It's a very cool fantasy, filled with a created mythology, clans, war, magic, twists and turns. I'm excited to see what the author will do with the sequel!

Whew this book was a wild ride! So many twists and turns it made me slightly dizzy, and with a steamy romance to boot.

Lira was a fun character to read, knowledgeable beyond her years due to the weight of her God gifted power, being able to read peoples souls. Her father uses her gift to tell the true motives of his people, something that Lira is not overly comfortable with. She is stubborn, strong-headed and loyal to a fault, especially to her family and her fathers people. It takes a man she thought was the enemy to open her eyes to the truth behind her countries history, making her realise that not everyone is who they seem… including those she trusts the most.

The world building in this book was truly beautiful, we travel with Lira across Glasnith and learn about the Land of the Frozen Sun through her ability to read peoples souls. The descriptions dragged you into the story, making you feel the swell of the boat and the rush of riding a horse right along side Lira.

One of the things that made this book truly enjoyable for me was its fresh magic system. Wondrously unique and intriguing, we first get introduced to it through Lira’s ability to read peoples souls, whether they have good intentions or bad. We learn that the Gods gift one daughter per clan, per generation with an ability such as causing pain, or making mirages to protect the clans. I enjoyed the whole “female power” side of it, that it is realistically the women of Glasnith who can protect or bring down the country.

The book is very fast paced, pretty much action from the go. And though this can be a good thing, there were parts of the book that jumped to something completely irrelevant to the chapter before, which made the read slightly jumpy for me. I also felt that the romance was pretty dramatically on/off throughout the first half of the book. I am all for a bit of enemies/friends/lovers but this seemed to take it to the extreme at parts and made me less inclined to care about the outcome.

This book is a 3.5/5 for me. The world building and fresh magic system made for a really interesting read, however, I just felt it was slightly jumpy to the point where I had to re-read part of the chapter before to get my bearings again. That being said, the book ended on a humongous cliff-hanger so I will definitely be picking the next book up because I need to know what happens! I would definitely recommend this book if you enjoyed Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young.

As soon as I started Beasts of the Frozen Sun, it instantly reminded me of Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young but with more magic (and violence, I learned as a I read further).

The story kicks off with two points of view, Lira and Reyker, enemies by virtue of birth and location who find each other and develop a connection. It was clear early on that there would be a romance between them and I welcomed it as a fan of having it as a subplot but that's not quite what happened.

Lira has the gift to see people's souls by touching them and combined with her fierce personality, she was enjoyable to follow as a protagonist. I liked that she stepped out of the role of a follower and into more of a leadership position as the book progressed, and really came into her own. My only complaint would be that I wanted more of her magic. It's made clear that there are very few women like her and that her skill is rare, so I just wanted it to have a stronger presence in the story.

And explaining the magic system in place would have been nice too but it sort of worked with the whole "just accept that it's this way" deal so I can live with that.

Her counterpart, Reyker, was interesting. . . but not enough for me to care about his PoV scenes. Thankfully there weren't nearly as many and they mostly just provided a glimpse of what else was happening when Lira wasn't around or unable to offer that insight. I liked him well enough, but can't say he was terribly memorable as a character.

Now together, these two annoyed me to be honest. I like romance in fantasy, but I wasn't looking for a romance novel and that's what Beasts of the Frozen Sun became for quite a bit of page space. And the book started out so strong too! You're immediately thrown into the action and the plot moves at a good pace and it's all great! And then suddenly it's a love story where each turn becomes another means of keeping the couple apart. And I was bored.

That said, all the other parts were great. I loved the expansion of the world beyond Lira's village and can see how some of those places (and people) might be involved in the sequel. Tension remained high from beginning to end and it definitely felt like Criswell could kill off a character at any moment.

And in fact several people die. Actually there's a lot of brutal deaths. This book doesn't shy away from violence or torture, so if those are triggers for you, I can't recommend it at all.

The plot twists were solid, and the one near the end totally caught me off guard (in a good way). Unfortunately the ending itself was a bit predictable based on how the story had been going up to that point so I wasn't super surprised or DYING to get my hands on the sequel. I still want to read the next book, don't get me wrong, just not high on my list.

