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    Switched
    Switched
    Switched
    Ebook319 pages5 hours

    Switched

    By Amanda Hocking

    3.5/5

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Amanda Hocking is an indie publishing sensation whose self-published novels have sold millions of copies all over the world, and Switched is the book that started the phenomenon. Prepare to be enchanted…

    When Wendy Everly was six years old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. Eleven years later, Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. She's not the person she's always believed herself to be, and her whole life begins to unravel—all because of Finn Holmes.

    Finn is a mysterious guy who always seems to be watching her. Every encounter leaves her deeply shaken…though it has more to do with her fierce attraction to him than she'd ever admit. But it isn't long before he reveals the truth: Wendy is a changeling who was switched at birth—and he's come to take her home.

    Now Wendy's about to journey to a magical world she never knew existed, one that's both beautiful and frightening. And where she must leave her old life behind to discover who she's meant to become…

    As a special gift to readers, this book contains a new, never-before-published bonus story, "The Vittra Attacks," set in the magical world of the Trylle.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Publishers
    Release dateJan 3, 2012
    ISBN9781429956529
    Switched
    Author

    Amanda Hocking

    Amanda Hocking lives in Minnesota, had never sold a book before April 2010 and has now sold over a million. According to the Observer, she is now 'the most spectacular example of an author striking gold through ebooks'. Amanda is a self-confessed 'Obsessive tweeter. John Hughes mourner. Batman devotee. Unicorn enthusiast. Muppet activist.' Her books include the Trylle Trilogy, the Watersong series and the Kanin Chronicles.

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    Reviews for Switched

    3.5/5

    1,049 ratings238 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I don't seem to stay up all night reading a book anymore lately, but this book did it. I found this story to be completely enchanting. It is about Wendy a girl who is a changeling for the Trylle clan. She's never quite fit in and didn't look like her adoptive family at all. While wendy is dark haired dark eyes her family was all blonde hair blue eyed. This book follows her adventure of finding our her true identity and origins. It leads to quite the climax near the end and then a lead up to the 2nd book.

