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erikajay's review against another edition
5.0
I generally enjoy Holmberg’s books, but I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this one as much as I did!
The detail in this book is what made it so enjoyable! At first, I didn’t think that being cursed to be “as cold as your heart” would be all that bad. Uncomfortable, sure, but not horrible. But Holmberg gives such detail that it was clearly excruciating for Smitha. She can’t take a normal bath because the water will freeze with her in it. She can’t eat normally because the food / drink freezes too quickly. She is only able to manage a couple bites really quickly then she has to stop.
I just really appreciated the amount of detail and effort that Holmberg put into the curse her main character ensures.
The characters are interesting, the curse is fascinating, the book has good pacing, and I enjoyed the sweet love story. I would definitely recommend this book to those who love fairytales!
The detail in this book is what made it so enjoyable! At first, I didn’t think that being cursed to be “as cold as your heart” would be all that bad. Uncomfortable, sure, but not horrible. But Holmberg gives such detail that it was clearly excruciating for Smitha. She can’t take a normal bath because the water will freeze with her in it. She can’t eat normally because the food / drink freezes too quickly. She is only able to manage a couple bites really quickly then she has to stop.
I just really appreciated the amount of detail and effort that Holmberg put into the curse her main character ensures.
The characters are interesting, the curse is fascinating, the book has good pacing, and I enjoyed the sweet love story. I would definitely recommend this book to those who love fairytales!
theavidreaderandbibliophile's review
3.0
Followed by Frost is the latest book by Charlie N. Holmberg. Smitha Ronson is seventeen years old and very self-centered. Smitha has been spoiled by her father her whole life. Mordan Alteraz is a new arrival in the town of Euwan. Most people were skeptical of him, but Mr. Ronson welcomed him to town and gave him a job at his turnery. Mordan has been especially interested in Smitha since his arrival despite the cold shoulder Smitha has given him. One day she gets frustrated by his attentions and tells him how she really feels about him (she is cruel). Turns out that Mordan is a wizard, and he puts a curse on Smitha. He curses her to be as cold as her heart and that cold will follow her wherever she goes. Mordan then disappears.
Smitha runs home to her parents’ house. Her father immediately sets out to find Mordan, but he cannot be located. Smitha hair starts turning white, her skin is very pale and her lips turn blue. Everything she touches turns to ice. A snow cloud follows her dumping snow about a mile around Smitha. Smitha takes to her bed while everyone in town is huddling in their homes from the icy temperatures. When a child becomes ill and then dies, the town turns on Smitha. Smitha does not believe that the little boy is really that sick and pays him a visit (pushes her way into the family’s house). Smitha sees Death next to the little boy. Smitha and Death are both surprised. Smitha runs while Death looks thoughtful.
Smitha is forced by the town and her parents to leave Euwan. She takes to the woods and starts traveling north. Smitha at first hopes to find another wizard who can help her break the curse. Smitha is surprised one night to be visited by Death. His name is Sadriel. He is glad to have someone who can see him and talk to him. He would love Smitha to come over into his world. But that would mean Smitha giving up her life and the cold would still be with her. Smitha refuses. She travels through the mountain for the next three years. She cannot go into towns and then people start hunting her in the hills. One day she is chased but men on horses. But these men need her help. Prince Imad Al Hraith of the Fourth Generation lives in the Untamed Lands (the desert). They have had no rain for a long time. They are out of water and need her help. Smitha agrees to go with them to Mac’Hliah (the main town with the palace). Will Smitha finally find people that will accept her (curse and all)? Is there a way for Smitha to break the curse or will she give in to Sadriel?
I have enjoyed Charlie N. Holmberg’s other books and was eager to read Followed by Frost. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. It is an interesting idea that had great potential, but I just felt that the story turned out to be a long drawn out romance. It was a disappointment. At the beginning it goes along smoothly (and quickly) and then it slows down to a crawl until close to the end. The book was missing something. It needed more. The writing is okay, but this book was not as good as the author’s previous works. I give Followed by Frost 3 out of 5 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of Followed by Frost from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2015/09/followed-by-frost.html
Smitha runs home to her parents’ house. Her father immediately sets out to find Mordan, but he cannot be located. Smitha hair starts turning white, her skin is very pale and her lips turn blue. Everything she touches turns to ice. A snow cloud follows her dumping snow about a mile around Smitha. Smitha takes to her bed while everyone in town is huddling in their homes from the icy temperatures. When a child becomes ill and then dies, the town turns on Smitha. Smitha does not believe that the little boy is really that sick and pays him a visit (pushes her way into the family’s house). Smitha sees Death next to the little boy. Smitha and Death are both surprised. Smitha runs while Death looks thoughtful.
