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3.08 AVERAGE
3.08 AVERAGE
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | As a note, a copy of this novel was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way. Review also found here at Booked J.
Get ready for one of the most dazzling YA releases of the year. Not only is Kingdom Cold intense and thrilling, it is culturally diverse and full of twists and turns. If you're looking for something romantic and action-packed to sink your teeth into in 2019, look no further than Brittni Chenelle's Kingdom Cold. You won't be able to put this novel down, I guarantee it.
You'll notice right way that Kingdom Cold was crafted with the utmost care and detail. Vivid as it is quick, the novel itself grips you from the very first page. I had this feeling within the first chapter that it wouldn't go quite the way I expected, and it truly does not. Whereas many authors fall flat in terms of keeping their stories unexpected, this is never the case for Kingdom Cold.
At first, I felt a little daunted by the general shortness of the novel. Its overall length is just shy of 300 pages. Yet, Chenelle makes good use of every single page of her book and, in many ways, teaches her contemporaries just how to tell a story that is near perfect in execution. Kingdom Cold doesn't fall victim to its pacing, nor its length, and every chapter flows together effortlessly.
Another thing you'll notice is that the characters each have their own distinct voice which is, of course, a necessity in story-telling. In each of their voices, you'll find many traits that make up a series of wonderfully strong characters.
They aren't the sort of characters you'll soon forget. You'll favor some and fear others. One thing's for sure: you'll love or love to hate them. I found the development of each character to be refreshingly real and unexpected. I came into the story expecting one thing from specific characters, and ended up receiving something else entirely.
(I'm looking at you, BETRAYAL IN THE FINAL QUARTER OF THE BOOK. I won't say who, because spoilers and it's definitely an experience.)
From Charlotte, and her husband to be, Young, to his brother, Minseo, all the way to the secondary characters scattered throughout, there is something compelling about each of them. I'd say that the characters, and their growth, are the best part of the book, but the truth is that Kingdom Cold has so many brilliant qualities to it, it'd be impossible to say which is the absolute best.
Not a page goes by without a deeply intriguing moment of betrayal, those signs of subtle cruelty that come with being both a royal and a human, to action and to love.
The thing about Kingdom Cold is that it will build you up and break your heart. It is fitting that I read this book on a cold day that was full of freezing rain mixed with snow--it fit my mood, and the atmosphere of this book, perfectly. At the end of the day, I adored this book and only wish to have one more moment with it--especially after its final pages.
It'd be foolish to miss out on Kingdom Cold. Consider this your must-read of 2019.
Get ready for one of the most dazzling YA releases of the year. Not only is Kingdom Cold intense and thrilling, it is culturally diverse and full of twists and turns. If you're looking for something romantic and action-packed to sink your teeth into in 2019, look no further than Brittni Chenelle's Kingdom Cold. You won't be able to put this novel down, I guarantee it.
You'll notice right way that Kingdom Cold was crafted with the utmost care and detail. Vivid as it is quick, the novel itself grips you from the very first page. I had this feeling within the first chapter that it wouldn't go quite the way I expected, and it truly does not. Whereas many authors fall flat in terms of keeping their stories unexpected, this is never the case for Kingdom Cold.
At first, I felt a little daunted by the general shortness of the novel. Its overall length is just shy of 300 pages. Yet, Chenelle makes good use of every single page of her book and, in many ways, teaches her contemporaries just how to tell a story that is near perfect in execution. Kingdom Cold doesn't fall victim to its pacing, nor its length, and every chapter flows together effortlessly.
Another thing you'll notice is that the characters each have their own distinct voice which is, of course, a necessity in story-telling. In each of their voices, you'll find many traits that make up a series of wonderfully strong characters.
They aren't the sort of characters you'll soon forget. You'll favor some and fear others. One thing's for sure: you'll love or love to hate them. I found the development of each character to be refreshingly real and unexpected. I came into the story expecting one thing from specific characters, and ended up receiving something else entirely.
