Frost Fire

Tortured Elements #1

by Olivia Rivers

"Magic is just like love, Allai. It won't wait for permission before it destroys you."

Like sand in an hourglass, Allai's future is dwindling away. She's spent her entire life fighting the Mages who threaten humanity, and dreams of someday eradicating magic. But all it takes is an anonymous phone call for the truth to spill out: Allai is the one thing she despises most.

She's a Mage.

Though ancient law mandates Allai's death, she still has one last chance of survival. His name is Drake Rhaize, and he swears he can lead Allai to a sanctuary for Mages. Allai hasn't seen Drake in years, but she remembers him as the demon boy who used to hold her close and softly whisper that he'd keep her safe. But Drake has changed since then: He's now suspected of murder, and has been out-casted for betraying his own kind.

While Allai doesn't trust Drake, she has no choice but to put her life in his hands and hope he can get her to safety. Because Allai's father has hired a pack of Demons to bring her back to him, dead or alive, and demons never stop the hunt.

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Demons, Magic, Paranormal Romance, Witches

335 pages, Paperback

First published November 12, 2012

About the author

Olivia Rivers is an award-winning author of Young Adult fiction. Her works include Tone Deaf, which was awarded a place on the American Library Association's "Quick Picks" list, and In the Hope of Memories, which has been optioned for film. Olivia enjoys experimenting with new publishing technologies, and her online serials have received over 1,000,000 hits on Wattpad.com. She is represented by Laurie McLean of Fuse Literary.

Reviews

[Lauren Stewart]

Wow. Drake is incredible. The scenes with his father are painfully good. Luke is just 'awww'-inspiring. The action is mesmerizing. The world building was complex. I wanted to cry for Allai.

I'm so glad I got to read this pre-release. You're going to love it. Love. It.

Thanks, Olivia!

[Richa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted at City of Books - http://ecstatic-for-books.blogspot.com/

I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. Okay?

When I started reading this book, I honestly couldn't believe it was written by a high school student. But it's true - Olivia Rivers is I think about a year older than me, and she's written such an amazing book! Frost Fire is a fantastic paranormal read, and it's incredibly well paced. I loved the magic, the action, and the romance in it.

There were quite a few twists and turns in this book, and I loved that. Reading this book is like riding on a roller-coaster. There's a huge twist right at the end, and it left me reeling with shock. I felt a physical need for the sequel right after I finished the last page! The different paranormal creatures in Frost Fire intrigued me, and I was glad that they were original and not played out like vampires and werewolves.

Frost Fire is told in both Allai and Drake's points of view. To be honest, I didn't warm to Allai much in this book, because she spent most of it fainting and crying and in pain. Though I think that once she gets used to her magic, she'll be a really strong protagonist, and I can't wait to see that in the next book. Allai is very determined, and she's extremely brave, too. But she also makes pretty rash decisions. In fact, there are a few things she did that I wanted to knock her over the head for. I do hope she learns from her mistakes, though. I liked her unwavering faith in Drake, and her refusal to believe that he could ever harm her. She's really trusting of him, but with good reason. He was always there for her when they were kids, and he swore to always protect her.

Okay that brings me to Drake. I loved reading from his perspective, because he's such a complex character. He's a tortured guy, torn between wanting to save Allai and wanting to become something good, something better than what his father is. He realizes that he can do both, but that it won't be easy. Drake is on his way to becoming the most powerful demon out there, but he's not arrogant or vain at all. He really does have a good heart, and we see a totally different side of him later on in the novel. He seems harsh and dispassionate in the beginning, but Allai manages to soften him. Drake's sweet and romantic words and gestures sent chills down my spine. He's one of the awesomest book boys I've met so far, and is a major contributor to why I liked this book so much!

Luke is another character I really enjoyed reading about. He's a Persequor, and he's basically Allai's best friend. Probably her only friend in the Sentinel, which is why they're so close. Allai's father doesn't like them hanging around together, but there isn't much he can do about it. Luke's good for Allai - he's wise, and keeps her under control. He also comforts her when she needs it, and her safety comes before everything else. I like the fact that he calls her by a nickname, Allai-bird, and that they banter a lot. It shows how easy and effortless their friendship is, and how much they value it.

Have I mentioned that I love books with road trips in them? Well, I do. And Frost Fire's got a great one, with Drake and Allai desperately trying to reach the Caedes as fast as they can. Road trips always bring people closer to each other, at least in books, and that's exactly what happened here. Drake grows more comfortable around Allai, and soon all the barriers between them that formed after they were separated as kids suddenly disappear. That moment is amazing, when Drake admits to Allai that he didn't want anything between them to change, as well as what happens afterwards. Though I think you might have a good idea of that!

Overall, Frost Fire is an awesome debut from Olivia Rivers, and I'm hoping for an equally exceptional sequel! There's a lot more that Allai and Drake have to discover about themselves, and I can't wait to read all about how they decide to do that. This book is a great introduction to a series that I know I will love. The romance was very sweet and believable, the action was heart-stopping, and Drake was the cherry on the top!

*Thank you to Giselle for choosing me for this blog tour and providing me with a copy for review*

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m sad to admit that I did not enjoy this book. I really enjoy a good paranormal series and Olivia Rivers is a very young author, so I guess I wanted this one to be good.

I apologise for my poor synopsis. I did not pay enough attention in the beginning of the book and it flew over my head.

Allai is a part demon who lives in some kind of mansion under a secret society for paranormal creatures. She does not possess any special powers or forms, unlike the others she lives with. Allai’s life is in danger and she becomes intrusted in the hands of Drake, a demon who once tried to harm her.

Allai was my biggest problem with this book. Look, I understand that not all female characters have to be badasses. In fact, I oppose that. A strong or developed female character does not necessarily have to be some kind of highly trained combat fighter. But I do expect the female characters I read about to be developed and to be… useful. I think that Hazel Grace Lancaster from The Fault in Our Stars is a good example of some of the characteristics I expect from a female character. She has her own opinions and does not lay down and die. She’s developed and has interests. She’s not going to save the world anytime soon and she’s not extraordinary (although I do enjoy characters who are those things). Okay, I’m being pretty vague here, but these are the things I expect from EVERY character.

Allai does not have any of these things. She is so amazingly useless that I’m not even sure how someone like that could exist. She seems to put herself in dangerous situations just to get in the way. She seems to flop down and give up many times in this book while others drag her around.

I do not expect Allai to kill every demon in sight. I do not even expect her to be brave. But I expect her to have some kind of common sense and a will to live.

Drake was not any better. Just some moody, brooding guy. Pass.
Luke was just an overprotective jerk. Yawn. For some reason he never wears shirts, which might have been some kind of vague attempt make him interesting and hot. Yeah no. Describing the overprotective jerk as being shirtless just makes me think that he’s weird and has no consideration for others.
Why the hell does Allai need so many people taking care of her all the time? She can’t seem to do anything for herself. These two guys are her protectors, her way of gaining knowledge, and pretty much keep her alive.

