Warrior's Wounds and Exile

Elva, once a faerie princess and now a scarred warrior, trains on the Isle of Skye among women who have all fled pain. Her past is a tapestry of wounds: a failed marriage to the Seelie King, Fionn, who loved her beauty but not her soul, and a mother who valued prettiness over strength. Elva's blade is her shield against a world that has tried to define her by her scars. When a monstrous bear arrives at the warrior camp, Elva's instincts warn her that change is coming. She is determined to never again be a pawn in someone else's story, but fate, as always, has other plans.

The Bear's Bargain

Donnacha, once a noble dwarf, is now cursed to live as a bear by the Troll Queen, who wants him for her daughter. He journeys to Scáthach's keep, seeking a woman with hair like sunlight and a warrior's heart—Elva. The curse binds his tongue, preventing him from revealing the truth, but desperation drives him to beg for help. Scáthach, wary of men and their motives, is both amused and suspicious. Donnacha's request is met with laughter, but the seriousness in his eyes convinces her to consider. The fate of his soul, and perhaps Elva's, hangs in the balance.

Reluctant Heroine Summoned

Scáthach calls Elva to her side, revealing that the bear has asked for her specifically. Elva, fiercely protective of her hard-won independence, is furious at being offered up again. But Scáthach's request is not a command to save, but to judge: Elva must determine if the bear is a threat and, if so, destroy him. The weight of old debts and the bonds of sisterhood press on Elva. She agrees, but only on the condition that this will be her last service. The journey she dreads is the one that will force her to confront her own brokenness.

Cursed Castle of Ice

Donnacha returns to his icy castle, a prison crafted by the Troll Queen. The castle is beautiful but empty, its magic erasing any mark he makes. He is tormented by memories of his lost life and the knowledge that the Troll Queen's curse is tightening. When she appears in her mirror, she reveals her true game: she has set him up to ensnare a Seelie faerie, making his predicament even more dire. Donnacha's hope flickers, but he cannot give up. He must trust that the woman he summoned will come, even as the curse forbids him from seeking her out.

Journey Through Trickster Woods

Elva's journey to the castle is fraught with faerie tricksters—bodach and cailleach—who try to lead her astray. She outwits them with threats and cunning, forcing them to reveal the path. The castle itself is a marvel of ice and stained glass, but every step is a battle against enchantment. Elva's resolve is tested, but her warrior's training and stubbornness carry her through. At the castle's threshold, she meets the bear, who is both wary and oddly gentle. The stage is set for a confrontation that will change them both.

Nightly Shadows and Secrets

Elva is given a cold, beautiful room in the castle, but at night, a man—not the bear—appears in her bed. Bound by the curse, Donnacha must share her space as a man each night, but she cannot see his face. Their interactions are tense, shaped by Elva's trauma and Donnacha's careful respect. He offers her warmth and safety, never crossing boundaries. Each night, trust grows in the darkness, and Elva begins to question everything she thought she knew about men, monsters, and herself.

Unlikely Companions

Days pass in uneasy companionship. Elva trains in the castle's hidden garden, and the bear watches, offering advice and gentle teasing. She senses the duality in him but cannot unravel the curse's secrets. Their banter is a balm for old wounds, and Donnacha's kindness chips away at her defenses. The castle, once a prison, becomes a place of tentative healing. Both are haunted by their pasts, but together, they begin to imagine a future where pain does not define them.

Healing in the Darkness

One night, Elva and Donnacha share wine and stories. Elva reveals the truth of her failed marriage and the wounds left by Fionn's possessiveness. Donnacha listens, offering empathy without judgment, and shares his own family's pain. Their honesty is raw, and for the first time, Elva feels seen. The darkness becomes a sanctuary where healing begins—not through magic, but through the simple act of being believed and understood.

