Beasts of the Frozen Sun, Jill Sasinowski
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley. This does not affect my review in anyway and the thoughts expressed are my own.
I found this book very slow and hard to get into initially. It spent plenty of time developing the characters – Reyker, Lira, her family and her clan – the world and the myths surrounding this land. Our snippets into Reyker and his background while interesting and explained him, it did slow down the story.
When the action did start it was captivating, especially the election of the chieftain. The clans reminded me of many northern European clan, especially Vikings, which I enjoyed. The Westlanders, aka the Dragonmen, were great villains and really suited this world.
The magic system was intriguing, and I really loved how the gods were essentially locked into their continents. It felt unique and I loved how intertwined the mythology and magic system were. This book did a good job of showing the two perspectives surrounding the same story and how history – or in this case myths – is written by the victors.
I was unable to finish this book but is one of the few I am eager to finish and am happy to recommend without finishing it. This world was so fully developed and every aspect was intriguing, it felt like a great beginning to a new epic fantasy world. I find my mind returning to this story and world and am curious how this adventure finishes.

(I got an Arc of this from Netgalley for review. Thanks!)

First thoughts after finishing this book: THESE CHARACTERS DID NOTHING BUT SUFFER.

Can I just say, that there was not a moment these characters didn’t have to deal with some enemy attacking them, hurting them, threatening to rape them...it was never ending.

Okay there was like...ONE happy moment, but still! 90% sadness. 10%...decentness.

Anyway, overall I was conflicted with this book. While it definitely had potential to be memorable, a lot of it I found myself not truly interested in. I have a feeling a lot of people will like this book though, and if you’re into romance, magic, and SUFFERING, this book is definitely for you. I personally, didn’t love it.

—BEYOND THIS POINT, SPOILERS LURK—

Let’s just dive into the likes: I liked the language Jill crafted up for The Dragonmen (one of the...races? In the book). I found that when Reyker spoke his languages—there were words like like Nai (no) and Sitja (sit)—I was very entertained. He said many more fun things but I don’t remember them right now. Anyways, I’m always a fan of fictional languages, especially when they’re used frequently throughout the book.

I enjoyed the banter between the two characters, as well as their relationship. It was sweet, their banter was fun, and that was one of the more entertaining parts about this book.

Now for the things I didn’t particularly care for: I didn’t enjoy the world building. More so because I didn’t get it. Like the magic needed more development. The races? Or whatever the Dragon men were supposed to be? I don’t even know. But I would have enjoyed more on things like that and I feel like they were barley mentioned.

I didn’t care for some of the decisions the characters made. Like when they decided they would make out in a cell RIGHT BEFORE THEY WERE GOING TO ESCAPE. No. I didn’t like that at all. I didn’t like when the Dad tried to kiss her—even if he was possessed—I wasn’t with that. Made me uncomfortable.

I didn’t particularly enjoy the surface level characters. And maybe that’s because this is only book one, and if I decide to read the rest my opinion might change, but for now they seem very surface...like I need more in order to latch on and actually care about them.

So overall it was an okay read. Not memorable but not horrible. Again, I think for other people this will be a very good read, but for me, in this moment, I just wasn’t feeling it.

I received an ARC of this book from netgalley.

When I first started to read this book it sucked my right in. I was intrigued by the prologue, and I absolutely loved Lira. The world that Criswell built was fascinating. I didn't want to put it down to do anything. As I got farther into the book it started to feel like there were just too many setbacks and it had begun to drag on. Luckily, there came a point when it started to drown my in the story again.

This book is extremely well written. I am amazed at what Criswell created here.

I would recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy and romance. If you don't like romance, you probably wouldn't like this book. It's almost more a romance than a fantasy. There is some non-graphic sexual content.

If i’m being perfectly honest I really did not like this book. It wasn’t for me at all.. I’ll start by saying I really enjoyed the writing style of the author and the writing was very atmospheric. But I didn’t feel connected to the characters or the plot at all. It was like a more gruesome, unneeded retelling of beauty and the beast almost. It should have a LOT of tether warnings including rape, which was pushed over and over again as a threat throughout the book. I even reached out to the author asked if it was consistently in the book and was told no. But that isn’t correct because the threat of rape is from the very first chapter all the way to the end of the book. More trigger warnings should be animal violence and cruelty, slavery and incest/threat of rape by a relative. The plot seemed pushed on by nothing more than threats of cruelty with no REAL goal. The book lacks a goal other than fleeing. So in short I liked the potential of the book and the writing but I did not enjoy the story or plot.

