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chllybrd's review against another edition
4.0
I gave it 3.5 stars
SHADOW FROST was an entertaining read, with a wide cast of characters and a world that was more vast than I could have imagined.
There are quite a few characters in SHADOW FROST that are a big part of the story. Some seem inconsequential and end up being way more important to things than you thought. There is a bit of a romance involved. For a bit, I thought there would be a love triangle, but thankfully that does not happen.
There were some crazy and shocking twists thrown at us. I didn't see them coming, and the consequences of the events that preceded them surprised me. The world was easy to get lost in and the pace flowed nicely.
There were some small things that I wished would have been better with SHADOW FROST. I wish there would have been some more character development before everyone became such close friends. I also felt like the age of the characters wasn't always represented with their behavior. There were few cringe worthy romance moments, but knowing the author wrote the story at 15 kinda makes me understand the way some things played out.
My issues with the story weren't strong enough to put me off the story. I am definitely interested in reading more.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
SHADOW FROST was an entertaining read, with a wide cast of characters and a world that was more vast than I could have imagined.
There are quite a few characters in SHADOW FROST that are a big part of the story. Some seem inconsequential and end up being way more important to things than you thought. There is a bit of a romance involved. For a bit, I thought there would be a love triangle, but thankfully that does not happen.
There were some crazy and shocking twists thrown at us. I didn't see them coming, and the consequences of the events that preceded them surprised me. The world was easy to get lost in and the pace flowed nicely.
There were some small things that I wished would have been better with SHADOW FROST. I wish there would have been some more character development before everyone became such close friends. I also felt like the age of the characters wasn't always represented with their behavior. There were few cringe worthy romance moments, but knowing the author wrote the story at 15 kinda makes me understand the way some things played out.
My issues with the story weren't strong enough to put me off the story. I am definitely interested in reading more.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
bewoelkt_aber_heiter's review against another edition
4.0
Toller Assemble Cast, aber leider hat mich der Plot im Finale in wenig verloren und es kam nicht die Emotionalität bei mir an, die es gebraucht hätte, damit es für 5 Sterne reicht.
winterzeshoek's review against another edition
Don't like common English names in fantasy.
deafandbookish's review against another edition
4.0
Wow!!! Totally loved this book! It was amazing and the writing was fantastic! The plot was well thought out and the characters were well loved! So happy I found this on NetGalley and got an eARC! Thank you, NetGalley! ❤
hilsaa's review against another edition
3.5
I liked the beginning but it lost me toward the end. Felt a bit too long and the magic system was kind of all over the place, but overall it was a pretty good YA fantasy.
writingwwolves's review against another edition
5.0
This book is definitely up in my top two books of the year - the other being Stronger Than A Bronze Dragon by Mary Fan. I’ve opened my heart back up to royalty YA & books like this, that are as original, complex & beautiful as Shadow Frost, make me so thankful I have. I love books that cover a long period of time & lots of events, & Shadow Frost is one of those. I got so caught up in this world & Asterin’s life that I dreamt about it & dreaded finishing it. I am truly obsessed.
⚠️ This book contains violence throughout ⚠️
I was sent this book to review via The Fantastic Flying Book Club.
Extended Review: https://wp.me/p8MbIo-2X7
⚠️ This book contains violence throughout ⚠️
I was sent this book to review via The Fantastic Flying Book Club.
Extended Review: https://wp.me/p8MbIo-2X7
ashton_reads_'s review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5 stars
Wow. What a fantasy. I am - amazed.
Shadow Frost takes place in a land of magic. The nine gods each bestowed an affinity onto mortals when they created them, allowing humans the potential to harness air, wind, fire, water, illusion, light, weather, ice, and healing. Mortals can rarely harness them all, however; most are capable of using multiple but have a strong affinity for one element. Those who can harness all nine are hailed as the omnitified.
But there is a tenth affinity too. One long banned in the Mortal Realm, one as powerful as all other nine combined: the shadow element. It exists only as Eoin, the King of Darkness, sees fit, bestowing it upon mortals, but only for a great price - perhaps, the eternal servitude of a loved one, for instance.
The Princess of Axaria, Asterin Falenhart, has always held strength in her affinities and in her swordsmanship, and upon the arrival of two guards from the far-off kingdom of Eradore, she discovers she is omnitified. But a dark force rises in her kingdom, one described as a red-eyed demon wielding the shadow element by the only witness left alive. Asterin takes it upon herself to vanquish this monster and save her kingdom, with the help of her Guardian and life-long friend, Orion; her Captain of the Guard, Eadric; her best friend and lady-in-waiting, Luna; and the guests from Eradore, Quinlan and Rose. On their quest, however, they learn the beast may not be the biggest threat, and they must reevaluate who they can trust - and who may have sacrificed them to the King of Darkness himself.
(Disclaimer: I’ve already read the sequel, God Storm, so some of my opinions may have carried over to this review. That doesn’t really change much, though; I love both of these books so much y’all.)