(I'm looking at you, BETRAYAL IN THE FINAL QUARTER OF THE BOOK. I won't say who, because spoilers and it's definitely an experience.)
From Charlotte, and her husband to be, Young, to his brother, Minseo, all the way to the secondary characters scattered throughout, there is something compelling about each of them. I'd say that the characters, and their growth, are the best part of the book, but the truth is that Kingdom Cold has so many brilliant qualities to it, it'd be impossible to say which is the absolute best.
Not a page goes by without a deeply intriguing moment of betrayal, those signs of subtle cruelty that come with being both a royal and a human, to action and to love.
The thing about Kingdom Cold is that it will build you up and break your heart. It is fitting that I read this book on a cold day that was full of freezing rain mixed with snow--it fit my mood, and the atmosphere of this book, perfectly. At the end of the day, I adored this book and only wish to have one more moment with it--especially after its final pages.
It'd be foolish to miss out on Kingdom Cold. Consider this your must-read of 2019.
In a world where it’s difficult to find a young adult fantasy novel which does not follow the same formula of every other book in the genre, Brittni Chenelle’s Kingdom Cold offers us something different. The title and the cover may have the markings of other such books, but the story itself stands out.
It is a story where you do not know how things are going to play out, where elements are constantly introduced to leave you guessing what is going to come next. Even when things come together in the unexpected of ways in the end, you think you know what we will be given in the last few pages, only to be given another element that leaves you thinking wow. If there is to be a sequel of this, I’m certainly curious how the unexpected will come into play with something we think we know.
Now, as much as I enjoyed the unexpected nature of this story, it was a three-star rating. It was fun, it was different, but I do feel as though it wasn’t quite as fleshed out as it could have been. I’m someone who very much enjoys lots of details, where the fantasy worlds are elaborate, and I feel as though this one wasn’t quite up to the standard I usually like. I feel we only touched upon the surface of the world, and I would have liked a bit more depth. There was certainly potential, but we didn’t get everything we could have.
I think, in some ways, it was because so much happened throughout this one. With so much happening throughout, it almost felt like multiple books were combined in one. Instead of having a series worth of books dealing with all the things introduced, everything is dealt with in one book. It made the book difficult to put down, but I think this was done at the sacrifice of some other things.
Kingdom Cold was certainly a fun read and is worth reading if you’re after something different in the genre.
It is a story where you do not know how things are going to play out, where elements are constantly introduced to leave you guessing what is going to come next. Even when things come together in the unexpected of ways in the end, you think you know what we will be given in the last few pages, only to be given another element that leaves you thinking wow. If there is to be a sequel of this, I’m certainly curious how the unexpected will come into play with something we think we know.
Now, as much as I enjoyed the unexpected nature of this story, it was a three-star rating. It was fun, it was different, but I do feel as though it wasn’t quite as fleshed out as it could have been. I’m someone who very much enjoys lots of details, where the fantasy worlds are elaborate, and I feel as though this one wasn’t quite up to the standard I usually like. I feel we only touched upon the surface of the world, and I would have liked a bit more depth. There was certainly potential, but we didn’t get everything we could have.
I think, in some ways, it was because so much happened throughout this one. With so much happening throughout, it almost felt like multiple books were combined in one. Instead of having a series worth of books dealing with all the things introduced, everything is dealt with in one book. It made the book difficult to put down, but I think this was done at the sacrifice of some other things.
Kingdom Cold was certainly a fun read and is worth reading if you’re after something different in the genre.
For full review - Kingdom Cold on The Inked In Book Blog
Kingdom Cold is the story of Princess Charlotte and how she agrees to get married under parental pressure in order to save her kingdom from war. As the story progresses, we learn more about what Charlotte is facing, meet her betrothed, see her fall in love after fighting all odds, and winning.
What I love most about this book has to be the plot. It is so very engaging and interesting and keeps you on your toes at all times. One thing after the other just keeps happening and you’re so sucked into the story that I don’t recommend reading it unless you have some time on your hands because you’ll want to finish it one sitting. It is a relatively short book with a little over 250 pages, so it is a pretty quick read and that is also amazing.