"Look in her eyes, yeetozurri. No force on earth could stop her. She would battle the gods themselves before she let you die quietly. Such loyalty is rare. You'd best live to repay it."


TW: gore, attempted rape, a lot of people are murdered brutally


I solely read this book because I loved the cover. These days, I don't even read synopsizes anymore, I see a pretty cover and my monkey brain goes "read!!!". I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover (especially without reading the synopsis), but look at me judging well! And if you want to judge me for judging book covers, go ahead and do it.

Beasts of the Frozen Sun is a Fantasy book that was, in my opinion obviously, inspired by either the Normans' (not the French dudes, the Vikings) invasion of the British Isles, which I personally loved. Not the invasion, but, y'know, the setting. For a book.

So let's talk about the book.

Lira of Stone (yes, the clan name is, in fact, stone) is a god-gifted girl that can read human souls by touching them. Cool af, considering she can look at memories of other people. Not so cool is that her father uses her abilities instead of any kind of legal system. After she watched the memories of a dude stealing some armor or weapons, he gets hanged and she's rightfully upset about this (since she basically sentenced him to death by telling her father about how he did steal) and goes to the ocean to calm down.

There she meets Reyker, a man (more beast) born of the Frozen Sun, and the sworn enemy of the whole isle, five minutes from death. She rescues him, nurses him back to health and all those things that happen in a YA novel with the theme of forbidden love. Shit goes down from there.



I made it sound kinda boring and average, so let me present to you a few plus points to consider:

+ I was prepared to be disappointed, since I seem to dislike a lot of generally well-liked historical (Fantasy-)YA (looking at you, And I Darken), but was actually super into this. Take from that what you will

+ Lira is a fucking badass. She is headstrong, she is ready to murder the invaders, she loves her family and is generally a pleasure to read about. She actually has the ability to spend time not thinking about the Love of her Life™, which I thought was a given, but was proven wrong by so many YA novels that I lost count

+ for those of you that like lore and worldbuilding (me). This is very lore heavy. We get told about the gods of the land, and the history without too much infodumping. As far as I can tell, it's conclusive in itself

+ and, with the lore, come the gods. There's a bunch of them and they have their own agenda and merely play with the mortals and push them where the gods need them to be.

- While we're talking about gods, I want to just say this: there's a bunch of "your religion is false, this is the true religion". It works in this context, as one religion is built upon what actually happened between the gods and the other on lies, but I think telling someone their religion isn't real is never a good move, so have this as a short warning before I continue to rave about this book.

+ a certain plot point took me by complete surprise, since I was busy gloating about how I accurately predicted another plot point (that was extremely predictable in the first place, but I felt really smart for a minute)

+ it's a really strong debut and I personally look forward to more of Criswell


I did have tiny issues with the story, namely Ileesh having very little on-page-time.
My other issue was the writing style, or more the language. It was really weird. That was most likely due to me not being a native speaker tho. I struggled, and I don't struggle with English often these days.


Tl;dr: All in all, a very good debut that I really liked a lot. I was honestly surprised by how much I liked it. Definitely going to buy that as soon as it comes out. Probably shove it into a face or two to show people how lovely the cover is.



Thanks to Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for providing this ARC!

This is a vibrant YA read, full of torment, battles and angst. It wraps itself in mythology, magic and a fantasy world, where an epic story begins; our MC in all this drama is Lira, a young chieftain's daughter, whose value to her people is steeped in her ability to read souls and find the truth. This is both a gift and a torment to her. Alongside and entwined in her story is Ryker, a young man from an opposing land who is left wounded and vulnerable after a battle at sea against a monstrous sea serpent creature. Lira, although unsure exactly why, hides away and helps Ryker and a bond begins to form.

