Frost

Nelson Mandela had said: "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."
In Kate Avery Ellison's Frost this was most definitely true.

Life is hard in Frost for everyone. If the cold and the lack of supplies doesn't do the villagers of Iceliss in, the Watchers sure do a good job of it. Terrifying monsters that feast on humans and come out after dark. But if things are tough for the regular folks of the Frost, they are definitely the toughest for Lia Weaver and her siblings. Living in an isolated farm, surrounded by the treacherous forest, the eldest Weaver has to fight everyday to make sure her family survives. With an air-headed show more sister, and a crippled brother, keeping up with the chores and her duties is a task in itself. Lia knows that she has no other choice, though. She must lower her head and tolerate that. All until her sister finds a wounded Farther in the woods. Now, the Weavers must not only fight to keep him safe, but they also have to accept their parents' legacy and secrets, all the while Farthers and traitors from the village pursue the mysterious young man they saved... Can Lia and her siblings survive against all odds and help Gabe escape? Or will they, too, fall victims to the same dangers their parents couldn't fight off?

I've been reading so many books that were not worth my time lately, I was reluctant to pick this one up. But hey, can you blame me?

So you can imagine how glad I was to find out that this story was not only worth it, it was also mind-numbing and breathtaking! A tale that brought shivers down my spine, not because it was frightening or way too emotional, but because there was so much suspense and you didn't know who to trust, who to believe, who to blame. Backstabbing at every corner, secrets so deadly that could cost the safety of an entire village - as if the dangers that the natural environment the characters lived in had to offer weren't enough. And in the middle of it all, Lia, a main heroine that is nothing like the ones we're used to!

See, Lia isn't brave or strong or even a super genius or extreme beauty or something. No, Lia was a normal girl, who was really hated by fate, it seemed, and had to care for her siblings as if she was their mother. Never mind the fact she was young and at the perfect age to get married, too, she kept all her problems in just to ensure her family stayed together. Forced to grow up before she was ready for it, forced to face the dangers of the forest to get to her village so many times a week and having to deal with villagers who did nothing to help her, one would expect her to be emotionally strong and stable. But she was anything but. In fact, the poor girl was scared out of her wits, and half of the time she was either panicking or trying to fix things up even if she knew she couldn't. The fact that Ivy, her sister, didn't seem to possess a lick of common sense in that head of hers made things worse, too. It was simply heart-breaking to see Lia try to deal with her problems, while at the same time, everyone around her tried to make her neglect her duties - and yet they acted shocked any time she would crack a smile or laugh, how ironic...

Even so, she put on her big girl panties, and faced the problems that came her way despite trembling inside. Gradually she kept being bolder and braver, and that showed how fast she was growing up into a wonderful woman - emotionally and mentally. Her connection to Gabe, the Farther, was a sweet one, and totally suited her personality and social position. It was nice to see the writer stick to the character she had created, and make her something more than just a mere farmer girl.

The story starts in a scary way, one that puts the reader right in the middle of the whole problem - the Watchers could pounce on the path any given moment while Lia was describing the situation in the first chapter, after all - and it onle escalated from there. I loved how the everyday life activities were not left out, but they were not stressed in the plot, either. Instead, the pace picked up over such moments, so that we could focus on the main storyline instead. Which was much appreciated, considering the tangled mess that was the political situation in this book.

All in all, a delight to read and experience - yes, it's impossible not to "live" the story through Lia's eyes, the narration is just that close and personal. Now that the truth is out in the open, I can't wait to see how much more the Weavers will evolve as characters, and what other dangers their actions will bring forth as consequences!

***I was given a review copy from a LibraryThing Member Giveaway in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.*** show less

Oh boy. I completely devoured this book in two days (which is fast considering my busy schedule!). And I loved every moment of it.

In Frost, Kate Avery Ellison has constructed a world quite different than our own, but not so much so as to be unimaginable. The perfect balance between description and action, this young adult novel has a plot that moves at just the right pace. I became completely invested in the narrator, Lia Weaver, and the lives of those around her.

At first, I couldn't help but think the novel had a Hunger Games feel to it – the quota, rations, and general life of the people in the village in addition to the kind of responsibility that's put on Lia made it impossible not to compare her to Katniss. But Ellison's novel show more and narrator are something else entirely. Responsible, worried, caring, strong, in tune with her feelings despite being a little closed off, fearful yet brave – all this and more make Lia the likable protagonist she is.

