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moonlightmoths's review against another edition
3.0
I had no idea what to expect going into this book and quite honestly, I'm sill shocked by the ending. This book was an enjoyable and easy read during a month of books that are trying my patience.
Kingdom Cold follows the story of Princess Charlotte and her betrothed Prince Young who find themselves in an arranged marriage to each other. Both are unsatisfied with the arrangement, but realize they have no choice except to work together when Charlotte's kingdom is invaded. As they survive the wilderness, treasonous companions, and broken hearts together, Charlotte and Young realize there is a lot more to each other then they first thought.
The strongest thing this book had going for it was it's character development. When Charlotte is introduced she is whiny and spoiled, but as the story progresses she starts becoming more independent and fights her own battles. Young starts out hesitant and quiet but as he faces more challenges he is a courageous and strong leader. I enjoyed watching Charlotte and Young's development because it really added to the story.
The plot itself was so full of twists and turns I could never just expect a peaceful chapter. On the one hand it made for a engaging read, but the plot twists were so wild I felt that maybe the book should have been split into two parts to make the twists have more impact. I hardly felt sad during some character deaths because some of them were introduced a few pages ago, so more elaboration of minor characters and other details of the story would have probably made the twists hit a little deeper.
For now, I'm giving Kingdom Cold 3 stars because it was a solid fantasy story and I'm interested to see where the next one will go.
Kingdom Cold follows the story of Princess Charlotte and her betrothed Prince Young who find themselves in an arranged marriage to each other. Both are unsatisfied with the arrangement, but realize they have no choice except to work together when Charlotte's kingdom is invaded. As they survive the wilderness, treasonous companions, and broken hearts together, Charlotte and Young realize there is a lot more to each other then they first thought.
The strongest thing this book had going for it was it's character development. When Charlotte is introduced she is whiny and spoiled, but as the story progresses she starts becoming more independent and fights her own battles. Young starts out hesitant and quiet but as he faces more challenges he is a courageous and strong leader. I enjoyed watching Charlotte and Young's development because it really added to the story.
The plot itself was so full of twists and turns I could never just expect a peaceful chapter. On the one hand it made for a engaging read, but the plot twists were so wild I felt that maybe the book should have been split into two parts to make the twists have more impact. I hardly felt sad during some character deaths because some of them were introduced a few pages ago, so more elaboration of minor characters and other details of the story would have probably made the twists hit a little deeper.
For now, I'm giving Kingdom Cold 3 stars because it was a solid fantasy story and I'm interested to see where the next one will go.
bridgets_books's review against another edition
5.0
Kingdom Cold is an addictive read. The story pulled me in deeper every chapter I read. The characters are well written. I had a love/hate relationship with more than one. I knew Kingdom Cold was multicultural with characters of different ethnic backgrounds. However, this aspect flows throughout the story so that it isn’t seen as an issue. I love this! It’s how the world SHOULD be! The plot twists, turns, and the unexpected ending left me hoping there will soon be a follow-up book.
Kingdom Cold has all the aspects of a classic fairytale....with a few unexpected developments. Even though the book is listed as Young Adult Fantasy & Romance, I believe readers of every age will enjoy this story.
Kingdom Cold has all the aspects of a classic fairytale....with a few unexpected developments. Even though the book is listed as Young Adult Fantasy & Romance, I believe readers of every age will enjoy this story.
kmac087's review against another edition
2.0
Kingdom Cold does a decent job for a self-published YA novel – interesting premise, fast-paced narrative, and an overall light read. However, it could have benefitted from the discerning eye of an editor, especially for pacing and reining in the number of POVs.
The blurb promises a romance amidst turmoil within a kingdom – “should she save her kingdom or her heart?” The actual story, though, suffers from a bit too much middle school “romance” where characters declare love for another - even going so far as to forsake their god or challenge a loved one to a dual - with little interaction or explanation to justify such grand emotions. It reads as juvenile instead of intended for a youthful audience.
Pacing of the story from a time-passing perspective did not ring true. How could whole armies move across regions in Arthurian times in a matter of a week? Plot pacing overall needed the aid of additional beta readers if not a true editor – the book read as an outline only partially fleshed out with key scenes. POVs seemed to be used as a crutch to explain plot elements faster but not necessarily effectively.
Overall, a mediocre read. It will help pass the time and contains a good basis for an entertaining story. It needs more work and the aid of an editor who can guide author Brittni Chenelle to achieving that fully entertaining end. Two stars for the attempt.
*Digital copy from NetGalley provided for an honest review.
