Troll or Derby

By: Red Tash

Narrated by: Stephanie Bentley

In Troll or Derby, fifteen-year-old Roller Deb is singled out by town bullies for both her skates, and for being different. 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 this magical new realm, forever?

©2012 Red Tash (P)2013 Red Tash

Great Story, Great Voice

What did you love best about Troll or Derby?

I really enjoyed the author's creativity in this audio book. Tash has a vivid imagination, and she builds her stories with wit, guile and grit; Not to mention the wonderful narration by Stephanie Bentley. Just great!

Who was your favorite character and why?

I just loved the Fairies. Awesome characters! Tash's imagination is limitless. She incorporates a multiplicity of magical beings into her writing. And her comedic breaks and suggestive prose are really well written, smart girl!

Which scene was your favorite?

My fav scenes were with the fairy drug. That's some powerful stuff. Reminded me of vamp blood from True Blood. Tash borrows from other sources of literature and myth (as she ought to do!) but what separates her from a lot of the young adult fiction authors out there is that instead of just regurgitating, she builds and expands on the canon of myth and the mythological. I'm sure there are other authors out there getting great ideas from Red Tash.

Any additional comments?

Overall, it was great to have such a talented narrator. It really makes or breaks the book. Some audio books have the most monotonous narrators- where do they find these people! Not here though, Ms. Bentley infuses the story with human (or otherwise!) essence. She gets into the characters, does great voices, and her inflections are right on point. Fantastic pacing as well. Made for a very enjoyable listen! Great audio book!

Narration brings this modern fairy tale to life!

Would you consider the audio edition of Troll or Derby to be better than the print version?

It's books like Red Tash's Troll or Derby that restore my faith in the "modern fairy tale". This is no retelling of a tired old story. Troll or Derby is a fresh, original novel about trolls and fairies living among humans in southern Indiana. Fifteen year old Roller Deb is the heroine, and she is not your stock fairytale princess... she comes equipped with magic roller skates, fierce bravery, and a geas laid upon her to protect her sister from harm. As she becomes aware of the other world alongside our own, she finds more and more that she fits there, and not only survives, but thrives and kicks butt.

Red Tash leads us through Roller Deb's world at a breathtaking pace, she sweeps us along and knocks us about like only a derby girl could manage. Troll or Derby is exciting, gritty, and at times even upsetting. I'm already looking forward to rereading this highly entertaining book. I'm also hoping for sequels.

Best of all, the narrator does distinctive voices and intonation, which reminded me a bit of a radio play. Having read the book, I was delighted to find this wonderful treatment of the story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Roller Deb is my favorite. She's got a lot of adjusting to do, and she doesn't always make the right choice, but she comes into her own and fights back.

Which scene was your favorite?

Two words: Black Unicorn. OMG.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was repulsed by the hazing Deb underwent by a certain irresistible but horrifying roller derby fairy. It was revealed in an especially artful way that made the horror creep over me as realization came at the same time it did for Deb. It's excellent writing and masterful storytelling like that which makes this book so amazing.

Any additional comments?

This is the book that made me a Red Tash fan. I'm one of the Radishes, her fan club, on Facebook. I'm following her comments about the progress of the sequel, Troll or Park, with great interest!

LilyElement Book Reviews - Troll Or Derby

Where does Troll or Derby rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I'll be honest, I've never gotten through an audiobook before Troll Or Derby. I've always had issues focusing on the story or being able to tell who the heck was talking. I also have the bad habit of giggling like a little kid whenever the reader gets to a cuss word. Troll Or Derby managed to keep my attention, and I could easily distinguish which character was speaking. The characters came to life as I was listening, which sounds corny but it's true. I could easily picture Deb running/rolling around town in attempts to protect her sister. I've read the ebook in the past, but I honestly think the audiobook version is my favorite. And trust me, I don't say that lightly.

Deb (aka Roller Deb) is an outcast that looks after her drug addict sister, Gennifer. The book starts with Deb saving her sister from a burning trailer and quickly escalates to other crazy events that kept me on my toes. When Gennifer goes missing, Deb goes to rescue her from the drug dealer boyfriend Dave. In Deb's adventure to save Gennifer, she meets Harlow, a hunky troll that I couldn't get enough of.

