I always promise myself that I not get any new books before reading the hundreds I still have to work my way through, and even when I receive new one's as gifts that I will still try and read the older books first.......no, it never happens that way, and yes I have only had this book in my possession for a few weeks and it was literally crying out to be read, so I did!

The book in question is "Switched" by Amanda Hocking.

Wendy has always known she was different, never really connecting with her mother and always feeling an outsider.

Things come to a head when an argument over Wendy's 5th birthday cake drives her mother to nearly killing her, saved only by her beloved older brother Matt.

Years later and Wendy still feels the same detachment from everyone and thing except her brother and her aunt, who now have joint custody of her since her mother was sectioned, though she does really want to make things right, and has decided to try harder at school and actually stay at this one longer than the last three!

After meeting the darkly brooding Finn, and being equally attracted and freaked out by his unnerving stare, she soon finds there is more to him and her than she realised.

After breaking the news that actually her mother was right in not connecting with her, as she is in fact a "Trylle" (a kind of magical being, a little like a forest nymph), and that, as part of the Trylle tradition, she was birthed and then swapped with a human child for the human parents to raise their children, with them eventually returning to their original homestead called "Forening", completely grown, educated and hopefully with their trust funds, which are what the Trylle depend on to fund their secret lives.

Wendy finally feels hope that she may fit somewhere, but fitting in may mean her having to give her family up, amongst other things.......

I was surprised by just how much I enjoyed this book, as it sounded a little flimsy from the synopsis (though the cover is amazing and the reason why I just had to read it!).

Wendy to all intents and purposes is a typical sounding teenager, full of indecision and angst, and rebelling against anyone that could be deemed as an authorative figure, the fact that she was nearly murdered by her mother makes her actions more believable, but also endears you to her.

The story to me however, really begins when she arrives in her own world, that of the ancient civilisation of the deeply secretive and magical Trylle, you are constantly second guessing what her role will be within this new community, but you are left with no illusions that whatever it is, will be very important.

There is a love story as well, but as with most good books the love has to be forbidden and really worth fighting for, and trust me this one has all those qualities and more!

I do get the feeing this is one of those borderline adult/teenager books around at the moment, as there is no real sexual content to speak of, but lacks nothing in excitement, with my daughter wanting to read this next!

This is obviously a fantasy book, though at times you really do forget this fact as the characters are the main draw with the storyline coming a close second to that, with each character having such distinct personalities, they are really believable.

Price wise this has a RRP of £7.99, but are currently being sold (along with the next book in the series "torn",) as part of a "2 for £7.00" deal in Asda.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable book, and I can't wait to read the next in the series, recommended!

Thanks for reading x

ISBN 978-1-4472-0569-2