A review by booksthrilljessica
The Land of Frost by Whitney Welsh Gibbs

3.0

That first chapter….wow! The story kicks off with Maeve, a princess with magical healing powers, eagerly anticipating her wedding night. But things take a dramatic turn as disaster strikes as the people from the kingdom have other plans for her and her family. Barely escaping with her life, Maeve takes refuge in the most unlikely place, Bascogar prison. The opening was so gripping that I was hooked, expecting the rest of the book to maintain that pace. However, I found that the rest of the story felt like a slow montage, and I was left craving more depth in Maeve’s character development.

At times, it seemed like Maeve was constantly seeking validation from the male characters, which made it difficult for me to truly connect with her. I was also distracted by the odd freedom the prisoners seemed to have in the prison, and it took Maeve almost the entire book to realize she could leave whenever she wanted, though the real question was whether she could survive on her own. I also was confused about her magical powers being tied to her hair but not working once it was cut. Wouldn’t it still work once it grew out? Maybe I missed an explanation, but I felt this aspect needed more clarity.

That said, I really enjoyed the premise of the book. With less focus on the prison setting and more time spent on world-building or an epic journey, I think it could have pulled me back.

*Thank you to Whitney Welsh Gibbs and Azala Press for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.