Sadly I haven't had a lot of time for reading so far this year. So an admittedly I don't have a lot of debuts to choose from, but this is definitely the best one I've read in a while. I didn't care much for the cover at first, but after finishing the book, I realize that it fits in with the story really well. The premise is intriguing - I honestly don't think I've ever read anything completely focused on trolls. When I picture one, I see a hideous beast hiding underneath a bridge. While Stolen Songbird doesn't exactly glamorize trolls, I found I really liked them. They reminded me strongly of faeries (which I strongly suspect is what they actually are). 
 Characters 
 Cecily - She has to be my new favorite heroine. She was talented, witty and awesome. She was a bit impulsive at times, but she put a lot of thought into her actions. And she had a kind heart. 
 Tristain - I liked him from the beginning. His sarcastic sense of humor was what got me. He's a mystery at first, but over time I learned more about him and I completely fell in love. 
 The King - An awful baddie I would not want released on the real world. He was certainly masterful at plotting and being evil in general. 
 Side characters - I liked Marc. He has a sad back story but he was still a good friend for Cecily. And I liked how Anais wasn't as bad as she was made out to be at first. I love characters acting different than I expect (most of the time). Vincent and Victoria were great additions to the story as well. 
 The World 
 Amazing. Jenson wrote Trollus, the lost gold-filled city wonderfully. I could really picture the caves and see the palace and and feel the magic. Everything just fit together and I can't wait to see how this world is further developed in the future. Funnily enough, the labyrinth and the sluag reminded me a lot of the Grievers and the maze in the Maze Runner. 
 The Romance 
 This was one of those hate-to-love relationships. I expected that, thought. Cecily was kidnapped and forced to marry a man (troll) that she'd never met before. And then there was that emotional bond they had to share suddenly. It seemed like they went from hate to love a bit fast, but after they made the transition I adored then together. I could really feel the passion and affection between them. If a love triangle develops later on I will not be pleased. 
 Writing 
 I was immediately hooked from the beginning. It's a bit long, so I couldn't read it in one sitting, but I didn't mind. The whole thing was equally interesting. An easy five stars.