Trust Forged in Fear

Elva's fear of touch is a wall she cannot breach—until, one night, she asks Donnacha to stay close. They lie side by side, hands barely touching, and Elva faces her terror head-on. Donnacha's patience and respect allow her to reclaim her body and her agency. The moment is small but monumental: trust, once shattered, is slowly rebuilt. For Elva, this is the first step toward loving herself again.

Troll Queen's Schemes

The Troll Queen, watching from afar, adds a new layer to Donnacha's curse: each night, he must become a man and share Elva's bed, but if she sees his face, he will be lost to the trolls forever. The rules are cruel, designed to torment and tempt. Donnacha and Elva navigate this new danger, their connection deepening even as the threat grows. The Queen's machinations force them to confront the limits of trust and the cost of hope.

Mentor's Candle, Warrior's Choice

Scáthach visits the castle, urging Elva to break the curse by seeing Donnacha's face. She gives Elva a candle, a symbol of agency and risk. Elva is torn between respecting Donnacha's boundaries and seizing the chance to free him. The choice is hers alone, and the weight of it is crushing. In the end, she chooses action, lighting the candle and gazing upon Donnacha's sleeping face—beautiful, vulnerable, and utterly human.

Breaking the Spell

The moment Elva sees Donnacha's face, the curse shatters the castle. Donnacha is ripped away, and Elva is cast into the snow, battered and alone. The cost of love is exile and pain, but Elva refuses to give up. Donnacha, now a prisoner in the Troll Kingdom, clings to the memory of her kiss. Both are lost, but the bond between them is unbreakable. The journey to rescue him—and herself—has only begun.

Shattered, Stolen, and Lost

Elva is captured by far darrig and delivered to Angus, the dwarven king and Donnacha's cousin. Angus, gruff but loyal, recognizes Elva's determination and agrees to help her find Donnacha. Together, they plot a rescue, knowing the Troll Kingdom is nearly impossible to reach. Elva's resolve is tested by dwarven skepticism and the weight of her own doubts, but she presses on, fueled by love and unfinished business.

Dwarven Kin and Deals

To reach the Troll Kingdom, Elva must bargain with bugganes—strange, story-loving fae. She trades tales and a lock of hair for passage, learning that love, not power, is the true currency of the Otherworld. The bugganes, moved by her story, help her infiltrate the trolls' domain. Elva's journey is a testament to the strength found in vulnerability and the unexpected allies forged along the way.

The Troll Kingdom's Prisoner

Donnacha endures humiliation and despair in the Troll Kingdom, paraded as a prize for the princess. He clings to hope, knowing Elva is searching for him. The trolls' cruelty is matched only by their indifference, and Donnacha's spirit is tested to its limits. Yet, the memory of Elva's touch and the promise of rescue keep him alive. The stage is set for a final confrontation.

Buggane's Bargain

Elva bribes her way into the troll princess's confidence, trading magical gifts for access to Donnacha. Each deal is a step closer to freedom, but also a risk—one misstep could doom them both. Elva's courage and cunning are her greatest weapons, and she uses them to outwit the trolls at every turn. The final bargain—a sword for a night alone with Donnacha—sets the stage for the ultimate test.

The Ball and the Battle

At the trolls' grotesque wedding ball, Elva, disguised, claims a dance with Donnacha. Their reunion is electric, a waltz of hope and rebellion. Elva reveals herself in a blaze of magic, stunning the trolls and reigniting Donnacha's will to fight. Together, they plot their escape, knowing the Troll Queen's eyes are everywhere. The ball becomes a battlefield, and love their only weapon.

The Final Duel

On the day of the wedding, Elva challenges the troll princess to single combat. The crowd jeers, the queen scoffs, but Elva's skill is unmatched. She defeats the princess, holding her life in the balance, and demands Donnacha's freedom. The queen refuses, revealing the trolls' utter lack of compassion. In a twist, Angus appears, slaying the queen with a dwarven blade. The trolls, indifferent, disperse. The curse is broken—not by violence, but by the courage to fight for love.

