Jennifer Estep

Crimson Frost

December 6, 2012 by Cait 5 Comments

Jennifer Estep

Series: Mythos Academy #4
Publisher: Kensington
Publication Date: Dec 24, 2012
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Source: Netgalley

For a moment, a face flashed before my eyes—the most hideous face I’d ever seen. No matter how hard I tried to forget what had happened, I saw him everywhere I went. It was Loki—the evil god that I’d helped set free against my will.

I should have known that my first official date with Logan Quinn was destined to end in disaster. If we’d gotten into a sword fight, or been ambushed by Reapers, I’d have been more prepared. But getting arrested mid-sip at the local coffee hangout? I didn’t see that one coming.

I’ve been accused of purposely helping the Reapers free Loki from his prison—and the person leading the charge against me is Linus Quinn, Logan’s dad. The worst part is that pretty much everyone at Mythos Academy thinks I’m guilty. If I’m going to get out of this mess alive, I’ll have to do it myself…

Happy Thursday everyone! In case y’all were wondering, I was only sick for a day. It was a little 24hr bug, as opposed to the week and a half bug my hubs and daughter caught a few weeks ago. Thank heavens. The last thing I need around the holidays is to be laid low for a week or so. Anyway, I’ve had a dang good reading week. Opal by JLA was released early (woo hoo!), and I promptly jumped on that band wagon and bought my copy yesterday. It’s already been ~~devoured~~ read, so my review will come next week. I’m still traumatized from the ending. I’m convinced that JLA is out to crush my heart into little bitty pieces, gleefully tossing them into the wind to parts unknown. She kills me. Anyway, back to the book I’m supposed to be reviewing. Crimson Frost. Yet another author that is determined to squeeze the life out of me with her books. I balled like a baby in the last book, Dark Frost, and I didn’t think it was possible to cry harder while reading a book than that one. Then I read Crimson Frost and I became a sobbing, snotty mess. If that’s not enough of an endorsement, I don’t know what is.

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Filed Under: *A Rating, Cait Recommends, Fantasy, Paranormal, Reviews, Young Adult Tagged With: Jennifer Estep

Three ‘Fer

August 13, 2012 by Cait 2 Comments

Jennifer Estep

Mythos Academy #3
Publisher: Kensington
Publicaton Date May 29, 2012
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Source: Netgalley

I’ve seen so many freaky things since I started attending Mythos Academy last fall. I know I’m supposed to be a fearless warrior, but most of the time, I feel like I’m just waiting for the next Bad, Bad Thing to happen. Like someone trying to kill me—again.

Everyone at Mythos Academy knows me as Gwen Frost, the Gypsy girl who uses her psychometry magic to find lost objects—and who just may be dating Logan Quinn, the hottest guy in school. But I’m also the girl the Reapers of Chaos want dead in the worst way. The Reapers are the baddest of the bad, the people who murdered my mom. So why do they have it in for me?

It turns out my mom hid a powerful artifact called the Helheim Dagger before she died. Now, the Reapers will do anything to get it back. They think I know where the dagger is hidden, but this is one thing I can’t use my magic to find. All I do know is that the Reapers are coming for me—and I’m in for the fight of my life.

Goodreads Summary

I know this post is a little unusual, but I’m trying to catch up on my extensive back log of reviews. It’s easier to do a couple of short reviews and combine them, then to give each review their own post. Plus, I’m lazy. Plus, it’s been a couple of months since these books have released, and my memory is a little fuzzy on the details anyway. That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it.

I heart this series SO much! I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every book so far, and I can’t wait to see where Estep is going to take me next. There have been so many questions regarding Gwen and her psychometry, her purpose as Nike’s champion and if she’ll even be able to do her duty when the time comes. Most of those questions are answered in Dark Frost, and it gives the book a more serious undertone than previous books in the series. The battle with the Reaper’s is getting closer, and Loki’s champion plays her like a fiddle. During the last final battle scene, Gwen truly comes to understand the magnitude of her power and that it’s more than just finding things. I cried buckets of tears during this part, because it’s one thing to kill someone with a sword, it’s another to take their very life force and use it to save yourself. It’s horrifying and sad, and something that Gwen is going to have to be very careful with using. I’m not sure Gwen will be able to live with herself otherwise.

