A Daughter of the Trolls

Numina Parables, Book 1

By: McKenzie Catron

Narrated by: 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

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!

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.

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.

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.