Scan barcode
bookph1le's review against another edition
4.0
This series is solid, and I'm really enjoying it. The plot is intriguing and engrossing, and I like how each book builds on the story and fleshes the world out a little more. Lia is an excellent character, well-rounded, flawed, and utterly believable.
You know a series is good when you compulsively read the books back to back and can't imagine interrupting your immersion in the world by reading something else.
You know a series is good when you compulsively read the books back to back and can't imagine interrupting your immersion in the world by reading something else.
emeryrachelle's review
5.0
This is a series review.
(Note: there are also two novellas, Brewer and Fugitive, that take place between books four and five. I am totally buying them, but since I haven't done so yet, they're not included in this review.)
I have finally found an author who measures up to the marvels of Cidney Swanson. Surprisingly - or perhaps not? - she, too, is an indie author. Other similarities between the two: their breathtaking book covers drew me in where the back cover copy left me skeptical. Both women focus more on series than standalone novels. Finally, both write in forms of the speculative genre, be that science fiction or dystopian.
Of course every book has flaws. The Frost books had a few typos, and the fourth book had a couple of minor inconsistencies with the rest of the series. (Example: a book referred to as The Winter Parables in the other books was called The Snow Parables in book four. Not a huge deal.) The author kept mixing up peak/peek and, more commonly, pour/pore. The first book got a bit sensuous, but that actually faded out for the most part. (Not the romance - definitely not! - but the toeing-the-line-between-okay-and-not.) There was one random curse word in one book, which I think just missed editing. (Today's cursing didn't really fit the story world.) Other than that, though, the writing was spotless. Glorious vocabulary, a perfect blend of showing and telling, a strongly designed story world, unique and individual characters...
Speaking of characters, they're basically the heart of these books, and most definitely the best part(s). Whether you like a person or not, you come to love the author's brilliant depth and voice for each unique person, no matter how small their role. Who can Lia trust? Why is he acting like that? What does she want? Everything comes down to motivation, just as it should, and the motivations here are not lacking.
There is a love triangle that develops a little less than halfway into the series... but oh, how beautifully it was written. I have never seen a triangle so masterfully done - for a Hunger Games and Matched fan like me, that's saying something. This series leaves those books in the dust. Both boys are equally matched to the girl and both would be great choices, emotionally and logically. Both of them have lives outside the girl. No matter what, the triangle is neither pushed too far aside as to become pointless, nor honed in on to the point where it becomes irritating. Lia keeps her head through everything. In fact, she's probably the strongest, most sensible heroine I've met.
Actually, Lia's strength of mind annoys me sometimes. It was worst in book four, if I remember correctly. In her attempt to protect those she loves and stay true to her loyalties, she doubts anyone who has ever not been on her side. At least four times she had absolutely no faith towards characters that were clearly (to me, anyway) not as evil as she made them out to be. As Gabe eventually points out, "Is there anyone you do trust, Lia?" (That might not be the exact quote.) At least the other characters were both as aware of and annoyed by this major trust issue as I was.
I wish I could tell you about everyone in this book. Ann, the soft and sweet best friend. Gabe, the mysterious fugitive. Adam, the unreadable loner. Jonn, the crippled but capable twin. Ivy, the irritating younger sister who grows oh-so-much. Borde, the strange scientist. Korr and Gordon and Raine and the Mayor and Claire and Cat and Stone and Everiss...
Some character-driven stories are a bit lacking in the plot department, but nobody will ever be able to accuse the Frost Chronicles of this. The twists! The turns! The development! While I sort-of agree with another Amazon reviewer - the fifth book felt like it lacked something in plot - the majority of the storyline was just stunning. I laughed, I cried, and I never knew what was coming. Seriously. As a writer, I've gotten used to finding every book I read a bit predictable. I've learned to distinguish what's coming up before the average reader. We talk about that in my writers' group a lot. But even though there was enough foreshadowing and hints laid out beforehand, I got my predictions shockingly wrong. Every. Single. Time. This person's the bad guy! That place is where they'll end up! He's going to die! She's going to turn out to be this big secret thing!
