Of Ice and Snow (Fairy Queens, #1)

by Amber Argyle

Rule #1: Never bargain with the fae.
Rule #2: Never fall for the enemy.

The only shepherd in a family of warriors, Otec is humiliated when all his brothers leave to fight a war while he stays home to protect the women and children. But things start to look up when he meets the beautiful and dangerous Matka.

Until she betrays him.

Now on the run and dodging enemies, Otec quickly learns there is more to the war than a mere mortal could comprehend. To survive, he must team up with the very woman who betrayed him. And if they are to have any chance of saving his people, they'll have to make an impossible bargain with the fae.

But all dark magic has a price.

Can Otec become the warrior he was never meant to be? Will he protect his people and the women he refuses to love? Or will he lose everything to wicked bargains and the ravages of war?

~

Three immortal queens. A dying magic. A world to save . . .

The FAIRY QUEENS SAGA is far more than a simple fairy tale retelling. It's a deep dive into the mythology surrounding Hans Christian Andersen's THE SNOW QUEEN. An origin story, the Fairy Queens Saga tells the stories of the Winter Queen (Ilyenna), her rival (Nelay), and Ilyenna's daughter (Elice).

• ISBN10: 0997639016
• ISBN13: 9780997639018
• Publish Date: 8 July 2016
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Starling Books
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 158
• Language: English

Reviews

[inlibrisveritas]

3.5 Stars

Of Ice and Snow focuses on the story of Illeyena's (main character of Winter Queen) parents Otec and Matka, and how they were brought together. While this is not my favorite of Amber's books, it is definitely a great little edition to the series.

Otec who we know as a leader of a clan in Winter Queen, is a young man who tends to the sheep of his clan and wanders the wilderness around the village. He is the unimportant son and we come to know him as a man who is insecure around other people, quiet, and enjoys simple pleasures that others would consider idle. I really loved watching him grow into a more confident leader in the face of opposition and to see just where the personality we come to know in Winter Queen comes from. Matka was a surprise for me. I didn't expect to like her as much as I did, but her quiet confidence and sad nature really spoke to me. And I really love how they complimented each other, his insecurity with her confidence and her pessimism with his positive attitude. They were good for each other.

This one is a novella but it's on the longer side, so there is plenty of detail and plenty of plot to be had. Not to mention some really amazing action scenes to get the blood pumping. It was great to get some backstory on just how the fairies worked humans into the plot for a new Winter Queen, though there role in this while resounding is relatively small.

This is only available in the Daring Hearts box set, so grab it now before it is gone for good!