Estep is bloody good at her job, and she is excellent at creating the perfect amount of conflict and suspense that leaves me aching for more. Dark Frost is the third book in the series, and I highly recommend the series as a whole. It’s wonderful and definitely not to be missed!

My Rating: A+

Michelle Rowen

Nightwatchers #1
Publisher: HQN Teen
Publication Date: May 29, 2012
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Netgalley

I don’t do dangerous. Smart, über-careful, ordinary Samantha-that’s me. But I just couldn’t pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me…something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It’s like part of me is missing-and I don’t know if I can get it back.

Then there’s Bishop. At first I thought he was just a street kid, but the secrets he’s keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he’s what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me….

Goodreads Summary

Despite the beautiful cover, Dark Kiss just wasn’t for me. First of all, Samantha is the weepiest heroine I’ve ever read. It seemed like every page she was crying and feeling sorry for herself. I get that she’s gone through a sort of major life change, and I’d understand if she had to take a moment and lament the loss of her normal life. But every time I turned around she was crying again, and it got really old. Really old. Second, the insta-love between her and Bishop didn’t do it for me either. I can handle insta-love if it’s done properly, and in this case Samantha and Bishop went from 0-60 in 0.2 seconds. That ain’t gonna fly, folks. Bishop was also a little too pouty for my tastes. I also got way more excited when Kraven, a side character, showed up then Bishop did. In fact, I felt more chemistry between Kraven and Samantha than I did Bishop and Samantha. But since I like Kraven more than all of them, I hope he finds a HEA with someone who doesn’t cry buckets the whole book.

I really liked the darker tone to Dark Kiss, as well as the premise and world that Rowen created. I only wish the characters were likable, since I liked everything else. I just can’t continue with a series where I don’t like or respect the characters. Maybe the crying issue will be fixed in the next book, but unfortunately, the damage has already been done.

My Rating: C

Leigh Bardugo

The Grisha Trilogy #1
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co.
Pulication Date: Jun 5, 2012
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Source: Netgalley

Alina Starkov doesn’t expect much from life. Orphaned by the Border Wars, the one thing she could rely on was her best friend and fellow refugee, Mal. And lately not even that seems certain. Drafted into the army of their war-torn homeland, they’re sent on a dangerous mission into the Fold, a swath of unnatural darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh.

When their convoy is attacked, all seems lost until Alina reveals a dormant power that not even she knew existed. Ripped from everything she knows, she is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling. He believes she is the answer the people have been waiting for: the one person with the power to destroy the Fold.

Swept up in a world of luxury and illusion, envied as the Darkling’s favorite, Alina struggles to fit into her new life without Mal by her side. But as the threat to the kingdom mounts, Alina uncovers a secret that sets her on a collision course with the most powerful forces in the kingdom. Now only her past can save her . . . and only she can save the future.

Goodreads Summary

I LOVED this book! When I first started it I wasn’t sure how it was going to go, but I quickly found myself glued to my Kindle and unable to pull myself away. I really admire authors that can create these epic fantasy worlds. If it was possible, I’d love to take a trip through their brains and watch their imaginations at work.

I loved everything about Shadow and Bone. It was simply amazing. I loved Alina and her character progression in this book. I loved Mal, and how even though he wasn’t there physically for a good portion of the novel, he came when Alina really needed him. And the villain. Good heavens, the villain. I didn’t even know he was the villain until he showed his cards and then I kicked myself for not seeing it sooner. I loved the idea of the magic, and the world that Bardugo created. I felt like my life was better for having read this book, and I highly recommend it to everyone! In fact, even talking about it in these few short paragraphs makes me want to read it again. I think I just may do that.

