A Soul As Cold As Frost: 1 (The Winter Souls)

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I smooshed my face against the window, my hands cupping around my eyes to see where he went. But beyond where the boy had been, two dozen beings of unnatural height congregated around tables, hunching to fit beneath the ceiling. The sight sent a barrel of heat rolling through my stomach. Pointy ears and long noses protruded from their heads, hidden only when they sipped from their steaming mugs. Some of them had to be as tall as the lampposts outside. I’ve had my eye on this book for two Christmas seasons but never have the time at that festive season to read anything. So, as soon as the audiobook came out, I jumped at the chance to immerse myself in a delightful Christmas read out of season. It didn’t dampen my experience. I had to drop it. I would drop the glass ball on the sidewalk and leave. And I would never, ever think about this moment again; the moment I realized I was losing my mind. Chapter, The Second My mittens rubbed my numb face as I looked to where Sylvia had disappeared inside the bakery. She was probably already shuffling a pie into her bag and digging through her purse for change.

Helen must find a way out, or she’ll be dragged into the arena to face the crooked Queen head on before a crowd ready to watch her die. A Soul as Cold as Frost instantly transports you into a magical world that the whole family will adore. Fans of Chronicles of Narnia will be thrilled with this new wintery adventure!" (Nikki Mitchell, author of Nightshade Forest) Helen receives a glass ball on the street from a girl she doesn’t even know. And all of a sudden, strange things start happening. Her eyes are now able to see a whole different fantasy world. A boy named Zane then explains what the glass ball is. And he warns her that her life is in danger. A witch with a soul as cold as frost will be coming for both it and Helen’s life, with everything she’s got in her power. I had only one memory of my father chasing us into an ocean of snow so unblemished. My sister Kaley was just a baby, and my brother Winston and I could barely run on our toddler legs. After Winston and I had exhausted ourselves building forts, my mother had brewed hot chocolate on the stove, and we’d spent the day listening to my dad sing off-key Christmas carols while decorating the tree with popcorn we’d strung ourselves.I would rather stay in for the month of December and have my grandmother read us boring old Christmas tales to spare us the holiday drama. I jumped in surprise when the still haze erupted into a volcanic blanket of white flakes, littering the end of the street and temporarily eating a streetlamp before it calmed. I do think that the book was a little bit slow to get into the action but once you got there, it did not stop. I think for a debut novel for this author, it was a very strong beginning the character development, and the way that Helen was resistant to this new world felt realistic. It didn’t feel like she was just immediately accepting of it like a lot of modern world meets fantasy world books do.

I have to say, I quite enjoyed this story. It completely embodies the Christmas spirit. The fantasy world is wildly creative. There are some strong plot twists. And Zane’s character in particular is a joy to read about.Wow! This was magical. There’s so much imagination and thought put into it making this incredibly neat, unique story. My muscles seized, lurching me to a halt. I thought I was dreaming, but I couldn’t peel my stare away, even though all I could think about was running for my life. It's the Chronicles of Narnia meets Harry Potter. This fantastic winter tale is the perfect blend of classic portal fantasy and the magic world co-existing with our own. It's a beautiful reminder of what is truly important in life." My one real gripe is Helen herself, our allegedly book-smart heroine who keeps bumbling in huge ways for over half the book. I wanted to like her more then I did, as she has a relatable story—but her inability to listen to Zane even in the simplest things irritated me quite a few times. (Stop waving the orb around and hold still!) She does grow, mind you. I just would’ve liked to see her smarts a few more times early on. Faith lies at the center of this story, melding fantasy with hints of the first Christmas story is an intriguing and beautiful way.