| Title | : | Frostbite (The Dragonian, #3) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0998471437 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780998471433 |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 492 |
| Publication | : | First published March 7, 2015 |
Only a mysterious offer from Blake Leaf, the Rubicon and a dragon predestined for evil, reveals there may be a light at the end of Elena’s dark tunnel.
With the life she thought she knew crashing down around her, Elena will have to face a monumental decision about the fate of Paegeia. She can either make peace with Blake’s demands or try once again to unravel the Queen’s secrets that lie deep within her dragon, Tanya La Frey’s, heart.
The third heart pounding novel in The Dragonian Series by Adrienne Woods
Frostbite (The Dragonian, #3) Reviews
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***I received the ebook free as a review copy from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review***
Heart pounding, tragic, action-packed, emotional, epic and awesome: all words which describe this holy grail of YA literature. I thought Adrienne Woods was going to have a hard time living up to the second book (particularly with the way it ended *cries at the mere memory*) but there was no doubt in my mind it was just as great, if not better!
Of course that meant I cried… a lot… but a good novel wouldn’t be complete without me bawling my eyes out during a family meal (last time it was an exam – I can’t decide which was more embarrassing, but I’m sure they’re all used to it by now).
All the relationships between the characters were so beautifully developed. Elena and Becky and Sammy came together as a force to be reckoned with, even though there highs and lows they grew together and created a bond that was impossible to break. Similarly I loved reading about Elena’s new connection with Cara, who we’re introduced to. We also see much more of Blake which I’m in two minds about; on one hand he is a complex character that will always capture my interest, and on the other I rarely agree with his decisions. Also I’m Team Lucian all the way. Hence the large amount of crying!
This book was incredibly emotional; as I’m sure you gathered, for me as a reader as well as for Elena. After going through so much already, and then being faced with more it was incredible to see how well (or not in some cases) she dealt with it. The most significant difference is that she will take shit from no one! And I can respect that.
Plot wise, Adrienne Woods has outdone herself with this one. We got answers to all the questions from previous instalments, in some truly mind-blowing revelations and with it a lot more insight on Paegeia’s history.
In the end, I can do nothing else but recommend you read this amazing series and in the meanwhile I’ll be looking forward to more.
Posted on:
http://enchantedbyya.blogspot.co.uk/ -
Can't wait :)
Mother of gods it has a COVER! But she sort of looks like Elsa, lol.
EDIT: Okay, so I just finished binge reading this and I am floored with revelation, elation and a plethora of other words I can't grasp right now because I'm being overpowered by sheer book godliness. Adrienne Woods continues to astound me with the plot twists! But the best part is that it all makes sense!
Elena in this book was a little hard to swallow. We can clearly see that Lucian's death has not been easy on her and she's continuously lashing out. I could relate the first few chapters, but after awhile it got a little tedious. Of course, the big spoiler in the book then tells you why she's feeling the way she does.
I loved Lucian, but now that he's no more I was really hoping to get a breakthrough with Blake. One can hope right? I enjoyed seeing his happier side, but he needs to chill on the lies. At some point, both Elena and Blake need to stop thinking that each hates the other!
Overall, I'm dying for the next book. This one ended on some really high highs and low lows. There's a whole new chapter to all of our character's lives now that Elena's identity has been revealed (even though I guessed it in the beginning). Can't wait! -
I CALLED IT! I FREAKING CALLED THAT ENDING FROM THE VERY FIRST BOOK!!! AND I AM SO HAPPY ABOUT IT!!
This took a HUGE turn, and I mean huge. Everything that you know from the previous books is a lie, in the best way possible!
Elena and Cheng go on their adventure to where Lucian was trying to find answers. So many memories were brought back for Elena, especially seeing a ghost from the past. We learned very important things to fuel the rest of the book, and it changed EVERYTHING.
My poor Elena has gone through so much in such a short amount of time, yet she stays strong even when things aren't looking good. She fights her inner demons, even though they take a while, and she gets back up and keeps going. Even in tough decisions like in this book, she was able to realize what the right thing to do is, and keeps going. Keeps pushing forwards, and stays strong. I freaking love how much Elena has progressed!
