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3.42 AVERAGE
3.42 AVERAGE
"I wish I could say I was the hero of the story. A resister. A rebel. Someone who lived to bring an end to the queen who stole my childhood--my mother, my life, my very world. But I'm not. I'm not the good guy. I'm the one who puts the good guys in their graves.”
Gathering Frost is a perfect blend of fantasy and a dystopian adventure, which is based somewhat on the fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty.
The idea of a modern-day city being reverted back to an almost Medieval style village with no technology and characters you may find in a classic storybook alongside enchanted forests. The world-building is excellent, and I loved how everything comes to life from the page. Kaitlyn Davis has created not only a wonderful world with characters whose entire world has become unrecognisable unless you recall being afraid of the troll who frightened Billy Goat Gruff, or houses that look like something you'd read about in Hansel and Gretel. I thought that the way the origin story of Sleeping Beauty was woven into the book was done in a unique and subtle manner so that it isn't a retelling but is instead its own story that holds the attention of the reader from the first page.
The main character is far from the stereotypical helpless girl but rather a fighter who clings to the memories of life before. Whilst Jade isn't initially one to connect with, you witness her growth as the story unfolds you see the mask crack, and her true self unfolds. She's not defined by who she loves or how she should be, and I couldn't help a low chuckle at how she hates the stereotypical gowns, etcetera.
She, along with characters both good and evil, are excellently written, and every single one we encounter contributes to the story and brings it to life.
It's a brilliant introduction to a series, and I hope with each book? More and more of the world comes to light because I'm really curious to see how everything will inevitably come together or fall apart.
Only time will tell.
Gathering Frost is a perfect blend of fantasy and a dystopian adventure, which is based somewhat on the fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty.
The idea of a modern-day city being reverted back to an almost Medieval style village with no technology and characters you may find in a classic storybook alongside enchanted forests. The world-building is excellent, and I loved how everything comes to life from the page. Kaitlyn Davis has created not only a wonderful world with characters whose entire world has become unrecognisable unless you recall being afraid of the troll who frightened Billy Goat Gruff, or houses that look like something you'd read about in Hansel and Gretel. I thought that the way the origin story of Sleeping Beauty was woven into the book was done in a unique and subtle manner so that it isn't a retelling but is instead its own story that holds the attention of the reader from the first page.
The main character is far from the stereotypical helpless girl but rather a fighter who clings to the memories of life before. Whilst Jade isn't initially one to connect with, you witness her growth as the story unfolds you see the mask crack, and her true self unfolds. She's not defined by who she loves or how she should be, and I couldn't help a low chuckle at how she hates the stereotypical gowns, etcetera.
She, along with characters both good and evil, are excellently written, and every single one we encounter contributes to the story and brings it to life.
It's a brilliant introduction to a series, and I hope with each book? More and more of the world comes to light because I'm really curious to see how everything will inevitably come together or fall apart.
Only time will tell.
** listened to this on audio, but the librarians apparently haven't added an audible copy to this.**
An earthquake hits New York.
Young Jade is yanked away from her mother and ensnared into the evil Ice Queen's clutches. The Queen Deirdre reign begins as her castle rises from the rubble of New York's shattered remains. She ensnares the people under her realm with magic that puts them in thrall. Meaning they have cold hearts and swear allegiance to her and her only.
(EVIL QUEEN BOOK FOR THE WIN!!!)
Jade grows up under the queen's thrall and is one of her finest guards. She doesn't listen to the commander over her one day and meets the queen's runaway son. Asher.
Asher has joined up with the rebel army hoping to destroy the queen and release her minions from under her thrall.
Jade is taken as his prisoner to their underground compound where she is released from the Queen's coldness.
I'm not going to give away the rest of the story. It's not a bad little book, it's a quick read and I think that took from the story some. You don't really have a chance to get involved with the characters since the storyline moves so fast.
There is of course some romancy fancy in the story but it didn't make me want to kill it with fire.
For a fairy tale based story this is one of the better ones I've read. I think the fangirls will like it. The old haters like me will tolerate it.
