dwarf has won my heart in this book, he is nothing that I expected and everything that Our fierce fairie needs. ACK but I will say no more!
I love that each book I read I am introduced to new creatures both terrible and wonderful! I adore the fact that I can never guess which ones are endearing and which you will despise but I love experiencing it all. She challenges perceptions of dark and beauty and it brilliant. Brilliantly written although I will say that I wanted a little more ferocity at that one part and there may have been one hiccup but it didn’t not take away from the book at all. Very highly recommended book and series!!
February 25, 2020
"Emotions can’t be replaced with physicals things. It’s like trying to replace the song of a bird with a bird itself. Without the music, the bird is just another bird.”
This was undoubtedly my favorite Otherworld book. I had hated Elva's character throughout the whole series, but after finishing her story, I know and understand her.
The story begins with Elva trying to mend herself after being broken in so many different ways. Maybe I loved this story so much because it hit close to home, but it's a story everyone should hear. It was truly empowering.
April 5, 2019
My heart was bursting with happiness when reading this book!!
We first meet Elva in Heart of the Fae, where she was the kings concubine and struggling with drug addiction. Shes had a tough time and its great to see her evolve into a kickass warrior!
Donnacha is a dwarf lord cursed by the Troll Queen for refusing to marry her daughter ( and I dont blame the poor man for refusing!! lol)
The story is sweet and full of heart. Donnacha is a very patient and kind man in his dealings with Elva...he melted my heart!! I do wish there had been a little bit of more romance/steamy love lol, but considering Elvas background you understand why there wasnt much.
We first meet Elva in Heart of the Fae, where she was the kings concubine and struggling with drug addiction. Shes had a tough time and its great to see her evolve into a kickass warrior!
Donnacha is a dwarf lord cursed by the Troll Queen for refusing to marry her daughter ( and I dont blame the poor man for refusing!! lol)
The story is sweet and full of heart. Donnacha is a very patient and kind man in his dealings with Elva...he melted my heart!! I do wish there had been a little bit of more romance/steamy love lol, but considering Elvas background you understand why there wasnt much.
Read
April 5, 2019R&RTC
January 20, 2024
This story means everything to me.
March 12, 2019
I wish I'd loved this book more, and I'm really surprised I didn't.
Pros:
- The Troll Princess was easily my favourite character. She only appeared in the last quarter of the book, but her personality was so vivid, there were just enough backstory hints to flesh her out, and her voice was clear.
- Hamm's prose is always quality. Her dialogue is always strong.
- The world is gorgeous. So unique, so refreshing, so magical.
- Imagery is impeccable.
- Donnacha is a lovely hero. Thoughtful, kind, and gentle - a gentle giant, although ironically he's a dwarf ;)
Cons:
- This novel is a lot slower than Hamm's other books. The only real action happens near the end, and there's a lot of internal monologuing and tentative character interaction.
- There's a lot of exposition; a lot of telling. A lot of the characters stating facts about each other, and I wish it'd been more subtle.
- The feminism is forced. I got sick of hearing Elva being called "strong" and "fierce" and "capable, especially when it was coming from Donnacha. It felt very contrived, as if Hamm was trying to convince us that Donnacha was a feminist hero and that Elva was a strong woman.
Pros:
- The Troll Princess was easily my favourite character. She only appeared in the last quarter of the book, but her personality was so vivid, there were just enough backstory hints to flesh her out, and her voice was clear.
- Hamm's prose is always quality. Her dialogue is always strong.
- The world is gorgeous. So unique, so refreshing, so magical.
- Imagery is impeccable.
- Donnacha is a lovely hero. Thoughtful, kind, and gentle - a gentle giant, although ironically he's a dwarf ;)
Cons:
- This novel is a lot slower than Hamm's other books. The only real action happens near the end, and there's a lot of internal monologuing and tentative character interaction.
- There's a lot of exposition; a lot of telling. A lot of the characters stating facts about each other, and I wish it'd been more subtle.
- The feminism is forced. I got sick of hearing Elva being called "strong" and "fierce" and "capable, especially when it was coming from Donnacha. It felt very contrived, as if Hamm was trying to convince us that Donnacha was a feminist hero and that Elva was a strong woman.
April 4, 2021
Well... I don't even know how to start this. This book was just not what I expected.
Elva's story was a really delicate tale through out the series. I enjoyed the arc she had up until the previous book.