Beasts of the Frozen Sun was a solid fantasy and toes the line between YA and NA. I'd recommend it to readers looking for a more violence Sky in the Deep with extra romance. Looking forward to the next book!

Thank you to the publisher for providing an arc for review.

So this book was a wild ride! I will say that for some reason the first part of the book took me awhile to get into. I don't know if it was pacing or just that it was the build up, but once it got going I was hooked. The setting was great, as was the world building. It is an island setting that felt slightly Celtic influenced, this is Lira's land and people. There are multiple tribes throughout the island. Then you have the "beasts" from the west. Reyker and his people were kind of Scandinavian/Viking inspired. Reyker is part of a band of warriors led by Draki, who is a demigod of sorts. They are set on building an empire, except Reyker. When the beasts invade Lira's island all hell breaks loose. The chief of the Stone Sons (Lira's tribe) dies, then a god of death is consulted to determine the next chief. Obviously this doesn't work well. Reyker and Lira's destinies become intertwined as both are blessed by gods. The characters are all really well developed. I loved the enemies to lovers story line. It felt natural and well paced. Also holy star crossed lovers! I have never seen two people fall in love and torn apart and reunited more than these two! This book definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat for a good majority of the second half. I really liked all the interactions between the people and their gods. The ending left me hopeful and slightly scared, and I'm gonna need book 2 now k thanks!

Lira, a member of the Stone clan on the island of Glasnith, is a descendant of Aillira, a gifted mortal who started a war by falling in love with the wrong man. As a soul-reader, Lira has the ability to determine who has good intentions and who may be guilty of a crime. This is a gift that her father, Torin, the second son of the clan leader, often takes advantage of as Lira tries to decide her future: allow herself to be married off for a favorable match that will benefit the clan or join Aillira's temple to learn more about her gift. However, Reyker, a Westlander from Iseneld, offers a complication when he is the lone survivor of an attack by the Brine Beast. Looking into his soul, Lira finds it conflicted, full of both light and dark elements, and even though his intentions are unclear, she decides to take a chance and nurses him back to health. However, other forces have begun to move toward the island, including Draki, a demigod who collects and uses magical women for his own purpose. With his eye set on Lira and the island of Glasnith, Lira and Reyker's future is threatened as is their love when secrets emerge that make them both question each other and all that they have ever known about their people and the past.

Originally, I believed this would be simply a love story, but I was very impressed with the mythology that Jill Criswell infused into the tale. What made many of the reveals work was the narrator, Lira (and occasionally Reyker), offering glimpses into their gods and the teachings, such as the Scriptures, both well-known and Forbidden. As layers were added, the reader came to see a more complete picture of the Celtic and Norse-inspired tale.

The romance between Lira and Reyker is certainly a large part of the plot. I felt that the connection they shared was genuine and developed over the course of the book. Learning to trust is something that all relationships share and this was handled well, especially since Lira and Reyker come from different lands that have been at war in the past. What I appreciated was that Lira and Reyker save themselves and each other several times throughout the novel. Reyker was never the sole savior because Lira was a strong character in her own right. Additionally, even when the characters fall in love, Reyker respects Lira's strength and never tries to limit her choices, even when he has to be parted from her.

Overall, I did feel that this novel falls to the older end of YA since there are some pretty dark themes (war, rape, and torture, for example). Criswell's first installment was very enjoyable, and with the big reveal at the conclusion of the novel, I know that I will be tuning in for the next part of Lira and Reyker's story.

Netgalley provided me with an arc of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I was lured into this world of mythology and barbarians. The setting is reminiscent of the Dark Ages, and battles between Berserkers and Druids.

Lira is a chieftain's daughter, revered by her clan for her status as a soul-reader. Reyker is a boy who becomes the sword of a monster. Lira can free him from the darkness that drowns his soul, but the risk is great.

I could not put down this epic tale of conquest, twisted loyalties, doomed love.

4.5 stars.