I also really loved seeing what its like to be "dark" first hand from Elena's POV. It was really interesting to see what Blake feels on a daily basis with being dark, and how hard that fight must be to maintain. I would say that hes doing a damn good job staying sane, even though I previously thought different before.
The ending crushed me. It crushed my entire heart and soul, and holy shit I don't even have words for how I feel about this series. I am obsessed, in love, dying, crying, breaking. I am beyond invested in these characters, this story, everything about this series. I wish I would have picked it up years ago, but now is better than never.
Keep up the amazing work Adrienne, you deserve the world!!!! -
What a fantastic read. Definitely enjoyed every second of it. We get to know so much more on the evil Blake is facing, and how it really does consume one person. And the change in Elena's character, wow, that was quite something. Never thought that that would happen. Though the ending was just as I predicted from the very first book. Quite proud of myself, if I do say so myself. Super excited what is going to happen in book four. But I will definitely read the 3.5 before then, just so that I am up to date with everything XD
I’d paralyzed their lives, their futures. I was like ice, like frost freezing their hopes and dreams. I was the living embodiment of frostbite.
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I am so hooked to this series! Utterly in love! In some ways predictable but the adventure and twists along the way make it an amazing story.
I still say Lucien is my favorite character. I have a hate/like feeling with Blake. Cheng is also fantastic in this. I felt a bit detached from Becky in this one though. But let me tell this book has all the feels. It made me cry. As in several tears streaming down my face crying, not just a sad-faced sniffle. Many things are finally revealed in this book and is a huge turning point in the series it seems. Can't wait for more!
2020 update- Audiobook version. I really heard Car'as voice differently in my head the first time I read this so that was hard for me to take, but no fault of the narrator. I really liked her and thought she was so good for Elena. Blake is so confusing in this. Like he seemed to be decent for a while and then is a bigger arse then ever before! I wish Cheng and Elena's adventure had a bit more substance to it and it proved I would love to see more of Cheng's character.
*On a side not, I like the other cover better than the one this review is under. This one seems like a cosplay for the movie Frozen. -
I have no words. This is soo good-call that my two cents;)
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I just finished this book in one day and I have to say this is definitely my favourite in this series! I love the fact that with each novel, Adrienne Woods keeps getting better and better. This book has all the elements I look for in a good novel. I wanted to get my hands on it for a long time, and I was not disappointed when I finally read it.
When I first saw the cover, I thought it was really beautiful, but I didn't understand why this image was chosen. I mean, Elena, dressed like a Snow Queen, while she's a dragon who can breathe fire? I can now say that after reading this book, I totally agree with this choice.
I was like ice, like frost that was freezing their hopes and dreams. I was the living embodiment of frostbite.
We follow Elena, as she deals with Lucian's death and the fact that she's now a dragon. Her character develops and becomes stronger and more powerful with each trial she faces. She has a dark edge in this book, and that makes it even more interesting. I like this version of her better. We also get so much more of Blake and their relationship with each other. I absolutely love his character.
There's also another character who becomes quite important in the story. Cara, Elena's sort of alternate personality as a dragon. I wished we saw more of her. I grew to like her a lot. She and Elena developed a strong bond throughtout the book.
I thought the first part of the story was a bit slower to get into, but we are quickly pulled into the story and I couldn't put it out afterwards. I did have some issues with her attitude toward Blake at some point of the story. I thought it was a bit undeserved.
I think the author's writing style has definitely improved. The world building is amazing. We keep learning more about the past. This book reveals a great deal of the truth about Elena and Paegeia, which I'm sure those who have read this have theories about. I thought I knew what happened in the past, but Adrienne Woods kept surprising me with new plot twists. I think the way everybody learned the truth was well put together.
I can't wait for the fourth and last book of the series, Moon Breeze, to come out later this year. I'm also really exited about the novella, Poison, which we get an except of in Frostbite. I definitely recommend this book to every dragon lover and everyone who loves a some adventure and magic. If you haven't read this series yet, check it out! -
How about 3.5 stars? I liked this book, but I hated it at times. I love Elena, but she was a brat through most of this book. It wasn't exactly her "fault" in this weird world, but I'm with her friends on how she was acting. Basically, all dragons have a tendency toward evil. They can't help it. They need their riders to get rid of it. Elena is ... well, let's just say she's connected to a dragon, and since said dragon is turning evil and Elena isn't officially the rider (or something), Elena is turning evil too. (The plot is a little convoluted here, and I don't want to give the book away.) So Elena is a brat for most of the novel. It was really annoying. I mean, I still can't get enough of the series, and the ending made me go right into the fourth book. But this has been my least favorite of the series so far, plot twists and all. So I loved it, and I hated it.
