I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Killer Frost
by
Jennifer Estep
urban fantasy in Hardcover edition that was published by Kensington Books on February 25, 2014 and has 368 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Spider’s Bite, Web of Lies, Jennifer Estep, Venom, Karma Girl, Tangled Threads, Touch of Frost, Spider's Revenge, Kiss of Frost, Hot Mama, By a Thread, Dark Frost, Widow's Web, Crimson Frost, Deadly Sting, Midnight Frost, Heart of Venom, The Spider, Tangled Dreams, Tangled Schemes, Spider's Bargain, "Poison", Spider’s Nemesis, "Wasted", "Web of Death", "Web of Deceit", Black Widow, Poison Promise, Cold Burn of Magic, The Spider's Trap, Dark Heart of Magic, Bitter Bite, Unraveled, "Nice Guys Bite", Bright Blaze of Magic, Snared, Kill the Queen, "Winter's Web", Last Strand, Sharpest Sting, "Unwanted", Dirty Deeds 2, "Heart Stings"
Sixth and last in the Mythos Academy urban fantasy series for Young Adults and revolving around Gwen Frost, Nike’s champion.
My Take
Although this was very realistic with Gwen obsessing over the next Reaper attack, it was wearing to read with the first half feeling as if Estep was being lazy and the last half being a great improvement.
The first part was so melodramatic and too predictable with Linus insisting on the “trap” and Gwen going behind everyone’s backs. That bit about stopping off at the airport to look over a bunch of artifacts when the Reaper threat was so great? Thinking they’re safe simply because they’re near the school? Why didn’t they have people protecting Grandma Frost? I mean, duhhh… It’s been a fun series, and it’s too bad that Estep didn’t make that extra bit of effort to twist the whole story and not just the last half.
Now was not the time to show any weakness? WTF? The Reapers already know how Gwen feels about her grandma. What other weakness is there??
Although, I did like the trap Gwen set later in the story! Very clever. And the final battle and the final death are truly tense and dramatic.
It was cute that Estep brought Rory and the Eir gryphons in on the final battles. Nice way to round things off.
Some nice goodbyes in here as well as a look through the fluttering pages of the future.
The Story
It’s a bittersweet reunion between Gwen and Logan in the days leading up to the Valentine’s Day dance. She loves him as he is, and he believes he doesn’t deserve her, not after events in Crimson Frost, 4.
Logan’s dad simply makes things worse with his singleminded pursuit and greed for power.
The Characters
Gwen Frost is Nike’s Champion and a Gypsy with a gift for psychometry, fated to kill Loki, or die. Vic is her talking sword. Nyx is the Fenrir pup she saved. Grandma Frost is a former Champion with the ability to see the future. Rory Forsetti is Gwen’s newfound cousin who goes to the Colorado branch of Mythos Academy, and Rachel Maddox is her aunt (see Midnight Frost, 5).
Logan Quinn is a Spartan and Gwen’s reluctant boyfriend. Daphne is her Valkyrie best friend who is dating Carson Callahan, the Celtic band geek, who carries the Horn of Roland. Alexei Sokokov, Gwen’s bodyguard, is Sergei’s son. Oliver Hector, a Spartan and one of Logan’s best friends, is Alexi’s boyfriend. Aiko is a Ninja and a Protectorate member who also guards Gwen.
Mythos Academy
Fellow students who chose to stay include Morgan McDougall, a Valkyrie; Kenzie Tanaka, another Spartan friend of Logan’s; Talia Pizarro is Tanaka’s Amazon girlfriend; Savannah Warren, Logan’s Amazon ex-girlfriend; and, Doug is her new boyfriend, a Viking.
The instructors include Professor Aurora Metis, who was Gwen’s mother’s friend and is now Gwen’s mentor; she’s also Athena’s Champion. Nickamedes is the now-crippled librarian who has been so mean to Gwen. Coach Ajax is in charge of their training. Raven is an old woman who works at the school.
Linus Quinn is Logan’s father and head of the Protectorate, the police force for the mythological world. Sergei Sokolov, a Bogatyr warrior, and Inari Sato are his friends and fellow members of the Protectorate.
The Reapers
Agrona Quinn was Logan’s stepmother and is the head of the Reapers. Vivian Holler is Loki’s Champion and carries the sword, Lucretia. The Black rocs provide the Reapers with easy getaways.
Nike is the Greek goddess of victory. Mythos Academy is a boarding school for the children of ancient mythological warriors: Amazons, Spartans, Romans, Vikings, and Valkyries. Eir is the Norse goddess of healing and mercy who gave Gwen the leaves. Sol is the Norse goddess of the sun.
Loki is the god of trickery and is worshipped by the Reapers. Sigyn is his wife, the goddess of devotion.
The Cover and Title
The cover is an intense Gwen crouching in a ground fog, the red roiling clouds of an angry sky behind her.
The title is all about Gwen, for she’s the Killer Frost it all depends upon.
