Shadow Frost (Shadow Frost Series, Book 1) (The Shadow Frost, 1)

Shadow Frost #1

by Coco Ma

A Publishers Weekly Pick of YA books for Fall She holds power like no other. But can she learn to harness it in time to save her kingdom? In the kingdom of Axaria, a darkness rises. Some call it a monster, laying waste to the villagers and their homes.
Some say it is an invulnerable demon summoned from the deepest abysses of the Immortal Realm.
Many soldiers from the royal guard are sent out to hunt it down.
Not one has ever returned. When Asterin Faelenhart, Princess of Axaria and heir to the throne, discovers that she may hold the key to defeating the mysterious demon terrorizing her kingdom, she vows not to rest until the beast is slain. With the help of her friends and the powers she wields -- though has yet to fully understand -- Asterin sets out to complete a single task. The task that countless trained soldiers have failed. To kill it. But as they hunt for the demon, they unearth a plot to assassinate the princess herself instead. Asterin and her companions begin to wonder how much of their lives have been lies, especially when they realize that the center of the web of deceit might very well be themselves. With no one else to turn to, they are forced to decide just how much they are willing to sacrifice to protect the only world they have ever known. That is if the demon doesn't get to them first. From young author Coco Ma comes a dazzling new tale of adventure, power, and betrayal, weaving together a stunning world of magic with a killer cast in an explosive, unforgettable debut.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Young Adult Fantasy, Romance, High Fantasy, Fiction, LGBT

448 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2019

About the author

Coco Ma is a Canadian author and pianist. She wrote her first novel, Shadow Frost, at the age of 15, and since she began playing the piano at the age of five and a half, she has also performed on some of the world's greatest concert stages and graduated with a pre-college diploma in piano performance from The Juilliard School in New York City. Currently, she studies at Yale University. When she isn't practicing piano, writing, or studying, you might find her bingeing Netflix or eating cake. Lots of cake.
Follow Coco on Twitter @shadowfrost2019 and Instagram @CakeForCoco or visit her website at Coco-Ma.com!

Reviews

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faecrate September box! Click on the link below the pic to see all the GOODIES!



GOODIES LINK

THIS FREAKING BOOK!! ADDED TO FAVORITES LIST!



What the hell am I going to say??? I loved this book so freaking much! There were some sad things toward the end and I don't know if they can ever be mended but one can hope. This book pulled at all of my FEELS!

I CAN NOT BELIEVE Coco Ma wrote this book at 15 years of age! She's freaking amaze balls! If I could write this good at 15 I would have been a star! Hell, If I could write this good now, I could be a star!

Shadow Frost is the YA Fantasy book I never knew I needed. THIS, is what YA Fantasy should be in all shapes and forms. Yes, I have a few favorite authors and books in this genre, but damn... Coco Ma just jumped right into my little capsule of favorite authors!

Okay, let me get to the book. Holy crap on a cracker, let me keep this short and not give anything away!

Princess Asterin is a bad @ss princess through and through. She is NOT the sit around and let men fight for me princess. Oh she has guards etc, but she conned all of them from a little girl to show her how to fight, pick locks, you name it. She also has magic, but that's a whole other ball game.

Asterin is not ordered around by any man/boy; she fights her own fights and has some freaking amazing friends. They all love each other and protect each other as much as they can. There is a little thing at the end but it's just one of those horrible decision things. No win situation. But this particular situation has me conflicted; I feel for both sides.

There is a monster demon thing going around killing people in Asterins' realm. This does not sit well will her so she tells her mom, The Queen, she is going out and killing the monster with her magic. And no, she doesn't take any lip there either. She has magic, she has friends with magic and she has a couple of new guards with magic. And we are off.

Turns out not everyone on this journey is what they seem and this is not really a bad thing. I love each and every person and all of the women are bad @ssed in their own way.

THE PEEPS I LOVE:

Asterin
Luna
Rose
Orion
Quinlan
Eadric
Harry
Their horses which seem to have a mind of their own at times
Amoux (sword, just because it's Asterin's sword and it's a sword)

and a certain someone that is also a thing but I can't tell you about this certain someone thing =)



There is a tiny bit of grimdark in this book. There is some swearing. Mainly Asterin calling a certain boy @sshole all of the time. There were times I had some good laughs with the comedic side to the story.

I'm just going to shut up now because I'm rambling. Just read it and if you don't like it then fine. But if you like bad @ss chics who rule, you will love it. Yes, some of the women throw the men around but so what, they all have fun either way. There is also a little boy/boy love if you want that as well. Everything is well rounded in my opinion and I can't wait for a reread with the actual book in my hand.

I will leave you with a quote. Now this is an uncorrected proof so said quote could change. I would like to add a million quotes but I digress.

Enjoy!

Quinlan's fists clenched. "Asterin! Get back here!"
Orion felt her anger spike, as tangible as fire. The princess whirled around. "You do not have the right to tell me what I can and cannot do, Quinlan Holloway. This is my duty. I will not let anything or anyone stop me from defeating the demon that took the lives of hundreds of innocent people-my people. And if I fail to avenge them, I do not deserve the throne." Quinlan faltered. "I didn't...I just meant that-"
"And furthermore, let me remind you that you're here officially as a soldier serving my kingdom, and therefore under my command, prince or no. You will obey my word or return to the palace. The choice is yours. But do not, under any circumstance, rule me." With that, Asterin spun on her heel and strode away. The dense foliage of the forest swallowed her in darkness in less than a second.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the Pub for giving me the opportunity to read this awesome book!*

Mel ♥

MY BLOG

[Coco Ma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why hello there! A few things to know about Shadow Frost:

⚔️ badass royals wielding elemental powers? magical.
⚔️ immortal demon annihilating kingdom? terrifying.
⚔️ love triangles? no thanks.
⚔️ POVs? multiple.
⚔️ fierce women, cinnamon buns and flawed characters? many.
⚔️ banter? quality.
⚔️ plot twists? idk, you tell me ;))
⚔️ hotel? trivago.
(please don’t sue me lol)

•*•*•*•

i feel like I’m voting for myself in an election lol

In all seriousness though, a colossal thank you to all of you wonderful readers. Your enthusiasm truly means the absolute world to me and I cannot tell you how grateful I am for all of your support for my debut novel.

Fifteen-year-old me had a lot of ambition and determination when I wrote the first draft of Shadow Frost. Fast-forward three years, and I still have SO much to learn, but my aspirations as a writer are bigger than ever. I wanted to create something that I could be proud of. I wanted to create something that could inspire other young people to chase their wildest dreams, and to always keep striving for greater things ... no matter how many times or how many people shove you down.

Here’s my advice. Look beyond the people who don’t take you seriously, who pity you because they don’t believe you can be who you know you can be.

And then sit down, get to work, and prove them wrong.