I know nothing about Allai. I just read an entire book on her and I have no idea about her personality, her interests, what she does in her spare time, etc.

On another note, what is up with the whole paranormal society? There are French ambassadors who are evil and kind of stereotypical… Why are the French boss of the paranormal society? I just don’t understand…

Not a lot happens in this book. To be honest, it felt more like a prequel. There is a big reveal, but this doesn’t really come into play seriously.

Frost Fire is ultimately a rather uninteresting book, topped off with a weak protagonist and controlling, aggressive side characters. It wasn’t completely awful, but it definitely wasn’t good. I do have respect for Olivia Rivers for having the courage and dedication to self-publish her book at such a young age, but for me it isn’t about the age of an author, it’s about the book itself. I’m glad that she has courage and commitment (something that young people tend to lack) so I hope she keeps going!

[Jennifer]

Love the cover!

[Hbeebti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so freaking good! I wish that it didn't end. And the epilogue at the end has me smiling and reeling at the same time. When is the next book coming out? I wish I had it already.

[Raina {The LUV'NV} · Rating 3 out of 5]

Metal-winged demons and all-powerful mages in a political war. A young, forbidden love that stems from loneliness and fear, spanning over years and distance. Secrets, betrayals, and family feuds. Frost Fire was full of surprises. Even though I read the summary, I expected angels because of the cover. I also expected full fantasy and a decent plot. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised with urban fantasy, a complex plot, even deeper-cutting inner conflicts, and various leagues of demons with clicking metal wings.

Drake, one of the most powerful demons—if not the most powerful—is ordered to assassinate the girl he's ever had a connection with. Allai, thought to be a human and the only one adopted and trained by a demon, is suddenly on the run—though, not from Drake, but from the society that raised her. As these two flee across the country together, they discover how far their families and races will go to meet their own ends. The depth of the betrayal is not what they, nor how the readers, anticipated. I foresaw some of the twists, but a couple took me by surprise, and one even made my jaw drop.

I wished Allai was as strong as implied, though. She supposedly trained to fight, but we never see any of this training. She needed a lot of saving and constantly seemed to be curled into a ball of shock afterward. I also would've liked more on her and Drake's relationship when they were younger. We only get a couple glimpses. Without much of that developing stage, I couldn't understand the connection between them. I didn't see enough of what built it up to the I'd-die-and-kill-for-you level, and their present relationship seem too much, too fast. The flashbacks of Drake with his malicious father were so gut-wrenching and emotionally palpable, and I enjoyed Drake's struggle in that respect and how he much grew as a character to stand up to him. If only I got more in terms of Allai with Drake and as a character, I would've given this four stars.

Despite that, I'm looking forward to the next book. Frost Fire was a wonderful read and good beginning to a series. Recommended for fans of first loves, a dose of angst, and complex intrigue where the lines of the good and the bad are blurred.

* eBook provided by the author and Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for a review.

Review also posted on The LUV'NV blog, here.

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to say that I wasn't all too impressed with this novel. It was okay, but that's as far as I'd go. Having said that, we need to keep in mind that a teenager wrote this book...so that's pretty impressive! However, I do not let things such as age/experience affect my reviews; all books get treated as they are and with no biases. Okay, so the story was good. The story was probably my favourite part of the novel. It is quite creative and unique. It's about a girl named Allai, who doesn't remember much about her past other than a few weak memories. She remembers a boy demon named Drake who tried to kill her after always claiming he would keep her safe. She has constant nightmares about him, until one day he comes back into her life. And saves her life. Then, she has to force herself to trust that what he says is true, because she needs him to keep her safe once again. Together, they embark on a journey with ups and downs and hopefully safety at the end...

I was not a big fan of either Allai or Drake. I found it difficult to connect with either of them, but I do find this often happens for me with third person narration. But, I just don't feel that these characters were very memorable...there was nothing that stood out from them, in my opinion. Allai is a typical damzel in distress throughout the majority of this novel. She is weak and constantly screaming or fainting. Definitely not the tough heroin I like my leading ladies to be. Drake is the tough one. He is Allai's knight in shining armour; he's always coming to Allai's rescue. Both Allai and Drake are likeable enough, I suppose; but, I find myself very much disconnected from them, even while writing this review. I can't even think of interesting things to say about them...

The writing is below average, I would say. It's weak and immature, although it does have it's strong moments. I understand that Rivers is very young and this is her debut novel, so I don't want to go too hard on her. Everyone has to start somewhere. And, believe me, the writing could be a lot worse -- I've definitely read worse. So, Rivers' writing isn't bad per say, but it's not very good either. I also noticed that there were quite a few mistakes in the later half of the novel. I'm not sure what happened there...did the editor get sick of it and started becoming sloppy? I don't know...but there were significantly more in the second half than the first.

Overall, I wasn't too keen on this book. I don't think I'll read the second of the series. But, if you think it sounds up your alley, then please try it out for yourself. It does have quite a few 5 star ratings on Goodreads. Oh, one thing I love is the cover, though! It's awesome!

[Tee loves Kyle Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frost Fire is one of those books that has you saying "WOW" "WOW" over and over again. I mean I read it and was like "WOW" and then because I loved it so much I re-read the next day to make sure I did not miss a beat and I found that I had not missed anything. The story was just that GREAT, BRILLIANT in fact. Then just a side note I realized the author looked a little young and HOLY HADES she is a high schooler! Holy Hades I could not believe she had such talent!

Frost Fire is a story about a girl named Allai. She has spent her time killing Mages who want to bring back the magic and destroy humanity. She despises them and when ever she gets a chance to read the world of one she does. Then the strangest thing happens to her and she receives a call that will change her world entirely. At first she does not believe the caller and the story but as the evidence is all there right in front of her face she has no choice but to accept what is being told to her and try to move on and protect herself.

See Allai finds out she is the one thing she despises. The one thing she hates in this world...... a Mage! Yes folks you heard me right she is a Mage and she is in danger because the law says that all Mages are to die. So she seeks help from an old friend and demon Drake. But Drake has issues of his own that he is battling and when she finds him she realizes that he is in fact in trouble to. But Drake is the only person who knows where the sanctuary is for Mages and Allai needs to get there like ASAP because she has a bounty on her head. See her father put a bounty out on her and the demons he sent after her will stop at nothing to bring her back to her father dead or alive.

What will Allai do? Will she make it to the sanctuary in time? What will Drake do? Will he take her to the sanctuary? This is a must read and I need book two like ASAP!

