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Frost Bite
Remember the '90s? Well...the town of Demise, North Dakota doesn't, and they're living in the year 1997. That's because an alien worm hitched a ride on a comet, crash landed in the town's trailer park, and is now infecting animals with a memory-loss-inducing bite--and right before Christmas! Now it's up to nineteen-year-old Realene and her best friend Nate to stop the spread and defeat the worms before the entire town loses its mind. The only things standing in the way are their troubled pasts, a doomsday cult, and an army of infected prairie dogs.
270 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 2023
About the author
Angela Sylvaine
50 books106 followersAngela Sylvaine is a self-proclaimed cheerful goth who writes horror fiction and poetry. Her debut novel, Frost Bite, and her debut collection, The Dead Spot: Stories of Lost Girls, are available from Dark Matter INK. Her short fiction and poetry have appeared in/on over forty anthologies, magazines, and podcasts, including Southwest Review, Apex Magazine, and The NoSleep Podcast. She lives in the shadow if the Rocky Mountains with her sweetheart and three creepy cats. You can find her online angelasylvaine.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
September 18, 2023
Back with another small town horror, I can't get enough of em! This was full of late 80s early 90s nostalgia, it read like a B movie and had all of the silliness you'd expect but theres softness there too, complex/heavy subject matters surrounding family drama are offset with goofy gory glory and it was a blast! Angela puts a unique twist on well known tropes and delivers a fantastic action packed plot with characters you root for!
April 5, 2026
A very enjoyable, fast paced, funny, emotional throwback to 90s creature features. I had a lot of fun with it.
July 24, 2023
Frost Bite is a thoroughly entertaining ride following teenager Realene as an alien parasite invades her small town.
The story is really well paced and features plenty of fun action-packed scenes. This is balanced out nicely with excellent characters and emotional moments. Amongst the alien worms and violent prairie dogs the story also touches on other problems including one character caring for a parent with Alzheimer's and another character dealing with an abusive parent. Various breadcrumbs are dropped throughout the book that come together for a fantastic and nail-biting climax.
There are loads of 90s references that help set the scene without hitting you over the head. There are also nods to many alien/parasite films such as Critters and The Thing which come up naturally rather than feeling forced and highlights the fact that this kind of story has been done plenty of times before but all have their own unique spin, as does Frost Bite.
Perfect for winter or whenever you want to read something in a snowy setting!
Also, shout-out to Eric Hibbeler for the incredible cover artwork!
The story is really well paced and features plenty of fun action-packed scenes. This is balanced out nicely with excellent characters and emotional moments. Amongst the alien worms and violent prairie dogs the story also touches on other problems including one character caring for a parent with Alzheimer's and another character dealing with an abusive parent. Various breadcrumbs are dropped throughout the book that come together for a fantastic and nail-biting climax.
There are loads of 90s references that help set the scene without hitting you over the head. There are also nods to many alien/parasite films such as Critters and The Thing which come up naturally rather than feeling forced and highlights the fact that this kind of story has been done plenty of times before but all have their own unique spin, as does Frost Bite.
Perfect for winter or whenever you want to read something in a snowy setting!
Also, shout-out to Eric Hibbeler for the incredible cover artwork!
September 14, 2023
Do you love 90s nostalgia, campy horror and small towns with supernatural problems? Then this book is for you! Set in the 90s, an alien parasite infects the town's prairie dogs. Amid a backdrop of small town drama, nineteen year old Realene and her best friend Nate are the only ones who can save the town from certain demise (which cleverly, is the name of the town). This strong horror debut packs plenty of action and has the vibes of Stranger Things meets Grady Hendrix. And it comes out just in time for your spooky season reading! Thank you to Dark Matter INK for an advanced review copy.
March 27, 2025
I won this in a giveaway once upon a time, and I’m so glad to have a copy!
A love note to the ‘90s with enough references to melt your nostalgic heart, and enough action and wit to give you whiplash. Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, it’s almost Christmas! Realene and Nate are best friends, just trying to survive their hometown of Demise, North Dakota. But they never expected for a meteorite to crash just outside of town, and for an alien worm to start infecting the animal population!