This story had nothing going on beside the Queen Troll plot, that didn't take long parts of the book, which made my reading plainly boring. And the romance, well, let's just say it wasn't something I was excited to read...s
• I'm gonna make a note in here before I dive into the details first: I don't understand the time passage of this book. Months and years passed without us actually seeing (Elva trained for ten whole years - where? - and then she stayed MONTHS with the dwarf - again where?) which it made me not understand how the developments happened. I mean, it would made sense if we actually got a chance to see the intricate details of all of those periods passing, since we only glimpse on them, for me made no sense.
Alright. Elva.
Between all the stories we got to see, hers was probably the most devastated. Indeed she was a survivor.
On the previous book we got to see who she was becoming while Bran and her tagged along to save Aisling. It made me really curious to know how her story was going to play out, since she was such a force of nature.
However, her story quickly went downhill for me.
I really disliked how things escalated with Donnacha. It felt fake. Elva had been years struggling with her choices and failed marriage. She was a survivor of horrible things and took time to herself to heal. And even with that time, it was obvious that she still had a long ass journey to go.
Her development of a relationship with Donnacha was again "instant love" - which I can see is a trope the author played through out the whole series - and even when we saw the inner dialogs of both characters over the struggle Elva had, mainly due to her lack of trust in men, the actions didn't match the text.
Elva became a warrior. Not only with the sense of fighting, but also as a defense for her emotions and thoughts.
I wanted to see more of that self preservation throughout the book.
If I'm being complete honest, for me, Elva's story should had been one a self love. Of self discovered. Of coming to terms to the things that had happened in the past. Of allowing herself to feel her true emotions. Of reconciliation with her sister. Of maybe confront with her family, about her life, about Aisling's.
A story of self-love and independence can be still be a romance. Is the character learning again how to be themselves, alone. Without having anyone else to fix or complete them. And Donnacha playing a big part of that was just annoying.
Elva deserved this part of her story to be told in more depth. (The author did wrote a few parts of the story like that, but I just couldn't buy most of them, as it was very romanticize).
I had little expectations on Elva's story, and yet I ended up being sad for how things happened.
Elva's story was a really delicate tale through out the series. I enjoyed the arc she had up until the previous book.
This story had nothing going on beside the Queen Troll plot, that didn't take long parts of the book, which made my reading plainly boring. And the romance, well, let's just say it wasn't something I was excited to read...s
• I'm gonna make a note in here before I dive into the details first: I don't understand the time passage of this book. Months and years passed without us actually seeing (Elva trained for ten whole years - where? - and then she stayed MONTHS with the dwarf - again where?) which it made me not understand how the developments happened. I mean, it would made sense if we actually got a chance to see the intricate details of all of those periods passing, since we only glimpse on them, for me made no sense.
Alright. Elva.
Between all the stories we got to see, hers was probably the most devastated. Indeed she was a survivor.
On the previous book we got to see who she was becoming while Bran and her tagged along to save Aisling. It made me really curious to know how her story was going to play out, since she was such a force of nature.
However, her story quickly went downhill for me.
I really disliked how things escalated with Donnacha. It felt fake. Elva had been years struggling with her choices and failed marriage. She was a survivor of horrible things and took time to herself to heal. And even with that time, it was obvious that she still had a long ass journey to go.
Her development of a relationship with Donnacha was again "instant love" - which I can see is a trope the author played through out the whole series - and even when we saw the inner dialogs of both characters over the struggle Elva had, mainly due to her lack of trust in men, the actions didn't match the text.
Elva became a warrior. Not only with the sense of fighting, but also as a defense for her emotions and thoughts.
I wanted to see more of that self preservation throughout the book.
If I'm being complete honest, for me, Elva's story should had been one a self love. Of self discovered. Of coming to terms to the things that had happened in the past. Of allowing herself to feel her true emotions. Of reconciliation with her sister. Of maybe confront with her family, about her life, about Aisling's.
A story of self-love and independence can be still be a romance. Is the character learning again how to be themselves, alone. Without having anyone else to fix or complete them. And Donnacha playing a big part of that was just annoying.
Elva deserved this part of her story to be told in more depth. (The author did wrote a few parts of the story like that, but I just couldn't buy most of them, as it was very romanticize).
I had little expectations on Elva's story, and yet I ended up being sad for how things happened.
July 15, 2019
A broken woman finally finding the love she deserves!
This book was deeper than I expected it to be! I’ve read this entire series and loved every book! I has happy to learn more about Elva!