Troll Queen's Fall

With the queen dead and the trolls leaderless, Elva and Donnacha are finally free. The princess, spared, is left to ponder her own future. Angus's intervention is revealed as the final piece of a long-laid plan. Elva, once a pawn, is now the architect of her own destiny. The journey has transformed her from victim to victor, and Donnacha from beast to beloved.

Freedom and Homecoming

Elva and Donnacha, free at last, must decide where to go. Elva, still haunted by her past, seeks reconciliation with her sister in the Raven Kingdom. Donnacha chooses to follow her, declaring that home is wherever she is. Together, they step into the unknown, hand in hand, ready to build a life on their own terms. Theirs is a love forged in fire, tempered by loss, and made unbreakable by choice.

Epilogue: Fields of Gold

Years later, Elva and Donnacha live in a humble home, surrounded by children and fields of wheat. The scars of the past remain, but they are no longer wounds—they are reminders of battles fought and won. Elva, once broken, is now whole. Donnacha, once cursed, is now free. Together, they have built a life of love, laughter, and belonging. The story ends not with a grand victory, but with the quiet, enduring joy of a family at peace.

Characters

Elva

Elva is the heart of the story—a faerie princess turned warrior, shaped by trauma and betrayal. Her failed marriage to Fionn, the Seelie King, left her with deep scars and a fierce determination to never be owned again. Elva's journey is one of reclaiming agency: she is both sword and shield, protector and survivor. Her relationships—with Scáthach, her mentor; with Donnacha, her unlikely companion; and with her own past—are fraught with pain and hope. Psychologically, Elva is a study in resilience: she is terrified of touch, yet yearns for connection; she is haunted by memories, yet refuses to be defined by them. Her arc is one of healing, as she learns to trust, to love, and ultimately, to forgive herself.

Donnacha

Donnacha, once a proud dwarven noble, is transformed into a bear by the Troll Queen's spite. His curse is both physical and existential: he is trapped in a monstrous form, isolated from his people and his own identity. Donnacha's greatest strength is his empathy—he is gentle, patient, and deeply respectful of Elva's boundaries. His love for her is unwavering, even when hope seems lost. Psychologically, Donnacha is marked by guilt and longing, but also by a quiet courage. He is willing to endure any pain for the chance at redemption, and his journey is one of reclaiming not just his body, but his place in the world.

Scáthach

Scáthach is the legendary warrior who trains and shelters women fleeing violence. She is both fierce and nurturing, a woman who has built a sanctuary from her own pain. Her relationship with Elva is complex: she is both mentor and taskmaster, offering guidance but also demanding repayment. Scáthach's psychoanalysis reveals a woman who has channeled her trauma into empowerment, but who struggles with vulnerability. She is a mirror for Elva, showing what it means to survive and to lead.

The Troll Queen

The Troll Queen is the architect of Donnacha's suffering, a creature of malice and cunning. She is obsessed with control, using curses and bargains to bend others to her will. Her relationship with her daughter is transactional, devoid of love. Psychologically, the Troll Queen represents the externalization of internalized pain—she inflicts suffering to avoid her own. Her downfall is a testament to the power of compassion over cruelty.

Angus

Angus is Donnacha's cousin and the king of the dwarves. He is gruff, practical, and fiercely loyal to his kin. Angus's role is that of the reluctant helper—he aids Elva not out of sentiment, but out of duty and respect for her determination. Psychologically, Angus is a realist, skeptical of faerie magic and grand gestures, but willing to risk everything for family. His intervention at the climax is both a rescue and a reminder that true strength lies in solidarity.

The Troll Princess

The Troll Princess is both victim and villain—a creature shaped by her mother's ambitions and her own insecurities. She is spoiled, naive, and desperate for approval, but also capable of cruelty. Her relationship with Donnacha is one of possession, not love. Psychologically, she is a study in arrested development: unable to grow beyond her mother's shadow, she is ultimately left adrift when the queen falls. Her defeat is not just a loss, but a liberation.