Young Jade is yanked away from her mother and ensnared into the evil Ice Queen's clutches. The Queen Deirdre reign begins as her castle rises from the rubble of New York's shattered remains. She ensnares the people under her realm with magic that puts them in thrall. Meaning they have cold hearts and swear allegiance to her and her only.
(EVIL QUEEN BOOK FOR THE WIN!!!)
Jade grows up under the queen's thrall and is one of her finest guards. She doesn't listen to the commander over her one day and meets the queen's runaway son. Asher.
Asher has joined up with the rebel army hoping to destroy the queen and release her minions from under her thrall.
Jade is taken as his prisoner to their underground compound where she is released from the Queen's coldness.
I'm not going to give away the rest of the story. It's not a bad little book, it's a quick read and I think that took from the story some. You don't really have a chance to get involved with the characters since the storyline moves so fast.
There is of course some romancy fancy in the story but it didn't make me want to kill it with fire.
For a fairy tale based story this is one of the better ones I've read. I think the fangirls will like it. The old haters like me will tolerate it.
This was a super quick read/listen. The plot was definitely interesting, but the plot felt very underdeveloped. A lot of things happened too quickly and it felt like there were some things that didn't really add up in the end. It was also looser adaptation of Sleeping Beauty than I initially would have thought. All in all, it was a cute and intriguing, but not a favorite of mine. Thank you to NetGalley for the giveaway!
This felt solidly like a dystopian YA that I would have read in the Hunger Games/Lunar Chronicles/Uglies era. I liked the premise (a fairy tale-esc world collides with ours and the magic dominates the areas in their control) and the book moves at a solid pace. Jade is very typical in terms of YA dystopian FMCs (the best at fighting and emotionally cold for survival/because of magic) and the insta-love between her and Asher also was very typical of that type of book, so it's very familiar, but also doesn't stand out. Because of the curse, Jade doesn't have emotions (except fear) and as she is removed from the Queen's thrall, she then starts to experience feelings for the first time in a decade. It's nice, but (and this could be because I blew through the audiobook quickly) it doesn't have the same depth as some of the other books in its genre; Jade's interactions with others is limited to essentially the Queen and the Commander, and with the rebels it's essentially just Asher and one rebel friend she had maybe 3 interactions with. Nothing is bad - it's just not as developed as other series. It's very bingeable and readable, and I am intrigued to keep reading in the series and see where it goes.
The audiobook narrator was great though!
Thank you to NetGalley for an audiobook.
The audiobook narrator was great though!
Thank you to NetGalley for an audiobook.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Abandonment
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this audio in exchange for an honest review.
I did enjoy the story and listened through in a single sitting (at 2x) but it was missing something. Not sure what exactly. I just didn't care about the characters as much as I wanted to? Or the change felt too quick? Or it just felt a little clunky? The twist at the end felt forced for sure, but I still plan to check out the next one!
I did enjoy the story and listened through in a single sitting (at 2x) but it was missing something. Not sure what exactly. I just didn't care about the characters as much as I wanted to? Or the change felt too quick? Or it just felt a little clunky? The twist at the end felt forced for sure, but I still plan to check out the next one!
I'm rounding up to give this one a 4, with a hopeful solid 4 for the sequel. I needed another retelling, and this didn't disappoint on that front. The idea was very original, if there's something else similar to this, I haven't read it. There were some times that got pretty repetitive and there was a fair amount of teenage angst. I do love YA that leaves out the angst. For its audience, however, this is a solid story and the characters were lovable enough that I cared about the next page. Really looking forward to Withing Rose since Beauty and the Beast is my favorite anyway.
This story is a cute, very lose, twist on the fairy tale. Following Jade as she grows and discovers feelings that she forgot she could have. It held my interest and was entertaining for a young adult book.
I really enjoyed this, i listened to the audio book on scribd and i found it entertaining. The romance, the deception, the intrigue behind the other world sort of thing which i really do love. Im looking forward to the next one in the series. I think i will like the next one more as i believe these are all seperate and the next one is. beauty and the beast retelling where i think this was a sleeping beauty retelling.