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jessicahcasey's review against another edition
3.0
Very fun book, just really could have used better developmental editing. There was too much of telling not showing.
writings_of_a_reader's review
4.0
Kate Avery Ellison is one of my favorite self-published authors. This was the first book I read by her and it completely captivated me. I enjoyed the fantasy setting. The secluded surroundings of The Frost were very well drawn. It felt mysterious and a bit creepy. The main character Lia was likeable and the romance aspect of the story was good without taking over the story. The ending is a bit heart wrenching and leaves you wanting to find out what happens next right away.
erencich's review against another edition
4.0
Review originally posted at Doodle's Book Blog
Wow! Just wow. When I received a request from Kate Avery Ellison to review her book I immediately jumped on it because of the summary. I didn't know what to expect except for a love story mixed in with a dystopian society. Frost was well-crafted and kept me guessing even when the story was coming to a close.
Lia Weaver has to become the head of her family when her parents are killed by monsters in the woods. Now she must care for her siblings and make sure they reach their weekly quota. Upon returning home from town to trade their goods for food, she notices her sister is missing and goes out looking for her. It is getting dark when Ivy finally pops out of the woods to tell Lia about the wounded boy. Ivy runs back towards the boy leaving Lia no choice but to follow. When Lia sees the boy she stops dead in her tracks and introduces Ivy to a Farther, but this doesn't phase her; he is wounded and will die if Lia doesn't save him.
I really liked the major characters in this book. Lia had to become the smart and responsible person we see her as when her parents died a year earlier. She gave up a lot just so she could care for her siblings. John, Lia's twin brother, is physically disabled and no longer a major contributor to the household. He suffered a leg injury when he was younger which prevents him from moving around easily. Ivy is carefree and the main reason Lia lies to the people of the Frost about their well-being. Gabe, the Farther, doesn't fit the stereotype that the people of the Frost have been taught since they were children. He is weary of Lia and her intentions until he comes to see she wouldn't hurt a fly.
Frost was a great read because I never had the right conclusion in my mind as to how the story would end. It wasn't obvious and I wasn't expecting to be so caught off guard and unaware; it was refreshing. I was continuously guessing what would happen, but none of what I assumed would happen took place.
It took some time to get into, but I'm glad I stuck with it. None of the major action happens until the last quarter of the book, but by then I was so engrossed in and intrigued by the story line that I refused to put it down. Sadly, I had five minutes before my next class started so I had to finish the last chapter an hour later.
This book is dystopian, however, it isn't dystopian in the sense that there is a controlling government like we see in The Hunger Games. It is dystopian in the sense that the Farthers live in a controlling and dominating society and the people of the Frost live without technology and advanced research and health care. They don't want to be controlled like Farthers. The Frost works on a system of quotas where all people in the community must do their part or they won't get their share of food.
Overall, Frost was a great dystopian read that kept me guessing. It was slow at times, but once the action picked up it didn't stop.
FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.
Wow! Just wow. When I received a request from Kate Avery Ellison to review her book I immediately jumped on it because of the summary. I didn't know what to expect except for a love story mixed in with a dystopian society. Frost was well-crafted and kept me guessing even when the story was coming to a close.
Lia Weaver has to become the head of her family when her parents are killed by monsters in the woods. Now she must care for her siblings and make sure they reach their weekly quota. Upon returning home from town to trade their goods for food, she notices her sister is missing and goes out looking for her. It is getting dark when Ivy finally pops out of the woods to tell Lia about the wounded boy. Ivy runs back towards the boy leaving Lia no choice but to follow. When Lia sees the boy she stops dead in her tracks and introduces Ivy to a Farther, but this doesn't phase her; he is wounded and will die if Lia doesn't save him.
I really liked the major characters in this book. Lia had to become the smart and responsible person we see her as when her parents died a year earlier. She gave up a lot just so she could care for her siblings. John, Lia's twin brother, is physically disabled and no longer a major contributor to the household. He suffered a leg injury when he was younger which prevents him from moving around easily. Ivy is carefree and the main reason Lia lies to the people of the Frost about their well-being. Gabe, the Farther, doesn't fit the stereotype that the people of the Frost have been taught since they were children. He is weary of Lia and her intentions until he comes to see she wouldn't hurt a fly.
Frost was a great read because I never had the right conclusion in my mind as to how the story would end. It wasn't obvious and I wasn't expecting to be so caught off guard and unaware; it was refreshing. I was continuously guessing what would happen, but none of what I assumed would happen took place.
