Genres: Young Adult, YA Fantasy, Fantasy | Release Date: 12 January 2017 | Series: The Frostblood Saga | Series Book: #1 | Pages: 401 | Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton | Review
“Destroy the throne. Otherwise, there is no end to the darkness.”
Elly Blake
Overview:
Frostblood is such a magnificent start to The Frostblood Saga! A YA fantasy series by Elly Blake, this book revolves around Ruby (a fire magic user, AKA Fireblood) being freed from prison in order to kill the King…
But Ruby soon learns that it’s not enough to kill King Rasmus. The ice throne, created by the God Fors, has been cursed and is leaking away any speck of goodness in anyone who sits on it. It turns out that the royal line wasn’t always the house of bloodthirsty, devious and cruel rulers that they have become. And if Ruby can harness her fire, she could save everyone. But to do that, she must learn from the Frostbloods (people with ice magic). And this isn’t an easy thing to do, because it was Frostbloods who murdered her mother…
Can Ruby destroy the throne? Will anyone else help her save the remnants of a once glorious kingdom? And is the budding relationship between Ruby and Arcus, a powerful Frostblood, doomed from the very start?
Complemented in this photo by a Jack Frost dragon from Dirty Paws Australia.
Happiness Boost:
Magic is, of course, not a new thing. But the way Elly has embraced the dichotomy of ice and fire, along with the edges of darkness that the God Eurus has let loose in the world? It’s an absolutely riveting read! Mesmerised by the magic throughout Frostblood, I really didn’t want to reach the last page.
And it’s not often I’m going to have a chance to say this, but monks really do make for wonderful characters! The monks are gentle, sweet, and yet seemingly battle ready; in fact, with every step Brother Thistle takes, a patch of ice forms at his feet. It makes for a very, very exciting backdrop to Ruby’s tale. And what’s more, there’s a particular monster in this book that was both terrifying and exhilarating! When an author makes such a phenomenal monster as just a blip on the adventure, you know you’re in the best of hands.
The emotions in Frostblood are intense, and they easily transfer to a reader’s heart. I know my own heart broke when Ruby’s mother was murdered, and from that point on, the rollercoaster just does not end. At nearly every turn, I was experiencing a kaleidoscope of emotions and just didn’t know what to do with them. All I could do was keep reading!
Downside:
I don’t have a downside! And I’d be lying if I said I did, so I won’t do that.
Final Thoughts:
Elly Blake’s Frostblood is a truly beautiful tale, about a young woman finding her place in the grand scheme of life. Can Ruby survive what the world throws at her? Is she strong enough to bear the heaviest of burdens, everyone’s expectations? Readers who love courageous heroines, the start of something special re the trope enemies to lovers, and magic at every turn? This book is for you, dear bookworms. Immerse yourself. And let me know what you think of this tale…
You can order via my Amazon link: Frostblood
