Review - Troll Mountain: Episode 1 by Matthew Reilly

Troll Mountain: Episode 1 by Matthew Reilly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

ebook, 65 pages

Expected publication: April 8th 2014 by Momentum 

Source: Netgalley

Synopsis:
'A dauntless young hero.
An army of brutal monsters.
An impossible quest.

Journey to the mountain ...

In an isolated valley, a small tribe of humans is dying from a terrible illness.

There are rumors, however, that the trolls of Troll Mountain, the valley's fearsome overlords, have found a cure for the illness: a fabulous elixir.

When his sister is struck down by the disease and his tribal leaders refuse to help him, an intrepid youth named Raf decides to defy his tribe and do the unthinkable: he will journey alone to Troll Mountain and steal the elixir from the dreaded trolls.

But to get to Troll Mountain, Raf will have to pass through dangerous swamps and haunting forests filled with wolves, hobgoblins and, worst of all, the ever-present danger of rogue trolls ...

The journey to the mountain has begun.

IN THIS, THE FIRST OF THREE SERIALIZED EPISODES, MATTHEW REILLY TAKES YOU ON HIS WILDEST RIDE YET: A HEADLONG QUEST TO THE DARK HEART OF THE KINGDOM OF THE TROLLS.'

My Thoughts: 
I initially chose to read this short story because I am a huge Matthew Reilly fan. I admit I was very interested to see how he would go in writing a Fantasy type story as opposed to the Action/Adventure books he normally does.

Troll Mountain revolves around a boy named Raf whose sister gets taken down with the terrible illness that has been attacking their small tribe. Raf is determined to save his sister by jouneying to the dangerous Troll Mountain to steal the famous elixir that the trolls have developed against the illness.

I really enjoyed the first instalment in this three part series and was definitely left with wanting to know more. Raf is an interesting and determined character and although this is a very short read, you are given enough of an insight into him to know that he won't be easily swayed from his mission.

I can't wait to find out a bit more about the Trolls from Troll Mountain as it's a subject I haven't really encountered in a novel before.

My one complaint was that I would have loved this instalment to be just a little bit longer. I felt a bit disappointed that there wasn't a little bit more of the story revealed but the ending certainly sets the reader up for what is hopefully a very interesting adventure ahead.