The Buggane

The buggane is a magical creature who aids Elva in her quest, trading help for stories. She is whimsical, compassionate, and a reminder that not all fae are dangerous. The buggane's role is that of the sidekick, but also the audience—she reflects the importance of narrative, of finding meaning in struggle. Psychologically, she is a symbol of hope and the power of connection.

Fionn

Fionn, the former Seelie King, is a complex figure—charming, wounded, and ultimately destructive. His love for Elva is possessive, rooted in his own insecurities. Their relationship is a cautionary tale about the dangers of loving only the surface. Psychologically, Fionn is a man undone by his need for control and validation. His absence haunts Elva, shaping her fears and her resolve.

The Far Darrig

The far darrig are mischievous, amoral fae who capture Elva and deliver her to Angus. They embody the unpredictability of the Otherworld, serving as both obstacle and catalyst. Psychologically, they represent the randomness of fate and the necessity of adaptability.

Bran and Aisling

Bran, the Raven King, and Aisling, Elva's sister, are figures from Elva's past. Their presence at the end of the story is a reminder that healing is not just personal, but communal. They represent the possibility of forgiveness, of mending broken bonds. Psychologically, they are anchors—proof that family, chosen or blood, can be reclaimed.

Plot Devices

Curses and Transformations

The central device is Donnacha's curse, which is both literal (bear by day, man by night) and metaphorical (the burden of trauma). The curse's rules—especially the prohibition against Elva seeing his face—create tension and drive the narrative. The curse is a mirror for Elva's own wounds, and its breaking is tied to her healing. The transformation motif extends to all characters: from victim to warrior, from beast to beloved, from pawn to queen.

Bargains and Deals

Throughout the story, bargains—whether with Scáthach, the trolls, or the bugganes—are the currency of power. Each deal tests the characters' resolve and ingenuity. The bargains are double-edged: they offer hope, but also risk. The ultimate lesson is that true freedom cannot be bought, only earned through courage and compassion.

Duality and Hidden Selves

The narrative is structured around dualities: day and night, bear and man, warrior and victim, love and fear. The castle's shifting magic, the nightly transformations, and the hidden identities all serve to explore the theme of authenticity. The story asks: who are we when the masks fall away? The answer is found in vulnerability and trust.

Foreshadowing and Symbolism

The golden apple, the sword of Nuada, the candle—each is more than a plot device; they are symbols of choice, sacrifice, and agency. The recurring motif of touch—feared, withheld, finally embraced—mirrors the journey from isolation to intimacy. The ice castle, both beautiful and cold, is a metaphor for the walls we build around our hearts.

Feminist Reimagining

The story subverts traditional fairy tale tropes: Elva is not a passive damsel, but an active agent in her own rescue. The narrative foregrounds consent, the right to say no, and the power of saying yes on one's own terms. The healing of trauma is not a magical fix, but a process of trust, choice, and self-acceptance.

Analysis

Curse of the Troll is a powerful reimagining of the "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" fairy tale, but its true magic lies in its modern, feminist heart. Emma Hamm crafts a narrative where trauma is neither romanticized nor ignored, but faced head-on with honesty and compassion. Elva's journey is emblematic of the struggle to reclaim agency after abuse: her scars are not erased, but integrated into a new, hard-won wholeness. The story's structure—built on bargains, curses, and transformations—mirrors the psychological reality of healing: progress is nonlinear, setbacks are inevitable, and true change comes from within. Donnacha's unwavering respect and patience model a new kind of heroism, one rooted in empathy rather than conquest. The novel's ultimate lesson is that love is not a cure, but a partnership; freedom is not given, but chosen. In a world of ice and monsters, the greatest victory is the quiet, enduring joy of a life rebuilt on one's own terms.

Last updated: December 6, 2025