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Okay, fist off, sorry for any typos, I'm running on fumes; I promptly decided that finishing reading Frostbite took priority over sleep. And boy, did it. Without a doubt, this is the best book in the series thus far. As I am In complete awe of the book, I'll break it down into the most amazing parts.
ELENA: Elena was an amazingly strong heroine who blindsided me with her frawesomeness. As the plot unraveled, layer after layer of her new dimensions were revealed, impressing me more and more each time. To top it all off, Elana has just enough flaws and quirks of her own that you can relate to her, or at least as much as us mundane people can.
PLOT: Much like all of Adrienne Woods' other books, Frostbite's plot left you on the edge of your seat the whole time (hence my sleep deprived state). At this point, I've given up on guessing what's going to happen, and am just along for the ride. The plot twists are a never ending source of entertainment, and always keep me guessing, yet never disappointed.
ANSWERS: Yes, you heard that right, there are some answers in this book!!! I have been patiently(ish) waiting for the answers to so many questions since Firebolt came out, so I literally jumped with joy when I read this book (then promptly fell because my jumping skills are subpar). And let me tell you, the answers were more than worth the wait! Of course, the new cliffhanger(s) are sure to drive me insane until the next book comes out.
All in all, Frostbite, by Adrienne Woods, was an amazing read that I highly recommend. Make sure to read the rest of the series first, starting with
Firebolt. And for the love of blueberries, hopefully the next book will come out soon! Thanks for another amazing book, Mrs Woods! -
Wow. This series blows me away. Each installment more exciting. We finally got some answers and even more heartbreak in this one. I feel a little healed though.
Now. Where is my Blake. Someone find him pronto! -
It was AWESOME!!!!!!! Moonbreeze better come out SOON! Thank you Adrienne Woods!
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OH MY GOODNESS!!!
I knew it but the journey to get to this point was so worth it!!!
Elena is dealing with losing her man who was also the prince. She just found out that she was a dragon when it shouldn't have been possible and that the Rubicon is only helping her because he wants her to kill him...
Of course nothing turns out the way it started out in the beginning.
I love love love LOVE this book, first Elena thought that she was turning evil because she was also a rubicon, then she found out that Lucian begged Blake to come help save her and decides that she will kill Blake. Turns out that she wont do either because she is Blake's rider! and she is also the princess of pageia.
The dreams that she was having were all clues to get her to go into the woods and find out who she is. Turns out that the woman who was supposed to be her mother was actually the queens sister who took her out of pageia and was supposed to raise her but instead she abandoned her with her father.
I really can't wait for the next book, I want to know what Blake will do and if they will become a couple! I need it! -
Review to come!
Update 4/18/15:
“We sometimes have to make decisions we don’t want to.”
This quote is the perfect summary of the events in the third installment of the Dragonian Series. Full of suspense, action, nail-biting, and heartbreaking moments, Ms. Woods didn't disappoint and delivered yet another exciting book for fans! From start to end this book was EPIC and AWESOME! Yes...those words deserve all caps. There is a lot that happens in this book, but never once does the story feel rushed or overwhelming. Quite simply, it is perfect. Ms. Woods has such an amazing talent at crafting a wonderful and unique story, and this is truly like no other dragon book out there. And it is the best example of what a good dragon book should be. You will never want to stop reading this novel, and you will be begging for more once the story ends.
Where this novel truly shines is in the character relationship building. While we saw some great bonding moments in the previous books and novella, I think the relationships between every character great ten-fold in this novel. There were ups and downs, but they stuck together and helped each other. No one ever just gave up, and they showed each other the epitome of friendship. You can easily see that the bonds formed between Elena, Becky, and Sammy, and the bonds between other characters, it everlasting and true. However, the one relationship I liked the most was Elena and Cara's.
