Frost Moon

"Frost Moon" grabs you by the neck and throws you head first into the rip-tide life of Dakota Frost, magical tattoo artist and skindancer. This dark urban fantasy by Anthony Francis challenges you from the start to keep up or drown, tangled in the hidden roots you can feel lurking just under the surface.

Dakota is part of the Edgeworld--an alternate-world subculture that is populated by weres, vampires, witches, magicians, and the occasional agent of a secret government law enforcement agency--set in Atlanta, Georgia. As a magical tattooist, Dakota inks powerful designs into her own skin and that of her clients. Whether for protection or control, these magical tattoos can take on a life of their own.

In "Frost Moon", Dakota is recruited show more by law enforcement to consult on evidence from a serial killer who is murdering Edgeworlders for the very same kind of tattoos that Dakota creates. And there are only days left until the next murder is expected to occur. The story launches from there. Much of the plot is invested in Dakota’s process of tracking down people to consult on new magical tattoo designs and the dangers she encounters along the way. And oh, what trouble she gets into with the numerous supporting characters that are tossed into the mix, seemingly at random.

The biggest criticism I have for this book is that time is unbelievably condensed, with too much happening in too short of a time frame. At times, the plot feels excessively full with too much going on while still being delivered in a rather brusque tone. Francis struggles with the balance between too much information/action and not enough, a hazard of creating his own world for this series, though he manages to pull most of it together at the end.

Overall, a good read. I look forward to seeing what is in store for Dakota Frost in the next book of Francis’s Skindancer series.

Note: This review is of the "Early Reviewers" edition of this book. show less

If you're a fan of urban fantasy, murder mysteries and tough broads, this may be the book for you. I have to say that I really did enjoy it -- it sucked me right in in a way that a lot of urban fantasy really doesn't, and I ended up reading it in an evening.

There was a lot of suspension of disbelief involved, though; every man looked like he was out of GQ and wanted the leading character, and every woman was mind-blowingly beautiful (and usually also wanted the leading character). People waltzed in just at the right (or wrong) time, and in ways that were totally unlikely (a series of friends who walk into a trap? really?).

This is not to say that Frost Moon was a bad book. Hardly -- it was fun and creative, an awful lot like cotton show more candy -- melts in your mouth fast, doesn't have an awful lot of substance, but is pretty darned yummy.

Kudos to the author for including the victimization complex that happens after an attack. That was a bit of psychological realism that I often wonder at the lack of in many books.

Finally, this book is eerily similar to Amazon Ink, by Lori Devoti. Same basic premise, same leading character, different magic system. Try this book or ..well, anything involving Anita Blake.. if you're looking for a similar tough-girl approach to the magical world. show less

Remarkably enjoyable, more restrained than expected - which is excellent - with an inventive world, fun characters, and a consideration to enough (though not all) details. Very obviously the start of a series, it sets the scene well.

Dakota Frost is a skindancer - a tattooist of magical (and mundane) icons which imbued with power can take on a life of their own. A contact requests her to ink a control charm on a werewolf enabling him to keep his beast in check. Having a strict moral code, Dakota delays so that she can get the image checked out for unintended effects. What with one thing and another -giving some advise to local police, contacting the were-specialist and dealing with the consequences - a hectic couple of weeks ensue and show more full moon is drawing near before she gets the ok. Then Wulf can't be found, and so Dakota has to make some brave decisions ...

I loved the way the story just jumped in to an Atlanta comfortable with the existence of the edgeworld. No protracted explanations or outcries of false shock were needed. The otherworld exists, the mortal world does, and both are happy with the edgeworld and it's most prevalent existence in Little Five Points. (Just one typographical bug slipped through as the initials L5P, all the rest of the time it was spelt out). The beginning couple of chapters were a bit disjointed as one thing seemed to happen after another without any particular reason, but subsequent events tied it all together very nicely, I was impressed at how little got overlooked.