For every one person who thinks less of you in any way—whether total strangers, friends, or even/especially parents—there are countless people who will support you. Myself included. We’ve got your back. ❤️

Welp, this didn’t quite end up as I expected, but I’m glad it’s here. My promise to you is simple—I’m going to keep writing, no matter what, because it’s what I love to do. I’m going to stress and fuss over all the single little tiny things I can think of so that when the time comes, I can bring you the very best of my stories, my characters, and those thrilling/adorable/nail-biting/heart-wrenching scenes that I possibly can. So please continue to watch me grow and keep an eye out for all things Shadow Frost!!! All my love and many squishy hugs.

Yours Truly,
Coco xx

[Virginia Ronan ♥ Herondale ♥]

Okay, I know we shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, but dang this one makes it really hard.

It's gorgeous and so aesthetically pleasing I'm legit drooling on my keyboard as I type. 😂😍

Plus, the story sounds amazing as well! Need to read! This is going on my TBR like... well, right now! XD

[Amy Imogene Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Shadow Frost is the kind of debut that I would have gobbled up in the early 2000s, but unfortunately doesn't hold up to my 2019 expectations—which is a reflection on my reading tastes and not on the book's contents.

Gosh, this novel was a struggle. I wanted so badly to like it, because I admire the author's tenacity and talent—she wrote this debut in her actual teen years, and she's a musical prodigy!—but I can't rate higher based on my admiration for the author. Shadow Frost needed some more polish.

Writing: ★★★ 1/2
Concept: ★★
Characters: ★★
Uniqueness: ★

Asterin is the princess to the kingdom of Axaria, in a world where magic is attached to the concept of affinities—there are three core affinities, each with two secondaries, making for a total of 9 possible powers. All of these powers are vaguely elemental—fire, ice, water, earth, etc. Asterin is rare, naturally, because she has multiple affinities and is potentially able to master all of the elements. She's snarky and a bit predictable in the genre, but well described.

If you've read a handful of YA fantasy novels, then you've read Shadow Frost. It has a snarky, beautiful princess and a handsome, brotherly guard who is, you guessed it, also a love interest. It has the newcomer—a darkly mysterious boy who intrudes on the relationship of the guard and the princess. It has the menacing evil force that is extremely mysterious and something only the princess can defeat.... (I think you can guess the rest.)

My biggest complaint from Shadow Frost was the "so what" element of it all. I couldn't find myself rooting or bonding with any of the characters, because I didn't feel attached to their personalities or goals. I couldn't stay engaged with the plot, because it felt like I had traced these steps before in previous fantasies. I wanted to root for them and the story, but there wasn't enough unique identifiers to stay engaged, and many of the book's chapters were hard to get through due to the copious over-explaining of plot points. (Personally, I dislike an info dump, so that last point is most likely a "me" problem.)

Definitely not a read for me, but who knows how a younger, fresher audience to the genre might react to this novel. Like I mentioned earlier, if I'd read this when I was much younger I might have loved it. The writing was solid, so I'm extremely interested in what the author decides to write next.

[NickReads]

this cover is what I think heaven looks like

[Umairah (Sereadipity) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing: 4/5

Shadow Frost was a fun, sizzling fantasy full of intrigue and betrayal and although it wasn't perfect I still thoroughly enjoyed it!

Asterin Faelenhart, Princess of Axaria, was tasked along with her companions to vanquish a demon that was terrorizing the lands. However, there was much more to the situation than met the eye and the group of friends had to gradually uncover a web of secrets and lies.

Asterin was a headstrong, tenacious character who desperately wanted to prove she was worthy to one day be queen and make her mother proud. She was likeable at the start but some of the choices (especially one in particular) she made later on in the book really disappointed me and I honestly thought better of her! My favourite character was probably Rose because she seemed to be the most down-to-earth and was one of the kindest, smartest characters in the book. Quinlan fell into the classic, 'love interest with a haunted past' trope and I really felt bad for him because the poor thing was smitten with Asterin and she was the last to realise!

The main appeal Shadow Frost had was the fact paced, constantly changing plot. There were some shocking twists which I did not see coming and they kept me hooked right until the very end. I'm very excited to see how the story and characters will develop into the next book. Furthermore, I loved the elemental magic system!

Nevertheless, I had one giant, gaping problem with this novel. It kept emphasising how all of the characters were stereotypically attractive and it really annoys me when books do this because we are not all perfect as there is no such thing as perfection. Our diversity makes us beautiful. I don't think it's alright for books to promote the idea that everyone has to look gorgeous with big muscles or flowing hair or impeccable bone structure because it's a ridiculous notion to live up to and is an unhealthy way of thinking. We need books about people of all shapes, colours and sizes.

Overall, Shadow Frost was an entertaining read and very impressive considering the author wrote the first draft at fifteen. It had a very similar vibe to Throne of Glass so if you liked that book, you'll like this one too!

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for providing me with a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Dani ❤️ Perspective of a Writer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Check out more reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...


The Buzz

I will admit that Shadow Frost for me was all about that gorgeous cover!! I just loved it and when I saw its about elementalists I couldn't help but this it was perfect. I'm not a fan of the title, it feels very generic and is an odd combination with such a great cover. Having now read the book I feel that more than ever. At the time I didn't know Coco Ma was only 15 years old when she wrote it, I didn't learn that until later... and it explained a lot.


The Premise

Actually we have a pretty standard premise with Shadow Frost once you free it from the details. A princess hunts a demon terrorizing the populace. She learns she's special and should be the center of her friends' lives. They help her because she's a princess destined to be a queen! Okay, you can probably tell that I didn't enjoy this. But the premise is still really accurate. And quite boring!

The magic was the centerpiece of Shadow Frost world... and at first I thought it would turn out to be pretty neat... but instead it was really basic. The magic is basically just each element and what matters is how many different kinds you can wield. Asterin, the princess, is special, of course. Not only can she wield more magic than most but she's been training in battle techniques too. Totally eye rolling.

The sticking point for me is that Asterin and her friends didn't find any answers themselves. They were handed them on a platter by an enemy. And I saw it coming from a mile away. Not only the little villains but the main villain too. While I liked her friends to a point they were redundant many times, confusing to keep straight at first and their internal life conflicted with their job (which doesn't make sense when they are some of the best in the kingdom.

I could get behind the world... if I actually saw more of it than the inside of the castle and a cabin in the woods. There is this effort to bring together all of the kings and queens of the world and I just thought it was so shallow! We don't even get much about the kingdom we're in!! Don't saddle us with a bunch of other places and leaders that make me roll my eyes. Royalty doesn't tend to gather like this anyway as its a perfect opportunity to rid the world of its leaders all in one go.


My Experience

The writing though is what totally killed Shadow Frost for me. It was really bad. I quickly read the first 30% hoping it would get better but it got worse. Then I had to finish it in 10% increments because that was the only way I could keep reading. I could have DNFed it but I wanted to give it every chance to win me over. Many times an end can save what is a muddled mess of a start and empty middle... but that didn't happen with Shadow Frost.

Here are some of the thoughts I had as I read Shadow Frost...

"Wow... this is bad... it feels like a new adult story... the beginning was really muddled and poorly written. Info dumping in the middle of what was supposed to be a tense scene. The characters are okay. The way her life is setup doesn’t really make sense."

