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Editorial Reviews
The final chapter in the Trylle Trilogy...
With a war looming on the horizon, Wendy’s fate seems sealed. But everything she sacrificed might be in vain if she can’t save the ones she loves.
Her whole life has been leading up to this, and it’s all coming to an end.
This is a young adult paranormal romance with mild language and mild sexual situations recommended for ages thirteen and up.
Also contains a bonus excerpt from "Jenny Pox" by J. L. Bryan.
With a war looming on the horizon, Wendy’s fate seems sealed. But everything she sacrificed might be in vain if she can’t save the ones she loves.
Her whole life has been leading up to this, and it’s all coming to an end.
This is a young adult paranormal romance with mild language and mild sexual situations recommended for ages thirteen and up.
Also contains a bonus excerpt from "Jenny Pox" by J. L. Bryan.
Related Reviews
Wendy's a disappointing heroine
Contains Spoilers! Updated.
I'm not really sure what to say. I got hooked on the my blood approves series and decided to try this series out. I enjoyed Ms. Hocking's writing so I downloaded all three Trylle books. I wish had stopped at the second book. I feel utterly disappointed and wish could return this book. Finn was built up as THE love interest, and then he is shoved aside for a sleezy secondary character (Loki). I kept reading hoping that for a Finn/Wendy ending and now, as a reader, I feel complete unsatisfied. Now I'm a little nervous about a fifth book fo My Blood Approves.....I understand not wanting to be predictable, but this twist just destroyed this whole series for me.
Ms. Hocking is a great writer and she knows how to tell a good story. But I don't think I will be recommending the Trylle Trilogy to anyone. Well maybe the first two books. Somebody in another review said that this what it would be like if Bella chose Jacob instead of Edward in Twilight. I disagree...this is what it would be like if Bella chose Mike Newton instead of Edward and Jacob. It makes no sense whatsoever.
I'm not really sure what to say. I got hooked on the my blood approves series and decided to try this series out. I enjoyed Ms. Hocking's writing so I downloaded all three Trylle books. I wish had stopped at the second book. I feel utterly disappointed and wish could return this book. Finn was built up as THE love interest, and then he is shoved aside for a sleezy secondary character (Loki). I kept reading hoping that for a Finn/Wendy ending and now, as a reader, I feel complete unsatisfied. Now I'm a little nervous about a fifth book fo My Blood Approves.....I understand not wanting to be predictable, but this twist just destroyed this whole series for me.
Ms. Hocking is a great writer and she knows how to tell a good story. But I don't think I will be recommending the Trylle Trilogy to anyone. Well maybe the first two books. Somebody in another review said that this what it would be like if Bella chose Jacob instead of Edward in Twilight. I disagree...this is what it would be like if Bella chose Mike Newton instead of Edward and Jacob. It makes no sense whatsoever.
While I enjoyed the 1st two books in this series and think A. Hocking to be a very talented writer, I was disappointed in this third book. I think she was trying too hard to be clever and not fall victim to cliches. Especially since she started to build up the mulitple lovers thing (aka S. Meyer ) and wanted to break the mold so-to-say. Though I commend her for her bravery, there is a reason Meyer (and others like her) have found so much success; When an author sets up a character like Finn and strengthens the love and devotion two people feel towards each other-it rips at the heart of readers to have that love lost and replaced by a character (Loki), that is less developed, with devotion that is not well explained, and a love that seems to be based in convenience and physical neediness. The ending seemed rushed with the development of real feelings between Loki and Wendy...so weird it almost seems like a different author wrote the last half of the 3rd book and their job was to tie up the loose ends. Not a bad read all around but if you have your heart set on Finn and Wendy, don't read this book-just imagine your own ending. It will be better than the real one.
I stumbled on this series when I began using my Kindle-the books were cheap so I thought I would give them a try. The first book kind of hooked me, once I got over the troll idea. The second book was okay too; I was surprised to find myself awaiting the third installment. But, I was disappointed with this book. I realize Wendy matured, which was a good thing, but she seemed to be too different from the character she was in the first two books. I don't want to give the ending away, but really, Finn was the love interest from the beginning of the series so why drop him? I mean, if we are supposed to believe she fell in love with someone else and disengage ourselves from the main male character then Hocking should have given us a reason to-meaning Finn should have somehow disappointed us as readers like he wasn't there for Wendy or had an affair or something. For two books we viewed him as "the one" and then suddenly in the middle of the final book, for no reason really, Wendy isn't in love with him, which made her seem shallow and fickle. I found myself disliking Wendy ( I really didn't like her much to begin with but by the second book she was getting better) after this book. I felt that this book splashed cold water in my face and made me say "why was I reading about trolls." It seems like the author just threw in a plot twist to not be predictable without thinking how this would effect the overall impression of the series. So many better ways the series could have ended.
**Spoiler Alert**
I was completely taken with the first two books in this series. I even like her "My Blood Approves" series. However, "Ascend" is completely out of left field. The plot line and character development don't sync up at all to the previous works in her trilogy.
I can understand her wanting to "change it up" and have Wendy end up with someone other than her star-crossed lover (though I think this is a BIG mistake); however, there wasn't really any tie to the previous plot line. All we know is out of no where she's sleeping with Loki? While she's married? It doesn't add up to the Wendy we met in the earlier pieces.
To me, it almost seems like Ms. Hocking rushed through this last work. It didn't seem to have the thought and time put into it that all her other pieces have. I'm really disappointed with how she chose to wrap up the series. It's a really out of left-field work.
I was completely taken with the first two books in this series. I even like her "My Blood Approves" series. However, "Ascend" is completely out of left field. The plot line and character development don't sync up at all to the previous works in her trilogy.
I can understand her wanting to "change it up" and have Wendy end up with someone other than her star-crossed lover (though I think this is a BIG mistake); however, there wasn't really any tie to the previous plot line. All we know is out of no where she's sleeping with Loki? While she's married? It doesn't add up to the Wendy we met in the earlier pieces.
To me, it almost seems like Ms. Hocking rushed through this last work. It didn't seem to have the thought and time put into it that all her other pieces have. I'm really disappointed with how she chose to wrap up the series. It's a really out of left-field work.
I enjoyed the book and I couldn't put it down. I couldn't get another thing done until I finished this book! I have read other people's feedback and I don't agree with the negativity regarding Wendy's final choice at the end. The editing was better on this book, although I did find a few missing words or sentences that didn't make sense. I will give the book 4 stars since I reserve my 5 stars for books that make a lifetime impact on me (like Outlander by Diana Gabaldon).
SPOILER ALERT!
Ms. Hocking made it clear from the first book that Finn would never be an acceptable choice as a partner for Wendy. Even if Wendy succeeded in changing the prejudiced feelings about trackers, it would take many, many years to change societal views. And that change would still not encompass the Queen. She would be expected to marry royalty. Otherwise, any children would not be considered viable heirs to the throne. So there could be no happy ending with Finn. They would both be cast out and I don't see how either of them would be happy in the long term with that solution. In the second book, as soon as Ms. Hocking introduced Loki, I could see where she was heading with it. Not only was he of royal blood, he was also the same mix of Vittra and Trylle. Wendy and Loki as a couple could do what Wendy's parents couldn't. They could join their two societies and end the fighting. At the end of the second book, Wendy admits her attraction to Loki to Finn and Finn admits that he is jealous because he knows she could love him. So the third book is a continuation of that developing attraction/love. Wendy has more fun with Loki. Finn is very proper and he seems to argue with Wendy a lot - or be jealous of her friendships with other men. Loki is a better choice for her in every way and I'm pleased with the conclusion of this story. To me, it is a very happy ending. Thank you Ms. Hocking for a good read!
SPOILER ALERT!
Ms. Hocking made it clear from the first book that Finn would never be an acceptable choice as a partner for Wendy. Even if Wendy succeeded in changing the prejudiced feelings about trackers, it would take many, many years to change societal views. And that change would still not encompass the Queen. She would be expected to marry royalty. Otherwise, any children would not be considered viable heirs to the throne. So there could be no happy ending with Finn. They would both be cast out and I don't see how either of them would be happy in the long term with that solution. In the second book, as soon as Ms. Hocking introduced Loki, I could see where she was heading with it. Not only was he of royal blood, he was also the same mix of Vittra and Trylle. Wendy and Loki as a couple could do what Wendy's parents couldn't. They could join their two societies and end the fighting. At the end of the second book, Wendy admits her attraction to Loki to Finn and Finn admits that he is jealous because he knows she could love him. So the third book is a continuation of that developing attraction/love. Wendy has more fun with Loki. Finn is very proper and he seems to argue with Wendy a lot - or be jealous of her friendships with other men. Loki is a better choice for her in every way and I'm pleased with the conclusion of this story. To me, it is a very happy ending. Thank you Ms. Hocking for a good read!
*Spoiler Alert* Do not read this if you do not want to know specific details of the plot.
If you are a fan of Finn and Wendy, you will hate this book; on the other hand, if you want Wendy to end up with a totally random, secondary character, I'm sure you'll find the book worth your time.
