Frostblood: The Frostblood Saga Book One (Frostblood Saga, #1)

by Elly Blake

The first in an addictive young adult fantasy trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Elly Blake, perfect for fans of Red Queen and Throne of Glass.

'If there is one epic fantasy series that you pick up next year, make sure it's this one.' - K-BOOKS
'Fast-paced and brimming with magic and intrigue.' - Lori M. Lee, GATES OF THREAD AND STONE

Enter a world where fire and ice are mortal enemies...

Ruby is a Fireblood. In a land ruled by frost, her very existence is a crime. She's spent her whole life in hiding.

Until the day Frostblood soldiers raid her village and kill her mother. The day she swears to avenge her people.

She must travel deep into the heart of the enemy, to the court of the Frost King, with only the mysterious warrior Arcus - a Frostblood rebel - by her side. But with alliances between flame and ice strictly forbidden, is Arcus friend or foe?

Ruby will only have one chance to destroy the maniacal ruler who took everything from her. But she has no idea just how hot her fire will burn...

• ISBN10: 1473635179
• ISBN13: 9781473635173
• Publish Date: 12 January 2017 (first published 10 January 2017)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 29 March 2021
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
• Imprint: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
• Format: Paperback (UK Trade)
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

I enjoyed it, but this book is lacking in every aspect. The story could be great, but it isn’t developed well. The characters change their personality such that it fits the story, which seems unrealistic and isn’t explained well. Why does she suddenly have a change of heart? How does she go from hating them to seeing every single one of them as her family within a month? Some people okay, but the whole Abbey? That doesn’t make any sense at all.
The romance is so heavily foreshadowed, which isn’t too bad, but what the f is that love triangle thing? Why don’t we know her feelings and thoughts and I need more thoughts! Also, Arcus is just like “you kissed my brother in front of me but you say you were overtaken by a demon so I guess I don’t even mention it ever. Love you” ... How do they not even talk about it once? Does he know it because we know it? Or did I miss a conversation where she properly tells him everything that is happening to her?

In the end, it was enjoyable but bad. It could have been great, had the story been slowed down and properly explained instead of rushing through.

[Empress of Sass]

Full review coming soon.
This was just ok. It’s probably more like 2.75/5 for me but I’m rounding up to 3 stars. The plot was average and the world building was underwhelming. The two leads danced around each other in repetitive scenes for a good chunk of the book, swinging between love and hate. There was nothing surprising or interesting.

[alisoninbookland]

😵😳😬

In many ways this was a fairly typical YA fantasy novel: world is divided into 2 parts, heroine possesses 'bad' power, power leads to loved ones death, heroine works on learning to control said power, heroine might be the one of prophecy/legend said to destroy evil power, lather, rinse, and repeat. It's a little formulaic but I happen to enjoy that particular formula.

While there were some predictable elements to the story, Blake throws in some very interesting elements. There were great twists as well. Basically, Blake was able to take a story where you know most of the elements and change it up just enough to make you want to read more! I didn't want to walk away from the story. Even though there weren't many women in the story, it was really refreshing to see Ruby have (somewhat) healthy relationships with other women. There was no cattiness just to be catty. There was support in ways that it could be given.

Why only 3*? I liked it just fine. It was engaging enough but nothing to make me really love the story 100%. Here's hoping Fireblood ups the stakes and makes things really interesting.

I wish I could say I loved this. I also wish I could say that I hated it. Honestly, here's how it goes - hated part 1, really enjoyed part 2.

In all honesty, I almost DNF-ed. Nothing was grabbing me. First, the cliches: Fireblood = fiery personality (all that was missing was the red hair....), Frostblood guy who is a cold-hearted butt towards her but actually has a *personality of gold* hidden under all that ice, chosen one (though kind of turned on it's head so that's nice), etc.

However, I could handle cliche story lines but the characters! Ugh, I didn't really connect with either Ruby or Arcus. Ruby was.....fierce? Special? Couldn't actually do anything? Temperamental? *cough* cliches *cough*. But nothing really redeemed her or made me go OMG I MUST PROTECT HER AND SHE IS SO AMAZING. She was just....there. Then Arcus. I admit I like a hate-turned-love relationship, but this had problems. One, he was a total butt towards her a some points and the story just doesn't do a good job of making it okay/redeemable. But, more than that, the romance between them just didn't feel like it came to fruition naturally. One moment they hate each other and then all of a sudden, OOOOOO ARCUS I UNDERSTAND YOU AND HAVE FEEEEEEEELINGS TOWARDS YOU and *bleh*. Problem was, I didn't feel like I understood why. Convince me why these two all of a sudden love each other. It didn't feel gradual or natural. Also, totally saw that thing w/ Arkus coming btw (which is normally not me soooooo). However, A for witty banter. I am ALWAYS game for that.

And then part 2 happened. And here is where it *finally* gets good (well, enjoyable). We finally have plot movement and things that aren't cliche (that were hinted at in part 1 but fleshed out in 2). We even have somewhat of a twist! Woo! And yes, I'm kind of a sucker for gladiatorial type fights/settings (Gladiator is one of my favorite movies and solidified my love of Russel Crow). Also, I love a good villain that tries to seduce the MC. Now, this isn't like the Darkling from The Grisha Trilogy who you secretly (or not so secretly) are attracted to and kind of want to redeem, but I love it anyways.

