The Hanging City by Charlie N. Holmberg
Fantasy
August 1, 2023- 47North
Amazon First Reads

Review by Angela

Charlie N. Holmberg is fast becoming one of my favorite fantasy authors. Lucky for me several of her books have appeared on the Amazon First Reads list and I’ve gobbled them up ahead of release date. When the email came this month and I spied this cover I didn’t even have to read the blurb, I just hit the buy now button. Little did I know that this new fantasy world features a troll romance- which is something I didn’t know I needed in my life.

Lark has been on the run for the last seven years. Traveling from town to town, evading her father, and looking for acceptance and a sense of family. She has a gift, that feels like a curse- she can thrust fear into others, which she only uses as a means of survival. But after being used by her father in his quest for power and shunned by villagers who view her as something evil, she is out of options and heads toward the trollis city of Cagmar. Maybe this will be the sanctuary she is looking for.

The trollis value strength, the only thing Lark has to offer is her gift, and after a demonstration the council allows her to stay. But she soon learns her place is tenuous at best, and humans are considered the lowest of the low, below even the bottom rung of the caste system. She is given to a trollis named Unach, who is to watch her and train her in her new life. The trollis hate humans and their tiered society is harsh and based on brute strength, but Lark also learns that there are some who offer kindness of a sort, and eventually finds a few friends. And then there is Azmar, brother to Unach and completely different from everyone else in the city.

The world-building in this book is excellent. Charlie N. Holmberg tends to meander along with her storytelling, ramping up the action toward the very end, and one can’t help but be drawn into the story because the world and character-building are just so riveting. As Lark begins to acclimate to her new normal and learn the ins and outs of trollis society, building friendships and unwittingly creating enemies along the way, I was deeply invested in her journey. This is a well thought out society, even the location and how the city is built are thoroughly explored.

The romance itself is soft and slow-building, but so very lovely. I liked the climax and resolution, and how Lark and Azmar decided how they would achieve their HEA. Even the last page was sweet, with a hopeful message and a promise that they would find a happy life together.

All in all, another great read from Charlie N. Holmberg. Recommend.

Grade- B+

Content Notes- Violence, species bigotry, past death of parent