The plot is intriguing- a teen runs from her elite family because of her supernatural gift: the ability to cast fear. The possibilities are endless.

Or so I thought.

What I read is a troll who somehow sends people on a search for The Hanging City by giving them the one clue they need to semi-safe passage. But who is this bard? We never know.

And Lark, the one person who needed the clue found the Trollis (Trolls) and showed them her gift of fear in order to be allowed to stay. The Trollis live by a caste system that is hard to track and will remind students too much of their history classes. Their city is dark and dull, much like their Spartan lives. They fight off monsters that are ill-defined, dark, and dull. Getting the point? The luscious colors of the cover are reflected nowhere in the book.

The requisite evil parent exists in Lark’s father. No new ground is covered here.

There is a see-it-coming-from-a-mile-away awkward romance between Lark and Azmar, one of the trolls. I’m all for love without barriers, but after reading how one human -troll offspring seemed to appear like what I imagine a wild boar looks like, it’s hard to cheer for this one.

The ending tries is best to trigger an emotions, but since there are no surprises, there is nary a tear.

I don’t think I will buy this for my classroom. I don’t think it will appeal to my high school students. I thought there would be more adventure to go along with that gift.

The cover and the synopsis of this book was so interesting to me. The FMC, Lark, is seeking refuge from her abusive father by hiding in a mythical troll kingdom. She is unique in that she has the magical ability of instilling fear in anyone she chooses. The trolls, who normally hate humans, decide to allow her to stay with them because of this power. What I did not really pick up when I read the synopsis is that this is also an enemies to lovers troll romance story.

I thought the idea of this story was very creative and it had a great start to it. The concept was really interesting as a whole and I loved the idea of Lark's magic and learning about troll society. Unfortunately, the love story didn't grab me. I had a really hard time getting into this story because of the romance dynamic, troll love is just not for me I suppose. Additionally, as other reviews have mentioned, it sort of hits you over the head with the 'can't we all just get along'' theme. Finally, I was expecting a page turner, but the book went by very slowly for me and the ending wasn't particularly satisfying. I can see how this would be a great book for a lot of people. However, I must not be the target audience for this one.

Thank you NetGalley and 47North for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

DNF @35%

The pacing was off, the story was slow and boring, and the characters were flat. The romance was weird and lacking chemistry.

Do you like:
⭐️trolls?
⭐️magic?
⭐️star crossed lovers?
Then I think you would enjoy this book, because it has all of that and more.

Personally I enjoyed this story a lot. I liked the characters and it had excellent world building. The city of Trollis was unique and fascinating. I loved Lark, she’s powerful but chooses to only use her power if it’s necessary and considering what she goes trough that makes her strong. It had a good romance that developed naturally and didn’t feel forced which was nice. I did struggle a bit with the beginning of the book because Lark thought about the appearance of every single Trollis she met in detail and it felt a bit unaturall. After the story got going however I had no more complaints and flew trough it!

I have seen other books by this author but never got around to checking them out. I figured I’d give this one a shot and I am so glad I did. This book was amazing. I am officially a fan of this author. Fantasy isn’t usually my first choice (although I enjoy it) but I can get into it. It took a chapter or two but after that I was fully invested in the MC, Lark, and her story. The author does a great job of keeping the intrigue while allowing you to form a connection with the characters. I loved the world building and how she slowly introduced us to the characters lives instead of info dumps that seem common in far too many books. Holmberg has mastered the art of showing the audience backstory through conversation and feelings through actions instead of just telling us. If you want a story that is both engaging and compelling check this story out.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the arc.

I picked this book up because I LOVED the author's Whimbrel House Series. This is very different, but very good as well! Reminded me a lot of the world building of Adrianne Young's books. A simple but well thought out plot structure. A great book to pick up. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

After reading the description, I had really high hopes going into the story. After finishing it, I felt a bit disappointed. While many people enjoyed it, it was just not for me. The premise had so much potential: a main character with an interesting power, a city built into a canyon. But the characters felt wishy-washy and the world-building was not enough. Getting an info dump of lore in the beginning and then not expanding on it for the rest of the story created a lack of balance. The fact that the action all compiles into the last 4-5 chapters does the novel no favors.
Lark, as a character, got on my nerves. For someone of her age and experience, I understand her goal to find a place that accepts her, but her naivete was too much. Sure, give people the benefit of the doubt, but oh boy.
When I found out this was a monster romance, I was excited. This is a genre I read frequently enough, but there was not enough substance. It was such a slow burn, their declaration of feelings almost came out of nowhere.
Overall, this book needed some sort of read-through or edit. The writing style felt juvenile and Lark's conversations felt too try-hard at times. Her motives did not feel fully thought out and a lot of information became too regurgitated.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon First Reads for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

Wow this was such a fantastic story, and I loved the unique premise so much! It did start off a bit slow but once it picked up, I was pretty much hooked

It's unlikely that I'd find myself yearning for a troll romance story, yet here I am!

