Reviews of Frost

I liked this book from the beginning. Also the sacrifice Lia has to make in order to care for her handicapped brother and little sister. She is a strong female character that had to learned to survive from an early age. It is good to see that not all women need a man. We can be strong too. There is lots of mystery surrounding Gabe which makes the story appealing and leaves you wanting more.

I just can't wait to see what else is in store for Lia, Gabe, Adam and Others.

So my only criticism of this book is that it was too short. I wanted more!

It starts with a sense of urgency, as Lia rushes to get to the village in time to turn in her family's quota, and that feeling lasts the entire novel. There are Watchers in the woods, creatures who will rip you to shreds, and they come out at night. Something is going on in the village, though Lia is to preoccupied by taking care of her family to pay much attention, until the Farthers come. The Farthers are people from another country, who expand their empire and use technology, the opposite of the village, where everyone contributes their share.

Lia was an interesting character, focused solely on her family and work, to the exclusion of everything else. She is one of those characters who puts everything behind a mask, hiding behind a tough persona. That isn't to say she isn't tough - she is - but she isn't as unfeeling and stoic as she portrays. Her brother and sister were fully fleshed characters, as well as Ann, Cole and Adam from the village, which was really great. Gabe, an injured Farther Lia and her family shelters and cares for, was pretty fascinating as well - it was easy to see why Lia is interested in him.

I really liked this book. I want more of this book. It has the dystopian feel to it without the hopelessness. I am seriously looking forward to reading the sequel.

Rating Clarification: 3.5 Stars

Disclaimer: The fact that I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review has not affected my rating. This review expresses my honest opinions.

Frost is a book most people will enjoy, praise, and rate highly. As an action with light romance-type novel, I enjoyed it thoroughly. However, it’s as a dystopian novel and other essential factors of a story that I find is its downfall.

Let me start off with what I liked. I loved the relationship within Lia’s family They were always supportive of each other, sacrificing their time, effort, health, and safety to help each other. Of course, their “family” eventually expands to include more people, but what I find amazing is that they would open their circle and treat past enemies or complete strangers as one of their own. OF course, they have their own quibbles and faults, making their family both realistic and touching.

The concept of Watchers also pulled me in. My only complaint is that I wish their involvement could go beyond “Oh no, there’s a Watcher! Let’s run!”, especially in the beginning. I’m hoping their role could develop more in the sequel, Thorns, considering the revelation about their purpose in the end.

The plot was also quick paced with action. However, the romance, although sweet & my guilty pleasure, seemed too quickly developed and premature. I suppose Gabe was saved by Lia, who also made many sacrifices for her family, but I still found it a bit premature :/

Finally, I found that Frost wasn’t “truly” a dystopian novel. After freshman lit and understanding what dystopias serve for the general public to realize, I found that Frost fell short. There was almost no back story – Where did the Farthers come from? Why did the Watchers exist? Why is the world this way? Also, the brief mention of magic in the end didn’t seem realistic, especially since there was also no back story. Overall, I just didn’t see the message in Frost dystopian novels are supposed to present.

Overall, I found that Frost was a short and quick read. If you’re looking for an action, slightly romance-ish novel with dystopic elements, pick up Frost. However, if you’re one of those people like me who look for the “message” in dystopic novels, I suggest you try one of Paolo Bacigalupi’s novels if you haven’t.

This book was everything I expected and more. The author was descriptive and the story was captivating. I started the book expecting to put it down after a few chapters and ended up reading it the whole way through.

You really feel for the MC Lia. Her family was killed, leaving her in charge of her younger sister and crippled brother. The town wants her matched and that would mean leaving her family. Lia became all work and no play in an effort to avoid such action and keep her family afloat.

Then one day her sister found a "farther" in the woods and Lia's world was turned upside down. Everything she thought she knew was questioned. She must learn to follow the rules or put her trust in this new stranger, Gabe.

There was a good dose of mystery in this book. It kept me guessing until the very end. I was pretty sad to see the story end. I am thankful there is a sequel to Frost. Thorns will be out in July 2012. I for one am stoked and will be one of the first to see how this journey continues.

