Member Reviews
I really enjoyed reading this book. It definitely gave me an Elsa vibe, but in a more mythical way. I love the way the author created different kinds of magic in the story, and multiple POV is my favorite! I was hoping for a little bit more romance, but I imagine that might blossom in coming sequels! That final cliffhanger - dang! Headed for book 2 now!!!!!
Just finished Omen of Ice by Jus Accardo, and I am absolutely hooked! From the very first page, this book grabs you and doesn’t let go. The world-building is rich and immersive, drawing you into a world full of secrets, danger, and magic. The characters, especially the main lead, are layered and intriguing, with a perfect blend of strength and vulnerability. I loved how the stakes kept getting higher and the twists kept coming.
What really stood out for me was the dynamic between the characters—it was electric, and their chemistry had me rooting for them from start to finish. The action was fast-paced and intense, but it never sacrificed character depth or emotional moments.
Now, I’m ready to dive into the next book because that ending left me dying for more! If you love fast-paced urban fantasy with strong characters, a gripping plot, and a dash of romance, Omen of Ice is a must-read. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next!
This story swept me into a richly crafted fantasy world of intrigue, romance, and danger. Keltania Tunne, a fierce Druid bodyguard, faces arrogance and resistance from her charge, Valen, the Winter Fae heir. Their fiery clashes gradually reveal deeper connections, set against secrets and courtly conspiracies. The world-building is immersive, the magic system unique, and the characters compelling, with Tania’s determination and Valen’s hidden layers standing out. The slow-burn romance and twists kept me hooked, though the pacing felt rushed during key revelations. Still, the captivating blend of action, mystery, and emotion makes this for you.
I really enjoyed Omen of Ice. It was an interesting take on a Fae/Druid world with lots of action, several twists and turns, and a slow burn romance. While some areas of the story could have used a little more depth, overall I was intrigued by Valentines and Keltania’s story and I’m excited to see where the story goes next!
Thank you to Entangled Teen for my copy!
Keltania is a druid and part of the Order of Alphenians. She has been assigned to protect a Winter Fae, Valen, the heir to the Winter Court, but he doesn't want her there. Valen is hiding secrets. This story is written in dual POV between Keltania and Valen.
Long ago there was a war that broke out among the Fae, and the original Alphenia used half of all druid magic to help the Winter Lord she was in love with win this war, since the Fae magic was depleted. The druid magic was supposed to be returned after but was "lost." This is important in the plot as it sets the tone between our two main characters and their chosen actions. There were some plot twists that were thrown into the adventure to keep the story interesting.
There is a lot of banter between our main characters, forced proximity, slow burn, and forbidden love. They both are keeping secrets but share a bond, so they both know the other is hiding something. So, the only character development that I feel took place would be with the bond.
The story ends with the expectation that a second book will carry on the saga. Overall, I enjoyed this first book in the series and look forward to reading the second book.
I was really excited to read this book. Tania is a strong female character. Valen on the other hand also is a big personality, making the two clash. This book features a big forced proximity trope as well as an enemies-to-lovers subtrope. Even though the story is more about the adventures and secrets, there is a small romance line underneath.
I really enjoyed the adventure in the storyline. Daroose might be one of my favorite characters and I am kind of hoping for a love triangle in the next part in the trilogy. I really am curious about what the next part will be, since the cliffhanger and twists were amazing! I can't wait to dive into Nature of Frost to see what else this story will bring. In my opinion, Omen of Ice deserves a 4 star rating. I also would really recommend this pageturner to everyone.
Wow! I absolutely loved this book. Amazing characters and wonderful plot. Very beautifully written and easy to read.
I read this book in one sitting and I couldn’t get enough, I loved every second of it. It was very interesting to read. Jus created such an interesting and captivating world. I loved the relationship between Keltania and Valen.
Overall I loved this book very much. I highly recommend reading it.
3.5 stars rounded to 4!
Omen of Ice is a great fantasy book that balances romance and plot perfectly. It has action, adventure, and a twist that leaves you wanting the next book immediately!
The writing is simple and easy to read, which makes it the perfect book to escape into. While predictable, it is executed so nicely that it does not take away from how good the book is. The characters are easy to feel for and written very well, especially Keltania. I really enjoyed how funny the interactions between Keltania and Valen were. Minor characters were also able to shine and add so much depth to the story.
Overall, I liked this more than I expected. This is the perfect book to read after a complex high fantasy! Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Teen for the arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was such a an easy and fun read. So much so, I finished this within a few days. It's been a while since I've read a YA Fantasy that was as refreshing as this one. I absolutely adore Tania and Valen. The story itself is great too and was hard to put down.