She and the other town villagers have one major threat: the Watchers. These mysterious and dangerous creatures are monsters that stalk the woods at night. Are they animal or are they something else, something mechanical? I'm not quite sure yet. Another young adult fiction novel came to mind for me here: James Dashner’s The Maze Runner and its creatures called Grievers. In both novels, the creatures are a mysterious and lurking threat that keep those they stalk inside at night. I don’t know enough about the Watchers yet, but they are more important than they initially seem. And they are only a tiny part of Frost’s plot.

Lia, after helping her sister rescue a young man dying in the woods, is torn between fear of the stranger Gabe and interest in him. She discovers secrets that make her question how well she knew her dead parents. Corrupt political powers and a secret conspiratorial group in revolt emerge, and the plot thickens. The novel has a lot going on... in a good way. As the intriguing conflicts build up, the mystery of it all becomes all the more appealing.

I found myself completely sucked into this story – I stayed up later than I should've and even snuck in a few pages at work and in class when I could. Frost is a great start to the series, and I will definitely be picking up the next book. show less

Sadly, this book was stuck on my to-read shelf until I won a giveaway through LibraryThing's Member Giveaway Program,in order to give an honest review. This is one of those books.

One of those, "Why didn't I read this sooner?!?"

One of those, "I want a paperback copy for my shelves. I love it that much."

One of those where I can't wait to read the next books and am keeping an eye out for everything this author publishes. I'm now a Kate Avery Ellison fan.

For my Best of 2012 Books list, this book is on it. Project ELE by Rebecca Gober & Courtney Nuckels is still number 1 but now it has some company.

I Am A Thorn! Seriously, can someone make a mini-series banner for this? Like the ones from the awesome I’m Loving Books blog? I’d try but I show more suck at that sort of thing.

The List:
Pros:
✔ pacing
✔ mystery
✔ tension
✔ the romance wasn't all consuming,
✔world building,
✔character development,
✔atmosphere (I felt frosty and heard the snow crunch)
✔ beautifully written,
✔ loved the internally strong, and externally brave heroine with her varied support characters,

Cons:
✖ the dystopian/post apocalyptic feeling wasn't there (felt more medieval/paranormal though I’m hoping/thinking in the next books this won’t be an issue)
✖ could see some things coming ahead of time
✖ tight focus on these events without depth into the bigger picture (yet..and this was done on purpose due to the naive and sheltered first person narrative but it can be a drawback for some)
✖ wish it was longer
✖ cliff hanger (but not a major rage inducing one)
✖unanswered questions that I better get the answers to in the next book

There’s a lot in this compact book but it’s not light on plot or development or world building. It’s setting up for bigger and better things and I can’t wait to see where it goes. I loved the character progression and development. I’m really curious to find out more about this world and how our characters fare.Sure, I could see certain things happening from a mile away but I wasn't itching with irritation because the pace was great and I was enjoying the ride.

Recommend for: YA lovers, Fantasy Lovers,

On Writing & the Quotes to Prove It:

I loved the writing and style. Seriously, it’s keep tight yet descriptive as needed.

This is the opening,

It was cold, the kind of cold that made bones feel brittle and hands ache. My breath streamed from my lips like smoke and my feet made wet, crunching sounds in the snow as I slipped through the forest.

Then there’s this on page 20 about fear,

Most of the time fear was just like a rat in my belly, gnawing and gnawing a hole in the same place day after day whenever I let it. But now the rat had turned into a lion, and it was tearing me apart from the inside out.

And I love the paragraph about the blue wing on page 75, that starts with “Why does it live in a place that could kill it?”