This is a novel of family conflict, aggression, control and greed. It's also about bonds, relationships and love. It's not a quick read and some of the story elements are a little repetitive - I think some closer editing would make this a better book. But overall, it's a solid YA fantasy read, that leaves the reader with an emotional cliff-hanger of an ending. Whilst this is frustrating, I was aware it would be the first in a series, so expected to be left unfulfilled.

Overall, an epic YA fantasy story immersed in magic and mythology, with strong developed characters battling on a seemingly impossible quest, and at its heart a powerful love story.

WARNING: Do not start reading this book at 10pm at night. You will NOT be able to put it down until you finish it. I devoured this book and finished it at 2am. I’m now sleep deprived but it was absolutely worth it. I went to sleep thinking about it. I woke up thinking about it. I’m now addicted and obsessed. Lia and Reyker have captured my heart and taken it with them.

The most incredible thing about Beasts of the Frozen Sun is that it is the author’s debut novel which absolutely just blows my mind. It is beautifully written with an incredible setting and world-building so established and detailed, you’d never even know you weren’t physically living in it from the moment you read the first page. Every visual detail is vividly described - from the land they reside on down to the glint of the weapons they carry. It’s a story full of magic, gods, epic battles between clans, and a villain that will have you worrying about the fate of our beloved characters until the very end.

All of the characters were beautifully created and introduced to us with a purpose. The leads have a smoldering slow-burn romance that will literally ignite you on their first contact. Their love story is magical and INTENSE. We first learn that they share a brief history in the past that still connects them to each other in the present. They have a language barrier that totally gave me “Me Tarzan, you Jane” vibes which I could honestly just immerse myself in over and over again. To my delight, it is resolved by communicating through Lia’s soul touch which ends up being so personal and intimate that I just wanted more and more. Our beloved heroes are incredibly selfless as each is determined to sacrifice themselves to protect the other. Lia and Reyker are far from perfect, both with individual flaws that add true character and essence, but they are perfect for each other. Their character development is unmatched and it's so satisfying to see them grow as both individuals and a pair.

And the villain - the villain is everything you want the big bad to be. Mysterious, terrifying, powerful and full of unanswered questions. And that twist at the end? Oh my. Could this story get any better?

I’m at a loss as to what to say because it was THAT good. I’ve been trying to wrap my head around it all morning. I don’t even know what I’m going to do with myself until the next one in this series comes out. 2020 can’t come soon enough.

Oo such a pretty cover, there's no wonder it caught my attention. This is set on an island not too dissimilar in many ways to ancient Britain and has what I can only describe as Vikings attacking with the usual murder, rape and pillaging going on but actually there's far more to it than that. We have Draki, a truly nasty villain who appears to be a demigod of some type and he's pitted against Lira who is also God touched in that she can quite literally read souls. Her ability is both a blessing and a curse and it's quite intriguing the way the author leads her readers to second guess just what truly is Liras purpose and destiny.
Now every story needs a hero so step forward Reyker. He is an enemy and yet he is also this truly sweet man who battles to do the right thing. The romance between them might not read as torrid but it does feel genuine and well timed.
There's a wealth of supporting characters too from old friends to family members who just might break Liras heart and as events unfolded at times this was anything but a pedantic run of the mill fantasy. Atrocities occur, characters the reader could like die and through it all Lira and Reyker battle on. Not perfect as I didn't really care for the made up language although I did think the author did a good job of showing how females were sadly undervalued as well as underrated. These Gods are not kind though but selfish and pernicious and as this ends our couple are far from safe and happy but that's only going to make readers want to read more.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from NetGalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair.

A really fresh and exciting high fantasy read , I loved this so much, strong female character, great action and adventure , wonderful writing with well developed characters and well constructed worlds. This is a highly enjoyable and interesting read, can’t wait for more in the series.


Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I really liked this book.

Even though she has been gifted with the ability to read someone's soul, Lira is a girl who has seen heartbreak. Still, life seems normal, until it starts to fall apart. Until she meets Reyker, who is one of her clan's enemies... only... he's not like most of them.

Throughout the course of the book, she discovers that her own clan can be just as evil as the enemies she's grown to despise. Not everybody is as they seem. Not everything she's been taught is what it seems.