"This is awful! I can’t keep track of characters... little sets apart the minor characters. And I always keep track even with a lot of them. Not much has happened either 😅 mentions of the gods is boring too! And the princess is so high and mighty..."

"Then we have Orion... a guardian. He isn’t as good as Quinlan and now he won’t believe about Harry. His character is all over the place. He’s a crap guardian too since he has no judgement... which is #1 with any sort of bodyguard."

"I also don’t like our MC. She throws hissy fits because things aren’t going her way and hating on her strongest allies. I do like how Quinlan brought her in line but they mainly fight against one another! It’s quite boring! And so much telling like with Harry... and in the beginning with Asterin then Rose."

I did appreciate how she used the multiple POV even though I think it showcased the fact the characters didn't make sense. And I like seeing different moments in their back history but the current story was incredibly boring. So much is contrived!! And that is not good for the end of a book.

Shadow Frost really needs to be extensively rewritten. It needs to decide if its a new adult or a YA book. A real plot needs to be developed. And Asterin's back history needs to make a bit more sense. If you're looking for some harmless fluff or you want to check out what a 15 year old girl wants in her YA fantasy this may be something you want to read.


⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐⭐ Authenticity
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⭐ Writing Style
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐ Plot & Pacing
⋆ ⋆ ⭐⭐⭐ World Building
B+ Cover & Title grade

Thanks to Edelweiss and Blackstone Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. It has not influenced my opinions.

______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. Read my special perspective under the typewriter on my reviews...

Please like this review if you enjoyed it! *bow* *bow* It helps me out a ton!!

[Liza ❤️LIBROCUBICULARIST❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 whole stars!

Ohmygoodness! I absolutely love this story and I found myself another favorite epic fantasy to read over and over and over again. And I cannot believe that she's only 15 when she wrote this awesome book. Isn't the cover captivating enough? ICE and FIRE

First off: A note from the Publisher
Born in 2000, Canadian-Chinese author and pianist Coco Ma began playing the piano at the age of five and a half. Since then, she has performed on some of the world's greatest concert stages and graduated with a pre-college diploma in piano performance from The Juilliard School in New York City. At fifteen years old, she finished writing her first novel, Shadow Frost. Currently, she studies at Yale College. When she isn't practicing piano, writing, or studying, you might find her bingeing Netflix or eating cake. Lots of cake.



That alone is totally impressive and then write this awesome book that young age?! I cannot even write a 4 page book report when I was in High School!

Characters that I fall in love with

✨ Asterin - a badass Princess of Axaria who's been longing for her mother's affection after losing her father at a young age. An omnifinitied princess - who can conjure up more than 3 affinity stones

✨Luna - Asterin's lady-in-waiting and best friend. She cannot remember her past and struggles with her magic if she has one.

✨Orion - Asterin's personal Royal Guard and trained Asterin to be a badass Princess

✨Eadric - Captain of Royal Guard's army and Luna's lover

✨Rose - Queen of Eradore and an amazing healer

✨Quinlan - Rose's cousin and a freaking awesome warrior - a spectacularly handsome, but still a total ass - my favorite character in the book

✨Harry - a hunter who joined the group and learned to love and respect them all

The group went on to chase the demon - a monster who have been laying waste in the villagers and their homes - some royal guards were sent to hunt them down but were never returned.

I do not know what else to say without giving so much away from the book. If you read and love The Priory of the Orange Tree, you will LOVE this as well. I'm just so happy and excited to receive this book in advance. (booknerd)

There's a huge probability that the book will turn into a series on how the book ended.

My review does not do justice how awesome this book is!

Thank you Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with this e-arc to review.

[Schizanthus Nerd]

DNF at 44%

I absolutely hate it when I can’t finish a book. I fell in love with this book’s cover, then the blurb sealed the deal for me. My anticipation grew during the prologue, especially when I came across this little marvel:

This was a gateway to a realm of merciless darkness, of beautiful horrors and bloodthirsty nightmares.

I usually love banter between characters but a lot of it hasn’t worked for me so far. It’s gotten to the point that if a particular character calls the princess a ‘brat’ one more time I’m going to want to throw my Kindle at a wall. I’m also not a fan of all of the flirting, especially when it closely follows a massacre that’s supposed to be devastating.

The language is inconsistent at times, with characters wandering from “brat” to “‘morrow” to “my bad”. It switches between so many points of view that I’ve lost count and although I haven’t read a lot of fantasy book it feels like I already know all of the individual elements in this story too well.

I’m feeling really defeated right now. I know I’m surrounded by so many ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews and I had planned to be writing one of them.

I hope to finish this book in the future but I’m having to slog my way through it at the moment and if I keep doing this I’m only going to be looking for faults that may or may not exist.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

[Jess · Rating 1 out of 5]

“She— she had created this thing of beauty. This gift, this power— it was hers. Tears pricked her eyes, threatening to spill over. This is what she had missed, all those years.”

Thank you to Edelweiss for allowing me to read an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

1 Star -- This is in my top 5 worst YA books I have ever read without question. The beautiful cover is initially what made me want to read this book, but sadly it was so poorly done there was almost nothing I enjoyed about it.

Unfortunately I struggled through this book for so long that all of the sentences I highlighted I was unable to access. I needed to re-download the book just to finish the last 70 pages. This book isn’t worth my time to go back through then write as in-depth of a review as I was going to.

Trigger warnings: Imprisonment,Mental/Emotional Manipulation, Death, Violence

I was completely fooled
I am going to warn you all now, the prologue is phenomenal and I was thrilled to find a book I thought I was going to love. The writing was beautiful, the idea was interesting. Then on page ONE—

“She cast a fierce glower at her reflection in the vanity mirror. Emerald eyes stared back, glimmering with the flames of candlelight.”

And I thought; Aw, S***

HERE WE GO. Another cliche book and on the very first page we’re reading about the character looking at herself in the mirror. And that’s exactly what this book was. A gigantic cliche mess.

Characters: Too many to count

This book has at SEVEN points of view. Not only that, at times it would randomly switch from one point of view to a different character then return to the character whose POV it was supposed to be from at the beginning of the chapter. It made the book tiresome and difficult to read.


Setting: “The rattling of the wheels reverberated in Rose’s bones as they swung onto the west road which divided the trade and entertainments districts, the more upscale shops and boutiques of Axaris lining one side and the Pavillion hugging the other.

The world building was minimal and the setting was just alright. There was such a lack of world building the first few chapters are spent in the main characters room.

What I enjoyed: 

1. The cover is pretty

2. The concept was interesting but the execution of it was poor. Think Avatar the Last Airbender. There were elements that humans could wield and a forbidden element more powerful than the rest. It was absolutely a fascinating concept and I obviously wanted to love it way more than I did.


What I did not enjoy: 

1. The horrible dialogue:
This society is not modern, there are kings and queens… and yet the first thing one of the central characters says to the main character (who is a princess ) is that she’s a brat. He calls the princess a brat, and continues to do so. I didn’t find this charming or funny in the slightest. The book would then randomly use older words like ‘morrow. There was no consistency and was jarring to read about horse- drawn carriages one minute then slang from our time the next.