The blurb promises a romance amidst turmoil within a kingdom – “should she save her kingdom or her heart?” The actual story, though, suffers from a bit too much middle school “romance” where characters declare love for another - even going so far as to forsake their god or challenge a loved one to a dual - with little interaction or explanation to justify such grand emotions. It reads as juvenile instead of intended for a youthful audience.
Pacing of the story from a time-passing perspective did not ring true. How could whole armies move across regions in Arthurian times in a matter of a week? Plot pacing overall needed the aid of additional beta readers if not a true editor – the book read as an outline only partially fleshed out with key scenes. POVs seemed to be used as a crutch to explain plot elements faster but not necessarily effectively.
Overall, a mediocre read. It will help pass the time and contains a good basis for an entertaining story. It needs more work and the aid of an editor who can guide author Brittni Chenelle to achieving that fully entertaining end. Two stars for the attempt.
*Digital copy from NetGalley provided for an honest review.
jbrooxd's review against another edition
4.0
[I received an electronic review copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
A non-stop adventure with a clever ending. I felt like the story ran on two levels. One is romantic. This level twists through attractions, obligations, and obsessions. The other level is the political intrigue. This level is just as twisty with plots and schemes and lies. Once the action kicks in, it really doesn't stop. The main characters cycle from security to danger and back again and again. It really grabbed my attention. I tend to be skeptical of books that are offered to me that I don't know anything about, but I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I read it in one sitting. Be sure to check this one out!
A non-stop adventure with a clever ending. I felt like the story ran on two levels. One is romantic. This level twists through attractions, obligations, and obsessions. The other level is the political intrigue. This level is just as twisty with plots and schemes and lies. Once the action kicks in, it really doesn't stop. The main characters cycle from security to danger and back again and again. It really grabbed my attention. I tend to be skeptical of books that are offered to me that I don't know anything about, but I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I read it in one sitting. Be sure to check this one out!
amac_reads's review against another edition
4.0
The story started off strongly and stayed interesting throughout - it did have many cliches and the characters were predictable and somewhat shallow (the brother just left the princess at the end without making an effort, the princess gets jealous for no reason, the best friend won't talk to the princess because she's marrying who she's supposed to then won't talk to the princess because she doesn't want to marry who she's supposed to, etc.), but the setting was good and I enjoyed the chapters being from different characters' perspectives. Overall a quick and easy read, seems like it might be great for a pre-teen and young teen audience.
a_potter_nerd's review against another edition
3.0
At sixteen Princess Charlotte is betrothed to Prince Young. Being that age, she acts as one would or rather more childish.
As the story progresses, we jump back and forth between multiple POVs and POVs that aren’t really necessary. It felt thrown in and not well planned.
The overall story was good but choppy at some parts.
As the story progresses, we jump back and forth between multiple POVs and POVs that aren’t really necessary. It felt thrown in and not well planned.
The overall story was good but choppy at some parts.
lizbethandthelifeinbetween's review against another edition
3.0
I was given an arc via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
I found this book very enjoyable. I feel like it would be pretty easy to go at this book for not being the most developed with the most amazing prose, but I honestly enjoyed reading it. It had a fast, action-packed plot and is a great introduction to anyone looking to get into political fantasy. It has love pentagons (or political arrangement pentagons lol), passion, murder and more, all wrapped in a short, less than 300 page, package. It's easy and fun to read. This book would also make a great guilty pleasure or just an easy read to get you out of a reading slump.
I say this is a good introductory book because first off, it is short and a fast read. It's like this because it doesn't go into crazy amounts of depth into political deception and plays. There's a surface level simplicity to it which makes this such an easy book to read. It covers a lot of political schemes in a short amount of time. It doesn't feel that underdeveloped either, which is nice, because the story takes place in a pretty short time frame and there is a lot going on. Also, there's a not a huge magi system or belief system to get accustomed too.
A few things did seem odd, like how unaware other kingdoms were of what was going on and how easily some kingdoms were mobilizing their armies. I did, at time, find myself craving a map and a deep look into the military and political mindset of the various kings, queen, princes, servants, and princess who were playing a role in the story. I wanted to know the marching conditions and how in was enabled/troubled by the land and how the kings worked out alliances and etc, but then I was quickly shocked by the next plot twist and made to keep reading more. This book kept me on my toes and I liked that.
I don't have much to say on the romance for once. Lots of it was political arrangement, which meant that politics were a bit more at play than emotion in the beginning, but it eventually became an emotional play. There was more of a point-to-point development, some of which could have used more expanding and development, but nothing seemed random or out of the blue.
It also has a great ending. I actually really liked it. I can't wait for the next book. It'll be on my radar for sure.