I loved the first two books of the series and waited anxiously for Ascend; I was such a fan of Finn and Wendy and hoped that Amanda (the author) would put them together. I downloaded the book the moment it was released and went to the end immediately; I always read the end of books because if I don't like how it ends, I won't read the book. I was so mad that Amanda put Wendy with Loki and not Finn that I was shaking. I couldn't talk to people about it because I was so upset. I am an avid reader and become emotionally invested in characters; I feel like I was completely let down by an author that I really enjoyed. To set up a star-crossed lovers theme in the first book of a trilogy, then end it with some other love interest that was never fully developed is extremely frustrating. I refuse to read Ascend because it is pointless. Why would I care about what happens to Wendy when she betrays the person I was set up to root for from the beginning? Amanda is able to write, so I'm sure the book is worthy of reading if you don't mind Finn and Wendy not ending up together (and can handle Loki and Wendy ending up together--again, really? Where did that even come from?). I'm so frustrated and heartbroken because of this book. In my mind, the one saving grace is that I only had to pay $2.99 for the tremendous let down this book provides.
Sorry Amanda, but this was just a meaningless and confusing decision, and I'm not sure if I trust reading other series from you after such a betrayal.
If you are a fan of Finn and Wendy, you will hate this book; on the other hand, if you want Wendy to end up with a totally random, secondary character, I'm sure you'll find the book worth your time.
I loved the first two books of the series and waited anxiously for Ascend; I was such a fan of Finn and Wendy and hoped that Amanda (the author) would put them together. I downloaded the book the moment it was released and went to the end immediately; I always read the end of books because if I don't like how it ends, I won't read the book. I was so mad that Amanda put Wendy with Loki and not Finn that I was shaking. I couldn't talk to people about it because I was so upset. I am an avid reader and become emotionally invested in characters; I feel like I was completely let down by an author that I really enjoyed. To set up a star-crossed lovers theme in the first book of a trilogy, then end it with some other love interest that was never fully developed is extremely frustrating. I refuse to read Ascend because it is pointless. Why would I care about what happens to Wendy when she betrays the person I was set up to root for from the beginning? Amanda is able to write, so I'm sure the book is worthy of reading if you don't mind Finn and Wendy not ending up together (and can handle Loki and Wendy ending up together--again, really? Where did that even come from?). I'm so frustrated and heartbroken because of this book. In my mind, the one saving grace is that I only had to pay $2.99 for the tremendous let down this book provides.
Sorry Amanda, but this was just a meaningless and confusing decision, and I'm not sure if I trust reading other series from you after such a betrayal.
I've never written a review before-- this will be my first. I have read all three of Amanda Hocking's Trylle Trilogy. I appreciated the plot, the unconventional story line and her character development in books 1 and 2 (which is basically where she introduces most of her characters.). Book three though is an entirely different story. It seemed to me that in the middle of writing Ascend, she all of a sudden decided to go on a different direction. Important characters, in the first two books, whom she developed with much determination, she relegated to the backseat... what happened to Garret, Elora, Rhys and even Finn, they were practically all but forgotten. Taking centerstage in this book are a cast of important but very underdeveloped personalities. Oren's mightiness and villainous ways where not fully explored. His wife Sara was all but a name in the book. Loki's character felt like he was being forced to fit in, making the connection between him and Wendy seem forced, their relationship had no basis, practically appearing from thin air. Very disappointed with this book---
Loved the first two books in this series; at the time, Ascend wasn't even out yet. I was very much looking forward to the final book in the trilogy, was so excited when it became available and downloaded immediately. So disappointed! It seems as if the author herself lost interest and just wanted to wrap things up quickly and get it over with. The first two books being so good built up anticipation for the finale, and that made the let down even worse.
Spoilers contained -
For 2 1/2 books, Hocking told us that the most important person to Wendy, the person that she loved and lived for, was Finn. Then at the halfway mark suddenly Wendy's all about Loki, and that's who she ends up with???? Seriously????
This was my first time reading Hocking, based on all the buzz, and I'm so, so, so disappointed. I'm sure it was supposed to be some great twist to make it not predictable or whatever, but I was rooting for Finn. I went through three books WAITING for it to be Finn. Finn was the story. They had social class clashes. Wendy would have to change the whole system to be with him. But marrying Loki, a fellow noble and "prince," where's the conflict? What's the challenge?
Finn was honorable and good and moral and decent. Loki was none of those things (instead he's the sort of guy who would sleep with a married woman). Finn was the hero in this story, and I'm glad that at least he called Wendy out on her fickleness (as she'd spent the last 2 1/2 books being totally in love with him) and I hated when he gave them his "blessing."
Wendy and Finn were the story. Loki was nothing more than an add-on at the end that completely and totally undid everything up to that point.
Which was too bad, because it really was a great story until then.
For 2 1/2 books, Hocking told us that the most important person to Wendy, the person that she loved and lived for, was Finn. Then at the halfway mark suddenly Wendy's all about Loki, and that's who she ends up with???? Seriously????
This was my first time reading Hocking, based on all the buzz, and I'm so, so, so disappointed. I'm sure it was supposed to be some great twist to make it not predictable or whatever, but I was rooting for Finn. I went through three books WAITING for it to be Finn. Finn was the story. They had social class clashes. Wendy would have to change the whole system to be with him. But marrying Loki, a fellow noble and "prince," where's the conflict? What's the challenge?
Finn was honorable and good and moral and decent. Loki was none of those things (instead he's the sort of guy who would sleep with a married woman). Finn was the hero in this story, and I'm glad that at least he called Wendy out on her fickleness (as she'd spent the last 2 1/2 books being totally in love with him) and I hated when he gave them his "blessing."
Wendy and Finn were the story. Loki was nothing more than an add-on at the end that completely and totally undid everything up to that point.
Which was too bad, because it really was a great story until then.
I love a love story and was sucked into this series from the start. I thought the way Amanda Hocking kept us on the edge of our seat through the first two books with Finn and Wendys romeo/juliet forbidden love thing, made me want to tear through the 3rd book so I could see there happy ending. I now feel ill. Why on earth would you start the series with a passionate love between two characters and continue it through two whole books, just to have it shattered when she ends up with someone else? Yes I like Loki, but lets face it..... why the build up with Finn? She became queen and we all knew she would. So i kept finding myself thinking she would change everything so she could be with Finn. Nope. Her character seems fickle and her love life very immature even though her decision making for the kindom seems mature. Her character became so confusing and my heart is completely broken for Finn. Wouldnt even start the series.
This book totally ruined the series. It made reading the first two books a huge disappointment. I have no idea why she ended up with Loki...I hardly felt like I even knew him....much less why Wendy picked him.
I agree with most of the other reviewers. I was desperately looking forward to seeing how Wendy and Finn were going to be reunited. But to find Wendy marry another man, then refuse Finn just to later accept Loki in almost the exact same scenario was stupid. Wendy became a tease and the book ended being a supreme disappointment.
In Shock.. Not In A Good Way...
I have to start off by stating that I loved this series and I was waiting with anticipation for Ascend to come out. Reading it with that butterfly feeling in my stomach waiting and waiting for Wendy to finally end up with her true love Finn... But chapter after chapter my heart fell and fell more. I think my heart dropped to my stomach when Wendy slept with Loki and I seriously felt my heart break. How could this have happened? How could the first 2 books make us believe that Wendy and Finn were going to be together and then have her end up with Loki? I seriously felt sick to my stomach and seriously I'm not going to lie I shed a few tears. I wish there was another book that had a different ending because this one just was not my cup of tea.
I love Amanda Hocking's writing but I feel in all sincerity that Wendy's character and the whole story line changed in this last installment. It was not the Wendy we loved in the first two books... And in the end I was heartbroken..
I love Amanda Hocking's writing but I feel in all sincerity that Wendy's character and the whole story line changed in this last installment. It was not the Wendy we loved in the first two books... And in the end I was heartbroken..
I cried... and not in a good way. -Spoiler Alert-
I just recently discovered the wonderful jewel of a writer known as Amanda Hocking. A week ago I started with the "My Blood Approves" series, and tore through all of the four books that are available as well as "Letters to Elise." I couldn't help but going right into the Trylle series, so I downloaded all three on my Kindle yesterday and stayed up most of the night reading.
I loved the first two books, but the last book just did not seem to fit. Wendy is too different. I love her newfound maturity, but hate that she seems to have lost herself by finding it. It was like a weird curveball was thrown in with Loki, and I did not like it at all. I CRIED at the ending of this book, and while I am an emotional reader, I don't know that I have ever actually done that before.
I feel like I am still grieving for Finn. I think I feel in love with Finn a little myself. Sure, I am 25 and married, but if people can swoon over movie stars, there's no reason we can't do the same with literary characters. He is by far my favorite Parnormal romance love interest.
I just feel so bad for him. Wendy loved him so much, and I still find it hard to believe that she could so easily let him go for Loki. I was surprised that she didn't actually go to bed with Finn the night before she married Tove but kind of understood why. Then she turns around and gives her virginity to Loki. It just doesn't fit. I kept waiting for Finn to storm in and find Wendy in some kind of mind control situation, rescue her, and take her down to his room to release all their pent up sexual tension. But, no, she is in "love" with Loki, and all her love for Finn just seems to have disappeared. And I would like to know where it went. Her falling out of love with Finn wasn't developed enough at all to seem genuine.