This is really fun and feels like it would have been a perfect fit for Shortwave’s Killer VHS series. It’s part creature feature, part alien invasion, and even part zombie apocalypse with rage-induced crazies that you can’t let bite you. Oh, and don’t forget the religious cult, duh! All that and yet the author does a great job of balancing things. There’s a wonderfully-handled thread of mental illness as well, as Realene’s mother’s worsening dementia plays into the memory-loss bite of those infected. It also keeps the story emotionally grounded as they try to save those around them and help them to understand what’s happened.
I really enjoyed the healthy male/female friendship, and how their dynamic wasn’t based in any way around who was what. They’re just friends. And anyway, people are trying to freaking kill them, animals are trying to bite everyone and everything, and a culty cult is after them! This book really has it all. As a writer, I’ve been trying to pay attention and pinpoint when other writers seed little tidbits for later, and I just knew that salty lake comment meant something!
If you’ve liked any of the genres or things I’ve touched upon above, give this one a chance and see just how well the author blends it all together.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-frost-...
A love note to the ‘90s with enough references to melt your nostalgic heart, and enough action and wit to give you whiplash. Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, it’s almost Christmas! Realene and Nate are best friends, just trying to survive their hometown of Demise, North Dakota. But they never expected for a meteorite to crash just outside of town, and for an alien worm to start infecting the animal population!
This is really fun and feels like it would have been a perfect fit for Shortwave’s Killer VHS series. It’s part creature feature, part alien invasion, and even part zombie apocalypse with rage-induced crazies that you can’t let bite you. Oh, and don’t forget the religious cult, duh! All that and yet the author does a great job of balancing things. There’s a wonderfully-handled thread of mental illness as well, as Realene’s mother’s worsening dementia plays into the memory-loss bite of those infected. It also keeps the story emotionally grounded as they try to save those around them and help them to understand what’s happened.
I really enjoyed the healthy male/female friendship, and how their dynamic wasn’t based in any way around who was what. They’re just friends. And anyway, people are trying to freaking kill them, animals are trying to bite everyone and everything, and a culty cult is after them! This book really has it all. As a writer, I’ve been trying to pay attention and pinpoint when other writers seed little tidbits for later, and I just knew that salty lake comment meant something!
If you’ve liked any of the genres or things I’ve touched upon above, give this one a chance and see just how well the author blends it all together.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-frost-...
October 10, 2023
Frost Bite has rabid prairie dogs, a religious cult, aliens, coming-of-age themes, and 90s vibes — seriously, what more could you ask for? Also, that cover 😍 Definitely one of my favorites on my shelves.
This book is an absolute blast to read. Angela Sylvaine's writing style is cinematic and fast-paced while still allowing you to fall in love with her characters. I was fully invested in how things would turn out for Raelene and Nate! The story starts out as a fun, lighthearted read, but turns into pretty heavy horror in the best way.
I'd recommend this to all horror and sci-fi readers! There's really something for everyone.
*But* -- TW for lots and lots of animal death. The prairie dogs are rabid and sort of objectified, but it could still be upsetting if you're particularly sensitive to reading about animal death.
This book is an absolute blast to read. Angela Sylvaine's writing style is cinematic and fast-paced while still allowing you to fall in love with her characters. I was fully invested in how things would turn out for Raelene and Nate! The story starts out as a fun, lighthearted read, but turns into pretty heavy horror in the best way.
I'd recommend this to all horror and sci-fi readers! There's really something for everyone.
*But* -- TW for lots and lots of animal death. The prairie dogs are rabid and sort of objectified, but it could still be upsetting if you're particularly sensitive to reading about animal death.
June 18, 2023
Frost bite by Angela Sylvaine encapsulates the very essence of cheesy 80s horror, through an atmospheric, coming of age story. I read this in a day, and I’m so impressed… I was absolutely captivated by Realene and the town of Demise, needless to say it held my attention.
This first installation in the upcoming series is not for the faint of heart. Sylvaine throws a LOT at the reader straight away. After Realene returns from college to her hometown of Demise in North Dakota to care for her mother, diagnosed with early onset dementia, things begin to go wrong. What she initially believes to be a shooting star, plummets to the Earth, leaving a crater and introducing an alien worm with a vicious bite, causing the victim to lose their memory. The responsibility falls upon Realene and her friend Nate to eradicate the alien threat and save the town from its ultimate demise (get it?)Can they overcome their own challenges? Defeat a cult? Rescue an entire town? Oh, and let me just warn you… prairie dogs are NOT cute anymore.
