A Daughter of the Trolls

Numina Parables, Book 1

De: McKenzie Catron

Narrado por: Jessica Peterson

Are you afraid of the bogeyman?

Eighteen-year-old Sparrow can’t remember a time when she wasn’t. And neither can her mother—or the trolls, imps, gnomes, and faeries who all live in the Glade and call it home. Though Sparrow’s weak heart keeps her wheelchair bound, she and her mother have dedicated their lives to protecting the Glade, especially from the worst bogeyman of them all: the skin-stealing, poison-ingesting witch called Black Annis.

But one night, Sparrow makes a terrible mistake, and everything she once held dear is taken from her. The Glade is no longer a sanctuary, and the only way Sparrow can save her mother and her friends is to journey out into a monster-ridden world that wasn’t made for her or her wheelchair. Joined by her half-goblin friend, Rush, Sparrow will have to confront her fears before the ones they love are lost forever.

A Daughter of the Trolls will appeal to fans of European folklore and the darker Grimm Brother’s fairytales. This is a spine-tingling young adult fantasy adventure about evil witches, monsters, and the imperfect heroes who face them all. You’ll join Sparrow and her faerie friends on a life changing journey where they face not only their outer demons, but their inner ones as well.

©2022 McKenzie Catron (P)2024 McKenzie Catron

Adventurous!

This was such a fun, cozy fantasy read! I loved getting to watch Sparrow grow as she and Rush and Hazel trip along to go save their loved ones. The banter was so fun between them all! I loved watching the friendships grow. I appreciated the disability rep and mental health rep. It shows that one can overcome and still take on life at its fullest.

I also highly recommend the audiobook! Jessica brings these characters alive with her voice and intonation as everyone faces off with the terrifying Black Annis.

Perfect read for spooky season

This was great. I really enjoyed that not only was the FMC not the stereotypical FMC but that she also had a significant physical disability that is a main factor in the turmoil faced by the people in this book. Sparrow is a human living in the glade but has been in a wheelchair since she was 8. After the trolls and her mother are captured by a witch, it is up to Sparrow to try to save them. Lets be honest, who doesn't like a ragtag group of heroes. You have the wayward Troll, the human in a wheelchair, and the Elder mother whose magic and age changes throughout the day. This was a fun group to follow which added intrigue, comedic relief and suspense into their journey to save their family. Their banter, adventures and missteps made this story easy to follow and east to keep invested in.

Disability and Magic

I love this book. I have always loved reading stories of faeries and magic, but I have always the connection at the heart of the story. I have disabled friends and have face my own troubles with my health so seeing a story with similar issues and the protagonist still caring on and thriving is amazing. this will always hold a special place in my heart.

A great job of putting me into the scene!

I really liked this book. I didn’t know this was a fairy tale type story, but duh, Carla, troll is in the title. It fits perfectly for my #2025YearOfFairyTales goals to read more fairy tales. It’s more the style of Grimm’s tales than Disney stories, but I don’t mind a little gore. It was easy to like the characters and the story kept me engaged. When Sparrow faces the witch, it’s truly creepy. The author & narrator did a great job of putting me into the scene. 🫣😳

Peterson's voices are varied and spot

I loved the narrator's take on the characters and how she brought them to life!

Amazing

Oh wow was I blown away by the fantasy novel! I love loved the accurate disability representation and it’s not just a side character you barely see we are talking main character you are in her shoes experiencing what she is experiencing and it’s FANTASTIC! I also just love the dialogue and imagery there were some gnarly scenes I was not expecting. This was an incredible story and I’m excited to read book two. I highly recommend you pick up this book or listen to the audio which is what I did the narrator did an excellent job with the different voices and changes she wasn’t over soothing and engaging.

Magic and Whimsy

I really loved this folklore-inspired adventure. The narration felt perfect for the story. The characters were really enjoyable and relatable with a villian that was truly evil and terrifying.

Very well done, and narrative was awesome.

Wonderful story of bravery and self assurance, story keeps you wanting for more, that you don’t want to stop reading/listening. Great book! Should be made into a movie also.

Thanks for creating disability inclusive fantasy!

I found out about this book by meeting the author, and her service dog Grimm, in person at the Salt Lake City FanX. I said I'd be getting it as soon as it was available on Audible and it's actually what I asked for for my birthday.

This book didn't disappoint. It was so nice being able to a character in a fictional world struggle with some of my daily realities. So often books gloss over any acknowledgment that the main character could be disabled. The side character, sure, but not the main person going on an adventure, definitely not the hero.

It's refreshing. I'm definitely looking forward for the next book!