Frost

by Kate Avery Ellison

[Kim Deister]

Frost is the first in a new series, The Frost Chronicles, by Kate Avery Ellison, author of The Curse Girl and an anthology of short stories, Once Upon A Beanstalk. I loved The Curse Girl so I was very excited to be asked to review this new book from Kate. As much as I loved the previous book, I think I loved this one even more. It was gripping from the moment I opened it.

For a book to fully have my love, it needs to ensnare me and make me feel with the characters, lost in its world and its story. One of things I love most about Kate's writing is her ability to pull her readers in and not let them go until the very end, and sometimes not even then! She combines reality with the fantastical to create a world that is entirely believable, and fills it with characters that you feel like you know. Just the opening passages had me shivering with chills up and down my spine. She has a style of writing that I really enjoy. While she creates a world that I can totally visualize, she does it with a minimal style, using strong words as opposed to many words, leaving things open to the imagination of the reader.

Lia is a wonderful character for this book, saddled with the pressures and responsibilities of adulthood, long before she should. She is so real a character that you quickly fall into her story, feeling her emotions along with her. I was so pro-Lia as I read the book, that I suspect I was feeling more intensely than she was from time to time! I love an author that develops even the lesser characters as much as the central characters, and Kate definitely does. It's probably because those less central characters were so well-developed that I was so pulled into the emotions of the plot.

Not generally one to judge a book by its cover, I would nonetheless be remiss if I didn't mention the stunning cover! It is simple, but elegant and beautiful. The color effects of it so richly fit the story and is one of those covers that really lends to the feel of the story. The only down side to this book? I FINISHED IT AND NOW I HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE! Loved it and I know you will, too!