Frost by Wendy Delsol (ARC)

A few weeks ago I posted a review for a book called Stork, by Wendy Delsol. (read the review here) I loved it, and was just beside myself excited for the second book in the series, Frost, to be released. Well, I mentioned that on my WoW post recently, and my truly awesome friend Melissa @ Just One Opinion offered to share her ARC with me. I tore into this book as soon as I received it because I was just so excited to catch up with Katla and Jack! Here's the summary of Frost from Goodreads: (SPOILER ALERT! Don't read the summary unless you've already read Stork. No spoilers in my review, but there are some in the summary!)In this sequel to STORK, Katla Leblanc has to employ her grit, spirit, and special gifts to rescue the boy she loves.

After the drama of finding out that she’s a Stork, a member of an ancient and mystical order of women, and that her boyfriend, Jack, is a descendent of the Winter People able to control the weather, Katla Leblanc is delighted when all signs point to a busy and peaceful Christmas. That is, until the snowstorm Jack summons as a gift to Katla turns into the storm of the century, attracting Brigid, a gorgeous scientist who, in turn, attracts Jack. Between the school play, a bedridden, pregnant mother’s to-do lists, and keeping an eye on her aging grandfather, Katla doesn’t have time to question Brigid’s motives or deal with Jack’s increasingly cold behavior. But Katla’s suspicions mount when Jack joins Brigid on a research expedition to Greenland, and when the two of them go missing, it becomes clear that Katla is the only one who can save her beloved Jack from the Snow Queen who holds him prisoner. Adventure, romance, and myth combine in this winter escapade for teens who like a bit of fire with their ice.

Was it everything I'd hoped for in a sequel?

What I liked: 1) Once again, I adored Katla. I think she's a fantastic heroine and manages to be heroic in style! Katla and I would totally be friends in real life. And the development from book one to book two was really great. Katla's not a static character that doesn't learn and grow. She's alive and real, and really gave me someone to relate to. She's also sort of hilarious. 2) In Stork, I wanted to learn more about Jack, to have more of a reason to love the "heartthrob" of the story. Well, this one delivered in a big way. I felt like I got to know him so much better, his personality, his awesomeness, and even his flaws. I love it when the swoon-worthy guys have flaws, it makes them more real. 3) A true villain. We were introduced to our villain pretty early on in the story, and she's so awful that you love to hate her! She reminds me of some of my old favorite villains, like Maleficent and Cruella DeVil. 4) There was a lot of focus on Nordic legends in the first book, and that's true in Frost as well, but the main one was an old fairy tale which really lent the book a more magical quality. Not that there weren't supernatural aspects to begin with, but it's more....fairy tale-esque. If that makes any sense at all. It does to me. :) That being said, many of the legends that were used in Stork reappeared and I felt like we learned more about them. Nordic Legends: The Extended Edition. It was great! 5) I have to say that Miz Delsol has a way of taking myths, and making them seem real. I don't know if I've ever read a book with supernatural elements that I've accepted as true as quickly as these. Nothing about it is forced or fake. That's part of the reason I enjoy her stories so much!

What I didn't like: 1) I would have liked more towards the end. Everything seemed to speed up at the end, and I was surprised when it was over. Like, "don't blink or you'll miss it" fast. Not bad, just I would have liked more from the EPIC BATTLE scene.

Overall thoughts: Yes! This book gave me everything I wanted from the sequel to Stork. There was more Katla being awesome, more Jack being...well, being hot (ironic, if you've read it!), a really intriguing plot and a really fantastic writing style. Fairy tale elements blend well with Nordic legends to bring this book to life. Wendy Delsol is becoming one of my favorite authors, and I'd suggest her books to anyone!

Overall rating: 5 shots

This book will be released on October 11th, 2011, so get excited!
Cheers and Happy Reading!