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Stork #2
Frost
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.
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.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published October 11, 2011
28 people are currently reading
1582 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Delsol
7 books285 followersWendy Delsol is the author of a young adult trilogy: STORK (2010), FROST (2011), and FLOCK (2012). The books are inspired by Norse mythology, adventure and Icelandic folklore. STORK was one of 25 titles out of over 1000 to receive a 2010 VOYA Perfect Ten and one of ten to win a 2011 Westchester Fiction Award. Delsol’s adult novel, THE McCLOUD HOME FOR WAYWARD GIRLS, was named an August 2011 Barnes and Noble Pick of the Week. The book is set in Iowa and tells the story of three generations of women and the secrets that bind them. Wendy has an undergraduate degree from Michigan State University and a graduate degree from California State University, Long Beach. She was born in Canada, grew up in Michigan, lived in Los Angeles for 20 years and now resides in Des Moines with her husband and two teen sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
June 25, 2011
It's a tricky situation when you're really looking forward to reading a book and it ends up being a disappointment. I normally post my reviews fairly quickly after reading, but I put off writing this one for some time because I was so conflicted over my feelings.
The thing is, I really enjoyed Stork, the first book in this series, for several reasons: the strikingly original paranormal concept of a girl who is destined to be part of a mystical order of women, the fresh and funny voice, the cute relationship between Katla and Jack, and the bits of Icelandic lore. I thought that the paranormal stuff could have been more fleshed out, however, and I was hoping that this second installment would more fully explain what Katla's duties and powers actually are and we'd get a little more immersed in the mysterious Stork society.
But that's not the case. The story goes off onto a different adventure, most of which involves how Katla deals with Jack and his new obsession with learning about his power, which made a bizarre appearance towards the end of the previous novel. So all the things I enjoyed about the first book go out the window pretty fast, particularly the Stork ladies (this storyline is half-heartedly revisited, but quickly abandoned) and the relationship between Jack and Kat. There's now a giant wedge between them in the shape of a Professor Brigid Fonnkona, an icy environmental researcher who is determined to take him to Greenland. Frost is loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen, so those familiar with the tale will have an inkling of how those elements take shape in the modern version.
What would have been impossible to predict, however, are all the subplots that kept piling on in this book. Something weird is going on with Katla's afi. The kids are doing a musical version of The Snow Queen at school. Kat's mom is pregnant. Her dad is around, but...extraneous. Her friends are fighting. Hulda is sick. Kat may or may not be seeing ghosts. Dorit has been kicked out of the society and has disappeared. There are so many new people and new plots to assimilate, and none of the old ones were at all adequately explained. It seems as though most of these problems could have been fixed during the outlining process, so I am very surprised that they were not.
After awhile, I realized that I was never going to get the answers to my questions from the first book and I probably would never get answers to the new ones popping up. Because frankly, I'm not sure that there is an overall plan figured out for these characters, either. While there were occasional moments towards the beginning that recalled what I enjoyed about the first book (Yule Cat, Santa, Pig-Pen), overall reading this book and watching the story line derail was an extremely frustrating process.
I wouldn't rule out checking out another one of this author's books sometime down the road because I do like her voice, but it will be with an extremely guarded and wary eye. I was really sad when I closed this book 10 days ago, and I'm still sad that the promise of the series' premise will apparently never be fulfilled.
This review also appears in The Midnight Garden. An advance copy was provided by the publisher.
The thing is, I really enjoyed Stork, the first book in this series, for several reasons: the strikingly original paranormal concept of a girl who is destined to be part of a mystical order of women, the fresh and funny voice, the cute relationship between Katla and Jack, and the bits of Icelandic lore. I thought that the paranormal stuff could have been more fleshed out, however, and I was hoping that this second installment would more fully explain what Katla's duties and powers actually are and we'd get a little more immersed in the mysterious Stork society.
But that's not the case. The story goes off onto a different adventure, most of which involves how Katla deals with Jack and his new obsession with learning about his power, which made a bizarre appearance towards the end of the previous novel. So all the things I enjoyed about the first book go out the window pretty fast, particularly the Stork ladies (this storyline is half-heartedly revisited, but quickly abandoned) and the relationship between Jack and Kat. There's now a giant wedge between them in the shape of a Professor Brigid Fonnkona, an icy environmental researcher who is determined to take him to Greenland. Frost is loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen, so those familiar with the tale will have an inkling of how those elements take shape in the modern version.
What would have been impossible to predict, however, are all the subplots that kept piling on in this book. Something weird is going on with Katla's afi. The kids are doing a musical version of The Snow Queen at school. Kat's mom is pregnant. Her dad is around, but...extraneous. Her friends are fighting. Hulda is sick. Kat may or may not be seeing ghosts. Dorit has been kicked out of the society and has disappeared. There are so many new people and new plots to assimilate, and none of the old ones were at all adequately explained. It seems as though most of these problems could have been fixed during the outlining process, so I am very surprised that they were not.
After awhile, I realized that I was never going to get the answers to my questions from the first book and I probably would never get answers to the new ones popping up. Because frankly, I'm not sure that there is an overall plan figured out for these characters, either. While there were occasional moments towards the beginning that recalled what I enjoyed about the first book (Yule Cat, Santa, Pig-Pen), overall reading this book and watching the story line derail was an extremely frustrating process.
I wouldn't rule out checking out another one of this author's books sometime down the road because I do like her voice, but it will be with an extremely guarded and wary eye. I was really sad when I closed this book 10 days ago, and I'm still sad that the promise of the series' premise will apparently never be fulfilled.
This review also appears in The Midnight Garden. An advance copy was provided by the publisher.
October 23, 2011
I loved Stork and the magical element and rich Norse and Jack Frost mythologies that Wendy brought to life in her story. She does the same thing with Frost, but adds another great spin on a fabulous mythology, The Snow Queen. This added a whole new depth to the story and series. I liked how she introduced it into the series.
I'm a sucker for well written story that takes an existing mythology and makes it their own, and Wendy has a talent for doing that. She brings the right amount of magic into her stories. This time Wendy used all the right elements to make the magical story of The Snow Queen come to life. Being very familiar with this story I felt that is was both fitting and believable for Kat's story. Wendy did a great job at using Jack's ability, and Stanley's research he's done on Global Warming from Stork to mold this mythology into her over all plot line. Through The Snow Queen, Wendy was also able to test Jack and Kat's relationship and love for another. I of course wasn't too fond of them being apart for a chunk of the story, but I liked what she did once she reunited them. This also allowed for Kat to take a journey of her own as she sets off to bring Jack home.
Kat herself grows a lot in this story. She's stronger, and becomes a bit more sarcastic. Her inner thoughts made me laugh more than a few times. She handles some situations surprisingly well. This story isn't so much about her continuing to work on developing her abilities as I thought it was going to be. Instead Kat becomes a heroine as she's on a mission to save Jack. Jack too changes, a lot. It's not his fault he fell under The Snow Queen's spell, but I did miss having him around for a big part of the story. The Snow Queen, aka Brigid, is someone I disliked from the moment she enters the picture. With her introduction to the story it was obvious who she was, though I loved her cover and modern day fit into society.
Many of the things I loved about Stork were put into Frost's background, as Wendy developed more of what felt like a companion story for Stork. The Stork society which plays a huge role in Stork, places a minor role in this story. There's some other paralleling stories like Kat's mom's pregnancy, Stanley's research with Brigid, a new researcher from Greenland, a startling change in Jack, and Kat's try outs for the school's upcoming play, The Snow Queen, that make up the story line. There were times I felt like too much was going on and I wasn't sure why certain story lines were crucial to Frost, but in the end it all made sense as Wendy ties everything together nicely. I'd definitely recommend this to fans of the series. I love what the publisher has done with covers! It's a perfect fit for the story.
I'm a sucker for well written story that takes an existing mythology and makes it their own, and Wendy has a talent for doing that. She brings the right amount of magic into her stories. This time Wendy used all the right elements to make the magical story of The Snow Queen come to life. Being very familiar with this story I felt that is was both fitting and believable for Kat's story. Wendy did a great job at using Jack's ability, and Stanley's research he's done on Global Warming from Stork to mold this mythology into her over all plot line. Through The Snow Queen, Wendy was also able to test Jack and Kat's relationship and love for another. I of course wasn't too fond of them being apart for a chunk of the story, but I liked what she did once she reunited them. This also allowed for Kat to take a journey of her own as she sets off to bring Jack home.
Kat herself grows a lot in this story. She's stronger, and becomes a bit more sarcastic. Her inner thoughts made me laugh more than a few times. She handles some situations surprisingly well. This story isn't so much about her continuing to work on developing her abilities as I thought it was going to be. Instead Kat becomes a heroine as she's on a mission to save Jack. Jack too changes, a lot. It's not his fault he fell under The Snow Queen's spell, but I did miss having him around for a big part of the story. The Snow Queen, aka Brigid, is someone I disliked from the moment she enters the picture. With her introduction to the story it was obvious who she was, though I loved her cover and modern day fit into society.
Many of the things I loved about Stork were put into Frost's background, as Wendy developed more of what felt like a companion story for Stork. The Stork society which plays a huge role in Stork, places a minor role in this story. There's some other paralleling stories like Kat's mom's pregnancy, Stanley's research with Brigid, a new researcher from Greenland, a startling change in Jack, and Kat's try outs for the school's upcoming play, The Snow Queen, that make up the story line. There were times I felt like too much was going on and I wasn't sure why certain story lines were crucial to Frost, but in the end it all made sense as Wendy ties everything together nicely. I'd definitely recommend this to fans of the series. I love what the publisher has done with covers! It's a perfect fit for the story.