Loved it! I was instantly swept up in this fantasy enemies to lovers/ forbidden romance story! It reminded me a bit of Tristan and Isolde and I had a hard time putting it down. I really enjoyed the characters. I connected with them and felt their emotions as if they were my own. The ending left off in a bit of a cliff hanger and I’m anxious to see what happens next.

I have just read a fantasy of badass and most brutally epic proportions. And I must say, I am a fan.Beasts of the Frozen Sun is every bit as epic as its cover and it had complex world building, characters to fall in love with, and brutal wars between monstrous men. I like my fantasies from the dark side and this definitely delivered there. It was so immersive too. When I finished, it felt like coming up for air because I was so deeply into it.

// This book honestly had a checklist of things I love.
Which, I mean, shout out to it catering specifically for my epic fantasy needs. There are some tropes that just make my heart flutter and this ticked off so many of them. Such as...
➢ boys who are turned into weapons so they become monstrous...but secretly they're soft heartfelt marshmallows inside
➢ girls with SWORDS and they get very angry when the sword is taken off them (#aminlove)
➢ gods that sometimes walk the earth and mess about with humans
➢ when people go to war against the enemy who they think are "beasts"...but they're every bit as monstrous
➢ basically the whole analysation of "what makes you a monster"; legit my favourite discussion
➢ magic powers (they had soul-reading!!!! I really liked this!!!!)
➢ the whole "oh you're SICK and we're ENEMIES but we'll CUDDLE just to stay warm" 😏ok sure, you go on.

Be still my beating heart. I just had such a good time with all of this.

// The world was incredibly intriguing.
I definitely got Scottish vibes from it, with the clans and weapon styles and some the language. So that was fantastic. There is also a lot of god lore that's pertinent to the plot. Our heroine, Lira, is "god-gifted". This is a rare thing and only happens to usually one woman per clan. She's a daughter of Aillira and can read souls and determine truths. Her father, also the clan-leader, basically "uses" her as a lie-detector but she's 17 and has the choice to go study in the temple or get married.But what if there was a third choice?

// The plot was go! go! go! action!
We have EVERYTHING from village raids to wars to men from the West coming in to slaughter and pillage the small villages of Lira's people. It's intense and seriously SO much is packed in it will leave you a bit exhausted. I was really grateful for the brief moments when they got to pause and, like, snuggle. 10/10 for snuggling in epic fantasies too ok.

// It's also dark and quite brutal.
This is super fine by me I like my fantasies from the dark side and while it didn't get graphic/gruesome, it also did NOT spare the characters and the vicious beast-men did horrific things to their captives. Reyker goes through hell and back, he truly does lol sob, my poor boy. It's bloody and heartbreaking; it's about people who refuse to let go of hope and each other.

// Look, Lira and Reyker are everything and I love them.
SO SO love them. Usually I wave a hand vaguely at epic fantasy romances for not contributing to the plot but THIS?! This is superb. I ship them so hard. They're star-crossed lovers for sure and everything conspires to keep them apart.

Reyker is the beast, the boy who nearly drowns and is saved by Lira even though she know she shouldn't help the enemy. She fights off death for him, she teaches him her language, she holds him when the rest of the world has declared him fit only as an animal to be put to death.
Lira hates being used and caged. She hates being property by her horrible uncle and father, men pitted in darkness while ruling their clan, and she refuses to believe Reyker isn't worth saving. And she is so frikking powerful. Gah, I loved that.


*:·ﾟ✧ Beasts of the Frozen Sun is a bloody fantasy of beasts and soul magic and fierce belief that redemption is possible if you cling fiercely to rebuilding yourself *:·ﾟ✧
Action-packed with high stakes and brutal fights and monstrous men and powerful women and meddling gods.

I just found out that Beasts of the Frozen Sun is Criswell's debut novel and I'm honestly floored. The caliber of cohesive plotline, fascinating prose and engaging characters feels like it is written by a much more experienced writer! She paints such an absorbing backdrop to this story and I found myself having a hard time putting the book down.

