Touch of Frost: Mythos Academy, Book 1

Same idea as Rick Riordan's books - that the gods and goddesses have kids but with a different twist. In this case they are all training to defeat/hold back the god Loki. The book is part mystery part fantasy.

In terms of basic story telling, I found the background information dumps a bit awkward. But what really got to me was the attitude towards sexual activity among teenagers. I actually would have been fine with a "wait until you're adults/married" attitude. But instead it was an attitude that teenage boys engaging in sexual with a number of partners are to be admired/become the romantic lead; teenage girls who "give up their v-card" (yes a phrase from the book) to long term boyfriends are frowned upon; girls with multiple partners are "sluts." It is causally thrown in throughout the book (e.g. the main character's skill is finding lost items, such as "lost bras that girls should have known better than to take off in the first place."). It is books like this that lead to unhealthy, misogynistic attitudes in society. By coincidence, I read the same day about a community's response to a statutory rape case. One fellow student tweeted “Young girls acting like whores there’s no punishment for that, young men acting like boys is a sentence.” This real-life, sad little tweet could have come from our protagonist's mouth. Confession: I haven't finished it and not sure I will be able to make myself do so.

I don't believe I would read another book by either. The narrator was terrible and annoying to say the least with a whiny tone and repeated the same up and down pitch of every single line she spoke through the entire book. The author had a great concept, great imagery and compelling story. The problem was the execution. I actually found it difficult to finish the book. The repetition of key points (no spoiler examples) made it not only annoying to hear them for the 10th to 15th time they were mentioned but also made it painfully obvious as to where the book was going as contrast to the points stressed throughout the entire book. Such as that she was new with no friends at the Academy. She must have said this 10 times per chapter. I will not be finishing the series. I also feel as if there was a contradiction between making Gwendolyn smart yet stupid at the same time. Things that were plainly obvious she repeatedly skipped over that should have been even her general knowledge not just the reader.

I enjoyed the concept and lore of the story. Although the love story was a bit dry and boring the mystery was enough to keep the focus no matter how predictable.

The narrator was just terrible in every way. I apologize I can't say it better but she was just not suited to narrate this peticular title.

This was well narrated, with Ms. Sands bringing a bit of something extra to the reading.

The story itself was well written with good characterization and character building, a strong plot that kept to a just-right pacing (neither slow, nor so fast that you had to listen to every single word to avoid confusion).

Folks who have listened to Ms. Estep's adult series, Elemental Assassin, will find some references to Gin Blanco's world, but there's no mention of elemental magicians, dwarves, vampires, or giants as common-place members of society.

Yes, but only because I think it is going to get better now that the characters are established. I think that this book places too much emphasis on sex and drugs/alcohol. The plot would have been just as good without them. I know for a fact that teens will read a good story without so much gratuitous use of those elements. Like I said before, this is a good plot and could have stood on its own feet.

I can not answer that question without spoilers.

The reading was a little too snarky and jaded for me at first. I didn't like the character and how she was being represented. But as the character grew and changed, the reading did too. At the end of the story I understand why the performance was the way it was. Now I say Bravo!

Too early to tell...

I am going to say again that teen/YA readers are smart. It has been proven time and again that they will read a good story and buy a good story without the overuse of sex and drugs/alcohol. Most of the teens I know are actually turned off if there seems to be no point for it. But, the plot and the characters here did a wonderful job standing on its own without all the smutty fluff on the side.

An interesting twist on the secrets powered school type.
Which is obviously building an overall storyline without sacrificing the feeling of high school.