I'm surprised I never got annoyed with the *BUZZZ you're wrong!* moments. I guess I was too enthralled with what actually ended up happening to care that I had no idea where it was going. Each book in the series gives enough answers for you to feel like the book ended, but leaves enough questions to pull you right along to the next book. If I had an issue with any of the books' setup, it would have to be the openings. They never picked up exactly where the last book left off, and they felt a bit abrupt. It was hard to get into the first couple of books. It got easier with each book. The last book had a prologue, which none of the others did. I liked it, but it didn't seem to quite fit the flow of the series - I'd prefer if it were just chapter one.
The last book was also the only one with an epilogue, but that fit perfectly. Without that epilogue, the entire series would be left incomplete. After such a long ride with these characters, it was nice to ease out of the story world. All loose ends are tied together. The epilogue's almost entirely telling, but it works. It's like the older Grimm or Anderson fairy tale style, back before showing was a thing, or like when someone tells you a story orally. Even though it broke all the writing rules, the epilogue was probably one of the best part of the series.
The Frost Chronicles, my lovely readers, are a glorious example of escape reading with morals. I may or may not be experiencing book hangover... and my expectations for modern teen literature have certainly been raised impossibly higher. Traditional publishing's got nothing on Kate Avery Ellison.
I won a free copy of the first ebook of this series through LibraryThing. Upon my request, the author supplied the other four ebooks for free in exchange for a single series-wide review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
(Note: there are also two novellas, Brewer and Fugitive, that take place between books four and five. I am totally buying them, but since I haven't done so yet, they're not included in this review.)
I have finally found an author who measures up to the marvels of Cidney Swanson. Surprisingly - or perhaps not? - she, too, is an indie author. Other similarities between the two: their breathtaking book covers drew me in where the back cover copy left me skeptical. Both women focus more on series than standalone novels. Finally, both write in forms of the speculative genre, be that science fiction or dystopian.
Of course every book has flaws. The Frost books had a few typos, and the fourth book had a couple of minor inconsistencies with the rest of the series. (Example: a book referred to as The Winter Parables in the other books was called The Snow Parables in book four. Not a huge deal.) The author kept mixing up peak/peek and, more commonly, pour/pore. The first book got a bit sensuous, but that actually faded out for the most part. (Not the romance - definitely not! - but the toeing-the-line-between-okay-and-not.) There was one random curse word in one book, which I think just missed editing. (Today's cursing didn't really fit the story world.) Other than that, though, the writing was spotless. Glorious vocabulary, a perfect blend of showing and telling, a strongly designed story world, unique and individual characters...
Speaking of characters, they're basically the heart of these books, and most definitely the best part(s). Whether you like a person or not, you come to love the author's brilliant depth and voice for each unique person, no matter how small their role. Who can Lia trust? Why is he acting like that? What does she want? Everything comes down to motivation, just as it should, and the motivations here are not lacking.
There is a love triangle that develops a little less than halfway into the series... but oh, how beautifully it was written. I have never seen a triangle so masterfully done - for a Hunger Games and Matched fan like me, that's saying something. This series leaves those books in the dust. Both boys are equally matched to the girl and both would be great choices, emotionally and logically. Both of them have lives outside the girl. No matter what, the triangle is neither pushed too far aside as to become pointless, nor honed in on to the point where it becomes irritating. Lia keeps her head through everything. In fact, she's probably the strongest, most sensible heroine I've met.
Actually, Lia's strength of mind annoys me sometimes. It was worst in book four, if I remember correctly. In her attempt to protect those she loves and stay true to her loyalties, she doubts anyone who has ever not been on her side. At least four times she had absolutely no faith towards characters that were clearly (to me, anyway) not as evil as she made them out to be. As Gabe eventually points out, "Is there anyone you do trust, Lia?" (That might not be the exact quote.) At least the other characters were both as aware of and annoyed by this major trust issue as I was.