However, this book is a little too fast paced. Like, the characters aren’t out of one situation before they’re thrust into another one, and though that is fun and interesting, it did take away from the characters because we never got to see them take a moment. There wasn’t really much place for some slow, profound thought because stuff kept happening and happening.
Coming to the characters, I absolutely adore both Charlotte & Young (her LI). They’re very similar in some ways and very different in others. They both love their kingdom, their people a lot and understand their responsibilities as rulers. They’re both brave and unafraid and willing to die for the sake of others, be it friends or family and that is beautiful. But, Charlotte is definitely the more outgoing one out of the two. She is also the one who wears her emotions on her sleeves, while Young is the sort to bottle his feelings up to make it easier for the others.
Together, they’re one amazing couple and I loved how the little bits of their relationship was showed in the story. I loved how even after Charlotte wasn’t welcoming of Young, he agreed to marry her, and he stayed because he is a man of honour.
However, it seemed like everyone in the book was falling in love with someone only after spending a little time together and that was annoying. But, it did make sense in some way and it definitely gave characters motive to act in a certain way. So, I’m not too mad about that, especially since nothing was drawn out for too long and no one spent months and years trying to chose one suitor.
The ending, though. It broke my heart. But, some things that happened were absolutely awesome and after that, I am so looking forward to the next book in this trilogy because it is going to be so freaking shit awesome!
All in all, it was a very interesting and engaging read and I would recommend if you were in the mood for a fast paced and interesting fantasy! 🙂
Kingdom Cold is the story of Princess Charlotte and how she agrees to get married under parental pressure in order to save her kingdom from war. As the story progresses, we learn more about what Charlotte is facing, meet her betrothed, see her fall in love after fighting all odds, and winning.
What I love most about this book has to be the plot. It is so very engaging and interesting and keeps you on your toes at all times. One thing after the other just keeps happening and you’re so sucked into the story that I don’t recommend reading it unless you have some time on your hands because you’ll want to finish it one sitting. It is a relatively short book with a little over 250 pages, so it is a pretty quick read and that is also amazing.
However, this book is a little too fast paced. Like, the characters aren’t out of one situation before they’re thrust into another one, and though that is fun and interesting, it did take away from the characters because we never got to see them take a moment. There wasn’t really much place for some slow, profound thought because stuff kept happening and happening.
Coming to the characters, I absolutely adore both Charlotte & Young (her LI). They’re very similar in some ways and very different in others. They both love their kingdom, their people a lot and understand their responsibilities as rulers. They’re both brave and unafraid and willing to die for the sake of others, be it friends or family and that is beautiful. But, Charlotte is definitely the more outgoing one out of the two. She is also the one who wears her emotions on her sleeves, while Young is the sort to bottle his feelings up to make it easier for the others.
Together, they’re one amazing couple and I loved how the little bits of their relationship was showed in the story. I loved how even after Charlotte wasn’t welcoming of Young, he agreed to marry her, and he stayed because he is a man of honour.
However, it seemed like everyone in the book was falling in love with someone only after spending a little time together and that was annoying. But, it did make sense in some way and it definitely gave characters motive to act in a certain way. So, I’m not too mad about that, especially since nothing was drawn out for too long and no one spent months and years trying to chose one suitor.
The ending, though. It broke my heart. But, some things that happened were absolutely awesome and after that, I am so looking forward to the next book in this trilogy because it is going to be so freaking shit awesome!
All in all, it was a very interesting and engaging read and I would recommend if you were in the mood for a fast paced and interesting fantasy! 🙂
Disclaimer: I received this e-book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Kingdom Cold
Author: Brittni Chenelle
Book Series: Kingdom Cold Book 1
Rating: 1/5
Publication Date: February 14, 2019
Genre: YA Fantsay
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 278
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Attempted murder, that's how sixteen-year-old Princess Charlotte's engagement starts. It seems like the only thing she has in common with Prince Young of Vires is their mutual discontent.