February 6, 2013
This book was a bit more predictable than the first, but part of that is due to the fact that I was familiar with the folk story/fairy tale that was a main plot feature for this book. If I hadn't been familiar with The Snow Queen (and if the cover jacket hadn't given so much away!), I probably would have been surprised more when reading this book. So, my advice to you is don't read the cover jacket—you'll enjoy the book more.
Again, my favorite parts were the Nordic folk stories. I was unfamiliar with the idea of the seal people and the Frost Giants. Characters in this book actually go to Iceland and Greenland, and the descriptions of those places were interesting as well.
I found one of the new talents of Kat's to be . . . unsettling.
My biggest complaint with the novel was just all of Katla's new skills. I thought the Stork skill was already interesting enough, and I thought it still had room to fill another novel, to have more aspects of it explained. And then I thought the main focus of the book would be Jack's skills, which is enough to fill a novel as well. But then all these new skills were introduced, and it just seemed like too much. To be fair though, it seemed like Kat felt that way, too. It seemed like she felt like she already had enough on her plate with the skills she had discovered already, so perhaps the way that I felt was intentionally done by the author.
I gave the book a solid three stars, so I obviously liked it. I didn't mean this review to turn into so many complaints. I am planning on reading the third to see where it is all going to go from here. If you liked Stork, then I recommend this novel.
I thought this was funny.
"Jack parked in front of the house, and we got out. I filled my arms with wrapped packages, gifts for his family. I took a deep breath, lingering by the passenger side of the truck. I had been to his house many times and shared many meals with his parents. I had, however, never been for a holiday dinner. Reluctantly, my mom had agreed to a trade-off. I got to spend tonight at Jack's; in exchange, she got us both for Christmas dinner. A win-win, I'd thought, until, standing there, my nervous system lived up to its name."
Again, my favorite parts were the Nordic folk stories. I was unfamiliar with the idea of the seal people and the Frost Giants. Characters in this book actually go to Iceland and Greenland, and the descriptions of those places were interesting as well.
I found one of the new talents of Kat's to be . . . unsettling.
My biggest complaint with the novel was just all of Katla's new skills. I thought the Stork skill was already interesting enough, and I thought it still had room to fill another novel, to have more aspects of it explained. And then I thought the main focus of the book would be Jack's skills, which is enough to fill a novel as well. But then all these new skills were introduced, and it just seemed like too much. To be fair though, it seemed like Kat felt that way, too. It seemed like she felt like she already had enough on her plate with the skills she had discovered already, so perhaps the way that I felt was intentionally done by the author.
I gave the book a solid three stars, so I obviously liked it. I didn't mean this review to turn into so many complaints. I am planning on reading the third to see where it is all going to go from here. If you liked Stork, then I recommend this novel.
I thought this was funny.
"Jack parked in front of the house, and we got out. I filled my arms with wrapped packages, gifts for his family. I took a deep breath, lingering by the passenger side of the truck. I had been to his house many times and shared many meals with his parents. I had, however, never been for a holiday dinner. Reluctantly, my mom had agreed to a trade-off. I got to spend tonight at Jack's; in exchange, she got us both for Christmas dinner. A win-win, I'd thought, until, standing there, my nervous system lived up to its name."
December 22, 2011
As with all second novels, I approached it with a little bit of caution and, I'll admit, procrastination, but as soon as I started reading, the happy feeling that Stork gave me while I was reading it enveloped me. Frost isn't a happy, sunshiny, summertime book, but something about it makes it a joy to read, like I know that I'm in capable hands and that Wendy Delsol is going to give me an adventure I won't forget.
As with Stork, we're following Katla as she navigates her duties as a Stork, a student, a daughter and a girlfriend. On the first front, it's great that we get to see Kat maturing as a Stork. She handles it in an awkward but respectful manner befitting her age.While her actual Stork duties aren't very time-consuming, being a Stork is all-encompassing, and Frost does a great job of expanding on Kat's potential abilities while allowing other plotlines to take center stage.
As for being a girlfriend, that's really what spurs Katla to action in this novel. Jack and Katla have a great, healthy relationship. They both know they have secrets, but they acknowledge the reason for the secrets instead of devolving into lies or sulking. While I would usually think that such a relationship could easily be dysfunctional, their emotional connection is obvious, and I was rooting for them the whole time.
In Frost, Katla gets to have some really cool adventures in Iceland (pun kinda-sorta intended). There are lots of great Icelandic tidbits tossed in, and I enjoyed immersing myself in the culture for a little while. I hesitate to say much else for fear of spoiling it, but I will say that Katla's time in Iceland is well spent and described in intricate detail (I love the costume touches!) from dresses to mountaintops. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happened next.
I wouldn't go so far as to say that Frost is a stand-alone novel, because I think you really need to read Stork to appreciate the happenings of Frost. However, it doesn't fall prey to second novel syndrome, i.e. it's a story in its own right and it does more than merely serve as a connection between the first and third novels in a series.
One last thing: in the novels I grew up on, chapters always ended on a cliffhanger or a clever saying. That technique seems to have been abandoned with time, but Wendy Delsol uses it (in Katla's strong voice) to close out the chapters. I love it. It makes everything seem more exciting somehow.
The ending, as with Stork, was utterly satisfying, but also left me anticipating the next novel. I want to know what happens to Katla, Jack and the series' newest character!
[This book was received for review from the publisher.]
As with Stork, we're following Katla as she navigates her duties as a Stork, a student, a daughter and a girlfriend. On the first front, it's great that we get to see Kat maturing as a Stork. She handles it in an awkward but respectful manner befitting her age.While her actual Stork duties aren't very time-consuming, being a Stork is all-encompassing, and Frost does a great job of expanding on Kat's potential abilities while allowing other plotlines to take center stage.
As for being a girlfriend, that's really what spurs Katla to action in this novel. Jack and Katla have a great, healthy relationship. They both know they have secrets, but they acknowledge the reason for the secrets instead of devolving into lies or sulking. While I would usually think that such a relationship could easily be dysfunctional, their emotional connection is obvious, and I was rooting for them the whole time.
In Frost, Katla gets to have some really cool adventures in Iceland (pun kinda-sorta intended). There are lots of great Icelandic tidbits tossed in, and I enjoyed immersing myself in the culture for a little while. I hesitate to say much else for fear of spoiling it, but I will say that Katla's time in Iceland is well spent and described in intricate detail (I love the costume touches!) from dresses to mountaintops. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happened next.
I wouldn't go so far as to say that Frost is a stand-alone novel, because I think you really need to read Stork to appreciate the happenings of Frost. However, it doesn't fall prey to second novel syndrome, i.e. it's a story in its own right and it does more than merely serve as a connection between the first and third novels in a series.
One last thing: in the novels I grew up on, chapters always ended on a cliffhanger or a clever saying. That technique seems to have been abandoned with time, but Wendy Delsol uses it (in Katla's strong voice) to close out the chapters. I love it. It makes everything seem more exciting somehow.
The ending, as with Stork, was utterly satisfying, but also left me anticipating the next novel. I want to know what happens to Katla, Jack and the series' newest character!
[This book was received for review from the publisher.]
December 1, 2011
First Impression:
My husband's family is from Iceland, so I am very familar with many of the Norse and Icelandic folktale and customs. It was great to actually see something completely different in the YA genre. Plus, I ADORED Stork. When I saw that the sequel was coming out, I knew I had to read it.
While Reading:
Frost picks up a little bit after Stork finished. Kat is getting use to her Stork abilities. Her mom and Stanley are excited about the baby. And her and Jack are going strong as a couple... well... maybe. If you have read Stork, you know that The Snow Queen was frequently spoken about due to Kat and Penny designing a costume set for the school's play. Due to this foreshadowing, I was not too surprised to find that The Ice Queen was the main focus of Frost.
In Frost, we switch gears a bit to focus on Jack. Well no, that's not really it since Jack is missing from a good half of the novel (and a jerk for the other). But that is best conclusion that I can come up with. Delsol explores the idea that Jack desires to have better control of his powers. The resulting adventure is a little mix of this and that.
Usually I make up my mind pretty quickly about how I feel about a book, but I am at a complete lost with Frost. Delsol stayed to true some of the qualities I loved about Stork: Kat's personality, the secondary characters, the lore. But as far as the plot goes, Delsol completely detrailed.
In a lot of ways, Frost felt more like a retelling of a fairy tale than a sequel. The Stork idea was all but gone. And in its place was a hodgepodge of different lores, most of which left me stratching my head, wondering does this really all fit together? Snow Queen, Storks, Selkies, and mermaids? It was just too much for me.
Verdict:
To say that I am disappointed is an understatement. I loved Stork. The lore. The differences. But Frost just left me confused. It reads like a companion novel, not the sequel that it is. Not much was resolved in regards to the lingering questions about the Storks or Ravens (they were only mentioned in passing). The romance went backwards, not forward. Then top to everything off, more seemingly unrelated lore was introduced. Since it is a trilogy, I am still holding out hope. I just hope it is not in vain.
My husband's family is from Iceland, so I am very familar with many of the Norse and Icelandic folktale and customs. It was great to actually see something completely different in the YA genre. Plus, I ADORED Stork. When I saw that the sequel was coming out, I knew I had to read it.
