A Soul as Cold as Frost

I have been holding onto this book since the summer, and I am so glad that I got to read it during the Advent season! This story is absolutely magical. It’s one of those books where you are truly able to believe that you’ve been transported to another world. The world building is fascinating and feels full, but it never bogs down the story of Helen, Zane, and the many other whimsical characters. I also adore the idea of a villain named “Jolly Cheat”. I’m sorry, but that’s just the coolest.

I think fans of Alice in Wonderland would love this story. It’s not quite as trippy (the world of Winter does have coherent logic/culture!) but there are very similar magical vibes. You never quite know which sights and sounds you’ll show more be exploring next, and I’m curious to see where we get to visit in the sequels.

The Christian allegory is also beautiful and so well done. I love how this story emphasizes the power inherent in speaking the truth. show less

Book Review for A Soul as Cold as Frost byJennifer Kropf

This was an extraordinary novel! The author does an amazing job merging the fantasy world and the present together! I really enjoyed how this book is written. There isn't a long drawn out part in the beginning for the world building and the character development it's sprinkled out throughout the whole book! The relationship between the main characters is also very interesting! I liked that the author made it easy for us to relate to Helen! Oh and the storyteller cut ins are great you get to see a situation from a different point of view! Beautifully written and definitely a book to get lost in!

I picked up A Soul as Cold as Frost while looking for a great Christmas read, and it definitely hit the mark. This story reminds me of so many classic fantasy stories. I’m not certain where to begin, but the ones that come immediately to mind are:

Alice in Wonderland
Narnia
Rise of the Guardians
Polar Express
Harry Potter

Though the last 2 might have more to do with the trains than anything else.



Characters
The main character Helen is the kind of character everyone can identify with. She is the normal girl (a bit older than some of the other fantasies) who slips into another fantastic world. This is the trope that so many enjoy because she’s “just like me.” You’ll definitely relate to her if you read it, and you’ll love the people show more she loves implicitly.

Even though he’s not the main character, I think Zane is a bit more complex and interesting. He’s the person that Helen travels with and they end saving one another multiple times. This book is mostly a hero’s journey, but in this one thing, I see an aspect of the Heroine’s Journey. We, as readers, enjoy this character for the pure and simple reason that the point of view character adores him. In A Soul as Cold as Frost, it’s done to perfection.

Some quotes I loved
This quote struck a theme for me. You might say it spoke to my heart in that the truth is often something quiet…

“When the truth calls, it’s not in the manner of a giant shouting in the daylight. It’s a whisper. A quiet tug on a silent night. If you aren’t listening, you won’t hear it.”

p. 110

This one just reminded me of all the scenes of Christmas.

"Freshly sprinkled snow covered the main street, past a big oak sign hanging above a golden entrance:
HERE LIES HOLLYTOWN
…a sparkling glass city. Tall crystal pillars lined both sides of the street, curving inwards and holding up glass boxes … . Within the glass, red ribbons floated like sea snakes, slithering around each other and rippling in a choppy ballet."

p.181

What might have been better
There’s not much to write in here. However, if there is one thing I could point out, it’s that the book is description heavy. That’s not to say I’d remove a significant portion, but there were a few times when I felt it could have moved along a bit faster. Note: this will not take away from the reading experience in the slightest.

All in all
For the young adult holiday adventure this is, it deserves 5/5 stars. If I had children in the house, it would be a wonderful read along. show less

I am thrilled to write this book review. If you love fantasy, A Soul as Cold as Frost is a must read. This debut novel is absolutely stunning. The words weave beautifully to create vivid imagery. Every sentence is perfectly positioned on these pages and flows seamlessly into a gorgeous masterpiece. The world building is spectacular.

Helen Bell’s magical journey through a frightening, frosty winter wonderland with a mysterious orb and a strange boy named Zane throws her into a high-stakes, fast-paced adventure. Encountering bone-chilling obstacles at every turn, Helen must choose to fight or flee. When it becomes apparent her life isn’t the only one on the line, Helen is challenged to a duel—an epic battle between good and evil. show more This is a story of sacrifice, belief, bravery, and survival all in the name of Truth.

I am seriously blown away by the writing. This is an author to watch. I’m excited to see where her career takes her.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 show less

I received a free copy of this book via the publisher (Winter Publishing House) in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

Overall this book was pretty good, and great for being Kropf's debut. In A Soul as Cold as Frost we follow Helen, a teenage girl, as she is thrust into the world of Winter against her will. This book has been marketed as a faith based fantasy comparable to The Chronicles of Narnia, and I would agree with the marketing team. This is definitely a faith based novel, however I think it's subtle enough that nonspiritual people will still enjoy the book. Comparing this book to The Chronicles of Narnia made me go into this book with way higher expectations then I usually do. C.S. Lewis left pretty big shoes to fill, and show more the author did a pretty good job.

The writing style is very descriptive, and there are a lot of adjectives. However, this gave us a clearer picture of Winter. The author didn't explain the concept of Winter until later in the book. I think this made it a little harder to understand because the reader figures out how the realm of Winter works as the main character does, and I definitely felt the confusion that Helen felt in trying to figure things out. I think this contributed to me having a hard time getting into the book. Once I was about 75% of the way through it really picked up for me though.

Helen is great heroine. I found her really likeable, and strong. The characters in the book were well written, and mostly likeable as well. It looks that this book is set up for a sequel, However I am just as content if this is a stand-a-lone. show less

☐ Young Adult
☐ Portal fantasy
☐ Christian allegory
☐ Winter settings
☐ Amazing worldbuilding
☐ Fairy tale
☐ Good vs Evil
☐ Debut novel
☐ Part of a series
☐ Powerful themes
☐ Amazing as an audiobook
☐ Reminiscent of Narnia and Alice in Wonderland

Please note that I listened to an audio copy of this book. This means that some spellings of names and places may be incorrect.

A Soul as Cold as Frost is the perfect winter read.