Holyyy crap, this book snuck up on me. I saw it on Netgalley a couple years ago, requested it, didn’t get it being the newbie that I was, and promptly forgot about it - even though I thought it sounded AMAZING. Flash forward and I get on a bookstagram tour for the sequel and I am crazyyyy excited to binge the two books. And now here I am, having done just that because I could not put either book down.
Geez, where do I even start? Shadow Frost has all the makings of the introduction to a fantasy series. A simple quest becomes something more, revealing a darkness rippling underneath the surface ready to become the protagonists’ greatest threat. And plot-wise… not much happens. I was comfortably moving at a good pace through the events of the book, sated by incredible action, likeable characters, and curiosity. Then suddenly, I found myself at the end of the book, reeling because I was head over heels for all the characters, I was screaming internally at the ending, I didn’t know what to do with myself (thank GOSH I had the sequel at hand). There’s adorableeee romance, amazing relationships, COMPLEX characters that get you thinking about life, and an amazing world!
Which I have to elaborate on. WOW did you know Coco Ma wrote this book when she was fifteen years old?? It’s crazy hard to believe because I have read tons of fantasies this year that don’t compare to this one. The world was immersive and incredibly elaborated, yet wasn’t an info-dump. The magic system is fresh and inventive, creating conversations on power but also just being plain awesome. And the existence of the Immortal Realm, where the gods reside, including Eoin, who created it, and where shadow magic runs rampant, creates an added layer of uniqueness to the entire story - but the second book goes deeper into that.
There was no moment in time when I wanted more from this book, as a series introduction or as a story on its own, and I am just amazed at how much I love this series - it has rekindled my love for fantasy, that’s for sure. PLEASE if you like fantasy at all, go grab this one and see for yourself. It might just impact you in the same way, and I guarantee you’ll be thinking about it long after you turn the last page.
If you enjoyed this review, you can friend me here on Goodreads and follow my Bookstagram/Twitter @ashton_reads. Thanks for reading!
Wow. What a fantasy. I am - amazed.
Shadow Frost takes place in a land of magic. The nine gods each bestowed an affinity onto mortals when they created them, allowing humans the potential to harness air, wind, fire, water, illusion, light, weather, ice, and healing. Mortals can rarely harness them all, however; most are capable of using multiple but have a strong affinity for one element. Those who can harness all nine are hailed as the omnitified.
But there is a tenth affinity too. One long banned in the Mortal Realm, one as powerful as all other nine combined: the shadow element. It exists only as Eoin, the King of Darkness, sees fit, bestowing it upon mortals, but only for a great price - perhaps, the eternal servitude of a loved one, for instance.
The Princess of Axaria, Asterin Falenhart, has always held strength in her affinities and in her swordsmanship, and upon the arrival of two guards from the far-off kingdom of Eradore, she discovers she is omnitified. But a dark force rises in her kingdom, one described as a red-eyed demon wielding the shadow element by the only witness left alive. Asterin takes it upon herself to vanquish this monster and save her kingdom, with the help of her Guardian and life-long friend, Orion; her Captain of the Guard, Eadric; her best friend and lady-in-waiting, Luna; and the guests from Eradore, Quinlan and Rose. On their quest, however, they learn the beast may not be the biggest threat, and they must reevaluate who they can trust - and who may have sacrificed them to the King of Darkness himself.
(Disclaimer: I’ve already read the sequel, God Storm, so some of my opinions may have carried over to this review. That doesn’t really change much, though; I love both of these books so much y’all.)
Holyyy crap, this book snuck up on me. I saw it on Netgalley a couple years ago, requested it, didn’t get it being the newbie that I was, and promptly forgot about it - even though I thought it sounded AMAZING. Flash forward and I get on a bookstagram tour for the sequel and I am crazyyyy excited to binge the two books. And now here I am, having done just that because I could not put either book down.
Geez, where do I even start? Shadow Frost has all the makings of the introduction to a fantasy series. A simple quest becomes something more, revealing a darkness rippling underneath the surface ready to become the protagonists’ greatest threat. And plot-wise… not much happens. I was comfortably moving at a good pace through the events of the book, sated by incredible action, likeable characters, and curiosity. Then suddenly, I found myself at the end of the book, reeling because I was head over heels for all the characters, I was screaming internally at the ending, I didn’t know what to do with myself (thank GOSH I had the sequel at hand). There’s adorableeee romance, amazing relationships, COMPLEX characters that get you thinking about life, and an amazing world!
Which I have to elaborate on. WOW did you know Coco Ma wrote this book when she was fifteen years old?? It’s crazy hard to believe because I have read tons of fantasies this year that don’t compare to this one. The world was immersive and incredibly elaborated, yet wasn’t an info-dump. The magic system is fresh and inventive, creating conversations on power but also just being plain awesome. And the existence of the Immortal Realm, where the gods reside, including Eoin, who created it, and where shadow magic runs rampant, creates an added layer of uniqueness to the entire story - but the second book goes deeper into that.
There was no moment in time when I wanted more from this book, as a series introduction or as a story on its own, and I am just amazed at how much I love this series - it has rekindled my love for fantasy, that’s for sure. PLEASE if you like fantasy at all, go grab this one and see for yourself. It might just impact you in the same way, and I guarantee you’ll be thinking about it long after you turn the last page.