I found this book very enjoyable. I feel like it would be pretty easy to go at this book for not being the most developed with the most amazing prose, but I honestly enjoyed reading it. It had a fast, action-packed plot and is a great introduction to anyone looking to get into political fantasy. It has love pentagons (or political arrangement pentagons lol), passion, murder and more, all wrapped in a short, less than 300 page, package. It's easy and fun to read. This book would also make a great guilty pleasure or just an easy read to get you out of a reading slump.
I say this is a good introductory book because first off, it is short and a fast read. It's like this because it doesn't go into crazy amounts of depth into political deception and plays. There's a surface level simplicity to it which makes this such an easy book to read. It covers a lot of political schemes in a short amount of time. It doesn't feel that underdeveloped either, which is nice, because the story takes place in a pretty short time frame and there is a lot going on. Also, there's a not a huge magi system or belief system to get accustomed too.
A few things did seem odd, like how unaware other kingdoms were of what was going on and how easily some kingdoms were mobilizing their armies. I did, at time, find myself craving a map and a deep look into the military and political mindset of the various kings, queen, princes, servants, and princess who were playing a role in the story. I wanted to know the marching conditions and how in was enabled/troubled by the land and how the kings worked out alliances and etc, but then I was quickly shocked by the next plot twist and made to keep reading more. This book kept me on my toes and I liked that.
I don't have much to say on the romance for once. Lots of it was political arrangement, which meant that politics were a bit more at play than emotion in the beginning, but it eventually became an emotional play. There was more of a point-to-point development, some of which could have used more expanding and development, but nothing seemed random or out of the blue.
It also has a great ending. I actually really liked it. I can't wait for the next book. It'll be on my radar for sure.
emgibson77's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great, action packed fantasy. It was very enjoyable from beginning to end. It was my first read by this author, and I can’t wait to read more!
marufahoque's review against another edition
1.0
This book has multiple POVs...in FIRST person narration. You've been warned.
With that said, that was the majority of the problem I found with this book. The characters all read like the same person. It would have been better if the story was told in third-person limited or omniscient (depending on how much the author wants the reader to know).
This book also needs another round (or three) of edits: grammar (switching between present and past), weird use of modern jargon in a complete fantasy setting, and what's with the story of Camelot thrown in? It just didn't make sense until right at the end.
I also liked NONE of the characters (maybe because they all sounded the same) and their actions didn't make any sense.
The setting and worldbuilding felt non-existent, I couldn't picture where each character was at any given point in the story. Lots of kingdom names were thrown at us, but it was like, so what? There was nothing to establish the relationships between these places; it would've been easier for us to understand if we had a closer connection to the characters and how they perceived each of the kingdoms.
I really wanted to like this book because the two main characters were non-white (black and Asian), but I just couldn't. I got the same feelings I did when I read Dragonfly, another fantasy book with a hate-love romance between the two royals of different ethnicities, and I DID NOT like that book.
Overall, it could use another reworking of the story, but so far, I do not recommend it (and won't be reading the rest of the series).
With that said, that was the majority of the problem I found with this book. The characters all read like the same person. It would have been better if the story was told in third-person limited or omniscient (depending on how much the author wants the reader to know).
This book also needs another round (or three) of edits: grammar (switching between present and past), weird use of modern jargon in a complete fantasy setting, and what's with the story of Camelot thrown in? It just didn't make sense until right at the end.
I also liked NONE of the characters (maybe because they all sounded the same) and their actions didn't make any sense.
The setting and worldbuilding felt non-existent, I couldn't picture where each character was at any given point in the story. Lots of kingdom names were thrown at us, but it was like, so what? There was nothing to establish the relationships between these places; it would've been easier for us to understand if we had a closer connection to the characters and how they perceived each of the kingdoms.
I really wanted to like this book because the two main characters were non-white (black and Asian), but I just couldn't. I got the same feelings I did when I read Dragonfly, another fantasy book with a hate-love romance between the two royals of different ethnicities, and I DID NOT like that book.
Overall, it could use another reworking of the story, but so far, I do not recommend it (and won't be reading the rest of the series).
amberherbert's review against another edition
4.0
As an editor, I read through and work on multiple manuscripts a month. However, Brittni Chenelle's novel was more than just a job. I found myself engrossed in the story and the characters, which I don't experience often enough.
If you enjoy kingdom politics, romance, or fiction based in the pre-Arthurian era, I highly recommend checking this out. You won't be disappointed.
If you enjoy kingdom politics, romance, or fiction based in the pre-Arthurian era, I highly recommend checking this out. You won't be disappointed.