While Reading:
Frost picks up a little bit after Stork finished. Kat is getting use to her Stork abilities. Her mom and Stanley are excited about the baby. And her and Jack are going strong as a couple... well... maybe. If you have read Stork, you know that The Snow Queen was frequently spoken about due to Kat and Penny designing a costume set for the school's play. Due to this foreshadowing, I was not too surprised to find that The Ice Queen was the main focus of Frost.
In Frost, we switch gears a bit to focus on Jack. Well no, that's not really it since Jack is missing from a good half of the novel (and a jerk for the other). But that is best conclusion that I can come up with. Delsol explores the idea that Jack desires to have better control of his powers. The resulting adventure is a little mix of this and that.
Usually I make up my mind pretty quickly about how I feel about a book, but I am at a complete lost with Frost. Delsol stayed to true some of the qualities I loved about Stork: Kat's personality, the secondary characters, the lore. But as far as the plot goes, Delsol completely detrailed.
In a lot of ways, Frost felt more like a retelling of a fairy tale than a sequel. The Stork idea was all but gone. And in its place was a hodgepodge of different lores, most of which left me stratching my head, wondering does this really all fit together? Snow Queen, Storks, Selkies, and mermaids? It was just too much for me.
Verdict:
To say that I am disappointed is an understatement. I loved Stork. The lore. The differences. But Frost just left me confused. It reads like a companion novel, not the sequel that it is. Not much was resolved in regards to the lingering questions about the Storks or Ravens (they were only mentioned in passing). The romance went backwards, not forward. Then top to everything off, more seemingly unrelated lore was introduced. Since it is a trilogy, I am still holding out hope. I just hope it is not in vain.
July 30, 2011
Let me start out by saying that I really loved Stork, so I was really excited about reading the sequel. Although I did enjoy the book, all in all, I felt that it didn't quite live up to my expectations. Delsol's writing was just as good as I remember, and the characters just as likeable, but at the same time, I felt like there were so many missed opportunities in this book to further develop them, and their individual storylines.
I always have a hard time with storylines where some chic comes along to derail the hero from his rightful path away from the heroine. It frustrates me so much as I read, that sometimes that frustration becomes irritation, and I find that I can't enjoy things very much. This occurs a bit in Frost, as Brigid comes along and kind of ruins, to an extent, the twosome of Jack and Katla that was created in Stork. I get antsy when so much time and distance starts occuring between two characters that are supposed to be together, at least when it appears that it's unnecessary. I felt Jack could have involved Katla more rather than Brigid.
I also wish a bit more emphasis had been placed on the folklore, as it had been in the first story. Despite all of that, however, Delsol is still a great storyteller, and the characters were still the same likeable ones I fell in love with in Stork. I am not sorry I read it and did enjoy it. I do look forward to future books by Wendy Delsol.
I always have a hard time with storylines where some chic comes along to derail the hero from his rightful path away from the heroine. It frustrates me so much as I read, that sometimes that frustration becomes irritation, and I find that I can't enjoy things very much. This occurs a bit in Frost, as Brigid comes along and kind of ruins, to an extent, the twosome of Jack and Katla that was created in Stork. I get antsy when so much time and distance starts occuring between two characters that are supposed to be together, at least when it appears that it's unnecessary. I felt Jack could have involved Katla more rather than Brigid.
I also wish a bit more emphasis had been placed on the folklore, as it had been in the first story. Despite all of that, however, Delsol is still a great storyteller, and the characters were still the same likeable ones I fell in love with in Stork. I am not sorry I read it and did enjoy it. I do look forward to future books by Wendy Delsol.
Read
December 15, 2011After gobbling up STORK, the first novel in this series, I picked up FROST. I had looked at reviews on Goodreads and noticed that some readers had wanted more about the Stork Society and in general had other expectations. THROW AWAY expectations. I loved this continuation of Wendy Delsol's Icelandic folktale, bringing to life THE SNOW QUEEN in such a creative and enthralling manner. This novel focuses a lot on Jack, but fans of Jack and his special powers will love it. The integration of the folktale to NOW is totally fascinating to me. Wendy does a wonderful job of intertwining Katla and Jack and those who will stop at next to nothing to keep them apart & use Jack for selfish, evil reasons. Instead of making Katla a whiny, obnoxious character who expects her bf to be at her side all the time, Wendy writes a young woman who exhibits strength, confusion, determination, resilience, maturity. I like that. I can't wait to see how Wendy Delsol finishes off this trilogy with the third novel, TIDE. Reading this series is definitely worthwhile. PERFECT for anyone who enjoys folktales, mythology, magic.
April 5, 2011
Frost takes on a wild ride from America Mid-West, to Iceland to Greenland with a good dose of Norse Mythology thrown in to spice things up. In Stork, Katla comes to understand that she is part of an ancient society of Storks, women who can place souls with to-be-mothers. She also falls for Jack, as in Jack Frost, a fellow teen in high school who also is coming to terms with his magical abilities, in this case it's changing the weather. Stork sets everything up and leaves Frost to be purely adventure. I got sucked in right away and Frost kept my attention all the way through. It definitely helps if you've 1) read Stork and 2) enjoy Norse Mythology. If you enjoy reading magical realism and want to try something fresh and different, definitely read Stork and Frost!
November 18, 2015
Meh.
Although I liked the series progression and how the details mirrored the Snow Queen, I didn't like a few things about the story. First of all, how Katla contacts the little boy who got killed in the snowstorm wasn't really related to anything, I'm glad the YA genre has finally created a book that follows a fairytale not many people have heard of, not counting Frozen.
Brigid was a great villain, but I didn't understand her fear of blood, and also, she was too suspicious from the get-go. It's kind of cliche for the main character's guy to get stolen by this super perfect, beautiful, and experienced girl who is actually evil.
Although I liked the series progression and how the details mirrored the Snow Queen, I didn't like a few things about the story. First of all, how Katla contacts the little boy who got killed in the snowstorm wasn't really related to anything, I'm glad the YA genre has finally created a book that follows a fairytale not many people have heard of, not counting Frozen.
Brigid was a great villain, but I didn't understand her fear of blood, and also, she was too suspicious from the get-go. It's kind of cliche for the main character's guy to get stolen by this super perfect, beautiful, and experienced girl who is actually evil.
October 21, 2014
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/mini-rev...
The story is inspired by the Snow Queen, one of my all-time favorite fairytales. I liked the first book, “Spork” a lot, because it had tons of original elements and although paranormal, it gave a refreshing twist to the concept. The sequel was a bit more predictable, but the Nordic folk stories were very intriguing, like the frost giants. Katla’s new skills are a little over the top though, and with the whole new range of skills, it just seems like too much.
The story is inspired by the Snow Queen, one of my all-time favorite fairytales. I liked the first book, “Spork” a lot, because it had tons of original elements and although paranormal, it gave a refreshing twist to the concept. The sequel was a bit more predictable, but the Nordic folk stories were very intriguing, like the frost giants. Katla’s new skills are a little over the top though, and with the whole new range of skills, it just seems like too much.
December 5, 2011
Superficial and cheesy, but I do love the Icelandish twist on everything. There are a ton of pop culture references (my favorite was along the lines of "as awkward as Diversity Day at Dunder Mifflin"), so this will be dated soon. Bonus: the girl rescues the boy! Hand to girls who want romance and adventure.
March 25, 2015
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1st read: Hating the cliffhanger (the mess with the sister), mainly because "Flock" isn't out until October. Can't wait to see how THAT mess is handled.
Delsol did a good job of incorporating the Snow Queen story into the book, though now I"m wondering who was actually in charge of the ice & snow world in Norse legends. :)
November 26, 2011
4.5 stars
Not as much love as the first one, but still SO MUCH LOVE.
Not as much love as the first one, but still SO MUCH LOVE.
December 31, 2013
Fun, fun, fun! Love how she incorporated several fairy tales and legends into this one! Love Kat, love Jack, love all the characters old and new! Can't wait to read #3!
April 5, 2022
Firstly, the beginning of the blurb that says about Kat having to save the boy she loves should not be there. It's a total spoiler. Jack doesn't even go missing until the 69% mark 🤦
* Kat was nicer in this book, and her comments weren't quite so judgy. Her making up that prophecy about the mermaid looks like it may well come back to bite her in the arse though. Especially as it seems she might have just
* Jack was not very nice in this. Thank god Kat actually still rescued him, he wasn't exactly being nice to her when he left (and with another woman).
* I think her Afi is going to die in the next book.
* So weird how
* Kat was nicer in this book, and her comments weren't quite so judgy. Her making up that prophecy about the mermaid looks like it may well come back to bite her in the arse though. Especially as it seems she might have just
* Jack was not very nice in this. Thank god Kat actually still rescued him, he wasn't exactly being nice to her when he left (and with another woman).
* I think her Afi is going to die in the next book.
* So weird how
June 10, 2023
I thought Stork was Twilight where we had Jack Frost instead of a vampire, a self proclaimed fashionista instead of klutz with Nordic lore entwined. And I could be ok with that except halfway through Frost I realized we were just going to continue introducing new subplots and NEVER fully understand anything. I’m gonna read the next one in hopes that maybe one thing will finally make sense but I don’t have high hopes. It had potential to be cool with the Viking lore making it different but I need more answers otherwise it’s just a mess.
