For Jim Sturges Jnr. life is tough. Distinctly average in every way, he is regularly bullied by the stereotypical school jock while the girl he obsesses over barely notices him. An over-protective single parent stifles his out of school life, with strict curfews resulting in a regular, and unwelcome police escort home. But for Jim, worse is to come.
Growing up, he has always assumed his dad is a little, well, strange. When Jim begins to hear strange noises, and see strange things hiding in the shadows he wonders if he, too, is destined for a life of paranoia and mental instability. Until he discovers the existence of trolls. And then everything changes.
In many ways, Trollhunters is exactly what you would expect from fantasy author Daniel Kraus, and the creative powerhouse that is Guillermo del Toro. This is a book of wonderful invention and style, bringing the grotesque beauty of trolls and their world to life with effortless conviction. As Jim learns about the grimy underworld that he could never have imagined existed, so do you as the reader. You share his surprise, fear and disgust as the misery and tedium of Jim’s normal life is replaced by one far too ‘interesting’ for his liking.
Fundamentally a young adult novel, Trollhunters will appeal to anyone who’s ever been too scared to look under the bed, or wondered what might be hiding in the dark corners of the bedroom closet. If a criticism is to be found, it is in the brevity of the story but clearly, there is much more to come from del Toro and Kraus.
If you feel the need for a little macabre fun, then this is the perfect book for you.
TROLLHUNTERS / AUTHOR: GUILLERMO DEL TORO, DANIEL KRAUS / PUBLISHER: DISNEY-HYPERION / RELEASE DATE: DECEMBER 20TH