Good story, but I cannot stomach that ending. I am still a bit irritated by it this morning, and I finished last night.
I loved the first two books, but the last book just did not seem to fit. Wendy is too different. I love her newfound maturity, but hate that she seems to have lost herself by finding it. It was like a weird curveball was thrown in with Loki, and I did not like it at all. I CRIED at the ending of this book, and while I am an emotional reader, I don't know that I have ever actually done that before.
I feel like I am still grieving for Finn. I think I feel in love with Finn a little myself. Sure, I am 25 and married, but if people can swoon over movie stars, there's no reason we can't do the same with literary characters. He is by far my favorite Parnormal romance love interest.
I just feel so bad for him. Wendy loved him so much, and I still find it hard to believe that she could so easily let him go for Loki. I was surprised that she didn't actually go to bed with Finn the night before she married Tove but kind of understood why. Then she turns around and gives her virginity to Loki. It just doesn't fit. I kept waiting for Finn to storm in and find Wendy in some kind of mind control situation, rescue her, and take her down to his room to release all their pent up sexual tension. But, no, she is in "love" with Loki, and all her love for Finn just seems to have disappeared. And I would like to know where it went. Her falling out of love with Finn wasn't developed enough at all to seem genuine.
Good story, but I cannot stomach that ending. I am still a bit irritated by it this morning, and I finished last night.
A riveting conclusion to the Trylle trilogy
With a tenuous peace between the Trylle and the Vittra, time is running out for Wendy Everly to figure out how to defeat the Vittra King, her father, Oren.
Once she takes her mother's place on the throne as Queen of the Trylle, the embargo will be over and the much stronger Vittra will launch an assault that could devastate the Trylle population in Förening, and subject those that remain to the rule of an evil, heartless and cruel leader.
A young Princess, Wendy still has much to learn about ruling a people that she only recently became aware of. But she has made a commitment to devote herself to her people and to step up as ruler when Elora is no longer able. She has set aside her wants and needs to be the leader that Förening requires and has been preparing herself for a war that the Trylle have almost no hope of winning.
As her eighteen birthday and her upcoming wedding draw ever closer, the Vittra will stop at nothing to try and draw Wendy and the Trylle into battle.
Relying on a loophole in the treaty, the Vittra have been going after Trylle changelings living outside of Förening. With their young children and future leaders lives at stake, they must send out their trackers to bring them back within the boundaries of Förening and guard those that remain that are too young to return.
And when the Vittra launch a brutal attack on the nearby Oslinna, killing thousands, war is looking like an inevitable conclusion.
Will Wendy find a way to overcome the seemingly insurmountable odds she and her people face to obtain victory against a more powerful enemy? Will the devastating loss of someone she loves deliver a crushing blow that Wendy can't recover from? And will the mantle of responsibility become too heavy for her to bear when she is once again given the choice to choose love over duty?
***
Some time has passed since we last saw Wendy. She has taken over the helm of responsibility from her mother Elora in Förening and has been working hard at finding a solution to the Vittra problem, navigating the tricky world of Trylle politics, preparing herself for her eventual seat on the throne and trying to strengthen her abilities so that she can be prepared for any attack.
The trackers have been away rounding up as many of the changelings over the age of sixteen as possible, bringing them back to Förening for their safety, lead by their best tracker, Finn Holmes.
Between her new responsibilities, her desire to be the best Queen she can be, and a leader who champions change for the citizens of Förening, Wendy has barely enough time to spend with her brother Matt and her friend Willa. And with her eighteen birthday and wedding on the horizon, she has even less time to miss her first love, Finn, or worry about his safety.
But when someone she thought she left in her past shows up and tries to sway her from the path she set for herself, Wendy is once again put to the test.
"I don't want only one night. I want all the nights. I want all of you, forever."
Ascend has got it all - action, danger, heartbreak, loss and love. The story is riveting, taking readers in directions they might never have guessed. All leading to the final confrontation and answers that followers of this series have been waiting for.
Over the course of the three books, Wendy's character has matured, becoming a heroine to be proud of. Her courage, sacrifice and devotion to the people of Förening, her friends and family are her most admirable traits.
In Ascend, author Amanda Hocking touches upon the very real issues of class discrimination, picking up the pieces after what is tantamount to a terrorist attack, and the struggle to balance duty and responsibility with matters of the heart.
Ms. Hocking's writing is really starting to come into its own. Maintaining all her original style and personality that fans have come to appreciate and love, this novel shows that she is more than capable of stepping things up and elevating her writing to a whole new level. While still incredibly entertaining and fun to read, the quality of writing in Ascend will surely appeal to a broader audience.
Ascend is the best of the three books in this series, and is another book by Amanda Hocking that you just won't be able to put down.
Once she takes her mother's place on the throne as Queen of the Trylle, the embargo will be over and the much stronger Vittra will launch an assault that could devastate the Trylle population in Förening, and subject those that remain to the rule of an evil, heartless and cruel leader.
A young Princess, Wendy still has much to learn about ruling a people that she only recently became aware of. But she has made a commitment to devote herself to her people and to step up as ruler when Elora is no longer able. She has set aside her wants and needs to be the leader that Förening requires and has been preparing herself for a war that the Trylle have almost no hope of winning.
As her eighteen birthday and her upcoming wedding draw ever closer, the Vittra will stop at nothing to try and draw Wendy and the Trylle into battle.
Relying on a loophole in the treaty, the Vittra have been going after Trylle changelings living outside of Förening. With their young children and future leaders lives at stake, they must send out their trackers to bring them back within the boundaries of Förening and guard those that remain that are too young to return.
And when the Vittra launch a brutal attack on the nearby Oslinna, killing thousands, war is looking like an inevitable conclusion.
Will Wendy find a way to overcome the seemingly insurmountable odds she and her people face to obtain victory against a more powerful enemy? Will the devastating loss of someone she loves deliver a crushing blow that Wendy can't recover from? And will the mantle of responsibility become too heavy for her to bear when she is once again given the choice to choose love over duty?
***
Some time has passed since we last saw Wendy. She has taken over the helm of responsibility from her mother Elora in Förening and has been working hard at finding a solution to the Vittra problem, navigating the tricky world of Trylle politics, preparing herself for her eventual seat on the throne and trying to strengthen her abilities so that she can be prepared for any attack.
The trackers have been away rounding up as many of the changelings over the age of sixteen as possible, bringing them back to Förening for their safety, lead by their best tracker, Finn Holmes.
Between her new responsibilities, her desire to be the best Queen she can be, and a leader who champions change for the citizens of Förening, Wendy has barely enough time to spend with her brother Matt and her friend Willa. And with her eighteen birthday and wedding on the horizon, she has even less time to miss her first love, Finn, or worry about his safety.
But when someone she thought she left in her past shows up and tries to sway her from the path she set for herself, Wendy is once again put to the test.
"I don't want only one night. I want all the nights. I want all of you, forever."
Ascend has got it all - action, danger, heartbreak, loss and love. The story is riveting, taking readers in directions they might never have guessed. All leading to the final confrontation and answers that followers of this series have been waiting for.
Over the course of the three books, Wendy's character has matured, becoming a heroine to be proud of. Her courage, sacrifice and devotion to the people of Förening, her friends and family are her most admirable traits.
In Ascend, author Amanda Hocking touches upon the very real issues of class discrimination, picking up the pieces after what is tantamount to a terrorist attack, and the struggle to balance duty and responsibility with matters of the heart.
Ms. Hocking's writing is really starting to come into its own. Maintaining all her original style and personality that fans have come to appreciate and love, this novel shows that she is more than capable of stepping things up and elevating her writing to a whole new level. While still incredibly entertaining and fun to read, the quality of writing in Ascend will surely appeal to a broader audience.
Ascend is the best of the three books in this series, and is another book by Amanda Hocking that you just won't be able to put down.
I don't often get to read books thar I'm actually interested in. College text books consume the majority of my reading so when I found the Trylle Series I was soooo excited! Books 1 & 2 left my heart racing. The character of Finn that Hocking created was phenomenal. He had depth and meaning all while being...sexy. I had never been so drawn into a character before. I can honestly say that he was ten times the man Edward Cullen ever thought about being. The way the author formed his meetings with Wendy (the protagonist) made me fall in love with the character. Sadly (SPOILER ALERT) for whatever reason Finn was pushed to the wayside for another very undeveloped character. He was vile and gross and his intentions were not made clear to the reader. While Wendy's intentions were eventually explained, it wasn't in a manner that made the readers care for the character. It made me hate him and gave me an undying hope that Wendy would find her way back to Finn. There's no way to go from the depth of love connection that Wendy had for finn to them just being friends. That totally sucked.It makes Wendy look like a flake. In the third book she's made into a hypocrite unable to stop and think of the true love she could have had. I honestly had never been mad after finishing a book trilogy until this one came along. On the bright side the terrible ending to this series has inspired me to gt back to my own writing and create a love that isn't going to be compromised by what in assume to be the author's need to be different. There's nothing wrong with familiarity. It is okay to have somethings turn out how the reader might expect them to be. The book's ending was rushed and there was a feeble attempt to conclude the lives of the characters in the series. Hocking can write, I just feel like book three was an attempt to "change it up" but this time it failed...miserably.
you know- i don't get it...i loved the first two books, and the whole sexual tension-love it. what happened??? WHY??? i don't know, maybe i'm looking at how this compares to reality, and it dosen't.
