hilsaa's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
So refreshing to read this type of fantasy. Compared to what’s being churned out recently, this is a breath of (very dense) fresh air.
Ultimately, I wanted more lingering, examining of feelings, lush writing, flowery description and less blunt, dense straightforward description, less people and plot and names and places.
The covers are atrocious - most of this book takes place on a Caribbean island and I was not expecting that.
I preferred the first book. It’s quite a different read from the first book and didn’t love the direction it went, but still found myself interested and thinking about the story and characters. Likely won’t continue the series any time soon.
Ultimately, I wanted more lingering, examining of feelings, lush writing, flowery description and less blunt, dense straightforward description, less people and plot and names and places.
The covers are atrocious - most of this book takes place on a Caribbean island and I was not expecting that.
I preferred the first book. It’s quite a different read from the first book and didn’t love the direction it went, but still found myself interested and thinking about the story and characters. Likely won’t continue the series any time soon.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
decafplease's review against another edition
3.0
Um. What happened? All of a sudden Cat was reduced to a faltering, weak-willed, and utterly love-struck ex-spy (emphasis on the ex-) who forgot constantly what was she was supposed to be doing. What happened?! In the first book she escaped, or tried to, at every opportunity possible. And if no opportunity presented itself, then through ingenuity and tenacity, she created those opportunities for herself. In Cold Fire, in the face of matters of UTTERMOST IMPORTANCE AND URGENCY she decided that to calm her nerves some sewing was much needed. You were a fugitive. You were on a mission. Your life was in danger. You had powers and potential to turn the political tides of the age. Instead, you decided that sewing meekly was what you needed to do in such precarious times? There was also the fact that in many circumstances her actions indicated that winning back Vai's affections was way more important than finding a sacrifice for Hallow's Night, which would save the life of her dear cousin. While the affair with Drake was rather unpleasant, I have to say that the double-crossing and the deception that occurred in the book were all rather low blows. The greatest appeal of this world to me was the use of ice magic, but since this book was set in a random cluster of Caribean islands that were summer all year round, no ice magic for Vai. Oh. There is also this thing that Elliott does that is totally cringe-worthy...now that Cat knew she was a spiritwalker, everything was just sooooo convenient....so convenient, in fact, that even in events and circumstances that did not involve her spiritwalker ability, things just worked out for her. Even if she gave us the back story of how Vai ended up on the islands, I was not convinced. Or the fact that the princes were twins? Or that Bee somehow decided to follow the general because of a little prophetic hint and a little crush? Oh I really need to stop...
I don't understand...Kate Elliott is still a competent writer, and I still like Rory, Vai, and the concept of ice magic, but I'm not so sure I want to keep on reading if Cat remains like this. There was just no...spark in her character in this book. (Sighs.)
I don't understand...Kate Elliott is still a competent writer, and I still like Rory, Vai, and the concept of ice magic, but I'm not so sure I want to keep on reading if Cat remains like this. There was just no...spark in her character in this book. (Sighs.)
saoki's review against another edition
3.0
So I went and read the second book after saying I wouldn't. Go figure.
This one is better than the first one, as in I enjoy reading fantasy adventurous romances and there was quite a lot of all those things in it. It's like the author was done with introductions and decided to get to the meat of the story. By throwing the characters in a completely different part of the setting. Fun times!
There is a lot of anime in the DNA of this book. I kept thinking about Scrapped Princess, something about the whole "playing house during the calm in the storm" thing, although I'm sure that's just my own hazy memory of it. This is, by far, the best part of the book. A lot of time is invested in developing some secondary characters that are actually really interesting and charming. It feels, at times (and for someone that Actually Was Born In The Tropics), like a specific trope from old american movies about living a simple life in a lovely tropical beach, but I can overlook that because it's done well and for a purpose.
There are, also, some questionable things. I will not go into them, but let's just say my latina heart has words for the author about indigenous peoples of the americas and certain characterization cliches.
Overall, a fun read, and one that actually makes you want to read the next one. The series didn't suddenly developed a recognizable over-arching plot, but I don't really need that to have fun, not when there are things! going! on! in the story. So, nice. I still think Cat needs to learn how to reflect, though. Maybe Vai will teach her.
This one is better than the first one, as in I enjoy reading fantasy adventurous romances and there was quite a lot of all those things in it. It's like the author was done with introductions and decided to get to the meat of the story. By throwing the characters in a completely different part of the setting. Fun times!
There is a lot of anime in the DNA of this book. I kept thinking about Scrapped Princess, something about the whole "playing house during the calm in the storm" thing, although I'm sure that's just my own hazy memory of it. This is, by far, the best part of the book. A lot of time is invested in developing some secondary characters that are actually really interesting and charming. It feels, at times (and for someone that Actually Was Born In The Tropics), like a specific trope from old american movies about living a simple life in a lovely tropical beach, but I can overlook that because it's done well and for a purpose.
There are, also, some questionable things. I will not go into them, but let's just say my latina heart has words for the author about indigenous peoples of the americas and certain characterization cliches.