When her kingdom's attacked, Charlotte's parents renegotiate her hand in marriage to a handsome stranger with a sinister plan. With the people Charlotte loves dying around her, and her kingdom's future at stake, the only person she can turn to is the prince she betrayed. But, should she save her kingdom or her heart?
One must fall.
Review: I had to DNF this book at 15%. I couldn’t connect with the characters and it didn’t feel like the book had a clearly defined plot. It’s also incredibly slow.
Verdict: Not for me.
Book: Kingdom Cold
Author: Brittni Chenelle
Book Series: Kingdom Cold Book 1
Rating: 1/5
Publication Date: February 14, 2019
Genre: YA Fantsay
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 278
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Attempted murder, that's how sixteen-year-old Princess Charlotte's engagement starts. It seems like the only thing she has in common with Prince Young of Vires is their mutual discontent.
When her kingdom's attacked, Charlotte's parents renegotiate her hand in marriage to a handsome stranger with a sinister plan. With the people Charlotte loves dying around her, and her kingdom's future at stake, the only person she can turn to is the prince she betrayed. But, should she save her kingdom or her heart?
One must fall.
Review: I had to DNF this book at 15%. I couldn’t connect with the characters and it didn’t feel like the book had a clearly defined plot. It’s also incredibly slow.
Verdict: Not for me.
DNF at 41%
It had so much potential, but the plot moved too fast, and we didn't need the POV of all the side characters. There was also too much insta-love happening.
It had so much potential, but the plot moved too fast, and we didn't need the POV of all the side characters. There was also too much insta-love happening.
I received a digital ARC of Kingdom Cold from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The language seemed far more appropriate for a stereotypical high schooler in present day than a YA fantasy book and seemed juvenile at times. The character development left a lot to be desired and the POVs for side characters seemed unnecessary most of the time.
A lot of parts seemed rushed or barely fleshed out, leaving me to feel lost or like I missed something.
The language seemed far more appropriate for a stereotypical high schooler in present day than a YA fantasy book and seemed juvenile at times. The character development left a lot to be desired and the POVs for side characters seemed unnecessary most of the time.
A lot of parts seemed rushed or barely fleshed out, leaving me to feel lost or like I missed something.
This is your last chance to turn back now. Seriously, this book wrecked my world and I am warning you…stay away if you value your sleep or sanity.
Still here? Fabulous, I had hoped you’d ignore that warning like all true heros and heroines do in stories. Kingdom Cold is a book that I hated and loved all at the same time. I want to hug it close and never let it go, and also throw it across the room, very hard. I am really emotionally…not okay.
As I was reading the book in the beginning, I honestly was a little displeased at how fast paced it was and how simple and to the point the descriptions were. I felt like I was being jipped out of details, however, my mindset completely changed in the middle of the book and I realized that I was so invested in the story that I couldn’t even stop reading to eat dinner…It was honestly perfectly written for the story; details for the scenes that are important, and quick mentions of things that don’t have a detrimental impact on the plot.
Charlotte, Young, Milly, Minseo…..all of them were so perfectly unique. Charlotte and Young both have such a profound display of character development, I was so proud of them. We literally watch them grow from immature children to responsible and powerful leaders, and especially at the end of the book…wow. They really became what we thought they were incapable of just a few chapters ago. They were awesome characters, all of them were!
The story itself has action scenes that can get vivid and there is lots of blood. There is some sexual content as far as some characters discussing the “consummation ceremony” following the wedding, as well as other characters sleeping around and making jokes. There are some detailed kisses and though there is not a descriptive sex scene, there are several “implied” scenes in which it is quite clear as to what the characters are doing before the chapters end.
Overall, books with these types of endings are not at all my favorite and I try to stay away from them as much as possible, however with how much Kingdom Cold really affected me, I can’t help but to admit that it is every bit a 5 star novel. So, my final rating is 5 out of 5 stars, and from what I hear, fans of Kiera Cass will truly love this book.
P.S. Apparently book 2 comes out in June, but don’t worry, it’s not a cliffhanger ending THANK GOODNESS.