I liked Dakota as a character, and while she's obviously got a few personal skeletons in the closet to come out in later books, we got to see both her strengths and her weaknesses - no Mary Sue here. Her vulnerability after an attack was particularly well done. I wasn't totally convinced by her sexuality and ability to flirt with absolutely everyone she met. Initially I was concerned this was heading into the 'sex sells so stuff some in' paranormal romances of Hamilton and many others in the urban fantasy genre, but actually it was well handled with restraint and delicacy - something the author will have to maintain in later books. The issues of ethics and religion are likewise lightly and sensibly restrained. I wasn’t expecting them to have been mentioned at all, and there is a risk of them coming across somewhat preachy – especially Dakota’s bold statement “I am a Christian” when she doesn’t act like one. But these conflicts will hopefully rise to give interesting situations in later books.

The downsides: The age old problem of how a civilian can co-exist with the police. I just don't buy how friendly the police are with all the civilians in this book - or many others. Federal agent, Phillip, would keep personal and official lives separate, and transfer off the case if he couldn't. Ditto for the consequences of the finale, where the author has been fairly good at consequences throughout the book, here he lets the reader down. Other characters: Dakota has sole voice, which is my preferred style. However it does mean that other characters can come across a little thin, seldom with more than walk on parts. Frost Moon is fairly short - again a good thing - but it does leave the reader wondering about several of Dakota's companions, and her family especially her estranged dad. Hopefully more details will be revealed in later episodes.

Overall it’s good fun. Short, sharp and inventive, I was particularly impressed by the magic system. The fast pacing and clever world that is populated with a good mix of decent and untrustworthy people make it an entertaining read, setting up what promises to be many books of fun, and even the option of some real insight into the issues of dealing with the Other.

An excellant start to what could be a fascinating urban fantasy series - providing a few pitfalls are avoided. I'd particularly like to see some longrunning arch, rather than a concatenation of events. I'll be reading them to find out!

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A review discussion thread is available here if you wish to comment on this review. show less

The first time I tried to read this, shortly after receiving an e-book copy for the Early Reviewers group, I just couldn't get past the first few chapters. Not sure why exactly, perhaps it was the format. I prefer to read electronic books on my iPhone or iPad but this one was saved as a pdf on my work desktop computer. (I work a graveyard shift in an IT department; I have a lot of downtime to knit, watch netflix, and read.)

The second attempt was not only successful, but enjoyable; the further into the book, the better it got. Many things in the book felt ... familiar ... which made it easier to read. I like all of the different elements incorporated - magic, tattooing, mythology, vampires, werewolves, bdsm, and a few MTG jokes... (what show more can I say, I live pretty close to WoTC and have friends that work there.)

Puppy play with someone named Doug made me giggle a little.

And being a Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab perfume geek, I was tickled about the title of this book. BPAL releases a limited edition perfume each month ("A Little Lunacy") that bears a traditional full moon name for that month. Yes, I have some Frost Moon perfume.

This would make a super fun graphic novel.

I look forward to the next book in the series! And darn it, now I want more ink. show less

Magical tattoos, christian vampires, were-creatures, and men in black. magicians, lesbians, men in dog suits, blood, gore, blind witches, karate and unanswered questions.

when i first got this as an e-book advance release from the publisher, i dipped into it and was not impressed. a month later i came back to it ans had a completely different reaction.

second chance was much better. the characters became tangible and the story more fluid.

it is a single serving book, awesome and definitely one i would refer others too, but i would never read it again. this is not a slight against the book as it is directly in line with a lot of books i read. i can state that i am anxious to read the next book in the series as it is released.

The plot of the show more skindancer trilogy revolves around dakota frost, estranged daughter of a police officer. she works in a tattoo parlor and inks 3 dimensional mana infused tats on people. dragons that squirm and writhe, butterflies that can leave the body and flit about a room.

a friend of her father brings her into the police station one morning and requests her assistance on a case. he has the lid of a wooden box covered with human skin inked with magical imagery. he also has a string of murders unanswered for.