2. The Lack of any Plot for the first seven chapters:
My update when I was reading this book says, “60 pages in and no plot in sight.” Because there was not a plot until towards the end of the book. As I stated earlier, the beginning of the book was spent almost exclusively in the main characters room and/or one or two rooms of the castle. When they weren’t (or even when they were) in the main characters room they were fighting. Which leads me to my next point.

3. The Fighting:
When I was at BookCon I went to a panel where many wonderful and amazingly talented authors such as Leigh Bardugo and Marissa Meyer spoke. One piece of advice one author gave to writers was that fighting should not be used unless absolutely necessary. Why? It stilts the plot and is boring to read. And this book proves it. Again, absolutely nothing happened because there were pointless scenes about fighting that were painful to read because it did nothing to draw me in or make me care about the characters. In the end I didn’t care if they lived or died.

4. Cliche: This book was cliche and ridiculous and I spent most of my time rolling my eyes. I feel really rude because I’m sure the author worked really hard on this but the book was truly so cliche it was laughable. I’m not going to sugar-coat it.

5. The relationships:
The relationships in the book were bizarre. The main character falls in love extremely quickly and trusts the love interest, who is from a neighboring kingdom, before she even knows his name. I didn’t feel like the relationships were developed to the point they needed to be for certain events to be believable.

Closing thoughts: 

I don’t recommend this book. There are much better books out there that you should spend your time reading.

To leave on a positive note: I do feel like a very early teen audience might like this book. It felt like it was trying to be like Throne of Glass but couldn’t quite get there.

[Sasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

First thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of that book!!

I don't even know where to start haha

First let's talk about the story, the plot, the twists...
I loooooooved the idea of this story, I loved the elemental magic (I have a soft spot for it). The plot is simple: a princess (with her crew) going after a monster, a beast who is killing people. They need to put it down fast. Simple but it worked so much because it left the necessary space for plot twists and storytelling...

The twists:
I feel like there was way too many twists in the book put there and there and there again. I didn't understand to point of them all but the writing style made up for it because I really didn't mind them while reading the book.

The characters:
I loved them all! This is so weird because it has actually never happened to me to not have a preference. I loved all the characters in that book, I loved them all! We had a background story for each character. I think the mutiple point of views helped with that as it felt natural. I didn't feel as we were getting to many information about them. They were also very different to each other.

Asterin, the main character, the princess was a badass!
Luna, the princess' friend doesn't remember her past, and struggle with her magic
Rose is the Queen of another kingdom
Orion trained Asterin to be a warrior and he is pretty badass himself
Eadric is Luna's lover (such a cute little couple)
Quinlan is a brilliant warrior as well
Harry, a hunter who joined them later

So I was so committed to the story from page one. I have to be honest I was pretty impressed. But I had some issues with the way the story evolved. I feel like the characters' relationships were going to fast. Like they didn't know each other and then two days later they were best friends. It juste didn't make sense to me. And also the fact that we were reading one twists after another at some point made me questionned myself as if the author decided to change the story even if in the middle of it. it's like the author had an idea of where the story would go and then in the middle of the story decided to change it a little bit.

But even with that I enjoyed the story from page one until the very last word. The characters were likeable and I enjoyed reading about them. The story had magic, a bit of romance, friendship, lies, truth, secrets, ... I really did love that world it was as easy to understand everything as easy to get lost in the story!

I love the elemental magic! It was fresh, new, different and not cliché at all!

Well useless to say that I cannot wait for the sequel!!!

[Mel (Epic Reading)]

eARC Approved!! Woo!!
This is by a Canadian-Chinese author and sounds epic.

[Amy Yi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got a chance to read an advance copy of this book and I must say, IT IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST-READ!!!!!! I could not stop thinking about this book after I read it...
Asterin is such a freaking BADASS. I can only aspire to be half as badass as she is. She's flawed but strong, she doesn't take no for an answer, she's stupid sometimes, but she (almost) always learns from her mistakes.
AND OMFG LUNA??!?!!!!?!?! Character development much?!?!?!? I don't want to spoil anything but DAMN.
There are so many glorious details and the author really describes everything so beautifully. The world-building was really well thought out, and even the parts that moved a little slower compared to the action scenes were sooo interesting because of the complexity of the characters and their interactions.
AND ASDLF;FGLKJ QUINLAN FREAKING HOLLOWAY. At first, I admit that he seemed way too perfect, but then we start to discover all the little ways that he's broken and I LOVE IT. HE PROTECC AND ATTAC BUT HE IS ALSO SMOL AND I WOULD DIE A THOUSAND FIERY DEATHS FOR HIM.
But overall, I really sincerely believe that literally anyone (unless you are like, 12) should read this (there are some gory bits which legitimately sent chills up my spine), especially because the author was SIXTEEN or something when she wrote this... It's really empowering to see such a talented, young female writer putting herself out there... SO BRAVO ALL THE WAY!!! Much respect :)))
BUT YES PLEASE READ THIS BOOK IT'S AMAZINGGG YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!!!!!!

[ʙᴇʟᴀ.: ☾**:.☆*.:｡.]

ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review (Thank you!)

[Alana · Rating 3 out of 5]

"In a world of magic, nothing is impossible."

Initially, I was intrigued by this book because of the gorgeous cover but then I read the synopsis and was totally in! A princess fighting tooth and nail for her life and kingdom, a gang who doesn't get along but have one common goal, demons, gods, elemental magic, and queer rep that will tug on your heart? Basically, all the elements that I love in a fantasy novel. Also, a fun little fact about this book is that Coco Ma wrote it when she was fifteen years old. Yes, you read that right, ONE-FIVE. If that's not majorly impressive I really don't know what is.
The strongest aspect of this story is the cast. Even though initially they are not the most functional together they manage to all get their shit together when it comes to trying to slay a demon wreaking havoc on nearby towns. Here's the rundown of the characters you'll grow to love with this one:

➸Asterin, the princess who will do whatever it takes to keep her kingdom safe. However, the tables begin to turn when she finds out that someone is trying to have her assassinated and now Asterin is not only fighting for her kingdom, but her life as well.
➸Eadric, the captain of the guard who is basically just trying to keep everyone alive at this point and is stressed AF about it.
➸Rose and Quinlan, the cousin duo of my dreams, come to assist Asterin on her quest to slay the demon but of course have some major secrets of their own...and maybe one of them has a crush on Asterin.
➸Luna, the princess' loyal friend longs for magic of her own and will do whatever she can do help Asterin slay the demon even though she's only human...or is she?
➸Orion, another badass loyal friend of the princess who has a crush on Harry, my favorite character. I won't say much about Harry because spoilers are no fun but I love him a lot.

So, I mean how could you not love this dysfunctional gang of demon slayers?

"Stop acting like your lives are worth less than mine!" Asterin exploded. "You are my friends! Friends always protect one another."