I received this book from the author for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are entirely my own.
This is a LiteratureApproved.com Review.
Still here? Fabulous, I had hoped you’d ignore that warning like all true heros and heroines do in stories. Kingdom Cold is a book that I hated and loved all at the same time. I want to hug it close and never let it go, and also throw it across the room, very hard. I am really emotionally…not okay.
As I was reading the book in the beginning, I honestly was a little displeased at how fast paced it was and how simple and to the point the descriptions were. I felt like I was being jipped out of details, however, my mindset completely changed in the middle of the book and I realized that I was so invested in the story that I couldn’t even stop reading to eat dinner…It was honestly perfectly written for the story; details for the scenes that are important, and quick mentions of things that don’t have a detrimental impact on the plot.
Charlotte, Young, Milly, Minseo…..all of them were so perfectly unique. Charlotte and Young both have such a profound display of character development, I was so proud of them. We literally watch them grow from immature children to responsible and powerful leaders, and especially at the end of the book…wow. They really became what we thought they were incapable of just a few chapters ago. They were awesome characters, all of them were!
The story itself has action scenes that can get vivid and there is lots of blood. There is some sexual content as far as some characters discussing the “consummation ceremony” following the wedding, as well as other characters sleeping around and making jokes. There are some detailed kisses and though there is not a descriptive sex scene, there are several “implied” scenes in which it is quite clear as to what the characters are doing before the chapters end.
Overall, books with these types of endings are not at all my favorite and I try to stay away from them as much as possible, however with how much Kingdom Cold really affected me, I can’t help but to admit that it is every bit a 5 star novel. So, my final rating is 5 out of 5 stars, and from what I hear, fans of Kiera Cass will truly love this book.
P.S. Apparently book 2 comes out in June, but don’t worry, it’s not a cliffhanger ending THANK GOODNESS.
I received this book from the author for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are entirely my own.
This is a LiteratureApproved.com Review.
I enjoyed it.
This was a book I wouldn't have chosen myself but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was very fast paced and plot heavy. Surprisingly I want to continue the series. If you like royal tales I definitely recommend it.
This was a book I wouldn't have chosen myself but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was very fast paced and plot heavy. Surprisingly I want to continue the series. If you like royal tales I definitely recommend it.
"For a book supposedly set in medieval times, this is pretty forward-thinking… but in a good way. It may mean that the book is not so realistic in the way of traditional medieval-set romances but what the hell, it’s a fictional book and not an academic paper. Anything that advances the cause of equality should be welcomed." Continue reading our review here.
Please note: We don't use ratings but for this purpose, we tag books with three stars by default.
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Please note: We don't use ratings but for this purpose, we tag books with three stars by default.
Would like to be a reviewer/contributor to Bookbed? Sign up here!
We also accept review requests. More info here.
Fun premise. I love princess/royalty stories, and this one has diverse characters with alternating povs that aren't grating. Yooo, sign me up!
I liked the two main characters. Young's sweet. A normal, polite prince trying to live up to expectations. He's adorable and slightly naive and pure in the sense, he's barely kissed anyone. While Charlotte is a super dramatic would-be theater kid with all her performances. Her first meeting with her betrothed-to-be went like "ohhh, you're the one I'm marrying?"
I like that she's vulnerable but has her own agency. She's ready to save herself and anyone else she cares about by any means necessary.
Haha, I was hooked with the story from the get-go. There are so many whatttt? Just happened?? And junk got real moments. Of course, with some wedding night shenanigans. Oh my.
Also, there's a really touching moment when a character dies and another character says, "every moment you had with them is what you have left. " I'm paraphrasing, but that part stood out to me.
MAJOR Spoilers:how did Milly fall for Young so quickly??? Like ... I think she's just starved for love because she rebounded so quickly. I feel like only bad things happen to Milly to the bitter end.
Come on, now the love triangle with the two brothers? Let's not do this. That always ends messy and awkward.