The author is very good at world building! It’s really the best in all of her other novels where you get a wonderful represented world of the fae. The writing is very descriptive and it leaves a clear picture in your head! All of the characters are absolutely lovable and some of the despicable ones make you hate them! Even though I’m really not familiar with the fairytale this book was based off of, I highly enjoyed that it was about Elva and the cursed Donnacha! Their banter had me smiling and some of the jokes had me giggling! It was very heartwarming when they were getting to know each other!
The characters:
Elva- If you read the series you would understand how she is broken from her marriage and seeks to become more than just a pretty face. She tries to mold herself into a warrior woman in order to run from her past. You can see how she is really struggling with her emotions with trying to trust another man. Which she is absolutely relatable during this entire story. I felt myself in her position once before so, I know how very hard her situations were and understand. It is so hard to trust another man after another has harmed you emotionally and physically. She has to overcome that in the story! She is a very strong character for what she has to go through.
Donnacha- Oh gosh, for a dwarf, he was quite charming. I would never think a dwarf would be romantic in any sense. But, there was a couple of times where I giggled at all of his jokes whenever he told them to Elva. He was always giving Elva the space she need and was quite a gentleman. I love the scenes where they were both together and, that he was able to act like himself again. He was a great partner and, he helped her heal!
The Troll queen- well, what can I say about her she is the villain of the story and she is quite despicable! You will see why she will make you want to choke her later on in the story which I do not want to spoil. But, the author does an excellent job of making you hate her!
In some ways, I wish the story was a little bit longer but I’m not really complaining much because I’m highly satisfied with what message this story delivered! And, it brought together to broken souls that desperately needed healing! I was smiling through almost the entire thing just because I love the relationship of the couple. It is well written and you can tell how some of the characters are absolutely struggling with their situation and sometimes it will bring a tear to your eye or laughter!
I hope this is not the end of this series! Because I love this world that the author created with all of these amazing characters that she built up.
This book was deeper than I expected it to be! I’ve read this entire series and loved every book! I has happy to learn more about Elva!
The author is very good at world building! It’s really the best in all of her other novels where you get a wonderful represented world of the fae. The writing is very descriptive and it leaves a clear picture in your head! All of the characters are absolutely lovable and some of the despicable ones make you hate them! Even though I’m really not familiar with the fairytale this book was based off of, I highly enjoyed that it was about Elva and the cursed Donnacha! Their banter had me smiling and some of the jokes had me giggling! It was very heartwarming when they were getting to know each other!
The characters:
Elva- If you read the series you would understand how she is broken from her marriage and seeks to become more than just a pretty face. She tries to mold herself into a warrior woman in order to run from her past. You can see how she is really struggling with her emotions with trying to trust another man. Which she is absolutely relatable during this entire story. I felt myself in her position once before so, I know how very hard her situations were and understand. It is so hard to trust another man after another has harmed you emotionally and physically. She has to overcome that in the story! She is a very strong character for what she has to go through.
Donnacha- Oh gosh, for a dwarf, he was quite charming. I would never think a dwarf would be romantic in any sense. But, there was a couple of times where I giggled at all of his jokes whenever he told them to Elva. He was always giving Elva the space she need and was quite a gentleman. I love the scenes where they were both together and, that he was able to act like himself again. He was a great partner and, he helped her heal!
The Troll queen- well, what can I say about her she is the villain of the story and she is quite despicable! You will see why she will make you want to choke her later on in the story which I do not want to spoil. But, the author does an excellent job of making you hate her!
In some ways, I wish the story was a little bit longer but I’m not really complaining much because I’m highly satisfied with what message this story delivered! And, it brought together to broken souls that desperately needed healing! I was smiling through almost the entire thing just because I love the relationship of the couple. It is well written and you can tell how some of the characters are absolutely struggling with their situation and sometimes it will bring a tear to your eye or laughter!
I hope this is not the end of this series! Because I love this world that the author created with all of these amazing characters that she built up.
March 22, 2019
Emma Hamm has created a lovely masterpiece with "Curse of the Troll." I had never heard of the origin fairytale before, but it's similar to beauty and the beast. Since Elva was introduced in "Heart of the Fae" I have been dying to see her heal and get her happy ending. Donnacha is such a great character. I will say that some things felt rushed. The time jumps of months was a bit shocking, as the reader does not get to see some of the progress in the relationship. It wasn't a deal breaker, I mean when you read a fairytale retelling you know what you are signing up for and I am there for it. Give me all the feels, love, and happy endings. The Troll Queen and Princess were so gross, it was hilarious. Also, the witty banter between Elva and Donnacha was almost better than Bran and Aisling-- ALMOST. I ship Bran and Aisling so hard. If you are looking for a fae/dwarf love story this is the ONLY ONE THAT MATTERS.
