Switched by Amanda Hocking

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Switched by Amanda Hocking

What if your entire world was built on a lie? Wendy Everly knew she was different the day her mother tried to kill her and accused her of having been switched at birth. Although certain she’s not the monster her mother claims she is – she does feel that she doesn’t quite fit in… She’s bored and frustrated by her small town life – and then there’s the secret that she can’t tell anyone. Her mysterious ability – she can influence people’s decisions, without 

knowing how, or why...

When the intense and darkly handsome newcomer Finn suddenly turns up at her bedroom window one night – her world is turned upside down. He holds the key to her past, the answers to her strange powers and is the doorway to a place she never imagined could exist. Förening, the home of the Trylle. Finally everything makes sense. Among the Trylle, Wendy is not just different, but special. But what marks her out as chosen for greatness in this world also places her in grave danger. With everything around her changing, Finn is the only person she can trust. But dark forces are conspiring – not only to separate them, but to see the downfall everything that Wendy cares about. The fate of Förening rests in Wendy’s hands, and the decisions she and Finn make could change all their lives forever… 

Switched by Amanda Hocking was and is a completely obsessive read and I couldn't put Switched or Torn down. Since Wendy's 6th birthday when her supposed mother tried killing her whilst accusing Wendy of being switched birth with her real child, it was clear that Wendy wasn't normal.

Since then along with her caring and protective brother Matt and Aunt Maggie, they have moved from school to school, and this time with a hopes of settling down. With her quick temper and funny ways, Wendy realises that if she tries hard enough she can persuade people to do whatever she wants. So when mysterious and handsome new boy Finn Holmes knocks on her bedroom window with answers it suddenly all makes sense. 

Wendy is a Tyrlle, part of a hidden clan of powerful and beautiful trolls (Not the ones we'd first imagine when hearing trolls) and she is a changeling. Meaning she was switched at birth with a human so she could live a normal and wealthy life, later to be tracked down (her tracker being Finn) and taken back to Förening to master her skills and bring back money from her host family. But this isn't your normal changeling swap because Wendy is heir to the throne as she is the daughter of the very powerful Elora, Queen of the Tyrlle and the Vittra are after Wendy who will one day become very powerful too.

Finn asks Wendy to come away with him to Förening, but with Wendy hardly knowing this boy who continuously stares at her, who might just be crazy. She knows she can't leave. But for the safety of her family she has no choice but to leave. But her new life is about to change.

Reading this book I had high expectations and now I am joining the clan of fans and can't help but recommend this captivating read. I ended up reading Switched in one whole day and the next day reading Torn the second in the Tyrlle series. Demanding the library to put aside the sequel so I could continue the journey with Wendy.

Switched marks the beginning of her story and the characters that joined her on the way were very likeable and interesting. I was immediately pulled into the story and I was always trying to find out what was going to happen next wether it be with Wendy and Finn or just the story itself. Wendy is a likeable and strong character. Although at first I thought she was a bad tempered brat with a bad child-hood. But as the story developed I liked her and seeing how she would deal with everything was defiantly entertaining. Switched really was a page-turner.

I found it annoying that Wendy was continuously denied answers and was never told anything even though this put her more danger as she was so unaware and had been lied to many times. I can see that it makes the story more suspenseful and gives us something to read on but I thought it was a little annoying because it happened all the time. Another understandable yet annoying factor was that Finn and Wendy could never be together, which once again is a good technique for keeping the reader curious and while interesting it was sometimes annoying. Just when you thought they might be back on track he would leave and that was a problem that continued through Torn. Other than those understandable and bitter-sweet issues that I had with Switched, I really enjoyed it and Torn.

My Switched Rating:  4 and a half