Smitha is forced by the town and her parents to leave Euwan. She takes to the woods and starts traveling north. Smitha at first hopes to find another wizard who can help her break the curse. Smitha is surprised one night to be visited by Death. His name is Sadriel. He is glad to have someone who can see him and talk to him. He would love Smitha to come over into his world. But that would mean Smitha giving up her life and the cold would still be with her. Smitha refuses. She travels through the mountain for the next three years. She cannot go into towns and then people start hunting her in the hills. One day she is chased but men on horses. But these men need her help. Prince Imad Al Hraith of the Fourth Generation lives in the Untamed Lands (the desert). They have had no rain for a long time. They are out of water and need her help. Smitha agrees to go with them to Mac’Hliah (the main town with the palace). Will Smitha finally find people that will accept her (curse and all)? Is there a way for Smitha to break the curse or will she give in to Sadriel?
I have enjoyed Charlie N. Holmberg’s other books and was eager to read Followed by Frost. Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. It is an interesting idea that had great potential, but I just felt that the story turned out to be a long drawn out romance. It was a disappointment. At the beginning it goes along smoothly (and quickly) and then it slows down to a crawl until close to the end. The book was missing something. It needed more. The writing is okay, but this book was not as good as the author’s previous works. I give Followed by Frost 3 out of 5 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of Followed by Frost from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2015/09/followed-by-frost.html
jessdone's review against another edition
4.0
This worked as a modern fable and a re-imagining of older fairy tales.
The beginning is slow, and I almost stopped reading ten pages in, I'm glad I pushed through. What follows is fun and imaginative. The sing song writing style is beautiful, adding a presence all it's own. The summary doesn't do the book justice.
I could pull apart little bits and pieces, but as a whole it worked and was a fluid read.
Great escapism book if you're looking for something lighter.
The beginning is slow, and I almost stopped reading ten pages in, I'm glad I pushed through. What follows is fun and imaginative. The sing song writing style is beautiful, adding a presence all it's own. The summary doesn't do the book justice.
I could pull apart little bits and pieces, but as a whole it worked and was a fluid read.
Great escapism book if you're looking for something lighter.
squish93's review against another edition
I finished this book in a day and a half. I just couldn't put it down! The premise was SO cool and I am so sad that it wasn't continued! Maybe not following the same characters but the whole world itself was incredibly intriguing. I wouldn't even mind another book--maybe Mordan shows his face again?
Anyway, this book is like the extended version of the fairy tales read to us as children. A selfish, vain character gets her comeuppance and learns her lessons, finding herself and the value of life in the process. This makes it sound so basic, but it is anything but! I loved the characters and the addition of a little romance totally surprised me. Please, Charlie, please make another one in this series!
Anyway, this book is like the extended version of the fairy tales read to us as children. A selfish, vain character gets her comeuppance and learns her lessons, finding herself and the value of life in the process. This makes it sound so basic, but it is anything but! I loved the characters and the addition of a little romance totally surprised me. Please, Charlie, please make another one in this series!
elfi21's review against another edition
5.0
So I went into this expecting Frozen (even though this was written before Frozen came out)... And I was left thinking that this is what I wish Frozen was! A really well-paced fantasy with compelling characters... with humor, sadness, joy, and all the other feels. I can unreservedly recommend this book.
ms_chievous's review against another edition
4.0
I got half way through this book when I realized that Smitha really really reminded me of someone...
Hmm, let's see.
Long white hair worn in a braid?
Always has to wear gloves?
Hides away for years from family and friends?
AND creates winter storms naturally?
Now who does that sound like??
Oh, right..
But you know what? Even with that, this book was a beautiful read.
The world and the characters were vivid and very well developed. I liked that there wasn't an overabundance of main characters that I had to keep track of. This also allowed for the main characters to really shine and come across as dynamic. Sadriel and Lo were amazing characters. Smitha's reactions and interactions with both felt so realistic and believable that it almost hurts.