Okay, let's take finn, no man in love no matter the obstacle is giving up the love of his life. no job, no country, nothing. i don't know, maybe amanda has never been in love (i haven't read her bio), that would explain this off the mark ending. anyway, what's up with wendy? she can't get finn out of her thoughts, and then... what the? i mean -marriage,loki??? loki, need i say more, and she had flutters in her stomach the first day meeting him, and that was after he kidnaped her. wendy is a master people pleaser, but not with finn.
satisfied? i am not.
Okay, let's take finn, no man in love no matter the obstacle is giving up the love of his life. no job, no country, nothing. i don't know, maybe amanda has never been in love (i haven't read her bio), that would explain this off the mark ending. anyway, what's up with wendy? she can't get finn out of her thoughts, and then... what the? i mean -marriage,loki??? loki, need i say more, and she had flutters in her stomach the first day meeting him, and that was after he kidnaped her. wendy is a master people pleaser, but not with finn.
satisfied? i am not.
I enjoyed the first book in the series (even though I recognized that it was not great literature, it was entertaining) and the second book was pretty good, although I was really getting annoyed at ALL the editing mistakes. The third book was completely ridiculous and I found myself not caring about the characters or their circumstances. *spoilers*...As other reviewers have noted, the most annoying thing was the Loki relationship. She (admirably) decides not to be intimate with Finn the night before her wedding, saying that she would not be satisfied to have just the one night with him and yet that is exactly what she says to Loki when she sleeps with him...telling him they will only have the one night and never again. I really enjoyed the relationship with Finn...it was established well and felt genuine. The whole thing with Loki always felt like a trick. I was also disappointed that the conflict in the big ending was resolved in one page and very conveniently with no main character being killed. Harry Potter did a much better job at a realistic ending battle sequence with the loss of several characters, and though it was sad to see them go, it was necessary. I do think that Hocking has good ideas and with time (and the help of a good editor) she could create an interesting and engaging story.
Despite not being too impresed with the first book due to the large amount of typos and some odd flowing of sentances, I stuck with these books because I liked the story. This third and final book made me glad that I did.
These books really were a joy to read and I could see some clear improvements throughout the books. Amanda is a talented story teller and I think that she has the potential to be considered a great author.
The story itself picked up a notch from the previous books and became quite a page turner. Amanda did a great job at wrapping everything up while giving her readers an exciting ride. I am quite shocked at the amount of people who reviewed this book low due to the main character's decision on who to love. While I can certainly see why people may have been upset by it, I do not think that it hurt the story in any way.
These books really were a joy to read and I could see some clear improvements throughout the books. Amanda is a talented story teller and I think that she has the potential to be considered a great author.
The story itself picked up a notch from the previous books and became quite a page turner. Amanda did a great job at wrapping everything up while giving her readers an exciting ride. I am quite shocked at the amount of people who reviewed this book low due to the main character's decision on who to love. While I can certainly see why people may have been upset by it, I do not think that it hurt the story in any way.
Finally can say I LOVED a book in ths series
Books 1&2 made me want to kill Wendy on every page. She was whiny, annoying, and and just plain dumb. This book actually got me to tolerate her. She grew up in this book and became a strong leader rather than just some unsure princess. I'm actually very happy she picked Loki. I like Finn but he always pushed her back. He chose when to be near her and let his guard down and I found that unfair to Wendy. With Loki, he didn't care what the risk was. He wanted Wendy and Eventually got her (YAY! :D) This book actually made me wish for a 4th. I hope that we can get a series on Loki before her meet Wendy so we can get a better understanding of who he is. Bravo, Amanda! You actually got me to like Wendy and I was sure that was HIGHLY unlikely.
He's just not into you!!!!!!! Spoiler Alert
Ignore the negative reviews. If you were paying attention from book 1, Finn AlWAYS put his honor, job, and ideals above Wendy. Yeah, he is foxy as hell and they had magnetic energy, but like many first loves, it ends there. Loki on the other hand put Wendy first above all else. So if you are into the depressed, old fashioned loner you'll be angry with the outcome. If you dream of a foxy prince who will take repeated ass kickings to be with you and makes you feel like the sexiest woman on earth you will be satisfied with the ending. Way to go Amanda!!!!!!!!!
excuse lack of capitalization and formatting; i'm not using standard keyboard.
ascend and the previous two books are enertaining, a nice light read, but hocking's plot is annoyingly simple at times. she'd set up scenarios that seemed promising, and then let them go flat, apparently not analysing her own story. for example. elora, the wendy's mother nearly dies trying to restrain loki, wendy's love interest. why doesn't it occur to wendy that her crush knowingly nearly killed her mother? or, why hadn't hocking made that plot point a calculated tactic of the evil king? another example: wendy knew her telekinesis wouldn't work on oren the evil king, but she did know he could be beheaded and, conveniently, she knew there'd be swords in the room. her decision to try to throw the king across the room with her mind, then, was completely illogical. in ascend, at several parts i couldn't help but think wendy is not that bright. another annoying simplicity: hocking's world is amazingly small. hocking refers very vaguely people outside the circle of maybe twelve named characters. how many trylle are just rankless citizens? outside of fynn's mom and little sister, i think the only non-royalty/non-trackers are a couple of maids that are referred to by willa, which leads me to my next example. a town is destroyed and wendy just sends herself and her scooby crew to aid the victims. and then willa suggests that the two palace maids can finish the job... of restoring a *town*. what? the scene really left me with the sense that there are only twenty people in the whole kingdom... except for when there is a royal ball or some other event that just wouldn't be right without a crowd scene.
anyway, three stars for the entertainment, but the story could have been much cooler if hocking had given it another pass.
ascend and the previous two books are enertaining, a nice light read, but hocking's plot is annoyingly simple at times. she'd set up scenarios that seemed promising, and then let them go flat, apparently not analysing her own story. for example. elora, the wendy's mother nearly dies trying to restrain loki, wendy's love interest. why doesn't it occur to wendy that her crush knowingly nearly killed her mother? or, why hadn't hocking made that plot point a calculated tactic of the evil king? another example: wendy knew her telekinesis wouldn't work on oren the evil king, but she did know he could be beheaded and, conveniently, she knew there'd be swords in the room. her decision to try to throw the king across the room with her mind, then, was completely illogical. in ascend, at several parts i couldn't help but think wendy is not that bright. another annoying simplicity: hocking's world is amazingly small. hocking refers very vaguely people outside the circle of maybe twelve named characters. how many trylle are just rankless citizens? outside of fynn's mom and little sister, i think the only non-royalty/non-trackers are a couple of maids that are referred to by willa, which leads me to my next example. a town is destroyed and wendy just sends herself and her scooby crew to aid the victims. and then willa suggests that the two palace maids can finish the job... of restoring a *town*. what? the scene really left me with the sense that there are only twenty people in the whole kingdom... except for when there is a royal ball or some other event that just wouldn't be right without a crowd scene.
anyway, three stars for the entertainment, but the story could have been much cooler if hocking had given it another pass.
As disappointed as everyone else
Like everyone else, I was really disappointed with the ending. I loved the first two books (read them back to back in a couple of days) and my heart was broken with how the main characters ended up. I can't believe that the author had us rooting for one couple and then in the last book pulls the old bait and switch. I can see that happening with TV shows but not with books. I also felt unfulfilled in that there was not 100% resolution with the storyline of some of the characters. Perhaps an epilogue 10 years into the future (a la Harry Potter) would have helped.
***SPOILERS*** I read the first two books back to back and eagerly awaited the release of Ascend. I gave two stars because the writing itself was better, editing definitely helped on this one. However, as far as the way the plot turned in this one, I was disappointed. I actually like Loki and my objection isn't to having Wendy fall in love with him. The way this was written out, though, made her seem flaky and contradicted Miss Hocking's efforts to strengthen her character in the third book.
If this was the direction she wanted the story to go, she should've taken much more time to develop Wendy's and Loki's relationship and provided a better reason for Wendy dissolving her relationship with Finn. As written, it seems Wendy just suddenly doesn't care about Finn anymore with no real, believable explanation. I liked how her character evolved as stronger in regards to her duties as ruler of the kingdom, but we don't see any of that strength in how she deals with her romantic relationships. Instead, her sudden attachment to Loki and the way she drops Finn makes her seem shallow and immature in stark contrast to the way other elements of her character are written, i.e. she's willing to sacrifice herself to save the kingdom but she betrays Tove with only a moment's hesitation. Either she's a mature, brave ruler willing to sacrifice everything to save the people she loves or she's a confused, love-sick teen selfishly choosing to take what she wants even if it hurts the people she loves. Either option could be written as a complex and sympathetic character, but trying to have her simultaneously be both just ends up confusing and disappointing the reader.