I had many speculations on who Cara was, and I was blown away by Ms. Woods' writing with this aspect of the story. This could have gone very wrong or very well, and trust me...it's excellent. Ms. Woods' balances the "two" perspectives very well, and it makes the story that much more enjoyable. I think this was especially crucial to the series in general, and Elena's development as a character, and I'm very happy with the direction the story took.
This book has readers witness a major turning point for Elena. It's darker, more dangerous, and heart-wrenching. She's still reeling from Lucian's death, and her life as a dragon. On top of that, she is plagued by nightmares, and darkness is quickly taking a hold of her life. But she takes this anger and sadness, and uses it to fuel her strength. Elena learns a lot about herself, and sees that she is stronger than she thought. By the end, she is so much more than the girl who is scared and worried for this new world she was introduced to. Elena is now fully apart of this world, and gets her fire back (pun totally intended there).
Now, let's get to one of my absolute favorite parts of this novel (even though literally every part of this novel is my favorite)...Blake. The boy is HOT, and just makes you love him even more.
While I was on Team Lucian in the first book, I was kind of both Team Blake and Team Lucian in the second book. But (even if Lucian was still alive), I would be completely on Team Blake after reading this. We get to know his character so much more, but oh boy is there still so much to know. We also get a much closer look at what it means to be the Rubicon...how the darkness takes control and their humanity is gone. Trust me, Blake will make you love him, and who wouldn't when he specifically tells you:
"First rule, whatever you do, don't fall in love with me."
Silly boy, you can't say things like that.
This book is intense, extreme, and gripping from start to end. Emotions are high (for both the characters and the reader), and you will never want to stop reading. This is a must read for fans of the series, as it will not disappoint. I can't wait to see what happens next!! I will now be sitting here, patiently (and by patiently I mean jumping up and down) for the next book.
Happy reading :) -
I'm not too crazy about Elsa being on the cover.
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I received an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review. With that out of the way, shall we begin?
The book begins where Thunderlight left off. Our heroine, Elena must accept both the death of her first love and a new identity she never thought possible. She acts very much like an understandably grieving girlfriend not willing to let go and a rebellious teenager. The book starts off at a slow pace but never drags. Many familiar faces try to help Elena adjust to her new life. I really enjoy the Becky, Sammy and Elena dynamic. It feels so real and genuine. I love how they grow and accept each others flaws and differences. They're strong enough to say, 'hey, get your act together' but intuitive enough to back off when space is needed. I have to say, that's probably my favorite thing about this series. I love the character dynamic and growth. You genuinely care for this ensemble.
There is more Blake!
Yes, I am totally team Blake. We get to finally see a different side to him, and a lot at that. But what are his motives? Why would he deviate from his normal selfish attitude to help Elena? Blake Leaf is very much an onion. I really love their interactions and blossoming, dare I say, feelings for one another. I still feel a tinge of guilt being so giddy seeing our two leads get some time alone with one another. I loved Lucian's character but was always secretly hoping Elena and he would [amicably] break-up. Oh man, never did I expect him to heroically meet his end. Ah, the guilt.
Elena really, and I mean, really grows as a character in this novel. I've always loved her but there were some moments where I really wanted her to grow a backbone and stand up for herself. Sometimes she felt so clueless about this world but unless someone specifically told her what she wanted to know, she never took the time to look up the history. Well, in Frostbite, that's not the case. She's not afraid to stick up for herself and she'll do research for hours if needed to find the answers she's craved. This is where the novel goes from good to I-can't-put-down.
You and me both, Elena. Elena is forced to make some hard choices to find out who she really is. She's reluctant to ask her friends for help. And can you blame her? She's lost two friends already by trying to follow her prophecy. Knowing what's on the line, the fate of Paegeia and keeping Blake's darkness at bay; she finally goes out to get some serious answers. She faces her fears and journeys deep into the place her nightmares have been literally directing her. Finally! I've been telling her to go there since book one. When she finally reaches her destination and meets the one assessable person that can give her answers:
I'll leave the story at that because I don't want to accidentally spoil anything for any of you. I love the build up of mystery, some lingering from the moment we met Elena. I think a lot of us had our own theories as to who Elena is but Ms. Woods always has something up her sleeve. She gives you information, leaves a couple of crumbs but it's never-ever exactly what you predicted. This is something I absolutely love about her novels. You can guess all you want but she always throws a twist and turn in there you never expected.