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

Where do I start? Before I state why I gave this book two stars, let me state why I didn't give it one; It is a very unique plot. The author has a great imagination and the story is very original.

Unfortunately, having a unique story line isn't what makes a book great. The heroine, Allai, is weak and doesn't actually manage to accomplish anything throughout the entire book!!! Her rescuer and love interest, Drake, is also a cliche who has some serious emotional issues/outbursts. The characters weren't realistic and were hard to relate to and the story line jumped around quite a bit.

Another pet peeve (rant) is that they kept cuddling in the car randomly and I have no idea what kind of car they were in because I can't think of a car in which cuddling is realistic because... There's no damn space!!! He's supposed to be 6'4, my husband is 6'3 and I can honestly say, from many attempts, that no matter how small the partner is (I'm tiny), cuddling and holding each other in a vehicle as much as they did is simply not practical and wouldn't have happened.

Ending this review on a good note. I enjoyed the last sentence of the book. It was a good plot twist and I wish that the characters and writing style were half as good as the story line had the potential to be.

[Mikky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book I can compare to the Imdalind Series. It's just THAT good. Again, I read this before May, so I don't have a review written up, but this book is AMAZING. I am still going crazy for book 2 (which was already supposed to be out -Author's Website said so-, but it isn't and no one is telling me ANYTHING!!). So let's just say I'm slowly and painfully dying inside.

I remember being in love with Drake and Allai was/is my revile. The story was so different from what is normally put out there in the publishing world that I just loved that. I'll just say it involves a lot of action, a mage girl and a demon out to help her. That right there should be enough for you to go buy the book and fall in love with Drake C:

Your welcome C:

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing start to a new series!!! I absolutely adored this new world! Drake = swoon! I loved the new twist thrown in at the end too! Oooh I can't wait to get my hands on book 2!!

The creativity in this new series takes you by storm. Loved it! I can't wait to see what happens next!

[YA Reads Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted on www.yareads.com, reviewed by Nichole.

Buy the book: Amazon Barnes and Noble

“Magic is just like love, Allai. It won’t wait for permission before it destroys you.”
Like sand in an hourglass, Allai’s future is dwindling away. She’s spent her entire life fighting the Mages who threaten humanity, and dreams of someday eradicating magic. But all it takes is an anonymous phone call for the truth to spill out: Allai is the one thing she despises most.
She’s a Mage.
Though ancient law mandates Allai’s death, she still has one last chance of survival. His name is Drake Rhaize, and he swears he can lead Allai to a sanctuary for Mages. Allai hasn’t seen Drake in years, but she remembers him as the Demon boy who used to hold her close and softly whisper that he’d keep her safe. But Drake has changed since then: He’s now suspected of murder, and has been out-casted for betraying his own kind.
While Allai doesn’t trust Drake, she has no choice but to put her life in his hands and hope he can get her to safety. Because Allai’s father has hired a pack of Demons to bring her back to him, dead or alive–and Demons never stop the hunt.
“Frost Fire” is a YA Paranormal Romance intended for ages 14+.
Frost Fire is a “Good Reads and Good Deeds” book. All net proceeds for Frost Fire go toward the Dysautonomia Youth Network of America, a charity that supports youth with medical conditions affecting the nervous system.

Frost Fire has a storyline like I’ve never read before. A girl living with demons? Whose read of such a thing? Not me. So it was a plus that the book was about something that I have never read before. It was an additional plus that the first half of the book was amazing.
During the first half of the book, I adored Allai. She had spunk and she was living in such a unique world. Her relationship with Drake in the beginning was also adorable. I loved the scenes where she would go see him in the dungeon. I just wanted that to continue on forever. Unfortunately, I did not like Allai during the last half of the book. She had a complete personality change. She was extremely needy, always cried and really just seemed to ignore that the world was still functioning around her.
Drake was a pretty strong male character. Did I fall head over heels in love with him? No. But did I enjoy his character? Yes. I could definitely see why girls..and guys..would fall in love with Drake.
Luke. I could talk about Luke all. day. long. I seriously want to know how Olivia Rivers created such an amazing character. The only complaint I have about Luke is that I didn’t get more of him. He was AMAZING. He was bitchy, snippy, grumpy, and hot all mixed into a single package. I don’t know how on Earth that made me fall in love with him, but it did.
There were some things that really didn’t tie the story together. For one, I didn’t like having the two boys introduced in the lunch room if they were never going to make another appearance. I really thought that they were going to play a major part in the book, and I was really confused and slightly disappointed when they were never mentioned again. I also thought that there was a big jump between the first half and the second half of the book. The first half of the book was amazing and the second half of the book was mediocre. My mind couldn’t really process how fast Allai was living in one environment to be being kicked out and doing a road trip with Drake. I really wish that the whole book would have been centered around her living with the demons like it started out. I would have liked to see a different storyline than Allai and Drake struggling to get to Idaho.
I was also really sad that the guy who played Allai’s dad in the beginning didn’t make another appearance. I honestly thought that he would come try to rescue Allai and that he was putting on a show for the French. I didn’t expect that he would completely throw Allai to the wolves after playing the role of her father for so many years.
Drake and Allai’s relationship during the beginning of the book was so freaking cute. I loved them so much! But again, they almost seemed like totally different characters during the second half of the book. Drake turned very desperate to save Allai, which made him lose some of his spark and sexiness. Allai just lost her personality altogether. Allai became extremely needy and clingy, which is something that I already can’t stand in females. Keep your hands to yourself. Some touching now and then is acceptable, but come on. You’re your own person. Act like it.
The very ending of the book was SO. SHOCKING! I can normally guess all the twists and turns that are going to happen in a book, but no. I had no idea that THAT was going to happen! I loved that surprise ending! I don’t know where it’s going to go from there. I’m honestly having the hardest time of my life not telling you guys what happens, because I want to talk about it SO BAD. The ending just blew my mind.
I had a lot to complain about in this book, but I also want to stress that I was head over heels in love with the whole first half of the book. I have tried so many times to sit down and write, and I just do not have the patience for it. To imagine Olivia Rivers, a teenager and high school student, sitting down and writing this story that was actually pretty good is amazing. Kudos to her. I would definitely recommend this book.

Publisher: Red Sparrow Press
Publication Date: November 20th, 2012
Source: Ebook provided for blog tour
Rating: : 3.5

[Octavia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Original post can be found at Read. Sleep. Repeat.


Before I get into the good, bad , and ugly of Frost Fire I just want to point out how jealous I feel of Miss. Olivia Rivers. Not only did she pen a book but she is still in high school, and a portion of every book goes to a good cause. Bravo to you Miss. Rivers! Now that I am done gushing (embarrassing much?) on to the review!