All in all, I'm weirdly glad I didn't DNF. However, this book certainly isn't one of my favorites by any means. Flesh out part 1, keep part 2, and you'd have had a better book. I'll still probably read the second book only because I'm now more interested in the plot, even if I don't love the characters (though they have grown on me in Pt. 2....).

[bookishzelda]

Wow I can’t believe I didn’t pick up Frostblood sooner. With Fireblood just coming out and everyone excited for it. I thought maybe I’ll just peruse the beginning of Frostblood. I was instantly sucked in and engaged and I’ve been in kind of a slump lately. I loved the book!

I absolutely loved how engaging the book was. I never had a minute where I felt the book was slow or I was anxious to get through a part. It was all forward action and no plateauing at all. I really enjoyed the plot and the magic that surrounded it. I loved the characters and how they all had their own separate stories. I loved what I felt to be female camaraderie.

As far as world building is concerned I felt the world was small but it was still interesting. The areas that we spent most of our time are definitely fleshed out. This is a fantasy where you cross great distances, it’s a little more condensed but I enjoyed and never found that to be any hindrance on what I felt about the story.

Ruby as a main character was great. I loved when an MC has many facets to them, both light and dark. She has this power that is despised in the Kingdom she currently resides in and it’s not so easy to hide. Her own body temperature can give her away. She’s dedicated to the ones she loves and she’s got a little bit of saucy attitude.

I also loved Arcus and the monks at the Abbey. Each with their own weaknesses and strengths in patience and acceptance. Arcus tries to keep Ruby at arms length but I think his kindness shows through. Also his concern for the kingdom as a whole and wanting to help the people.

I loved loved this story and I’m excited to read Fireblood. Although now I’m wondering if I should wait until it’s closer to the Shadowblood’s release.

[blackbibliophile]

Familiar story but I still liked it!

Even though Frostblood lifts some ideas from Red Queen and Throne of Glass, I still liked the story and the chemistry between Celaena and Dorian .......oops I mean Ruby and Arcas. :-). Hopefully the sequel will be a little more original.

[littleread1]

this was great on audio. really good and compelling. with an ending that you know there is more to come but still satisfying.

[readingwithwrin]

4.5 stars

“I wasn’t being noble. There was nothing noble about a thirst for revenge. It was about getting what I wanted, a chance to kill the king. And no one else would have to suffer because of me.”


This is my favorite new fantasy world! Yes it is similar to Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard (and I still like that series as well), this one was able to keep my guessing and the world building was slightly more enjoyable than Red Queen for me.

Ruby is a young woman who doesn't think of herself as strong, yet still try's to act like it so that she can attempt to protect those around her. Yet she also breaks down all the time, and feel inadequate. For me this made her an even more like able character because she is knows what her flaws are and learns to use them to her advantage with some help. This is when we bring in Arcus and so many other of the monks where she is staying.

Arcus is one of those characters, that while you don't fully like or trust because of how little is known about him. You also really want to like him and get to know him and learn why exactly he wants to help Ruby on her mission.

While Ruby and Arcus do end up fighting a lot, it's the type of fighting that is enjoyable to read because of how easy the banter between them is and how they both seem to feed off of each other's anger and frustration. But when they do work together on something they make a pretty good team if I do say so myself.

I'm honestly afraid I am going to say too much and give away the mystery and excitement behind this story. But I will say this if you like fantasy stories that involve saving a country, all while learning to use a power with a small side of romance, then I think you might enjoy this book. Also the world building while easy to understand, was also very detailed in how certain things worked all without giving to much information.
I can't wait to read the next book in this trilogy and see what Ruby gets up to next!




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[liz089]

DNF. page 139

This is just not working out for me. Maybe it is me, but I really can't motivate myself to continue. I started it like more than two weeks ago, but I just don't care about the characters or the plot.
It seemed like my kind of book, with lots of magic and a secret plot to kill the King and stuff.. But it is very dull and the MC is really annoying and I not into it at all. Maybe it will get better?? But I'm done.

[Kelly]

Frostblood was enchanting and delightful, reminiscent of wondrous fairytales and captivating fables.

Seventeen year old Ruby is a Fireblood in a kingdom under the tyrannical command of the Frost King, where villages are tormented and burnt to the ground in the search for Firebloods. Ruby can create fire in a kingdom of ice and frost, making her a commodity. Ruby's narrative was compelling. Although she's aware of her ability to create fire, Ruby defies her mother's wishes and practices perfecting her craft each day under the guise of the forest canopy. She's feisty and blinded by revenge as the Frost King's guard burns her village to the ground and takes her captive only to be freed.

Arcus is a character veiled in secrecy, hostile and detached as he begins to assist Ruby in cultivating her abilities. The tentative friendship was charming and incredibly entertaining as the two used thinly veiled insults to conceal their growing attraction.

The romance was absolutely lovely, gentle and gathers a gradual momentum. Both Arcus and Ruby are tenacious and I loved their enchanting courtship amidst the insults and mockery.

You don’t know the effect your words have on me, Lady Firebrand. It took years to build up this ice. You will melt it and then I will be broken.

Blinded by revenge, both Ruby and Arcus share a common ambition, to abolish the Frost King and protect the monastery but the King has plans for the liberated Fireblood.

I was enamored by the world Elly Blake envisioned, beautiful and captivating. I was pleasantly delighted by Frostfire. An admirable an enthralling debut that held me captive until the final page.
http://www.divabooknerd.com/2017/02/frostblood.html