Now, on to why I gave this three stars. My biggest issue with this was the plot twists. There were so many twists in this book that it almost seemed like the author had too many ideas and didn't know which direction she wanted to book to go in. It was literally one twist after another after another after another. Just when you thought the story was going one way, it went in the total opposite direction. Y'all know I am a fan of epic plot twists, I mean, who isn't? But this was overkill at times. I also felt like the characters all went from disliking each other to BFF's the next day. Since there is going to be another book I would have liked to see their relationships develop a little slower.

All in all, I can't lie and say I won't be picking up the next book because I am totally diving back into the Asterin's world when book two comes out. Even though the plot twists were a little unbearable at times I was completely invested in this from start to finish because of the characters and now I can't wait to see where the story will take them in the next book!

Thank you Blackstone Publishing for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This month, I'm going to be destroying my arcs-tbr. And I'm starting with Shadow Frost, which I should have read last year but didn't. (Oops)

2.5 stars

For me, Shadow Frost had a strong beginning and it managed to captivate my attention quickly. However, I kept finding things that annoyed me soon after (basically, when Rose and Quinlan were introduced) and overall, it was just all over the place. Therefore, my enjoyment of the book was lacking. Because of that, I couldn't rate it any higher than three stars.

Things I liked
-The prologue.
-The stones and the way the magic worked around elements.
-The FMC, Princess Asterin. She's strong and willing to learn everything that could possibly help her. She's not afraid to go on a hunt against a demon that's murdering her people.
-Some of the plot.

Things that annoyed me

-The romance : At first, you think Orion and Asterin have something going on and are going to be together. But then Quinlan shows up and I thought a love triangle would occur but nope. Apparently, Orion had no interest in Asterin (even though the beginning was ambiguous) and is actually heads over heels for Harry, a new character that shows up after a while. I would have loved that MM relationship but the way it was written made me cringe a bit since it was always in your face, just in case the reader missed it or something. Also, the flirting between Asterin and Quinlan was fun but I wasn't all that invested.
-The reveals felt a bit similar. Too much about the parents. Too much Royalty.
-The characters seemed very childish at times and I didn't connect with them.
-The changes of POVs. Maybe there were too many of them.
-The choice made by Orion at the very end was foolish, stupid, childish, idiotic and came out of nowhere just to make sure the readers will want to buy the next book to find out if he's okay.
-The passage between Queen Priscilla and the King was confusing. It was like their past was missing.

Also, I didn't even realize this was supposed to be a retelling. Of what, I don't even know even after I finished it. Even if I seem negative, I believe Shadow Frost is a book that a lot of people will enjoy and love. I only wish I was one of them.

(Thank you to the publisher for letting me read and review an arc via Netgalley)

[Atlas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Discipline, talent, and hard work fueled by the burning desire to impress her mother had honed her into a terrifying force to behold

*
1 / 5

I don't really like writing negative reviews, so I'll keep this one short. I massively respect anyone who can write a book and get it published. Unfortunately, Shadow Frost made me feel pretty similar to how I felt when reading Frostblood, which is super bored. I read somewhere that the author first wrote this when she was fifteen, which made total sense, because this book is chock-block full of the kinds of things I might have written when I was that age, like being a magical super-powerful princess with several men fighting over me because I'm just that awesome.

"I want you to be proud of me for who I am!" Asterin shouted. "Not what I can do."

Princess Asterin Faelenhart is the heir of Axaria and she spends the first 20% of the book fencing in her bedroom with her childhood friend and mentor Orion. She spends all her time thinking about how rock solid Orion's abs are and he get very protective over her, but they aren't into each other. At. All. Right? Orion gets given a different love interest in an attempt to divert a love triangle but it still reads A LOT like a love triangle. Enter new hot boy Quinlan, who is totally brooding and powerful and a little bit bad. Did I mention he is also super hot? He arrives at court with his cousin Rose as a gift to join Asterin's elite guard.

Asterin hears tell of a dark monster destroying a couple of villages, confronts her mother, and demands to be allowed to march to her apparent death with only five people to keep her company. Despite this being very dangerous, she decides to take her friend/maid Luna. Alright. This is about when I twigged that Asterin is a moron. She also takes the Captain of her guard, Eadric, who I did like. They voyage out to find the monster and end up discovering a bunch of devious secrets and plots. Standard stuff.

Rumour had it that someone once tried to stab her in the heart, but the sword had shattered instead

There were quite a few things that I didn't like about this book. Briefly, I thought Asterin was a moron and a bit of a brat. I couldn't stand Quinlan or their romance - Quinlan is a brooding boy with a tragic backstory, but also gets his flirt on all the time. Great. Then he starts addressing Asterin as "brat" all the time and crashing in through her bedroom window. Obviously, she swoons because this is super hot. Who addresses a member of a royal family as "brat"? What the hell?? Also his name is daft. Which brings me to another point - we have classic made-up fantasy names like Asterin Faelenhart, classic celestial fantasy names like Orion and Luna, and then Harry. Then the characters are talking like "we shall meet on the 'morrow dear brother" (not an exact quote), whilst living somewhere with hotels. It was really jarring.

The book is narrated in third-person, which I happen to like, but it had about seven POVs. This was totally unnecessary. We ended up seeing the same event - like a fight - twice over, from two different points of view. Then we get a 3-page interlude with some random soldiers we never see again chatting to the Queen. Shadow Frost does a lot of telling, particularly with its plot twists. To reveal something major about a character, the book jumps to that character where he just tells us his secret, instead of letting us experience it and reveal it through the others. It was a very odd style choice.

But my biggest problem was that reading Shadow Frost was very slow-going. I waded through pages of unlikeable characters not doing very much, against a backdrop of a total-mishmash of YA tropes and awful, tedious banter. The author obviously shows some promise - there's good ideas in here, like I loved the idea of the Houses and their Patron gods with different kinds of magic associated with them - but Shadow Frost reads like it came straight from the mind of a fifteen-year old without any editing going on.

My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of Shadow Frost.

Read this review and more on my blog: https://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.co...

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

He chuckled half-heartedly. "That kind of thing would be impossible"
"In a world of magic," Rose said slowly, and he saw pity in her expression. "Nothing is impossible."

**ARC received at BookExpo curtesy of Blackstone Publishing, all opinions are my own and the unbiased truth**

A stunning debut with a hilarious cast of characters, rich world building, and heart-racing plot! Heads up …. this is going to be a long review …. this was a 5 star book that had an ending that left my heart ripped in two!

SUMMARY
In the kingdom of Axaria there is a shadow demon running rampant and decimating villages and soldiers. When Princess Asterin is presented with the opportunity to take down this demon herself, she jumps at the chance to not only protect her kingdom but also prove herself to her mother.
However, despite her growing power magic, Asterin cannot face this journey alone. She is joined by her Royal Guardian, Orion, the Captain of her Elite Guard, Eardic, best friend, Luna, and the two emissaries from a neighbouring kingdom, Quinlan and Rose. Together, this crew sets out on a mission that no other has returned from. But the sinister magic they uncover may not just destroy them but the world as they know it.

REVIEW
I devoured this novel in two sittings! I was hooked from the prologue and the story just kept improving from there on.