November 7, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, so I was very disappointed to find out this one was no good. The plot was not great, and the story veered from what is its strongest asset--the Stork Society. The protagonist's sense of humor, which I loved in the first book, felt too fabricated in this one. Probably won't pick up the third book.
March 22, 2019
While I only skimmed the second half of book 1, I skimmed nearly all of this one. I was just curious about the plot and how things would end up. Admittedly I’m curious about something for the last book, but I can hold off on that for a while. Got other books checked out from the library that I need to read.
January 26, 2026
"Decide something."
I fear I have lost track of the plot of this trilogy. There's a Jack Frost descendent, and the Snow Queen, and mermaids (?) and the Stork have something to do with souls?
I fear I have lost track of the plot of this trilogy. There's a Jack Frost descendent, and the Snow Queen, and mermaids (?) and the Stork have something to do with souls?
July 24, 2011
The Scoop:
Katla Leblanc is a stork--she delivers unborn souls to their rightful womb. Her boyfriend Jack Snjosson is, in the most general of terms, Jack Frost. But we learned all that in the first book of the series, Stork. Katla is still a stork (and second in command) and still head over heels for Jack. Katla and Jack are spending their first Christmas together and it isn't as white as Katla would have expected in Minnesota. As his present to her Jack creates a light snowfall that they take a horse-drawn sleight ride through. During the course of the sleigh ride the light snowfall somehow becomes and all out blizzard. Jack and Katla struggle to make it home and eventually they do. Other families caught out in the storm didn't have such happy endings--a young boy died when the family car hw was riding in went off the road.
Jack and Katla felt guilt from this and that was made worse when a weather scientist from Iceland came to explore the global warming "phenomenon" (or lack of global warming in this case) that Jack's blizzard became known as. The arrival of the scientist, Brigid, coincides with the arriveal of Katlas's father to start his new wind turbine factory, her mother planning her wedding while pregnant and the attact on the stork group which resulted in a serious injury to their leader and put Kat in charge. While she is dealing with all of these problems we cam add to them that it appears that Brigid has some sort of mysterious pull over anybody she comes in contact with (except Katla) but more so with Jack than anybody else and Kat's afi (grandfather) is suffering from a very intense case of homesickness for Iceland. Somehow or another (at least until we find out more about what is driving Brigid) high school senior, Jack, gets an internship to accompany Brigid to the weather outpost in Iceland and Kat is coerced into tagging along with her afi to his hometown in Iceland. Where she learns she is also descended from selkies (angels cast out from heaven that can inhabit both land and sea). And this is where Kat must ultimately figure out the mystery of Brigid and her odd hold over Jack.
My Thoughts:
I'll have to admit, this was the very first book I read as an e-book and it took some getting used to. I also don't have an e-reader (yet! Update: I have since acquired a NookColor and am looking forward to many hours of e-reading) so I had to make do with a netbook. It wasn't my favorite way of reading but I liked the first book in the series so much that I persevered because I wanted to find out what happened to Kat and Jack.
So, maybe you can tell by now from the books that I've put up on review that I love a good story that revolves around a myth or fairy tale or some sort of folklore (and the several previous times I've mentioned this fact). And this one covers the bases in that sense. I think Kat is a fun and vibrant main character--she has a unique fashion sense--and even though she keeps getting hit with all this mystical aspects from her family and friends she takes it in, processes some solutions and charges right on to what needs to be done in order to save those that need saving--her mother, her boyfriend, her homesick afi, or even the mother who lost her little boy in the freak storm Jack created. Kat allows herself to be talked into auditioning for the school musical even though she'd much rather focus solely on the set and costume designs, she travels with her grandfather to Iceland in a last minute decision to attend the Selkie festival held in his hometown and she doesn't complain when her mother is on pregnancy bedrest and she is delegated to gopher and chef.
My one detraction, and I don't know if it was reading it in e-book format or the writing style itself, but at points it seemed that the chapters ended abruptly and then went jarringly into another portion of Kat's life. It was a little off-putting at times but wasn't anything too overwrought that made me stop reading the story all together. Sometimes I just had to go back and make sure I didn't scroll too fast. One of the highlights for me was the way that the author had so many pop culture comparisons and similies for Kat to describe how she was reacting to certain things.
There were many more like this--most of them amusing and clever. I remember they were also scattered in the first book and I am glad the author carried them into this one. There were quite a few but they weren't overwhelming and they felt like they belonged, for the most part.
As you can probably tell the folklore/fairy tale aspect totally won me over, and the fun character of Kat was a bonus, so I'm really looking forward to the continuation of this series if that's what happens.
I received this copy from the publisher for a fair and honest review. Frost is due out October 11, 2011 by Candlewick Press.
Katla Leblanc is a stork--she delivers unborn souls to their rightful womb. Her boyfriend Jack Snjosson is, in the most general of terms, Jack Frost. But we learned all that in the first book of the series, Stork. Katla is still a stork (and second in command) and still head over heels for Jack. Katla and Jack are spending their first Christmas together and it isn't as white as Katla would have expected in Minnesota. As his present to her Jack creates a light snowfall that they take a horse-drawn sleight ride through. During the course of the sleigh ride the light snowfall somehow becomes and all out blizzard. Jack and Katla struggle to make it home and eventually they do. Other families caught out in the storm didn't have such happy endings--a young boy died when the family car hw was riding in went off the road.
Jack and Katla felt guilt from this and that was made worse when a weather scientist from Iceland came to explore the global warming "phenomenon" (or lack of global warming in this case) that Jack's blizzard became known as. The arrival of the scientist, Brigid, coincides with the arriveal of Katlas's father to start his new wind turbine factory, her mother planning her wedding while pregnant and the attact on the stork group which resulted in a serious injury to their leader and put Kat in charge. While she is dealing with all of these problems we cam add to them that it appears that Brigid has some sort of mysterious pull over anybody she comes in contact with (except Katla) but more so with Jack than anybody else and Kat's afi (grandfather) is suffering from a very intense case of homesickness for Iceland. Somehow or another (at least until we find out more about what is driving Brigid) high school senior, Jack, gets an internship to accompany Brigid to the weather outpost in Iceland and Kat is coerced into tagging along with her afi to his hometown in Iceland. Where she learns she is also descended from selkies (angels cast out from heaven that can inhabit both land and sea). And this is where Kat must ultimately figure out the mystery of Brigid and her odd hold over Jack.
My Thoughts:
I'll have to admit, this was the very first book I read as an e-book and it took some getting used to. I also don't have an e-reader (yet! Update: I have since acquired a NookColor and am looking forward to many hours of e-reading) so I had to make do with a netbook. It wasn't my favorite way of reading but I liked the first book in the series so much that I persevered because I wanted to find out what happened to Kat and Jack.
So, maybe you can tell by now from the books that I've put up on review that I love a good story that revolves around a myth or fairy tale or some sort of folklore (and the several previous times I've mentioned this fact). And this one covers the bases in that sense. I think Kat is a fun and vibrant main character--she has a unique fashion sense--and even though she keeps getting hit with all this mystical aspects from her family and friends she takes it in, processes some solutions and charges right on to what needs to be done in order to save those that need saving--her mother, her boyfriend, her homesick afi, or even the mother who lost her little boy in the freak storm Jack created. Kat allows herself to be talked into auditioning for the school musical even though she'd much rather focus solely on the set and costume designs, she travels with her grandfather to Iceland in a last minute decision to attend the Selkie festival held in his hometown and she doesn't complain when her mother is on pregnancy bedrest and she is delegated to gopher and chef.
My one detraction, and I don't know if it was reading it in e-book format or the writing style itself, but at points it seemed that the chapters ended abruptly and then went jarringly into another portion of Kat's life. It was a little off-putting at times but wasn't anything too overwrought that made me stop reading the story all together. Sometimes I just had to go back and make sure I didn't scroll too fast. One of the highlights for me was the way that the author had so many pop culture comparisons and similies for Kat to describe how she was reacting to certain things.
He was so gloomy it was material, gathering at his feet in a cloud of gray matter like Pig-Pen, Charlie Brown's sidekick.
There were many more like this--most of them amusing and clever. I remember they were also scattered in the first book and I am glad the author carried them into this one. There were quite a few but they weren't overwhelming and they felt like they belonged, for the most part.
As you can probably tell the folklore/fairy tale aspect totally won me over, and the fun character of Kat was a bonus, so I'm really looking forward to the continuation of this series if that's what happens.
I received this copy from the publisher for a fair and honest review. Frost is due out October 11, 2011 by Candlewick Press.
March 31, 2013
Review Posted on Reading Lark 10/18/11: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2011/...
I absolutely loved Stork so I was super excited to get my hands on this sequel. Spending more time with Kat and Jack was high on my priority list. I didn't really go into this expecting anything other than more myths, engaging writing, and fun characters. Frost certainly delivered on this front and was an excellent sequel. I didn't instantly love it like I did with Stork, but once everything was said and done I loved this one just as much. Frost is the perfect winter read. I am actually considering rereading it when the snow begins to fall and I am curled up somewhere cozy with a peppermint hot chocolate.
Frost picks up pretty much where Stork left off. Kat is still attending to her storkly duties and navigating through her high school existence in Norse Falls, Minnesota. However, now that she's not the new girl in town any longer she has a tight circle of friends and a super hot boyfriend that just happens to control the weather. Life is looking up for Kat as her dad moves from California to start his new business in town and her mom is full of joy as she waits on the arrival of Kat's baby sister. However, mysterious events are underfoot and visitors begin to descend on the town. Who can be trusted? Who should be avoided? Kat must find out for sure who means her harm before something tragic befalls those she loves most.
