Early Review: Midnight Frost (Mythos Academy #5)

Midnight Frost (Mythos Academy #5)

Jennifer Estep

Publisher: Kensington Books – Released 30^th July 2013

E-Arc Copy Courtesy of Netgalley & Kensington Books

Just when it seems life at Mythos Academy can't get any more dangerous, the Reapers of Chaos manage to prove me wrong. It was just a typical night at the Library of Antiquities--until a Reaper tried to poison me. The good news is I'm still alive and kicking. The bad news is the Reaper poisoned someone else instead. As Nike's Champion, everyone expects me to lead the charge against the Reapers, even though I'm still hurting over what happened with Spartan warrior Logan Quinn. I've got to get my hands on the antidote fast--otherwise, an innocent person will die. But the only known cure is hidden in some creepy ruins--and the Reapers are sure to be waiting for me there 

Gwen Frost is Nike’s Champion and she has embraced that this means she and her friends will have to face evil God Loki and his Reapers of Chaos. However, her honey Logan is absent still unsure of himself after Loki’s interference in Crimson Frost. When another of Gwen’s allies is poisoned by the Reapers, she and her friends have to go to the one place they can find antidote knowing it is a trap...

Gwen is so much more confident now then she was when we first met her and her developing strength and fighting skills are joys to see. Her selection of friends and allies are fun and you just can’t help rooting for them all. Gwen is still smarting over Logan’s abandonment but she carries on regardless. She also discovers more about her father now. There are some exciting action scenes and I really loved how everyone accepts and looks to Gwen to guide and lead them. She is going to be one strong general in this fight.

The story is fast paced with little wasted time taking place over just a few days but in terms of the wider story arc, it doesn’t feel like much has changed. Maybe I’ll be proved wrong and this is just laying the groundwork for the end battle, but it feels like Gwen ends in the same place as she was at the start. Saying that, this is still a great series and one of my favourite YA series – I just love Gwen’s natural charm and determination. Plus the mixture of mythologies from Greek, Roman, Viking in the modern world is just a blast!

Overall, this is a good instalment in a great series – superior to other YA series but not the peak of its own high standard. It was a great summer instalment and I am happy Jennifer Estep is a fast writer as if I had to wait a whole year between visits to Mythos I would miss all my Gypsy, Amazon, Viking and Spartan friends!

Recommended for fans of Marissa Meyer and Richelle Mead. 8 out of 10

Novella Review: Spartan Frost

Spartan Frost (Mythos Academy #4.5)

Jennifer Estep

Kindle Book

Review Copy Courtesy of Netgalley and Jennifer Estep

 I’m Logan Quinn, the deadliest Spartan warrior at Mythos Academy. At least I was — until the day I almost killed Gwen Frost. Professor Metis and Nickamedes say that I’m fine, that Loki and the Reapers don’t have a hold on me anymore, but I can’t risk it. I can’t risk hurting Gwen again. So I’m leaving Mythos and going somewhere far, far away. I know Gwen wonders what’s happening to me, whether I’m safe. I can’t tell her, but this is my story...

After the tragic ending of Crimson Frost, Logan, Spartan and sometime beau of Gwen Frost has left Mythos Academy and returned home with his Dad to ensure that neither he nor the evil god Loki, hurt Gwen again. He is determined that the Reapers of Chaos pay for their actions and is spending much of his time training while avoiding other people. Logan has been damaged by recent events which hurt him and those he loved and is struggling to come to terms with what happened to him. This is quite a short novella but allows us to explore the view point of another character in Gwen’s world.  

It was nice to see inside Logan’s head for a change and how he really cares about Gwen and his friends. The nightmares he experiences are horrific and it must be terrible to live with that knowledge and learn to trust yourself again. It is nice to see Logan and his father try to build a relationship after so long estranged – especially as it feels like they are more equal than before. Logan and his father also chase after some Reapers that are stealing artifacts from museums and what they find is intriguing but never really resolved. The end is quite abrupt and pulls back into Mythos Academy (and presumably the next book!) so I was left wanting more than what I got – and hungry for the next book, Midnight Frost.