I felt the book moved too quickly and seemed rushed, it could've been longer and would've benefited from more attention being paid to character development. Miss Hocking did a wonderful job of building the characters in the first two books, only to have them come off flat in the third. More attention was paid to tying up loose ends than in giving readers a satisfactory conclusion to the story. Miss Hocking is a very talented writer and I'll continue to read her books, I just think she made some big mistakes with this one.
If this was the direction she wanted the story to go, she should've taken much more time to develop Wendy's and Loki's relationship and provided a better reason for Wendy dissolving her relationship with Finn. As written, it seems Wendy just suddenly doesn't care about Finn anymore with no real, believable explanation. I liked how her character evolved as stronger in regards to her duties as ruler of the kingdom, but we don't see any of that strength in how she deals with her romantic relationships. Instead, her sudden attachment to Loki and the way she drops Finn makes her seem shallow and immature in stark contrast to the way other elements of her character are written, i.e. she's willing to sacrifice herself to save the kingdom but she betrays Tove with only a moment's hesitation. Either she's a mature, brave ruler willing to sacrifice everything to save the people she loves or she's a confused, love-sick teen selfishly choosing to take what she wants even if it hurts the people she loves. Either option could be written as a complex and sympathetic character, but trying to have her simultaneously be both just ends up confusing and disappointing the reader.
I felt the book moved too quickly and seemed rushed, it could've been longer and would've benefited from more attention being paid to character development. Miss Hocking did a wonderful job of building the characters in the first two books, only to have them come off flat in the third. More attention was paid to tying up loose ends than in giving readers a satisfactory conclusion to the story. Miss Hocking is a very talented writer and I'll continue to read her books, I just think she made some big mistakes with this one.
SPOILER* ok..... i am sooo in love with amanda hockings (not really... im a girl) but in this last book i felt my heart drop when wendy fell in love with loki. I was all for wendy loving finn or i would even be ok with tove but whats up with falling in love with loki? Not ok. Loki is not even like in the books till this one.... its like one min. hes not there and one min. he is. Anyway still love the first two books ad hope someone writes an alternate ending.
Wanted to love this, but the writing got in the way...
I love this type of story; it draws me in. I can get lost in a book very easily, for hours. And I wanted to! But the quality of writing just wasn't there for me. The lack of ability kept pulling me out of my dream-like state and making me cringe, and I am by no means a strict critic. I felt like it was a really imaginative first draft of a story from a middle-high school girl, who just didn't have the vocab to explain what she wanted to, and at times, just explained concepts and thoughts in a "and then he said this and I didn't feel that way, so that was that". Frustrating to me! Compare this to a book like 'Jenny Pox' (same genre) and you will see what I mean.
However, if that's not the sort of thing that bothers you, enjoy the story!
Well worth the read and still enjoyed reading the last of this series... Didn't like the ending or what seemed like quick plot/relationship changes... but I remain a fan of the series...
It's okay - not as good as the first two
I felt that the author got tierd of writing the series and just wanted to end it. There really wasn't much substance in this third one. I really enjoyed the first two, could hardly put them down, can't say the same for this one
spoiler.... did not like her choices in men
warning! spoiler! ................ ok, i liked the book and all but i really didn't like the ending. well the ending was fine but it was more of who she chose to be with and it wasn't Finn! i rooted for him! i loved him! he couldn't be with her because the queen forbids it but when he fell apart and wanted one night with her before she becomes someone elses wife, wendy refused! yet she cheated on her husband with loki and said it would be a one time thing only? what the hell was that about? i don't get it. wendy wouldn't share one night with finn even though she loved him and she wasn't married but yet she slept with loki after she got married. that's just dumb. i felt bad for finn. i really wanted a happy ending with him. he was there for her from DAY ONE! urgh! did not like it!
Well first off, I would like to say how much I love Amanda Hocking's work. She is an amazing writer and has never written anything I did not like. I would put her in my top three favorite authors with Karen Marie Moning and Jill Myles. She is an incredibly talented Indy author.
****WARNING THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS****
That being said, I really liked Ascend, I did not love it like I loved Switched and Torn, but it was a good story with a nice ending. I have only one complaint about the story which is Wendy's feelings. All I can say about Wendy in the final installment is she is ONE FICKLE CHICK. Throughout the first two novels, she was so in love with Finn. She wanted nothing more than to be with him. All of sudden in this last story, she suddenly falls out of love with him and is "desperately" in love with Loki. Um, since when did that happen? It sort of came out of left field for me. I could see she was attracted to him and let's face it, Loki is yummy and had a great sense of humor. I loved his Devil May Care Attitude and all, but Finn was her world. All she ever wanted was him and to be honest, I fell a little in love with Finn myself. Yes, Finn was buzz kill at times, but he only had her best interest in mind and unfortunately he did not try hard enough to fight for Wendy which ultimately was his downfall and he lost her in the end. In Finn's defense however, he grew up in a society where he was looked down at and was considered "low class." He was not supposed to have feelings for a Royal and it was very hard for him. Wendy could have helped him through that. She grew up with humans where you are allowed to love whomever you want. I think Wendy, if she had truly loved Finn, could have helped him through this and they could have made it work eventually. I guess what I'm saying is, while I really like Loki and I am kind of okay with how it ended, I felt sad for Finn and wanted him to be happy. I really hoped they would end up together in the end, at least that's where their love story seemed to be going in the first two books. I did love the way Loki talked to Wendy. He was very sweet and loving and a little snarky, but he was a little too cocky which was annoying at times. I also really hoped that Finn could have been with her just once. I did not get that she was okay with having sex with someone she barely knew, but not with Finn whom she fell in love with almost from the day she met him. That bothered me a little. I thought her first time should have been with Finn.
As for the rest of the story, I loved how Wendy's relationship with her mother progressed. I was really happy to see that she got to bond with her before she died. That was beautifully written and heartbreaking. The action was great and Wendy showed she could be a badass and hold her own. While I was confused about Wendy's change of heart with Finn, I have to admit, this was a real page turner. I would love for Amanda to write a follow up story for Finn to get his HEA. I just really need to see him happy.
Also, I would like to add that although I was disappointed that Finn did not end up with Wendy, it was Amanda's vision and she is the author, and I respect that even though I did not get my way. :-)
****WARNING THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS****
That being said, I really liked Ascend, I did not love it like I loved Switched and Torn, but it was a good story with a nice ending. I have only one complaint about the story which is Wendy's feelings. All I can say about Wendy in the final installment is she is ONE FICKLE CHICK. Throughout the first two novels, she was so in love with Finn. She wanted nothing more than to be with him. All of sudden in this last story, she suddenly falls out of love with him and is "desperately" in love with Loki. Um, since when did that happen? It sort of came out of left field for me. I could see she was attracted to him and let's face it, Loki is yummy and had a great sense of humor. I loved his Devil May Care Attitude and all, but Finn was her world. All she ever wanted was him and to be honest, I fell a little in love with Finn myself. Yes, Finn was buzz kill at times, but he only had her best interest in mind and unfortunately he did not try hard enough to fight for Wendy which ultimately was his downfall and he lost her in the end. In Finn's defense however, he grew up in a society where he was looked down at and was considered "low class." He was not supposed to have feelings for a Royal and it was very hard for him. Wendy could have helped him through that. She grew up with humans where you are allowed to love whomever you want. I think Wendy, if she had truly loved Finn, could have helped him through this and they could have made it work eventually. I guess what I'm saying is, while I really like Loki and I am kind of okay with how it ended, I felt sad for Finn and wanted him to be happy. I really hoped they would end up together in the end, at least that's where their love story seemed to be going in the first two books. I did love the way Loki talked to Wendy. He was very sweet and loving and a little snarky, but he was a little too cocky which was annoying at times. I also really hoped that Finn could have been with her just once. I did not get that she was okay with having sex with someone she barely knew, but not with Finn whom she fell in love with almost from the day she met him. That bothered me a little. I thought her first time should have been with Finn.
As for the rest of the story, I loved how Wendy's relationship with her mother progressed. I was really happy to see that she got to bond with her before she died. That was beautifully written and heartbreaking. The action was great and Wendy showed she could be a badass and hold her own. While I was confused about Wendy's change of heart with Finn, I have to admit, this was a real page turner. I would love for Amanda to write a follow up story for Finn to get his HEA. I just really need to see him happy.
Also, I would like to add that although I was disappointed that Finn did not end up with Wendy, it was Amanda's vision and she is the author, and I respect that even though I did not get my way. :-)
Though I often cringed at the writing in books 1 & 2, I just loved the character of Finn and the concept of the story I read them both in less then a day and wrote off some of the painful sentences as an attempt to stay true to the voice of a 17 yo. I found Wendy to be okay, though she sometimes got on my nerves, she was still blank enough to insert yourself into the character. As such, I became emotionally invested in Finn.
So when I read book 3... blech. I never liked Loki; the moment he appeared I went "oh great, another person to fall madly in love with her beauty". I found him swarmy and never charming. Finn was the much more noble, sacrificing strong lead character. So what if Loki has scars? Geez, Wendy's a worse danger slut then Lorraine in Back to the Future, immediately falling for the guy who last took or gave a beating for her. I read the part where she lost her V card then read a bit further before immediately slamming it shut when Tove saw pink auras. I skimmed the epilogue and have no desire to complete the series. Instead I'll just re-read Book 1 and make up my own ending. Seriously, stop at book one.