      Highly recommend the book if you like fantasy and urban plots.
    • 3/5
      I really couldn't muster up too much enthusiasm for this book. It wasn’t bad, but it was slow moving. Nothing really happened throughout the story and I never felt a connection with any of the characters. I disliked the way Wendy was treated by Elora. There was no real reason for it and Wendy was kept in the dark a lot regarding what was going on and what she was expected to do. I wanted more answers to my questions and I guess they may be in the next two books, but I’m not sure when that is going to happen.
    • 4/5
      this book was good, but the ending confused me, especially with the synopsis of the next book in the trilogy, they don't match up and the fact that they jumped from a dollar and change to 8 dollars in the time span that i read the first one, i guess i was just put off of the whole series *shrug* i'm glad this author made it big and got published by a good company that put her in barnes and noble, but i guess i think it's unfair to have books that have been on the dollar menu, so to speak, for a few years and then suddenly stick them up on a pedestal and say "Wow look at these books, that are exactly the same editing and plot wise as their cheaper counter parts, but now that we've stamped our big fat name on it its suddenly worth WAY MORE!" they had no hand in it and i guess they should have no right to increase the price...but thats my opinion, and i'm sure Amanda Hocking is thrilled to have more revenue coming in from books she already had and didn't have to work again on... I digress. It doesn't seem right, the end.
    • 2/5
      Wasn't overly impressed with the writing style. Not a bad story, but didn't really find it to be overwhelmingly creative beyond the mother's power of painting the future, which I felt to be truly unique and would love to see some sort of series that focus on powers of that ilk.
    • 3/5
      It took a little while but I did eventually get into it...I read the first part while I was in labor. That said, my baby is now 5 months old and it took me this long to finish. It was very quick moving in the second half, but I definitely had issue with how she wrote the last few pages after the main conflict had passed. They were just all telling and no show. It seemed not to fit with the earlier writing and it felt like she just wanted to hurry and finish without taking the time to write it properly. This was the gist: "I did this, and then was sad, and it lasted a while, and then i did this and then this and then this and then i was happy, and the end." WHAAAT kind of ending is that?
    • 3/5
      I'm fairly certain that the moment I joined Twitter, I heard about Amanda Hocking. She's pretty much an indie phenomenon. So when I was asked to review Switched, I jumped on the opportunity. Switched is the story of Wendy Everly, a young girl with a disturbing, to say the least, background, who learns everything she knew about herself was a lie. It's the story of her struggle to find a place in her new world, or whether she actually wants to be there at all. What I enjoyed most about Switched is the paranormal aspect to Wendy's story, who and what she is. I don't want to give away exactly what the Trylle are. They are a species that we've all heard about, but never in the way Hocking has re-imagined them. The Trylle are hidden, virtually in plain sight. I love when an author can take paranormal creatures and their habitat and place them in the real, modern world. The world-building in the story is thorough without becoming too elaborate. The political and social norms and turmoil in the Tryll world are intriguing and not unlike the royalty of our world. The characters of Switched were a bit tricky for me. Starting with Wendy. I could definitely sympathize with her (I would be heartless if I couldn't), but I never became fully invested in her plight. She just felt too distant to me, I never felt what she was feeling. I was only a bystander. Finn, who is there to help Wendy adjust to her new life, frustrated me. You know those guys in the books who are super sweet one minute and a jerk the next? That was Finn. And yes, he has a reason, but it's just too much sometimes. And the fact that Wendy basically let him do whatever he wanted or get by saying jerky stuff because he was hot really bugged me. Having said that, I did end up liking Finn, once he began to open up to Wendy. Circumstance has really given him the shaft, but he deals.The most surprising character, for me, was Tove. A fellow Trylle, who at first comes off as as spoiled and weird, and I totally wrote him off as a throw-away character. He reminded me of Adrian from Vampire Academy, without the snark. At the end of the Switched, I was left way more curious about Tove than anyone else. Nice surprise!I did have one major issue with Switched: the classic problem of showing vs. telling. I think that's why I wasn't particulary empathetic to the characters. I knew Wendy was scared/upset/angry because I was told she was, but I didn't feel a darn thing. I tried, so hard. But without showing me the reactions Wendy was experiencing, I couldn't do it. In the end, Switched was a story that I liked well enough, but overall, left me feeling a bit underwhelmed.Favorite Quote:"A couple things made that day stand out more than any other: it was my sixth birthday, and my mother was wielding a knife. Not a tiny steak knife, but some kind of massive butcher knife glinting in the light like in a bad horror movie. She definitely wanted to kill me."* I received an ARC of Switched from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. *
    • 1/5
      I read Switched because it was sent to me and because the author has a good backstory with this: nerdy goth from Minnesota writes and self-publishes a YA Paranormal e-book that sells out like hotcakes on Amazon.com. The popularity of this book sparks a bidding war between publishers ending with a $2 million four book contract for the author from St. Martin's. Yes, we're all super happy for her (and extra extra envious - not attractive, but there it is). Given the popularity I thought I'd give it a whirl figuring that it might be better than the usual affair because there was such a bidding war over it (completely forgetting the relationship betweeen art and commerce).It wasn't.This is yet another template-written series providing the usual - a romance with an unattainable and emotionally abusive older man, a main character is so clueless that I'm not sure how she manages to falling into every pothole she sees (for you Dungeon and Dragons people her wisdom score is about a 3), and a somewhat reimagined lore and mythology of whatever paranormal beings are chosen. In this case the chosen are trolls.Let's start with the required emotionally abusive and unavailable man for our heroine to fall in love with - this one is named Finn and he is a Troll Tracker (rescuing changelings to bring them back into their own communities). His first moment of cruelty to Wendy happens exactly 25 pages into the version of the book I have, meaning that at 8.5% of the way into the book, the main male character is already a brooding ass.Wendy's cluelessness knows no bounds. She leaves her happy family at random to go join a bunch of people she doesn't know where, of course, she is a Princess (cuz deep in our hearts we're all princesses, right? Yeah, I thought so). She bumbles about asking no questions, discovering nothing new, not even bothering to notice that her brother in the new community (who isn't a troll) is her freakin' CHANGELING. HELLO? *rap rap rap on forehead* Anybody in there?Ms. Hocking maintains a fairly good grasp of the lore of trolls, but it's all a little cute. The trolls in Switched bear a much closer existence to the trolls you pick up at the drugstore on impulse to put on your keyring. You know the ones - with the cute little squwnchy faces and the parti-colored hair? She does demonstrate a chance of being closer to lore with the character of the Queen, who is running an elaborate confidence scam and is, generally, unpleasant, mercenary, and deceitful. One might say that she is large and in charge.I can understand why so many would like this book. It's easy on the brain with a simple story that holds up until you actually pay attention. You're not supposed to pay attention, but I just can't help myself. I won't be reading the rest in the trilogy because, honestly, I just don't care.