Recommended for fans of Kelley Armstrong & Richelle Mead. 7 out of 10

Crimson Frost Review

Crimson Frost (Mythos Academy #4)

Jennifer Estep

Publisher: Kensington

E-Arc courtesy of Netgalley and Kensington

I should have known that my first official date with Logan Quinn was destined to end in disaster. If we’d gotten into a swordfight, or been ambushed by Reapers, I’d have been more prepared. But getting arrested mid-sip at the local coffee hangout? I didn’t see that one coming. I’ve been accused of purposely helping the Reapers free Loki from his prison—and the person leading the charge against me is Linus Quinn, Logan’s dad. The worst part is that pretty much everyone at Mythos Academy thinks I’m guilty. If I’m going to get out of this mess alive, I’ll have to do it myself...

After the tense ending of Dark Frost, with the release of evil god Loki, it felt like a long wait for Crimson Frost when we could catch up with Gwen, Logan and the other students at Mythos Academy. But it was worth the wait with the stakes raised once again when Gwen is put on trial for releasing Loki by the Protectorate which is lead by none-other than Logan’s father. While under house arrest, Gwen will have to figure out the Reapers evil plans are while trying to convince the good guys that she’s on their side!

From the first page the plot picks up and never lets up as Gwen and friends find themselves having to explain their actions so far in the series and fight to be taken seriously. It was tense and exciting with Gwen shocked and surprised. It felt like Gwen has continued to develop and grow with her accepting her responsibilities and deciding to take action. I have to admit I was the edge of my train seat for most of the book. Gwen’s relationship with Logan has finally moved forward and I loved the way Gwen’s friends stuck by her even though everyone else seems to turn on her – Carson, Daphne, Logan and Oliver are all characters I would love to count among my own friends! Plus bonus points for making Grandma Frost kick-ass this time round!

The Reaper threat has become more real as the books progressed and there is no shying away from the threat that Gwen and friends are in – although they do seem to be very lucky whenever they are attacked as Reapers seem pretty incompetent fighters compared to these students! Overall, Crimson Frost really drives the overall arc of the series forward and is one exciting read. Fast-paced, tense and with great characters, Mythos Academy series is a must have, with this instalment one of the best so far.

Recommended for fans of Richelle Mead and Chloe Neill. 9 out of 10

Early Review: Dark Frost

Dark Frost (Mythos Academy 3)

-       Jennifer Estep

Publisher: Kensington Teen - Published on 29th May 2012

E-Arc courtesy of netgalley and Kensington Teen

I’ve seen so many freaky things since I started attending Mythos Academy last fall. I know I’m supposed to be a fearless warrior, but most of the time, I feel like I’m just waiting for the next Bad, Bad Thing to happen. Like someone trying to kill me—again.
Everyone at Mythos Academy knows me as Gwen Frost, the Gypsy girl who uses her psychometry magic to find lost objects—and who just may be dating Logan Quinn, the hottest guy in school. But I’m also the girl the Reapers of Chaos want dead in the worst way. The Reapers are the baddest of the bad, the people who murdered my mom. So why do they have it in for me? It turns out my mom hid a powerful artifact called the Helheim Dagger before she died. Now, the Reapers will do anything to get it back. They think I know where the dagger is hidden, but this is one thing I can’t use my magic to find. All I do know is that the Reapers are coming for me—and I’m in for the fight of my life.

Dark Frost starts with a bang and never lets up. I thought that it would have a similar slow start to the last couple of books, but within the first few pages I was proved completely wrong as the Reapers attack Gwen and her friends while completing a school assignment at the local museum. From this start the stakes are raised as not everyone survives and you know that this is a deadly serious game. The pace is fast and thrilling with the whole adventure over a few days only.

Gwen is as curious and nosey as ever, but with addition of brooding over Logan and her role as Nike’s champion makes her a little distracted. As a result she and Daphne drift a little apart – and I completely agree with Daphne that it isn’t always all about Gwen. However, it’s not done maliciously and Gwen is still a teenager even if she has a lot of additional responsibilities! The magic system and mythology Jennifer Estep has created is unique and I really want to know more about Ninjas and Samurais who get mentioned occasionally with the Amazons, Romans, Vikings, Celts and Valkeries but not explored in detail yet.

