I was really looking forward to this book but I feel that it fell flat of my expectations. Maybe I was expecting too much due to the hype surrounding this book and that is what happened. Whatever it was I didn't click with this book.

I think that my biggest complaint was the world building. In my opinion, as a fantasy lover, a fantasy book lives or dies by it's ability to engross me in the story. I am usually okay with the 'let me tell you a story' kind of way of telling information, but there has to be a limit. I am okay with a bit of information being told that way but it happening at multiple times in the book? Eh.

The love was interesting but as I felt myself getting annoyed by the world building, I felt myself getting more annoyed with everything else.

All in all, I think that this was an okay book. If you like fantasy light and if you like the information about the past out there from the beginning, this is the book for you!

Ruby has spent her life hiding in the outskirts, trying to keep people from getting too close and discovering her secret - she is one of the few remaining Firebloods, and one the king would pay to have hunted down. When soldiers come to her small village, she feels that all is lost. After months in a dungeon, where her guards keep her freezing and hungry, Ruby is rescued. But she's not sure who these mysterious men are or why they would want to save her. All too soon Ruby is learning to use her powers and wants nothing more than to seek her revenge on the king.

This has some excellent character development and a well-developed relationship between the two main characters. Not for the faint-of-heart, as there are plenty of gruesome descriptions, but will make a great read for fans of Red Queen.

This book blew my mind!!! I picked it up last year at BEA/Bookcon and just WOW!! I thought it was going to be like other fantasies out there but how wrong was I. This one starts off with a bang and doesn't stop though out the entire story! I fell in love with Ruby and her situation and I just couldn't put it down! This is one author to keep both eyes on. She created in this story some very strong characters, one killer plot, and a mystery reveal that I didn't see coming! The worldbuilding was stellar and made the story come alive! I froze most of the time reading this book and even had to cover up on more than one occasion. The story pulls you in that much! Fans of the Storm Siren will love this newest fantasy!

3.5-3.75 stars.

As far as YA fantasy novels go, this one is pretty similar to what you'd expect. The tropes of the chosen one, of tragic backstories, and unresolved emotions are present. There are differences, of course, things that make Frostblood stand out in a world of similar stories. This book is good, but it's not the greatest book I've read.
There were a lot of info dumps, lots of mythology and stories that didn't flow too well, at a time that didn't make me want to remember because although I knew it would be relevant, it didn't seem relevant at the time.
The plot is fairly predictable but fun and entertaining enough to keep you reading. There were one or two things that I had not seen coming, but overall, I could have told you how it ends.
The story definitely has it's moments of high tension and stress, and it weaves an interesting narrative, and leads you to places you wouldn't expect. Overall, it was enjoyable, and anyone who likes fantasy would most likely enjoy it.
I am aware that this is a series, but with the ending that was given, I'm not sure where the other books might go. Frostblood ended in such a way as to give the illusion of a standalone.

A nice twist on a classic theme. Many attempts to retell stories with new twists fall short. This one reached its target. The read was fast moving but the characters were developed and not just penciled in. A great read for a rainy day.

Frostblood is the first installment in author Elly Blake's Frostblood Saga. 17-year old Ruby is quite possibly the last living Fireblood in Otrera thanks the King's hatred & desire to exterminate her kind. But, her own mother kept her from exploring her abilities for fear of discovery, when she should have been learning how to use, and control her gift. After being betrayed by villagers, Ruby watches as her mother is killed by the King's men. Ruby is then captured & taken to a place where she is prevented from using her abilities.

5 months later, Ruby is rescued by a pair of Frostbloods who believe she can help them bring down the King. They truly believe that Ruby may be the answer to their prayers. One of her rescuers is Arcus, a man of many mysteries, including why he covers his face, why he has a scar on his face, and why he is so desperate for Ruby's help. He and Brother Thistle take her to an abbey where Ruby learns an about an organization called Order of Fors. Since there are no more Fireblood Masters, Arcus and Thistle begin an intense regimen of training.