    • 2/5
      This book was entertaining. But it pretty much ends there.The main character, Wendy, is forgettable. Finn is a cookie cutter knock out with a haunted personality (big surprise) and the other characters themselves are slightly agitating in their predictable and expected roles.The storyline itself offers no real twists or turns, and at no point was I clinging to my couch pillow in anticipation.The largest irritation was the frailty of the main character. Despite everyone around her making comments about her 'strength' and how 'powerful' she was... she acted like china doll with a stubborn streak. At no point did she ever try to use her powers, even when the time absolutely called for it, and just stood by and let others protect her while she pretty much flapped about. The only time she ever actually did something was when her love-interest was in trouble. Woohoo.At numerous points throughout the plot she had the option of making choices that would have meant good things for her, but she chose instead to be full of self-pity or self-loathing and wallow about in how 'unfair' everything was.The fact that she had a lot of opportunity to really change things if she'd have just stepped up seems to have completely escaped her.All of that being said I appreciated the creative aspects regarding the way the author redefined "trolls" and "changelings".This book was not awful, but it wasn't a book I'd go waving around in peoples faces, proclaiming that they had to read it.I heard somewhere that they might be making a movie out of the story. I will say that I suspect that this book will play out MUCH better on the big-screen than it does in book-form.
    • 5/5
      This was great! An excellent read with unexpected characters.
    • 5/5
      What if your entire life was built on a lie? Wendy was 6 when her mother convinced Wendy was a monster Wendy was living with her "brother." Then got captured by VIttra, Finn saved Wendy and brought her to a magical world she nevered believed in. My favorite part is when Finn saved Wendy from Vittra. Vittra is the bad person.
    • 5/5
      I received an advanced readers' edition of this book through a Good Reads giveaway a few months ago. I had heard about the success Amanda Hocking had with the sale of ebooks and the opportunity to have them in print from a big name publisher. I was intrigued at what made the books so great to have such a fuss about them.
      I finally got around to reading this book, after having it for awhile. I haven't read anything in the young adult genre much in general, let alone the fantasy/paranormal realm of it, so going into this book I wasn't sure how I'd react. Part of me through "I better not be reading a book like Twilight," another part of me thought I might just be too old and too male to enjoy a book like this. I was proven wrong. I slowly got through the first few chapters and from then on picked up my pace because the book hooked me in.
      Not only is the writing appropriate for teenagers and adults alike, the story itself isn't geared toward one gender or another. There is a little aspect that can make teenage boys say "ew, it's romancy," but that's easy to overlook considering the main character is a teenage girl. It's expected that when a female character falls in love that she will talk about it.
      The development of the Trylle race also pleased me. Too many authors stick to the basic races of vampires, werewolves, and witch/wizards from what I see on the market. I don't recall seeing anything about trolls.
      Overall this book was a surprise for me to read. It ended too soon for me because when I got to the end I wanted to know what would happen next in Wendy's life. I don't want to spoil the ending by speculating where it could go, but I will say that I definitely will want to grab a copy of the next two books when they are published, though I might not be able to wait and might have to buy the ebooks.
      One last thing, even if as a reader you don't think a young adult novel about Trylle is for you, think about it as a story of a young woman who's trying to figure out who she is and where she belongs in the world. That's something almost any reader can enjoy and relate to. The other elements of the book are more secondary to a strong and brilliant coming of age story.
    • 5/5
      Fun, action packed story about Trylle (Trolls) and how they exchange their children aka Changelings with Manks as they so call humans to get them a better education than what their community can give the children and then when their powers start to show then the send a tracker to retrieve them back to their own community. Well, Wendy is a Princess Trylle and she doesn't know it is brought home by her tracker Finn who she is falling for, to her real mother Elona the Queen of the Trylle and has to learn all of her heritage in a very short time. Wendy is not so happy with the way things are run and is not quite sure she wants to be a princess and misses home with her Manks family who she was raised with. There are some twists and turns in here with both of Wendy's families that makes this very interesting and fun. There are also some Villa out to get Wendy for their Trylle community so there is action there to. I am excited to read the next installment.
    • 2/5
      So far as this relatively new genre of Supernatural Teen Romance goes, Switched is tolerable. Wendy is a changeling, left by her Trylle (trolls, but hot and foxy instead of the droopy-nosed villains of old stories) mother with a human family. The human mother sensed that Wendy was not her child, and tried to kill her as a small child, and thereafter Wendy was raised by her elder brother and an aunt. They really love her an care about her, even as Wendy is going through school after school, getting kicked out for her short temper and lack of motivation.Then Finn comes to find her. He's a Tracker, sent to bring her back to her Trylle family. He's less creepy than Edward and Patch (of Twilight and Hush, Hush), but he does have that stalking aspect. (My objections to the entire genre's fondness for glorifying stalking is another matter entirely.)There is a predictable love triangle, difficulty in communicating with her cold biological mother, and a fight scene in the end.But it's nothing special or remarkable. If you're looking for a light read, low on description, big on telling instead of showing, and like to describe young men as "foxy" far too often, this may be what you're looking for. It's not bad, but it's still far from good.
    • 4/5
      I was intrigued by the idea of a book dealing with Changelings, and did ultimately end up enjoying the book. That said, I had a hard time liking a lot of the characters, finding their attitudes hard to justify, finding "trolls" that look just like humans disappointing, and the base greed driving the "changeling program" a bit crass. I have to agree with the opinion that the heroine is a bit of a brat, as well as an airhead. All of that said, I'm not the target audience, so..... I suspect younger teens would think this was right up their alley. Adults are confusing and autocratic, wanting independence while not being completely cut loose, and wanting to be "special" are all themes that would appeal to a much younger crowd than I!
    • 3/5
      I found this world uniquely charming. Magic and trolls and royalty. It's got cheese, unrealistically beautiful characters, and the drama to satisfy all my escapist coping-tendencies.
      As light hearted entertainment it's great. The story has me coming back for the second book. Wendy is a little bit annoying- too bratty and a push over. Finn is great for the moody and mysterious can't-have-him. My other dissatisfied comment is that I can't stand when books don't have resolutions- I get wanting to continue in a sequel (and I will continue reading because trolls!) But I don't understand why each book can't have a little closure. Make me want to read more because I love the universe and don't want to leave it. Don't make me read more because I already invested the effort into the first book and have to get the second. It feels icky.

