Ties of Frost

Tethered Hearts

By: Selina R. Gonzalez

Narrated by: Marian Hussey, Elliot Fitzpatrick

A self-reliant wyvern shifter. An extroverted ice elf. A deadly curse.

Wyvern shifter Zidra and ice elf Kyrundar are members of a sacred order of elite warriors—and, according to Zidra, bitter rivals. While she seeks to prove she’s the best without aid, Kyrundar believes their friendly competition makes them ideal partners.

Then Kyrundar follows Zidra into a trap, and his distraction costs her everything.

When Zidra is struck by a lethal ice curse, only ice magic can save her. Yet Kyrundar can’t remove the curse, and as long as the curse is affecting Zidra, she can’t shift. Worse, a side effect of his aid is a heartbond neither of them wants.

Despite years of misunderstandings and recent resentments, they will have to cooperate to survive assassins and find a reclusive healer who can destroy the curse and the magical bond.

But if they discover the accidental heartbond isn’t a catastrophe after all, will either of them have the courage to admit it?

Ties of Frost is book seven in Tethered Hearts, a multi-author series of no spice fantasy romances. Each standalone story features a magical bond that forces the couple to discover how much they’re willing to sacrifice for the sake of love.

©2025 Selina R. Gonzalez (P)2025 Dreamscape Media

Touching and real

This is a sweet romance that has heart and excellent human insight. So while it’s sweet, it’s not cloying but part of its charm. Story has all of what’s best in a romance along with some exciting action, assassins to escape and a mystery to solve. Good banter, though I wanted to kick the gal in the butt sometimes for being so grouchy. We get to see why and she her grow, which is why it’s a good story. Still.
It’s also a story about learning to be a part of something bigger. What keeps people apart from others.

Good story, excellent narration

Entertaining, but with a couple detracting points that significantly dimmed my enjoyment of it.

The MCs are both members of a religious order of elite warriors that go about defending the weak and vulnerable. There are numerous races (elves, mages, and various shifters) and plenty of action. It IS entertaining and I stayed up late reading it, HOWEVER:

- I didn’t appreciate how the FMC treated the MMC. I’m not a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope as it is, but it’s so much worse when one of the parties is so sweet and oblivious. The MMC hero-worships the FMC and sees her as his best friend, whereas the FMC sees him as her frivolous, glory-seeking rival. She’s mean and hostile towards him, and it feels too much like the regular beating of a faithful puppy.
- The FMC has a ton of insecurities that take center-stage within the story. There’s a heavy emphasis on self-worth and belonging that I found excessive and overdone. There are also sections (like the tea ceremony) that tried too hard to be philosophical.

So, yeah, though I liked the action, magic, and adventure, the above tarnished the book for me.

Content:
There is no foul language or sex. There is some violence, but it’s not excessive or gory. The romance is limited to a few lightly descriptive kisses. There is a lot of magic.

There is an in-world religion which is clearly meant to represent Christianity (though lacking any mention of atonement or redemption). It’s highly liturgical and focuses on service, unity, and love.