Have to say that Ruby does have some issues. She's quick tempered, hard-headed, but she's just the way I love characters to be. Because of her isolation from society, she's an unknown to almost everyone. She struggles to handle her powers which have been restrained for too long. She makes puzzling decisions which lead to bad consequences. She's also not the next coming of Celaena Sardothien, but she does have the same desire for revenge & the power within her to seek out revenge against those who have taken everything away from her.

With Arcus and Ruby constantly going after each other's throats, you would think that I would have had the urge to move on to something else. But, again I swear I have the patience of a Saint. The two have so much turmoil between them, and Arcus is so damn cold most of the time, that you want to slap them both silly. Yet, if you look deeper into Arcus's background, and what he went through, you can move forward without hesitation. Unfortunately for Ruby, training is interrupted by betrayal within the ranks of the Monks which leads to Ruby's re-capture.

She is brought before King Akur who would love to see every last Fireblood bleeding out in front of him. Instead, he is encouraged to send Ruby to face the best of the best in an arena where only the strongest walk out alive. Ruby's trials lead to even more revelation about the darkness that holds the King in its sway, and Ruby's own darkness within that keeps her alive against some pretty powerful enemies. There is something about Ruby that ends up intriguing the King. The more time Ruby stays alive, the more encouraged he is that Ruby may be the answer to the prophecy which hangs over the Kingdom.

Frostblood starts out on a high note, then slowly burns its way towards the second half of the book where Ruby must face all sorts of odds against her survival. The relationship between Ruby and Arcus is not an easy one to read about at times. She doesn't trust that easily. He thinks she may be the savior he is looking for, but still treats her as though she is the enemy. One can sort through the anger & the banter to get to the point where Arcus isn't a bad person, he's just been through a whole lot that weighs heavily on his psyche. One can definitely say that sparks fly, and opposites do attract.

Author Elly Blake has created her own mythology for this series. There are Four Gods who are important and the reason why is pretty clear. The god of the North Wind (Fors) created the Frostbloods, while the Goddess of the South (Sud) created the Firebloods. There are also Gods of the East (Eurus) and West (Cirrus) which are talked about a great deal, but are really just backdrops to war that has been brewing for years between Frostbloods and Firebloods. I am not one of those who likes to compare books to other series. I love reading Fantasy novels no matter if they are the same tried and tested formula as others have taken. So, on that point I will close my review by saying that I enjoyed this first story in the trilogy and will keep my eye opened for the sequel to see where Blake takes her characters from here.

A compelling fantasy about a world where frost and fire are all-powerful. Well written, engrossing, a real page-turner of a YA fantasy. I look forward to the next installment in this series. But thankfully, it stands very well on its own.

Elly Blake's entry into the fantasy young adult genre is not exactly groundbreaking but still manages to be compelling. Her story of ice versus fire is highly reminiscent of Sarah J. Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses, especially the sections where Ruby must compete in the tournaments. However, this should not concern interested readers for the story is still an intriguing one with plenty of differences.

Ms. Blake does quite a bit of worldbuilding within the story, an essential part of any new fantasy series. While this slows the pacing of certain sections, the payoff is considerable. It is one of the few fantasy novels where readers get the entire origin story of the world and its key players. Readers understand the politics as well as the magic, both of which are key focuses within the story. The lack of confusion about Ruby's world is a welcome one, allowing you to focus on her trials and tribulations rather than trying to make sense of an unfamiliar world.

Ruby is another heroine in a long line of strong female characters upon whose shoulders rest the fate of her people. She has the determination and the fierce desire to win, a key trait of such figures. However, unlike some of the others with whom she could be compared, she also shows her youth in her irrational emotional responses. The intriguing part about this is the fact that Ms. Blake explains her emotional outbursts as part of her fiery nature; likewise the Frostbloods have an icy nature and are prone to hide their emotions. Indeed, there is a lack of angst in Ruby that is refreshing. Watching her harness her powers is equally fascinating, and the story ends with plenty of unanswered questions about her future potential.