To be perfectly honest Frost Fire took a little time to grab me. Even when the action started happening (about 10 pages in) I wasn't completely sold, but I was interested enough to keep going. It wasn't until Allai and Drake were in the dungeon (sooo not a spoiler) that my attention peaked and I became completely wrapped in the story. Of course there were still things that bugged me, like any book, but I can honestly say that this book not only held my attention but it actually yearn for what was going to happen next.

Every fight scene, or dramatic speech made me want more. More questions, more fighting, more secrets! But, maybe my request for more made me greedy? I wanted Allai to use her years of training to be strong, I wanted Drake to see some good in the world, I wanted Luke to prove that blind guys can seriously kick ass, but most importantly I just wanted more. Yes the plot as a whole was ok, but there was no shock factor. Not once did I read something and say:


"gasp! I would have never guessed!"

In fact every time some earth shattering news popped up or a kink was thrown in the plan I kind of just went:



Ok....so I guess this is happening

And to be honest this is probably my only legitimate complaint with Frost Fire. I know it's a series so I expect Allai to get stronger and to become the amazing heroine I want her to be, so I won't even bother fussing over that. But personally I felt the pace was great; giving me just enough action and conflict to make me excited but not so much that I felt it was forced and unnecessary. And the same can be said for the love story. Even though a lot happened and changed between Allai and Drake I still felt that their relationship developed and moved at a paced that wasn't forced or rushed, or one that overshadowed the urgency of the story unfolding around them.

And by the way that aggravates me to no end! I don't mean to get off topic but I hate when a love story pops up out of nowhere and then completely takes over the original story! I would be lying if I said I didn't expect this from Frost Fire, and I would also be lying if I didn't let out a sigh of relief when that didn't happen. But to me that is the number one way to make me loose all interest in the book. Romance should be built slowly, with trust and getting to know you better scenarios. Insta-love works in some places but, nothing beats a story were the love interests not only have history with each other but they are also trying to get to know one another better before they drop that "L" bomb.

Sorry but I had to get that off my chest. I was so happy and surprised by how well the romance existed within the story, and you all must know how I feel! Mwahahaha.<---evil laugh

Anyway, at the end of the day it was a good read, with a good plot line, and good characters. It didn't blow me away, I didn't crawl into the fetal position afterward and I'm not pissed about the cliffhanger, but it was a good read. Will I pick up the next book? Why yes I will, thank you for asking! Will I mark my calendar and count down the days? Err, no.

[Merin · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first saw the summary for Frost Fire, I was instantly intrigued. I like books where the main character finds out she or he is something different from what they'd always thought, and the self-discovery that usually takes place. While Frost Fire didn't have any of that self-discovery - Allai is on the run for her life, which doesn't leave a lot of room for ruminating on your future - and Allai herself wasn't actually my favorite part of the book, I still found quite a lot to enjoy in its pages. I'm betting now that things have been solved in terms of where Allai is, we'll (hopefully!) see more of that questioning in the second installment.

First of all, the world this is set in is very interesting. While I really would have loved more world-building - how did these paranormal creatures come to be, and why are they protecting the humans? why don't they like the Mages, who can perform magic?  how can the humans have no idea these creatures exist? etc. - the little glimpses we did see of the various factions intrigued me and made me want more. I was especially interested in how the Mages were seemingly working with Drake's father, but don't actually seem to like him. The whole thing left me very curious. I also enjoyed what we could see of the Mages' magic and how it works. I am always a fan of magic, and am especially intrigued with Drake's abilities.

As for the characters, I had a bit of a problem with Allai herself. She proclaims to have trained to fight the Keepers and Rhaize's forces, but she spends most of this book being very damsel-in-distress. Drake has to save her neck several times (and his view of her as soft and weak didn't help), which made it all the more disappointing. I know Allai is dealing with something pretty severe throughout the book in terms of her magic, but I would have liked to see her be a little stronger. Drake, too, has his own flaws (see his view of Allai above), but on the whole I found him enjoyable to read, and especially liked when we got to read from his point of view. He's made out to be all-powerful and strong as well, but he, too, sort of didn't live up to that hype. I'll be interested to see more growth from both him and Allai in the second book.

The character I felt most drawn to is Luke, who I have loads and loads of questions about (and not just because of what we discover at the end). I'm really hoping he's going to make an appearance in the second book as well, because there's so much I want to know about him and his past!

While I seem to be complaining a lot about Frost Fire, that's not really my intention. Truthfully, I found this book extremely intriguing and compelling. The action and introspective parts were very well mixed, keeping the book constantly moving forward at a good pace. While there are things I wish I had more information on, this is the first in a series, so not finding answers to everything isn't exactly a deal breaker. The twists at the end regarding Drake's father's ultimatum and the appearance of the Mages leaves things with a definite question mark hanging over them, and I for one am very interested to see what happens next!

A copy of this book was provided by Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

***

To see more of my reviews, please visit me @ Read and Reviewed!

[Stephanie Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Frost Fire' is the first book in a YA paranormal series that follows teenage Allai, an orphan raised by the leader of the Sentinel - a powerful group of Demons who protect humans and kill any dangerous paranormal beings - including Mages. Allai has lived a really normal life, apart from being a human in a Demon world. She lives to help her father and the Sentinel in any way she can - including killing Mages and ridding the world of magic. That is, until one day an anonymous tip is received by her father and Allai realizes her entire existence has been a lie and she is actually the one thing she was taught to hate - a Mage. Now, she's on the run with Drake Rhaize, a Demon - who until extremely recently - Allai has believed tried to kill her three years ago. Drake is unpredictable, an outcast from his own kind - and also the unknown boy from Allai's childhood memories. Drake has taken it upon himself to get Allai to safety - before the Demons hired by his father and Allai's own father catch up to them and try to kill them both. Will he make it to safety in time?

After participating in the cover reveal for this book, I was in love. The cover is absolutely gorgeous! The premise sounded pretty interesting and I thought that I'd really like the book. Little did I know that I would soon fall prey to it's pages. I was almost immediately sucked into Allai's world. I easily connected with her and found myself feeling real sympathy for what she goes through in the book. I rooted her on the entire way and just loved her for the main character. The other characters were interesting - especially Luke - her Demon "brother" who has looked out for her and practically raised her since she was adopted by the Sentinel leader. He was unique for a Demon - his ability to show or even have emotions was interesting - and the fact that he was blind really set him apart from other characters out there. Then we have Drake. Oh, Drake. I don't normally go for the "bad boy" type - but I certainly broke out of that mold for this guy. He's a tough guy on the outside - a completely badass demon who can seriously fight - but he's also full of emotion -- especially when it comes to Allai. He's basically the bad boy with the heart of gold - sort of. Definitely irritating at times but he always seemed to redeem himself one way or another. The world that the author creates with the Demons, Mages, and the history behind everything was really intriguing and I loved learning about it all. I hope the second book goes into more detail about the varying species and the history between the Keepers, the Mages, and the Sentinel. The world was super detailed and the descriptions were great - I could easily feel like I was there beside the characters during the entire book. The writing was superb - everything flowed effortlessly and the book had a great pace. Even the dialogue between characters was spot-on - it didn't feel forced or fake. I loved every single thing about this novel and I'm really glad it's only the first in a series. The only problem now is having to wait for the next installment to come out! I highly recommend this book for fans of YA paranormal fiction - you definitely won't regret it!!

Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Elisabeth Wheatley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, first off, I loved this book. Really, I did. The premise, the storyline, the mythology—it is definitely something new and a series to watch. Unfortunately, there were some issues I had with the female lead, Allai, that I strongly disliked and for that, I must begrudgingly subtract from my rating. However, it was a good mix of suspense, “aww” moments, mystery, and action. I greatly enjoyed it and am anticipating the sequel in December.



The plot:

As I said, there was suspense, mystery, action, and romance bundled together in a beautiful package. I read this at an airport/on the plane and it certainly kept me entertained. I became very caught up in the characters’ struggles and experienced one of those tormented conflicts when I realized that there wasn’t enough space by the end for everything to happen that I wanted to happen.



The characters:

Like I said, I had a few problems with Allai. They were problems that could have been very easily fixed, but I felt they were too large to overlook. There is only one scene where Allai puts up a genuine fight and bests her opponent , but while his back is turned and he’s fighting someone else. The rest of the time she is mostly rescued. I would have had absolutely no problem with that if it hadn’t been pre-established that she’d had extensive combat training—which she never seems to use. She also completely falls apart when she is rejected by her adoptive family and thrown into exile. I could understand being heartbroken and needing to grieve, but after awhile I was thinking pull yourself together, girl. The one thing that I could not forgive was her incessant screaming. I feel harsh saying it, but it seemed like she screamed at every little thing and I just have the impression that a girl who’s been raised by stoic, aloof demons would have a little more steel in her nerves. Other than those details, I think I liked Allai over all and certainly don’t wish her character ill.



Drake was my favorite. Yes, that might be typical of me to favor the love interest, but Drake was one of those characters it’s hard not to like. He has a smart mouth, a disrespect for authority, and a few dire anger management issues, but a hidden vulnerability and almost boyishness that makes me want to hug him (or maybe not, since he doesn’t do hugs with anyone but Allai). I think he may have been the dominant perspective, but I’d have to go back and read it again.



The villain(s) are gorgeously nasty and Ms. Rivers’ created some original and utterly terrifying monsters to populate her story. I can’t talk about all the bad guys, because that would be spoiler-ific, but I will say that here we have multiple antiheroes and plenty of poisonous fangs, claws, and wings!



All in all, this is a good story. I think it could have easily made five stars if the issues with Allai’s character had been fixed, but all the same, I eagerly anticipate Fire Soul coming next month.

[Cyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

GENRE: YA Paranormal
THEME: Romance, Demons, Mage
RECEIVED: Blog Tour
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/

REVIEW:
This was such an interesting concept and definitely original, using Mages and Demons as the main supernatural, it was such a refreshing idea. What’s even more amazing about this story is that a high school student wrote it. Olivia Rivers created such an amazing world with a fast paced story that kept me hooked and shocked until the very end. I look forward to reading more of her books in the future and already can tell the book world will see great things coming from this young writer.

Frost Fire follows Allai, she is a human girl who knows and lives among the demons. She has grown up knowing that the demons protect humans from the powerful mages that live in their world. But one day everything changes when the boy from her past comes and continues his promise of protecting her, even if it’s from the very people she thought she was safe with.

Allai is like most young female protagonist, she’s strong, determined and stubborn. Her world has been dramatically changed after discovering her true nature. She luckily has one person who she can truly trust, even though she believed he tried to kill her once. Near the middle of the book it was hard to figure out who were the good guys and who were the bad. I was rooting for something to go right for Allai and get the target off her head. There is more than meets the eye with her, lots of secrets that connect her to some very interesting and powerful people.

Drake was a young boy when he first met Allai and he made her a promise that he will always keep. He wants to protect her; he even goes against what his father wants for him. The readers will instantly love this bad boy, who is very much Allai’s love interest. Then there is Luke; there is so much about him that his mysterious and I just couldn’t figure this guy out. He I felt was a great father type figure for Allai and someone who the readers (and me) are going to want to know more about, or beg to know more about in the future books.

Overall a great start to a new young adult paranormal romance, there is never a dull moment. The character development was fantastic; I loved watching Drake and Allai learn from each other and try to adapt to their new situations. There are a ton of surprises, especially the ending, which was my favorite part. I’m still shocked. My only problem was that Allai became a little whiny at certain points and I’m not a fan of whiny leads. But otherwise I will be continuing this series and applaud Rivers for a great debut. Fast paced, action packed, romance and twist, this story has it all.
RECOMMENDATION:

This is a Young Adult books with a mix of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal magic. Fans of the Angelfire series by Courtney Allison Moulton and Brodi Ashtons Everbound series will enjoy Frost Fire by Olivia Rivers.

[Danica is Booked]

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimers: I received an electronic copy of this novel for review as part of the Xpresso Blog Tours. I was not obligated to write a good review nor am I receiving any compensation for writing my review.

An Overview of the Novel: Allai doesn't remember much about her past, but she does remember Drake, a demon, trying to kill her. But she also remembers him protecting her and promising never to harm her. The two images are impossible to reconcile.

But then she finds out that she is a Mage, a powerful magician. Suddenly her dad wants her dead and she realizes her entire life is a lie. She has no choice but to trust Drake with her safety, but can she really trust him?

My Overall Thoughts/Impressions:I'm not sure how to rate this book. I enjoyed the plot and the overall story idea. It was original and unlike so many of the books I've read before. It definitely caught my attention and held it for the entire novel.

I also really liked the characters Allai and Drake. I know some people didn't think they were well-developed but I did. I really liked watching them interact and enjoyed seeing them progress through out the novel.

So basically, I love the storyline and the plot and the characters. I did feel like the writing was a little rushed at spots and that it could have been edited better. I also felt like the novel should have been longer. I was just barely connecting with the story and the characters and was just barely getting into the story when it ended.

I would have liked to see more conflicts, more growth from the characters, and just more period.

I do feel like it was a great start to a great series though. And I'm definitely intrigued to see what happens to these fascinating characters.

So Why 3.5 out of 5 stars? Because like I mentioned earlier, it felt rushed at times and I would have liked things to be more developed. The plot and the characters were really intriguing. I give characters and plot a 4/5, the writing a 3.

In Summary: Olivia's debut novel is an intriguing look into a paranormal world that will sweep readers off their feet. The writing felt rushed at times and I wish there would have been more room for growth. However, I still really liked the novel.