If you enjoyed this review, you can friend me here on Goodreads and follow my Bookstagram/Twitter @ashton_reads. Thanks for reading!
anmaridocarmo's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a solid 3.5 stars for me: very well done for a young, debut author but also with room for improvement.
Coco Ma's writing in general is enjoyable and intriguing, managing to keep a relatively good pace, and strong suspense. Most key moments in the story were super intense and well-written. There were enough plot twists to keep the story interesting without feeling forced.
I loved the characters so much. They made the novel. They were complex, funny, endearing, individualistic and each with their own backstories and demons making them multi-dimensional as characters.
That ending was WOW. There were several events during the book and at the end which sets up the next book perfectly and ensures that the reader will come back for more. I was feeling all kinds of emotions and this is largely due to how attached I became to the characters. A definite mark of good writing.
The premise of the novel is very interesting, but the world-building required some balance: at times too much (slowing the pace) and at other times not enough (confusing the reader).
As much as I loved the characters, I feel that there were too many perspectives in one book. I would have preferred Coco Ma picking two or three at most and sticking with them. Asterin is marketed as being the main character, but we don't see enough of her perspective - especially during crucial moments in the story.
All that being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down. I'll definitely be buying this once it's released, and I look forward to the rest of the series and catching up with these characters again because damn, that ending drove me nuts in the best way possible.
Read my full review on my blog: https://monami95.wordpress.com/2019/05/26/review-shadow-frost-by-coco-ma/
Coco Ma's writing in general is enjoyable and intriguing, managing to keep a relatively good pace, and strong suspense. Most key moments in the story were super intense and well-written. There were enough plot twists to keep the story interesting without feeling forced.
I loved the characters so much. They made the novel. They were complex, funny, endearing, individualistic and each with their own backstories and demons making them multi-dimensional as characters.
That ending was WOW. There were several events during the book and at the end which sets up the next book perfectly and ensures that the reader will come back for more. I was feeling all kinds of emotions and this is largely due to how attached I became to the characters. A definite mark of good writing.
The premise of the novel is very interesting, but the world-building required some balance: at times too much (slowing the pace) and at other times not enough (confusing the reader).
As much as I loved the characters, I feel that there were too many perspectives in one book. I would have preferred Coco Ma picking two or three at most and sticking with them. Asterin is marketed as being the main character, but we don't see enough of her perspective - especially during crucial moments in the story.
All that being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down. I'll definitely be buying this once it's released, and I look forward to the rest of the series and catching up with these characters again because damn, that ending drove me nuts in the best way possible.
Read my full review on my blog: https://monami95.wordpress.com/2019/05/26/review-shadow-frost-by-coco-ma/
wordsareweapons's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Ok where do I even start?! I love every bit of this book! The world building was very straight forward, while parts could have been a bit more detailed, I am hoping for a continuation of the story. The characters are fantastic. I can not explain how much I love Asterin. Our fierce warrior princess is smart, cunning, and fun. She has flaws, and doubts, but there is also character growth. Quinlan and Rose, visitors from another country, have just the right balance of mystery, questionable trust, and some adorableness thrown in for good measure. Orion, this sweet boy. I see some serious back story to him, and major growth coming. His storyline is really open ended, and seriously I'm gonna need there to be a book 2. Eadric is like a long suffering parent to all of them and it's great. Luna, man her character development gave me some whiplash in the best way. Basically these characters are all adorable, I loved them all. The journey to save their land could have had a bit more action, but the last hundred pages were just crazy with action and plot twists galore.
The magic system was really good and easy to grasp and well developed. Honestly this book wraps up in a way where it could work as a stand alone, however I REALLY REALLY hope there is a second one because it is so open ended and I need some closure! Go add this book to your TBRs! If you like magic, cute boys with sass, and some squad goals, plus intriguing villains, I highly recommend this book.
Ok where do I even start?! I love every bit of this book! The world building was very straight forward, while parts could have been a bit more detailed, I am hoping for a continuation of the story. The characters are fantastic. I can not explain how much I love Asterin. Our fierce warrior princess is smart, cunning, and fun. She has flaws, and doubts, but there is also character growth. Quinlan and Rose, visitors from another country, have just the right balance of mystery, questionable trust, and some adorableness thrown in for good measure. Orion, this sweet boy. I see some serious back story to him, and major growth coming. His storyline is really open ended, and seriously I'm gonna need there to be a book 2. Eadric is like a long suffering parent to all of them and it's great. Luna, man her character development gave me some whiplash in the best way. Basically these characters are all adorable, I loved them all. The journey to save their land could have had a bit more action, but the last hundred pages were just crazy with action and plot twists galore.
The magic system was really good and easy to grasp and well developed. Honestly this book wraps up in a way where it could work as a stand alone, however I REALLY REALLY hope there is a second one because it is so open ended and I need some closure! Go add this book to your TBRs! If you like magic, cute boys with sass, and some squad goals, plus intriguing villains, I highly recommend this book.
laurenslovelylittlelife's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0