The downside, I really hated how Minseo fell for Charlotte. Like, why was he so captivated by her? I hated the strain it put on Minseo-Young's relationship. These are the same two brothers that did everything to protect each other and a girl comes between them. Well, it was one-sided on Minseo's part.
Let's be honest. I enjoyed the slow pace Young and Charlotte were taking, and I figured it would be book 2 before any real romantic development would take place. But... all of a sudden Young gives Charlotte breath and a reason to live? A bunch of Charlotte's thoughts toward the end are drenched in syrup... oh yeah, and she's pregnant. I know many months had passed, but it felt like a drastic change. They were really connecting after the wedding then Young left and then they were soulmates. I really wanted an emphasis on the time skip.
Ehh, I'm not complaining. Considering the ending, I'm glad I got my fluff.
ENDING SPOILERS:
I feel like all the women in this story die or are left unhappy. Milly never found love. dead. Charlotte's mom. dead. Sasha? dead. Charlotte? pregnant-widow with no parents and no kingdom. Mina just trying to marry Minseo and make the kingdom happy. dead. I hope Morgana can live a peaceful life.
DANG! Why did Young have to die? ;__; Can’t we get a magical Disney kiss and bring him back? And thank you that Minseo and Charlotte didn’t get together after his death. It would just be too much. We don't need that Uncle-daddy business. update: well ... that's what book 2's looking like xD
Ain’t no happy endings, kiddie. Whoo. That ending almost got a little depressing.
Overall, I would recommend! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it even though I didn't like how Minseo changed and some aspects of the ending. I'm excited to see more from this author.
4.5 stars
I liked the two main characters. Young's sweet. A normal, polite prince trying to live up to expectations. He's adorable and slightly naive and pure in the sense, he's barely kissed anyone. While Charlotte is a super dramatic would-be theater kid with all her performances. Her first meeting with her betrothed-to-be went like "ohhh, you're the one I'm marrying?"
I like that she's vulnerable but has her own agency. She's ready to save herself and anyone else she cares about by any means necessary.
Haha, I was hooked with the story from the get-go. There are so many whatttt? Just happened?? And junk got real moments. Of course, with some wedding night shenanigans. Oh my.
Also, there's a really touching moment when a character dies and another character says, "every moment you had with them is what you have left. " I'm paraphrasing, but that part stood out to me.
MAJOR Spoilers:
Come on, now the love triangle with the two brothers? Let's not do this. That always ends messy and awkward.
The downside, I really hated how Minseo fell for Charlotte. Like, why was he so captivated by her? I hated the strain it put on Minseo-Young's relationship. These are the same two brothers that did everything to protect each other and a girl comes between them. Well, it was one-sided on Minseo's part.
Let's be honest. I enjoyed the slow pace Young and Charlotte were taking, and I figured it would be book 2 before any real romantic development would take place. But... all of a sudden Young gives Charlotte breath and a reason to live? A bunch of Charlotte's thoughts toward the end are drenched in syrup... oh yeah, and she's pregnant. I know many months had passed, but it felt like a drastic change. They were really connecting after the wedding then Young left and then they were soulmates. I really wanted an emphasis on the time skip.
Ehh, I'm not complaining. Considering the ending, I'm glad I got my fluff.
ENDING SPOILERS:
I feel like all the women in this story die or are left unhappy. Milly never found love. dead. Charlotte's mom. dead. Sasha? dead. Charlotte? pregnant-widow with no parents and no kingdom. Mina just trying to marry Minseo and make the kingdom happy. dead. I hope Morgana can live a peaceful life.
DANG! Why did Young have to die? ;__; Can’t we get a magical Disney kiss and bring him back? And thank you that Minseo and Charlotte didn’t get together after his death. It would just be too much. We don't need that Uncle-daddy business. update: well ... that's what book 2's looking like xD
Ain’t no happy endings, kiddie. Whoo. That ending almost got a little depressing.
Overall, I would recommend! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it even though I didn't like how Minseo changed and some aspects of the ending. I'm excited to see more from this author.
4.5 stars