Lira and Reyker are both extremely interesting and dynamic characters that really make the book. I also found the other characters, both foul and friendly to the main characters, engaging and well developed. Lira is blessed by the gods and has a gift for reading souls. As her clan forces her to use her gift to harm, rather than help, and other secrets are revealed, Lira begins to wonder where her true loyalties lie. This question is complicated and partially activated when a beast of the Frozen Sun, an enemy, lands upon their shores and she nurses him back to health. As she learns more about Reyker, the "beast", she begins to question her preconceived notions and who the real beasts are in this fight as her clan begins crumbling apart.

I can't wait to read the next book in the series and will be anxiously awaiting hearing of its release! This is a YA that you do not want to miss out on reading! My mind is still spinning and refusing to come back to reality after finishing this one! Engaging and addictive with a plot all its own!

The cover...oooh the cover caught my eye. It was bloody brilliant. Looking at it caused my imagination to travel to the worlds yonder. The blurb of a kickass heroine, a hunk of a warrior, different lands, forbidden love, gods manipulating humans, power and battle all forced me to read this book. And boy, did Jill Criswell deliver!!

Lira lived in Glasinth and was a soul reader, a power gifted by the gods. Reyker was a savage washed ashore to her lands, barely alive. Lira recognized him to be the boy who had saved her life eons ago, so she healed him. Later, she learned that he was the weapon, a Beast from the land of the Frozen Sun, hated by her clan. Both were marked by Draki, the dragon lord who wanted to possess Lira's powers and make Reyker his weapon in the wars, fighting for the Dragon.

The book followed the journey through battles, some they chose, some they were plunged into. Each character in this world wanted to use the two for their own gains. There was a constant carnage almost every few pages. Every God was bloodthirsty and wanted a piece of Lira. Some scenes felt a bit repetitive due to that.

The first book in the series written by Jill Criswell, the story was pretty dark with violence and slaughter in every other chapter. The world Jill drew me in was complex with the Forbidden Scriptures and Dark Gods. There were some lost beings, The Fallen Ones, who were forgotten but waiting to arise through Lira and Reyker.

Blood was spilled, betrayals and ruthlessness were shown. Every favor demanded its price. This was a hard land. And yet... The theme of a soul binding love beat a strange rhythm in the pages of the book. Its unspoken lyrics was in the hearts of the present and the past There were times when I could feel the silent thrums of this song of love flowing in the background.

The book did end in a big cliffhanger and the characters had yet to leave this land to go on their journey, thereby paving its way for book 2.

The book pulled me in by its sheer complexity, the greed of the Gods, and the love and bond between the main characters. A good breakfast read. I sometimes wake up longing to read a bloodthirsty book.

There is a lot of potential in Beasts of the Frozen Sun by Jill Criswell. It’s got the kernels of a good story, a picturesque setting, and an interesting magical system. I thought I would like it more than I did.

Beasts of the Frozen Sun is the story of Lira, daughter of the Stone clan chieftain, who has been “blessed” by the gods with the ability to see inside a person’s soul. One day a warrior from another land, Reyker, washes up near her town, and she nurses him back to health. She discovers he is different than the rest of his people – vicious marauders who attack her village and kill her brother. Lira helps Reyker escape, and the two of them are linked and determined to bring down the marauders’ leader, a cruel barbarian nicknamed the Dragon.

You don’t often see the Viking culture represented in young adult fantasy, and the political system outlined in this book – different clans and even completely different cultures – has a lot going for it. The plot has some decent political intrigue, and it wasn’t too predictable. The idea of “which gods are the true gods” and “what is the truth” isn’t original, but in this book it’s fairly well done, acknowledging that a belief system is based on faith; we generally believe what we’re told by people we trust until something comes along that challenges our way of thinking. In Lira’s case, it’s her various encounters with Reyker.

The problem with Beasts of the Frozen Sun is the lack of women. Lira is feisty and fierce and flawed and a perfectly fine heroine, but the vast majority of female characters in this book are props. They exist to be subjugated or killed or assaulted (rape is implied but never depicted on the page). The men are warriors and the women are captured. Lira only has two friends outside of her brothers – only one is another woman, and the man is, naturally, in love with Lira. I expect this is something that will be remedied as the series goes on, but it’s extremely off-putting that in a book with such a misogynistic culture, there aren’t more women who are treated like actual people.