      But as far as storylines go, if you are down to commit to the whole series I think it will be worth it?
    • 5/5
      I loved this book! I didn’t want to put it down! It seemed weird at first but such a good book, captivated me completely! Can’t wait to finish the series!
    • 1/5
      Poor character development, no dynamic characters in the story, main character falls in love like 30 pages into the book without any believable evidence, and main character is whiny with no resolve to actually do anything for herself.
    • 4/5
      Another book I bought solely based on the cover. I really should start reading the backs of books. But lucky for me, this one was okay.

      Who knew a book about trolls would be good. I found it interesting. It was different. Another part to the fantasy world and I was happy I found it.

      It follows the new life of a teen. Running and fighting and becoming a princess! Scandalous makeout sessions and a marriage to a gay man. Oh my!

      It was pretty funny and entertaining.

      They only thing I didn't like, was teen pregnancy and how okay it seemed. How everyone just accepted it. I know it happens, but it shouldn't be glorified in books.
    • 4/5
      This book was a fun read. I read it in one sitting! The "trylle" aspect was different and not as I expected. And the cover is gorgeous!
    • 4/5
      The premise: ganked from BN.com: Amanda Hocking is an indie publishing sensation whose self-published novels have sold millions of copies all over the world. Switched is the book that started the phenomenon. Prepare to be enchanted....When Wendy Everly was six years old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. Eleven years later, Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. She’s not the person she’s always believed herself to be, and her whole life begins to unravel -- all because of Finn Holmes.Finn is a mysterious guy who always seems to be watching her. Every encounter leaves her deeply shaken…though it has more to do with her fierce attraction to him than she’d ever admit. But it isn’t long before he reveals the truth: Wendy is a changeling who was switched at birth -- and he’s come to take her home. Now Wendy’s about to journey to a magical world she never knew existed, one that’s both beautiful and frightening. And where she must leave her old life behind to discover who she’s meant to become… As a special gift to readers, this book contains a new, never-before-published bonus story, “The Vittra Attacks,” set in the magical world of the Trylle.My Rating: 5 - It's a GambleThis sounds like a bad rating, but it's not. I really enjoyed this book and finished it in a day. It's cotton-candy fluff, entertaining for when you want to turn your brain off and just have fun. And if you enjoy on any level YA paranormal romances, you're going to enjoy this.But the reason it's a gamble is because I can't say this is a good read for the majority of readers, because it won't be. If you don't like the YA paranormal romance angle, this book won't change your mind. And while it is an incredibly fast read, sometimes the writing style is a little clunky, particularly during action scenes. It's doubtful this book will change anyone's life or anything like that, but it is fun and entertaining. It's just not fun and entertaining for everyone.Still, I'm glad to have read it. I enjoyed it a heckuva lot more than I thought I would, and that's saying a lot: I've had bad luck with YA this year, and knowing this book was originally self-published had me cautious, despite the fact Hocking had done so well in that market. That'll teach me to be a snob, eh? ;) But still, while it won't change your life, it was fun, and I would consider the sequels under the right circumstancesAnd no, my ARC did not have the short story addition, so I can't comment on that, except it's a clever way to encourage people to pick up the hard copy who may already own it digitally. :)Spoilers, yay or nay?: Nay-ish. I won't spoil the ending, but a few events in the beginning are fair game. I don't consider those particularly spoiler-ish, but if you disagree, that's okay. Just don't click the full review, which is linked below and goes to my book blog. Remember, comments and discussion are always welcome!REVIEW: Amanda Hocking's SWITCHEDHappy Reading!
    • 5/5
      Also posted on Lovey Dovey BooksSwitched is a bright beginning to Amanda Hocking's Trylle Trilogy! The republished edition of Switched is enhanced with new scenes and a faster pace in the plot. The story jumps right in by setting up the characters and their roles. Readers realize that Wendy isn't the average teen early on in the story, and don't have to wait long for confirmation. Amanda Hocking has a way with words. Having her characters say much in the span of a few words is a big part of why the plot of Switched moves right along.Wendy is a very subdued character, but readers will be able to feel her compassion and strength right underneath the surface. She's sarcastic and sometimes quick tempered, but she grows as the story continues. Wendy falls in love pretty easily, but it seems she'll have to fight to stay in love. Her relationship with her mother may very well be the highlight of the novel. Elora is hard and cold, the complete opposite of Wendy, so it'll be something to watch the relationship evolve in the series.The story ends at just the right place. There are no loose ends, though readers may be struck with a case of severe curiosity. The never-before-published short story, The Vittra Attacks, somewhat fills that curiosity while, at the same time adding more depth to the Trylle and Vittra societies. Switched is an amazing beginning and Torn is bound to be just as delightful!
    • 4/5
      Find this review and more at On The Shelf!I can understand why this book went from self-published e-book sensation to having an actual print copy. I really enjoyed the book and found it quite engaging. It was a fast-paced read and the narrator was really great. She was very clear and her voices were distinct.As for the characters, I loved some and I hated some. Among my favorites of course was Wendy, a bit of a brat and trouble maker growing up, but she still always wanted to do things right. I get so aggravated for her in certain places in the book, especially when she has to deal with Elora, who is on my not so liked list. Finn is okay, but not among my favorite book boyfriend types. I did like both Rhys and Tove who were two other male characters we see often in the book. And I also liked Willa, though I had to warm up to her a bit first.The romance part of the story fell a bit flat for me, however. With the way Finn acted around Wendy, I have no clue why she started liking him in the first place. Though, later on, I know why she would then after spending so much time with him.This kind of new concept on troll lore is very interesting and I like the way the author ties troll traits into the Trylle. I would have liked to have seen more of the Trylle community other than just the higher end of society. We really didn’t get to see any of Forening other than a nice view from high above. I also got pretty aggravated with how people expected Wendy to just know how Trylle life worked. How could she know if she just found out she was Trylle?! People would get onto her (mainly Elora) when she didn’t do something right or didn’t know about some part of Trylle living. She didn’t come preset to know it all, she needs to be taught and told the correct customs.The writing was pretty good, though I would have liked more descriptions in some places. I am really looking forward to Torn, the second book in the trilogy and I recommend this book to anyone looking for a fresh take on troll lore.Engaging, fast-paced, good characters, bit of a flat romance.
    • 3/5
      This was a young adult book that had an interesting premise. A mother tries to kill her daughter because she doesn't think her child is human. And it turns out she is right. She was switched at birth with a human baby.
