Excerpt
The wind had calmed down some, so I left my jacket open, letting the air freeze the sweat that still stuck to me. After we’d finished training for the day, Ember had insisted that I join her for a treat at the bakery in the town square, saying we’d earned it. Tilda had to finish up some paperwork, and then she planned to meet us so we could talk more in depth about her wedding plans.My muscles already ached and my right wrist cracked loudly every time I moved it, but I wasn’t sure I felt like I’d earned anything. The day left me feeling more like a failure than I already had.
Several inches of snow had piled up while we’d been working. Although there were still tracks from people and animals braving the weather, the streets were mostly deserted. The Kanin could handle whatever the weather threw at them, but that didn’t mean they were masochists. Most of us knew when it was worth it to stay in by the fire.
But Ember didn’t seem to mind. She just pulled her hat down over her ears and trudged through the snow banks.
“You were awfully quiet today,” Ember commented as we made our way down to the bakery.
I shrugged. “I was just training.”
“It’s more than that.” She paused before adding, “You know no one blames you.”
“Some people do.”
Ember scoffed. “Those people are stupid. Everyone who knows you knows that you did everything you could to stop Viktor Dålig and Konstantin.”
We’d been outside long enough that the cold had started to get to me, but I didn’t zip up my jacket. I just clenched my jaw, refusing to let my teeth chatter.
An oversized white husky was digging through the garbage outside the butcher shop. Large snowflakes clung to his thick fur. He looked at me as we passed by, his bright blue eyes seeming to look straight through me, and a chill ran down my spine. I quickly looked away.
“What if I didn’t do everything I could?” I asked.
Ember was so startled that she halted. “What? What are you talking about?”
“I mean, I did.” I turned back to face her, since I had walked a few steps after she’d stopped, and behind her I saw the husky had returned to rooting through the trash buried beneath the snow.
Ember narrowed her eyes. “Then what are you saying?”
“I don’t know.” I let out a deep breath, and it was shaky from the cold. I turned my head toward the sky, blinking back the snowflakes that hit my lashes. “I did everything I could, but it wasn’t good enough. So then . . . what does it matter?”
There was something more to it than that, though. Something I couldn’t explain to Ember.
Viktor Dålig had beaten me, that was true. The sight of him had been like encountering a ghost, and I’d been in shock, so he’d been able to get the best of me. That didn’t mean I hadn’t wanted to stop him, but it had been my fault for letting myself be caught off guard, even for a moment.
But Viktor had wanted to kill me. When he’d smashed my head into the stone, he’d been trying to execute me—I knew that with absolute certainty. But he hadn’t succeeded, and I had a feeling that I had Konstantin Black to thank for being alive.
Run, white rabbit, as fast and far as you can, he’d whispered when I came upon him in the dungeon. Even though he’d been escaping, he’d looked so defeated then—his gray eyes soft and mournful, his entire body sagging, his olive skin going pale beneath the shadow of his beard. Konstantin hadn’t wanted me to get hurt.
I’d been convinced that Konstantin had been working for someone, that his attack on my father and his plots to go after changelings weren’t his idea. In Storvatten, he’d even said as much to me, telling me that he’d done it all for love. Whatever that meant.
“What happened in Storvatten?” Ember stepped closer to me. “You never even told me about Viktor Dålig. I’ve had to hear everything through other people,” she added, trying not to sound hurt that I hadn’t confided in her more.
“What have you heard?” I tilted my head, curious to know what people were saying.
“That he surprised you and overpowered you, and then he escaped with Konstantin,” she explained with a weak shrug. “Is there anything more to it than that? Did Viktor say anything to you?”
The butcher leaned out the back door of his shop and banged loudly on a metal pan, scaring the husky. The dog gave one hungry glance in my direction before running off and dis- appearing into the snow.
“No. He didn’t say anything.” I shook my head. “But...”
“But what?”
The wind came up a bit, blowing my blond waves of hair in front of my face, and I brushed them back absently. Ember pulled her jacket tighter around her, but she kept her dark eyes locked on me.
“I can’t help but feel like if I’d found the Queen, I’d have some answers,” I said finally, deciding that part of the truth was better than admitting that I didn’t think Konstantin was as evil as I once had.
“The Skojare Queen?” Her brow pinched, not understanding. “I thought she was dead.”
“That’s the theory,” I said. “I wanted to look for her more, but the Skojare King called off the search, and Ridley said there wasn’t anything left for us to do.”
“If the Skojare King doesn’t want you looking anymore, then Ridley’s right,” Ember said.
“I know, but . . .” I chewed my lip. “If I could find Linnea, I think I could find out what Konstantin is up to.”
“If you find her, and that’s assuming she’s even alive,” Ember pointed out. I lowered my eyes but didn’t say anything. “And you have direct orders to stay here and prepare for war. You can’t go off on some kind of wild-goose chase at a time like this.”
“I know.” I let out a reluctant sigh. “I just hate feeling so useless.”
