Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Keningston (July 26, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0758266928
ISBN-13: 978-0758266927
Series: Mythos Academy #1
Source: Finished copy provided by Teen Book Scene
Cover: I'm sort of indifferent about this one. I think the model's face is interesting to look at and I like the small sword for the "t" but it's not anything breath-taking. So all and all, the cover is nice.
First Sentence: " "I know your secret." "
Mini-Review: Touch of Frost is a fun and engaging beginning to a promising new boarding school series!
Book Summary:
My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy — a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest.
But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why—especially since I should have been the one who died. . .
Book Review:
With Harry Potter ending this month, it was the perfect time for me to pick up Touch of Frost. I'm not saying that the novels are very similar but they are both boarding school novels for magical people and it was perfect timing to combat my Potter blues. Touch of Frost combines all sorts of mythologies, an unique protagonist and a who-dun-it plot that is solved by using brains, a little bit of old fashioned snooping and a handful of magic. It's a fun beginning to a series I'll definitely be continuing.
Gwen comes from a long line of gyspies with special abilities. With a single touch, Gwen can see an object's past and how a person felt during the time it was used. But this isn't what makes Gwen special. For me, her real uniqueness comes from the fact that she loves comic books, has a strong voice and has a hoodie for everyday of the week. In a school full of rich and powerful people, Gwen is considered oridinary even though she does have powers. It was nice reading about someone who wasn't chosen or acceptably gifted yet she continued to do what she felt was right and sought to find the truth. Gwen's relationship with those around her was complex and felt real, especially with Daphne. I enjoyed watching them get to know each other and see how both were able to effect how the other sees the world. It felt honest and real. Also, Gwen's connection to the girl who died, even though she didn't know her, spoke volumes for what a good person she was.
Another thing that worked really well in this novel is it's mixed mythologies. I really liked how it combined Greek, Roman, and even Nordic Gods and how they were all able to go to the same school and co-exist with each other. The free-feeling vibe of the campus lended itself to create a fun atmosphere and allowed the author to create a rich world without bogging it down with complex (and boring) backstories. The plot was tied into one of those mythologies and it that made it really fun. However, I did figure out who it was pretty early on but I enjoyed Gwen's voice (yucko!) and the setting so much that I didn't mind reading along while she figured it out.
Touch of Frost is really all about the fun. If you're looking for a light paranormal with an intriguing world and a great voice, this novel is for you. As for me, I'll definitely be letting Gwen's next adventure touch my fingertips!
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Been seeing this one around a lot, I really like the sound of it! I love boarding school settings. It's interesting how lots of different mythologies were combined. Glad you enjoyed it, I hope to read it soon!
ReplyDeleteI've been really wanting to read this series! Nice review.
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♥bookluvrmindy
I can't wait to read this book! I like mystery and magic. So this looks good!!!
ReplyDeleteSounds really good! I've been wanting to read this book for a while now :) I loved your review!
ReplyDeleteThe mixing of the mythologies is what attracts me to this one. I'm addicted to all kinds so this sounds great!
ReplyDeleteI keep hearing great things about this book! I love mythology and Gwen sounds like a really fun and quirky heroine. :)
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy mythologies but they usually don't come across as light and fun. I think it's really cool that this both does that. I can't wait to check it out.
ReplyDeleteSometimes you want the paranormal read to be a bit lighter. I read First Frost and certainly have this installment on my wishlist. Thank you for sharing with us today.
ReplyDeleteI love Mythologies and can't wait to dive into this. Great review!
ReplyDeleteI love books about going to a boarding school especially when it involves magic! I had no idea what this series was even about based on the covers. I like the covers but didn't know at all what this was about. I like that it deals with mythologies too! I'll have to add it TBR!
ReplyDeleteahh!
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