Lark is our main character, her journey alongside the trolls is a beautiful story of self-discovery and personal growth. As we follow her path, it feels like we're wandering through a magical maze of feelings that eventually lead her to truly accepting herself.

The story paints a picture of someone who, even though they don't fit society's norms, still craves love and happiness. Through Lark's adventures, the story gently reminds us that real connections go beyond appearances. It's about shared values and beliefs that tie hearts and spirits together, proving that love isn't limited by anything and can grow in the most unexpected places.

The descriptions of Cagmar are so vivid and full of life that they show how skilled the author is at building a fictional world. It's like we're not just reading about a place on a map, but we're actually in the heart of Cagmar, feeling its pulse, hearing its secrets, and enjoying its unique beauty.

I'm really impressed by how the author captures deep human emotions and connections in a fantastical setting. Every word and sentence feels like it touches both our minds and hearts.

The Hanging City is a whimsical book with great world building, characters, and story. I've read Charlie N Holmberg's Whimbrel House series and this has a similar cozy fairy tale feel. There's complex social and political structures that are explained thoughtfully, and don't drag the story. Lark has good growth, Azmar is a lovable marshmallow, and Unach has a rough exterior but means well.

Special thanks to NetGalley and 47 North Books for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Content warnings: parental abuse, physical abuse

Rep: slow burn, found family

Thoughts

I don't know how I feel about this one, and I dont know what I want to rate this. There are some interesting aspects about this book and the world that Holmberg created with the Trolls and the magic system, but there was something about the writing that just didn't click with me. Or maybe the chapters were a bit on the long side 🤔 (that honestly might be it 😹)

But I do think that this is worth the read! I haven't read any other Holmberg books, so I dont know how this compared to any of their other works.

This book starts out with the main character, Lark, on the run from her father looking for a safe haven. The only place she has left, or so she thinks, is Cagmar - “the city of trolls”. The humans and trolls have a long-standing history of not liking one another, so it is a dangerous place for Lark to be. Lark’s only saving grace is that she has a power to where she can inflict fear onto other people. Thus, the trolls want to utilize her as a weapon.

This is where we meet other main characters of the book: Azmar, Unach, Perg, Grodd.

Azmar is such a sweet trollis (This is what the trolls actually like to be called. Apparently “trolls” is derogatory to them). It’s hard not to like him when he’s constantly looking out for Lark and you can tell pretty early on that he genuinely cares about her even when he’s trying not to. From the book, “Azmar values justice, truth, and love”.

Unach might just be my favorite trollis. I seriously LOVE her. She is such a little badass. You can tell that she loves Lark but struggles with that realization. She is constantly teetering back and forth between hating everything about humans to trying to accept a friendship with a human. “Unach values family and friendship”. This is evident multiple times throughout the book.

Perg is half human and half trollis. Lark and Perg formed a friendship early on and it was just a cute friendship between the two. I didn’t have that many feelings towards Perg, but he was a good addition to the book, especially being a mix of both human and trollis. “Perg values relationships and sees to the hearts of others.”

Grodd is just UGHHHH. He is such a big bully and he has got to go. #cancelled. LOL. I loved when Lark put him in his place.

Overall, I started the book not really sure if I would like it. However, once Lark got integrated into The Hanging City (Cagmar), it definitely picked up and I found myself actually wanting to continue reading. Not going to lie, I had a hard time visualizing Cagmar, so I was very thankful the author drew out a map to help me comprehend.

I will say, I was pretty disappointed with the ending. I felt it was very rushed and when I finished the book I kept feeling like “wait, this is really it?”. Not good closure with me and from what I understand, it’s a stand-alone book. Granted, it does have an uplifting, mostly happy ending, but there was WAAAAY more that could have gone into it and I don’t want to say much because I don’t want to spoil anything. Lol. Overall, 4/5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All of these opinions are mine alone.

I'm really starting to wonder if Charlie Holmberg can write a bad book. I openly state that I did not like the beginning of this story. There is no particular item that made me feel this way. That hook that pulls you into the story just didn't happen for me until almost the midway mark. Trolls seem to be the lower class citizens of fantasy tropes. There is not much bringing them to the forefront of storytelling. In <i>The Hanging City</i>, we have a human who runs away to the troll metropolis because she fits nowhere else. Seems like the perfect place for an outcast to run. A city where humans are absolutely not welcomed. They are enslaved.

Lark is different from all those humans, though. The exact difference that made her unacceptable in human culture allows her a modicum of acceptance with the trollis. Their acceptance of her makes Lark want to respect the trollis culture. She wants to learn how her abilities can fit into the only home she has left. And maybe a little bit of love pushes her too. Come on, this is a Holmberg. Of course there is a little bit of love. Actually, this time there is even a little bit of steam.