Overall, a fun read, and one that actually makes you want to read the next one. The series didn't suddenly developed a recognizable over-arching plot, but I don't really need that to have fun, not when there are things! going! on! in the story. So, nice. I still think Cat needs to learn how to reflect, though. Maybe Vai will teach her.
kblincoln's review against another edition
5.0
This is the continuation of the world and the characters from Cold Magic. In the alternate world where glaciers travel deep into Europe and a terrible plague (turning people into mindless zombies) forced the African Mali Empire into a diaspora, cousins Cat and Bee are on the run from their family and the powerful cold mages.
Cat is still married to the cold mage, Andevai. Bee is still vulnerable as a woman who "walks the dreams of dragons" (sees the future.)
They run to law offices of friendly trolls and find radicals and a revolutionary as well.
Cat discovers her sire, is forced into Amerike, and encounters fire mages and the Wild Hunt.
This world is luscious; luscious as rice and peas and mango juice sweetened with lime and sugar. There are a hundred, little details about the way the Taino live, and the festival practices of the people living in Expedition that make this book a fully-formed delight.
The twists and turns Bee and Cat are forced to make as they navigate the troubled politics of Europa, the Taino, and revolutionary general Camjiata take effort to follow, but are so so exciting. Indeed, this book is not a quick, light-entertainment kind of read. There are layers to the conversations and witty quips to unravel and secret intentions to suss out for all the characters. Elliot spares the reader and Cat n mercy when trust is misplaced.
And the whole answering a question with a question thing simultaneously annoyed and amused me (especially when it was Andevai tormenting Cat with questions.)
The problems I had with the first book of this trilogy have disappeared; there were no tedious repetitions of stories or lore, and while Cat and Andevai spend time apart, they spend a lovely amount of time together (and there's even an extra chapter on Kate Elliot's website for those of you wanting the full details of their time together that wasn't included in the novel). Cat is headstrong and naively judgmental as ever. Andevai is a wonderful blend of youthful arrogance and heartbreaking vulnerability.
In short, Elliot has created a marvelous world populated by marvelous characters, and in this book she allows the reader to see the full implications of their crazy adventures across a broader swathe of the world than just Europa.
While the ending sets up a fairly difficult obstacle for Cat and Andevai to overcome (then just his status as a kind of bonded servant to a cold mage house) I can't wait until the third book in the series comes out so I can see how the duo handles a powerful spirit world foe.
This Book's Snack Rating: Like multigrain sun chips with hummus-salsa dip for the textured, heartily-drawn characters and the creamy bite of the world's detailed layers
Cat is still married to the cold mage, Andevai. Bee is still vulnerable as a woman who "walks the dreams of dragons" (sees the future.)
They run to law offices of friendly trolls and find radicals and a revolutionary as well.
Cat discovers her sire, is forced into Amerike, and encounters fire mages and the Wild Hunt.
This world is luscious; luscious as rice and peas and mango juice sweetened with lime and sugar. There are a hundred, little details about the way the Taino live, and the festival practices of the people living in Expedition that make this book a fully-formed delight.
The twists and turns Bee and Cat are forced to make as they navigate the troubled politics of Europa, the Taino, and revolutionary general Camjiata take effort to follow, but are so so exciting. Indeed, this book is not a quick, light-entertainment kind of read. There are layers to the conversations and witty quips to unravel and secret intentions to suss out for all the characters. Elliot spares the reader and Cat n mercy when trust is misplaced.
And the whole answering a question with a question thing simultaneously annoyed and amused me (especially when it was Andevai tormenting Cat with questions.)
The problems I had with the first book of this trilogy have disappeared; there were no tedious repetitions of stories or lore, and while Cat and Andevai spend time apart, they spend a lovely amount of time together (and there's even an extra chapter on Kate Elliot's website for those of you wanting the full details of their time together that wasn't included in the novel). Cat is headstrong and naively judgmental as ever. Andevai is a wonderful blend of youthful arrogance and heartbreaking vulnerability.
In short, Elliot has created a marvelous world populated by marvelous characters, and in this book she allows the reader to see the full implications of their crazy adventures across a broader swathe of the world than just Europa.
While the ending sets up a fairly difficult obstacle for Cat and Andevai to overcome (then just his status as a kind of bonded servant to a cold mage house) I can't wait until the third book in the series comes out so I can see how the duo handles a powerful spirit world foe.