While Frostblood may not be the strongest new novel, it is an entertaining one. Ruby gets under your skin in a good way, compelling you to continue along with her on her journey and forcing you to care about her that may not seem apparent given her propensity for emotional outbursts. The world in which Ruby must fight for her life is well-developed for the age target. While the story is somewhat self-contained, there remains plenty of fodder for future stories that will entice fans and make them anxious for the sequel. I think fans of the genre are going to love Ruby and Fireblood heart.

Frostblood by Elly Blake is the first book in a ya fantasy series and it was really good. The story revolves around Ruby a teenage girl who is a fireblood, which means she has the power of fire and she lives in a country that is ruled by an evil frostblood king.

Ruby was a really good character, she is feisty and has a lot of spirit. She is a conflicted character, she wants to obey her mother and not use her powers but she also wants to learn to control her powers like her grandmother was teaching her to do before she died. Ruby is a good and kind and likes to help people but she has a temper and I find that makes her more relateable. She is a smart-ass and she sometimes let her temper get the best of her in situations but she tries.

As for the story itself, I love fantasy and I love magic this book had both so already a good start. The surprises that Elly put in the book were really good, some I had no idea that the book was going to turn that way. The more I read the more questions I began to have and now I have questions that need to be answered, because I have a theory about Ruby and I need to know if I'm right.

Frostblood has magical powers, an evil king, gods, secrets, fighting, romance and more. The writing was really good, I love the characters and the plot was excellent. Frostblood grabbed my attention and held it all the way through. I can't wait to see what happens to Ruby in the next book, Fireblood.

Frostblood, the first in this young adult saga, intoduces us to the high fantasy world of the Fostbloods and the Firebloods. Ruby our 17 year old protagonist has learned to keep her fireblood abilities a secret for most of her life. The alternative is being hunted and killed.

The world building and plot are reminiscent of many YA fantasy books in this genre. I doubt though that any fan of this will scoff at the similarities. It was an exciting read that I gobbled up fairly quickly. The relationships were well develop and Ruby's interactions were endearing, romantic even. I reached a few parts in the novel where I felt information and back stories where dumped on the reader via storytelling scenes rather clumsily. They made the fast pace of the novel halt to a bit of a stand still. Perhaps the stage is too conveniently being set and foundations are being layed for later books in this saga.

A noteworthy page turning beginning in an over saturated genre, where sometimes that special something keeps you reading to the end and you're not dissatisfied at all. I am curious to see where this author takes it frm here.

What a great story! I loved Ruby and her slowly finding out more about Arcus and his mysterious background. The mythology was very developed and kept my interest, and the story moved along at a good pace. Enough little things were left untouched to have a second or third book, but it had a satisfying ending too. All around, a great YA book :)

Will be leaving reviews on Goodreads and Amazon.

Ruby is a 17 year-old girl living with her mother, learning the healing arts, until the soldiers come to her village. Ruby's also a Fireblood - she has power over heat and flame, however unrefined - and in Ruby's world, ruled by the Frostbloods, Ruby's kind is hunted down. Her mother is killed trying to protect her, and Ruby is imprisoned, shackled to a wall and tormented by her captors. Rescued by rebel Frostbloods, she's trained to wield her power in the hopes that she can melt the Ice Throne that warps the king's mind and increases her power, returning peace to the land. She has one chance to destroy the throne, or it will mean certain death for the monks who have sheltered her and the Frostblood she finds herself falling in love with.

Frost Blood is the first in a new fantasy series that pits ice wielders against fire users in an age-old conflict, and I'm on board for this. This first installment has solid world-building and creates a nice history of fire and frost for readers. I cared about the characters, I got angry at some characters, I was invested. Medieval-world fantasy fans will grab this one, for sure. Display and booktalk with Sarah Maas' Throne of Glass series, Victoria Aveyard's Red Queen series, and Leigh Bardugo's Grisha (Shadow & Bone) series.