My Rating: A+

Filed Under: *A Rating, *C Rating, Cait Recommends, Fantasy, Paranormal, Reviews, Young Adult Tagged With: Jennifer Estep, Leigh Bardugo, Michelle Rowen

Kiss of Frost (Mythos Academy #2)

December 13, 2011 by Barbara at Basia's Bookshelf 1 Comment

By Jennifer Estep

Publisher: Kensington
Publication Date: Nov 29, 2011
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Source: Purchased

Logan Quinn was trying to kill me. My Spartan classmate relentlessly pursued me, swinging his sword at me over and over again, the shining silver blade inching closer to my throat every time. A smile tugged up his lips, and his ice-blue eyes practically glowed with the thrill of battle…

I’m Gwen Frost, a second-year warrior-in-training at Mythos Academy, and I have no idea how I’m going to survive the rest of the semester. One day, I’m getting schooled in swordplay by the guy who broke my heart—the drop-dead gorgeous Logan who slays me every time. Then, an invisible archer in the Library of Antiquities decides to use me for target practice. And now, I find out that someone at the academy is really a Reaper bad guy who wants me dead. I’m afraid if I don’t learn how to live by the sword—with Logan’s help—I just might die by the sword…

Goodreads Summary

**Warning:There is spoilerage for the first book**

Kiss of Frost picks up right where the first book, Touch of Frost, left off. Gwen survived the major face off in the library with the most popular girl in school, who was supposed to be dead, and when Gwen finally got the guts up to ask Logan out he turned her down flat. Now she’s forced to work with him every morning while he trains her on her fighting abilities – or lack thereof, really – to be better prepared for her new role of Champion. Oh, and he has a new girlfriend and he isn’t afraid to show it. Otherwise, life at school is normal as she struggles to keep up with her classes and catch up to her peers. Her one comfort are the afternoons she slips away from the school to spend a few hours with her grandmother and stuff herself full of whatever sweet treats her grandmother made that day.

On the way home from one such visit, she is almost run over by a mysterious black SUV. Shaken, she rushes back to school to tell her best friend what happened. Odd things keep happening, and Gwen is determined to get to the bottom of it and find out who’s out to get her. The whole school leaves for a weekend of skiing and parties at a ski resort built especially for their kind, and Gwen reluctantly tags along. What is supposed to be a relaxing weekend turns into Gwen fighting for her life and protecting the man she loves.

If you read my review for Touch of Frost, you know how much I absolutely loved it. Kiss of Frost was no different. This book focuses a little more on Gwen, her emotions and the relationships she developed in the first book. I was proud of her resolve to try and be tough and fight her own battles. She has quite the destiny, and if she relies on others to fight for her I’m not sure she’ll ever reach it. She knew someone was after her, and she used her brains and her developing powers to solve the mystery. The mystery and suspense was minimal though, and it wasn’t hard to figure out what was going on. While I knew who the bad guys were (a first for me), I didn’t necessarily know why, so there was still a little surprise at the end.

Gwen is such a likable heroine. She’s down to earth and loyal and it’s such a joy to read about her. We see a lot more of Logan in this book – even if I did want to slug him in the beginning – and there are a few *moments* between the two that melt the pages. We get a small glimpse into The Big Secret that Logan feels prevents him from beginning a relationship with Gwen. Through Logan’s best friend, we also get some insight into his feelings about Gwen. Logan is just so cute and protective, and I loved how Ms. Estep handled the show down scene between them and the bad guy. It was perfectly done, and what both Gwen and Logan needed.

My Summary: Now that I’ve been talking about it, I want to go read Kiss of Frost again! I appreciate how the author reminded us that Gwen is a teenager, and she gave her typical teenage feelings and reactions. Thankfully, it wasn’t over the top and there was just the right amount of angst. The world that Jennifer Estep has given us is fascinating and I can’t get enough of it. There was a preview for the next book in the series, and it left on a total cliff hanger and now I’m dying for more!