I absolutely recommend this series for adults and teenagers alike. I adore the dynamics between families and friends. Sir Robert is my fav. In Dragonia, not everything is rosy and sweet. Choices have consequences, even the right one. Things don't always go our heroes' way. Many, especially the adults in this series, have made huge sacrifices to protect their loved ones and world. It pleases me that these sacrifices aren't just skipped over and we get to experience both their sorrow and their moving forward.
I'm super excited for the future releases of Poison (3.5) and Moon Breeze. About a third of my way through, I was really hoping Ms. Woods would release a novella in between and my wish was answered. Frostbite has been my favorite of the series and I think we can expect Moon Breeze to be even better. I can only hope that our journey in Paegeia doesn't end with the forth installment. I'm so invested in this world and would love to see a spinoff series released. Appearances made by our beloved characters would be (fr)awesome. *wink wink* I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and am so grateful to be one of the first ten to read it. Adrienne Woods is amazing storyteller and really transports you into this amazing world.
To sum up the review, yes Frostbite is the best so far in this amazing series:
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I was given an ARC of Frostbite by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Let me start by saying by saying that if you are interested in stories involving kick-ass dragons and magic with great characters going on dangerous quests in order to save their world then definitely pick up the Dragonian Series because each book just gets better and better, and Frostbite was definitely the best in the series so far.
Honestly, based on the cover I was expecting a more feminine tale, but hey goes to show you that you really can't judge a book by its cover. I read this book from beginning to end in one sitting, it was fast pace and the way Adrienne Woods revealed secrets and plot twists was perfectly placed which just made you want to read more and more. The world was already well developed in the previous books and this book really shined in the emotional development of characters with the bringing together of loose ends from the previous installments as well as introducing new challenges and questions for the next and last installment, Moonbreeze.
Now about the book itself and please note that there may be some tiny spoilers but I'll try to be as vague as possible. So sorry.
Elena really shined in this novel. She is becoming the heroine readers want her to be, brave and fierce and kick-ass. Now, of course at times she was a bit "emotional" but hey the girl is going through a lot, from losing Lucien to finding out her true identity and to falling for the Rubicon. Really excited to see what she would endure in the next book and what she would do with King Albert's secret.
Next, let's talk about Blake. Yes, a lot of the ladies like Blake. He's the Rubicon, a ladies-man and totally bad-ass, but to me his character was not likeable at all. But hey, maybe it was because I was all Team Lucien and those ghost scenes did not make it any easier. How Blake was with Elena during the training sessions do show some hope so maybe there's some redemption for him after all.
Now just some other points of the novel which I feel compelled to mention. Cara. I felt like not much was really said about her and I really wished to learn more about her and especially more about her developing bond with Elena. It felt a bit rushed to me. However, the scene where she wanted to see the stars was by far my favourite scene in the entire novel.
I really appreciated the involvement of Sir Robert and his role as Elena's protector and looking forward to reading more about him in the following books. Based on the excerpt from Poison, the novella to follow Frostbite, it appears as if the side characters would take on a much more active storyline which I'm hoping.
The adventure and action scenes were right on and hey I can go on and on; bottom line, the book was amazing. Pick it up. Kudos Adrienne and please don't keep us waiting long for the other. -
FROST BITE
Frostbite the third book in the Dragonian series by Adrienne Woods, god this book nearly killed me, the drama and the action, I felt both happy and heartbroken at the same time in this book. So yes Elena’s a dragon a very big very rare dragon, a Thunder Light who’s also taken on the traits of a Rubicon because of Elena’s bond with Blake. We also meet one of my favourite characters in the series, Cara, daughter of Tanya Le Frey and Jako Herbert Watkins and Elena’s dragon half. The way Adrienne explained how Elena became a dragon was fantastic, I applauded her it wasn’t silly it was a totally understandable. Cara’s feisty and protective of Elena and loved Elena once she got over the shock of waking up. Blake trains Elena and Cara how to control themselves and use their abilities. But after a while Elena starts to feel for Blake and as expected Blake freaks out and wants nothing to do with Elena any more. So Elena sets out on a quest to find Tanya Le Frey, the women who she believed to be her mother, be Tanya’s not what is expected, she Cara’s mother who tells Elena a terrible fate for Elena and Cara, that Cara must die so that Elena can claim Blake. When the time comes for Elena and Cara to part ways I nearly cried, it was heart breaking, their good bye was beautiful and even though Cara’s time in the story was only short lived it made her one of my favourite characters.
