Monday 6 February 2012

SWITCHED - AMANDA HOCKING - REVIEW

Book: Switched
Author: Amanda Hocking
Publisher: PanMacmillan
ISBN: 9781447210283
Rating: A+


Wendy Everly knew she was different the day her mother tried to kill her and accused her of having been switched at birth. Although certain she's not the monster her mother claimed she is she does feel that she doesn't quite fit in ...The new girl in High School, she's bored and frustrated by her small town life and then there's the secret that she can't tell anyone. Her mysterious ability she can influence people's decisions, without knowing how, or why ...When the intense and darkly handsome newcomer Finn suddenly turns up at her bedroom window one night her world is turned upside down. He holds the key to her past, the answers to her strange powers and is the doorway to a place she never imagined could exist. Forening, the home of the Trylle. Everything begins to make sense to Wendy. Among the Trylle, she is not just different, but special. But what marks her out as chosen for greatness in this world also places her in grave danger. With everything around her changing, Finn is the only person she can trust. But dark forces are conspiring not only to separate them, but to see the downfall everything that Wendy cares about. The fate of Forening rests in Wendy's hands, and the decisions she and Finn make could change all their lives forever ...


This was a gorgeously fantastic novel. From the characters, to the world I don't think that there is a single flaw with this novel. What I don't get is why it took so long to get published. I mean come on, self published, this should have been published from the start.


For starters the plot is absolutely fantastic. I can honestly say, I have read nothing like it so far. It's a totally unique storyline and plot and must have been planned out really well and spent hours over writing. I mean it was just such a unique idea! Trolls? What big ugly creatures? I don't think so. Magical, beautiful creatures hidden away in the small town of Trylle.


It follows Wendy, a girl who always has felt slightly out of place and has a hidden power. Supposedly she is a changeling, and then all of a sudden it becomes true, she is whisked away to a magical world and the adventure starts.


This was one of those books I had heard so much about but looked at it, thought 'Self Published?' and left it. I am never making that mistake again. This was one of the most breathtakingly beautiful novels I have read in a long long time and is definitely a breath of fresh air to the YA market. I really liked this compelling novel.


Now the prose was exquisite. Such a fantastic style of writing and it was an utter joy to read. Even the more violent darker scenes sounded beautiful with that type of prose. The writing was just fantastic thought. So perfect in a way I can't explain. I just felt so close to everything about the book and the writing was what propelled the book forwards in such a wonderful manner. 


The character were all so built up in their own little worlds. The book didn't have too many characters but the ones they did have were built up so well and you felt so close to them at all stages of the book. You got a lump when something bad happened and you wanted to jump for joy when something happy happened. Everything was close to you in this book.


Overall Hocking has done a lovely job creating a beautiful, exquisite and flawless novel that was thorough and enjoyable read.

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