As for the Romance Aspect:

For those of us dismayed, queasy and downright bored at the prevalence and focus on YA romance in books not in the romance genre (sometimes to the detriment of other great elements of a book) I say this, don't worry. The romance is relevant but not dominating. Nothing is sacrificed to make it work and doesn’t obliterate everything in it’s wake. Lia has reasons other than just quickly growing love for the things she does. Okay, the love is quick but NOT the insta-ramen-noodle love where she sacrifices everything because he’s sooooo hot and she drools over him like an idiot. It’s more of naturally occurring event when two people from different places are thrown into a dangerous situation. It's not all consuming and they don't make a huge stupid mistake over it. I would have been SO pissed if the ending was changed to accommodate a fairy tale romance ending. Thankfully, that didn't happen. The romance was one of those things I knew was coming and am happy with the way it was handled. I mean finding a hot stranger and saving his life, when all you've know is your own small village is a situation where I could see falling in love with said stranger. Sure, it went to love quick but really there's no room for crushes and dating. It's official courting and marriage in their world, in their situation, in their fight for survival. It’s really all or nothing.

That One Thing:

I wouldn’t necessarily call this a flaw for me, since I loved the book as is. However, for those looking for dystopian/post apocalyptic/end of the world as we know it feeling or atmosphere, you aren’t going to find it here. As it is in this book, our main setting country is medieval, maybe colonial, like with looming threat of an industrialized country and the paranormal monsters flittering in between. We don't really get even a hint of fallen city/country/time or big disastrous past until the very, very end. And even then, it’s just a hint. It could go a different way. So I’m going with paranormal with a sci-fi twist for now. However, as we delve more into this world and learn more how this world works and how it came to be I have a feeling this aspect is going to get stronger. I’m hoping it gets stronger. My guesses as to the continuing story arc from the ending certainly leads me down that direction but I can’t be sure until I read the next book, Thorns. show less

I was introduced to Ellison's writing with "The Curse Girl," a YA revamp of Beauty and the Beast. And at long last, I was able to read the first in her epic series, the "Frost Chronicles." From the beginning, we are introduced to the bleak, frozen world of The Frost, where monsters stalk the forests. The people live in a time apart, avoiding technology so as not to upset the Watchers.
While there is plenty of adolescent drama and hints of love triangles to satisfy most girls, Ellison brings it to the next step. Not only does she give you hope in the midst of her characters' desolation, but she gives us the gift of a sensible heroine. Lia Weaver must put aside her youth to care for her crippled twin brother and ditsy sister. She has show more blocked out many of her emotions in order to become strong. When love knocks on Lia's door post, she doesn't swoon and lose herself in the romance. She keeps her focus on what's most important, her family and people.
Frost leaves you with many questions, such as the origins of the Watchers, the fate of our hero and above all, what challenges the Weaver's will face next. show less

Let me start off by stating that this is a beautifully written YA book. MCs are wounded, but resilient and strong in their own ways. The story is part teen "Game of Thrones" and part "Village," with a dash of dystopian society. I was pleasantly surprised by some of the supporting characters as well, especially the twin brother and Ann. The ending did feel a little abrupt; however, the author has convinced me to read the next one.

LT Member Giveaway

Frost by Kate Avery Ellison is the first book in the Frost Chronicles series.

Set in a cold world, elusive monsters called "Watchers" exist. Hiding in the forest, they are rarely ever seen, hunt at night, are immune to weapons and are only held at bay by snow blossoms (sky blue flowers) that people keep around their thresholds and wear as necklaces for protection. However, they don't guarantee your safety.

The villagers of Iceliss (just known as "the village" to locals) have hard lives in the Frost. To survive in the frozen, forested landscape every man, woman and child needs to do their part. There are quotas to make sure of it. If you don't meet your quota, you don't get your rations for the week. There are a multitude of different show more tasks, such as hunting, farming, weaving, dyeing, gardening, etc. From your profession, your surname is derived.

Lia Weaver's job is to spin wool into yarn. She also manages a farm no other villager wanted, as it lies on the outskirts of village, with nothing but forest and Watchers beyond. She must also look after her twin brother, John (who is unable to walk) and free-spitired younger sister, Ivy, after their parents were killed by Watchers.

No one is entirely sure what happened to her parents. They were found without their snow blossom necklaces and were last seen entering the forest with members of the Brewer family. The Brewer family made it back, but Lia's parents didn't.

Now more than ever, her remaining family must follow the rules to survive. If the village believes her unfit, they will take her siblings away. Suddenly, Lia reaches a critical point when the terrifying Farthers come to her village. They come from the city of Aeralis, in the far South. They are known as a brutal race, who imprison and abuse any and all. They are also technologically advanced, especially compared to the little village in the Frost, where technology will get you killed (as it attracts the attention of the Watchers). Aeralis has airships, gas lamps and seems to be similar to cities that exist in the Steampunk world. A dark, frightening place- whose rumours are warning enough.