As I said, there are nuggets of good things, but I was aching for more development. The magical system is incredibly interesting but vaguely defined, and honestly, I could have done with a map. I also had an issue with how cyclical the plot was. Throughout the entire book, either Reyker or Lira was getting captured, and then the other would attempt to rescue them and get captured as well, or they would escape and eventually get captured along the way. It was a little too repetitive for me, and I’m not sure I care about Lira or Reyker enough to continue with their adventure.

Basically, Beasts of the Frozen Sun is a perfectly adequate fantasy that has the potential to become an amazing series if the world can be fleshed out a little more.

Reading the synopsis, I expected a very unique and epic fantasy and in some ways it was just that but in other ways it unfortunately lacked in execution.

What I liked: I enjoyed the world a lot - it definitely gave me Vikings vibes - and I liked the magic system. I thought Lira’s power of reading souls was very interesting and I’d love to see more of her powers in the next book. I also quite enjoyed the romance. Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes and I thought it was very well done.

What I didn’t like: The pacing. There was so much going on - too much, in my opinion - but it still felt like the story wasn’t moving forward. Another thing that bothered me: Lira’s chapters were written in first person and Ryker’s were in third which I thought was quite weird and confusing.


I really wanted to love Beasts of the Frozen Sun and I definitely enjoyed parts of it a lot but it just didn’t have the straightforwardness and clarity that is needed in a high fantasy like this one.

I really wanted to like this one. I really enjoy the fantasy genre and felt I had recently been spending too much time away from it, so when I picked it up I was ready to dive in and fall in love. What I found was a nicely done book that just wasn’t for me.

Thoughts:
I can’t tell you how much I enjoy fantasy, especially epic fantasy where a whole new world is created, new land, new politics, new magic systems. Something completely unlike our own that I can just melt into and forget the world around me. That’s why when I read the description of Beasts of a Frozen Sun I couldn’t wait – I just knew I would enjoy it, even if it had some flaws. What I found was a nicely crafted book – complex characters and lands where politics are deeply intertwined with religion and mythology creating the overall conflict. But I also found that the connection and relationship between Lira and Reykar is central to how one will respond to this book.

To me, the book has one major foundation it is built upon: the relationship between Lira and Reykar. It is for forbidden since their clans are at war with each other, but it is more than just that since the gods play a large role in how their clans react to both of these characters. However, this is what also made the book more challenging for me. It was too much of a focal point or too much of the story, especially since the world created was not very large and felt confining at times – for me personally at least. It was obviously meant and written to be a major focus of the story, but as a reader I lost interest in them.

Another issue I had is how small the world is. The story has the feel of epic fantasy, except in one way – the world is not very large. Many fantasy books have maps to them showing all the countries, land, etc. However, the scope of this new story is confined to mostly one area, or at least feels that way when you read it.

I have no doubt many will read this book and love it. No doubt. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t a book I fell in love with.

Rating: 3.5

Thanks to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the advanced reader copy and opportunity to provide an honest review.

» 3.5 stars «

Beats of the Frozen Sun was an enjoyable Viking inspired fantasy, with romance, action and mythical gods. It was easy to read and the first half had me truly captured. Inititially it starts off very similar to a Viking retelling of Tristan and Isolde (which I love) so I really enjoyed it.

Lira is gifted with the ability to see into people's souls. She is the daughter of a village chieftan, and one day a Western invader from the land of the Frozen Sun washes up on the shore to her village. She realises he is different to his kin and sets out on a journey to help him defeat his invading clan and escape the leader, Draki.

The book is full of magic, sweet romance and brutal truths. While I enjoyed it, I felt the plot was not overly clear and it was a bit jarring. Lots of things happened, and I felt like the transitions between many scenes were abrupt and I had trouble keeping up. Some cringe worthy scene had me rolling my eyes. I'm not sure I will read the next book but the ending did impress me and I enjoyed the twist at the end.

What I really enjoyed overall was the retelling of Tristan and Isolde with a large fantasy focus, this made it so interesting to read!

If you enjoy sweet romances, vikings, fantasy and magic this book would certainly be for you.

