WinterHaven Books: frost chronicles

Today WinterHaven Books has the opportunity to review Frost by Kate Avery Ellison as part of A Tale of Many Reviews blog tour. Thank you AToMR for allowing us to participate!

Frost by Kate Avery Ellison
Publisher: CreateSpace
Release Date: April 18, 2012
Purchase: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

In the icy, monster-plagued world of the Frost, one wrong move and a person could end up dead—and Lia Weaver knows this better than anyone. After monsters kill her parents, she must keep the family farm running despite the freezing cold and threat of monster attacks or risk losing her siblings to reassignment by the village Elders. With dangers on all sides and failure just one wrong step away, she can’t afford to let her emotions lead her astray. So when her sister finds a fugitive bleeding to death in the forest—a young stranger named Gabe—Lia surprises herself and does the unthinkable.

She saves his life.

Giving shelter to the fugitive could get her in trouble. The Elders have always described the advanced society of people beyond the Frost, the “Farthers,” as ruthless and cruel. But Lia is startled to find that Gabe is empathetic and intelligent…and handsome. She might even be falling in love with him.

But time is running out. The monsters from the forest circle the farm at night. The village leader is starting to ask questions. Farther soldiers are searching for Gabe. Lia must locate a secret organization called the Thorns to help Gabe escape to safety, but every move she makes puts her in more danger.

Is compassion—and love—worth the risk?

My Thoughts:

Lately I feel like I have been drawn to creepy type books and Frost definitely does not disappoint in this genre. It was creeptatstic and I have to give the author major credit for her awesome imagery. I could feel the cold and I think at one point I was shivering. It was all very believable!

Lia, having lost her parents has to tend to her crippled twin brother and younger sister. They live on a farm on the outskirts of the Frost and the Village. This is not the safest place for them to live because lurking in the Frost are things called Watchers. The Watchers are evil creatures that if they find you in the woods well lets just say you won't be going back home. Lia soon finds out that Watchers aren't the only thing in the woods and when her sister finds somebody injured and begs to bring him home her whole world gets turned upside down. She discovers that her family was not who she thought and the Village she thought she could trust is definitely not what she thought.

I am really intrigued by this story. I felt totally captivated by what Lia was going through and her hardships. I really wish the story was a little bit longer and had more of a climax. I wanted more action and felt that part was lacking. The one part of the story that I questioned was at the end. I didn't realize that there would be steampunk thrown in the mix so my brain is still trying to catch up to the events that transpired. I also don't know if I completely buy who the villain turned out to be. I understand the motives behind this persons actions but I just don't quite understand how this person gained all their knowledge. I would have liked to have seen more development in this area personally.

All in all though I really enjoyed the story, it was unique and I can't wait to read the sequel.
3 1/2 snowflakes