When a wounded boy turns up in the forest by their house, Ivy is adamant that they save him. He is obviously a Farther and helping him is strictly against the rules, but Lia gives in to Ivy's request. It soon becomes clear that the Farthers are searching for this strange boy, but why? Was it a mistake to help him?

As Lia tries to find answers, her world is turned upside down. Who are The Thorns? What is the Gate? Who can she trust? And how did her parents really die? In this harsh world, one mistake will lead to your death, whether by exposure, Watcher or human.

The plot is fast-moving and sets a great pace. The descriptive writing is done well and depicts the severe world the characters live in realistically. Reading the story, I could feel the icy wind against my face and the constant threat of danger surrounding them. At no point do you ever feel that the characters are safe. This is simply because a safe world does not exist for them. Even without the threat of monsters all around, or brutal soldiers attacking, the elements alone are enough to kill you if you aren't careful.

The characters themselves are realistically nothing special. What I mean is that not every person in the real world is the Chosen One or has ninja fighting skills. Some people you meet might not even be interesting. Some will stick out more than others and some you won't even notice. And that's exactly what the characters are like in this book. Normal, everyday people. Some you relate to and some you forget as soon as they're gone.

The ending leaves you with just enough curiosity to keep reading. For those who don't want to continue the series (for whatever reason), it's also just complete enough to be a stand-alone story. Personally, I enjoyed this book. It held my attention and kept me guessing. Normally, I can figure out what the plot-twists will be or what secrets will be revealed, but this book had a few that surprised me. The finale happened so quickly that I was left wanting to immediately start the next book. I've always been the type of person who has to finish a story once I've started it and I'll definitely be checking out the rest of the series. If you're a fan of young adult books, fantasy or just interested, why not try it too?

Disclaimer: I was sent this book by the author. This is not a sponsored review. All opinions are 100% my own. show less

dys•to•pia
noun (ˌ)dis-ˈtō-pē-ə
An imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a totalitarian or environmentally degraded one. (Oxford Dictionaries, 2014)

Frost is the epitome of dystopia. Life is a bleak struggle there, especially for recently-orphaned teenager Lia Weaver, her disabled twin brother Jonn and their younger sister Ivy. The dangers and travails are many and the comforts are few. They must work hard to produce their quota of yarn if they are to receive their weekly rations from the village leaders. The icy-cold climate and the location of the Weavers’ house on the far outskirts of the village add a degree of difficulty. Watchers, amorphous beings variously described as having a show more blood-curdling scream, claws, feathers, fur and red eyes, and which killed Lia’s parents, prowl the night. And Farthers, people from the neighbouring land are to be avoided at all costs, by order of the village leaders.

The complication in this novel comes when Ivy finds an injured Farther, Gabe, and persuades Lia to take him in. During the danger-fraught weeks that Lia and her siblings harbour Gabe, Lia comes to question who her parents really were, the circumstances of their death, the equity of the quota system and the integrity of the village leaders. And predictably, a little romance develops between Lia and Gabe.

Frost is the first book in The Frost Chronicles, with four more in the series. This dystopian novel effectively evoked the cold, harsh setting and kept me engrossed right through the novel with a good blend of description and action. There a few spelling mistakes, but not enough to distract from the plot. Frost is written in the first person, narrated by Lia. First-person narration is a technique prevalent in young adult writing, which helps to engage young readers, and gives authenticity to the Lia’s growing awareness and questioning of her life. It is “a sophisticated representation of a lack of sophistication; it is an artful depiction of artlessness” (Cadden, 2000).

I would recommend Frost to readers 12 and over, especially those who have enjoyed other dystopian books such as Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies series, Michael Grant’s Gone series and Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games series.

Thanks to LibraryThing Member Giveaways and Kate Avery Ellison for my copy of Frost.

References

Cadden, M. (2000). The Irony of Narration in the Young Adult Novel. Children’s Literature Association Quarterly, 25(3), 146–154. doi:10.1353/chq.0.1467

Oxford Dictionaries. (2014). Oxford dictionaries: language matters. Oxford University Press. Retrieved March 01, 2014, from http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/dystopia show less