So when I read book 3... blech. I never liked Loki; the moment he appeared I went "oh great, another person to fall madly in love with her beauty". I found him swarmy and never charming. Finn was the much more noble, sacrificing strong lead character. So what if Loki has scars? Geez, Wendy's a worse danger slut then Lorraine in Back to the Future, immediately falling for the guy who last took or gave a beating for her. I read the part where she lost her V card then read a bit further before immediately slamming it shut when Tove saw pink auras. I skimmed the epilogue and have no desire to complete the series. Instead I'll just re-read Book 1 and make up my own ending. Seriously, stop at book one.
Dear Kindle/Amazon, stop calling this an "eChildren's Book"
How did I feel about this book? Meh.
I definitely wasn't crazy about how the story ended. The writing itself has improved. I only noticed a couple of typos in this book.
Now to the point: This book, this series, these are NOT "eChildren's Books" and I wish Kindle and Amazon would stop marketing it as such. Just because the character is 17/18 doesn't mean this series is for all teenagers.
This particular book has quite a sex scene. So much so that it really leaves NOTHING to the imagination. I can't think of another young adult book that goes this far...at least in Stephenie Meyer's "Breaking Dawn" most of the intercourse was implied. This is actually pretty graphic and I certainly do not recommend it for all teenagers. It's probably one that mom or dad should read first.
I definitely wasn't crazy about how the story ended. The writing itself has improved. I only noticed a couple of typos in this book.
Now to the point: This book, this series, these are NOT "eChildren's Books" and I wish Kindle and Amazon would stop marketing it as such. Just because the character is 17/18 doesn't mean this series is for all teenagers.
This particular book has quite a sex scene. So much so that it really leaves NOTHING to the imagination. I can't think of another young adult book that goes this far...at least in Stephenie Meyer's "Breaking Dawn" most of the intercourse was implied. This is actually pretty graphic and I certainly do not recommend it for all teenagers. It's probably one that mom or dad should read first.
I was so excited when I saw the third book was finally available and then I started reading...... the first two books I could barely put down, this book took me 3 days to read. I just didn't like where this story went. For the first two books Wendy is so in love with Finn and will do anything to be with him. in this book she's like oh whatever he won't destroy his life for me so I'm moving on. Without barely a second thought about Finn.. Then she proceeds to treat him like a servant through out the rest of the book! It was horrifying and made me really dislike Wendy. Then along comes Loki. I did not like him in the second book and really was disgusted with his behaviour in this book. He is arrogant and cocky, constantly saying inappropriate things to her....and she falls in love with this?! It made Wendy look fickle and insecure. Then she cheats on her husband with him? uugghh that was beyond awful. The author seemed to rush through this book. she did not spend enough time on building Loki's character for readers to like him and her total disregard for Finn left a bad taste. The book should have been longer aand more thought out since it's the last one. The writing was pretty good but I just felt like Wendy wasn't the girl I thought she was. Too fickle and shallow for me.I guess she and Loki deserved each other in the end.
I really wanted to love this book, but....
I have only recently discovered Amanda Hocking. I first started reading the Trylle Trilogy and absolutely enjoyed the first two books in the series. While waiting for Ascend to come out, I started reading the My Blood Approves series, and so far I am really liking them as well. I was so excited when Ascend became available to purchase on Amazon.com. My excitement turned to disappointment not too far into the book. I realize my disappointment lies with the way the book ended. I'm just really baffled with the direction Hocking took the book. I think she is a very talented writer and do appreciate her vision, but it almost felt like she was writing about completely different characters. I finished the book feeling cheated. I am still a fan of Amanda Hocking, and will continue to read her books. I just really did not like this book at all.
I read the first two books and three of Hocking's "Blood Approves." I have found that by her third book it appears that she gets lazy in her writing and reuses previous descriptions and plot elements out of convenience rather than purpose. I may read one or two of her books in the future, but I will skip her trilogies. I hate obvious sloppy writing and characters that are sacrificed due to trying to meet a deadline.
I've never actually left a review for a book on Amazon. Call it lazyness, but I had to say something. I was so impressed, and so raving to my friends about the first two books in this series. The third book, Ascend totally crushed me. Not to have Wendy end-up with Finn in the end was exactly like others have stated: it's akin to having Bella in Twilight choose Mike Newton. I feel incredibly cheated and like a series that had so much potential was totally trashed in the last installment. And it wasn't just the way the love-story turned out. It felt rushed, and almost as if the author herself lost interest in the whole story. As soon as she gives her virginity to Loki I almost stopped reading. But I continued on with the hope that she would somehow make it right. Instead, a story that could have been a GREAT one was completely ruined. Ugh, I wish I would have read some reviews before I bought it. BE WARNED. This will NOT make you happy.
I want to start off by saying the first two books were captivating. They kept my interest to the point where it was hard for me to even put my kindle down. The only true criticism I have of the first two books is the that she seems to repeat the same idea over and over...for example when Rhys sits close to her she says its okay because he's "foxy". We already knew she thought he was foxy. Stop saying foxy....over...and over. BUT since the book was written to be from the view of a seventeen year old girl I can see how the language fit and I accepted it and actually got a really good experience from reading the first two. I wish I would have stopped there though I was so happy and in love with all the characters and the third book just killed me!
The characters were well developed and had very distinct personalities....until book three.
SPOILERS
When I got to the third book there was an enormous change in Wendy's personality. Even the way she speaks is different. Yes, she was training to be Queen this was expected, but how could her entire personality change? So first of all if she refuses to be with Finn the night before her wedding why does she accept Loki with open arms not long after that? Finn didn't fight for her? What was showing up on her bed begging for her then? I suppose it was because he said it would only be for one night...but wouldn't that have been a mutual agreement if she was getting married the next day? Also, the way Loki was described he seemed like a grinning idiot. He just seems STUPID. Loki was randomly thrown in, not developed well AT ALL. I feel like this was an attempt to just finish the book as quickly as possible and try to do something creative and rebellious in writing because she didn't want to end with the stereotypical situation. But there are better ways to do that than breaking everyones heart. Also, how did it take an entire book for the Princess to be like OH WOW I WILL CUT OFF HIS HEAD? Well duh. How else was she going to kill him? That shouldn't have been some magical revelation. I would have been extremely satisfied with the ending if Loki just died. Or hell even if she had not written Loki in at all and had Finn die and let her carry HIS unborn child who could grow up and be an amazing ruler! That would have even opened up to another series of books!
I'm sorry if this review is awfully harsh, I think Amanda Hocking will continue to grow and mature as a writing and it will progressively get better. I just hope she doesn't choose to stick it to us again by getting us emotionally attached to a bipolar main character and then forcing an undeveloped creeper into the storyline. =[
The characters were well developed and had very distinct personalities....until book three.
SPOILERS
When I got to the third book there was an enormous change in Wendy's personality. Even the way she speaks is different. Yes, she was training to be Queen this was expected, but how could her entire personality change? So first of all if she refuses to be with Finn the night before her wedding why does she accept Loki with open arms not long after that? Finn didn't fight for her? What was showing up on her bed begging for her then? I suppose it was because he said it would only be for one night...but wouldn't that have been a mutual agreement if she was getting married the next day? Also, the way Loki was described he seemed like a grinning idiot. He just seems STUPID. Loki was randomly thrown in, not developed well AT ALL. I feel like this was an attempt to just finish the book as quickly as possible and try to do something creative and rebellious in writing because she didn't want to end with the stereotypical situation. But there are better ways to do that than breaking everyones heart. Also, how did it take an entire book for the Princess to be like OH WOW I WILL CUT OFF HIS HEAD? Well duh. How else was she going to kill him? That shouldn't have been some magical revelation. I would have been extremely satisfied with the ending if Loki just died. Or hell even if she had not written Loki in at all and had Finn die and let her carry HIS unborn child who could grow up and be an amazing ruler! That would have even opened up to another series of books!
I'm sorry if this review is awfully harsh, I think Amanda Hocking will continue to grow and mature as a writing and it will progressively get better. I just hope she doesn't choose to stick it to us again by getting us emotionally attached to a bipolar main character and then forcing an undeveloped creeper into the storyline. =[
I love the first 2 book, and I couldn't wait for this one! I am very disappointed though! How can you have 2 whole books about this love Finn and Wendy share, then change the entire story and they don't even end up together!? Horrible Horrible Horrible!!!
Disappointed & BAFFLED!!!! (Spoiler Alert)
(Spoiler Alert) Don't read this if you don't want any info on the ending. I really loved the first two books in this series, but this one left me feeling awful. Wendy seemed like a totally different person, and not for the better. I felt absolutely zero attachment to Loki and was truely horrified with where this story went. Wendy came off like a jerk and I can't say enough about how heart broken I am for Finn. All I wanted was a nice neat happy ending and I'm left completely deflated after all that build up. Sorry Amanda...and I was really rooting for this story.
I will continue to read her books, because she can write, but there's really something to be said for not leaving the audiance feeling awful when it's done. It makes me want to cry, and honestly, I almost couldn't even finish it I was so upset. It's ruined my night!