I find that in some debut novels the world building can feel a little info-dumpy or the author expects you to outright understand the magic system - neither of those occurred here. Coco Ma manages to weave in her world building by using her characters to explain the magic system and kingdom politics. I never found myself confused, and while there were a few times I reread a passage to make sure I understood how the kingdoms were connected with different elemental powers, it did not hinder the pacing. The magic system is one that I instantly took to because it focused on elemental magic. As a child I always wished that I had these powers, so whenever I see them in a book I am instantly drawn in. I liked how each kingdom had a specific affinity for a certain element, and that people in this world could be proficient in more than one element. The most intriguing part of the magic was the use of magical stones to help harness and control powers. With such a complex magic system it is easy to get lost in explaining it to the reader, but instead I found myself wanting to know more!

I know that there will be a few readers who find the middle of this book to be slow paced. At around the 40% mark our characters head off on their quest, but they hit a road block for the next 20%. However, I adored this time where the characters were able to grow in their relationships with one another. I am a reader who favours character development and interactions over all else, which is part of the reason why I loved this book. Furthermore, this time spent hunting the demon allows the reader to connect with the characters, which impacts how the reader feels emotionally at the end of the novel with where each of the respective characters end up.

Allow me to state that I laughed out loud MULTIPLE times in this novel. Our lovely Asterin is snarky to no avail and Quinlan has no problem throwing sass back. The banter between our six main characters had me laughing to the point where I had to put the book down. Sure our group has a lot of flaws and they fight with each other, but at the end of the day they are all fiercely protective and loyal and I love them.

There is romance in this book, and a lot of flirting - BUT NO LOVE TRIANGLES. While one of the relationships felt a little fast-paced in its development, the other one was beautifully drawn out and had me squealing at every moment. We also start out with Eadric and Luna already in a relationship, so the two of them are just cute from the get-go.

The last thing that I want to mention is how this book focuses on the power within and trust. A lot of our characters have to come to term with their own self-doubt, and they learn a lot during their journey. I believe that Luna had the biggest character arc of all, and I loved seeing her believe in the power within herself and growing some serious confidence. I cannot wait for everyone to read it!

I still think that Asterin is in her character arc, and that she will have a lot more growing to do in the sequel. She is a woman who has been tested her entire life and she is finally learning to soften her guard. However, I loved how badass and cutthroat she was from the beginning. Asterin grew up as a princess but she refused to leave her life to the fates (or her guards). She is not just powerful with her magic but also with her own fists and blade. We love a main character who literally fights for herself.

Overall, this was a fantastic debut. I highly highly highly recommend it and will be pining away for the sequel.

[Annemieke / A Dance with Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and and Blackstone Publishing for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion in anyway.

TW: Mass Death / Torture

I think this might be one of those hardest reviews to write because I wished I could rate this much highter. Shadow Frost was written when the author was just 15 (at publication she is 19) which is amazing. Unfortunately it also kind of shows in areas.

For one I would like to say that I see potential in her writing and plotting. She can clearly overview a plot and there were twists here and there. However I found the world building lacking. The ideas of the magic with various countries having different affinities and having affinity stones was interesting but never fully explained. There were scenes on learning magic but I felt we learned nothing of the magic through that so I don’t know how our characters were suppose to. As for the world, again an interesting idea but not enough fleshed out. The world could have been really interesting like the forest they end up going to that is apparently special. It wasn’t. It was just a forest.

Another point I have is the characters. This is a young adult book. Our main character is the princess and from there we diverge into point of views of other characters as well. Orion, her body guard. The captain of her royal guard. Her love interest. Her best friend and lady in waiting. A random queen from another country. An enemy. It was a lot. It could have been tighter. One or two point of views would have been enough for sure and it would have given more of an element of surprise to some of the twists to the story.

I initially really liked the characters but more and more I noticed that the characters were not behaving according to their age. Some of these characters were in their twenties (Orion and the captain of her royal guard for instance) but they acted like 16 year olds. Especially Orion’s personality going from a capable guard to ‘oh no I can’t do anything right’ was painful to read about and gave me a whiplash.

And that is what Shadow Frost was, a promising idea but lacking in execution.

[Becca (Horners_book_corner) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this wonderful book by Coco Ma, in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this story, the characters were likeable and developed well throughout, the storyline had a lot of unexpected twists and turns and I can envision how the plot is likely to develop into a second book, or even a series, I felt that this might come under the heading of ‘fairytale’ retelling, although I won’t say which one (spoilers!) it included elements of fantasy, magic, adventure, and romance. I think it fits the target audience (YA and up) really well. I have already put it on my ‘to buy’ list and will keep up with the author’s new writings as they are published. I have been recommending this to anyone who will listen to me!

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book, with very good characters and great writing, but not much happens and until 72% of the book I wasn't that hooked or shocked by anything that is revealed in the course of the story.
BUT, the final scene made me interested to pick up the sequel to see what happens.

-----

ARC received from publishers via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Official release date: 1 of October of 2019.

[Antonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review! The premise sounds amazing, let's hope it delivers! So excited!

I absolutely loved it! Review to come! Gosh, gosh, gosh.

[The Nerd Daily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Laura Erne

Coco Ma’s debut novel Shadow Frost has everything you could hope for in a new YA fantasy series. It had an arrogant and independent princess, a witty prince with indigo flames, and an entire plot shrouded in magic and scandal. There’s absolutely no exaggeration when I tell you that this book has magic gracing every single page and what’s even better is how it’s magic that is always evolving and changing. It showcases the potential locked inside everyone and how you can break the binds that chain you in society.

This is not your typical fantasy novel either. Right away, I noticed Ma’s ability to flesh out her characters and she literally brought them to life with her words. The plot is weaved around the characters instead of the other way around which allowed Ma to incorporate vivid backstories that directly explained each character’s personality and motives. It was bloody brilliant! It’s kind of like watching TV with the commentary on because it satiates your hunger to know more. I learned so much about all of her characters just because she wrote them so well and it has me craving for its sequel even more. You could read an entire series and not learn as much about its characters than I did in here.

It had been awhile since I had last read a fantasy novel, YA or otherwise, and I found it very strange to hear that some characters had named their weapons. It was definitely strange and weird but I must admit, by the time I finished I was eternally grateful for that writing decision. It made for better battle scenes and less daunting description.

“Asterin almost laughed. ‘You are such a pissy, long-lashed drama queen.”

This has just scratched the surface of some pretty spectacular banter between the main character, Asterin and her love interest, Quinlan. These two are stuck in an ‘enemies to lovers’ romance and yes, they challenge one another with equal parts sarcasm and talent. It made for one hilarious and romantic read!

There’s no doubt in my mind that Asterin is a teenage girl and Ma’s youth created one of the most realistic and genuine stabs at her main character’s thoughts and reactions to social situations that I’ve ever seen. She’s strong and confident in battle, but when it comes to a shirtless Quinlan all she can do is stammer uncontrollably. And you know what made at scene even better? When Orion says that she’s seen him shirtless. Talk about mortifying! Poor Asterin. But you know this whole scene added so much personality to the story that you wouldn’t get from the plot alone. And let’s not forget all that classic humour!

