Second in the Mythos Academy urban fantasy series for young adults about a teen suddenly thrust into an elite boarding school.


My Take
Kind of felt like Estep is channeling Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series. Instead of vampires, it's gods and goddesses as Gwen Frost learns more and more about the elite world into which she has suddenly been thrust.

The series' theme is Reapers against the Pantheon with the Reapers working at breaking Loki free to plunge the world back into the Wars of Chaos. The Pantheon, Gwen's side, works to police and preserve the world.

In Kiss of Frost, Gwen discovers a new power, clears up several emotional issues, and fights off yet more attacks. All within the hard, cruel world of high school! She also learns the truth about her mom and Nike explains the contest between the Reapers and the Pantheon, ending with a quest for Gwen.

Okay, I know that authors need to throw tension in and, in most genres, the author has the protagonist decide against sharing information with someone who can help him/her. But it makes me nuts! I don't know if I've simply read too many stories and that's what makes it seem so ubiquitous or it really is rife and overused.

Oops, funny how a legitimate reaction can have such far-reaching consequences. Especially when one is reacting from anger and hurt feelings. Then there's that scene where Logan and Gwen run off leaving Oliver behind...what's with that?


The Story
Well, that's one way to get a little oomph behind your arrow! Get angry when the guy you love starts making out with his latest girlfriend!

Then to add insult to injury, a black SUV tries to run Gwen down outside her Grandma's house followed by an attack in the library. Jeez, her Grandma and Professor Metis thought they were protecting her by putting her in Mythos Academy---it's more dangerous in the school!

Now, Daphne is insisting that Gwen needs to come to Winter Carnival. As if. She and Carson are the only people who even speak to her. She doesn't know how to ski. Why should Gwen make up a third wheel when there's no one else for her to hang with all weekend? But Daphne isn't taking 'no' for an answer and Gwen gets dragged off for a 'festive' weekend. With an opportunity to try out that new power she's been using in archery. Actually, Gwen gets several opportunities with a side benefit with the Fenrir wolf that attacks.

Still, there are some social benefits when Gwen meets a hot guy from the New York school. He wants to meet up at different parties, have lunch, go off to a secluded corner...and make Logan sit up and take notice.

The fun and games ends however. And Gwen learns the truth behind her mother's death that night. It's one way to start winter break. Knowing that everyone around you was lying.


The Characters
Gwen Frost is a touch sensitive, psychometric magic that allows her to "read" any object she touches. Seems her magic is growing, too, as she learns a powerful side benefit to her ability. We've learned that she's Nike's Champion. Vic is the name of her talking sword. Grandma Frost is Gwen's last living relative. A Gypsy, she sees into the Future and is a killer baker. Her dad, Tyr Forseti, died of cancer when Gwen was a kid; her mother, Grace Frost, was a cop when she died after a drunk smashed into her car some months ago.

Logan Quinn is a Spartan, a man-whore (there's a rumor that he's signed the mattress of every girl he's slept with so he can keep track), and Gwen's tutor in swordplay. Gwen fell in love with him in Touch of Frost. And was rebuffed as well. Savannah, an Amazon, is Logan's latest girlfriend. Oliver Hector, a Spartan, is in love and desperate to distract Gwen from the one with whom he's in love. Kenzie Tanaka is also a Spartan and best friends with Oliver and Logan; he's tutoring Gwen in archery.

Daphne Cruz is a Valkyrie and became Gwen's BFF in Touch of Frost; Carson Callahan, a Celt and a band geek, is Daphne's boyfriend. Morgan McDougall, another Valkyrie, is the school slut; Samson Sorensen is one of the hot guys on campus; and, Helena Paxton, an Amazon, is working for the title of top mean bitch.

Nickamedes is the head librarian where Gwen works part-time; the idea is that the library is a great place for Gwen to meet a lot of kids. Hah! Nickamedes hates Gwen! Professor Metis was one of Gwen's mom's best friends; she's also the Champion for Athena. Coach Ajax is also there to help.

Preston is one of the hot guys who shows up at the Powder hotel during the school's break for Winter Carnival. And he is very interested in Gwen. Could be a great rebound from Logan's rejection!

Reapers of Chaos are the bad guys, the followers of Loki. They are working to break the seven seals that prevent Loki from destroying the world. They've tortured and abused most of the monsters of the mythic world into working for them, including the Fenrir wolf (shades of Harry Potter!).


The Cover
The cover is definitely Frost-y with Gwen closing her eyes and puckering up to blow the ice crystals off the palm of her hand. Just a glimmer of a building appears in the upper left corner with a scary-looking gargoyle snarling at us.

The title is a Kiss of Frost for Gwen discovers some kisses can bite.

More like 3.5 rounded up to 4, a bit too much repetition (descriptions places/people/World-Building).
May be my mistake, as I read the first 3 novels back-to-back.
But you see how Gwen is changing and growing more mature.
Also, despite what was said in a different review (maybe the story was changed after giving away an ARC?), Gwen does not kill lightly, rather she regrets it, even though it was in a fight for her live.
More in my review for the third book, I read the first 3 back-to-back, also the first short story.

Loved the exciting plot,an easy to read style of writing, the mythological world is truly awesome, but one star minus for Gwen being a doormat - no matter what Logan does or says - she forgives him so easily!!! Not cool - she could at least make him squirm!