Vote 4.5
Beautiful story, a green female character, compelling storyline and fluid style.
Love it!

***I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Net Galley in return for an honest review***

I am still reeling from the ending of this book. I am so glad the author is not stopping with this one, and that there is more to come because wow. The story follows our two main characters Lira and Reyker, who are both trying to come to terms with their lives. Lira has the gift to read people's souls, and her clan uses her power to determine the measure of their souls. Lira's findings basically determine if someone lives or someone dies. Reyker is cursed to basically be blood thirsty in battle, and in his own way a slave to his curse. When Reyker washes up on Lira's shore she discovers that there is more to him than what meets the eye, when she reads his soul. The relationship that blooms between Reyker and Lira is so beautifully written, that it made me root for them from the very beginning. There is some lore and magic thrown into the story that just makes the plot so much better. The first book hasn't even come out yet, and I already wish I had the second one so I can continue this amazing story and see where the adventure takes our characters next. Jill has a gem of a story on her hands and I can see this book becoming a movie in the future. This book will leave you wanting more, and it is one you can't miss. If you love action, romance, magic, and a story that will take you on a wild adventure, than on August 6th, you better pick up your copy and join what is sure to be the next big hit!

This book sounded right up my alley and I couldn't wait to get started on it. A historical setting with clans, warriors, forbidden love, God gifted women with unique powers, and an epic battle for freedom? Sounded like a grand adventure. It started out very strong, and while I liked a lot of elements in the plot, from a technical standpoint there were some things that didn't add up. One thing that did work in a big way was the forbidden romance, which ended up being my favorite thing about the book.

Lira lives in Glasnith, a community composed of many clans. Her grandfather is the chieftan of clan Stone, and upon his death, it will pass on to another male in her family. There is a lot of speculation who that will be, but as a female, Lira has two "options." Marry a highborn man of her father's choosing, or pledge herself to Aillira's Temple, a sanctuary where god-gifted women could study and hone their abilities. So though many women were clearly honored by their gods, the men failed to do so. They were simply used for their own gain. Lira in particular is used cruelly by her father for her gift of reading souls. She's nothing more than a tool for him to ascertain whether an accused is guilty or innocent, and she feels tremendous guilt for her part in condemning people to death.

Reyker is a savage marauder who has taken part in raids along the coast of Lira's land. In the prologue you see the devastation he causes along with the other warriors fighting for "the Dragon." Right away you realize that he's there against his will, and there is a glimmer of good inside him. It's just been suppressed under years of death and darkness and he no longer knows how to find his way out. When he washes ashore after his ship is attacked by a sea creature, Lira recognizes him as the man who once helped her escape the Dragon. Out of obligation she reluctantly takes him to a secluded place to nurse him back to health. Theirs wasn't an instant friendship, there was naturally a lot of distrust and animosity on her part. Knowing he was a Westlander, or what her people call a beast of the frozen sun, his kind is reviled by her clans. Legends called them monsters birthed by leviathans, not even considered human.

As Drakon starts to infiltrate their land, pillaging with the intent to conquer, her clan is suddenly in need of a new chieftan. This is where everything starts to implode. The god they worship is summoned to choose a new leader, but with that choice, dissent and scheming runs rampant under the surface. The whole foundation of the gods they worship could be crumbling under their feet.

Glasnith's only hope of protecting themselves is the man they call a Beast. A man who knows more about the enemy than anyone else and could help mobilize allies to come to their aid. I loved that he was a bit of an anti-hero. I think he was developed really well, and the author did a very good job of showing him in a way that draws your empathy. He's survived lots of tragedy, loss, and betrayal, and he was consumed with darkness because of it. Lira is a conduit back to the light. She digs through his layers and helps him to find the man he once was. Their faith and loyalty to each other in the face of her people's hatred was heartwarming.

This was more violent and bloody than I was expecting. The villain is a pretty chilling guy whom you can't wait to see brought down. As this is the first book in the series, of course we leave things at an unresolved place. It's a pretty strong cliffhanger, so be warned. Overall, there were a few things I loved, and some things that I felt could have used a better explanation or detail. However, the plot was fairly original and kept me guessing, so I really appreciated that. This was not a tame YA fantasy, so if you're looking for something a little grittier, this could be the book for you. Book two in the saga is set to release sometime next year.

