Review - Thorns (The Frost Chronicles #2) by Kate Avery Ellison

Title: Thorns

Author: Kate Ellison

Series: 2nd (Frost)

Pages: 266

Published: September 6th 2012 by CreateSpace

ISBN: 9781479246366

Source: Author sent for honest review

Description: Lia Weaver went against everything she’d ever known when she risked her life to help a Farther fugitive named Gabe escape from the Aeralian soldiers, and her life changed forever. And the Frost changed, too—the Farthers have taken over her village, a new group of vigilantes calling themselves the Blackcoats are making plans to overthrow the Farther occupiers, and the Thorns are seeking for her to join them.  Lia seeks to fight back against the evil and injustice that has swallowed up her home, but danger lurks at every turn. The monsters that dwell in the deepest regions of the Frost are growing bolder and more dangerous every day, a Farther noble takes up residence in the village on a mysterious mission, and Lia discovers that her parents were harboring even more secrets.  As the frozen world of the Frost grows even more perilous, can Lia survive?

I Give This ...

I really enjoyed the first book in this series and was excited to learn there would more.   I jumped at the opportunity to review Thorns when it was presented to me.  For lack of better way to put it, this installment had a distinctive middle book feel to it.    

Lia spends a lot of this book pining for Gabe, never mind that fact that he crossed over into another world with no chance of coming back.   I get that she really liked him (maybe even loved him), but it this cold world she lives in you would think she wouldn't have much time for that.  I think her brother and sister get a little tired of her too.  I know in her heart that she thinks she's doing the best thing for them.  But, she needed to realize that she is their older sister and not their parent.  No matter what, they are in it together.

I did enjoy the addition of the Farther noble to the story.  It brought an element to the story that I was really expecting.  I'm curious to were this might lead, because I don't think he's being entirely truthful with anybody about what he wants.  I'm also hoping that the next book will show a better picture about who the Thorns really all.  We get just a glimpse of their organization and I really wasn't satisfied.  I'm also immensely curious about the PLD and what it can do.   It seems that there is nothing that people will do to get there hands on it.

I'm still enjoying the story so I look forward to the next one.     

 

Review - Frost (Frost, #1) by Kate Avery Ellison

Title: Frost

Author: Kate Avery Ellison

Series: 1st

Pages: 194

Published: Published April 18, 2012 by CreateSpace

ISBN: 9781475005875

Source: Author sent for honest review 

Description: In the icy, monster-plagued world of the Frost, one wrong move and a person might end up dead—and Lia Weaver knows this better than anyone. After monsters kill her parents, she must keep the family farm running despite the freezing weather and threat of monster attacks, or risk losing her siblings to reassignment by the village Elders. With dangers on all sides and treachery just one wrong step away, she can’t afford to let her emotions lead her astray. So when her sister finds a fugitive bleeding to death in the forest, a young man from beyond the Frost named Gabe, Lia surprises herself and does the unthinkable.  She saves his life.  Giving shelter to the fugitive could get her in serious trouble. The Elders have always described the advanced society of people beyond the Frost, the “Farthers,” as ruthless and cruel, and her village has nothing to do with them. But Lia is startled to find that Gabe is empathetic and intelligent…and handsome. She might even be falling in love with him.  But time is running out. The monsters from the forest circle her farm at night. The village leader is starting to ask questions. Farther soldiers are searching for Gabe. Lia must locate a secret organization called the Thorns to help Gabe escape to safety, but each move she makes puts her in greater danger. Is compassion—and love—worth the risk?

I Give This ...

I've been having good luck with self-published lately!  I'm extremely glad I gave this one a chance.

First off, this book reminded me greatly of The Village by M. Night Shyamalan.  Since I enjoyed that movie, this was a not a deterrent for me.  I liked that our main character is a head strong female who is doing her best to keep her family together.  She's trying to keep the every watchful eyes of the village leaders off of her family.  It's not an easy task when there are things like the weekly quota to meet.  Not to mention the monsters that leave tracks around her farm.  I was most curious about the way this secluded society was set up.  

When Gabe shows up, I'm glad the Lia follows her instincts.  He's not what Lia expects from a "Farther"  His story of the world he lives in mimic some of what she's been told.  But, there are secrets woven in there too.  Stories of people from the Frost helping "Farthers" escape.  Gabe is looking for those people and a mysterious gate.  Lia discovers she may be holding the key to it all.  But how far is she willing to go to protect a boy she barely knows?   

At first, I was hoping that the monsters in the forest might be entirely mythical.  I would have even settled for the same sort of idea they used in The Village.  I tend to have a hard time when mythical creatures that are usually never seen become a reality in the story.  But, this time around it surprised me.  I liked who and what these creatures actually were. 

The only disappointing part of this story....it's more of a novella.  I was so into the story only discover it was over.  Really looking forward to the next one!