So here we have it Elena knows her true blood lines, he dragon, how to claim him, she’s lost Cara and has ascended. She’s ready to for fill her destiny, and claim Blake as her own. It’s easier said than done even if she wins against Blake he still has to agree to accept her, she has to prove that she is really the long lost princess and that this is her destiny. It’s a lot for Elena to deal with, luckily she has her friends and her new family. I was so happy at the end of this book, I’m gonna tell you straight up things are not fully resolved there is still a lot to be fixed in the last book Moon Breeze and I’m desperate to get my hands on it in either August or September 2015. Adrienne has promised us three more books related to the Dragonian Series so that’s good news. -
I received a copy of Frostbite for an honest review.
Wow! I absolutely loved this book. I highly recommend this book and am amazed with the author's ability to tell and create a story. After reading Thunderlight I was not sure how the storyline would develop into the conclusion I thought from the beginning. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book and I can honestly say that Ms. Woods was masterful and really had me believing the outcome. I loved that we got to see more of Blake and also a look into the evil he deals with. The big thing that we all were anticipating was so well put together and I felt like I was actually there in the excitement of it all. I had a big smile on my face the whole time I was reading this and thought "finally". I agree with another reader that this series should be made into a movie. It was that good. All of your questions will be answered. I cannot believe how everything came together. I was left in a state of surprise and the process of the truth being revealed was nothing like I thought. The relationship that was beginning to be developed between Blake and Elena was believable and romantic!! But the world itself was what shined and the characters that flowed in the story fit and made sense. I can't wait until the next book to see how everything wraps up. High praises for this book and a definite high recommendation. Clean book as well with some language though. -
The last book may have been my least favourite but this one hurt the most.
I cried all sorts of tears reading this.
Happy ones, angry ones, heart-broken inconsolable ones and even tears of helplessness.
But none the less I enjoyed it soo much.
Next book, NOW!
Review at end of series. -
Frostbite is the book where this series starts to show some legitimate promise . Reading through it right after the first two, I can see growth in the writing. For one thing, the number of awkward sentences and mistakes have decreased a little (but it's still WAY too high for a book that's been revised from an author with this many reviews and sales. I do not believe for one moment this entire series had an editor), which made the reading experience a little easier to swallow.
It also actually made me tear up a little at one point, so the emotional beats work nicer in this installment then it did in prior.
But, before I can elaborate on why this one does a little better, let's chat about the things that aren't great.
- It starts again with an epitome, which it still weird. Especially since it's basically a monologue of Elena being an edge-lord and summarizing the previous book. It's frankly really awkward and unnecessary.
- Book three really has no clear ties to like ice/winter/etc and mostly is just “Elena is angsty and now says she’s like ice because the poison reference that makes more sense wouldn’t let us put an Elsa-like drawing of Elena on the cover, so, we need that excuse to draw people in based on Frozen being popular.” And that's about it. The author does try to tie it in a little by being all “I was the living embodiment of frostbite” because tragedy is around her in the epitome to try tying things together, but, you’d think this book being called “Frostbite” with a Snow Dragon on the cover might mean that Tabitha, for example, is more important but like… outside of just being Blake’s jealous girlfriend and therefore mean to Elena, Tabitha’s role isn’t especially important, nor are snow dragons or ice powers as a whole.
- The author uses some weird phrases or does weird things with words. For example, she uses the insult "diddle bags." What… does that even… mean… Diddle means like, to swindle, so… I’m… confused…??? Then we have this weird, completely uneeded explanation of the word "patsy." So, Elena has been using this to basically mean someone weak willed/stupid/cowardly/etc. (cause, uh, the word means those things) but she always says "my dad said it but idk what it means" despite... her... using it... in... the... right... context... and in this book we learn that Elena's dad used that word, not because it's just a word that means cowardly, but, because... there's... lizards... that... fake death... or... kill themselves... instead of... defending themselves... and I'm like that's the most insipid, unnecessary, stupid thing to explain a fucking word that didn't need explanation because it's not a fantasy word.
