A Touch of Frost

The Shattered Crown, Book 1

By: Renee R. Harper

Narrated by: Aricka Parent

Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

In a world where magic is outlawed, a shy 20-year-old tavern maid enlists in the military to learn runes and swordsmanship to protect the people she cares for.

A Touch of Frost is a coming-of-age epic fantasy novel about an unlikely heroine who wanted a normal life. But fate has different plans, and the people she’s trying to protect might be the greatest threat.

Tragedies and curses, like all bad things, came in threes.

Most runes are forbidden within Aitera. Those who create them are executed, or bound for fear they’d be the one prophesized to destroy the crown. Cybele cherished and adored the magic within her father’s stories of love and adventure until a curse stilled his beating heart, provoking fear within hers.

At nearly 20, in the goddess’s eyes, Cybele’s responsibility is to marry and have children, so when her estranged mother pens a letter requesting to rebuild their relationship while proposing to arrange a marriage for her, Cybele gratefully accepts. She believes this will give her the simple life she longs for.

But when tragedy strikes, Cybele resents her weakness and foolishness, realizing that life isn’t simple, and the world isn’t clearly divided between good and evil. As war looms overhead and Cybele’s forced from her home, a handsome stranger helps and offers her the key to harnessing a strength she didn’t know she had.

Cybele soon discovers the man who saved her holds many secrets, and the magic that’s taken everything from her could be her only chance of survival.

This is an epic fantasy with a slow burn romance subplot. There are aspects of tragedy, grief, abandonment, violence, and war.

©2023 Rachael R Adams (P)2023 Rachael R Adams

Excellent Start to a Epic Series

The character building and the world building is done well and will probably grow more in the next book. Really wish the next book was available in Audible now so I can continue this st. Narrator does a very good job with the characters and the Entire Storyline.

Easy listen

There was a lot of buildup, little payoff, and an abrupt conclusion. Before I finish the series, I want to read the next book, but I'm hoping it has a new plot structure. Overall entertaining book, albeit I prefer the love interest over the protagonist.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

An Icy Journey to Unleash Hidden Powers!

A Touch of Frost by Renee R. Harper, narrated by the enchanting Aricka Parent, weaves a captivating tale of forbidden magic and a heroine caught in a web of destiny. Harper's writing skillfully explores the complexities of love and adventure, while Parent's narration brings the characters to life with a touch of magic. Get ready to embark on a journey that will leave you breathless and yearning for more.

Meh

Story moved too fast and became predictable. Not sure I’m looking forward to more in the series.

An incomplete and ultimately disappointing story

To get straight to the point, there is an incredibly slow buildup with no clear, discernible plot until you to a quick, and completely predictable, reveal at the end that sets up the series.

I was definitely intrigued by the synopsis and the world building was as interesting as I expected. Unfortunately, the story itself meandered through the world while focusing on the angsty emotional drama of the MC, making it difficult to connect with her. This was made even more problematic by the confusing collection of competing prophecies and curses that were poorly explained and hard to keep straight. By the end you are still left with a conflict between two nations, one from which magic is brutally persecuted because of a prophecy against the ruling monarch while the MC, a young woman caught up in the events as they unfold while she pines over a lost love and dreams of a “magical” future. Despite the long, and drawn out story buildup, the story was pretty typical for a YA Fantasy genre; however, it loses points for the abrupt ending and a narration that struggled to differentiate character voices. It really is part 1 of a large story that should have been told together, but by the time you get to the intermission, there isn’t quite enough interest to continue.

I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

#ATouchOfFrost #TheShatteredCrown #FreeAudiobookCodes #KindleUnlimited