I loved the mix of cultures showcased in this world. I could see a mix of many ethnicities from our world, which made it a lot of fun!
Smitha's journey and self-development from a cold-hearted biatch to a selfless woman was beautiful, heart-wrenching, and all around amazing. This book is absolutely wonderful!
Hmm, let's see.
Long white hair worn in a braid?
Always has to wear gloves?
Hides away for years from family and friends?
AND creates winter storms naturally?
Now who does that sound like??
Oh, right..
But you know what? Even with that, this book was a beautiful read.
The world and the characters were vivid and very well developed. I liked that there wasn't an overabundance of main characters that I had to keep track of. This also allowed for the main characters to really shine and come across as dynamic. Sadriel and Lo were amazing characters. Smitha's reactions and interactions with both felt so realistic and believable that it almost hurts.
I loved the mix of cultures showcased in this world. I could see a mix of many ethnicities from our world, which made it a lot of fun!
Smitha's journey and self-development from a cold-hearted biatch to a selfless woman was beautiful, heart-wrenching, and all around amazing. This book is absolutely wonderful!
lostinagoodbook's review against another edition
5.0
Disclaimer: I received this free book from NetGalley in exchange for an un-biased review.
Cold and lonely, Followed by Frost's heroine brought winter to my unbearable hot California summer. A young woman, Smitha, is the small town beauty. She enjoys making conquests of men, but a bad encounter with one young man has left her cold. Unbearably, unendingly cold. She's not your usual heroine, to begin with she's not particularly likeable, but that's the whole point. Her growth as a person is what propels this story forward. Her journey is a remarkable one. The spell that leaves her cold is unremitting and horrible. I guess when you think of being an ice queen it's easy to picture Queen Elsa, and it doesn't seem such a bad thing. Cold never bothered her anyway. Smitha's enchantment bring pure suffering. Here the author's talent with description shines. It's easy to begin to empathize with her plight. This is a story reminiscent of the old German Fairy tales. Sorcery, danger, true love, and a life lesson in a neat little package. It's a concise book, which doesn't seem like it will lead into a series, but instead of disappointing, or leaving you hungry for more you can't help but feel this one-off is just as it should be.
It's a good YA book, with everything you could hope for. Magical happenings, the requisite strong female lead, a handsome leading man, nice descriptive locations, and even a couple of very discerning camels thrown in for good measure. (ha!) I was extremely excited to find out I was receiving an advance copy of this book. I've read the author's Paper Magician trilogy, and I had a feeling this would be another good tale. My hopes were well placed. I fully recommend Followed by Frost.
Spotify Song for this book:Fear by Sarah MacLachlan
Cold and lonely, Followed by Frost's heroine brought winter to my unbearable hot California summer. A young woman, Smitha, is the small town beauty. She enjoys making conquests of men, but a bad encounter with one young man has left her cold. Unbearably, unendingly cold. She's not your usual heroine, to begin with she's not particularly likeable, but that's the whole point. Her growth as a person is what propels this story forward. Her journey is a remarkable one. The spell that leaves her cold is unremitting and horrible. I guess when you think of being an ice queen it's easy to picture Queen Elsa, and it doesn't seem such a bad thing. Cold never bothered her anyway. Smitha's enchantment bring pure suffering. Here the author's talent with description shines. It's easy to begin to empathize with her plight. This is a story reminiscent of the old German Fairy tales. Sorcery, danger, true love, and a life lesson in a neat little package. It's a concise book, which doesn't seem like it will lead into a series, but instead of disappointing, or leaving you hungry for more you can't help but feel this one-off is just as it should be.
It's a good YA book, with everything you could hope for. Magical happenings, the requisite strong female lead, a handsome leading man, nice descriptive locations, and even a couple of very discerning camels thrown in for good measure. (ha!) I was extremely excited to find out I was receiving an advance copy of this book. I've read the author's Paper Magician trilogy, and I had a feeling this would be another good tale. My hopes were well placed. I fully recommend Followed by Frost.
Spotify Song for this book:Fear by Sarah MacLachlan
xfirefly9x's review against another edition
4.0
An enjoyable read. Some very cool concepts explored (pun intended), and great character growth.