Hidden Huntress (The Malediction Trilogy #2) by Danielle L. Jensen - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an eARC from Angry Robot in exchange for an honest review*

Title: Hidden Huntress (The Malediction Trilogy #2)
Author: Danielle L. Jensen
Publication Dates: June 2nd 2015 (US/CAN); 4th June 2015 (UK)

My Stolen Songbird Review
My The Songbird's Overture Review

Synopsis: Sometimes, one must accomplish the impossible.

Beneath the mountain, the king’s reign of tyranny is absolute; the one troll with the capacity to challenge him is imprisoned for treason. Cécile has escaped the darkness of Trollus, but she learns all too quickly that she is not beyond the reach of the king’s power. Or his manipulation.

Recovered from her injuries, she now lives with her mother in Trianon and graces the opera stage every night. But by day she searches for the witch who has eluded the trolls for five hundred years. Whether she succeeds or fails, the costs to those she cares about will be high.

To find Anushka, she must delve into magic that is both dark and deadly. But the witch is a clever creature. And Cécile might not just be the hunter. She might also be the hunted…

UK Print & Ebook

Amazon.co.uk | Book Depository | Waterstones | WHSmith

North American Print & Ebook

Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | BarnesandNoble.com | IndieBound.org

Global DRM-Free Epub & Mobi Ebook

On-sale 2nd June 2015 from the Robot Trading Company

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Review: I absolutely LOVED Stolen Songbird when I read it last year, and then I almost had a mini-heart attack when Strange Chemistry shut its doors because I needed to read Hidden Huntress. Stolen Songbird was probably my favorite fantasy book of 2014, so I was so excited to learn that Angry Robot had picked up (or kept, I guess) the rest of Danielle's Malediction Trilogy. As much as I loved Stolen Songbird, though, Hidden Huntress blew it completely out of the water. This book destroyed me, and I cannot wait for the final book in this series! 

I loved how this book is pretty much equally told from Cécile's and Tristan's perspectives. We still see more of Cécile, but I was really glad that we also got to see what was happening in Trollus and with Tristan while Cécile is trying to find Anushka on the surface. Not that Tristan's parts are easy to read - I love Tristan and I hated how badly he's treated and tortured and shunned by all of his old friends. Well, almost all of them anyway. I was glad that Marc was back too, but I felt SO bad for him after Tristan makes a certain promise. This book has so many feels all the way through it, and I just really wanted to jump in and give everyone a giant group hug. 

Cécile doesn't have things easy either - she can still feel everything that Tristan feels, she's made a promise to the king that likely to drive her literally insane, and her mother is pretty much crazy. Cécile sings every night, but it's never good enough for her mother. She only has two friends, and they try to be supportive even if they don't understand why she feels she has to free the trolls. Or why she even cares about the trolls. Cécile has to deal with so much, pretty much all by herself, and I felt like any moment was going to be the one where she just broke down. But she's stronger than that, and manages to keep it all together for as long as she needs to. She might be one of my favorite heroines, and I love that she's always questioning things and trying to do what's right even if other people don't agree with her.

Most of the plot is concerned with Tristan trying o figure out what's been going on in Trollus since he's been locked up and with Cécile finding Anushka, but there's enough there that it never felt like anything was dragging. I really enjoyed reading about Cécile's life in the opera house - it's glamorous and exciting and everything she wanted as a child. But there are secrets, and it was so interesting to watch them unravel. I thought I knew what some of the twists and secrets might be, and although I was right on a couple of them, Danielle kept me guessing and kept throwing another wrench into the mix that kept me on my toes the whole time. 

There's not as much world-building in this book as there was in Stolen Songbird, but there was still more information about the world and the magic and the history of this world, and it was really nice to learn more about what's been going on in the past several centuries since it helped connect the dots to what's going on in the present.