Beasts of the Frozen Sun has a nice romance, a sweet friendship, siblings, and political intrigue. The end of the book was great. I only knocked it down a star because it took a little while for me to get into. However, there was an earthquake while I was reading the end of the book (my mother-in-law saw the chandeliers sway) and I completely missed it because I was so absorbed in the book.

I received an ARC of Beasts of the Frozen Sun from Blackstone Publishing through NetGalley. What follows is my fair and honest review, but be warned, there are some mild spoilers.

I have to say, Beasts of the Frozen Sun by Jill Criswell ended up being a bit of a surprise for me, with the plot heading in some unexpected directions. A word of warning, though: the book does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, and waiting for the next installment may drive you a bit batty. Here’s my quick summary:

Lira has always lived with her family and the clan of Stone in Glasnith, but the arrival of invaders, so-called warriors of the Frozen Sun, unexpectedly alters the course of Lira’s life. As a soul-reader, Lira can see the humanity in those men others call beasts, and so she hides and heals one of the wounded invaders, named Reyker. This choice ultimately forces Lira to make difficult choices and to question the truths her clan has always held sacred.

In many ways, Beasts is not much different from many other YA fantasy-romance-adventure stories. It has many of the common tropes, after all. A young woman with a special ability, set apart from her peers, sees her world upended. A forbidden romance. A conflict between the heroine and the authority figures in her community. What works about Beasts, in my opinion, is how it handles those tropes, or how it remains interesting in spite of their presence.

For one thing, Beasts of the Frozen Sun is angstier than I anticipated. While many YA fantasy novels have an element of darkness to them, I think Criswell’s novel can be particularly brutal, especially with regards to Lira’s relationship with her father. I don’t see much room for hope or redemption in that relationship, but perhaps the sequel will prove differently. The reason I think this plot element is to the novel’s benefit is because it adds a sense of seriousness or weight to the novel. The stakes are more realistic. However, I did not think the novel got so dark that it isn’t appropriate for a young adult audience.

I also enjoyed how the relationship between Lira and Reyker seemed to progress at a realistic pace. Lira doesn’t fall instantaneously for Reyker, and in fact resists his pull, but her falling for the enemy does make sense in light of her ability to read souls. I also think the obstacles they face make sense in the context of the story, and aren’t just conflict thrown in to add more drama. I also think the novel uses the relationship to explore, to some extent, themes of xenophobia and violence.

Overall, I was a bit surprised with how compelling I ultimately found Beasts of the Frozen Sun, but I did still have some issues with it. One was a simple “language tic,” for lack of a better term, wherein the author uses “bloody” as an expletive-adjective (e.g. “I’m bloody tired of hearing about frost giants”). I always thought this use of “bloody” was a fairly contemporary phenomenon, and it felt very out of place in a historical-fantasy world.

My other concern about this novel is that I found the worldbuilding to be confusing at times. There’s a lot of history/mythology to the world that I never felt I fully understood. This is partly because the truth of those myths is thrown into question throughout the course of the novel, but I never understood the stories enough to understand what was being subverted. On top of this, I had a hard time understanding the “contemporary” politics of the story, in terms of the clans, the mercenaries, the enemies, the exiles, and the other people that populate this world. I could never quite grasp how they all fit together.

Still, I was interested enough to read through the whole novel, and it delivered some cliffhangers at the end. Literally, there’s a cliff involved, though I suppose no one is truly hanging off of it. Except, perhaps, us readers, who are left with some big news in the novel’s final pages. Some of the reveals were anticipated. Others were not, and they definitely change the stakes for the story moving forward. I would be interested in a sequel, but I hope it’s just a sequel. It feels like a story that could be neatly tied up in a duology.

I recommend Beasts of the Frozen Sun for fans of YA fantasy, especially Viking/Norse-inspired and British Isles-inspired fantasy (I think those were the main influences). I also think fans of Leigh Bardugo’s first Grisha trilogy, Mary E. Pearson’s The Remnant Chronicles, and Erika Johnson’s The Queen of the Tearling series.

4 stars

Beasts of the Frozen Sun is encapsulated within myth and mist and fire in a way which reminds of the classicality of authors such as Tamora Pierce. I adored the dichtomy of the men that featured within Lira's story, torn between the traditional (and perhaps toxic) male driven teachings, and striving towards understanding emotionally the plight of this young girl.