I wish I could tell you about everyone in this book. Ann, the soft and sweet best friend. Gabe, the mysterious fugitive. Adam, the unreadable loner. Jonn, the crippled but capable twin. Ivy, the irritating younger sister who grows oh-so-much. Borde, the strange scientist. Korr and Gordon and Raine and the Mayor and Claire and Cat and Stone and Everiss...
Some character-driven stories are a bit lacking in the plot department, but nobody will ever be able to accuse the Frost Chronicles of this. The twists! The turns! The development! While I sort-of agree with another Amazon reviewer - the fifth book felt like it lacked something in plot - the majority of the storyline was just stunning. I laughed, I cried, and I never knew what was coming. Seriously. As a writer, I've gotten used to finding every book I read a bit predictable. I've learned to distinguish what's coming up before the average reader. We talk about that in my writers' group a lot. But even though there was enough foreshadowing and hints laid out beforehand, I got my predictions shockingly wrong. Every. Single. Time. This person's the bad guy! That place is where they'll end up! He's going to die! She's going to turn out to be this big secret thing!
I'm surprised I never got annoyed with the *BUZZZ you're wrong!* moments. I guess I was too enthralled with what actually ended up happening to care that I had no idea where it was going. Each book in the series gives enough answers for you to feel like the book ended, but leaves enough questions to pull you right along to the next book. If I had an issue with any of the books' setup, it would have to be the openings. They never picked up exactly where the last book left off, and they felt a bit abrupt. It was hard to get into the first couple of books. It got easier with each book. The last book had a prologue, which none of the others did. I liked it, but it didn't seem to quite fit the flow of the series - I'd prefer if it were just chapter one.
The last book was also the only one with an epilogue, but that fit perfectly. Without that epilogue, the entire series would be left incomplete. After such a long ride with these characters, it was nice to ease out of the story world. All loose ends are tied together. The epilogue's almost entirely telling, but it works. It's like the older Grimm or Anderson fairy tale style, back before showing was a thing, or like when someone tells you a story orally. Even though it broke all the writing rules, the epilogue was probably one of the best part of the series.
The Frost Chronicles, my lovely readers, are a glorious example of escape reading with morals. I may or may not be experiencing book hangover... and my expectations for modern teen literature have certainly been raised impossibly higher. Traditional publishing's got nothing on Kate Avery Ellison.
I won a free copy of the first ebook of this series through LibraryThing. Upon my request, the author supplied the other four ebooks for free in exchange for a single series-wide review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
jenbsbooks's review
4.0
After being disappointed in book 2, I did quite like the story continuation here. Not what I was expecting. It went really quickly and it was over so fast! Another cliffhanger ending. Reading from the Amazon Prime Lending Library, so I'll grab the next book as soon as the next month starts (as I'm limited to one per month).
koalachick's review
5.0
This book took the series from dystopian to sci fi! The world created is incredible and I absorbed everything as quickly as possible. I love the new characters and the mystery is fun. There is a sense of urgency that left me anxious to finish. I think the best book in my second read through for this series. I love that as I grow older I can revisit books and their meanings change.
sophiesstories's review
1.0
Each book just keeps getting worse and worse, why am I still reading this series?
book_grinch's review
2.0
2.5 stars
Okay, as much it pains me to say this, this book was quite a disappointment.
I loved the previous two books, but this third one _i'm sorry_ but it feels as if it suffers from "second book syndrome!"
During the beginning and middle of the story, practically nothing of relevance happens.
There's a lot of repetitions regarding the set and the plot: Lia moving back and forward between the village and the Farm.
I continue to love the author's writing, but since the plot _up until the last phase _ in this one, was practically missing, it didn't shine as usual.
On the positives, i like how the author has managed to give a strong role to John, a character who due to his disability would probably just get a secondary role if this had been written by someone else.
The plot...well having finished this book, i can't say i'm crazy about it. But its not my role to discuss where the author imagination has taken her. It's different, that's for sure. And that's a good thing.