      The story was entertaining and easy to read. I felt that Wendy was too easily manipulated by those around her and should not have been so quick to abandon her old life. I guess almost every kid feels at some point that they don't belong with their family and are really royalty with supernatural powers. But I can't see as many adult readers embracing this series the way they embraced the Harry Potter and Twilight series.
    • 3/5
      "Switched" is your typical teenage, paranormal romance, this time dealing with trolls. Although not an in-depth read, it is accessible, humorous in parts and quite a page turner so I think it will be popular with the girls who devour this type of book.
    • 3/5
      I'm really torn on this one. I enjoyed the overall story concept... but the main character was weak and inconsistent, and the writing was less than great. ("She shrugged her shoulders emptily." Really? Emptily? How does one shrug her shoulders emptily?)
      But... I did enjoy the overall story concept.
      Will I go on to read Trylle #2? Perhaps. Perhaps not.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      I have always had a soft spot for YA Paranormal Romance books, and I once again I have not been disappointed. The characters were very memorable and I really enjoyed reading about them especially about the main character and she learns about her life and what really makes her different from everyone else. I can't wait to read the next two books and see how this story ends!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Wendy is a changeling. This means that she basically was switched at birth with a family that was specifically picked out. This usually works well for the Trylle, but not so in Wendy’s case. Wendy’s mother, Kim, knew that Wendy was not her child as she was supposed to have a son. This caused Kim to try to kill Wendy at her sixth birthday party. Because of that, Wendy and her brother Matt went to stay with their aunt Maggie and Kim was institutionalized. Fast forward to today. Wendy is a high school senior and she is attending, yet another school. Maggie and Matt have moved around to find a school that would be good for Wendy and one that she will stay in, even though this has cost Matt jobs in his chosen field, architecture. In this new school, Wendy meets Finn, who tells her that she is Trylle or a troll. Finn is a tracker and is one of the best. He asks Wendy to come back to Förening, the home of the Trylle. Wendy is shocked at this and instantly refuses. This confuses Finn because usually people will come back with him without questions.Things happen and finally she does go back to Förening to protect Matt and Maggie, and there she discovers that she fits in there, but doesn’t really like it. She doesn’t understand what the fuss is about her. She doesn’t know what will happen between Finn and her.This book has been out in e-book for a while and I had good intentions of reading it, but the opportunity never presented itself. I was glad to receive the copy in the mail and instantly started reading it. I loved the synopsis I had read before and was sure that I would be engrossed in the story once I started it. I wasn’t disappointed. Hocking is an amazing writer and I cannot wait to read more from her. I had to cheat though, and bought the subsequent books in eBook form. I am also excited for them to come out in print as in my ARC; it states that each book “will include a new, never-before-published bonus short story.” That is enough to make me buy a book. I wrote two different release dates for this book. The one (24 January 2012) is the one that is printed everywhere including Hocking’s blog. The other one (03 January 2012) was on the letter I received from the publisher when I received my ARC of this book. I’m not sure which one is correct, so I put them both up there.I Like:▪Wendy. Of course I like Wendy. She is the main character and what the whole series revolves around. I wouldn’t like the series if I didn’t like her. She has some good morals. Even though a lot is expected of her when she reaches Förening, she stays true to herself and how she was raised.▪Matt. Wendy’s brother. He looks after Wendy and feels that it is his duty to protect her. He is, after all, the one who stopped their mother from murdering her. He is self-sacrificing and gives up what he wants in order for Wendy to have things. Wendy doesn’t realize this until later in the book.▪Finn. He likes Wendy, even though at times throughout the book, you don’t think he does. He is wavering between what he wants and what he knows is right. Which one will ultimately win out?▪Rhys. He is Wendy’s mänsklig or mänks for short. He is truly excited about meeting Wendy and takes a liking to her instantly. ▪Willa Strom. She is Wendy’s only friend in Förening. At first, Wendy doesn’t think that she’ll like her, but she eventually does.▪Tove Kroner. You don’t get a good sense of him in this book, but I like the fact that he doesn’t appreciate everything his mother does.I Did Not Like:▪Stupid rules. There are many rules in this book about whom can be with whom and the repercussions if you are with the wrong person/class.▪Elora. She is the current Queen of Förening. I know that she has a lot on her plate, but the way she acts or comes off is mean and rude. Constantly reminding Wendy of who is she and who she is not. In this book, I do not like her as much as in the subsequent books.▪Aurora Kroner. She is manipulative. You can tell that she is in this book. She wants the power that the Queen has. Being a Marksinna, her family is next in line for the Queen/Kingdom should the current monarch ever lose power.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Amazing series. Interesting plot and characters.
    • 2/5
      I couldn't help but believe that if I were put in her place I wouldn't have done anything any differently than she had, Wendy, that is. Wendy thought her life was normal, albeit her mother trying to kill her when she was six years old. She had a good life, even though she was a bit of an outsider, she had a loving aunt and doting, protective brother. Then her life changed, she found out there was a reason she was different. Even if that reason didn't seem plausible situations made it hard for her to deny the fact that she was a changeling, that her mother wasn't her mother, her brother wasn't her brother, and so on. So when situation pressed it she returned to her biological mother and the home in Forening where she goes through her own understanding moments, and annoying situations.
    • 3/5
      Really 3.5 starsIt is not often that I give half stars but in this case I will, I enjoyed Switched very much and read it very quickly, however I was not in love with it. The premise of the story is that a girl realizes that she was switched at birth and learns where she belongs is not where she thought. This is an older book, but I still don't want to give too much away - I thought going into this book it was going to be about Fairies.... it was note, I was pleasantly surprised though by how the author played the switch and the cast of characters.The plot climax seemed a little rushed at the end of the book, but my real concerns were about Wendy, the main character. I feel like as she was learning who she was and how to live in this new 'world' she didn't ask enough questions, nor did she ask the questions that I think that she should have. I found it a little frustrating to read when I wanted answersto questions she was late to ask or didn't ask. I think that this first book did have some good world building and I think if given the opportunity I would read the next installment but not right now...I liked the book but I was also more frustrated than pleased as I read most of it. The ending saved it from getting a lower rating, there is some romance and obviously, like I mentioned the real action happens then as well.