I think part of the reason I love this series so much is that I knew basically nothing about Norse mythology and Icelandic culture before reading these books. Learning new things from fiction is always exciting for me. It stirs up my imagination and inspires me to do further research. Furthermore, Frost draws heavily upon the work of Hans Christian Anderson - particularly the tale of the Snow Queen. I wasn't totally familiar with this story, but I found she is very similar to the character of the Winter Witch from the Chronicles of Narnia - cold, driven by a lust for power, doesn't care who she hurts in the process of getting her goal. In addition, Frost also gave some attention to some of my favorite mythical creatures - the Selkie. I don't see them in stories very often so it was interesting to see how Delsol chose to use their legend within the plot.
In addition, Frost allows the reader to see more of the mythological world that surrounds Kat and Jack beyond the Storks. In fact, the Stork work almost takes a backseat to everything else that is happening in this book. The only thing that really bothered me about that was that I didn't get to spend much time with Hulda, who was one of my favorite characters in the first book. I missed getting her little snippets of wisdom throughout the book. I hope to see more of the Storks in the next book. However, I did enjoy learning more about Jack's gift and the segments of the book that took place in Iceland. I found it fascinating to learn more about Kat's family history and culture. Iceland has always been one of those intriguing places that I hope to visit someday. Delsol does a beautiful job of transporting the reader to the locale.
What truly makes these reads great other than Delsol's writing style is the characters. I adore Kat and Jack. Their relationship is so sweet and has just the right amount of spice. I wish that I had known a boy like Jack in high school, but sadly I don't know that boys like him actually exist. The devotion between Jack and Kat is so endearing. I also love how their personalities are so different yet they compliment each other so well. Their interactions make this series incredibly addictive.
If you haven't read these books yet and you're a fan of YA or mythology - then head on over to your favorite bookseller right now and pick up Stork. You can also check out my review of Stork right here on Reading Lark if you need more convincing evidence.
One Last Gripe: I need to know what's going on with Afi. He's acting strange, but this is not resolved in the book.
My Favorite Thing About This Book: The lore behind everything - so fascinating!
First Sentence: There was one thing, and one thing only, that could coax me into striped red tights, a fur vest, and an elf cap: Jack Snjosson.
Favorite Character: Kat
Least Favorite Character: Brigid
I absolutely loved Stork so I was super excited to get my hands on this sequel. Spending more time with Kat and Jack was high on my priority list. I didn't really go into this expecting anything other than more myths, engaging writing, and fun characters. Frost certainly delivered on this front and was an excellent sequel. I didn't instantly love it like I did with Stork, but once everything was said and done I loved this one just as much. Frost is the perfect winter read. I am actually considering rereading it when the snow begins to fall and I am curled up somewhere cozy with a peppermint hot chocolate.
Frost picks up pretty much where Stork left off. Kat is still attending to her storkly duties and navigating through her high school existence in Norse Falls, Minnesota. However, now that she's not the new girl in town any longer she has a tight circle of friends and a super hot boyfriend that just happens to control the weather. Life is looking up for Kat as her dad moves from California to start his new business in town and her mom is full of joy as she waits on the arrival of Kat's baby sister. However, mysterious events are underfoot and visitors begin to descend on the town. Who can be trusted? Who should be avoided? Kat must find out for sure who means her harm before something tragic befalls those she loves most.
I think part of the reason I love this series so much is that I knew basically nothing about Norse mythology and Icelandic culture before reading these books. Learning new things from fiction is always exciting for me. It stirs up my imagination and inspires me to do further research. Furthermore, Frost draws heavily upon the work of Hans Christian Anderson - particularly the tale of the Snow Queen. I wasn't totally familiar with this story, but I found she is very similar to the character of the Winter Witch from the Chronicles of Narnia - cold, driven by a lust for power, doesn't care who she hurts in the process of getting her goal. In addition, Frost also gave some attention to some of my favorite mythical creatures - the Selkie. I don't see them in stories very often so it was interesting to see how Delsol chose to use their legend within the plot.
In addition, Frost allows the reader to see more of the mythological world that surrounds Kat and Jack beyond the Storks. In fact, the Stork work almost takes a backseat to everything else that is happening in this book. The only thing that really bothered me about that was that I didn't get to spend much time with Hulda, who was one of my favorite characters in the first book. I missed getting her little snippets of wisdom throughout the book. I hope to see more of the Storks in the next book. However, I did enjoy learning more about Jack's gift and the segments of the book that took place in Iceland. I found it fascinating to learn more about Kat's family history and culture. Iceland has always been one of those intriguing places that I hope to visit someday. Delsol does a beautiful job of transporting the reader to the locale.
What truly makes these reads great other than Delsol's writing style is the characters. I adore Kat and Jack. Their relationship is so sweet and has just the right amount of spice. I wish that I had known a boy like Jack in high school, but sadly I don't know that boys like him actually exist. The devotion between Jack and Kat is so endearing. I also love how their personalities are so different yet they compliment each other so well. Their interactions make this series incredibly addictive.
If you haven't read these books yet and you're a fan of YA or mythology - then head on over to your favorite bookseller right now and pick up Stork. You can also check out my review of Stork right here on Reading Lark if you need more convincing evidence.
One Last Gripe: I need to know what's going on with Afi. He's acting strange, but this is not resolved in the book.
My Favorite Thing About This Book: The lore behind everything - so fascinating!
First Sentence: There was one thing, and one thing only, that could coax me into striped red tights, a fur vest, and an elf cap: Jack Snjosson.
Favorite Character: Kat
Least Favorite Character: Brigid
January 26, 2015
t took me a little bit to warm up to Stork because of Katla but by the end I liked the story enough that I was willing to read the second book. I had bought the entire trilogy on a whim anyway so why not? It certainly sounded a little more action-packed than the first book. In a way it was but in a way it was also slightly disappointing.
My whole impression of Katla in Frost was essentially ‘meh’. She’s changed a little bit from the first book in the sense that she’s no longer as stuck up and is taking on the responsibilities of being a Stork willingly but at the same time she’s also still pretty immature. When Brigid shows up, Katla immediately goes into jealous girlfriend mode without seeing how Jack will even react to the woman. Of course her initial suspicions are confirmed when Brigid drags Jack off to Greenland but at the same time I can’t help but feel a little colder toward Katla for her rather obsessive jealousy. I don’t hate her or really dislike her because I can completely understand jealousy but it didn’t make me feel any warmer toward her. When she set off to go find Jack her selflessness really came into the spotlight so in the end I did like her a little more than I did in the first book. Still, I wouldn’t call her a great or even a memorable character; she’s pretty average.
The plot was pretty slow-paced even though this book is only a little under 400 pages long. It’s very much character-driven (which I usually don’t mind) but at the same time I had a hard time with the first 200 pages or so because not much happens. Sure it’s nice to see how Katla is settling into her duties as a Stork and how it’s changed her life at school but at the same time I couldn’t help but get bored. It’s nice to see Jack and Katla’s relationship develop before Brigid bursts onto the scene but I think Wendy Delsol spent a little too much time on her introduction. I wanted a lot more action and I simply wasn’t getting it. Because of the slow pace of the first part of the book it also felt like the last part where Katla had to go rescue Jack was way too rushed and more than a little bit confusing. I would have liked the plot to start out a little bit faster and then gradually build toward the more action-packed sections rather than the abrupt transitions in Frost.
As for the world-building, it was thoroughly enjoyable even if it lacked that ‘wow’ factor. The plot of Frost is loosely based upon the Snow Queen story which I’m more familiar with than the first book’s story so in that regard it was a little more enjoyable for me. I liked how we finally got to see how the hierarchy of Storks works and whether or not there are other Storks around the world that carry out the same or similar duties. It made things a little more realistic and it added more depth to the story.
Wendy Delsol has a good writing style that describes things well and clearly while not beating around the bush, which would have made the book excellent if not for the lack in pacing and the admittedly lackluster characters. She’s an author with a lot of potential and despite my overall ‘meh’ impression of Frost I’ll be reading the last book, if only to finish the series. Basically, this book was just not made for me and if the blurb at least sounds intriguing to you I’d recommend giving the series a try. Who knows? Maybe you’ll like it better than I did.
I give this book 3/5 stars.
My whole impression of Katla in Frost was essentially ‘meh’. She’s changed a little bit from the first book in the sense that she’s no longer as stuck up and is taking on the responsibilities of being a Stork willingly but at the same time she’s also still pretty immature. When Brigid shows up, Katla immediately goes into jealous girlfriend mode without seeing how Jack will even react to the woman. Of course her initial suspicions are confirmed when Brigid drags Jack off to Greenland but at the same time I can’t help but feel a little colder toward Katla for her rather obsessive jealousy. I don’t hate her or really dislike her because I can completely understand jealousy but it didn’t make me feel any warmer toward her. When she set off to go find Jack her selflessness really came into the spotlight so in the end I did like her a little more than I did in the first book. Still, I wouldn’t call her a great or even a memorable character; she’s pretty average.