*ARC received from Netgalley in return for an honest review*

I have some very complicated feelings about this book. It took me quite a while to get fully invested in the book because I felt like there was too much going on while also not enough. Some pages would be packed full of plot and then others would be slow going over weeks worth of events. The pacing seemed to be the major key problem for me that sadly made this book a little forgettable. The world is the one thing that I will remember since the different gods and lands were interesting to me. Other than that, the characters are interchangeable and can be from any other fantasy setting. Still, I did finish the book and left with a content feeling so if one likes a good Fantasy world with some okay characters I would totally recommend this book.

I received this via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved it guys. This book was just what I wanted It to be. The world building was fun. The characters were very well flushed out. I loved the plot of this. I can not wait to read more by this author. I highly recommend this book.

3,5 stars

This last year I read a lot of new series of debut authors and I noticed that I tend to give 3 and 3,5 star reviews. My main issue is that most of the stories are not original or not well written.

Beasts of the Frozen Sun is a story about two enemies whose paths are entwined. Lira, is the daughter of a Chieftain in a place like Britain, while Reyker, a warrior from a distant and cold land, where the people look like giants and are known as Beasts of the Frozen Sun. Lira can read souls and Reyker is the star warrior of his chief, a man without soul who made him done horrible things in order to survive. In the past, he saved Lira's life and years later she made the same choice.

The writing was good, the story a little confusing at times because the moment I knew where it was going, the setting changed again, but in general I like how the main focus was the soul. At moments I felt like I was in an episode of Viking with more magic, and even though the vibe was similar to Sky in the Deep, the approach was different.

Lira and Reyker were both very likeable characters, and to be honest, I liked that their romance grew slowly, how they learned about each others pasts, mistakes and how they ended up loving and trusting each other so deeply. I also loved her relationship with her brothers and every single time that Lira read Reyker's soul. Reyker is wonderful, the way he trusts, loves, and protects Lira, despite everything that he lost, is amazing.

The one thing I didn't like was that the story felt repetitive at times and Lira and Reyker spent the majority of the book in the same place. It would be amazing to learn and see more about the world. Also, I would prefer the end a little different. I am not talking about the twist, which I loved and didn't expect at all, but I would like Reyker and Lira to be forced apart in the end, like in different continents.

Trigger warnings for death, abuse, mention of rape, loss of family.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this e-arc, in exchange for my honest review.

Another fantastic Viking-themed story! This book, written by Jill Criswell, has gods, magical gifts, chilling warriors, and so much action I could barely put it down. The story follows Lira, a soul reader who saves an enemy warrior from death. As Lira and Reyker's forbidden bond grows stronger, they discover that the threat from an evil warlord grows stronger, and they must find a way to save themselves, their souls, and their people.

This book has so many elements to it. Even the synopsis falls short of doing this book justice. There's incredible relationships, twisting magic, and vengeful gods. The plot continues to build until the last page, leaving me wishing for more. I know without a doubt I'll be continuing with this series because I absolutely love Lira, Reyker, and the world building. I think it's one of the best Viking reads I've read, and I wouldn't hesitate to group it with Sky in the Deep and Warrior of the Wild.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 4.5
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4

Would I recommend? Yes! This book is for readers who love Vikings, fantasy, battles, and the enemies-to-lovers trope.

Thank you, NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing, for the ARC! This book will be released on August 6, 2019.

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

Thank you so much to Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read this amazing book early! Lira is an amazingly complex character with emotions she does not quite understand. She is close minded in the beginning and slowly welcomes the vastness the world has to offer. Her abilities are so intriguing and I can't wait to see more of them in the next installment. I feel some bits of it were shortchanged which is why I gave 4 stars instead of 5. I would have liked her abilities to be emphasized more.

Reyker's life was just doomed it seemed from the start. I want to know more about his brother and how everything happened. They have beaten so many odds and I expect great things out of this series.

I went into this book kind of blind. I did read the blurb when I requested the ARC from NetGalley, but after I got approved I basically just dove straight into reading. After reading the first couple of pages, I was hooked. I read this book in one Saturday and I have absolutely no regrets.