This Book's Snack Rating: Like multigrain sun chips with hummus-salsa dip for the textured, heartily-drawn characters and the creamy bite of the world's detailed layers
emmascc's review against another edition
5.0
I love all my kids! This is one of the only trilogies where I found the 2nd book to be the best although it could do with more Rory
siria's review against another edition
2.0
I read through to the end of Cold Fire because I wanted to know how things turned out, but at times Elliott has a tendency to confuse gratuitous plot twists for ones that add convincing complexity. Elliott's got a gift for scene-setting, but the more I actually think about the world-building the less sense it all makes. While I like Cat and Bee and love that their friendship is one of the hearts of the story, it frustrated the hell out of me that both women spent much of the book being passive, often bafflingly so. (It's one thing not to know which direction to go in when you're lacking all of the background information, for instance, but if you know that something bad has happened/will happen to your loved ones, why would you just sit around waiting for stuff to happen?) So this was very much a novel of, well I liked these things, I disliked these other things, balancing out to a solid 'meh.' I'll likely finish out the trilogy but I don't know that I could be persuaded into picking up anything else by Elliott.
chllybrd's review against another edition
3.0
I have some mixed thoughts about COLD FIRE. On one hand I love the imagination and the overall storyline, on the other hand although tons of things take place there tends to be many points in the book that go by too slow and I end up being a bit bored at times. The book also jumped around a lot which left me a little bit confused trying to figure out what situation I was reading about and when it was happening. There were points were I was shocked, frustrated, ecstatic and lost but the story has a way of keeping you wanting to read even during the times where you wish something would just happen already.
Cat's character is so complex and full of mystery. She has her faults but she is great with fighting for what she wants and learning from her mistakes. I really fell in love with Vai in COLD FIRE. We get to see a different side of him away from the cold mage's and it really made me understand him more. He really showed himself to Cat and fought for their marriage instead of giving in. I did not care much for Bee in this installment. She frustrated me with her loyalties to what I see as the wrong people. Rory is Rory, he wasn't in a lot of the book but I have nothing bad to say about him. Their are some great shocking revelations, new characters and allies introduced and a heck of a cliffhanger at the end. If you read COLD MAGIC you will definitely want to read COLD FIRE but be prepared for a long ride.
Cat's character is so complex and full of mystery. She has her faults but she is great with fighting for what she wants and learning from her mistakes. I really fell in love with Vai in COLD FIRE. We get to see a different side of him away from the cold mage's and it really made me understand him more. He really showed himself to Cat and fought for their marriage instead of giving in. I did not care much for Bee in this installment. She frustrated me with her loyalties to what I see as the wrong people. Rory is Rory, he wasn't in a lot of the book but I have nothing bad to say about him. Their are some great shocking revelations, new characters and allies introduced and a heck of a cliffhanger at the end. If you read COLD MAGIC you will definitely want to read COLD FIRE but be prepared for a long ride.
felinity's review against another edition
4.0
Further mishaps in love, betrayals, and distrust set in what Elliott calls an "Afro-Celtic post-Roman icepunk Regency fantasy adventure with airships, Phoenician spies, the intelligent descendents of troodons, and a dash of steampunk". A refrain from more than one character was "I can't know what the truth is when you never offered me truth or trust". As in [b:Cold Magic|7114825|Cold Magic (Spiritwalker, #1)|Kate Elliott|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1323994929s/7114825.jpg|7374960], it's made clear that any form of relationship - whether friendly, familial or romantic - requires both truth and trust, and they are alternatively lacking and abundant.
I was pleased to find Vai much more likable and accessible. Cat continues to be an unusual heroine, especially as her naivete causes her to fall for a relatively obvious ploy while the reader remains sceptical, making her both intriguing and appealing. I also saw echoes of Ilya in Vai, which gave me pause for consideration, but didn't distract me from the developments in his relationship with Cat and her perseverance in searching for her own truth.
I was pleased to find Vai much more likable and accessible. Cat continues to be an unusual heroine, especially as her naivete causes her to fall for a relatively obvious ploy while the reader remains sceptical, making her both intriguing and appealing. I also saw echoes of Ilya in Vai, which gave me pause for consideration, but didn't distract me from the developments in his relationship with Cat and her perseverance in searching for her own truth.
ria_mhrj's review against another edition
4.0
One of my criticisms of Cold Magic was that it has quite a dense 100 pages at the start, making it hard work to get into. The world Kate Elliott has created is so vibrant and detailed, it really required the 100 or so pages to set the scene and put Cat into context. It's also at around the 100 page mark that Andevai shows up...
Well, the good news is that in Cold Fire, the scene is set much more quickly, and even better, Andevai shows up early on too, and enjoys some excellent character development in the book. The ever growing relationship with Cat was wonderful to watch and it is so refreshing to see two flawed but fascinating creations interact and remain likeable, even when they do silly things.
The ending, though! Oy! Cold Steel seems so far away.
Well, the good news is that in Cold Fire, the scene is set much more quickly, and even better, Andevai shows up early on too, and enjoys some excellent character development in the book. The ever growing relationship with Cat was wonderful to watch and it is so refreshing to see two flawed but fascinating creations interact and remain likeable, even when they do silly things.
The ending, though! Oy! Cold Steel seems so far away.
hoperu's review against another edition
3.0
3 1/2 stars. I want to read the final book in the trilogy, to see how things turn out, so it has that going for it. But there is just so much packed in here that gets in the way of the story - I kept wishing for things to get moving, to get on with it, whatever it was going to be.