If you enjoy reading YA fantasy, you absolutely want to read this series! Danielle's writing is gorgeous and captivating, and her world is incredible. All of the characters are so well developed and complex, and I feel like I've known them my whole life. Even the villains are more complex than I imagined them to be, and I even felt bad for them.  If you read Stolen Songbird, you definitely want to read Hidden Huntress. I'm still trying to recover from all of the feels, and I really cannot wait to get my hands on the third book! 5/5! 


--Ashley

COVER REVEAL: Hidden Huntress (The Malediction Trilogy #2) by Danielle L. Jensen

We're so, so excited today to be a part of the cover reveal for the next book in Danielle Jensen's Malediction Trilogy: Hidden Huntress! Stolen Songbird was a gorgeous fantasy that left Ashley wanting more (you can find her 5-star review here), and we're really glad that Angry Robot picked up this series after the Strange Chemistry shut down!

In addition to the cover, we also have the synopsis for you. It sounds just as amazing as the first book, and we can't wait until June to read it!

Also, be sure to check out the author interview we did with Danielle as part of the Stolen Songbird blog tour! And, you can visit Danielle's website to see a little bit of the behind-the-scenes on the inspiration for the cover!

About the Books

Title: Hidden Huntress (The Malediction Trilogy #2)

Author: Danielle L. Jensen

Publication Date: June 2nd, 2015

Synopsis: Sometimes, one must accomplish the impossible.

Beneath the mountain, the king’s reign of tyranny is absolute; the one troll with the capacity to challenge him is imprisoned for treason. Cécile has escaped the darkness of Trollus, but she learns all too quickly that she is not beyond the reach of the king’s power. Or his manipulation.

Recovered from her injuries, she now lives with her mother in Trianon and graces the opera stage every night. But by day she searches for the witch who has eluded the trolls for five hundred years. Whether she succeeds or fails, the costs to those she cares about will be high.

To find Anushka, she must delve into magic that is both dark and deadly. But the witch is a clever creature. And Cécile might not just be the hunter. She might also be the hunted…

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Stolen Songbird (Malediction Trilogy #1)
Author: Danielle L. Jensen
Publication Date: April 1, 2014

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

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

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

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

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

About the Author

Danielle was born and raised in Calgary, Canada. At the insistence of the left side of her brain, she graduated in 2003 from the University of Calgary with a bachelor’s degree in finance.

But the right side of her brain has ever been mutinous; and in 2010, it sent her back to school to complete an entirely impractical English literature degree at Mount Royal University and to pursue publication. Much to her satisfaction, the right side shows no sign of relinquishing its domination.

Find Danielle online: WWW | Twitter | Facebook

What do you think of the new cover? Do you love it as much as we do? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!


--Ashley & Paul

The Songbird's Overture (The Malediction Trilogy #0.5) by Danielle L. Jensen - Ashley's Review

Goodreads
My Stolen Songbird Review
Interview with Danielle L. Jensen

I really loved Stolen Songbird by Danielle L. Jensen, and I was super excited when the title reveal for its sequel came with a short story (which you can find below!)! I love finding out more about characters through short stories and novellas, especially when they provide background information that isn't necessary to the story but helps develop the characters anyway.

The Songbird's Overture, which is set four years before the events of Stolen Songbird, was a really interesting look into Cécile's life before her mother started sending tutors to educate her in things like reading, etiquette, and improving her voice. Cécile is young - it's her 13th birthday when this story takes place - and all she wants is to see her mother. Although her mother has been absent most of her life, she still worships her and wants to sing in a big opera house just like her one day.

I also really enjoyed seeing a glimpse of Cécile's mother. She comes off as kind of cold and cares only about developing Cécile into a singing sensation (saying that her talent would be wasted on a farm or as a farmer's wife). I wasn't really a huge fan and I think she's a horrible parent, but I'm really excited to learn more about her and see how she actually lives in Hidden Huntress. I think there's a lot more to her than we've seen, which is really exciting. 

If you've read Stolen Songbird, I would definitely recommend this story! It's very short (only 23 pages or so), and available to read for free. You have nothing to lose! I would give this one a 5/5, and I really cannot wait for Hidden Huntress. 