If i wanted to read the same old things, i would stick to a single book. And re-read it constantly!
However, i admit not being crazy about sci-fi variations in what _at the beginning _ appeared to be a dystopian story.
The way this sci-fi scenario was included in the plot ( something that had already happened on the second book, but that on this book takes a very firm stand..) is still growing on me. Hopefully, the fourth book will cement my understanding _ and hopefully, appreciation _ of Kate Avery Ellison "Frost" world.
This one, for me felt as a filler. A new character is introduced, apparently only to cause havoc.
Lia and Adam continue "dancing" around their feelings.
The Weavers have a new guest in the Farm, and tempers are rising...
And then we reach the final part of the book, and things finally start becoming a little more interesting:
Suddenly there's time travels (not my favorite kind of transportation), and yes, someone who "apparently" had been lost forever has now been found...~brother~
Because one can't have a dystopia/post-apocalyptic scenario without a love triangle!
This must be some kind of rule that obviously escaped my notice...
Bottom Line:
In this third volume of the Frost Chronicles the story didn't convince me.
In the previous books, we had people running away from the Frost and embarking on a mysterious journey that involved traveling through a portal, just so they COULD RUN AWAY FROM THE FROST, AND FROM THOSE WHO WANTED TO KILL THEM.
But now, Lia herself, is traveling through the portal to bring back a number of those people...who will still be persecuted...and most likely starve to death in the Frost. Just because some shady character who supposedly is some big shot operative said so...
Where's the logic?? o_O
Oh, and i still couldn't care less about Gabe...
But, i'm still interested in the series and i definitely want to know what is going to happen next.
Okay, as much it pains me to say this, this book was quite a disappointment.
I loved the previous two books, but this third one _i'm sorry_ but it feels as if it suffers from "second book syndrome!"
During the beginning and middle of the story, practically nothing of relevance happens.
There's a lot of repetitions regarding the set and the plot: Lia moving back and forward between the village and the Farm.
I continue to love the author's writing, but since the plot _up until the last phase _ in this one, was practically missing, it didn't shine as usual.
On the positives, i like how the author has managed to give a strong role to John, a character who due to his disability would probably just get a secondary role if this had been written by someone else.
The plot...well having finished this book, i can't say i'm crazy about it. But its not my role to discuss where the author imagination has taken her. It's different, that's for sure. And that's a good thing.
If i wanted to read the same old things, i would stick to a single book. And re-read it constantly!
However, i admit not being crazy about sci-fi variations in what _at the beginning _ appeared to be a dystopian story.
The way this sci-fi scenario was included in the plot ( something that had already happened on the second book, but that on this book takes a very firm stand..) is still growing on me. Hopefully, the fourth book will cement my understanding _ and hopefully, appreciation _ of Kate Avery Ellison "Frost" world.
This one, for me felt as a filler. A new character is introduced, apparently only to cause havoc.
Lia and Adam continue "dancing" around their feelings.
The Weavers have a new guest in the Farm, and tempers are rising...
And then we reach the final part of the book, and things finally start becoming a little more interesting:
Suddenly there's time travels (not my favorite kind of transportation), and yes, someone who "apparently" had been lost forever has now been found...~brother~
Because one can't have a dystopia/post-apocalyptic scenario without a love triangle!
This must be some kind of rule that obviously escaped my notice...
Bottom Line:
In this third volume of the Frost Chronicles the story didn't convince me.
In the previous books, we had people running away from the Frost and embarking on a mysterious journey that involved traveling through a portal, just so they COULD RUN AWAY FROM THE FROST, AND FROM THOSE WHO WANTED TO KILL THEM.
But now, Lia herself, is traveling through the portal to bring back a number of those people...who will still be persecuted...and most likely starve to death in the Frost. Just because some shady character who supposedly is some big shot operative said so...
Where's the logic?? o_O
Oh, and i still couldn't care less about Gabe...
But, i'm still interested in the series and i definitely want to know what is going to happen next.
More...