DNF because I couldn't get into it. Although it had beautiful writing, it just felt like another young adult dystopia.

Ruby is a fireblood whose kind has basically been killed off by the frostblood ruling class. She must hide her abilities as best as she can. When she is found, she watches her mother get killed right in front of her while trying to protect her. Rebel frostbloods save her from her imprisonment but with the requirement that she helps them defeat the frostblood king. Her powers are unpredictable at best and she's consumed with the want of revenge. Can she learn to control her powers and her contradicting loyalties in order to beat the frostblood while pitted against champions ala Gladiator style?

The first 20-25% of the book had me thinking it would be your typical YA fantasy fodder - snarky young girl protagonist who is the key to saving her people and more, instalove with a touch on a love triangle, fighting, etc. etc... and while it was that, it was a bit more as well. And even if it wasn't, I didn't care. I love these types of stories and this one is written well. While I thought some of the fight scenes could've been expanded a bit more, I felt myself invested in Ruby and Arcus. And although this is the first in a series, I love that there was NO CLIFFHANGER! I still have the want to read the next in the series but without the book leaving me hanging. Plus, I love pretty much anything dealing with the elements. Fire and Ice? Bring it!

I am just like so many times lamenting about how to rate this... I think it's around 2.5Stars.
So not quite good but way better than ok. Hence I am rounding it up.
I wouldn't have wavered in the first half. But the second half sadly highlighted my problems with the book.

Let's first talk about the world building. It's my favorite part of the book. I like the mythology Blake built around the Frostblood Saga. We given little bits as the story unfolds, forming an interesting background to the storyline. The reader gets thrown into the deep end at the beginning of the book, but one gets to discover a world of elemental magic, beasts of different origins, characters driven by power and idealism. While I am not completely wowed by the world building, I did like it. It is your classic high fantasy set up for sure and has loads of potential.

I am a little divided when it comes to character building. I liked Ruby well enough. I get where she was coming from and in the first half of the novel I could relate to her. BUT then she felt just like the rest of the entire cast a little to formulaic. Too thought through and too scripted.

The story line is where my biggest issue lies. It was completely predictable. I mean completely. I knew where this is going from the beginning. I could have told you each twist and turn a mile ahead.
Despite that I rather enjoyed the first half. I found myself caught up in Ruby's struggles, in her growing friendships with the people around her. I even quite enjoyed the romance, however cliche it might be. The second part however, while there was way more action, the whole thing felt even more predictable. I knew exactly where Blake was going next. The big revelations had me yawning. Not only that I found myself rather annoyed with the weird unnecessary love-triangle. I just wondered why Blake had to go there? Couldn't she keep that cliche out?

Now I feel like I should mention that I have read a lot of fantasy books in my life. I've been reading epic fantasy since I was 9 years old after all. Which means, I have a lot to compare to. But also that I have a lot of expectations. I have a feeling that readers who haven't read half as many might enjoy this more than I did.

So while I like the first half and I enjoyed the action scenes, I found myself wondering if I am going to read the next novel. At the end of this one, I didn't feel the urge to read the next. Yet... for the first time since I started the series, I am not sure where Blake is going to take this next.. and it has me wondering.. Guess I'll be reading Fireblood after all.

Frostblood is Elly Blake's debut novel, and it is a solid way to kick off what I'm sure will be a great career. I definitely enjoyed reading Frostblood, and did so for a few of reasons. First, the plot is quite fast-paced and energized. Things to to hell in a hand basket from the start and don't relent as the action keeps churning like a storm. With a quick and engaging plot that doesn't relent, readers definitely won't be bored with the story. I found myself hooked just to see what would happen next, and because I enjoyed the adrenaline rush Blake infuses into her story.