The plot was pretty slow-paced even though this book is only a little under 400 pages long. It’s very much character-driven (which I usually don’t mind) but at the same time I had a hard time with the first 200 pages or so because not much happens. Sure it’s nice to see how Katla is settling into her duties as a Stork and how it’s changed her life at school but at the same time I couldn’t help but get bored. It’s nice to see Jack and Katla’s relationship develop before Brigid bursts onto the scene but I think Wendy Delsol spent a little too much time on her introduction. I wanted a lot more action and I simply wasn’t getting it. Because of the slow pace of the first part of the book it also felt like the last part where Katla had to go rescue Jack was way too rushed and more than a little bit confusing. I would have liked the plot to start out a little bit faster and then gradually build toward the more action-packed sections rather than the abrupt transitions in Frost.
As for the world-building, it was thoroughly enjoyable even if it lacked that ‘wow’ factor. The plot of Frost is loosely based upon the Snow Queen story which I’m more familiar with than the first book’s story so in that regard it was a little more enjoyable for me. I liked how we finally got to see how the hierarchy of Storks works and whether or not there are other Storks around the world that carry out the same or similar duties. It made things a little more realistic and it added more depth to the story.
Wendy Delsol has a good writing style that describes things well and clearly while not beating around the bush, which would have made the book excellent if not for the lack in pacing and the admittedly lackluster characters. She’s an author with a lot of potential and despite my overall ‘meh’ impression of Frost I’ll be reading the last book, if only to finish the series. Basically, this book was just not made for me and if the blurb at least sounds intriguing to you I’d recommend giving the series a try. Who knows? Maybe you’ll like it better than I did.
I give this book 3/5 stars.
October 10, 2011
Because of Stork's unique nature, I had very high expectations for its sequel Frost. It exceeded those expectations exponentially, wrapping up all I loved about the first novel and improving them to provide an exciting new adventure for Katla and her friends. From the setting to the story to the mythology, Frost is a winner!
Katla is back and is stronger than ever in this new installment. After the events of the last novel, she's more confident in herself, trusting her own instincts even without the guidance of Hulda. It was nice to see a lead that is willing to make risky decisions and instead of whining about the consequences, she excepts them and resolves to do something about it. Katla's strength gave this novel that extra sparkle and truly made her unforgettable. Her journey to find herself took her to the ends of the earth-- literally-- and really brought her character to life. I also really enjoyed that we got to see more sides of Kat here. In the last novel, she loved fashion and maintained it in this one but we also found out she could dance. Those scenes helped to round her out as a character.
While the other characters we'd gotten to know in the first novel such as Penny and Pedro didn't play as large a part as in this novel, we did get to know Kat's family and their roots better. Jack managed to be his same amazing self during certain parts and that just made his absence even more noticeable. I really enjoyed getting to know Kat's grandfather better and their journey to the roots of their origin was a fresh breath of air. Kat's kind and loving relationship with her grandfather is another things that gives me more respect for her. You can tell she cares because she donates much of free time to his shop and looking after his well-being. Brigid was wonderfully wicked, both sweeter than sugar and colder than ice, and it was great that she didn't fool Kat for a second.
I really enjoyed the changing of the scenery too. While the small town still felt like home, it was great to travel to Iceland with Kat and visit her roots. It gave the novel a perfect breath of fresh air to keep it exciting. The problems with voice that I found in the first novel have completely disappeared in this newest installment, the plot is fast pace and this story felt more cohesive as a whole. While the last left a lot of strings up in the air, this novel finished many plot lines which was satisfying. As with the previous installment, it mixed many new mythologies and blending them together in an exciting plot. The parallel to The Snow Queen was wonderful and helped me remember my love for that story and worked nicely with the legends of the Storks, selkies and of course, Jack Frost.
It's rare when a sequel can surpass it's previous installment, especially one as vastly different and interesting as Stork. Frost takes all the elements that made Stork unforgettable and melds them together with an entirely new story. I loved watching Katla blossom and overcome and can't wait to see what she and Jack will accomplish in the next novel. Frost truly is just like a snowflake, one of a kind and all the more beautiful for it!
Katla is back and is stronger than ever in this new installment. After the events of the last novel, she's more confident in herself, trusting her own instincts even without the guidance of Hulda. It was nice to see a lead that is willing to make risky decisions and instead of whining about the consequences, she excepts them and resolves to do something about it. Katla's strength gave this novel that extra sparkle and truly made her unforgettable. Her journey to find herself took her to the ends of the earth-- literally-- and really brought her character to life. I also really enjoyed that we got to see more sides of Kat here. In the last novel, she loved fashion and maintained it in this one but we also found out she could dance. Those scenes helped to round her out as a character.
While the other characters we'd gotten to know in the first novel such as Penny and Pedro didn't play as large a part as in this novel, we did get to know Kat's family and their roots better. Jack managed to be his same amazing self during certain parts and that just made his absence even more noticeable. I really enjoyed getting to know Kat's grandfather better and their journey to the roots of their origin was a fresh breath of air. Kat's kind and loving relationship with her grandfather is another things that gives me more respect for her. You can tell she cares because she donates much of free time to his shop and looking after his well-being. Brigid was wonderfully wicked, both sweeter than sugar and colder than ice, and it was great that she didn't fool Kat for a second.
I really enjoyed the changing of the scenery too. While the small town still felt like home, it was great to travel to Iceland with Kat and visit her roots. It gave the novel a perfect breath of fresh air to keep it exciting. The problems with voice that I found in the first novel have completely disappeared in this newest installment, the plot is fast pace and this story felt more cohesive as a whole. While the last left a lot of strings up in the air, this novel finished many plot lines which was satisfying. As with the previous installment, it mixed many new mythologies and blending them together in an exciting plot. The parallel to The Snow Queen was wonderful and helped me remember my love for that story and worked nicely with the legends of the Storks, selkies and of course, Jack Frost.
It's rare when a sequel can surpass it's previous installment, especially one as vastly different and interesting as Stork. Frost takes all the elements that made Stork unforgettable and melds them together with an entirely new story. I loved watching Katla blossom and overcome and can't wait to see what she and Jack will accomplish in the next novel. Frost truly is just like a snowflake, one of a kind and all the more beautiful for it!
September 15, 2011
Frost is the much awaited sequel to Stork. The novel is loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen. The main focus of attention in this novel is Jack, Katla's boyfriend. This may be slightly disappointing to readers who were expecting further development of Katla. Jack has a fierce desire to understand and control his own magical ability. Jack and Katla are slowly beginning to have a deeper relationship when Brigid arrives on the scene. Brigid comes to Minnesota due to a gift from Jack to Katla gone awry. Brigid draws Jack's attention away from Katla; not long after Brigid's arrival, Jack disappears. Katla must go on a mission to find him. The novel continues in much the same way-Katla trying to find Jack.
For readers of Stork who were expecting a deeper development of Katla's ability and a better explanation of the Stork society...this book is a bit of a letdown. The novel literally focuses on her finding Jack, there is only one instance where she guides a soul in the entire novel. There is more attention given to the love triangle between Brigid, Jack, and Katla than there is to the ancient historical Story society that was the first novel's plot. However, the author's way of drawing the reader into the book and holding his/her attention and the seamless, flowing sequence of events are still present. The author does not neglect Katla's character development-she is portrayed as a slightly more mature, humorous young woman. The reader will find him/herself laughing at Katla's thoughts and statements during the novel. Brigid is a new character and the perfect character to hate in this novel. She is haughty and self-assured with an undertone of evil. The author does a good job at giving a teen's point of view (Katla's) during the novel-not the easiest thing to do when you're not a teenager anymore and another demonstration of the author's skill.
This novel splits off into smaller sub-plots. Again, some readers may enjoy this new quality to this series while some may dislike it. Katla's mother, newly pregnant, deals with the stress of preparing for another child, Katla's class puts on a musical of The Snow Queen- the author's bid for irony in the novel. Katla's friends aren't getting along and Katla isn't quite sure if she has time to deal with everything. Jack veers away from Katla and their relationship. The Stork society isn't addressed all that much. Katla takes off to find Jack, but at the same time has to deal with a few things that leave her having nightmares. All of these different sub-plots are a little grating at first, they don't appear to fit cohesively into the novel at first. However, the ending is satisfying and many of these events fall into place.
This book is recommended for young adults/teens that enjoy escaping to a world where magic is possible when reading.
3 1/2 Stars
I received a copy for review, this in no way altered my opinion of the novel.
For readers of Stork who were expecting a deeper development of Katla's ability and a better explanation of the Stork society...this book is a bit of a letdown. The novel literally focuses on her finding Jack, there is only one instance where she guides a soul in the entire novel. There is more attention given to the love triangle between Brigid, Jack, and Katla than there is to the ancient historical Story society that was the first novel's plot. However, the author's way of drawing the reader into the book and holding his/her attention and the seamless, flowing sequence of events are still present. The author does not neglect Katla's character development-she is portrayed as a slightly more mature, humorous young woman. The reader will find him/herself laughing at Katla's thoughts and statements during the novel. Brigid is a new character and the perfect character to hate in this novel. She is haughty and self-assured with an undertone of evil. The author does a good job at giving a teen's point of view (Katla's) during the novel-not the easiest thing to do when you're not a teenager anymore and another demonstration of the author's skill.
This novel splits off into smaller sub-plots. Again, some readers may enjoy this new quality to this series while some may dislike it. Katla's mother, newly pregnant, deals with the stress of preparing for another child, Katla's class puts on a musical of The Snow Queen- the author's bid for irony in the novel. Katla's friends aren't getting along and Katla isn't quite sure if she has time to deal with everything. Jack veers away from Katla and their relationship. The Stork society isn't addressed all that much. Katla takes off to find Jack, but at the same time has to deal with a few things that leave her having nightmares. All of these different sub-plots are a little grating at first, they don't appear to fit cohesively into the novel at first. However, the ending is satisfying and many of these events fall into place.