    Book preview

    Switched - Amanda Hocking

    PROLOGUE

    eleven years ago

    A couple things made that day stand out more than any other: it was my sixth birthday, and my mother was wielding a knife. Not a tiny steak knife, but some kind of massive butcher knife glinting in the light like in a bad horror movie. She definitely wanted to kill me.

    I try to think of the days that led up to that one to see if I missed something about her, but I have no memory of her before then. I have some memories of my childhood, and I can even remember my dad, who died when I was five, but not her.

    When I ask my brother, Matt, about her, he always answers with things like, She’s batshit, Wendy. That’s all you need to know. He’s seven years older than I am, so he remembers things better, but he never wants to talk about it.

    We lived in the Hamptons when I was a kid, and my mother was a lady of leisure. She’d hired a live-in nanny to deal with me, but the night before my birthday the nanny had left for a family emergency. My mother was in charge of me, for the first time in her life, and neither of us was happy.

    I didn’t even want the party. I liked gifts, but I didn’t have any friends. The people coming to the party were my mother’s friends and their snobby little kids. She had planned some kind of princess tea party I didn’t want, but Matt and our maid spent all morning setting it up anyway.

    By the time the guests arrived, I’d already ripped off my shoes and plucked the bows from my hair. My mother came down in the middle of opening gifts, surveying the scene with her icy blue eyes.

    Her blond hair had been smoothed back, and she had on bright red lipstick that only made her appear paler. She still wore my father’s red silk robe, the same way she had since the day he died, but she’d added a necklace and black heels, as if that would make the outfit appropriate.

    No one commented on it, but everyone was too busy watching my performance. I complained about every single gift I got. They were all dolls or ponies or some other thing I would never play with.

    My mother came into the room, stealthily gliding through the guests to where I sat. I had torn through a box wrapped in pink teddy bears, containing yet another porcelain doll. Instead of showing any gratitude, I started yelling about what a stupid present it was.

    Before I could finish, she slapped me sharply across the face.

    You are not my daughter, my mother said, her voice cold. My cheek stung from where she had hit me, and I gaped at her.

    The maid quickly redirected the festivities, but the idea percolated in my mother’s mind the rest of the afternoon. I think, when she said it, she meant it the way parents do when their child behaves appallingly. But the more she thought, the more it made sense to her.

    After an afternoon of similar tantrums on my part, someone decided it was time to have cake. My mother seemed to be taking forever in the kitchen, and I went to check on her. I don’t even know why she was the one getting the cake instead of the maid, who was far more maternal.

    On the island in the kitchen, a massive chocolate cake covered in pink flowers sat in the middle. My mother stood on the other side, holding a gigantic knife she was using to cut the cake to serve on tiny saucers. Her hair was coming loose from its bobby pins.

    Chocolate? I wrinkled my nose as she tried to set perfect pieces onto the saucers.

    Yes, Wendy, you like chocolate, my mother informed me.

    No, I don’t! I crossed my arms over my chest. I hate chocolate! I’m not going to eat it, and you can’t make me!

    Wendy!

    The knife happened to point in my direction, some frosting stuck to the tip, but I wasn’t afraid. If I had been, everything might’ve turned out different. Instead, I wanted to have another one of my tantrums.

    No, no, no! It’s my birthday, and I don’t want chocolate! I shouted and stomped my foot on the floor as hard as I could.

    You don’t want chocolate? My mother looked at me, her blue eyes wide and incredulous.

    A whole new type of crazy glinted in them, and that’s when my fear started to kick in.

    What kind of child are you, Wendy? She slowly walked around the island, coming toward me. The knife in her hand looked far more menacing than it had a few seconds ago.

    You’re certainly not my child. What are you, Wendy?

    Staring at her, I took several steps back. My mother looked maniacal. Her robe had fallen open, revealing her thin collarbones and the black slip she wore underneath. She took a step forward, this time with the knife pointed right at me. I should’ve screamed or run away, but I felt frozen in place.

    I was pregnant, Wendy! But you’re not the child I gave birth to! Where is my child? Tears formed in her eyes, and I just shook my head. You probably killed him, didn’t you?

    She lunged at me, screaming at me to tell her what I had done with her real baby. I darted out of the way just in time, but she backed me into a corner. I pressed up against the kitchen cupboards with nowhere to go, but she wasn’t about to give up.

    Mom! Matt yelled from the other side of the room.

    Her eyes flickered with recognition, the sound of the son she actually loved. For a moment I thought this might stop her, but it only made her realize she was running out of time, so she raised the knife.

    Matt dove at her, but not before the blade tore through my dress and slashed across my stomach. Blood stained my clothes as pain shot through me, and I sobbed hysterically. My mother fought hard against Matt, unwilling to let go of the knife.

    She killed your brother, Matthew! my mother insisted, looking at him with frantic eyes. She’s a monster! She has to be stopped!

    ONE

    home

    Drool spilled out across my desk, and I opened my eyes just in time to hear Mr. Meade slam down a textbook. I’d only been at this high school a month, but I’d quickly learned that was his favorite way of waking me up from my naps during his history lecture. I always tried to stay awake, but his monotone voice lulled me into sleeping submission every time.