Second, though a bit "tropey" I enjoyed how the book developed the magic in its world, how it works, its history, and the consequences the possession and usage of such power as brought on people and the world in this novel. The power is as much a prison as it is a path to freedom, and I like how that is outlined. Some novels give a heroine or hero a power and there is this "instant superhero--rawr--awesum!" element that gets tiring. Not so here. I like how Ruby and Arcus have to learn to deal with the limitations of their powers and how that power can divide them when they don't want it to. This added a nice bit of raw reality to the characters and the world.

However, Frostblood has some weak points that really hinder this book from its full potential and from being new and fresh. As mentioned above, the book relies too heavily on tried and true tropes common in the YA fantasy genre. The book is clearly plot driven, and this comes at the expense of the world within--the world-building necessary for a fully developed story just isn't there. Names of people, places, and things seem like they were drawn out of a hat--there's no commonalities to link a language there. I can't even remember the names for places in the book; there's no map, no idea of where and from whence characters are coming and going. This is something authors like Sarah J. Maas do masterfully--not only do we get a map with her books, but she crafts a deep sense of direction in her novels--we know what lies east, west, south, and north; each area is developed thoroughly to reflect terrain, races, languages, customs, and so on. This is absent from Frostblood--things to make the world a "living world". I don't even have a sense for where Brother Thistle's abbey is. The only sense I have of the "common folk" is that they live in huts and life sucks. What are their customs? How do they sound when the speak? What do they believe? What drives them to keep fighting? What does the area look like? What clothes do they wear? What do their huts or homes look like? What differentiates northern folk from southern? Eastern from Western? And so on...so many questions.

I also found the characters' dialogue and interactions stilted and dry at times, where I just didn't believe them. I can't explain how or even why I felt this way. There's just something about the dialogue that is "off" to me. A disconnect between characters when they speak. I felt this way a lot when dialogue happened between Arcus and Ruby, Ruby and Brother Thistle, and when the three of them were together. It just felt...unnatural...maybe that's the right word. This also compounded the apparent lack in character development in the book. For similar reasons as in my comments regarding world-building, I didn't get a true sense of who these characters were, why I should care, or that any of it was believable. Ruby=revenge, anger, and obstinance for the sake of it all. She either ran hot or cold with now reasoning or development. Arcus is "cold" all the time except when he and Ruby decide to lock lips. But Arcus was more developed than Ruby, at least from my perspective. I found his mystery and characterization intriguing; he was more real than the rest of the cast and he's not the hero. I also like the moments when Ruby confronts her enemies; I believe her anger and her internal turmoil, but there's still room for development.

Finally, the romance arc is unbelievable. It comes out of nowhere and when Ruby and Arcus finally reach first base, that ball comes so out of left field I got whiplash. They don't develop as allies or even friends first, which should happen before they even think of becoming lovers. None of that development or build-up was there. Most of the time they're too angry and hostile at each other to provide any hint of mutual affinity of any kind. Are we supposed to glean from all of this that it's simply a case of "he pulls my hair because he likes me" BS? Sigh. I didn't really anticipate them being lovers. It didn't make sense.

But overall, Frostblood was fun to read, and it was a thoroughly enjoyable fantasy romp. I understand it is a debut, and there IS a lot of potential here for a fantastic series. I'm hoping that the second volume will develop what I wish this installment would have. There is definitely room for this to grow, and I expect it will. I will definitely read the second book in this series, and I still recommend readers taking a chance on this series--particularly if you love Leigh Bardugo's The Grisha Trilogy, Victoria Aveyard's The Red Queen series, or Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games.

This book is conflicting for me. The book opens with this amazing story about a girl hiding who she is from everyone but her family. When that is taken away, it becomes a story of survival and a story of learning about herself. The first 75% or so of this book I loved. I loved the character development and all the self-discovery that was happening. I also loved the world and the prose Elly Blake used throughout. Up until the 75% mark this was probably going to be a 5 star, if not 4.5 star book for me, it was that good. However, the "climax" ended up ruining my enjoyment. I felt like it was out of place and rushed and I was really enjoying the story up until that point. There was also a twist that I hated. It did not fit in with my thoughts on the story and the characters.

