Cross a troll—pay a toll. Cross him twice—pay a price. You don’t cross the old river bridge past the day’s last light unless you expect to pay a toll. The rumors were true, and everyone knew, a beast resides beneath. When Daphedaenya’s sister disappears, everyone is frantic to find her. Unlike her older sibling, who was well versed on fading into the background, staying out of the way, and being … and being careful not to kick up a fuss, Otvla has somehow managed to get herself tangled up with a troll. A big, menacing troll, who demands payment, immediately.
Can Daphedaenya get the the creature to see reason? Will he accept the trade her family offers?
You don’t cross a troll and get away with it. A toll owed will be paid, sacrifices will be made. Those the village spoke about in whispers, long gone but never forgotten, never seen or heard from again, weren’t around to tell.
This book contains strong sexual content, foul language, and sensitive subjects which may make some readers uncomfortable. This book is intended for readers 18 and older.
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A Dark Fairy tale
Daphedaenya “Daphie” Kinter, is the oldest of two daughters. She is often over looked and taken for granted by her family. She is content, at 28 hoping her boyfriend from the neighboring farm will finally ask her to marry her.
Daphie’s world ends when her beautiful, and spoiled younger sister is taken by a Troll. After all attempts to save her fail, her mother sends Daphie. Daphie is tricked by her sister with some help form the Troll into takeing her place. Her beloved Trystan comes to save her, to save him, her 2 years of servtitue becomes infefinate, ending only when the Troll says so. A odd friendship forms and after a few months, he gives her a week to visit her family. Daphie finds heartache and betrayal.
Daphie and Troll go from friends to lover, to bonded. Then he cast her out, thinking she has tricked him. A curse is set.
Home is no refuge for Daphie. She is assulted, and abused. She sets a curse of her own. Wandering alone. She is sruggling to survive. The 4 elements are dogging her foot steps for what she carries.
Only in dreams does he see her Troll. She learns her Troll’s story . She struggles to understand the curse. She makes a true friend in a part Fae, Vidi, who helps her escape the travlers.
Daphie is taken in by Troll’s brothers. He is falling into madness. Daphie has to find a way to save him.
Good story. Steamy. Does contain, questionable consent and a rape. Child birth.
A nice epilogue. A set up for the Elements and Fates sotries. A short bonus story, a set up for the Children of Nugget, (Daphie) and her sister’s kids.
I was scrolling through my books and I wanted to read something different, after reading the blurb… one word stood out for me… TROLL.
Boom reading… and I’m really glad I did. This is an epically long book with some harrowing moments ( trigger warning ) but the book was a pleasure to read.
Daphie ( aka nugget, aka petunia peepots ) is our heroine…she is a dutiful older daughter..her family knows this and uses it to their own personal advantages.
We meet daphie and her secret love Trystan ( bleurgh ) stealing secret kisses and discussing their planned engagement and wedding. After being called home by her squalling mother, daphie learns that her younger ( spoilt and babied ) sister is being held kidnapped… by a troll and he won’t be returning her… not without a toll being paid.
After much negotiating daphie is sent by her mother and reluctant father to parle for otvla’s release.. what she doesn’t count on is that her family have already bartered and arranged for daphie to take octvla’s place!!!
Betrayed by her family… daphie resigns herself to a life of slavery…but unexpectedly daphie finds herself, actually enjoying the gruff, grumbly, foul mouthed troll…and him returning her affections Together they start a somewhat happy routine until daphie accidentally bonds herself and Troll… setting off an ancient curse and no manner of strife….exacerbated when Daphie realises she has developed feelings for ‘troll’ aka berkam, aka Gersheart… but the road to happy ever after is rife with tests and trials that would damage the strongest of loves, especially when Gersheart constantly pushes her away.
This is a wonderfully written story. The themes are gripping, the interactions between daphie and troll are full of emotion- laughter, love and sadness…The world building is vivid and beautifully creative…. other charachters are written so well that I found myself seriously disliking them ( AHEM OCTVLA, Daphies mom and trystan ) troll was a wonderful mix of flawed and fabulous for me!!! Followed closely by his two brothers!!! The interactions between daphie and all the trolls was just brilliant! Filled with a range of brilliantly emotionally filled moments… OW THE FEELS!!
I will be reading more from this wonderfully creative author.