18 HOURS LATER -
It's been 18 hours since I finsihed this book and I'm still so pissed I feel compelled to add more to this review. MAJOR SPOILER ALERT...
To the author - The entire point of a star-crossed lovers story is that, in the end, the two lovers find a way to be together, AGAINST ALL ODDS. That's what leaves the reader satified! No one should finish a three book series feeling this completely baffled and down right angry about the way it ended. You can't have a main character change course, and personality, so unjustifiably, mid-way through a series. Loki was a minor character that, quite frankly, could have been completely left out of this series all together, and suddenly, at the very end, he's the love of her life. I just want to scream! What happened here??? Really...I'm baffled!! There's no other word for it. I feel so cheated, and soooo unsatisfied. I loved this series, and now I feel like I can't even support it. Especially when the main character turns into someone I don't like or respect. I'm sorry but I feel there was a major error in judgement in this one. Maybe other reviewers are right, maybe it was just too rushed. You only gave a one sentence explaination for a complete about face in the story line. Sorry, it was a good try but the ending literally makes me ill.
I will continue to read her books, because she can write, but there's really something to be said for not leaving the audiance feeling awful when it's done. It makes me want to cry, and honestly, I almost couldn't even finish it I was so upset. It's ruined my night!
18 HOURS LATER -
It's been 18 hours since I finsihed this book and I'm still so pissed I feel compelled to add more to this review. MAJOR SPOILER ALERT...
To the author - The entire point of a star-crossed lovers story is that, in the end, the two lovers find a way to be together, AGAINST ALL ODDS. That's what leaves the reader satified! No one should finish a three book series feeling this completely baffled and down right angry about the way it ended. You can't have a main character change course, and personality, so unjustifiably, mid-way through a series. Loki was a minor character that, quite frankly, could have been completely left out of this series all together, and suddenly, at the very end, he's the love of her life. I just want to scream! What happened here??? Really...I'm baffled!! There's no other word for it. I feel so cheated, and soooo unsatisfied. I loved this series, and now I feel like I can't even support it. Especially when the main character turns into someone I don't like or respect. I'm sorry but I feel there was a major error in judgement in this one. Maybe other reviewers are right, maybe it was just too rushed. You only gave a one sentence explaination for a complete about face in the story line. Sorry, it was a good try but the ending literally makes me ill.
I found this series about the Trolls to be interesting. I liked the idea of dealing with another type of being as opposed to the usual vampire/werewolf fare.
Some of the writing was difficult to get through. I thought some editing was needed tighten it up and make it less cliched. I was tired of reading about Wendy changing into pajamas, feeling tired, getting into bed etc.
Wendy as a heroine was hard to love. She seemed whiny, selfish, immature and bratty. Finn was easy as the dark, brooding, "I would die for you" male lead. You fell for him so you fell for them. THEM.
In Ascend she brings back Loki, a character we met briefly in Book 2. I did not like him. He was smarmy, jerky and egotistical. Next thing you know in Book 3 he becomes the love of her life for the dumbest reasons given! By the way his name is Loki, in Mythology and Mythological Literature, a Trickster. How can I possibly root for anyone with that name when I feel I cannot trust him??!!!
If Wendy couldn't understand why Finn didn't want to sacrifice what he thought was the best life for her for the sake of "love" then I don't think Wendy could understand basics things like day and night and why the sky is blue. She is that bright.
To me it was just lazy writing and the need for a twist. Ooohh...sooo...edgy.
After Loki and Wendy have sex, I pretty much skipped through the rest of the book to when she beheads Oren.
The other things that bothered me about this book and this series was that she didn't spend time to create and even fully realize this Troll-world. For instance at the wedding ceremony when the talked about "the joining of this man and woman", I thought, but they aren't mankind. They are Troll-kind or Troll-kin.
Also, why didn't they have some of their own music at the wedding? They've been around for thousands of years and they have their own history, language, literature etc., why play Bach at the wedding. I know it's nit-picky but as an avid reader of the fantasy genre I notice these things.
So, does Tove come out the closet in the 4th book? Does Wendy and Loki have the most powerful child ever who can play tiddly winks with his mind? Does Willa's dresses get shorter?
While reading this I kept thinking WWKD? What Would Katniss Do?
Some of the writing was difficult to get through. I thought some editing was needed tighten it up and make it less cliched. I was tired of reading about Wendy changing into pajamas, feeling tired, getting into bed etc.
Wendy as a heroine was hard to love. She seemed whiny, selfish, immature and bratty. Finn was easy as the dark, brooding, "I would die for you" male lead. You fell for him so you fell for them. THEM.
In Ascend she brings back Loki, a character we met briefly in Book 2. I did not like him. He was smarmy, jerky and egotistical. Next thing you know in Book 3 he becomes the love of her life for the dumbest reasons given! By the way his name is Loki, in Mythology and Mythological Literature, a Trickster. How can I possibly root for anyone with that name when I feel I cannot trust him??!!!
If Wendy couldn't understand why Finn didn't want to sacrifice what he thought was the best life for her for the sake of "love" then I don't think Wendy could understand basics things like day and night and why the sky is blue. She is that bright.
To me it was just lazy writing and the need for a twist. Ooohh...sooo...edgy.
After Loki and Wendy have sex, I pretty much skipped through the rest of the book to when she beheads Oren.
The other things that bothered me about this book and this series was that she didn't spend time to create and even fully realize this Troll-world. For instance at the wedding ceremony when the talked about "the joining of this man and woman", I thought, but they aren't mankind. They are Troll-kind or Troll-kin.
Also, why didn't they have some of their own music at the wedding? They've been around for thousands of years and they have their own history, language, literature etc., why play Bach at the wedding. I know it's nit-picky but as an avid reader of the fantasy genre I notice these things.
So, does Tove come out the closet in the 4th book? Does Wendy and Loki have the most powerful child ever who can play tiddly winks with his mind? Does Willa's dresses get shorter?
While reading this I kept thinking WWKD? What Would Katniss Do?
Really a 3&3/4 star but these are the options...
As well-written as #2 but the story! I guess I was hoping for a different romantic outcome and won't give it away here but it fell a little "flat" for me. Now, I like how she handled it in the writing but I was disappointed with the ending. I think that Wendy went from super-reluctant, runaway princess to embracing her role in a way that was too fast and not as believable. And the shift in her relationship with her mom needed more build-up. Never mind though! I read the book in a night! I like this series enough that I bought the whole vamp series too and bet that will be at least a 3-star read. Let's face it...the price is great for entertainment value. The book covers are cool too.
Short ending to a very riveting series
I really loved this series but with this book I felt a little cheated. Everything happened so quickly and the book was so short I finished it in way less than a day and I rarely do that. I felt like the characters I loved in the first two books all but disappeared in this finale. Could've had a little more meat to it.
Despite all the bad reviews, I purchased these last 2 books..And ABOSULTELY LOVED THEM ALL :) I could not put down the book until I completely finish it. I loved the ending of the book of how Wendy defeats the king and marries her true love. Im actually very jealous of her cuz of the life that she lead. So purchase the whole serious and enjoy :>
What the hell. I was very disappointed... I felt like I spent two books being invested in Finn and then one night she decides to skank it up with Loki and it's Finn who??? I felt like Wendy was a disaster of a choice... her character STILL hadn't developed and she was the friggin Queen!
I am glad I liked some of the other character.. but overall I think it blew.
I normally get really sad after I finish a book series, wanted it to never end. I was sad in this one because it ended so poorly.
I am glad I liked some of the other character.. but overall I think it blew.
I normally get really sad after I finish a book series, wanted it to never end. I was sad in this one because it ended so poorly.
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!
I loved the My Blood Approves series and was excited to read the Trylle series. I am a mom of small children and in my late twenties but still LOVED the blood books. However, the Trylle trilogy was disappointing. The first book started out promising. It was a unique idea and the characters were interesting. The lack of character development is a problem for the author and that soon revealed itself in book one when I found that I really didn't know the characters by the end of the book. Matt, for example, is very one dimensional. His behavior is very strange and honestly borders on psychotic in my opinion. Why is he so angry and protective? I get that Wendy had a traumatic childhood but that doesn't explain Matt's issues.
The lack of character development is not the biggest problem with the series-I also found the writing much more juvenile than the author's other books. I felt like I was reading a teenager's work and this was not a problem in the My Blood Approves books. The dialogue was weak and so much of book three just seemed like filler. I didn't get why she went to her father only to come home and then go back again? That made no sense to me?
Finally, the Finn vs. Loki thing at the end. Maybe it is because I am happily married but the adultery was disgusting. I lost respect for Wendy completely because she is SO weak about the whole thing. I felt sorry for Tove and wanted to slap them both. The marriage became filler at that point because it made me wonder why the whole marriage became part of the plot if Tove was going to come along and then annul it? And why did Finn suddenly drop off the face of the earth? Wendy and Finn were so hot and heavy and then suddenly, in book three, Loki is the love interest and Finn is not?
The series is entertaining to read and was still a very interesting idea. I think that if the author had taken more time to edit it, develop characters, and written more decisively then it would have been a great series instead of a so-so one.