The ending definitely has me invested and I can't wait for the next book. Definitely grab this one, especially if you enjoy a great mix of characters and a fun storyline.
I sincerely appreciate Entangled Teen for the review copy.
This book is told from dual POVs, and Keltania (Tania) is the badass female main character. She’s a Druid who’s trained her entire life to become a bodyguard for a Winter Fae. Back in the day, Druids and Fae fought side by side in wars, and now Druids honor that history by protecting their Fae counterparts. For Tania, it’s the most prestigious job she could have.
Then there’s Valen, the snarky male lead who Tania is sworn to protect. Problem is, he wants nothing to do with her and tries to get rid of her every chance he gets. At first, Valen comes off as a spoiled, pampered nephew of the Winter Lord, Orbik. On top of that, he’s the first Fae with magic after a war centuries ago wiped out all magic—and humanity along with it.
The two set out on an epic quest, running into all sorts of interesting characters along the way. I was fully invested… until the end. The climax rolls around, and instead of things getting exciting, everything stops and it’s just talking between characters.. Seriously, it’s a giant info dump.
All the betrayal, backstory, and foreshadowing are crammed into these long-winded conversations that feel like a history lecture rather than letting you discover it over time. It really killed the vibe.
The book needed more space to weave all that info into the story instead of dumping it all at once. The ending left me kind of disappointed after enjoying the rest of the book so much.
The things that stood out for me about Omen of Ice are how strong Keltania is and how quickly Valen grew on me. I also loved the worldbuilding and the side characters (Daroose is so hard to not love). It didn’t feel like every other fae book out there and kept me guessing. Even though Keltania is a human living in a world with Fae, she is sure of herself, from her strength to her position in the world. Valen comes off as the party-boy fae Winter Court prince, wanting to sleep and drink his way through every day. As Keltania and Valen become friends, it becomes clear that Valen is so much more than that, and both are dealing with things that have shaped who they are today. This book was a very easy book to read and once they started their adventure (no spoilers) it just flew by. I quickly started caring about Keltania and Valen and wanting the outcome of their predicament to be good for them both. This ended on a cliffhanger and makes me really excited to read Nature of Frost!
Such a cool premise and pretty good execution. Reminded me of Cardan and Jude from Cruel Prince. Looking forward to see how the story progresses in book 2!
I chose this book as my final read of the year and am so happy I did! As someone who also has spent “some” time in Azeroth, I really enjoyed the authors take on Druids and could feel some of the magic of darnassus in the tree descriptions. The story was great and fast paced. I really loved the banter and relationship development between the characters, and there were some great plot twists.
I received my beautiful edition in an owlcrate box, the reverse art on the dust jacket and the end paper art is beautiful. Really looking forward to the sequel and seeing where the characters paths lead next!
Rating: 4.5/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.
In this book you will meet Keltania who is an Aphelian. What is an Aphelian, they’re druids who are assigned to Fae to guard/protect at all costs. You will see that Keltania’s views of the world are a little different from the one that she is in charge of Valen. He is part of the Winter Court, but he doesn’t act like them, and he has the most unusual violet eyes that are just unnerving. Things start to not a lot of sense and Keltania doesn’t know who to trust and who not too, but with a lot of people or things trying to kill them, Keltania and Valen learn really fast that they will have to learn to protect each other and that they’re stronger together than they’re apart, even if that is what Valen wants the most; to have Keltania leave.
This was my first book by Jus Accardo, and I found the writing style to be just right for me. I found that there was a lot of information throughout the book but never an info dump, I liked that in this book you will see action, romance, forbidden love, adventures, betrayal, and an interesting magical system. fast-paced read, you will see that the first book is more character-driven but you will see the plot start to really unfold when you get to the end of the story. I enjoyed that the author had characters that were easy to connect with. I found that with the dual POV, that I was not confused on who was doing the talking but really helped me to understand each other better.