February 7, 2024
Elva's story concludes in the sixth installment of The Otherworld series.
Elva is ordered to answer a summons, but the summoner Donnacha, a dwarf cursed to be a bear cannot tell her why, or that he has been cursed. Eventually, Elva figures out The Troll Queen is the culprit. The Troll Queen demands Donnacha to marry her daughter, who Donnacha doesn't even like... it's not even outward appearance, she is ugly on the inside. Meanwhile, Elva is trying to heal from past addictions and bad decisions and she finds a source of comfort in the dwarf.
I liked the ending to their story, and the tough subject of addiction and relationship issues the author tackles. I think E and D's relationship developed at good pace, but the Troll Queen seemed to be pushing them together. Did she just want a fight? The trolls were odd antagonists.
Elva is ordered to answer a summons, but the summoner Donnacha, a dwarf cursed to be a bear cannot tell her why, or that he has been cursed. Eventually, Elva figures out The Troll Queen is the culprit. The Troll Queen demands Donnacha to marry her daughter, who Donnacha doesn't even like... it's not even outward appearance, she is ugly on the inside. Meanwhile, Elva is trying to heal from past addictions and bad decisions and she finds a source of comfort in the dwarf.
I liked the ending to their story, and the tough subject of addiction and relationship issues the author tackles. I think E and D's relationship developed at good pace, but the Troll Queen seemed to be pushing them together. Did she just want a fight? The trolls were odd antagonists.
May 18, 2019
I have loved much of what Emma Hamm has written, books 1, 2, 4, and 5 I couldn't put down. This one.... While I was very excited (East of the Sun, West of the Moon had always enthralled me as a fairy tale), it just wasn't there.
Reading the author's note I get the impression that she purposely kept the lemon factor tame because Elva's story had such personal reasonnance. Fine, but then the actual love story needed to be more for me to buy in to all the effort Elva goes to to save Dannacca.
And then ending? It left me feeling like a suddenly popped balloon. All that for essentially no reason? Don't do that, that's insulting.
Reading the author's note I get the impression that she purposely kept the lemon factor tame because Elva's story had such personal reasonnance. Fine, but then the actual love story needed to be more for me to buy in to all the effort Elva goes to to save Dannacca.
And then ending? It left me feeling like a suddenly popped balloon. All that for essentially no reason? Don't do that, that's insulting.
August 16, 2019
After five previous books I consider any new Otherworld as a good by default, so Elva story had a high standard to reach. However I stood up to it very well. I think I repeat myself in my reviews when I write that Emma's forte definitely is capturing feelings and moods of her characters. What I consider the biggest highlight is the development of Elva's and Donnacha's relationship. So much care and fragility.... Especially in the contrast to really horrible troll kingdom. I believe this story captures the regain of trust in people and slowly developing love, which made this book really lovely to read.
July 8, 2021
4.5/5 stars
This has officially moved into my second favourite story in this world after Sorcha and Eamonn's. I was really interested in finding out how Elva's story continued and was excited to see that this one was her story and loved how her redemption and acceptance of herself played out with Donnacha. My only minor complaint is that I found it wasn't long enough and would have liked to see more development of her relationship with Donnacha, which is why it isn't a full five-star rating from me.
This has officially moved into my second favourite story in this world after Sorcha and Eamonn's. I was really interested in finding out how Elva's story continued and was excited to see that this one was her story and loved how her redemption and acceptance of herself played out with Donnacha. My only minor complaint is that I found it wasn't long enough and would have liked to see more development of her relationship with Donnacha, which is why it isn't a full five-star rating from me.
April 6, 2025
I really like Emma Hamm’s writing style. Reading this book felt like being wrapped in a cozy blanket, but it was way too short. I was enjoying the way Elva and Donnacha’s relationship was developing at a nice pace, and then suddenly, they fell in love. That was cute, but then bam! The curse hit, and right after that, everything got super rushed! Why did it all speed up around the halfway point? I wanted to see them spend more time together before all that started. And then, just when things started to come together, the end…just like that??? ok…
💬dual pov
no smut
💬dual pov
no smut
September 27, 2025
cursed by selfishness
This was a story of courage and strength. Elva had the strength to leave a relationship of abuse. She made a life that gave her the confidence to live again. Donnacha has been cursed to live because of a selfish girl. He lives until a fae comes to give his life meaning.
Overall the author gave the characters a multi- dimensional description so the readers could get to know them better. I loved how they gave the story more meaning then just hey you’re cursed go get him.