“Quinlan groaned louder. ‘Yes, you, damn it. Most of the time you are unbelievably annoying and stubborn. But you are also the most brilliant, brave and beautiful person I have ever met.”

This doesn’t even begin to showcase what an adorable relationship these two have. This is still first and foremost a fantasy novel, but the romance in here will have your heart emotionally pulling for every single couple! Yes, you heard that right. There’s more than one pairing in here and each one is sweet. I’ve only seen the television adaptation of Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series, but I did see some similarities to two characters that reminded me of Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood. Similar in terms of their respective stations (demon/warrior) and the struggle and hesitation to admit one’s feelings.

“Orion, all of us are here to support you, so you don’t ever have to feel like you need to hide anything from us.”

Without spoiling too much, this scene made me an emotional wreck. It was powerful and beautiful and reminded me a lot of Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses series because the bond these characters’ share is so strong. They are definitely there for one another and that’s because they bonded over the main plot of the story. It wasn’t instant. They have a dynamic and relationship to one another that can only be achieved by giving it time to develop into something and that’s what Ma did. Bravo!

“At that moment, all Asterin could think about were the many times she had doubted Luna. But with or without powers, Luna had always possessed a goodness in her heart that Asterin could never quite understand. Despite everyone’s misgivings, Luna had remained brave and loyal, the challenge of which Asterin had taken far too long to grasp.”

No one is above learning something about themselves and others. There are so many tidbits like this one that get you all teary-eyed. I’m still reeling.

Coco Ma allows her characters to shine and develop which is sometimes lost in fantasy novels due to their sheer size of characters and scope of the world. They are put on a back burner and only lit when it’s important to the plot and I am so grateful that she took her story in another direction. These relationships and all of the witty banter and heavy feelings are what make Shadow Frost such a success. I CANNOT wait for this sequel! There were a lot of heavy feelings left unsaid and I need to know that they’re all ok. See what I mean? I’m invested in these people, probably more than I should be given their fictional nature and I blame it on the incredible storytelling (which is NEVER a bad thing!!)

[Marta Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

A first in series is always tricky as there are characters to introduce and a world to create. Here the author has chosen for her debut to foray into young adult territory with a magic system based on elemental powers which is a very exciting concept. To further expand it she includes Gods who might or might not meddle and then of course there are the main protagonists and somewhat topically there are six of them ! So if a story with an ensemble cast appeal to you then prepare to become completely enamoured. No these characters are no rag tag bunch of misfits but the author is clearly trying to offer her readers some diversity and the possibility of romance. All of this whilst good battles evil trying to not just save the kingdom but actually unravel the mystery of just who and why so many are dying.
It would be remiss of me to ignore the characters who you will follow and you will I’ve no doubt enjoy getting their points of view.
Aesterin is the plucky, princess who realises she still has a lot to learn about her abilities.
Luna is the loyal lady in waiting who has never understood why her magic feels stifled .
Orion is the fierce somewhat cheeky, guardian protector who bravely risks everything for those he loves.
Eadric is the strong , silent type staunchly performing his duty whilst sweetly courting Luna.
Rose has secrets , is perhaps the most focused of all but she’s also full of surprises .
Quinlan is a veritable powerhouse who struggles to be taken seriously .
Lastly we meet Harry who undeniably has a sweet nature but he should never be underestimated !
Happily there’s no triangles here although I did feel that there were romantic overtures earlier on that made me cringe and showed the youth and inexperience of the author . That having been said it was the overall plot and mystery that consumed this reader and the idea of these characters hunting down a demon played out very well. There are twists galore thrown into this story as it barrelled towards the end with final scenes that leave this reader immediately wanting more .
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

[Chiara | wordsbychiara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book.

Shadow Frost is the kind of book that I really wanted to love. It has a gorgeous cover, a captivating name and the summary left me curious enough to want to know more about the quest. Were there things that I liked about this book? Yes. But there were also a great deal of things that just didn’t quite work for me. For simplicity’s sake, I’m splitting this review into three points: What I loved, What I liked and What I didn’t like.

What I loved: I loved the magic system and world-building. This first book merely scratched the surface on some of its aspects, but I love the idea that there is more than one Kingdom in this world, and that each of them masters a different element. I loved the idea that magic is channeled through affinity stones, which is something that I found very original. Of course there are exceptions to this rule, and there are those who can wield magic without the stones, and though I’m a bit confused by this, I’m sure it will be explored more thoroughly in future books.
Another aspect I loved was the attention to friendship. Sometimes, in the epic adventures and romance of fantasy, friendship tends to slither through the cracks. But this book had some very strong family and friendship bonds that I loved reading about.

What I liked: I liked the writing, but I did have some difficulty with it. There were times when it flowed very smoothly and eloquently without overdoing, but there were other moments—especially in the dialogues—where the writing felt very immature. Now, I know the book was written when the author was 15, but I didn’t know about the author’s age when I picked up the book, and I imagine that neither will many people picking it up. It honestly felt lacking in things that an editor could have easily counseled to improve, so I don’t feel like the author’s age when she wrote the book should be an excuse. However, I think this is something that will improve in future books, and I enjoyed it for the most part.

What I didn’t like: Unfortunately, everything else. Firstly, I felt like the plot that was promised in the summary simply wasn’t in the book. The action expires in a succession of childish banter between characters and told-not-shown reveals. The book lacked a true climax, and I think what damaged it most of all was the fact that there were too many points of view that ended up being too revealing. I also wasn’t a fan of the characters themselves. This book had a large cast of characters, but while there were some that I fancied more than others, none were able to leave a lasting impression. The result is that I was not invested even in the romance—which is usually one of the things I love most in a book, but that here felt like a strange union of slow burn and insta-love.

Sadly, not even the ending left me curious enough to want to know how this story is going to progress, so I doubt that I’ll be continuing with this series. However, if you enjoy reading very young YA and want to try a new take on elemental magic, then this could be a book that you might want to try for yourselves.

[Kristin Sledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for my eBook ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Guys, stop what you're doing and pick up this little morsel. I cannot fit in this review how much you will love this book. See for yourself the earth moving story that Coco Ma has presented readers.

In the land of Axaria lives Asterin, a princess with multiple magical abilities. She is a rarity among magic users in her ability to call upon many elements and bend them to her will. She is hard headed and loves her people greatly, so when she hears of a Demon terrorizing her land she sets of with her friends old and new to track down a kill this Demon and end the blight it has caused.

Orion, Asterin's long time Guardian, is playful with her while training her to be able to handle herself should trouble ever find her. He is more than a brother, but has never crossed into a romantic relationship with her. His reasons become quite clear to us early on in the book, but who could resist his smug, sarcastic ways?

Luna, Asterin's hand-maid, has no memory of where she comes from or who her family is. She feels like she possesses power that has yet to manifest itself or is blocked by some sort of barrier(In this world, magic can come later with age, or if a certain memory is unlocked or tapped in to). She feels useless to Asterin when it comes to helping her train magically as she currently cannot wield any of the elements. She is romantically involved with the Captain of Asterin's Elite Guards, Eadric Covington.