With Keltania you will find a strong, independent druid. Who might be a little naive when it comes to what the world is like outside of her order, but you will see a wonderful person who knows the dangers of the world and the cost that it might take to make sure that it stays safe. I found her characters too easy to connect with, her being fierce, witty and a really bada$$ woman. However, I loved that she was onto something going on in the Winter Court and wouldn’t let it go, but understood that Valen would come to trust her, or maybe not. I liked that with her character trying to find out the truth, you will see a lot of twists and turns throughout the book but even more so at the ending. I found Keltania and Valens chemistry to have been written well, I loved that they banter throughout the book, but under all that bickering you will see the chemistry that is rolling off of these characters. I liked that Valen was cocky in the beginning of the book, you will see him being charming, but something is just off. I liked that you don’t care about anything, but really you will see that Valen does care and maybe a little too much and that is why he acts like he does. He has learned at a young age to never show any emotions, and he plays his part well. I liked that these two characters are a great rep for opposites attract and how they can balance each other.
I can’t wait to see what book two will bring us and to see how Keltania and Valen handle what is going on between them and handling their duties.
I want to thank NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the opportunity to review this book.
First I'd like to start of by thanking NetGalley, Jus Accardo, and Entangled Publishing for affording me the opportunity to review this book.
I really enjoyed this one. The storyline was pretty easy to follow and the back and forth between the main characters was sarcastic and whitty. Just my cup of tea. A true YA with minimal spice (which is definitely the way it should be in the YA genre). Druid was a new term for me and am so happy this book introduced me to the term.
Keltania Tunne has spent her whole life training to become a bodyguard for a Winter Fae. It’s the highest of honors for a druid…only when Tania arrives at the Winter Court for the first time, nothing is what she expected.
Her assignment is the heir to the throne, Valen, and he doesn’t want her protection. In fact, he wants her gone. Yesterday. But Tania will not compromise, even if he is the most arrogant jackass she’s ever met—because something isn’t right in the Winter Court.
Everyone has secrets. From the Winter Lord to the kitchen maids to the rising faction that wants the prince dead—no one is who they seem. And now it’s up to Tania to keep her sacred oath and protect Valen, even when his smart mouth makes her skate the razor-thin edge between love and hate.
But the more she gets to know him, the more she realizes his secret is the biggest of all—and might just get them both killed.
This is my first time reading a book by this author and I am very pleased! The world building in this story is very well done. The character development is excellent and you become very attached to Tania. The pace of the book was just right. Overall a very excellent read!
I enjoyed the pacing of this book. The banter between the two main characters was enjoyable especially with their connection. While they faced some difficult situations they were able to overcome with a good sense of humor. I can’t wait to find out where their story will go next.
Thanks to Brittany at Entangled for the arc!!
This book was amazing! Thank you entangled for the arc! Loved the fantasy and world building. The chemistry and tension between the main characters was great and helped develop the characters for later. Definitely a twist at the end as everything you think you know is turned around. Excited for book 2
"Omen of Ice" had been lingering on my TBR list for quite some time, and I'm delighted I finally took the plunge. This engaging read proved to be the perfect remedy for my reading slump, offering a captivating escape into a world of Fae and magic.
The story revolves around Keltania, a young woman who has spent her entire life training to become a guardian for a Fae. Her expectations are shattered when she's assigned to protect Valen, a carefree royal from the Winter Court known for his playboy antics. As the nephew of the Winter Court's king, Valen enjoys a life of minimal responsibility, save for two crucial tasks: concealing his rare magical abilities and staying alive – both of which prove more challenging than anticipated.
The narrative gains momentum when Valen finds himself in peril, and Keltania swoops in to save him. However, an unforeseen mistake binds them together in ways neither could have predicted, propelling them on a quest for answers. This journey unveils a series of truths that have far-reaching and potentially harmful consequences.
While I found the book largely enjoyable, I must admit to feeling somewhat let down by the ending. Without delving into spoilers, there's a particular aspect that left me wanting more. However, this disappointment is tempered by the hope that the sequel will address this unresolved element.
Despite this minor grievance, "Omen of Ice" proves to be an entertaining read that successfully blends romance, fantasy, and intrigue. It's an ideal choice for fans of Fae-centric stories or those seeking a light yet engaging fantasy romance.
For readers considering this book, be prepared for an adventure filled with magical mishaps, royal intrigue, and a dash of romance. While it may not reinvent the wheel in the fantasy genre, "Omen of Ice" offers a delightful escape and sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting series.
I had the pleasure of reading this book for entangled publishing along with the next book in this series "Nature of Frost"for review. I was able to grab the audio for this on Hoopla and the narration was excellent. It really brought this story to life! This book is an upper YA with lots of twists and turns through out. The way they can full circle at the end of this book had me gasping, I didn't see it coming!
The author jumps right into this story plot so if you like it getting right in this is for you.
This boom also n doesn't have alot of spice which is nice for preteen readers. There is some but nothing over the top.
This is also dual POV