This was a story of courage and strength. Elva had the strength to leave a relationship of abuse. She made a life that gave her the confidence to live again. Donnacha has been cursed to live because of a selfish girl. He lives until a fae comes to give his life meaning.
Overall the author gave the characters a multi- dimensional description so the readers could get to know them better. I loved how they gave the story more meaning then just hey you’re cursed go get him.
March 28, 2020
Probably my least favorite so far. Still pretty good.
Entirely too much internal dialogue for my liking. By the end, I don’t care to read the next one.
That aside, I appreciate that the author takes on some heavy social issues within her novels. I also love the strong female character, Elva. The whole premise of this novel is quite silly. I feel like there should be regulations on cursing in this mythical world. Otherwise wouldn’t everyone be doing ridiculous curses?
Entirely too much internal dialogue for my liking. By the end, I don’t care to read the next one.
That aside, I appreciate that the author takes on some heavy social issues within her novels. I also love the strong female character, Elva. The whole premise of this novel is quite silly. I feel like there should be regulations on cursing in this mythical world. Otherwise wouldn’t everyone be doing ridiculous curses?
May 15, 2020
Struggled to stay interested
There were some inconsistencies and changes in style that made it difficult for me to stay interested. Sometimes I felt like there were two people writing. The theme was one that I find personally relatable, but was glossed over in a way that it made it unnecessary for the plot. I love this series and Emma's writing style, but didn't feel like it fit.
There were some inconsistencies and changes in style that made it difficult for me to stay interested. Sometimes I felt like there were two people writing. The theme was one that I find personally relatable, but was glossed over in a way that it made it unnecessary for the plot. I love this series and Emma's writing style, but didn't feel like it fit.
February 13, 2021
Loved this book! 💗 Really happy Elva got her happy ending/new beginning!
I just adore Emma Hamm’s writing 🥰
It feels so whimsically old yet new and fresh.
A perfect blend of both myth and legend mixed with the feeling of new beginnings. A new take on the lore and traditions of the creatures and world she creates.
Also, love the little side characters she creates🧚🏻♀️ Really makes you feel like you are there amongst the faeries and their homes 🧚🏼♂️
I just adore Emma Hamm’s writing 🥰
It feels so whimsically old yet new and fresh.
A perfect blend of both myth and legend mixed with the feeling of new beginnings. A new take on the lore and traditions of the creatures and world she creates.
Also, love the little side characters she creates🧚🏻♀️ Really makes you feel like you are there amongst the faeries and their homes 🧚🏼♂️
March 3, 2019
Love Elva! I wanted to see her story through out the Otherworld books and she finally gets her own. This beautiful Fae won’t let anything stand in her way! Her character spoke to me on so many levels. Donnacha was a great character and exactly what was needed to help balance Elva. Loved the twist at the end!
May 21, 2019
Impressive version of a timeless classic fairytale
I have read most of this author’s books and I have always been so delighted by her Creative sparkle and bringing to life such characters and personifying them with so much depth and emotion you really do feel for them and with them. I love the siding is perfect what comes with a beautiful happily ever after!
I have read most of this author’s books and I have always been so delighted by her Creative sparkle and bringing to life such characters and personifying them with so much depth and emotion you really do feel for them and with them. I love the siding is perfect what comes with a beautiful happily ever after!
December 18, 2020
2.5 stars because I loved the characters but the story was very rushed, I wished they showed us more of them falling in love. She told us more than she showed us, so I didn't really feel the connection. I really think it would have been a 4.5-5 star read if there were more scenes of them together actually talking.
March 5, 2019
Curse of the Troll was an adventure that I enjoyed. I loved the premise of it and the fact that it was a difficult situation of which I think the author did an awesome job of resolving. I definitely recommend this to those who love retellings.
Copy provided by author
Copy provided by author
March 24, 2019
Fiercely beautiful
Romantic without being sentimental. The beginnings and definition of friendship are explored within beautifully. Health and brave love and wholeness, exquisitely expressed.
Romantic without being sentimental. The beginnings and definition of friendship are explored within beautifully. Health and brave love and wholeness, exquisitely expressed.
March 27, 2021
Elva is inspiring and so is this story
I loved the story. Elva's journey was incredible. This was a great retelling. Disappointed there weren't any steamy scenes and minor inconsistencies from past stories in this series. But overall well written.
I loved the story. Elva's journey was incredible. This was a great retelling. Disappointed there weren't any steamy scenes and minor inconsistencies from past stories in this series. But overall well written.
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