My Rating: A+

Filed Under: *A Rating, Paranormal, Reviews, Young Adult Tagged With: Jennifer Estep

Touch of Frost (Mythos Academy #1)

August 10, 2011 by Barbara at Basia's Bookshelf 7 Comments

By Jennifer Estep

Publication Date: July 26, 2011
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Source: Purchased

My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy — a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody’s head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest.

But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I’m determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why—especially since I should have been the one who died. . .

Goodreads Summary

From the outside, Mythos Academy looks like every other boarding school. Haunting, old stone buildings filled with wealthy students wearing the most expensive name brand clothing and accessories. If you were to look closer however, you’d notice a few strange differences. For one, the buildings are guarded by mythical creatures such as sphinxes and gargoyles. For another, most students are carrying around swords, bows or staffs. Mythos Academy is home to warriors – real, live mythological warriors. Amazons, Valkyries, Vikings and Romans tend to be the most common, but there are also Spartans, Celts, Trojans and a few others. The students attending Mythos Academy are descendants of these historical groups, and are there to train and improve their inherent fighting and magical abilities.

Gwen is the odd woman out. She is a gypsy, and her special talent is psychometry – the ability to touch an object and know, feel and see its history. Gwen enjoys her gift, and she secretly delights in knowing people’s secrets. She is no warrior, and in fact is quite clumsy and uncoordinated. Gwen is new to the academy, and is not rich or popular and doesn’t fit in. She ignores the other students and they ignore her. Two months into the semester, Gwen is late leaving her job at the library and stumbles on to the body of the most popular girl at school. The dead body of the most popular girl at school. While not the biggest fan of Jasmine Ashton when she was alive, Gwen is nonetheless unsatisfied with the amount of attention paid to her death. She decides to begin a little investigation on her own, and on the way she tangles with mystical beasts and the hottest, most deadly boy in school.

I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired of reading books set in a private academy. An author is able to create their own little world within a world, and each time I’m amazed at how different and exciting an author can make what is essentially a bunch of old buildings that house teenagers. Touch of Frost is Jennifer Estep’s first foray in the young adult genre and I am giddy with pleasure that she made the jump.

Gwen is the kind of young adult character that I enjoy spending my time on. She knows who she is and is okay with it. She doesn’t make stupid decisions that make me roll my eyes with disgust. She has a great sense of humor and while she may not be very popular in the beginning, she slowly wins a few people over and has a few good friends by the end of the story. The majority of the book is Gwen and her thoughts. Told in first person, there actually isn’t a ton of dialogue in the beginning. She has a few conversations with people, but mostly it’s Gwen’s witty observations and daily activities. Surprisingly, the absence of dialogue didn’t bother me. The only reason why I noticed it in the first place is because Gwen’s utter loneliness made me sniffle a bit. I’ve been the new student in school that has no friends and eats lunch by herself. We bonded, Gwen and I.

The side characters are fun and lovable, but I felt had minor roles. Even the love interest, Logan Quinn, only had a few scenes. They were very important scenes, but he wasn’t there enough for me to have any feelings about him either way. Only enough to say that if he breaks Gwen’s heart I might be bustin’ out my own warrior abilities (of which there are none) to have it out with him. You’re on shaky ground Logan Quinn, so watch your step mister. The romance had a similar feel to Ms. Estep’s elemental assassin series. It’s there, but it’s not the main focus. It seemed like the romance storyline is there mainly to give Gwen something to do when she’s not sleuthing.

My Summary: Touch of Frost was a solid beginning to what I can tell is going to be a great young adult series. It’s original and fresh in a genre saturated with boarding school tales. Gwen is the kind of character I can get behind and will give up a few hours of sleep for. I can’t wait to see what kind of trouble Gwen gets into next!

My Rating: A+