While I couldn't get the feels immediately from the beginning, by the time I was hooked in, I was hooked. Holmberg is a master at the beauty of acceptance. The sweet tenderness of people falling in love with themselves and each other. I hope she doesn't lose her touch with romance in lieu of passion. The reality and subtlety of her love stories are why I keep coming back.

"The Hanging City" by Charlie N. Holmberg is a captivating tale that transported me to a world of magic and wonder. The author's creative imagination shines through the intricate cityscape and enchanting characters. A spellbinding read for those who love immersive fantasy adventures.

The book follows Lark who, in an effort to escape her abusive father, seeks refuge in the Trollis city of Cagmar. In Cagmar humans are worse than second class citizens, they have no rights. The trollis have a strict caste system and humans are not even allowed to have a caste, they are nothing. Lark is assigned as a monster fighter and asked to risk her life for the city, while not being allowed to defend herself from any abuse by the trollis. While I liked the world building and concept, Larks reactions to this is a bit hard to swallow. I understand that she would accept her fate, but she doesn’t stop there. She is loyal to the trollis and defends them. It was the worst type of Stockholm syndrome to be honest and I couldn’t get excited about the romance because of it. There was just so many unacceptable injustices and yet no triumph at the end.

I went in Blind with this book. saw it on BookTok, of course added it :)
I was surprised at how well this book flowed.
I was surprised with a Troll Romance. If you think you dont need this in your life, you are wrong. IMO
Found family, romance, tension.
First time reading a troll romance, there will be more.

This is probably my 8th or 9th book by Charlie N. Holmberg so I definitely would say that I enjoy her writing. However, this book wasn’t my favorite.

Some of the things I didn’t like are unique to me though. For example, I absolutely detest spiders so reading about them in any way was just awful. That’s not a reason to dislike a book, but I disliked the feeling it gave me which made it hard to like the story in that moment.

Also, I am not a monster romance girlie. There’s just no appeal for me. So, the romance was kind of meh in my opinion.

But don’t be turned off of this book because there was a lot to like. The world was really interesting and unique as well as the magic system. I also thought the MC was strong and brave and all around someone I’d want to read more about.

I rate books by how they make me feel. This one had a few too many parts that I didn’t love therefore, it was a 4 for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I'm huge on character development, and this book definitely hit that for me. I love each character presented, how they are described, as well as how they interact with one another. Charlie Holmberg has done a wonderful job with these characters and has built such a cool world. I did not feel lost or confused about the animosity between the two races(?)/beings. However, there was no hook to the story. I wouldn't use the word boring, but it was strange to follow the main character around without much reason other than she has started her new life she was hoping for. There was no urgency, so to speak. Ultimately, I did not finish the book due to the lack of hook. I absolutely do not write off Charlie Holmberg, and will check out her other works, as this book was such a good idea. I am rating this more of a 2.5 star, but rounding up for the rating systems on netgalley and goodreads.

I was initially excited to read this one because I had enjoyed Keeper of Enchanted Rooms so much but I struggled a little with The Hanging City. It was a little light on the world building, with the exception of the trollis caste system, which was too complicated for me to keep track of. The heart of the plot is a love story and unfortunately, that didn’t really grab me either.

I do think that this would be perfect for people who want to dip their toes into monster romance, especially YA readers. The spice level is negligible (it’s for the most part fade to black).

Thank you to NetGalley, 47North, and Ms. Holmberg for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

I really enjoyed this. I have a few books by Ms. Holmberg sitting in my TBR and it looks like now I might have to promote them to the top of the pile.

Lark is fleeing her fellow humans, as her supernatural gift of evoking fear causes her to be driven out from each human establishment she reaches. She's also fleeing her father, who wishes to use her gift to intimidate others. Her last resort is Cagmar, a city hanging off the side of a canyon, which is populated by... trolls, or trollis as they call themselves. Humans aren't exactly welcome there but Lark talks the head council into letting her stay by trading on her gift. Cagmar is plagued by monsters that live at the bottom of the canyon and the trollis feel that Lark might be useful in deterring them.

A good portion of the plot resolves around Lark's life in Cagmar. I found the worldbuilding to be a treat. Lark is basically hiding, hoping that she can build a home and a life free of persecution, but simultaneously hoping to find some sort of soothsayer (cosmodian? I forget the spelling) who can help her. I admit, I was a little confused by who this cosmodian was, and how they could possibly help Lark, but there was enough other stuff going on. Lark also begins to catch feelings for one of the trollis.

Like I said, I really enjoyed this. I think I would have liked a little more closure with regards to Lark's father (his death seemed very anticlimatic) but otherwise no complaints. I would read a sequel, and as I mentioned, I'll be checking into some of Holmberg's other works I have had sitting on the back burner.