WOW. This is the second book I've had the opportunity to review by Kate Ellison and her writing keeps getting better and better. Absolutely LOVED this story and found that I couldn't put it down once I started. My one complaint is that it was too short. It introduced some interesting characters that I would have loved to know more about but overall I found it to be an excellent intro to what I hope will be a great series.

Ellison weaves a beautiful story of a girl named Lia who is forced into the adult responsibilities of taking charge of her two siblings and their farm after her parents are killed. The weight of keeping her family together and alive weighs heavily on her shoulders. She realizes that her own dreams aren’t important anymore, only survival. The imagery the author creates of the frosty woodland where she lives was vivid. Life in the community where she lives is rough. Money doesn’t exist, only the trade of goods and everyone works to meet a weekly quota that keeps the village thriving. South of the village beyond the frost is the sophisticate and advanced city of Aeralis where people they refer to as Farthers live. In Aeralis there is no bitter winter, electronics & machines exist, the military rules and most importantly there are no Watchers. Watchers are creatures of the frost that come out at night and hunt. Lia’s world is turned further upside down after she saves the life a dangerous Farther named Gabe and the world as she knows it changes forever.

I liked Lia a lot. She’s a survivor who is trying to make sense of the world around her. The romance in the story was subtle, sweet and heartbreaking. As she asks "Is this struggle to feel worth it?"

Again, my only complaint is that it was over too soon. I wanted to learn more about Adam, his family and Lia's brother Jonn - who broke my heart. I can't wait for book 2 and seriously, stop reading reviews and just go read it!!!

4.5 :) Actually I'm tempted to give this 5 stars...

Kate you've outdone yourself with this one!

I could not put it down once I'd started it. Which was an hour and a half ago. Its only about 260 pages but well worth the read.

I loved the plot. The characters. The romance. Just the story.

I wish the sequel was already available!!

Absolutely loved it!

:D

After reading 'The Curse Girl' by this author, I was determined to read everything else that she gets out. So it was with immense pleasure and anticipation that I jumped on the opportunity to read this novel for a review.

It did not disappoint!

I found this novel to have a really interesting plot and mass of characters. It was quite an original but familiar plot. Original because you have a village living in what appears to be quite a harsh winter environment, where creatures in the night could easily end your life. Those creatures themselves are very curious though there is not a lot of information about them and what they are exactly, but the fear they inflict in the villagers is palpable.

As to the remainder of the story, it is not so original, but very entertaining nonetheless. I enjoyed the build up of the relationship between Lia and Gabe and am glad that this book is a part of a series.

Really really wish that book 2 was published already, because I definitely would have jumped straight into it to find out what happens next.

Lia's descriptions paint a detailed picture of her world and the people/creatures within. I was easily absorbed into the short but engaging story. It's a perfect addition to my favorite dystopian stories, with all the deception I've come to love to read about, haha. The characters were well-developed, and I thought the story moved at a good pace and kept things interesting. Not to mention that the writing was quite beautiful without being overdone. My only complaint would be the abrupt ending, but it is perfectly set up for a second book. Here's hoping a Frost sequel is part of Ms Ellison's quota! :)

I recently received an ebook copy through Goodreads of Kate Avery Ellison’s debut of a new young adult series that had me SHUSHING the “target audience” in my own home! Descriptive without being heavy-handed or obvious, I could see and feel the harsh environment that is the setting of the story. Ellison put me right into the terror that is Lia’s life in the Frost. Gradually I learned more and more about Lia, her family, her circumstances, and the other characters that shape her desperate existence all the while tensely waiting for the horrible Watchers in the woods to make their appearance. I cared about what would happen to Lia and her family. I hoped that they would make good decisions and be heroic. And I sincerely wish that a sequel is coming soon!

Lia Weaver is left to take care of her family farm and two younger siblings when her parents are murdered in the woods one night by Watchers. The inhabitants of Frost live in fear of the Watchers – monsters who come out only at night. At the beginning of the book Lia’s top priority is to take care of her family and keep them safe from the Watchers. Then she meets Gabe and everything changes. Love blossoms and secrets abound.

I loved this story. It was very different from other dystopian books I’ve read. Ellison’s writing is very lyrical and enchanting. I loved her descriptions and sensory details. Gabe is an endearing hero and Lia is a strong character. I loved them both. This a delightful story and I can’t wait to read more from this author!
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