"'You shouldn't focus on the bad things,' he said. 'Because you draw them toward you. Happiness is about focusing on the good things and drawing those things toward you.'"

I had some time before the official next book I was going to read, so I would I would go with this short story mainly because its cover was very enticing. It was not what I was expecting. The Prince and the Troll was very short (yes, I know its a short story) and the main things I remember are a river, mud, a female river troll, a road, and Starbucks. Yes, Starbucks. I didn't really get what the story was about, climate change, maybe, and the story itself was not exciting enough to make up for that. I didn't enjoy the open ending, but hey, it added another book to my total for the year and that I did like.

This is an Amazon Original. I will try others in the series. ( )

Winter 2021 (January);

This story of the collection was my first and I found it the way I find a lot of [a:Rainbow Rowell|4208569|Rainbow Rowell|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1342324527p2/4208569.jpg]'s writing: confusing, had great intentions but misses the landing, and leaves me wanting more to have been delved into. I would love to know so much more about "The Road" and the world around them rather than just these little exchanges. ( )

Meh. I guess I didn’t ever get the gist of who the Troll was supposed to be. It was Free and listened to the audible version while I was cleaning cupboards so I guess I can’t complain that I wasted my time. But I probably won’t “read” the rest of the series. ( )

This didn't make sense. I think maybe Rowell was trying her hand at whimsical and instead it was just weird. The repetition and the constant name-dropping of Starbucks and the mention of crows spying for a wizard and then the "troll" (mermaid? bog monster? mentally-unstable homeless woman?) being coy about her name and what she is just didn't add up to a comprehensive short story. It was obviously some kind of underhanded commentary on maybe consumerism but that just makes it worse. It was free and short so read it if you want but it's not one I'd recommend. ( )

A lovely story of opposites attracting. ( )