Eadric, Captain of Asterin's Elite Guard is tasked with composing a twelve person(6 males, 6 females) unit that will guard Asterin and carry out any tasks that she deems necessary. Some are skilled with fighting skills, while others have a more espionage-ish background. Eadric loves Luna and would do anything for her. He is also weary of any newcomers to the palace. He takes his job and assignments overly serious.

Rose, a fighter sent by the freshly coronated Queen of the far away land Eradore, in hopes to help slay the Demon. Her Queen sent her and her cousin, Quinlan after having a prophetic dream of the Demon spreading to their land if Asterin is unable to defeat it. She often likes to hide her face, but is an excellent healer and great at hand to hand combat.

Last but certainly NOT least, my sweet little cinnamon roll, Quinlan. He is everything a great romantic interest should be. He pushes Asterin to embrace her full potential and to not rely on anyone else's power but her own. He trains her in the elements she doesn't possess to try to spark her ability to wield them, this leading to many opportunities for them to converse and get to know each other on a deeper level. Quinlan is torturously reserved, but Asterin is able to break through all his walls and show us the incredible being hidden inside.

There are of course other characters who help make this book great, but you'll have to find them for yourselves. This book seriously has something for everyone. Mystery, Fantasy, Romance, Magic, Mythology, Action....it has something for every kind of reader and moves at an excellent pace. You get to know the characters and the world as you experience it with them, something that I know I really enjoy. It's hard to get into something when you don't even know the characters well enough to know how all the world building ties into their piece of the story. This book is the best I've read so far this year. Do yourself and this book a favor and pick it up. You will not be disappointed!

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Review can also be found on *Milky Way of Books*

It's been a while since I read a YA fantasy with such a BADASS princess! Asterin is amazing as also her gang, both human and....ahem...not quite; Luna, Rose, Orion, Quinlan, Eadric, Harry, the horses which seem to have a mind of their own, Amoux (the sword).

The villain on the book seemed to give Darkling vibes for me and yet Asterin defied Mother and society to fight ith her magic and save her kingdom. This was a really good read and you are going to enjoy it if you prefer something fast-paced and highly entertaining.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can read my full review here:https://devouringbooks2017.wordpress....
Review: 4 Stars

Shadow Frost was an amazing YA fantasy. I had really underestimated this book, and I was shocked to find out that Coco Ma was only 15 when she had written it, but I found myself absolutely loving this book from the very beginning. Shadow Frost had an interesting magic system, characters that grabbed a hold of my heard and a plot that shocked me with its many twists, I am left absolutely inspired by Coco Ma and also so grateful that she pursued publishing so I could read this book.

Asterin is what I would refer to as a warrior princess. She had a bit of a hero complex and she was a really fun character to have at the center of this story. I loved her fierce bravery and how she fought for her friends and her country. There are five other side characters that were focused on, and the third person point of view switched between them. I did get two of them confused in the very beginning, but once I got deeper into the story it became easy to keep them straight in my mind.

I really loved that each character had flashbacks of their life included in the story because it really helped flesh out each of the characters. I felt like I knew each of them by the end of the story. Luna was probably my favorite character besides Asterin, just because she was so loyal, but also because she was so sweet. Quinlan was also one of my favorites because he was so much fun to read about. On several occasions the banter between him and Asterin made me laugh out loud. I just loved the whole crew of characters in this story. I’m so thrilled to hear that there will be a sequel because I want to read more about these characters.

The plot really amazed me. There was one point in the novel where I hit plot twist after plot twist and I had to keep reading just to find out the truth. I didn’t expect this novel to be so well done, but it was so well rounded. There was the main conflict between good and evil, but the conflicts between the characters really added to the story and were the parts that really got to my heart. The magic system was pretty intricate, but I wish that there was a little more world building because the world had so much potential.

Shame on me for underestimating this book and Coco Ma just because she wrote this when she was really young. I really loved this book and I am so sad that it’s over. I hope that Coco Ma keeps writing because she is a natural story teller. I am thrilled to hear that the sequel has been announced and if Coco Ma writes another series it’s definitely going to be on my wish list as well. I can not wait to return to this world and these characters and I am already counting down until the next book.

[Julia | NightswithFiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

What a captivating and imaginative tale of magic and friendship! While reading this, I felt like I was under an enchantment spell - I couldn't get enough of it and couldn't turn the pages fast enough.

So apparently the author was 15 when she wrote this and damn, am I super jealous of her incredible talent! To have this kind of creativity and grace with words and to be able to come up with such an incredible world, it’s a really impressive achievement. Major kudos to the author. I would have never even guessed and had I not known, would have assumed this was written by a highly experienced writer.

Shadow Frost is an original tale set in a complicated world that is masterfully descriptive, easy to follow and as equally easy to get lost in. With plot twists, endless surprises and obstacles thrown in our favorite characters' paths, I was constantly rooting for their success and safe passage throughout their dangerous adventure. All six main characters - Asterin, Quinlan, Rose, Orion, Eadric and Luna - were equally significant and equally likable. They truly felt like an ensemble cast, no single character more important or deserving than the other which is a very rare feat to achieve in a novel. Initially, I thought this was a story about Asterin with 5 supporting characters at her side, but you come to realize that all of her inner circle is just as important and have what it takes to be leading men and women in this magical tale. And that was simply refreshing. Asterin was the total badass I'd expected and loved instantly. Quinlan was the dashing and charming hero to our heroine that we deserved. Rose was lively, fierce and a badass in her own right (and while I loved all the six leads, she's definitely my favorite). Orion and Eadric were both powerful, reliable and surprisingly sweet. And Luna was the most surprising of all with the most notable character development.

Side note - as a professional graphic designer, I have to give major props to that gorgeous cover for capturing my eye and intriguing me enough to read the synopsis before finally deciding that, oh yes, this book was definitely for me.

I can't wait to read more in this series that I know will become everyone's new favorite fantasy YA go-to.

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[Alaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG TO DIVE INTO YOU - YOU BEAUTIFUL ARC YOU.

Shadow Frost- ugh GUYS, this book was so freaking good. I didn't realize how behind I was on my damn ARC reading until last week... and boy am I behind. I decided to jump into this one first (mostly because it was at the bottom on my kindle - again sorry!) and I was not disappointed.

In it, you will meet Asterin who is kind of like Harry Potter. Someone had a vision of her kicking some evil bitches ass. I was totally down for all of that happening..but there was also some mystery shit going on in the background. That being said, this book definitely gave me some Snow White vibes. Which again, I'm totally down for some retellings even if she isn't my favorite. Yet, Asterin made me fall in love with her because she was such a bad ass. Ugh, my ship guys - I wont tell you who it is with.. but damn that gave me some Pocahontas vibes at the end. Oops is that a spoiler?

Overall, I loved the magic, fantasy, ships, characters, and everything else in between. I didn't hate or dislike a single thing - well maybe that it was too short? Or that I don't have the next book readily available? Ugh, I hate waiting!!