I loved the My Blood Approves series and was excited to read the Trylle series. I am a mom of small children and in my late twenties but still LOVED the blood books. However, the Trylle trilogy was disappointing. The first book started out promising. It was a unique idea and the characters were interesting. The lack of character development is a problem for the author and that soon revealed itself in book one when I found that I really didn't know the characters by the end of the book. Matt, for example, is very one dimensional. His behavior is very strange and honestly borders on psychotic in my opinion. Why is he so angry and protective? I get that Wendy had a traumatic childhood but that doesn't explain Matt's issues.
The lack of character development is not the biggest problem with the series-I also found the writing much more juvenile than the author's other books. I felt like I was reading a teenager's work and this was not a problem in the My Blood Approves books. The dialogue was weak and so much of book three just seemed like filler. I didn't get why she went to her father only to come home and then go back again? That made no sense to me?
Finally, the Finn vs. Loki thing at the end. Maybe it is because I am happily married but the adultery was disgusting. I lost respect for Wendy completely because she is SO weak about the whole thing. I felt sorry for Tove and wanted to slap them both. The marriage became filler at that point because it made me wonder why the whole marriage became part of the plot if Tove was going to come along and then annul it? And why did Finn suddenly drop off the face of the earth? Wendy and Finn were so hot and heavy and then suddenly, in book three, Loki is the love interest and Finn is not?
The series is entertaining to read and was still a very interesting idea. I think that if the author had taken more time to edit it, develop characters, and written more decisively then it would have been a great series instead of a so-so one.
This is my favorite book out of the trilogy! I loved the dynamics between the characters and how they grew and evolved. Wendy, the main character finally became a character I really liked. It was overall a very exciting read. While I didn't feel like a true trilogy, but rather 1 book separated into 3, I really enjoyed reading it and found myself re-reading I enjoyed it so much!
An Artistic Tale of a Concept Yet to Be Overly Diluted
I am a new Kindle user and found the Trylle Series after reviewing Amazon's lists of popular titles. I purchased all three books, but still did not have a strong understanding of who Amanda Hocking was.
I read all three books within a week. I thoroughly enjoyed the creative approach the author took with the telling of these stories. It was refreshing to be introduced to an idea that had not been done over an over again, such as vampires. (Yes, I am aware, Hocking has written books about vampires as well.) The main character of the book, Wendy, is a character that grows immensely throughout the three books and the author has done a fabulous job showing her level of maturity as she was faced with the various situations she encountered through all three books. I am leaving the concept and situations out of the review for those who have yet to read these stories.
Lastly, I would like to make mention of the author, Amanda Hocking. I was not aware that she was an independent author until after I read the first book, Switched and decided to learn more about her. Knowing her story (as she shares on her blog) made me appreciate her stories even more. Many have criticized Amanda for grammar and editing issues that are evident within the first two stories- however- these are easy to overlook as Amanda does confess that these are not her strong points- and her focus is on the actual story telling. I was sad when I finished the last book as I truly enjoyed reading about Wendy, Loki, Tove and the land where magic exists. Well done Amanda- I wish you the very best!
I read all three books within a week. I thoroughly enjoyed the creative approach the author took with the telling of these stories. It was refreshing to be introduced to an idea that had not been done over an over again, such as vampires. (Yes, I am aware, Hocking has written books about vampires as well.) The main character of the book, Wendy, is a character that grows immensely throughout the three books and the author has done a fabulous job showing her level of maturity as she was faced with the various situations she encountered through all three books. I am leaving the concept and situations out of the review for those who have yet to read these stories.
Lastly, I would like to make mention of the author, Amanda Hocking. I was not aware that she was an independent author until after I read the first book, Switched and decided to learn more about her. Knowing her story (as she shares on her blog) made me appreciate her stories even more. Many have criticized Amanda for grammar and editing issues that are evident within the first two stories- however- these are easy to overlook as Amanda does confess that these are not her strong points- and her focus is on the actual story telling. I was sad when I finished the last book as I truly enjoyed reading about Wendy, Loki, Tove and the land where magic exists. Well done Amanda- I wish you the very best!
This one should have been called "Switched"
Ascend by Amanda Hocking
Would I/Did I buy it? Yes
Would I read it again? No
Would I recommend it to friends? Probably not
I am not sure any story can be successful when the main character is in love with one character for two books and in the third book, falls for a completely different guy. It is just not that easy on the reader to "switch" our emotions to someone new, especially when so much change could have been established by her sticking by the tracker. You want them to overcome their obstacles and for love to win! Also, the prejudices could have been addressed by the Queen marrying a tracker and finding out that their offspring was even more beneficial to the kingdom. For all the talk about changing the status quo, the story really missed an opportunity. She could have made a male commoner royalty (think Cinderella in reverse).
I admit I just started skimming in this installment to get the idea of the complete story in my mind. I didn't want to keep it hanging without an ending. Once I saw a new love, though, I was pretty turned off. I like Loki and if Amanda Hocking had cut Finn out of the story more permanently in book two, I think I could have emotionally untangled myself from their love story and learned to accept a new guy. Maybe not ..... I am just glad it is over.
Would I/Did I buy it? Yes
Would I read it again? No
Would I recommend it to friends? Probably not
I am not sure any story can be successful when the main character is in love with one character for two books and in the third book, falls for a completely different guy. It is just not that easy on the reader to "switch" our emotions to someone new, especially when so much change could have been established by her sticking by the tracker. You want them to overcome their obstacles and for love to win! Also, the prejudices could have been addressed by the Queen marrying a tracker and finding out that their offspring was even more beneficial to the kingdom. For all the talk about changing the status quo, the story really missed an opportunity. She could have made a male commoner royalty (think Cinderella in reverse).
I admit I just started skimming in this installment to get the idea of the complete story in my mind. I didn't want to keep it hanging without an ending. Once I saw a new love, though, I was pretty turned off. I like Loki and if Amanda Hocking had cut Finn out of the story more permanently in book two, I think I could have emotionally untangled myself from their love story and learned to accept a new guy. Maybe not ..... I am just glad it is over.
A good conclusion to a great series.......Read the whole series..
I really enjoyed the whole series. Well worth the money. This is a new author and she is getting off to a great start. I like the trolls idea. Trolls vs. Vampires. A great idea for a coming series.
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***SPOILER ALERT***
Reading a couple comments the author wrote regarding this book, she stated that while she could see this book being compared to the Princess Diaries, she didn't see the connection with Twilight. Really? Because in both cases you have a lovesick teenage girl who starts off weak and vulnerable but eventually becomes some super powerful being that saves the world (vampire world, troll world...whatever). The love Wendy had for Finn also screamed Bella/Edward to me. PLUS what about when Wendy realized that putting herself in danger made Finn rescue her so she could see him again? Umm...? That also screams Bella/Edward...when almost an entire book was dedicated to Bella doing stupid things just to see Edward in her thoughts. This could all be accidental of course, but that doesn't mean you can deny the connection.
Well, here's my theory to why Wendy ended up with Loki instead of Finn. Because the author wanted a twist, a twist that would make this unpredictable, original and NOT like Twilight. All this ended up doing though was making Wendy end up with a Jacob instead of an Edward. Here's the problem with this though. A twist in a book is good, a twist keeps the readers interested...but you need to be in control of the twist. In this case, the author lost control of her book because of what she chose to use as a twist. It's too big of a twist and it tells her readers that her lead heroine is fickle and what you DON'T want is for the readers to suddenly lose a little respect for the lead character. This COULD have been done though, this twist COULD have worked, had she spent more time developing Loki's character. Instead, she didn't bother really making the reader fall in love with Loki (the way they did with Finn) and just threw Loki and Wendy together anyhow and tried to force her readers to accept it. If she had spent more than a portion of the 3rd book really pushing for Loki, I think the readers would have accepted the transition much easier. Also...if she had spent more than a portion of the 3rd book destroying Wendy and Finn's relationship, that would have been easier to accept as well. In the end though, the author lost control over how her readers felt about the characters....and that's never what you want, especially in the last book of a series.
So here's my wrap-up of Wendy from book 3: some girl with a crush (because calling it love would be an insult to the word) on the first cute guy she sees from Trylle. Now I see why she was attracted to Finn in the first place. In the first book, he was that super tough guy who wasn't afraid of the Vittra who tried to kidnap her. Also he was crazy about her and was her hero who always showed up at the right time to save her. He almost lost his life just trying to protect her...and of course because their love was forbidden, it made her want him even more. Of course, once all that died down a bit, she needed something more from him. Since all of a sudden, he wasn't able to prove his love for her by throwing his life away to save her...she needed him to constantly let her know how he felt, instead of just accepting that he did love her. Then along comes Loki, a cocky guy who is constantly saying inappropriate things about how much he wants her, and teasing her about how much she wants him, and that's exactly what she needs. Someone who never stops telling her how awesome she is. THEN she sees the scars that Loki got on her behalf and that seals the deal. Wendy's love goes to whatever guy shows that he's willing to die for her AND who constantly tells her how much he wants her. In the end, she's just an insecure girl who will follow the first guy that obsesses over her.
I think Finn was right about her. Her love must not mean much.
I started off this review giving the book 4 stars...now it only has 3 stars. Guess I didn't realize how disappointed in I was in just how weak of a character Wendy was.