Dakota traverses the dark underground of an alternate atlanta georgia, putting her fist in the personal space of a number of people. her wit is quick and sharp.

the cast of characters was interesting and varied, the text was interesting, and story fast paced. the only real drawback was that there wasnt much substance to the book. it was like watching an action film. you get a kick, you are on the edge of your seat to see what happens, but in the end, it is not much more than genre-candy.

i can see the trilogy gaining more substance as it progresses, but the author will be walking a very fine line if he can manage it. even if it stays candy, i like candy, so who cares. fast efficient and enjoyable fiction is always welcome in my home.

Worth reading, but don't analyze it, just enjoy it. show less

When I read the synopsis for this book, I just knew I had to read it! Magical tattoos? I'm there! What I got was so much more than I was expecting!

The MC, Dakota Frost, is bad ass, 6'2", not including the height her mohawk adds, and covered in tats - how could I not love her? She dresses to show off her "assets" and barges into danger without thinking twice if her friends need her help. She owns a tattoo parlor in the Little Five Points area of Atlanta and is best known for her "magical tattoos", tats that actually move, including butterflies that rise up off of your skin and fly around! I love it! She also hangs out with a very eclectic group: vampires, werewolves, magicians, and a blind witch (one of my favorite characters). She's show more called in by the cops to help find a serial killer who is removing the magical tats from people's skin while they're still alive. She's also helping the DEI (Department of Extraordinary Investigations), which includes a very special man in black.

The world building is awesome in this book! When Dakota starts asking around and goes beneath the city to question the Edgeworlders who hang there, I could feel the menacing atmosphere. The pace was quick but not so quick that you didn't have time to get to know the secondary characters. One of my other favorites was a stray weretiger named Cinnamon who attached herself to Dakota! She was so cute and energetic, and she brought out the protective mama bear side of Dakota that seemed to round out her personality.

All in all, I loved this book and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I highly recommend it to fans of paranormal/fantasy with awesome kick ass heroines:D show less

Dakota Frost is a magical tattoo artist, the best in the SouthEast, with a mohawk that adds even more height to her 6ft2 heavily tattooed frame, a penchant for leather and an eye for a gorgeous man, or woman – she’s not particularly fussy. I love Dakota, she is feisty and confident and is a little different from the usual urban fantasy heroine. Dakota identifies her self as a Skindancer – her tattoo’s are more than just art, she has the ability to make her tattoos live, the vines that adorn her body can create an impenetrable barrier, the butterfly on her wrist can flap it’s wings and flutter around the room and the dragon that is wrapped sinuously around her entire body will save her life. Yet Dakota isn’t invincible, show more behind the bravado she is ill-equipped to defend herself and when she becomes the target of a serial killer we learn of her physical and emotional vulnerability.
There are some quirky support characters including Dakota’s ex girlfriend who is a Christian vampire Queen, the blind graphomancer/witch and a rather unprofessional man in black. The most delightful is Cinnamon, a teenage were tiger stray who attaches herself to Dakota with fierce devotion. It will be interesting to see how these characters play out during the series.
The plot of Frost Moon is fast paced and cleverly layered, there are several seemingly disparate threads that slowly weave together as the story unfolds. This is a gritty urban fantasy, there are some scenes and innuendo that are unpleasant though (with the exception of one which includes a ball gag and a cage) I didn’t feel they were gratuitous. However I didn’t think Dakota needed to salivate over everyone that crossed her path but I wrote that off as a misstep of a male author and was willing to overlook it.
I thought the world building was creative though I could have done without the street by street tour of Atlanta, it probably has more significance for someone who knows the city but I didn’t find it relevant. There is plenty of interesting variety in the population though, vampires, weres of all descriptions, magicians, witches to name just a few. The Edgeworlders are part of the human world but very much on it’s fringes at the same time.

Frost Moon is an interesting and imaginative urban fantasy series debut with attitude. It’s a little darker than most with some raw edges but I am looking forward to seeing in what direction the author takes the second installment. Luckily I have Blood Rock to directly follow up with. show less