So basically, I loved so much of this story and the characters, but then the reveal at the end happened and I'm annoyed. It could not have been more cliche if it tried. I'm getting a little tired of reading this same thing happen in countless YA books. This book was a fantastic read until that end. If you do not mind repeating YA tropes than I'm sure this book will not leave you feeling the same way I did after finishing. I still highly enjoyed and recommend this book, I just do not like the direction that was taken at the end. I will however continue this trilogy because I connected with the characters and want to see where Elly Blake takes them next.

*eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley for review*

There’s little better than reading the first book in a series and loving it. The feeling of having books cued up for the future can’t be beat! Despite its title, Frostblood left me with all the first-in-a-series warm fuzzies.

There’s nothing 17-year-old Ruby wants more than to practice her skills as a fireblood: learning to direct and control the heat and fire that shoot from her body. But the gift is unpredictable – and dangerous in a country ruled by Frostbloods– and her mother begs her to ignore it for her own safety. When Rose doesn’t, she pays with her mother’s life, her own imprisonment, and the destruction of her village.

Ruby has lost everything. Her mistake informed the king’s forces, to whom she is a threat to be exterminated, but it also informed those who would rise against the king, who see her as a weapon. Soon Ruby is caught up in a world of secrecy and intrigue as she trains and becomes more and more drawn to the mysterious young man who helps ready her to commit treason.

I loved this book! The story is compelling. The world building feels effortless and never gets in the way of the story. The language is beautiful and evocative, beginning with the very first page:

“I offered my hand to the fire.

Sparks leaped from the hearth and settled onto my fingers, heat drawn to heat, and glittered like molten gems against my skin.”

The romance is a lovely alliance between two flawed, but honorable individuals. It’s out in five days! Put this one on your To Read list; add it to your collection.

3.5 stars


Think Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard X Elsa from Frozen

Ruby wields fire in her veins. However, where she lives Firebloods are killed, deemed too dangerous to exist- unlike frostbloods. Living with her mother in a secluded and small village, she must everyday all day:

<img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/7bc2f5d28e7ff6ef9c21bfa8fe09c247/tumblr_inline_myi9r7mi391r0ep91.gif"/>

((sorry I couldn't resist - but with fire))

Except she <b> sucks </b> at it. She just MUST practice in secret because who the eff knows. This gets her into quite a bit of trouble with the King and his guards because...

<img src="https://godofall.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/now-they-know.gif"/>

((sorry, I couldn't resist...again))

Luckily these cool monks rescue her because <s> there would be no plot</s> Ruby is key to saving her realm from evily evil shadows of darkness she knows nothing about. Arcus, a scared man in every meaning of the word bargains with her: her fire for her freedom. They hate each other, they are nothing alike, yet they somehow grow closer, both wielding dark secrets with an edge as sharp as a new forge made sword.

Okay enough with the gifs, I promise.
I actually did not enjoy this book as much as I hoped. Ruby's voice wasn't particularly intriguing and the world building is sort of shoddy, BUT I can see it has room for improvement. I liked the eccentric monks and Ruby's training scenes which got a little more detail.

I really appreciated that there was no insta-love between Arcus and Ruby, BUT the romance wasn't very believable, not for lack of the author trying, because she really did try hard to make it a progression. The went through the 4 phases: Hate, grudging respect, friends, lovers (ish). The turn to lovers however, was just to quick and the grudging respect and friends phase kind of just meshed together and wasn't very well fleshed out. STILL I RESPECT THAT THERE WAS AN EFFORT.

Overall, not a bad start to a series I will definitely be following up on. I'm excited to see how Arcus and Ruby deal with the challenges ahead!