Warnings/Side-notes: I don't feel like I need to warn anybody about anything in this book. It was really clean.

Wrap-up: I really liked this novel. It was original and intriguing. I'm glad I read this one and think that readers will enjoy it. It's flawed, but hey if you search hard enough every book is. This is a series I will definitely be keeping tuned into. I really want to know what happens next as well.

Love,

Danica Page

[Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

From http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy....

At A Glance
Though there wasn't as much romance as I expected, I did enjoy the ride Frost Fire took me on.

The Good
I really liked the uniqueness of the concept for Frost Fire. The world was dark, gritty and completely unfair. Allai had great determination and strength (even if she would disagree) to put up with the demons who raised her. But they were the only family she knew. I loved learning about her mysterious past and how it linked Drake and her together. Drake was both scary and sexy as hell. He always tried to do the right thing despite being raised by a vicious and evil father. I could easily see Drake and Allai being perfect for each other. I hope to see more of a relationship in the next book.

Luke was my favorite character of Frost Fire. He was both hilarious and deadly. He had even more mystery shrouding him than Allai. We know him as Allai 's protector/friend. He watched over her all these years. He would do anything for her, but why, we are never 100% sure. I can't wait to learn more about him.

The mystery behind all these characters and their pasts was the best part of the book. I never guessed the twists and turns until Olivia wanted me to. The suspense was intense. Olivia never held back when it came to the dangers of Allai's world.

The Bad
I found it hard to get into the book in the beginning, but it got somewhat better in the middle and end though. But I always felt the story was a little sporadic. I just never knew what to feel about it because sometimes it was awesome and other times I was bored to tears.

I wish more happened throughout the book and that the ending was a little more wrapped up. There really was no ending, just a stop in the story.

The Snuggly
There was very little romance for this being a paranormal romance. I did love finding out how Drake and Allai found each other. That was so cute, but nothing much happened between them in the present except for angsty love.

Final Thoughts
I think this series might be really good. I would say Frost Fire was just an okay start. The concept is good enough to keep me interested. Recommended for some.

Quotes
Maybe she should look at Drake and face her death head-on. But her eyes remained squeezed tight, terrified she would see claws or a bladed wing rushing toward her if she opened them.

She flinched as she felt hot breath on the back of her neck. His breaths were short and rapid, like he was in pain.

"You know," Drake whispered in her ear, "closing your eyes won't make me disappear."

[BookMojo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunned. I am just……STUNNED right now!

I received Frost Fire as a review request for this blog tour and the first thing I noticed was the cover. It is just BEAUTIFUL. I started reading and was IMMEDIATELY pulled in. The characters are highly intriguing and she’s built this complex world they live in. Everyone knows I am partial to demons and not having read the synopsis for this book, I had NO CLUE I was about to step into this crazy hierarchy struggle of demon breeds with crazy powers. The whole world that makes up Frost Fire is just unreal.

I loved the story line. Beginning to end. Well, if you can call it an end. Frost Fire is left wide open to carry on as a series. I have no idea how many books there will be in this series but I will most assuredly be following it to the end.

The story surrounding the main characters and what they are keeps the story moving at an extremely fast pace. The more you learn about them, the more you want to know! I LOVED the character of Drake. In the readers eye, he goes through the most transformation in this book, taking on much different roles as the story progresses. By the time you reach the end, you see him in a FAR different light than you do at he very beginning. And he’s not the only one. The character development in Frost Fire is flawless across the whole cast.

Nothing is predictable either, which is one of my favorite aspects of this book. Just when I thought I knew where the story was going, it would take an abrupt turn. The character development plays a HUGE part in this because just when you think you have everyone pegged as “the good guy” or “the bad guy”, the world gets flipped around on you.

As I said at the start, this book left me stunned. I thoroughly enjoyed every page and am highly anticipating the next book to see where the story goes from here. I am giving Frost Fire 5 solid stars. A total page burner. Frost Fire will be one that I will definitely be rereading and recommending to anyone willing to listen.

To top everything off, I was further floored when I decided to reach out to the author about doing an interview. Not only is she a talented writer, she’s a high school student. To add to that, she’s quite the artist! That absolutely GORGEOUS cover was created by her as well. I believe that Olivia Rivers has a very promising career ahead of her in the writing world and I for one will be following it.

[Lady Krishna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book review was originally posted on my blog
Journey with Books
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Frost Fire is the first book I've read from Ms. Olivia Rivers and I must say that it pleasantly surprised me.

Frost Fire is all about 'the girl', Allai. She was raised by the fierce leader of the Sentinels who have a long standing war against the demons who hurt the humans. They all thought she's just a weak human with a little blood of demon in her but they were all wrong. The truth is Allai is a very powerful Mage and the moment they discovered the truth, they all turned their backs on her and decided to order a kill on her.
The only one who can save her is Drake, the demon who once promised to protect her but tried to kill her years ago... or so she thought.

Frost Fire is a really good book to read. The plot is wisely executed. There were a lot of twists and turns that made it so exciting.

I loved the characters. They were simply amazing. Allai is the kind of girl who is so brave despite her limitations. She's really strong despite her vulnerabilities. And Drake is simply adorable. The way he values and protects Allai is the one that made me fall in love with him. I also liked Luke. He's an amazing character and I am so intrigue on what would happen to him in the next book.

The chemistry between Allai and Drake is good and I would love to see how their chemistry grows on the next book.

The pacing of the story is quite nice. The start seems a bit slow but it's quite understandable because I think the author is trying to slowly introduce the new world inside the book. I appreciated that.

Overall, I think Frost Fire is a nicely written YA Paranormal Romance book. It has an unforgettable and at times an action packed adventure every adventure book junkie wants to read. And the nice and sweet romance in it is definitely one you don't want to miss out on. It's definitely on my great reads list for YA Paranormal Romances.

So, if you guys want all that in your YA Paranormal Romance book, then get your copy of it from your favorite stores because I'm sure you do not want to miss this lovely lovely book!

[Jena Gregoire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunned. I am just……STUNNED right now!

I received Frost Fire as a review request for this blog tour and the first thing I noticed was the cover. It is just BEAUTIFUL. I started reading and was IMMEDIATELY pulled in. The characters are highly intriguing and she’s built this complex world they live in. Everyone knows I am partial to demons and not having read the synopsis for this book, I had NO CLUE I was about to step into this crazy hierarchy struggle of demon breeds with crazy powers. The whole world that makes up Frost Fire is just unreal.

I loved the story line. Beginning to end. Well, if you can call it an end. Frost Fire is left wide open to carry on as a series. I have no idea how many books there will be in this series but I will most assuredly be following it to the end.

