Shadow Frost is a young adult fantasy novel written by Coco Ma. The book, her debut novel, is set to be published by Blackstone Publishing on October 1, 2019.
I want to thank Blackstone Publishing,
This review is spoiler free.
Synopsis
IN THE KINGDOM OF AXARIA, a darkness rises.
Some call it a monster, laying waste to the villagers and their homes.
Some say it is an invulnerable demon summoned from the deepest abysses of the Immortal Realm.
Many soldiers from the royal guard are sent out to hunt it down.
Not one has ever returned.
When Asterin Faelenhart, Princess of Axaria and heir to the throne, discovers that she may hold the key to defeating the mysterious demon terrorizing her kingdom, she vows not to rest until the beast is slain. With the help of her friends and the powers she wields — though has yet to fully understand — Asterin sets out to complete a single task. The task that countless, trained soldiers have failed.
To kill it.
But as they hunt for the demon, they unearth a plot to assassinate the Princess herself instead. Asterin and her companions begin to wonder how much of their lives have been lies, especially when they realize that the center of the web of deceit might very well be themselves. With no one else to turn to, they are forced to decide just how much they are willing to sacrifice to protect the only world they have ever known.
That is, of course… if the demon doesn’t get to them first.
From young author Coco Ma comes a dazzling new tale of adventure, power, and betrayal, weaving together a stunning world of magic with a killer cast in an explosive, unforgettable debut.
- Author: Coco Ma
- Publisher: Publishing Blackstone
- Publication Date: October 1, 2019
- Book Length: 400 pages
- Genre: YA Fantasy
Review
Asterin is a princess, but she is also a skilled fighter and a magic wielder. When a powerful demon threatens to bring her future kingdom, Axaria, to its knees, Asterin seizes the opportunity to both protect its people and prove her worth as its future ruler. As she embarks on a dangerous journey with old and new allies, she finds more than she bargained for. Hidden secrets, political intrigues, and evil schemes pave her journey. She and her team are challenged every step of the way.
This story took me by surprise, as it is packed with everything I enjoy in a YA fantasy novel—elemental magic, badass characters, witty banter, demons, and a wonderful quest. The story is told from several points of view, which enables the reader to dig deeper into each character’s history and motives. The book is packed with action and plot twists, which at times can be foreseen and at others are surprising. The reader is swept along by the pace of the action.
While all the characters are loveable, I came to love some more than others such as Harry and Quinlan. The romance is sweet, but I imagine it will be more developed in the next book. There were moments in the book when the characters were a little childish and disconnected with events; for example, they went from retching in disgust to anger to giggling in a matter of minutes in one scene. Although the behavior never lasted, it threw me off a couple of times. Overall, this was a fun and easy-to-read story, with badass characters and an interesting elemental magic system. The ending left me wanting more. Shadow Frost earns a four-star rating from me.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dream Cast
About Coco Ma
Coco Ma is a Canadian-Chinese author and pianist. She wrote her first novel, Shadow Frost, at the age of 15. Since she began playing the piano at the age of five and a half, she has also performed on some of the world’s greatest concert stages and graduated with a pre-college diploma in piano performance from The Juilliard School in New York City. Currently, she studies at Yale University.
When she isn’t practicing piano, writing, or studying, you might find her bingeing Netflix or eating cake. Lots of cake.Follow Coco on Twitter @shadowfrost2019 and Instagram @CakeForCoco or visit her website at Coco-Ma.com!
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PRE ORDER CAMPAIGN
Blackstone Publishing is giving away (1) signed bookplate, (1) Shadow Frost bookmark, (1) Shadow Frost button, and (1) Blackstone Publishing tote bag to the first 150 people pre-ordering SHADOW FROST b
The giveaway will start when the pre-order campaign has ended.
More Information HERE.
Giveaway
PRIZE: Win (1) of (2) Shadow Frost bundles:
-1 Hardcover copy of Shadow Frost
-1 Signed bookplate
-Shadow Frost swag (bookmark and button)
Starts: October 1, 2019 – Ends: October 15, 2019
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