--Ashley

Stolen Songbird (The Malediction Trilogy #1) by Danielle L. Jensen - Ashley's Review

*I received this book as an ARC from Strange Chemistry in exchange for an honest review*

Also, be sure to check out the author interview we did with Danielle as part of the Stolen Songbird blog tour!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Stolen Songbird (Malediction Trilogy #1)
Author: Danielle L. Jensen
Publication Date: April 1, 2014

My Pre-Reading

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

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

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

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

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

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Review: This book. Just...holy cow. I'm having a really hard time trying to find the words to convey how much I absolutely loved this book. It blew every expectation I had out of the water, and I am currently suffering from a pretty ridiculous book hangover. And this is only the first book in the series! I'm scared to think what that means about what's going to happen in the rest of the trilogy...

I've read a lot of fantasy, and I was a little concerned when this book was recommended to fans of Graceling (which is an incredible YA fantasy book). But Stolen Songbird can and does definitely hold its own against it. And against any other fantasy book I've read. The world building is incredible, the secrets keep piling on top of each other, and the magic is really neat. I became completely immersed in this book, and found that I just couldn't put it down once I got into it. I think the only thing that held me back a little bit was knowing too much from the synopsis. A little less of the plot given away in the synopsis would have made some of the discoveries a little more shocking, but it didn't affect the story or my enjoyment of the book in any real amount.

Cécile is a really interesting girl, and there's so much about her that I feel like still has to manifest how it's important to the trolls. Yes, she can sing extraordinarily well, but how does that play into the curse on the trolls or its breaking? Or is it just a talent that sets her apart from other girls? I love how music is integrated into the story and into Cécile, and I hope that it becomes a bigger part of the plot! 

I also loved Tristan quite a bit. He's handsome, driven, compassionate, and so has so many other redeeming qualities. Sure, he can be deceitful and has a hard time trusting anyone, but I think that just makes him a stronger character and it definitely makes sense when you learn why he keeps secrets and has to put up a facade in front of (most of) the other trolls. I especially enjoyed the chapters from his perspective, and thought they were very well placed although scarce. I do hope we get to see more of what's happening from his viewpoint, ESPECIALLY after that ending!

Seriously, all the feels from the ending. I am a little upset that Hidden Huntress doesn't come out until June 2015, because I need it ASAP. I have to know what Cécile & Tristan are going to do next and what happens to them. Stolen Songbird is probably one of my favorite YA fantasy books of all time, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasies (especially those in the vein of Graceling, The GIrl of Fire & Thorns, etc. ). Especially if you're looking for something different - most trolls I've ever read about are huge and ugly or are like those little troll dolls with the jewels for belly buttons. Danielle's trolls are unlike any other I've seen, and I love them! Well, most of them. A 5/5, for sure!! 


--Ashley

Stolen Songbird (The Malediction Trilogy #1) by Danielle L. Jensen - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an ARC from Strange Chemistry in exchange for an honest review*

Also, be sure to check out the author interview we did with Danielle as part of the Stolen Songbird blog tour!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Stolen Songbird (Malediction Trilogy #1)
Author: Danielle L. Jensen
Publication Date: April 1, 2014

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

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

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

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

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

Why?:YA fantasy books are some of my favorite, and I'm so excited about this one because it has music and trolls! It makes me think of A Troll in Central Park (which totally freaked me out as a kid but that I love now), which is most excellent. I'm really excited about this book, and I can't wait to find out more about
Cécile and Trollus and the trolls.

Expectations: My expectations for this book are pretty high now that I've equated it to the YA fantasy version of A Troll in Central Park (even if it's nothing at all like the movie). I'm looking forward to a lot of world building, a musical aspect, troll magic, adventure, excitement, and danger.

Judging a book by its cover: I mean, let's be real. This cover is GORGEOUS. The colors are perfect, the dress is stunning, and there's even an air of mystery about everything. There's nothing I don't like about it, and I would definitely snatch it off the shelf. 


--Ashley