Switched starts off with a murderous mother and a scene that can’t help but grab the reader’s attention. I was immediately hooked. Occasionally, the book leans on overdone premises and cliches, but it also has a fresh idea in creating a world of trolls that are beautiful and powerful. Frankly, I was relieved to read a teen book that didn’t involve vampires. The storytelling wasn’t always riveting, but it was good. The characters and the romantic tension drive this story more than the plot itself. A massive battle towards the end, however, had me holding my breath. If the second and third books were already out, I’d be picking up the next one immediately. I’ll definitely be recommending this one to my daughter, but I doubt my son would care for it. He would say it doesn’t have enough action and has too much romance. He’d be right. But, for teenage girls, this is definitely a winner. I’m sure it will be a very popular trilogy. In fact, it already has a following from the self-published e-books that first drew the attention of publishers. I enjoyed the read very much. It should be noted that some bad language and sexual situations might make it inappropriate for younger teens. But older teens and young adults who enjoy fantasy and romance will love it.

In compliance with FTC guidelines, please note that I received this book for free through LibraryThing Early Reviewers.