Und ein weiteres Mal zieht Jennifer estep mich mit in ihren Bann, ich konnte einfach nicht aufhören zu lesen, und sitze schon mit Band 3 in den startlöchern hier!!! Wie schön es mal wieder war Gwen in ihrem Alltag auf der Academy zu begleiten, bei all den Dingen, die so normal sind und doch oft in Büchern nicht angesprochen werden, und bei all den nicht so normalen Abenteuern. Wow wow wow. Ich hab einfach alles an der Geschichte geliebt und war so sehr im Lesefluss, dass es sich komisch angefühlt hat am Ende fertig zu sein, weil es war, als hätte ich die letzten Stunden mit Gwen zusammen verbracht. Ich kann nichts anderes sagen, als das diese Fantasy Reihe mein Herz im Sturm erobert hat und ich jetzt einfach direkt weiterlesen muss!!!

At first I was a little disturbed at how similar it was to Vampire Academy (ski trip? really?) but my fears eventually assuaged themselves. It's different I swear, but of a similar lovable nature. Gwen is still funny, and now she's surrounded by a few new cohorts to get into trouble with. There is of course Vic, Daphne (who I love), Carson, Logan (still too perfect) and ooh some newbies like Preston, Oliver and Kenzie.

One of the big problems originally was that Gwen was very alone, but now with a steadily growing supporting cast, it's getting better. I'm still having problems with the very badly done villainous side of things, but hopefully, the series will grow in intensity. First Jasmine and now bad person number two (who shall go unnamed) are both not really prime examples of good villains. They're pretty boring as far as villains go and they make really bad speeches. But since Gwen is learning some new skills, the bad guys will have to increase their game.

With urban fantasies, however, it's almost possible to see events occurring on the horizon. There are rarely any unexpected twists and turns. As I was reading, i played a game where I would make a prediction and see if I was right. I always was. So a fair warning, this doesn't really bring anything new to the YA game, it's just a nice example of what is already good in the genre.

Anyway, I'm too far now. The characters have grabbed me. I love the mythology. I like the ease at which the plot unfolds. I can't put the series down anymore and shall definitely be continuing, even if I can guess what happens next.

Reviewed for Book Brats!


KISS OF FROST is the sequel to the fun and exciting TOUCH OF FROST by Jennifer Estep, which probably was one of my favorite young adult books of 2011. I’m a sucker for fun and exciting and girl power, and while KISS OF FROST wasn’t quite as good as its predecessor, it was still a great YA novel that I wholeheartedly recommend. This series is full of action, excitement, romance, and great characters that will make you laugh and cry and fear for. Estep has a winning combination of a fun twist on the old “boarding school for superpowered teens” plot and great characters, which is why I will tell you this. YOU MUST READ THIS SERIES. And spoilers might be mentioned within.

In KISS OF FROST, we’re back to Mythos Academy a few weeks after the events of TOUCH OF FROST. The way the story begins is helpful to people who have not read the first book – in fact, you can actually jump into book two without having read book one due to the amount of rehashing involved – but somewhat off putting if you have read book one. The first 150 pages are chock full of plot recaps, reminders, and basically a retelling of every event from book one. Multiple times. Even as we hit the climax, we are still being told about the events of book one. It slows down the pacing a bit, but as I said, if you haven’t read book one, you can still read book two.

That was really my main issue with KISS OF FROST. We meet a new potential love interest, new enemies, new denizens of Mythos Academy (particularly Logan’s Spartan friends Oliver and Kenzie, who become critical players in the story arc), and new world building that brings a lot of new details to this already well-created world. At the end, we even have a slight guide to the world which brings a lot of the details together, and I can only assume that book three (DARK FROST, out June 2012) will bring more details, especially considering that AWESOME chapter one preview.

As Gwen’s powers develop, so does the enormity of the situation resting on her shoulders. The character development in KISS OF FROST is great – not like some stories where the main character never grows as a person. She’s learning to fight back and stand up for herself, which is what I love to see in young adult fiction – girls that take things into their own hands. Yes, she has a boy that drives her, but Gwen is a great heroine. And Logan is still a great, mysterious bad boy – and not the kind of bad boy that is actually BAD. He cares about Gwen and will do anything to help her. He’s almost like a sweet bad boy, which is the type of bad boy that I love. But don’t expect constant sparks of love and gooey and kissing here.

If you haven’t picked up TOUCH OF FROST, what are you waiting for? Go to Amazon or Barnes and Noble or your local Indie and PICK IT UP NOW. This is a series that you cannot miss.

VERDICT: KISS OF FROST might not be as good as TOUCH OF FROST, but it is still a great sequel to one of my favorite current young adult series. A definite must read.

I should probably drop this series, because it's not really doing much for me. I mean, the book has its moments, but it was just so predictable, and not in the good way. It got me so mad that Gwen couldn't see that Oliver was actually innocent and Preston was the bad guy. I did like how Oliver was actually gay, that was a nice little touch.

I enjoyed this book but there were a few things that annoyed me. Her lack of variation in her descriptions for example. Surely there are more ways to describe different people. How many times can you call someone a band geek or the spartan. The book was repetitive at times. I also struggled to believe that Gwen was mosey when she rarely used her powers when they could have been helpful. The info dumping was also irritating in the beginning. Soooo repetitive. If book three was a $1.99 book I would read it just to finish the series as I rarely give up on a series but I just couldn't justify reading book 3.