- Cara’s shift from “scared, angry child” to “nurturing big sister figure” is super sudden and comes out of nowhere. She calls Elena “sugar” and “baby” (also, sugar is incorrectly capitalized all the time) and is like… suddenly more worldly than Elena except that prior to this she’s like “Momma said not to trust strange things. Where’s Momma? Where am I? Why can’t I remember anything?” This shift makes even less sense later when we find out I do honestly prefer big-sister Cara to angry child Cara, but, I think the logistics of her weren’t well thought out in the end.
- At about 43% in, Elena starts referring to herself in the third person because now she’s “dark Elena” and referencing the “old Elena” and I’m like… what? Like we already have the “am I cara or is her own entity?” thing going on, we don’t need Elena to suddenly have a weird split where she’s like “I’m gonna make Blake regret rejecting Elena, I mean me, whatever.” Like… her turning “dark” shouldn’t… like… make her feel like an additional personality and create some identity crsis??? She even like has moments where it’s like “old Elena” is speaking to “dark Elena” and dark Elena is like “ugh, stupid old elena, you know nothing.” And I’m just… like I already have to deal with a lot of awkwardness, why make it worse, Adrienne?
- • Elena’s confession of love is poorly executed. “NO I WON”T KILL YOU I LOVE YOU” like, that’s really a crude and inelegant way to handle what should be a moment of intense emotion, it should have been a little less like she was blurting out everything in a single breath and there be more build up, like she doesn’t want to say it but Blake keeps insisting so she finally breaks down and confesses because she can’t handle the turmoil.
- There's a part where Elena is like "my dress shows some cleavage but in a sexy way not a slutty way" and it's just like, exhausting, to hear middle age white bitches say shit like this in their books. Stop it.
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The good of the book is that the plot is fun and engaging and the author does a pretty good job of connecting details and allowing what was done in prior books allow for a good payoff later. I don't think the execution is always good (awkward dialogue, rushed/underdeveloped areas, characters acting weirdly, moments where it's clearly a plot device to force point A to connect to point B instead of something that feels more natural, poorly executed emotional beats, etc.) but there are a lot more areas where it's clear the author has a more complex, clear vision for the story and world that really shines through.
I liked how, for example, Elena doesn't just buy into Blake turning dark being an excuse for him to act however he likes and instead wants to hold him accountable. It's kind of hypocritical, seeing as she also goes dark and do some nasty things (she feels bad afterward, of course, and makes amends, but, she doesn't resist while dark so it's kind of like, if you can't then why are you expecting Blake to do it... hmm....) but what I mean is that Elena didn't just fall into fervently forgiving Blake and having him be exempt from any responsibility for what he does and it plays a bigger role in their conflicts later and makes it so his redemption and Elena's forgiveness have to be earned actively.
I still think a content editor would have been super helpful in curbing a lot of the amateur teenage writer vibe that the series never ceases to give, but, at least with practice Adrienne Woods has improved her writing. It's still very rough, but, growth is better than stagnation or regression, so, there's that. Like, Tanya is very unlikable and I think she should have been written a lot differently because she just comes across as frustratingly stupid and selfish and then the circumstances surrounding her seem equally stupid because the fact that they exist makes the ancients (the like, ultimate ruling authority) seem really stupid and illogical because they don't take into account something that elsewhere makes a law unyielding. All the illogical or awkward or pointless or stupid plot points could have been better executed with some effort and editing, but, alas, we slog instead through these messy points where people say and do things that contradict or seem stupid solely because it aids the plot for them to do so at a specific time regardless of any justification or build up or anything.
Still, it was easier to get through this one than books 1 and 2 and I'm still weirdly invested. Like, I have so many criticisms about this series and the author's shoddy ability to form coherent sentences on paper, but it's still alluring to me in spite of it.
