by Amanda Hocking

St. Martin’s Griffin, $8.99, 293 pages

This novel is a fantasy story about Wendy, who has always seemed to not quite fit in. She has a somewhat troubled life after her mother tries to kill her as a small child. Her mother was sent to a mental institution, and Wendy was left with the burden of a sick mother who could not love her. While in high school, she meets a mysterious dark stranger. Finn always seems to watch Wendy from afar, until she is attacked one night. Finn steps in and brings her to her new home, revealing that Wendy is in fact, a troll. As Wendy learns to control her newfound abilities and fit in with a community she doesn’t know, she becomes ever concerned about her place in this world.

Amanda Hocking’s novels are always engaging, and Switched is no exception. Her characters are well developed, and the plot keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next. I highly recommend this book to any fantasy fan who is looking for something refreshing and different from the vampire and werewolf books that have flooded the market. This first book in the trilogy does not disappoint.

Rachel Richards