    Miss Everly? Mr. Meade snapped. Miss Everly?

    Hmm? I murmured.

    I lifted my head and discreetly wiped away the drool. I glanced around to see if anyone had noticed. Most of the class seemed oblivious, except for Finn Holmes. He’d been here a week, so he was the only kid in school newer than me. Whenever I looked at him, he always seemed to be staring at me in a completely unabashed way, as if it were perfectly normal to gawk at me.

    There was something oddly still and quiet about him, and I had yet to hear him speak, even though he was in four of my classes. He wore his hair smoothed back, and his eyes were a matching shade of black. His looks were rather striking, but he weirded me out too much for me to find him attractive.

    Sorry to disturb your sleep. Mr. Meade cleared his throat so I would look up at him.

    It’s okay, I said.

    Miss Everly, why don’t you go down to the principal’s office? Mr. Meade suggested, and I groaned. Since you seem to be making a habit of sleeping in my class, maybe he can come up with some ideas to help you stay awake.

    I am awake, I insisted.

    Miss Everly—now. Mr. Meade pointed to the door, as if I had forgotten how to leave and needed reminding.

    I fixed my gaze on him, and despite how stern his gray eyes looked, I could tell he’d cave easily. Over and over in my head I kept repeating, I do not need to go the principal’s office. You don’t want to send me down there. Let me stay in class. Within seconds his face went lax and his eyes took on a glassy quality.

    You can stay in class and finish the lecture, Mr. Meade said groggily. He shook his head, clearing his eyes. But next time you’re going straight to the office, Miss Everly. He looked confused for a moment, and then launched right back into his history lecture.

    I wasn’t sure what it was that I had just done exactly—I tried not to think about it enough to name it. About a year ago, I’d discovered that if I thought about something and looked at somebody hard enough, I could get that person to do what I wanted.

    As awesome as that sounded, I avoided doing it as much as possible. Partially because I felt like I was crazy for really believing I could do it, even though it worked every time. But mostly because I didn’t like it. It made me feel dirty and manipulative.

    Mr. Meade went on talking, and I followed along studiously, my guilt making me try harder. I hadn’t wanted to do that to him, but I couldn’t go to the principal’s office. I had just been expelled from my last school, forcing my brother and aunt to uproot their lives again so we could move closer to my new school.

    I had honestly tried at the last school, but the Dean’s daughter had been intent on making my life miserable. I’d tolerated her taunts and ridicules as best I could until one day she cornered me in the bathroom, calling me every dirty name in the book. Finally, I’d had enough, and I punched her.

    The Dean decided to skip their one-strike rule and immediately expelled me. I know in large part it was because I’d resorted to physical violence against his child, but I’m not sure that was it entirely. Where other students were shown leniency, for some reason I never seemed to be.

    When class finally ended, I shoved my books in my book bag and left quickly. I didn’t like hanging around after I did the mind-control trick. Mr. Meade could change his mind and send me to the office, so I hurried down to my locker.

    Bright-colored flyers decorated battered lockers, telling everyone to join the debate team, try out for the school play, and not to miss the fall semiformal this Friday. I wondered what a semiformal consisted of at a public school, not that I’d bothered to ask anyone.

    I got to my locker and started switching out my books. Without even looking, I knew Finn was behind me. I glanced over my shoulder and saw him getting a drink from the fountain. Almost as soon as I looked at him, he lifted his head and gazed at me. Like he could sense me too.

    The guy was just looking at me, nothing more, but it freaked me out somehow. I’d put up with his stares for a week, trying to avoid confrontation, but I couldn’t take it anymore. He was the one acting inappropriately, not me. I couldn’t get in trouble for just talking to him, right?

    Hey, I said to him, slamming my locker shut. I readjusted the straps on my book bag and walked across the hall to where he stood. Why are you staring at me?

    Because you’re standing in front of me, Finn replied simply. He looked at me, his eyes framed by dark lashes, without any hint of embarrassment or even denial. It was definitely unnerving.

    "You’re always staring at me, I persisted. It’s weird. You’re weird."

    I wasn’t trying to fit in.

    Why do you look at me all the time? I knew I’d simply rephrased my original question, but he still hadn’t given me a decent answer.

    Does it bother you?

    Answer the question. I stood up straighter, trying to make my presence more imposing so he wouldn’t realize how much he rattled me.

    Everyone always looks at you, Finn said coolly. You’re very attractive.

    That sounded like a compliment, but his voice was emotionless when he said it. I couldn’t tell if he was making fun of a vanity I didn’t even have, or if he was simply stating facts. Was he flattering me or mocking me? Or maybe something else entirely?

    Nobody stares at me as much as you do, I said as evenly as I could.

    If it bothers you, I’ll try and stop, Finn offered.

    That was tricky. In order to ask him to stop, I had to admit that he’d gotten to me, and I didn’t want to admit that anything got to me. If I lied and said it was fine, then he would just keep on doing it.

    I didn’t ask you to stop. I asked you why, I amended.

    I told you why.

    No, you didn’t. I shook my head. "You just said that everyone looks at me. You never explained why you looked at me."

    Almost imperceptibly the corner of his mouth moved up, revealing the hint of a smirk. It wasn’t just that I amused him; I sensed he was pleased with me. Like he had challenged me somehow and I had passed.

    My stomach did a stupid flip thing I had never felt before, and I swallowed hard, hoping to fight it back.

    I look at you because I can’t look away, Finn answered finally.

