Great characters. I really enjoyed it
344290
Well written historical novel.  Great characters.  I really enjoyed it.
195078
I thought it was a great read. I loved the characters. And I hated putting it down. Highly recommend it.
3338423
I loved it. Great start to the series. The characters and the world M has created is great. I would recommend it to others. I look forward to reading the next one in the series.
3716108
Thoughtful, complex, riveting. Really enjoyed it.
3535509
A little predictable, but I really enjoyed it.
4772034
Cant wait for more books in the series. I really loved the characters.
1515671
This is a great book.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.
4487032
Definitely worth a read. I thoroughly enjoyed it
3313850
This was a really great read, I really enjoyed it! Great characters and a good story line. Definitely recommend it.
1148865
VERY ENJOYABLE. I REALLY LIKE THE CHARACTERS IN THIS SERIES OF BOOKS
3685414
I really enjoyed it, and I thought it was a great addition to this series. I have to admit that I was a little annoyed that two books would be spent on characters and events that happened hundreds of years before the "current" storyline (so many hints have been dropped about other worlds and characters that I want to meet, and I want to meet them now!) but I enjoyed it a lot more than I had been expecting. I was quickly pulled into the story, and I think that having two books is a strength--it's still about the same length as the others, but there's a lot more that can be done with the plot and the characters without making the reader feel like they've gone from zero to sixty.

The grammar and spelling are good, as I've come to expect of Shea. The storytelling is captivating, and the main characters are distinct, intriguing, and generally likeable. The story is fast-paced without feeling rushed, and most of the characterization is believable. I'm looking forward to the sequel, and I'm just adding it to the many things that I want that are happening in 2016.

It's an awesome book, and I highly suggest reading it, but it isn't perfect. I liked where Rakel started, and for the most part I liked the path she's taken. While I don't necessarily agree with the whole no-killing thing, it's an understandable--however disappointing--character trait for her to have. What would be interesting to see in the sequel is her having to struggle with those moral codes for the sake of the greater good. I will say that a lot of Shea's female leads in this series sort of feel the same (I haven't read "Wild Swans" so I can't take that one into consideration). The heroines tend to be dry, which I appreciate, but for me Elle is still the only one to stand out. I've liked all of them, but it would be nice to have someone like Phile the Robber Maiden be the lead. My only other thing about Rakel is that I'm wondering if someone is teaching her how to find in normal people combat, because that would really come in handy, and there's no way she automatically knows how. Just because you can make an ice spear doesn't mean you know how to use it.

One minor complaint is about the love interest--it took a while to figure out who it would be. I feel bad for complaining about that since it's obviously not the focus of this (or presumably the next) novel, but I went back and forth between Oskar and Halvor until Farrin made himself a serious contender and stole the focus. Farrin seems the most likely to me, but I have my reservations.

The only other thing is the purpose that the Chosen had in Verglas. The first one they described was weak, acknowledged as weak, and then established as a cover. But I still don't think that the apparent actual reason is all that much better. I mean, was invading the country really necessary? I'll bite at the fact that they need to get through Verglas to get at it, but the invasion itself seems a little pointless. Wouldn't it be easier--and cheaper--to send in a small group to sneak through and steal the object of interest? Because, all the reasons for why Verglas isn't a good starting place for their grand takeover still stand after everything is accomplished. That line of reasoning still seemed thrown together to me, and I'm not convinced.

But, all in all, a wonderful book. Definitely recommended for fans of Shea (and for new readers!) because it's an engaging addition. Also, I appreciate the presence of Gerta and Kai. No "Snow Queen" retelling is truly complete without them.
2098577
Really good book.  Enjoyed it tremendously.  Not sure why the other reviews were so low.  The characters and their different backgrounds made for a great adventure about intrigue, mystery, romance, and thrills.
284358
I would give it 5 stars. I enjoyed it very much.
183406
This is the first book that I've read by R. A. Steffen, and I really enjoyed it.  Great characters, engaging story, and a lot of fun, romance and sex that kept me interested until the end.  This is the first time I've written a review and also the first time I clicked the link at the end of a book, which led me to the author's website where I received the prequel that was also fantastic.  I am really looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series.
1006265
Exciting reading, great characters.  I enjoyed it very much.  Stayed up past bedtime to finish.  Looking forward to the second installment.  Is the third one written yet?
277626
I liked it. A fun read. Interesting plot and great characters, I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
429595
I really enjoyed it. I wish there was more.