Ice Kissed (Kanin Chronicles, #2)

by Amanda Hocking

Following on from the adventures in Frostfire, Ice Kissed is the second instalment in the Kanin Chronicles by Amanda Hocking, set in the same fantastical world as her million copy bestselling Trylle trilogy.

Bryn Aven is still struggling with her burgeoning relationship with Ridley. She's also set on completing her mission to find the missing Skojare Queen. But when they do finally discover what happened, Bryn finds out that things are much more complicated than she'd originally thought.

And as she gets closer to the truth, Bryn is framed for the murder of the Kanin King himself. She ends up on the run, as home holds too few answers and no solutions.

• ISBN10: 1447256824
• ISBN13: 9781447256823
• Publish Date: 7 May 2015 (first published 5 May 2015)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan
• Imprint: Tor
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 320
• Language: English

Reviews

[readingwithwrin]

See review first on Readingwithwrin.

"My job is to serve this kingdom to the best of my ability, and that means I won't stand idly by if I think the wrong this is being done, even if the one doing it is wearing a crown."


I can’t believe I ended up liking this book, just as much as I did the first one. No second book syndrome happened here.
The romance that had been slow burning the first one took a huge jump that I was a little surprised by and did end up making things awkward when Bryn and the guy had to go on a mission together, but they eventually do resolve it and began to work together as a team again.
The friendships are still strong in this one, a little strained at times though due to everyone being stressed about a potential attack coming soon. Thankfully though they all were able to stay friends and even though they didn’t always support each other’s decisions they were still able to be there when it was needed and keep each other as safe as possible.
This one was a little different though, due to Bryn having to find and then protect a Skojare princess and then try to help the Skojare kingdom become safer. When this ended up going terribly wrong though and the kingdom gets turned upside down due to corruption, Bryn has to leave because her “job is done” or so they say. But Bryn isn’t content and neither is the other guard that was with her. With no good reason to stay they are forced to go home and start training once again to prepare for an attack.
I was very shocked by an event that happened once they were back and I am don't trust the Queen or the Skojare Princess Kennet and I am pretty positive they are both very corrupt and potentially working together. (I could be wrong though. )


This book was just as good as the first even if it did include an unexpected sex scene. I have to know what happens next and I can’t wait to read the other series by Hocking that is in this world as well.

[Kelly]

http://www.divabooknerd.com/2015/05/giveaway-ice-kissed-by-amanda-hocking.html
In Ice Kissed, we see Bryn still troubled by the investigation of the Skojare Queen's disappearance while still punishing herself for allowing Konstanin and his accomplice to escape. With word of her injuries reaching the King, war has been declared on Konstanin with both high society and guards alike being trained for combat. Bryn blames herself but is beginning to realise that Konstanin isn't the enemy, but a scapegoat of the kingdom where tensions have increased tenfold. Her friendship with Ridley is tense at best, scared to take the emotional risk of telling him how she feels, instead she gives into temptation and settles for a night of passion before journeying to find the missing queen once more.

Where in Frostfire, Bryn was capable, but in Ice Kissed she's fierce, determined and we see her human emotions being torn apart by her kingdom and the man she's hesitant to admit she's fallen in love with. Bryn reminds me of a mild version of Celaena Sardothien, not afraid to stand up for what she believes in and seemingly sees emotion as a form of weakness she no longer wants or needs. The only aspect that I find disappointing with Bryn is her lack of character development. She seems to have two personas, outspoken and brooding. I loved seeing her relinquish control in her moment of weakness with Ridley, but hopefully she finds a greater balance with her emotions, or lack thereof in the finale.

The pacing is more action packed than Frostfire, and I loved being transported to the watery Skojare kingdom, along with the flirtatious, verging on sleazy prince Kennet. But like her own homeland, transparency within the Skojare is non existent. Guards with a hidden agenda and a cold hearted king that is seemingly in the midst of an emotional breakdown. But in a testament to Bryn's character, she refused to give up, possibly due to guilt in blaming herself for Konstanin escaping custody. I needed to know what Konstanin knew, and why he has involved himself with warning others against an unknown enemy. I felt answers weren't provided and the reader is strung along when all will be revealed come the finale. Hopefully the big reveal as the storyline unravels won't disappoint.

Ice Kissed is another well written and engaging installment in the Kanin Chronicles, but sadly readers are still left with more questions than answers. I loved the defining point of Bryn and Ridley's relationship and exploring the Skojare kingdom, but it felt like a cleverly disguised sequel that doesn't add much to the overall storyline. I enjoyed it nonetheless. Readers will be expecting a well crafted finale that finally gives us the answers we so desperately seek. A big task, but I'm more than confident that Amanda Hocking will deliver with her trademark style and flare.

[anne]

Good fantasy read

[Sarah Says]

I liked the synopsis of this book and requested to read and review it without realising it was the second book in a trilogy. OOPS!! But I read it anyway. I kinda wish I’d read the first book Frostfire first. I really enjoyed Ice Kissed anyway. I grew to love the characters, but I assume I would have already loved them if I’d read Frostfire first. And more than likely the big moment at the end would have meant more. I didn’t understand the depth of the ending of Ice Kissed until reading the synopsis of the first book while doing up this review post and I had an “Oh Snap!” moment.

A lot of the books I’ve been reading lately have been third person. It was so refreshing to step into a first person story via Bryn. I find first person to be so much more emotional and personal, I know it doesn’t work with every story – but it works wonders with this one.

The story starts with Bryn recapping a failed mission with Ridley and beating herself up over the failure. From the beginning scene of Bryn riding on horseback through the snow along high city walls, I was thinking “yeah I love medieval times, bring on some epic king Arthur settings and battles”. Then the words drove and SUV popped up and I was like “um, what, where the hell am I!”

Magic: After reading further on I was able to figure it all out: this is a story of trolls. I saw them in my head as human, oops. It is set in current times. The human world still exists, just as it is and the Trolls use a lot of our modern technology, hence the Range Rover they were driving in. I’m sure in the first book the whole world would have been built and I’d have already known this. We don’t see this Troll world thanks to magical Troll enchantments. Amanda Hocking really has beautifully blended our modern world with that of a Troll world secretly going on under our noses.

Romance: Bryn and Ridley have a forbidden romance thing going on. Ah it’s always sweeter when it’s forbidden. It’s always more exciting – well that’s my opinion.

At the 34% there is a sex scene which I wasn’t expecting, it’s not over the top or porno feeling. Stress less people. But it did make me realise I had no idea how old the characters were supposed to be. Also my brain went “Troll Sex, Um, well Trolls are humanoid, yes, yes, I’m imagining this correctly”. And really they are very human these trolls, they just live in secret from humans and have magical abilities. I’d been imagining Bryn as about 17-ish, but she may have been older, I really don’t know. She started working at twelve and after that I found it hard to figure out her time line.

Action: After the 34% mark the books takes off at light speed with Bryn leaving Ridley and her home with the Kanin to help the Skojare. At this point I delved into a fast flowing world of danger and mystery and Bryn fighting for what she feels is right. And I loved it. And I’m devastated that I have to wait until August to read the next book and see how things turn out. And I’m not going to tell you anymore about it or I’ll give away all the twisty turny awesomeness.

I really enjoyed being in Bryn’s head, I found her really engaging and her life captivated me. FIVE STARS.