This book is recommended for young adults/teens that enjoy escaping to a world where magic is possible when reading.
3 1/2 Stars
I received a copy for review, this in no way altered my opinion of the novel.
July 15, 2011
This seriously can’t be the end to this series/world/whatever. Seriously. I enjoyed it way too much. With “Frost”, Delsol proves that “Stork” wasn’t just a one-off success, but a sustainable (ironic term here, but let’s continue anyway) world that could probably produce quite a few books to come.
So we pick up with Kat and Jack and the rest of the crazy “Stork” world, and things aren’t exactly going to plan after a rather tragic accident scares our happy couple into a dark spot where before everything was so bright. Delsol expertly used all of the scary natural disasters that have happened within the past year to her advantage in this book, and it all fit. Considering we’re using Norse mythology, the feeling that with all of these natural disasters really is just a warm-up for Ragnarok is a very feasible thought after reading this book.
We also have more usual YA-genre stuff in here (jealous girlfriend, homewrecking girl-woman) but Delsol blew all of that out of the water with bringing in magical reality into it. It made it all not only just tolerable but fascinating, and I literally could not put down this book once I got started. The worse things got, the more I wanted to read – and that’s not like me at all. But with the way the author linked everything and tied up all of the loose ends (well, except for the whodunnit question about the old Stork Society meeting location, but I’m hoping that will be addressed in a possible third book) that might have been dangling for readers from the first book. And how. Kat’s not just the child of one mythology but two, and with Jack’s ancestry it brings together a wonderful conclusion in a world that’s close to but not our own.
Seriously, guys. If you’re into magical reality YA lit like me, after reading this you’ll figure out that Delsol is the real deal, and she needs to be welcomed into this part of the genre. It’s not just urban-type fantasy lit, it’s definite magical reality that she’s brought us all into with the “Stork” world. She’s incredibly talented with bringing together seemingly unrelated events within her own story. I just can’t find anything to pick at here; excellent sensory language, no cliches, no hanging plotlines and plenty of showing over telling. It really is that good, and it’s made my “best of 2011 – sequels” list for the year.
So here’s hoping for a third “Stork”-related book (I’ll also take a novella, if a third book isn’t possible). I need more of this world, stat. So go read the first one, and come October, check out “Frost”. Winter’s coming early, but this story will keep you nice and toasty as you run after Kat in her quest to return Jack to our world.
(posted to librarything, goodreads, shelfari, and witchoftheatregoing.wordpress.com)
So we pick up with Kat and Jack and the rest of the crazy “Stork” world, and things aren’t exactly going to plan after a rather tragic accident scares our happy couple into a dark spot where before everything was so bright. Delsol expertly used all of the scary natural disasters that have happened within the past year to her advantage in this book, and it all fit. Considering we’re using Norse mythology, the feeling that with all of these natural disasters really is just a warm-up for Ragnarok is a very feasible thought after reading this book.
We also have more usual YA-genre stuff in here (jealous girlfriend, homewrecking girl-woman) but Delsol blew all of that out of the water with bringing in magical reality into it. It made it all not only just tolerable but fascinating, and I literally could not put down this book once I got started. The worse things got, the more I wanted to read – and that’s not like me at all. But with the way the author linked everything and tied up all of the loose ends (well, except for the whodunnit question about the old Stork Society meeting location, but I’m hoping that will be addressed in a possible third book) that might have been dangling for readers from the first book. And how. Kat’s not just the child of one mythology but two, and with Jack’s ancestry it brings together a wonderful conclusion in a world that’s close to but not our own.
Seriously, guys. If you’re into magical reality YA lit like me, after reading this you’ll figure out that Delsol is the real deal, and she needs to be welcomed into this part of the genre. It’s not just urban-type fantasy lit, it’s definite magical reality that she’s brought us all into with the “Stork” world. She’s incredibly talented with bringing together seemingly unrelated events within her own story. I just can’t find anything to pick at here; excellent sensory language, no cliches, no hanging plotlines and plenty of showing over telling. It really is that good, and it’s made my “best of 2011 – sequels” list for the year.
So here’s hoping for a third “Stork”-related book (I’ll also take a novella, if a third book isn’t possible). I need more of this world, stat. So go read the first one, and come October, check out “Frost”. Winter’s coming early, but this story will keep you nice and toasty as you run after Kat in her quest to return Jack to our world.
(posted to librarything, goodreads, shelfari, and witchoftheatregoing.wordpress.com)
June 24, 2011
Wendy Delsol’s FROST, is the sequel to her YA debut STORK.
Just as Katla LeBlanc is getting used to use her gifts, she’s suddenly left with a lot of responsibilities. With Hudla in coma, new people coming fur-lined Brigid who seems to take interest in Jack and mysterious Ofelia who seem to be appearing strangely on her family’s needy times, her suspicions increase, trusting people and her own instincts prove difficult. Decisions to make, choices to choose, involving her loved ones, Jack, her future, her life. Life that seems to pattern her own school’s play ‘The Snow Queen’. The last part of the novel involves a confusing and completely on-her-own journey that will determine all of their futures. In this too many happening-novel, will Katla succeed and fulfill her desires and duties? or will she lead everyone and the whole world into destruction? Let’s join Katla and follow her story in this grueling but riveting and enthralling kinda a revised tale of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Snow Queen :)
This was a very satisfying sequel to “Stork”. Wendy Delsol again made me feel like I’m a part of that world where “Storks”, Icelandic stories, and Hans Christian Anderson’s characters come to life. “Frost” started two months after “Stork’s” ending. So much happened in this 384-paged book. Everyday life spiced up with interesting additional characters. Katla is as funny as ever. I love her humors. However Jack&her relationship was not passionate as it was in Stork. It was just a so-so (even after they found each other in the end again)... The story was great. Wendy Delsol used great analogies that left me baffled. The way the Snow Queen’s story was applied in Frost was very creative and engaging. Though some parts of the novel was anticipated and the pace picked up on the second half of the book, I can still say that this was a superb book. (Though honestly, sometimes, I was lost in the happening, as in lost like I have no idea what just transpired.! anyway) Wendy Delsol allowed her characters and story to have great foundation in the first half, and each of her characters build-up themselves by going through the motions of life, with outcomes that brought up each character. Still in the first part of the book, there were some shocking news, sudden dependence on one person (Katla) made her independent and quite wise. Katla, as the main character made some serious choices which will lead to great deliverance and preservation but every help has it’s price, this one’s not good and unpredictable.
This novel was not just funny and entertaining. It also presented some educational stuff and life’s lessons. Read on to catch up! excellent work!
Just as Katla LeBlanc is getting used to use her gifts, she’s suddenly left with a lot of responsibilities. With Hudla in coma, new people coming fur-lined Brigid who seems to take interest in Jack and mysterious Ofelia who seem to be appearing strangely on her family’s needy times, her suspicions increase, trusting people and her own instincts prove difficult. Decisions to make, choices to choose, involving her loved ones, Jack, her future, her life. Life that seems to pattern her own school’s play ‘The Snow Queen’. The last part of the novel involves a confusing and completely on-her-own journey that will determine all of their futures. In this too many happening-novel, will Katla succeed and fulfill her desires and duties? or will she lead everyone and the whole world into destruction? Let’s join Katla and follow her story in this grueling but riveting and enthralling kinda a revised tale of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Snow Queen :)
This was a very satisfying sequel to “Stork”. Wendy Delsol again made me feel like I’m a part of that world where “Storks”, Icelandic stories, and Hans Christian Anderson’s characters come to life. “Frost” started two months after “Stork’s” ending. So much happened in this 384-paged book. Everyday life spiced up with interesting additional characters. Katla is as funny as ever. I love her humors. However Jack&her relationship was not passionate as it was in Stork. It was just a so-so (even after they found each other in the end again)... The story was great. Wendy Delsol used great analogies that left me baffled. The way the Snow Queen’s story was applied in Frost was very creative and engaging. Though some parts of the novel was anticipated and the pace picked up on the second half of the book, I can still say that this was a superb book. (Though honestly, sometimes, I was lost in the happening, as in lost like I have no idea what just transpired.! anyway) Wendy Delsol allowed her characters and story to have great foundation in the first half, and each of her characters build-up themselves by going through the motions of life, with outcomes that brought up each character. Still in the first part of the book, there were some shocking news, sudden dependence on one person (Katla) made her independent and quite wise. Katla, as the main character made some serious choices which will lead to great deliverance and preservation but every help has it’s price, this one’s not good and unpredictable.
This novel was not just funny and entertaining. It also presented some educational stuff and life’s lessons. Read on to catch up! excellent work!
