Troll or Derby - Book Review

Troll Or Derby
by Red Tash

What is it about:
In Troll Or Derby, fifteen-year-old Roller Deb is singled out by town bullies for both her skates, and her sexual orientation. When her popular homecoming queen of a sister is kidnapped by a scuzzy drug dealer, Deb must flee the trailer park in which she's grown up, and rescue her. Along the way, Deb becomes enmeshed in the magical realm of trolls and fairies, and the blood-thirsty version of roller derby at which these beings excel. But spending too much time among the fairies comes with a price. Will Deb choose to save her sister, with the aid of a mysterious troll? Or will she be lost to the lures of roller derby, and the blonde temptress April, forever?

What did I think of it:
This is a cool story.

Deb is suddenly thrown into a world she doesn't understand and even with the help of a troll she makes some rookie mistakes that might cost her her life.

The book is told from both the perspective of Deb and that of Harlow, the troll who tries to help her. I really liked Harlow. He's a proper troll: Big, strong and with some intimidating tusks. Luckily he can glamour himself so he can move among humans without causing whole populations to run in fear.

I also really liked how Red Tash had used troll and fairy mythology. She does a great job at making the trolls and fairies look and act otherwordly. They're among the creepiest trolls and fairies I've come across lately.

The story is fast paced and full of action. At times it felt a bit chaotic, but it fits the bewilderment Deb feels while the world she knew if falling apart around her.

All in all this is a cool and entertaining read. I hope Red Tash will write more books in this setting and I will certainly check out what else she has written.

Why should you read it:
It's got trolls and roller derby!


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