The story surrounding the main characters and what they are keeps the story moving at an extremely fast pace. The more you learn about them, the more you want to know! I LOVED the character of Drake. In the readers eye, he goes through the most transformation in this book, taking on much different roles as the story progresses. By the time you reach the end, you see him in a FAR different light than you do at he very beginning. And he’s not the only one. The character development in Frost Fire is flawless across the whole cast.

Nothing is predictable either, which is one of my favorite aspects of this book. Just when I thought I knew where the story was going, it would take an abrupt turn. The character development plays a HUGE part in this because just when you think you have everyone pegged as “the good guy” or “the bad guy”, the world gets flipped around on you.

As I said at the start, this book left me stunned. I thoroughly enjoyed every page and am highly anticipating the next book to see where the story goes from here. I am giving Frost Fire 5 solid stars. A total page burner. Frost Fire will be one that I will definitely be rereading and recommending to anyone willing to listen.

To top everything off, I was further floored when I decided to reach out to the author about doing an interview. Not only is she a talented writer, she’s a high school student. To add to that, she’s quite the artist! That absolutely GORGEOUS cover was created by her as well. I believe that Olivia Rivers has a very promising career ahead of her in the writing world and I for one will be following it.

[Farrah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review also appears on my blog at http://www.thegoldenruleof666.blogspo...

A pleasant surprise. Frost Fire was a delightful, imaginative book that I really enjoyed!

I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this book. But, it definitely turned out to be a great read and a brilliant start to a new series.

Allai was a remarkable character. She's a strong heroine-she has to be given that she lives among demons. I really liked her, though I think she has yet to show her full potential. Throughout most of the book, she was sick for a reason that I can't say without spoiling the entire book. Even while she was sick and fainting, she managed to handle demon assassins and everything else thrown at her. I'm hoping that, in the next book, we'll be able to see her at her best. She was a lovely heroine who was very easy to like.

Drake was a deep and complicated character. And I loved him for it. His life has been misery because of his father, but he hasn't let that corrupt him. He's incredibly powerful, and he's been trying to hide it from his father so that he won't be used as a weapon. And all that isn't even bringing in the issue with his mother. Once again, a very complicated character. His depth was very well done. I LOVED how he was so determined to protect Allai. I adored his character-he was utterly perfect.

Allai and Drake were a very intense couple. By that, I mean that they are very devoted to each other. They've had feelings for each other for a long time, but circumstances prevented anything coming from it. When the meet again, their feelings were very strong. However, their romance was a minor point in this book. I think that it will become more prominent in the next books, but, in Frost Fire, it was a lesser detail

The plot of this book was very action packed. My one complaint is that I wish more has happened. Though there were thrills, secrets, and surprises, I felt like not that much actually happened. I was kept hooked and I loved the story, but I think more should have happened.

With the ending of the book came a cliffhanger and the reveal of a shocking secret. It definitely ended with a bang that has me anxious to find out what happens next.

Frost Fire was a wonderful YA paranormal romance! Lovers of the genre, you should definitely read it.

*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review

[Sab · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review and more at Sab The Book Eater

I'm not very fond of paranormal novels that don't have a lot of contemporary elements in it (i.e. names, you're-in-highschool-but-actually-you're-a-powerful-warlock etc etc) so I originally had trouble getting into the story. But once I read a few pages and the backgrounder was there, BAM! I couldn't stop reading and I felt really awful that it was kind of short.

I really liked how imaginative the author was. Everything about the world she created was really detailed and it was a real page turner! I liked how the story was action-packed and how the action scenes were told in detail. I hate it when action scenes aren't... I mean, that's kind of the point right? To describe action? Anyway, I had my does of action in Frost Fire and I was not disappointed. I especially loved how bloody it all was - not that it was gory or anything - it's just that it became more realistic when Drake got badly wounded or Allai got hurt and whatnot.

Another thing that I liked about this book was the pacing. I liked how fast paced it was and that no page was wasted. Right from the very start, there was something going on. I admit though, part of the reason for me not getting into the book early on was because it immediately dove into the story and I didn't feel like I was eased in. But I now I just feel like it's part of the story's charm. I liked how things got so exciting at the right moments and how the twists were placed at key moments as well. Speaking of twists - woah. And that's all I'm going to say. *wink* The characters were a delight as well. I just wish I got more out of Allai. It's not that I didn't like her. I just didn't really feel a connection with her in the beginning but I guess it all worked out in the end because I enjoyed the book so much.

Overall I can say that Frost Fire is definitely my cup of tea. Heck, this kind of paranormal is definitely my cup of tea now. It made me like a genre that I didn't like that much and I hope you can give it a try as well (especially if, you know, you're like me pre-reading heh). You won't be sorry! :-)

***I received an e-copy of this book for review***
This review is based solely on my opinion.

[Eatonlm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frost Fire took me by surprise. I'm not above admitting I picked this book up just for the cover. The synopsis sounded terrible to me. I've never picked up a book about mages that I even remotely liked. What I was anticipating to be another regurgitated story about magic turned out to be a whole complex world I've never delved into before.

Each character had their own voice. Their own personality. There was not a single character introduced that was even remotely boring. Some of the background characters we met had no relevance to the story (maybe they will in future books, but for this story they were just there) yet somehow I was enthralled with the little bit of their lives we got to see.

A high school-er wrote this! Seriously?????

The world Olivia Rivers created is fascinating. There are no lags, no ridiculous concepts that seem hurriedly manufactured to get us from point A to point B. All concepts were well thought out and executed beautifully. There are a few grammatical errors, but not enough to take away from the story.

Allai had a few moments where I really wanted to slap her. She screams a lot. For someone who was raised with warriors and taught that weakness is never to be shown, she sure was a weak damsel in distress. I get that she needed to be in order to make Drake relevant. If she could take care of herself there would really be no need for him. I just wish she wasn't portrayed as such a baby all the time. It is going to be difficult to believe her to be the leader I expect she's going to become down the road.

Drake is awesome. Scars, tattoo's, piercings, and metal wings. Hey, what else could a girl ask for? His personality fits his descriptive image perfectly. Then there is the soft side, the vulnerable side. The flash backs we experience through his memory transfers round him out perfectly as a character. He's exactly what every girl wants her leading man to be.

An excellent first book in what I ave no doubt will be an amazing series. So Olivia, give us book two already!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! The story itself was very different and unusual. The characters were amazing, and I especially LOVED Drake! (swoon!) I really felt all the emotions while reading, especially the romance between Allai and Drake.

The backstory of the novel is that Drake tried to kill Allai in her bedroom about 2 years ago. He failed, and ever since Allai has had nightmares about it. But she also has a memory of him from when she was little, a memory where he tells her he will never let anyone hurt her. This is the only memory Allai has from when she was little. When she was 8 or 9, she was found on Sentinel property, abandoned and bruised. The head of the Sentinels adopts her, as she is part demon, but mostly human.

