Ice Lord's Bride

Bride of the Fae, Book 1

De: Ava Ross

Narrado por: Ryan West, Jillian Macie

I must marry one of the fae, but the forbidden ice lord wants me.

To secure a human-fae truce, I'm one of five women traveling to their magical kingdom, where we'll be courted by fae aristocracy. We have one month to choose a husband from among them.

Only Elion, the arrogant, beastly ice lord, is forbidden. His torturous scars make the other women gasp. His icy words rip them to shreds. His touch is colder than frost. He lurks in the shadows, never coming out into the light.

One stolen moment with Elion, and I'm intrigued. A kiss, and I'll do anything to call this brutishly handsome lord mine.

Then one of the women is found dead. When you're next appears on my bedroom wall, written in blood, it's clear there's more going on here than solidifying the human-fae truce.

If I'm not careful, I won't become a bride of the fae. I'll wind up dead.

Ice Lord's Bride is book one in a fantasy romance duology. It heats to a high sizzle and comes with a guaranteed happily ever after.

©2022 Ava Ross (P)2023 Podium Audio

Struggle to finish ***Spoilers***

I'm on chapter 18... so not completed. A lottery system in which all the women of Earth between a certain age are entered. Women wanting to go as if this is paradise, romance and a money grab. I'm confused about the reaction when someone is attacked and dies the first day? Um. I'm gone. Not to mention the cliche of I'm ugly so I'm not worthy. The curse thing also seems vague.... cursed for no reason but you accept everyone treating you badly? The world building seems promising and I enjoy the voice acting so I my try and stick it out.... But the struggle is real.

love the book and narrators

I love the story of the book it keeps you guessing and it wonderful love story I like how the lead female is independent

Needs another edit, but I love the story!

There were some editing inconsistencies that threw me out of the story, but other than that, it was really fun. Unfortunately, a lot of the inconsistencies occurred with character and location description, so I don’t have a very clear image of the environment. Protagonist describes herself as short for a woman and thick (thick wasn’t the word used, but I can’t remember the exact word), emphasized with her love of moon pies. Male lead describes herself as tall for a human and willowy, etc.
Nice plot twists, fairly predictable but not unbelievable, so that was nice!

Melodramatic

A world with with both human and fae. But they live on different realms.

okay

storyline was average, romantic dialog was immaturely written. it kept me interested enough to finish but not sure if I'll bother with book 2

Cliffhanger ending

It ends in a cliffhanger which I don’t like. Other than that it was okey

Cute

I loved the story. The romance was adorable. I didn't like that it was in 2 parts. I have to wait to read the second part. The narrators were good.

Good...somewhat

As an avid and devoted fan of Ava Ross, I feel compelled to share my thoughts on her latest audiobook. Her writing has always been a source of joy for me—her prose is like music to my eyes, and I can always count on her to deliver a captivating story with every book she writes. That said, I must admit that this particular audiobook did not resonate with me as deeply as some of her previous works.

The story itself was intriguing and filled with potential, but unfortunately, the narration by Ryan and Jillian left much to be desired. Their delivery often made the beautifully crafted words feel more like mere words on a page, diminishing the impact of the script. The voices and performances didn't fully capture the essence of the characters, which detracted from my enjoyment of the book.

Additionally, I was disappointed to realize that the story's continuity is dependent on subsequent installments in the series, something I hadn't anticipated. While I understand the appeal of cliffhangers, they are a literary device that I tend to shy away from, as they often leave me in a state of suspense without any resolution. In this case, it left me unsure of whether to continue with the same narrators at the helm.

Due to medical reasons, I am no longer able to read traditional books and must rely on audiobooks or personal readers to experience literary works. While this particular audiobook didn't meet my expectations, I know that Ava Ross has produced other works with different narrators that I have thoroughly enjoyed. As such, I may choose to move on to another of her titles rather than continuing with this series.

Overall, while I hold Ms. Ross in the highest regard, this audiobook didn't quite hit the mark for me. I look forward to exploring her other works in the future, hopefully with narrators whose performances better align with the quality of her writing.

She’s not like *other girls*

We get it, you like jeans, not dresses.
Narrators are solid though! I couldn’t get into all the tropes and predictability of this story.

Scarred Hearts & Shifting Loyalties

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚💜💙❤️
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 😋🙂☺️😍
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration

🦸🏼‍♀️ Heroine Spotlight: Raven

Raven’s life was upended when her mother fell ill, forcing her to leave college and return to her small hometown. Now juggling grief, guardianship of her eight-year-old sister, and a job at the local diner, Raven is the kind of heroine who doesn’t just survive—she shoulders the world with quiet strength. Her emotional resilience and fierce loyalty make her a compelling anchor in a story that blends fantasy with real-world stakes.

🐺 Hero in the Shadows: Elion

Elion, once a proud Ice Lord and fifth in line for the Fae throne, is now a pariah. Cursed by a witch and transformed into a wolf shifter—a form reviled by his own kind—he bears physical scars and emotional wounds that isolate him from the glittering court. His quiet suffering and self-imposed exile add a tragic depth to his character, especially as he’s drawn to Raven despite knowing he’s forbidden from love.

🔥 Plot & Emotional Undercurrents

The Fae have crossed the veil and struck a controversial treaty with the human government: six unmarried women will travel to the Fae realm in hopes of finding a mate among the nobility. If they fail, they return home with a million dollars—a tempting offer for Raven, who sees it as a lifeline for her sister’s future.

Elion’s first glimpse of Raven at her restaurant sparks a fascination he can’t shake. Though he’s ordered to remain hidden, his quiet stalking leads to a violent demon attack that exposes him—and reunites him with Raven, now one of the chosen six.

As tensions rise, so do the stakes:

• 💀 A murder mystery unfolds as human women begin dying under suspicious circumstances.
• 💘 Raven’s immediate acceptance of Elion’s scars defies the Fae’s toxic beauty standards.
• 🧨 Political sabotage brews among the Fae elite, many of whom resent the treaty and the human brides.

🤨 Where the Ice Cracks

One narrative gap stood out: Elion’s exclusion from the bride selection process is vaguely explained. His cryptic warning that “things could get nasty” if he pursued Raven hints at deeper cultural taboos, but the story never fully unpacks the Fae’s rigid beauty politics or the consequences of defying them. A bit more world-building here would’ve added clarity and tension.

🎧 Narration Notes

Told in dual POVs with dual narration, this audiobook benefits from strong performances:

• Jillian Macie brings expressive nuance to Raven’s voice, capturing both vulnerability and grit. Her work in paranormal and alien romance continues to shine.
• Ryan West delivers a grounded, emotionally resonant Elion. His narration feels lived-in, never performative, and adds weight to Elion’s internal struggle.

💬 Favorite Quotes

“She was the sun peeking above the horizon in the morning, plus the vast, churning sea full of intrigue and danger. Loving her was like stepping off a cliff and hoping I could fly. Or that she'd catch me.”

“Sometimes, late at night, I ached to be with someone who’d see past the scars to the person I was inside.”