Frostblood
(Frostblood Saga #1)
by Elly Blake
by Elly Blake
YA Fantasy
Hardcover, Paperback & ebook, 384 Pages
January 10th 2017 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Summary
Seventeen-year-old Ruby is a fireblood who must hide her powers of heat and flame from the cruel frostblood ruling class that wants to destroy all that are left of her kind. So when her mother is killed for protecting her and rebel frostbloods demand her help to kill their rampaging king, she agrees. But Ruby's powers are unpredictable, and she's not sure she's willing to let the rebels and an infuriating (yet irresistible) young man called Arcus use her as their weapon.
All she wants is revenge, but before they can take action, Ruby is captured and forced to take part in the king's tournaments that pit fireblood prisoners against frostblood champions. Now she has only one chance to destroy the maniacal ruler who has taken everything from her and from the icy young man she has come to love.
Fast-paced and compelling, Frostblood is the first in a page-turning new young adult three-book series about a world where flame and ice are mortal enemies—but together create a power that could change everything.
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My Review
FROSTBLOOD was a fantasy story based around two elemental races, fire and ice, and the king that would crush the other. The characters were interesting, the story endearing, and the plot engaging. Fantasy readers will enjoy the battle of good against evil and the intriguing world, but may have some issues with the romance and an unreliable heroine.
The beginning of this story really drew me in. I pretty much loved it until about 40% through and then I found some issues with Ruby. She couldn't seem to make up her mind to be strong, smart, and powerful, or completely rebellious, throwing tantrums, and swooning over a guy. She also just didn't seem to fit her background with a kind, patient mother, and growing up on the outskirts of a small town. Her conflicting actions and feelings became a theme after this point that made me a little frustrated. She hated her role one second and completely believed in it in the next. She hated Arcus one minute and loved him the next. She hated the king one second and gave into him the next. Then somehow she was strong and fierce in battle and then would switch to grovelling, depressed, and weak. I just wanted her to figure things out or decide and then stick with it. Then there was the romance that felt a little off to me and completely took over the story in parts. I think if I had trusted Ruby's character more and she felt more authentic or reliable then other things would have also felt more authentic and fell into place.
I actually really liked Arcus and felt like his character was consistent. There were other parts of the story I really liked as well, such as pitting fire against ice and the folklore that set the stage for the world building. I also got the aspect regarding the king, the corrupt throne, and the king's champions who fight. Overall, this one was half hit and half miss for me.
In the end, was it what I wished for? I had such high hopes for this and loved about half of it and was frustrated with the other half. Those who don't have my issues with Ruby will like this quite a bit more than I did, but I wanted more consistency and more development.
Content: Some violence and suggestive content.
Source: Received an eARC from the publisher through NetGalley, which did not require a review nor affect it in any way.
The beginning of this story really drew me in. I pretty much loved it until about 40% through and then I found some issues with Ruby. She couldn't seem to make up her mind to be strong, smart, and powerful, or completely rebellious, throwing tantrums, and swooning over a guy. She also just didn't seem to fit her background with a kind, patient mother, and growing up on the outskirts of a small town. Her conflicting actions and feelings became a theme after this point that made me a little frustrated. She hated her role one second and completely believed in it in the next. She hated Arcus one minute and loved him the next. She hated the king one second and gave into him the next. Then somehow she was strong and fierce in battle and then would switch to grovelling, depressed, and weak. I just wanted her to figure things out or decide and then stick with it. Then there was the romance that felt a little off to me and completely took over the story in parts. I think if I had trusted Ruby's character more and she felt more authentic or reliable then other things would have also felt more authentic and fell into place.
I actually really liked Arcus and felt like his character was consistent. There were other parts of the story I really liked as well, such as pitting fire against ice and the folklore that set the stage for the world building. I also got the aspect regarding the king, the corrupt throne, and the king's champions who fight. Overall, this one was half hit and half miss for me.
In the end, was it what I wished for? I had such high hopes for this and loved about half of it and was frustrated with the other half. Those who don't have my issues with Ruby will like this quite a bit more than I did, but I wanted more consistency and more development.
Content: Some violence and suggestive content.
Source: Received an eARC from the publisher through NetGalley, which did not require a review nor affect it in any way.
Have you read this one? Will you be?
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