This is a fast paced, exciting novel with much to recommend it – Gwen’s powers continue to grow and disturb even her with what she can now do. Added to which a big game changer occurs which will spell more trouble for Gwen and her friends – and makes me really anxious for the next book in the series! Fast, fun and thrilling!

Recommended for fans of Vampire Academy and Jeri Smith-Ready. 9 out of 10

Kiss of Frost Review

Kiss of Frost (Mythos Academy 2)

-         Jennifer Estep

Publisher: Kensington

I’m Gwen Frost, a second-year warrior-in-training at Mythos Acad­emy, and I have no idea how I’m going to sur­vive the rest of the semes­ter. One day, I’m get­ting schooled in sword­play by the guy who broke my heart—the drop-dead gor­geous Logan who slays me every time. Then, an invis­i­ble archer in the Library of Antiq­ui­ties decides to use me for tar­get prac­tice. And now, I find out that some­one at the acad­emy is really a Reaper bad guy who wants me dead. I’m afraid if I don’t learn how to live by the sword—with Logan’s help—I just might die by the sword...

This is the second book following Gwen Frost, a Gypsy with the power to know the history of any object or person she touches. The school she goes to is Mythos Academy – filled with the descendants of many specialist warriors – Vikings, Romans, Amazons, Valkeries, Spartans…all training to fight the Reapers of Chaos who want to release the evil god Loki in the world.

This time around Gwen and her friends head to the mountains for some skiing fun with Mythos’s annual winter fayre. I have to admit as soon as I read that my first thought was – didn’t St Vladamir’s go away for a skiing weekend in the second Vampire Academy book as well…? And that meant I spent some time comparing the two books – from Gwen’s feeling like a third-wheel with her best friend and her new boyfriend, to feeling spurned by the guy she likes and meeting an intriguing new guy in the mountains. However, there were enough differences between characters to make it feel like a different book – even if the general story felt similar. The world is unique and the mix of different cultures and mythology at Mythos in a different setting that is slowly being explored.

I like Gwen’s curiosity and geekiness – not many main characters are comic book fans, that’s usually reserved for the best friend! She is less introverted this time round than she was in A Touch of Frost and is starting to make friends with other students. However, she is still a little naïve and it was painfully obvious who was after her. Still it was a nice easy read and I did enjoy spending time with the characters. The fight scenes are exciting and I liked the twists at the end with Gwen becoming more determined and stronger for all she’s been through. Plus Logan is a great romantic lead who is easy to fall for. An solid entry in the series with great potential for the next book!

Recommended for fans of Vampire Academy and House of Night. 7 out of 10

Guest Review: Touch of Frost

Touch of Frost (Mythos Academy 1)
- Jennifer Estep

Publisher: Kensington

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...

One of the best things about having Mel as a friend is the fact that I have a never-ending supply of books to borrow! We met up the other evening and I was presented with a lovely big pile of books, on the proviso that I reviewed each one. Well, who could argue with a bargain like that?! [Um, I believe your first reaction was "What?! All of them?!!" - Mel]

The first book I read (primarily because it was already on my Amazon wishlist!) was the first in Jennifer Estep’s Mythos Academy series – Touch of Frost. Think Harry Potter’s Hogwarts, but with mythical warriors instead of wizards. I really enjoyed the refreshing change of direction for a YA school-based fantasy – Amazons, Spartans and Valkyries create a whole new dynamic. Of course, there is still the normal teenage-angst, and our heroine Gwen Frost has to deal with it in spades, being the orphaned, outcast, new-girl, and a Gypsy to boot.

Yes, whilst the other students do battle with spear and sabre, Gwen appears ‘limited’ to being able to see people’s emotions and actions through contact with either themselves, or items they have touched. Yet even that ability seems to be on the blink when uber-popular, spoilt rich kid Jasmine is murdered in the library, apparently whilst trying to prevent the theft of a powerful magical artifact, and Gwen can get no readings from the body. Determined not to let this stop her, Gwen sets out to investigate the murder, setting off a whirlwind chain of events that seem to get more dangerous at every turn.