It took some time to get into, but I'm glad I stuck with it. None of the major action happens until the last quarter of the book, but by then I was so engrossed in and intrigued by the story line that I refused to put it down. Sadly, I had five minutes before my next class started so I had to finish the last chapter an hour later.
This book is dystopian, however, it isn't dystopian in the sense that there is a controlling government like we see in The Hunger Games. It is dystopian in the sense that the Farthers live in a controlling and dominating society and the people of the Frost live without technology and advanced research and health care. They don't want to be controlled like Farthers. The Frost works on a system of quotas where all people in the community must do their part or they won't get their share of food.
Overall, Frost was a great dystopian read that kept me guessing. It was slow at times, but once the action picked up it didn't stop.
FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.
laureenreads's review against another edition
It was pretty good, and I liked that the ending was done in such a way that I don't need to read the next book (I have such a hard time remembering which books are on my list of sequels to read...).
bookph1le's review against another edition
4.0
One of the most satisfying YA fantasy books I've read in a long time. The setting is vividly rendered, the characters are fantastic--LOVE Lia--and there's plenty of room for expanding on the intriguing world. More complete review to come, but I'd definitely recommend this one if you're a fan of fantasy fiction and you're looking for something with a spirited and well-developed lead female character.
rjdenney's review against another edition
5.0
This is going to be on my list for best books of 2012
SPOILER FREE
I absolutely loved this book and it was unique and beautifully written. I stayed up till around 5 in the morning reading the last few chapters of this book and let me just say that this will enthrall you. It will compel you to read it and devour it. The atmosphere Kate created was beautiful yet depressing and I enjoyed every bit of it. And the creatures (Watchers) holy crap, did I love them.
Lia Weaver is our main protagonist and she's very likable. She's not a mary-sue and I think she is a strong, well put together girl for her age and I adore her. She has sacrificed her life for her family and I couldn't love her character more. Gabe (the love interest) is not thrown in your face like most love interests in YA fiction. He was gradually brought in and it took a bit for the feelings to spark and bloom. The romance was NOT the main deal in this story, so don't expect a twilight-esque I'll die for you, even though I've only known you two days type of romance. It was perfectly executed and I envy Kate, as a writer, for that.
Frost takes place in a dystopian future where there are cities and villages with their own ways of life. Lia lives in the Frost, which is a village where it snows constantly and it's cold as hell. The setting was beautiful and creepy. I loved the way the characters spoke. Forgive me, but I don't know what era they spoke like but it was close to the late 1800s. They dressed very Little House on the Prairie like and the village reminded me of it in a way. The city of Aeralis that sits just out of the village is more technology based, while in the frost they know nothing really of gadgets and big technology. It was an odd and unique tale and it had action, suspense, romance, drama, and MONSTERS!
Read it for yourself and I hope you enjoy it like I did.
Kate, I cannot wait for book 2 in the series.
You are a wonderful writer and I adored FROST.
-R.D.
celjla212's review against another edition
3.0
Lia Weaver is caring for her twin brother and younger sister after her parents were killed in the icy forest outside their home, by vicious monsters called Watchers. The family lives in an area called The Frost, where it's always winter. Lia is only worried about taking care of her siblings and making sure their weekly quota of yarn is reached, so they can trade it for the supplies they need to survive.
So when Lia's sister brings home an injured boy named Gabe who is from the land of the vicious Farthers, Lia is worried about inviting trouble into her family's home. But Gabe is not what Lia thinks him to be--and in fact, the life she knew before is about to be shattered.
This was a fast little story for me. The ideas were part original, part some I've seen before.
I've seen other reviews calling this a dystopian, but I didn't get that sense at all from the setting. It's hard to get a handle on what time period it's set in at all; the people of The Frost seem almost colonial, but their neighbors the Farthings have such technology as tracking devices. This was somewhat confusing to me.
Lia is definitely a no-nonsense kind of girl, which is understandable given the responsibilities placed on her young shoulders. She's not like other girls her age who are worried about courting and parties, which is kind of sad because it's not like there's much fun to be had in The Frost--so she should take it as it comes along.
Gabe is a staple of YA literature--darkly handsome and super mysterious. In fact, we barely learned anything about him at all throughout the book. I felt the relationship that bloomed between he and Lia was rather forced--they hardly had any time alone, and to me there weren't any romantic moments between them to lead up to a relationship.
The very beginning of the book reminded me of The Hunger Games--I guess that's why people are calling this s dystopian.