Lira, the protagonist, is the headstrong daughter of the chief of Clan Stone, born with a gift that makes her valuable to her father and the clans around them. The island of Glasnith is currently under attack of the Dragonmen, warriors from the Westland, the land of the Frozen Sun.
When she discovers a wrecked boat on the shores of Glasnith, she recognizes one of the men: Reyker.


Reyker is a conflicted character. He was forced into the group of Dragonmen, cursed with battle-madness, but he is rethinking his actions. He falls in love with Lira after she rescues him from the shores, and they battle through the language barrier with gestures and soul-reading.
Their relationship (hate-to-love) was very gradual and I loved that. It felt really natural for them to fall in love. I was kind of expecting insta-love, but I was pleasantly surprised by Jill Criswell’s writing.

Character I didn’t like were Lira’s dad and his brother Madoc. They were absolute pricks, not only to Lira, but to the entirety of Clan Stone. It got even worse when they battled for dominance when the chieftain died and one of them had to stand in his place.
There was absolutely no room for them to redeem themselves, and even if there was, I don’t think I would’ve warmed up to those characters.

Jill Criswell’s writing is fast-paced, captivating, and her world building is amazing. She gives you just enough information about the location that it feels like you’ve actually stood where Lira stands. She uses Lira’s narrative very cleverly to introduce just the right amount of suspense into the story, and I loved the fact that every once in a while, we got a chapter from Reyker’s point of view as well.

The plot is incredibly intriguing. I was hooked after reading a couple of pages and I told myself I wouldn’t go to bed without finishing this book, and that’s exactly what I did. There are gods, there are myths, the Dragonmen are everywhere and so much happens that you just want to keep reading.

This book has elements of a typical YA fantasy book, but that’s one of the things I love so much about it. I love YA fantasy, my whole bookshelf consists of this genre. This book has me aching for the next installment, even though this book isn’t even out yet. The cliffhanger is killer, trust me. I applaud Jill Criswell for writing such a gripping and intriguing book that kept me up for most of Saturday night. All in all, it’s a wonderful start to a new fantasy series.

Such a great read, it was intriguing from the beginning. Reyker and Lira both have their own untold history that we have to uncover as we read further along. Great hook!

Beast of the Frozen sun opens with a very dark and creepy scene of war and bloodshed. This opening gives the readers a glimpse of what is to come in the story. It also has a richness to it in the detail, luring the reader into the story before taking the reader on a fast-paced journey. It does not give a hint as to this male character but alludes to this internal battle within him. It is unknown what is going to happen to him, especially when the story shifts to Lira.

This shift is where the story begins. Criswell does an excellent job world building, giving the reader just enough detail and history to familiarize the reader with Lira’s world. The atmosphere in the storytelling is very telling as well. Lira has love in her world, but there is also this cold bleakness to it as well. She is a conflicted character who uses her power as her people see fit rather than as she would want to. It brings rise to conflict within her narrative that makes for magnificent tension building. Her power is a core element in the novel, and the place where her gift came from is as well.

There are times when this novel feels very much like the tale of Tristan and Isolde because of how the story brings Reyker and Lira together and how they seek to battle Gods and monsters together against all the odds. It has that medieval feel to it as it tells the story which makes is invigorating.

As for the story after the initial opening, the pace of the novel does slow down. It is hard to say where exactly the story is going to take the reader because there are multiple antagonists. The central antagonist is off screen manipulating the events of the story. It is interesting to read the events unfold, but the pace for part one of the novel is slow as it introduces these many villains and sets up the direction for the characters.
As for the characters, the flip back and forth between POVs allows for a better understanding of the world, the characters and the challenges they face. Lira is a strong character and is very reminiscent of a shield maiden. She has the strength and will to fight this battle and keep her head high through it all. Yes, there are times where she falters, but this only makes her human and more relatable. As for Reykey his internal battle between darkness and light, while cliché, it works here and does not come off as cliché. His past and pain he feels mirrors the conflict very well and allows the reader to connect to him.

Together these two characters make a dynamic team. How they interact, how they evolve through the course of this novel is compelling, and the way the story evolves around them, bring to light twists and turns is exceptionally well done. Overall it is an exciting start to a new series.