Harlow is drawn to Deb from the first second he sees her her. When he finally catches up to Roller Deb he helps her find her way through the paranormal aspects of the world she never knew existed. I absolutely loved Harlow's character; he's the sexy, quiet guy that isn't afraid to get his hands dirty to save his woman. So pretty much he's the guy that every woman wants in their life.

I was so happy while reading because Red Tash mixed it up and had alternating points of view each chapter between Deb and Harlow. This allowed me to get a more well rounded view of the main characters and how both of them think versus how they act. Troll or Derby is one of the most unique books I've ever read. It effortlessly blends roller derby, romance, finding oneself, rescue and more in a tidy package. I found myself listening for a bit and saying "just one more chapter" so I could see what would happen next (even though I already knew). If you enjoy paranormal books, Troll or Derby is a must buy.

Roll away with Deb and Harlow

Who was your favorite character and why?

I love Deb! She's feisty, fun and fierce and not a quitter. The narrator does a great job of expressing Deb's determination and sometimes confusion as she finds out more about who she is. Deb Rocks!

I actually love Harlow very much too- But well... have you ever read a book then listened to the reading and the voice didn't quite line up to the voice in your head? I felt that Ms. Bentley's voice for Harlow in Deb's chapters was too gruff... But I was able to get past that when he had his own chapters and told the tale from his perspective.

What about Stephanie Bentley’s performance did you like?

I enjoyed how Ms. Bentley used very different voices, tones, accents etc. throughout the reading. I was never confused as to who was talking. I thought she did a great job with an intricate story.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Red Tash's storytelling makes me laugh and wince equally. Troll or Derby is not for the fainthearted. It demands attention and passion. The telling (and listening) makes you care viscerally for Deb and Harlow and ache for them to survive... to more than survive. To thrive and kick butt! :D

Very disjointed in the beginning

I really wasn't sure what to expect coming into this book. The story turned out to be nothing like I expected. There are so many twists and turns, it fells very jumpy at times. I enjoyed it but it is definitely an acquired taste.

I like Deb and her spunky attitude. She is a bit of a tough girl, she is also a lesbian, which is rather vague for most of the book. It is said more in insults to her clothes and general demeanor, she makes mention of it herself, but it was such a passing comment you almost miss it. I enjoyed her narrative, she really is a sassy little thing. It must be a huge thing to discover you are not who you thought and everything around you is not what it seems.

Harlow is the other half of the narrative, he is a great character. I loved his snarky troll thoughts. He is just trudging along and then bang, life smacks him in the face. It takes time to really get into who he is and how her grew up. Once you get all the details, the murky story comes together.

The supporting cast is mostly bad guys, but hey, they are the meat of this tale. As things develop you see how Deb and Harlow have had to grow in a really negative atmosphere. The skating isn't key until later in the story, I thought there would be more roller derby throughout. Perhaps in the next book.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Stephanie Bentley, who is incredible! She is seriously talented and at one point I really thought there must be two narrators. The Harlow sections are so well done, I actually had to check and see if they were being done by a man. Such a fantastic job of changing the tone and keeping the read consistent. Her energy feeds into the action of the story and the emotions come through vibrantly. I am such a fan of her read, I am going to go see what else she has ASAP! Another one for my stalking...um following list.

I was intrigued by this story and thought if flowed nicely. It does tend to go off on what appear to be tangents, they are connected but at the time they just felt like rambling. Still, I am very interested in seeing what is next for this series. It is a very modern sort of fairy tale, in the gritty traditions of the Brothers Grimm.

Disclosure - I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, opinions and ratings are my own.

this book is a great read and a great LISTEN, too.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the Trolls in this book. Learning about them and how they fit into the world of faeries is fantastic. I also loved watching Deb discover who she is among the creatures of this new world, and being able to see the world from the eyes of both the inside and the outside.

Which character – as performed by Stephanie Bentley – was your favorite?

Stephanie Bentley is great for the main character. As I listened to the narration, I really could imagine that her voice was Roller Deb's. It really made the audio version of this book worth it.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did want to listen to this book in one setting. If only my children would let me listen for that amount of time!

Captivating and Entertaining

Would you listen to Troll or Derby again? Why?

I would listen to it again. I found it very enjoyable.

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed the point of view the author took with this. It made following the main characters more fun. I could see the story through their eyes and understand their feelings better.

Which character – as performed by Stephanie Bentley – was your favorite?

Deb.
She nailed it in my book. Her voice was what I think I would have imagined it to sound like.