Want to read
June 28, 2012sequel to STORK
3rd and final coming fall 2012
Library Media Connection (March/April 2012)
Fans of Wendy Delsol's first book, Stork (Candlewick Press, 2010) will want to read this sequel, but they may be disappointed. The writing seems forced and there are multiple plot lines which detract from what captivated readers of Stork: the Nordic mythology and romance between Katla and Jack. Katla is descended from an ancient order of mystical women, and Jack, who controls the weather, endeavors to impress her by gifting her a mammoth snowstorm, which brings environmental researcher Brigid into the story. Meanwhile, Katla is involved in the school play, planning a trip to Iceland, and taking care of her pregnant mother. Middle school librarians who were fans of Stork should read this one to talk about with their students who, love it or not, will want to talk about the characters and the plots. Catherine Trinkle, English Teacher, Avon (Indiana) High School and Advanced Learning Center [Editor's Note: Available in e-book format.] RECOMMENDED
School Library Journal (November 1, 2011)
Gr 7 Up-This modern-day retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's "Snow Queen" picks up where it left off in Stork (Candlewick, 2010), with plenty of backstory included. Kat is adjusting to her membership in the ancient Stork society that delivers souls and is still enamored with her boyfriend, Jack, descended from Jack Frost, who can control the weather. Together, their powers often have disastrous results, like an out-of-control snowstorm on Christmas Eve. The storm catches the attention of Brigid, a beautiful foreign researcher, who takes an unusual interest in Jack. Kat is suspicious of his obsession with her but is caught up in her role in the school play, managing her Stork responsibilities, and taking care of her pregnant mom. However, when Brigid takes Jack to Greenland for a field study and they go missing, Kat risks everything to save the boy she loves. The continued growth of bold and determined Kat is endearing as she develops her life-giving Stork abilities while still being a fashion-focused teenager in a small Minnesota town. The underlying themes of culture and heritage affecting the present and the motivating and empowering nature of love, even in impossible situations, complement the quick-moving plot and beautifully drawn settings of Minnesota, Greenland, and Iceland. Frost sustains the momentum of the first book and effectively sets the stage for the final installment in the trilogy.-Elizabeth C. Johnson, Fort Vancouver Regional Library, WA (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
3rd and final coming fall 2012
Library Media Connection (March/April 2012)
Fans of Wendy Delsol's first book, Stork (Candlewick Press, 2010) will want to read this sequel, but they may be disappointed. The writing seems forced and there are multiple plot lines which detract from what captivated readers of Stork: the Nordic mythology and romance between Katla and Jack. Katla is descended from an ancient order of mystical women, and Jack, who controls the weather, endeavors to impress her by gifting her a mammoth snowstorm, which brings environmental researcher Brigid into the story. Meanwhile, Katla is involved in the school play, planning a trip to Iceland, and taking care of her pregnant mother. Middle school librarians who were fans of Stork should read this one to talk about with their students who, love it or not, will want to talk about the characters and the plots. Catherine Trinkle, English Teacher, Avon (Indiana) High School and Advanced Learning Center [Editor's Note: Available in e-book format.] RECOMMENDED
School Library Journal (November 1, 2011)
Gr 7 Up-This modern-day retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's "Snow Queen" picks up where it left off in Stork (Candlewick, 2010), with plenty of backstory included. Kat is adjusting to her membership in the ancient Stork society that delivers souls and is still enamored with her boyfriend, Jack, descended from Jack Frost, who can control the weather. Together, their powers often have disastrous results, like an out-of-control snowstorm on Christmas Eve. The storm catches the attention of Brigid, a beautiful foreign researcher, who takes an unusual interest in Jack. Kat is suspicious of his obsession with her but is caught up in her role in the school play, managing her Stork responsibilities, and taking care of her pregnant mom. However, when Brigid takes Jack to Greenland for a field study and they go missing, Kat risks everything to save the boy she loves. The continued growth of bold and determined Kat is endearing as she develops her life-giving Stork abilities while still being a fashion-focused teenager in a small Minnesota town. The underlying themes of culture and heritage affecting the present and the motivating and empowering nature of love, even in impossible situations, complement the quick-moving plot and beautifully drawn settings of Minnesota, Greenland, and Iceland. Frost sustains the momentum of the first book and effectively sets the stage for the final installment in the trilogy.-Elizabeth C. Johnson, Fort Vancouver Regional Library, WA (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
February 4, 2017
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!
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!
July 9, 2011
Do books ever make you hungry for a certain food or thirsty for a certain beverage? Or do they ever make you wish you were in a different season of the year? Frost made me long for winter's chill (we are currently experiencing daily temperatures of 95-103 degrees here in Southeast Texas) and it made me thirsty for hot cocoa. Wendy Delsol's imagery and description were so detailed, so intricate, that I found myself wishing for the trappings of wintertime.
Before I go any further, I need to disclose that I have not read Stork, the first in the series. I make a point to only read sequels when I have read the first book, and have no other reason for reading Frost before Stork besides a lack of reading time. I requested Frost from NetGalley thinking that I would have time to read Stork first, and then when I didn't (remember I have a brand new baby and have not adjusted my expectations of personal time) I had to jump right into Frost, not knowing any of the back story. Thankfully, Delsol provided a nice review at the beginning that filled me in, and I was able to enjoy Frost without feeling like I didn't know what was going on.
Several things really stuck out for me about this book. I loved the imagery and the way Delsol sets a scene. I liked the fact that the secondary characters are very well fleshed-out and I found myself just as interested in their stories as I was in Katla and Jack's stories. I thought the premise was so unique and well-executed. Delsol's plot and pacing were great, which kept me reading past the point where I said I'd stop. Katla and Jack were so sweet with their love story. Everything was not roses all of the time, which made the good times more enjoyable for me.
Just when I thought I had the story figured out, Delsol threw a wrench in things and added another layer to the plot. I loved that! There were definitely some issues left unresolved, which sets up the next book in the series, and leaves me very interested to read book three. I liked the ending, that the main issues in Frost were resolved, and that I wasn't left frustrated with a cliff-hanger ending, like so many series employ nowadays.
Overall, I think the greatest endorsement I can give Frost is that I enjoyed it enough to seek out and read Stork---after reading book two!
Before I go any further, I need to disclose that I have not read Stork, the first in the series. I make a point to only read sequels when I have read the first book, and have no other reason for reading Frost before Stork besides a lack of reading time. I requested Frost from NetGalley thinking that I would have time to read Stork first, and then when I didn't (remember I have a brand new baby and have not adjusted my expectations of personal time) I had to jump right into Frost, not knowing any of the back story. Thankfully, Delsol provided a nice review at the beginning that filled me in, and I was able to enjoy Frost without feeling like I didn't know what was going on.
Several things really stuck out for me about this book. I loved the imagery and the way Delsol sets a scene. I liked the fact that the secondary characters are very well fleshed-out and I found myself just as interested in their stories as I was in Katla and Jack's stories. I thought the premise was so unique and well-executed. Delsol's plot and pacing were great, which kept me reading past the point where I said I'd stop. Katla and Jack were so sweet with their love story. Everything was not roses all of the time, which made the good times more enjoyable for me.
Just when I thought I had the story figured out, Delsol threw a wrench in things and added another layer to the plot. I loved that! There were definitely some issues left unresolved, which sets up the next book in the series, and leaves me very interested to read book three. I liked the ending, that the main issues in Frost were resolved, and that I wasn't left frustrated with a cliff-hanger ending, like so many series employ nowadays.
Overall, I think the greatest endorsement I can give Frost is that I enjoyed it enough to seek out and read Stork---after reading book two!
June 26, 2011
In Stork, Katla moves from California to Minnesota and discovers she's part of a mystical union of women (aka Storks) with special soul-gathering and -dispersing powers. She also meets and falls in love with Jack, a descendent of Jack Frost, gifted with his own weather-controlling powers. Now that's a power couple. As Frost begins, Katla wishes for a white Christmas and Jack overdoes it with a snow storm so powerful it attracts the attention of world-renowned (and drop-dead gorgeous) climatologist Brigid Fonnkana, who expeditiously arrives from Greenland and installs herself in the lab of Katla's mother's fiance, Stanley. More dauntingly, Jack quickly becomes wrapped up in the research as well and seems to be pulling away from Kat in favor of Brigid. Soon, Jack is spending less and less time with Kat and more and more time in the lab--with Brigid. Then he gets invited to go on a special expedition to the North Pole with Brigid and a select group of researchers. In the meantime, Kat feels jealous of Brigid but is also wrapped up in her own activities, like dancing in the school production of The Snow Queen, helping her bed-ridden, pregnant mother, and heading the Storks while the usual leader, Hulda, is mysteriously ill. Still, she feels there's something off about Brigid's attention to Jack, and she ends up heading to Iceland with her grandfather while Jack becomes lost with Brigid in the frigid north.
Frost continues the excellent blending of Norse legends, magic, fairy tales, and romance established in Stork. The frigid landscape forms the perfect backdrop for the story, and the ordinary venues such as Kat's grandfather's store and the high school play make the extraordinary scenes of Iceland and beyond all the more amazing. Kat is a lively, engaging heroine with an authentic teen voice and a lot of pluck. Whether she's worrying about her guy, dissing Brigid, or fretting over her outfit, Kat is funny, real, and likable. The story delivers excitement and adventure as well as some mystery as Katla uses her powers to rescue Jack from the clutches of evil. Recommended for ages 12 & up.
Frost continues the excellent blending of Norse legends, magic, fairy tales, and romance established in Stork. The frigid landscape forms the perfect backdrop for the story, and the ordinary venues such as Kat's grandfather's store and the high school play make the extraordinary scenes of Iceland and beyond all the more amazing. Kat is a lively, engaging heroine with an authentic teen voice and a lot of pluck. Whether she's worrying about her guy, dissing Brigid, or fretting over her outfit, Kat is funny, real, and likable. The story delivers excitement and adventure as well as some mystery as Katla uses her powers to rescue Jack from the clutches of evil. Recommended for ages 12 & up.
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