    I was struck completely mute, trying to think of some kind of clever response, but my mind refused to work. Realizing that my jaw had gone slack and I probably looked like an awestruck schoolgirl, I hurried to collect myself.

    That’s kind of creepy, I said at last, but my words came out weak instead of accusatory.

    I’ll work on being less creepy, then, Finn promised.

    I had called him out on being creepy, and it didn’t faze him at all. He didn’t stammer an apology or flush with shame. He just kept looking at me evenly. Most likely he was a damn sociopath, and for whatever reason, I found that endearing.

    I couldn’t come up with a witty retort, but the bell rang, saving me from the rest of that awkward conversation. Finn just nodded, thus ending our exchange, and turned down the hall to go to his next class. Thankfully, it was one of the few he didn’t have with me.

    True to his word, Finn wasn’t creepy the rest of the day. Every time I saw him, he was doing something inoffensive that didn’t involve looking at me. I still got that feeling that he watched me when I had my back to him, but it wasn’t anything I could prove.

    When the final bell rang at three o’clock, I tried to be the first one out. My older brother, Matt, picked me up from school, at least until he found a job, and I didn’t want to keep him waiting. Besides that, I didn’t want to deal with any more contact with Finn Holmes.

    I quickly made my way to the parking lot at the edge of the school lawn. Scanning for Matt’s Prius, I absently started to chew my thumbnail. I had this weird feeling, almost like a shiver running down my back. I turned around, half expecting to see Finn staring at me, but there was nothing.

    I tried to shake it off, but my heart raced faster. This felt like something more sinister than a boy from school. I was still staring off, trying to decide what had me freaked out, when a loud honk startled me, making me jump. Matt sat a few cars down, looking at me over the top of his sunglasses.

    Sorry. I opened the car door and hopped in, where he looked me over for a moment. What?

    You looked nervous. Did something happen? Matt asked, and I sighed. He took his whole big brother thing way too seriously.

    No, nothing happened. School sucks, I said, brushing him off. Let’s go home.

    Seat belt, Matt commanded, and I did as I was told.

    Matt had always been quiet and reserved, thinking everything over carefully before making a decision. He was a stark contrast to me in every way, except that we were both relatively short. I was small, with a decidedly pretty, feminine face. My brown hair was an untamed mess of curls that I kept up in loose buns.

    He kept his sandy blond hair trim and neat, and his eyes were the same shade of blue as our mother’s. Matt wasn’t overtly muscular, but he was sturdy and athletic from working out a lot. He had a sense of duty, like he had to make sure he was strong enough to defend us against anything.

    How is school going? Matt asked.

    Great. Fantastic. Amazing.

    Are you even going to graduate this year? Matt had long since stopped judging my school record. A large part of him didn’t even care if I graduated from high school.

    Who knows? I shrugged.

    Everywhere I went, kids never seemed to like me. Even before I said or did anything. I felt like I had something wrong with me and everyone knew it. I tried getting along with the other kids, but I’d only take getting pushed for so long before I pushed back. Principals and deans were quick to expel me, probably sensing the same things the kids did.

    I just didn’t belong.

    Just to warn you, Maggie’s taking it seriously, Matt said. She’s set on you graduating this year, from this school.

    Delightful. I sighed. Matt couldn’t care less about my schooling, but my aunt Maggie was a different story. And since she was my legal guardian, her opinion mattered more. What’s her plan?

    Maggie’s thinking bedtimes, Matt informed me with a smirk. As if sending me to bed early would somehow prevent me from getting in a fight.

    I’m almost eighteen! I groaned. What is she thinking?

    You’ve got four more months until you’re eighteen, Matt corrected me sharply, and his hand tightened on the steering wheel. He suffered from serious delusions that I was going to run away as soon as I turned eighteen, and nothing I could say would convince him otherwise.

    Yeah, whatever. I waved it off. Did you tell her she’s insane?

    I figured she’d hear it enough from you. Matt grinned at me.

    So did you find a job? I asked tentatively, and he shook his head.

    He’d just finished an internship over the summer, working with a great architecture firm. He’d said it didn’t bother him, moving to a town without much call for a promising young architect, but I couldn’t help feeling guilty about it.

    This is a pretty town, I said, looking out the window.

    We approached our new house, buried on an average suburban street among a slew of maples and elms. It actually seemed like a boring small town, but I’d promised I’d make the best of it. I really wanted to. I didn’t think I could handle disappointing Matt anymore.

    So you’re really gonna try here? Matt asked, looking over at me. We had pulled up in the driveway next to the butter-colored Victorian that Maggie had bought last month.

    I already am, I insisted with a smile. I’ve been talking to this Finn kid. Sure, I’d talked to him only once, and I wouldn’t even remotely count him as a friend, but I had to tell Matt something.

    Look at you. Making your very first friend. Matt shut off the car’s engine and looked at me with veiled amusement.

    Yeah, well, how many friends do you have? I countered. He just shook his head and got out of the car, and I quickly followed him. That’s what I thought.

    I’ve had friends before. Gone to parties. Kissed a girl. The whole nine yards, Matt said as he went through the side door into the house.

    So you say. I kicked off my shoes as soon as we walked into the kitchen, which was still in various stages of unpacking. As many times as we’d moved, everyone had gotten tired of the whole process, so we tended to live out of boxes. I’ve only seen one of these alleged girls.

    Yeah, ’cause when I brought her home, you set her dress on fire! While she was wearing it! Matt pulled off his sunglasses and looked at me severely.

    "Oh, come on. That was an accident and you know

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