“Everything that’s happened lately has to have been rough on you.” Ember looped her arm through mine and started leading me away, toward the bakery. “But that doesn’t mean you’re useless. You’re strong and you’re smart. You’re a great soldier, and that’s important too.”
We rounded the corner, and the sweet scent of pastries wafted through the air. My stomach rumbled, and I realized I’d skipped lunch that day. I’d been so focused on my training that I’d completely forgotten about it.
I began fantasizing about a delicious blackberry tart—a wonderful combination of sweet and bitter, with an emphasis on the bitter. But my momentary good mood immediately soured when the door to the bakery opened, and Juni Sköld stepped out into the snow.
It wasn’t exactly the sight of her that made me freeze in my tracks. Juni worked at the bakery, so I shouldn’t have been that surprised to see her here. She had to be one of the nicest people in all of Doldastam, and her luminescent skin literally radiated with happiness and kindness.
It was who she was with, and what she meant to him, that made me stop cold. Following right behind her was Ridley Dresden. He still wore his uniform, so he’d come here right from work to walk his girlfriend home.
“What’s wrong?” Ember asked. Since her arm was looped with mine, she’d been forced to stop alongside me.
Juni was laughing at something Ridley had said, but then she turned, and as soon as she spotted us her smile widened. Ridley, on the other hand, looked stricken at the sight of me.
I’m certain that part of it was because he was still angry at me. But another part was probably because he’d kissed me— twice—since he’d been dating Juni. The first time was only a few short blocks from here, and it had been so passionate and so intense that even thinking about it now made my pulse race and my stomach swirl with butterflies.
“Bryn!” Juni exclaimed, walking over to me while Ridley trailed several slow steps behind her. “It’s so good to see you! How are you holding up?”
“I’m . . .” I couldn’t even muster a fake smile.
Seeing her sheer delight and genuine concern for my well- being made me recognize that I had to be one of the worst beings who ever lived. And that was combined with the way Ridley was acting right then—shoving his hands in his pockets, avoiding looking at me at all costs. When his eyes finally did manage to land on me, his gaze was so harsh I felt about two inches tall.
“We’ve had a long day,” Ember supplied, since it seemed that I would stand there forever without saying anything.
“I’m just cold,” I said suddenly. “I think I should get inside.”
“Well, you stay warm,” Juni said, but she looked puzzled. “And take care.”
“Thanks, you too.” I ducked my head down and hurried toward the bakery as fast as I could.
“Why didn’t you say anything to her?” I heard Juni ask Ridley as I pulled open the door. “Are you two fighting?”
I practically ran inside the bakery so I wouldn’t have to hear his answer.
My Thoughts:
Where do I even begin!? I've been a fan of Amanda Hocking way back when she very first released her first self published book years ago. I was drawn to her storytelling and the ease of her writing from the start. The novel, Frostfire, the first in the Kanin Chronicles, captured my attention with its summery and the beautiful cover art. Of course, it's Amanda Hocking! I was going to read it!
Ice Kissed was everything I had expected from the author and more. She amps up the mystery, romance, intrigue and pulls out a depth I hadn't quite expected! This was a pleasant surprise to say the least and she clarified questions I had from the Frostfire.
Ridley Dresden and Bryn Aven are back home from their job in Skojare, the capital of Storvatten. Though they were released from their duties since the mission was declared complete, she wouldn't call it over because Konstantin Black had escaped, and the Queen (Queen Linnea Biaelse) they'd gone to find was still missing.
"But now as I rode Bloom through the falling snow, pushing him hard as though I could somehow escape the truth, I realized I was more afraid that my memories were right." (ebook page 10)
Bryn concluded that what she perceived happened in the dungeon had truly taken place, that Victor Dalig was there, and had indeed been the one to smash her head into the wall. Bryn was on a mission to figure out why Konstantin would care about Victor's vengeance, and why Konstantin was issuing warnings to run from danger.
With the help of her mother, whom was born and raised in Storvatten, she and Ridley were able to find the missing Queen and get her to safetly. Bryn and Kasper Abbot were asked to escort the Queen back to Storvatten, and help making some changes if necessary to strengthen the security and restore order among their guards etc.
Before Bryn takes off for Storvatten, Bryn FINALLY caves in to her intense feelings for Riley. My toes curled and I was soooo happy!!!! I love those two as a whole, but I knew before I was finished reading that enticing scene....Bryn would reel back and over-think things. Because Ridley is the Overste, they weren't allowed to be a couple. She's one determined young lady though, and she's been on a mission of her own, and that's to be a Hogdragen.
Between Prince Kennet making passes on Bryn, her feelings for Ridley, and the confusion of who's working with Victor, that girl is a walking time bomb. As I came near the end of this tension filled story, I flipped those ebook pages with lightening speed! I had to know where this was going! At every turn my mind changed as to who I thought was the guilty party.
Ice Kissed was by far the most nail biting story from Hocking yet! That ending!!! Ahhhh! She wove this story with so many possibilities and wrapped it up nicely with a great need for the third installment. Make no mistake, this story is one you need to get your claws on. Bring on the next book!!!
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Crystal Kingdom by Amanda Hocking