Back to present day. An evil demon attacks Allai while she's on a run, and Drake saves her life, but is then captured. Allai is, understandably, very confused with this turn of events. Is Drake really an evil killer?

So much happens in this story. There is lots of action, drama, and even some romance to even it all out. I loved the descriptions in the story, especially about the demons. They have razor sharp wings that sound like wind chimes when they prepare to fight. It was a totally new concept on a demon, and really cool to read about! And like I mentioned before, the emotions were so real, and very intense.

Let's talk about Drake...oh, goddess! I totally fell in love with him, and his cursed life. I really just wanted to hug him all throughout the story. He is one of the most cursed characters I have ever read, and its amazing what he does with it! He doesn't like contact, even just a pat--he equates touch with pain. He's a mastermind at changing subjects, and has a very sarcastic humor. He really is one hot bad boy!

The ending completely surprised me. There are a few twists, and I really didn't see any of them coming. Things wrap up nicely for the story, but there is still a lot to learn about the series. I can't wait to find out more about Luke, Drake, and Allai!

[Heather andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right off the bat we are put into action and if anyone who knows me, knows that's how I like it none of this beating around the bush crap. What really kept me in the story wasn't the storyline itself but Drake, I loved that boy so much, he's protective, "I'm not going back," Drake snarled. Then he nodded toward Allai and added, "and I'm not letting you touch the girl. So get away from her." That is seriously one hot macho male right there. I liked how Drake thought weirdly in awful situations it made the story interesting, "the kind of language he had always gotten punched for, and it certainly didn't sound like something she should be saying, being all elegant, and graceful, and...hot." Drake has this way about him where you can't help but love even if he is scary sometimes, "what?" Drake asked, his voice coming from behind her. "Do you Warriors not greet people with 'good morning' in the Sentinel? Is that too polite? Should I be flipping you off instead?" Drake's dad just p***** me off I mean seriously you're just rude, "and how many times have I told you not to apologize?" Dad snarled. "It makes you weaker. I swear, Drake, every day you're turning out more like your mother. It's disgusting." That is so nice to say to your son. As I said in utmost situations Drake always found a way to make me laugh, "essentials. Clothes, maybe a weapon. Oh, and makeup. That's essential to all girls' survival, right? I don't want you stroking out because you forgot your mascara." It is best not to piss Drakey off, he gets defensive, "where the hell do you think I got the money?" His tone was oddly composed. Definitely not calm, but at least composed. "I have a job, little Nox. I make an honest living. I don't destroy people's lives, or murder, and then call that my 'career'. I'm not my dad. I'm not Rhaize." I hope there's another book in the series.

[Aseel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked Frost Fire. It was an easy book to get into and love, and I had so much fun reading it. I didn't know it was written by a high-school student until I finished reading it. I'm very impressed by this fact, I honestly would never've guessed. It's so well written and the description of everything was vivid.

Frost Fire is about Allai, a girl raised to hate mages, only to discover that she, in fact, is one herself. Hunted by her own father, Allai is forced to put her trust in a demon, Drake, the guy who promised to protect her when she was young and the same guy who tried to kill her once.

The book takes place in a very unique and different world. I loved the prospect of demons and mages and the other types of supernatural beings. I would've liked if we got a deeper look at those creatures and saw more of them in the book. I also wanted the book to be longer. I wanted more, more of the story, more of the characters, pretty much more of everything.

I loved the mysteriousness of the book, and that it kept me guessing all the time, and at the end I was left staring at the last page with mouth agape and eyes wide, not having seen the ending coming.

What I also liked was Drake. While reading about him from Allais perspective and how he showed himself to others, I had the impression that he was a badass, a guy who cared about nothing, was a jerk and totally dangerous, but when I read his third person POV, I found that there was more to him than that. Totally fell in love with him and I went 'aww' on him more than once. And then there was Luke. That guy honestly cracked me up many times and I loved every scene he was in.

Fast-paced and action packed, Frost Fire is a very enjoyable read that will leave you with a strong hunger for the next book in the series.

[Tishia (Paperback Opinion) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frost Fire is the first book in the Tortured Elements series by Olivia Rivers. It's a YA paranormal romance about a girl named Allai. Allai was adopted after being found abandoned. Her father takes care of her until he finds out that she is a Mage – the enemy of her father's kind.

Once Drake finds out that Allai's life is in danger, he comes to her rescue. The problem is, Allai's last memory of Drake is of him trying to kill her. Not having any other choice, Allai goes with Drake when he vows to take her to other people of her kind. Allai has so many conflicting emotions, that she doesn't know how she should feel for him. Deep down though, she can't deny her attraction for him. He seems to feel something for her as well.

The author of this book is a high school student, so I honestly didn't know what to expect with the writing style. I was pretty impressed though. It was well written with only a few errors here and there. It was fast paced, with a lot of action involved. Allai always thought she was human, so her life gets turned upside down. It's devastating for her to be disowned and leave all that she's ever known. Drake is the only one there for her. He really is a great guy – he isn't what he seems. He's very caring and concerned about Allai. Their relationship is very sweet.

The plot was unique and interesting, and there were some nice twists involved. I did find myself a little confused with the ending. I don't know if it was because I was tired and finished this book in the middle of the night, but I just felt like I wasn't getting something. I'm interesting in how the next book plays out. This is a completely clean teen romance, and parents should feel at ease letting their teens read this.

[Jenea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say that I was drawn to this cover, and when the chance came to be part of the tour for it, I was all in. I had no know why his wings looked they were metal and what a Mage was. And most of all, why Allai is so dangerous to those around her.

Allai is the protagonist, who has lived in a world with demons being raised by a man who wasn’t her biological father. She has known this since she was little, and everyone around her called her a Nox (human) but neither one these things bothered her at all. At first I wasn’t real sure whether I like her or not, but I did like that she was sarcastic and could be quite funny, so she grew on me. She has a great protector named Luke. He was mysterious, strong and very loyal. He cares for Allai deeply. And then there was Drake. she has been afraid of him because of the memory she has of him. The thing is, memories aren’t always what they seem in this world.

The world building was interesting and complex. They were different kinds of demons, and Mages and laws that govern them both. It was a intriguing world with magic, and a mystery behind who or what Allai really was and how Drake played into all of this. The action was intense with both Allai and Drake on the run, and with people constantly after them. All of this lead up to a heart warming and but shocking ending, one that I will be waiting maybe not patiently, but waiting to see how everything plays out in the next installment. I hope to learn even more about the Mages and their powers and abilities.

Frost Fire is a fantastic start to a new young adult series. It has action, magic, demons and romance, all the things that keeps you interested to the very end. I would definitely recommend this one.