Like many people, that gorgeous cover draw me in pretty much immediately. The premise of this book was very interesting and I was excited to find out if the inside was as good as the outside.

I ended up reading this book in two settings. First, I read 42% and I really liked where the story was going and I thought this was going to be a 4 stars book. But then some other shiny new books distracted me and I had to put down this one for a few days. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy the last 58% quite as much as the beginning. I'm not sure if it was my mood or just the book itself but I just didn't care about anything. I couldn't care less about the romance or the story and I just wanted to skip some of it to get to the end. It's a bit disappointing considering how much I enjoyed and really liked the first 42%. The romance and the plot intrigued me and I was hooked when she found him on that beach.

I'm sure lots of readers will enjoy this one even if for me this book will end up in the average category, which I tend to forget very easily.

(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC of this via Netgalley)

Beasts of the Frozen Sun follows the story of Lira, daughter of the chieftain of clan Stone, and Reyker, a warrior from a distant, frozen land who is forced to fight for a warlord known as the Dragon. The Dragon sets his sights on the island of Glasnith to conquer next, and en route, Reyker is separated from the rest of his company, eventually washes up on the shores near Lira's home. Although the invaders are commonly seen as cruel savages, Lira realizes he is different. As a daughter of Aillira, touched by the gods, Lira's gift is reading a person's soul, and when she sees that Reyker is good at heart, she takes care of him. But the Dragon is not far behind, and an attack on her people is imminent.

The cover of this book is what initially got my attention, and I picked it up even though my initial thought was it was going to be a cliched story. I was quite relieved to be proven wrong. I liked that the bond between Reyker and Lira was slow to form, and it was very realistic. Reyker's story and background was very interesting, especially to see him fight the battle-madness that he is cursed with. There is a lot of scope for character development on Lira's part. Up until now, her arc was largely focussed around feeling trapped by her family, clan and their culture, and then upon escaping, possibly with Reyker. But with the twist at the end of the book, things have changed for Lira and I'm enjoying guessing what her path ahead might be.

While this started off quite interesting, after a point, it felt very repetitive, where Lira and Reyker basically run, hide and get caught over and over. This, among other things made it extraordinarily hard for me to connect to either protagonist. I also found the world-building to be largely insufficient. While Glasnith itself is well described, other aspects such as the green gods and ice gods are rather vague and I'm still more than a little confused how this stuff works. Hopefully the sequel will expand on this a little more, especially since the magic and myth portions are what I liked best about this book.

With Celtic and Viking themes to it, Beasts of the Frozen Sun is definitely one of the more unique stories I've come across, particularly in terms of setting. I'm still conflicted about it plot wise, and I really hope that ending is resolved sooner rather than later in the sequel, but that aside, this was a good, somewhat dark, fantasy read with a lot of potential, and I would definitely recommend it.

This book was in one word amazing. But I’m getting way ahead of myself. Let’s start chronologically. First, the book cover, which is gorgeous! It was the cover that drew me first and then the blurb held my attention.

Second, writing style. The author’s writing style is so on point with beautiful prose that was a pleasure to read. I fell down the rabbit hole from the first page and kept going deeper and deeper until it was vital for me to get to the end of the book before I could do anything else. The world-building was so rich with vivid detail that I felt like I was there with Lira, living her life.

The main characters Lira and Reyker were both compelling characters. Throughout the book, I was like a cheerleader waving my pom-pom in the air, cheering for them. All their troubles, everything they went through, I couldn’t believe they’d survive it. This book make me experience so many emotions I was soaked in them.

The plot-line was excellent with twists and turns that caught me like sudden tennis balls winging at my head. Every time I thought they’d make it, something worse happened. They just couldn’t seem to catch a break. And the revelations? Boy, I so did not see them coming.

To summarize, this was a splendid book with a fantastic story-line that will keep you on the edge of your seat, biting your fingernails and deprive you of sleep, food and drink until you finish it. I can’t wait for the sequel.