Stolen Songbird by @dljensen_ @strangechem

Author:  Danielle L. Jensen
Title: Stolen Songbird
Series: The Malediction Trilogy #1
Publication: April 1st 2014 
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Publisher
Website 

For those who have loved Seraphina and Graceling comes another truly fabulous fantasy...

For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the ruins of Forsaken Mountain. Time enough for their dark and nefarious magic to fade from human memory and into myth. But a prophesy has been spoken of a union with the power to set the trolls free, and when Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she learns there is far more to the myth of the trolls than she could have imagined.

Cécile has only one thing on her mind after she is brought to Trollus: escape. Only the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time, wait for the perfect opportunity.

But something unexpected happens while she’s waiting – she begins to fall for the enigmatic troll prince to whom she has been bonded and married. She begins to make friends. And she begins to see that she may be the only hope for the half-bloods – part troll, part human creatures who are slaves to the full-blooded trolls. There is a rebellion brewing. And her prince, Tristan, the future king, is its secret leader.

As Cécile becomes involved in the intricate political games of Trollus, she becomes more than a farmer’s daughter. She becomes a princess, the hope of a people, and a witch with magic powerful enough to change Trollus forever.

I loved that this book was about trolls. Jensen does an amazing job of creating a world that is realistic and entertaining. It all begins when Cecile is about to move in with her mother to train as a singer. She's out alone and gets kidnapped by someone she trusts, who then trades her to the trolls. The troll royalty believe she is the mysterious young woman mentioned in a prophecy that will relieve the curse upon the mountain in which they live. Against her will, she must marry Tristan, the prince and free them. However, things don't go as planned and she finds herself a pawn in a political struggle that even she can't understand. Cecile hopes to escape and return home but as time goes by she begins to see the truth of Trollus. There is a heavy weight placed upon her to save those suffering. What I like about Cecile is her struggle with her need to flee and her developing emotions towards the prince. I enjoyed the moments between Tristan and Cecile; they were sweet, heart-wrenching and thrilling interactions. Cecile's a fire-cracker of girl, she's afraid but clever and seems to hold her own rather well in Trollus. Tristan, the mysterious prince is an unexpected surprise; he has the tremendous burden of helping his people and keeping Cecile out of trouble. Overall, I found the story, characters and world building very inviting and I look forward to the next one!