I guess I just wished this book could have been fleshed out a little more--but I still may read the next in the series to see if any background is given about Lia or Gabe and their families.
So when Lia's sister brings home an injured boy named Gabe who is from the land of the vicious Farthers, Lia is worried about inviting trouble into her family's home. But Gabe is not what Lia thinks him to be--and in fact, the life she knew before is about to be shattered.
This was a fast little story for me. The ideas were part original, part some I've seen before.
I've seen other reviews calling this a dystopian, but I didn't get that sense at all from the setting. It's hard to get a handle on what time period it's set in at all; the people of The Frost seem almost colonial, but their neighbors the Farthings have such technology as tracking devices. This was somewhat confusing to me.
Lia is definitely a no-nonsense kind of girl, which is understandable given the responsibilities placed on her young shoulders. She's not like other girls her age who are worried about courting and parties, which is kind of sad because it's not like there's much fun to be had in The Frost--so she should take it as it comes along.
Gabe is a staple of YA literature--darkly handsome and super mysterious. In fact, we barely learned anything about him at all throughout the book. I felt the relationship that bloomed between he and Lia was rather forced--they hardly had any time alone, and to me there weren't any romantic moments between them to lead up to a relationship.
The very beginning of the book reminded me of The Hunger Games--I guess that's why people are calling this s dystopian.
I guess I just wished this book could have been fleshed out a little more--but I still may read the next in the series to see if any background is given about Lia or Gabe and their families.
jess_lovesbooksok's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
The Frost Chronicles - Frost (Book I)
By Kate Avery Ellison
This is the first delivery of The Frost Chronicles by Avery Ellison and I must say I am impressed above all by its setting.
The author managed to create a new world where cold, despair and loneliness are beautifully portrayed.
Lia lives in the Frost, she has to cross it every week to get to the village to pay her family quota and in this system, also get her share of food for her family to survive.
Both her parents were murdered in an awful and suspicious manner. It hasn’t been solved yet and it will lead the reader to believe every loose end is an angle to explore.
The Frost is surrounded by vicious, dark creatures who hunt humans at night and Lia will have to sort out all kinds of risks to survive and solve the mystery that is behind that incredibly white and secret world.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
QOTD: What would you sacrifice to get the truth? Is knowing the truth important to you? Or Ignorance is bliss?
#frost #frostchronicles #bookishlife #snow
eamelyk's review against another edition
4.0
4.3/5 stars!
I honestly thought this was amazing, I really love the main character (and that says alot cause I usually tend to hate main characters cause with this type of books, main characters are always made to be annoying) Other characters were pretty decent; not good, not bad either (shoutout to Adam tho cause boy that end) but its still a pretty decent book overall. The story didn't stand out for me but I love how despite it, I was still pumped to read more chapters. The pacing was also really nice, it didn't felt rushed or slow, just about right. Everything was perfect, I just felt like the story could've been more.
I honestly thought this was amazing, I really love the main character (and that says alot cause I usually tend to hate main characters cause with this type of books, main characters are always made to be annoying) Other characters were pretty decent; not good, not bad either (shoutout to Adam tho cause boy that end) but its still a pretty decent book overall. The story didn't stand out for me but I love how despite it, I was still pumped to read more chapters. The pacing was also really nice, it didn't felt rushed or slow, just about right. Everything was perfect, I just felt like the story could've been more.
karireyn's review against another edition
4.0
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?
...I was really intrigued with this book-to start off with I immediately felt like it was going to be along the lines of M. Night Shyamalan's "The Village" but was pleasantly surprised that although it had some of the same elements it was it's own unique store. I felt like Lia's inner dialogue kind of jumped around a bit but I was happy with the pace of the novel as a whole. I'm intruged to see how Lia's relationship with Adam comes about in the next book, we all know something is going to happen there. And will Cole make an appearance again? Better yet will we see where the gate leads? I'm excited to get my hands on the second book....
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?
...I was really intrigued with this book-to start off with I immediately felt like it was going to be along the lines of M. Night Shyamalan's "The Village" but was pleasantly surprised that although it had some of the same elements it was it's own unique store. I felt like Lia's inner dialogue kind of jumped around a bit but I was happy with the pace of the novel as a whole. I'm intruged to see how Lia's relationship with Adam comes about in the next book, we all know something is going to happen there. And will Cole make an appearance again? Better yet will we see where the gate leads? I'm excited to get my hands on the second book....