It's now about 10 am for me and I've been awake for a really long time, so I'll end this review here so I can sleep. The short of it: still a lot of problems with the editing and the story is rough in areas, but I still stayed interested. -
I want to love these books. I don’t empathize with Elena and that makes it hard. I’m hoping the next book will explain more about her and Blake’s relationship and maybe then I can understand. Mostly it took a lot of books to get to the end of this book when we could have skipped a lot of content to get to this point without forsaking character development. It feels like there is very little of that to be had. You see, things just happen to Elena and she rolls into whatever wave sweeps her away. She is an unrealistic character who seems lazy and self centered. The beginning of this book finds her in a depression that is so dramatic she deserves an Oscar. She blames herself for Lucien’s death, which is fair because- well, it is her fault. Don’t worry though, Blake is really hot and rebound falling in love with him is therapeutic. I know their relationship is complicated and it’s likely a dent thing, but it makes her seem shallow and she seems to feel very little remorse even yelling at Blake that Lucien is dead and never coming back so he should be with her. Alright. Further, no one can take any responsibility for their actions because it is the “darkness” in them. I honestly feel like i don’t know how I’m expected to love Blake if I don’t even know who he is.
I am nervous for the repercussions this society will face due to the ending of this book. This book is essentially all over the place and the plot convoluted with a main character that does little to claim herself and her destiny, instead letting others do the leg work while whining.
Onto the fourth one- positive note there’s only two left. If you are reading this Danielle, I don’t know what you were smoking when you said this was great, but I would like some.
Also of note, these books are short and easy to read. -
A copy of this review can be found at
Book Ink Reviews.
No, but really. I spent two books knowing exactly where this was going to go. And Frostbite finally lived up to the hype. It is by far the best in the series so far. The plot was phenomenal, we finally learn some long-held secrets, and every character was given the perfect amount of depth and growth.
Elena was... terrible. For most of it. But I forgave her in the end. I'm not sure why everyone writes the grieving person as a total jerk, but I was hoping it wouldn't last long.
Cara was a fantastic edition. I loved her relationship with Elena and her voice was clear and inviting. Such a perfect introduction.
Blake finally wasn't such a butthole. And I found myself missing Lucian (even though I spent two books hoping he and Elena wouldn't be a thing.)
Her friends became less understanding the more she hurt them and it was so dang realistic.
I read this one in a single 4-hour sitting, y'all. It's that good. And now I'm off to the next!
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This book completely broke my heart, but I loved every minute of it anyways.
Elena's world has been flipped upside down once again. Not only is the love of her life gone, but now she's found out she's a dragon. Most would be happy to find out they are dragons, but not Elena. Not only is she afraid of heights, but she also can't remember anything that happens when she turns into her dragon form. That is when Cara comes out, she's ruthless and isn't afraid to set anyone on fire. The only way that Elena can find a way to control Cara is with the help of Blake Leaf, the one person she can't stand.
Elena goes through so much pain in this book. I honestly spent at least half of the book crying. The only light side that I found to this book was Cara. I instantly fell in love with her right from the beginning. She's basically the exact opposite of Elena, but in a good way. She is sassy, confident and loved anything to do with adventure. I loved her so much, I couldn't get enough!
In this book we finally get to find out Elena's true lineage, which has been hinted at only about 100 times. Nevertheless, it was really nice to finally get it out in the open and have everyone know about it.
I dont want to talk about the plot line of this story as I don't want to spoil anything else. I just want to say that it was truly amazing, beautifully written and another great addition to this series. I can't wait to continue reading this series, especially after this ending.
Happy Reading,
Aneta -
This book was an emotional fucking rollercoaster. Elena's grief over Lucien's death was horrible and I'm glad they got Blake involved. He was the only one capable of bringing her out of it, even if he did a lot of that for his own good. Cara was an amazing addition to this book and I loved how she helped Elena overcome her fears. I'm so sad for what happened to her. I was finally, FINALLY proved right in this book about my theories around Elena and Blake. And it was validating. I was so happy I was right and now we just need Blake and Elena to truly accept it. Elena is going to have her work cut out for her in the next book that's for sure.
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book contains cursing. Very frustrating when I wanted to listen to out loud. 🤦♀️
- so, this book took me WAY too long to listen to. I couldn’t even tell you why unless I read the book as well. But meh. I don’t really want to. It was boring but as always there were parts that I was like “Yep, called it.” And “What?!” I’ll be listening to the next one but I don’t think this is a series I’ll listen to more than once. -
3.5 stars!
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4.5/5