I like Gwen as a character – she’s damaged by the loss of her parents, totally insecure in her role at Mythos, yet wonderfully respectful of her gift, a self-confessed geek, and her love for her grandma literally pours from the pages. She can be a little too judgmentally at times though, and the depth of feeling she develops for a Spartan, Logan, in a very short space of time did surprise me a bit! Gwen is also really sceptical about the ‘reality’ of the myths and legends that Mythos insist are reality – scepticism that I have to admit, I share. Estep tries her hardest to convince, but as of the end of the first book, I wasn’t totally on board.

A good read, with some very promising elements, I’ll definitely be asking Mel for the second in the series, and hoping that Estep can convince me more of the reality of the myths and legends of old. 

One for fans of Rachel Hawkins and Kelley Armstrong’s Darkest Powers series, 7.5 out of 10.

Touch of Frost Review

Touch of Frost (Mythos Academy 1)

-       Jennifer Estep

Publisher: Kensington Books

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. . .

After being teased by the prologue to this series, First Frost, I couldn’t wait to pick up with the series proper and see how Gwen was coping at Mythos Academy. Luckily I had won a signed copy a couple of months ago so I wasted no time in catching up with Gwen again! After two months at Mythos Gwen still hasn’t made any friends, is still missing her mom and isn’t sure about all this mythology and magic that both the teachers and other students seem to believe in. But when one of the most popular girls in her class is killed and a rare artefact stolen from the library where she works, Gwen is determined to figure out exactly what is happening at Mythos Academy...

Gwen is such a fantastic character – she is still hurting from the death of her mother and feels guilty (although she shouldn’t!), but she still manages to care more about Jasmine’s death than anyone else who knew her for years. Gwen loves comic books and purple hoodies. She has a sweet tooth and despite everything is smart, determined and quite stubborn. I loved her from the first page when she confronts Daphne –and the more I read the more I wanted to be Gwen’s friend. There is a nice mix of characters in Gwen’s world. Some of which might seem like stereotypes at first, but they all have layers to them. I especially like how Daphne got involved in the story. As for Logan – I want to know his secrets as much as Gwen does!  

The story is intriguing with a mix of the everyday, mystery and magic and entirely engrossing. Jennifer Estep’s writing is fabulous – the world is detailed and well thought out and you can just immerse yourself in the world without feeling too lost. Plus I loved reading the Greek, Roman and Norse myths when I was growing up so I was utterly compelled with how Jennifer has combined them all – and the different races into creating a new mythology for this series. I can’t wait for Kiss of Frost to turn up in my mailbox – yes, I ordered it the second I finished reading Touch of Frost! J

Recommended for fans of Richelle Mead and Jeri Smith-Ready. 9 out of 10

First Frost Review

First Frost (Mythos Academy 0.5)

-       Jennifer Estep

Kindle Books

I am Gwen Frost, and I have a Gypsy gift.  It's called psychometry - that's a fancy way of saying that I see images in my head and get flashes of other people's memories off almost everything I touch, even guys.  My gift makes me kind of nosy. Okay, okay, maybe a lot nosy--to the point of obsession sometimes. I want to know everything about everyone around me. But even I don't want to know the secrets my friend Paige is hiding or the terrible loss that will send me to a new school - Mythos Academy...

This was a free kindle book at the beginning of December that I downloaded and read within an hour as it’s not very long. But it does do a good job of introducing you about Gwen, her gift and her world. Gwen’s power leads to her freaking out when she someting she really wishes didn’t and leads to big changes for her. We see Mythos Academy for the first time and start to get an idea of just how different this new school is – and a sneaky hint of Spartan, Logan who I suspect we will be getting to know better!

This is more a prologue to Touch of Frost, but it does give you the ultimate tease into the world and Jennifer Estep’s writing (which is just as good for YA audience as it is for adult series!). In fact I had to dig out Touch of Frost from my TBR pile and start reading it straight away as I just wanted to know what exactly was in store for Gwen at Mythos!

Recommended for fans of Vampire Academy and Soul Screamers. 7 out of 10