Angela describes herself as a cheerful goth and this is very much reflected in the writing. This was a ROLLERCOASTER, in which I went from adoration to existential dread (seriously those prairie dogs will get you) within a matter of paragraphs. The writing here is masterful, and conveys the absolutely bonkers plot coherently, whilst still being readable. For a debut novel this is AWESOME. Definitely keep an eye out for both Angela and Dark Hart, who never cease to amaze me.
As I said, this novel radiates 80s and 90s horror movie nostalgia. There are a multitude of elements that have similarities to other novels, for example Black Tide by KC Jones (scary comet), Cujo by Stephen King (infected animals) and Last Days by Brian Evenson (creepy cult and crazy plot), however this storyline is a truly unique blend that’s really not comparable to anything I’ve ever read before. Don’t miss this one.
This first installation in the upcoming series is not for the faint of heart. Sylvaine throws a LOT at the reader straight away. After Realene returns from college to her hometown of Demise in North Dakota to care for her mother, diagnosed with early onset dementia, things begin to go wrong. What she initially believes to be a shooting star, plummets to the Earth, leaving a crater and introducing an alien worm with a vicious bite, causing the victim to lose their memory. The responsibility falls upon Realene and her friend Nate to eradicate the alien threat and save the town from its ultimate demise (get it?)Can they overcome their own challenges? Defeat a cult? Rescue an entire town? Oh, and let me just warn you… prairie dogs are NOT cute anymore.
Angela describes herself as a cheerful goth and this is very much reflected in the writing. This was a ROLLERCOASTER, in which I went from adoration to existential dread (seriously those prairie dogs will get you) within a matter of paragraphs. The writing here is masterful, and conveys the absolutely bonkers plot coherently, whilst still being readable. For a debut novel this is AWESOME. Definitely keep an eye out for both Angela and Dark Hart, who never cease to amaze me.
As I said, this novel radiates 80s and 90s horror movie nostalgia. There are a multitude of elements that have similarities to other novels, for example Black Tide by KC Jones (scary comet), Cujo by Stephen King (infected animals) and Last Days by Brian Evenson (creepy cult and crazy plot), however this storyline is a truly unique blend that’s really not comparable to anything I’ve ever read before. Don’t miss this one.
September 7, 2023
Tenéis una amplia reseña en: https://capsulaslj.blogspot.com/2023/...
Un argumento de la mejor serie b, un pueblo aislado, la década de los 90, animales desbocados, el ejército, una secta y un ritmo capaz de soportar todas esas locuras. Pero esto no sería nada reseñable si Angela Sylvaine no fuese capaz de reventar todos los tópicos del género, actualizandolos, comenzando por una protagonista maravillosa. Realene es inteligente, atrevida, con humor, sentimientos y una identidad no normativa que sorprende por la naturalidad y sencillez con la que se plantea la situación en el texto.
Si "Frost Bite" fuese una película (creedme: lo leeréis como tal) duraría 90 minutos, unos magníficos 90 minutos llenos de persecuciones, giros argumentales, humor, sus momentos tranquilos para fortalecer a los personajes, sangre y movidas aliens. Fuera nostalgia mal entendida, fuera intereses amorosos innecesarios y bienvenido sea el Kevin Bacon de "Temblores".
Un ritmo demoledor, una tensión constante, acción y humor, "Frost Bite" es el inicio soñado para una serie de novelas. Como decía, la novela tiene un final "en pausa": podría quedarse ahí con uno de esos finales maravillosos de película de "serie b" pero tiene ideas y caminos para seguir.
"Frost Bite" marca la irrupción de Angela Sylvaine como una de las autoras a tener en cuenta en el futuro. Una de esas autoras capaces de hacer sencillo lo complicado, con una novela deliciosamente generacional, con todos los ingredientes y habilidades para ser un éxito.
Una de mis mejores lecturas del año.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Un argumento de la mejor serie b, un pueblo aislado, la década de los 90, animales desbocados, el ejército, una secta y un ritmo capaz de soportar todas esas locuras. Pero esto no sería nada reseñable si Angela Sylvaine no fuese capaz de reventar todos los tópicos del género, actualizandolos, comenzando por una protagonista maravillosa. Realene es inteligente, atrevida, con humor, sentimientos y una identidad no normativa que sorprende por la naturalidad y sencillez con la que se plantea la situación en el texto.
Si "Frost Bite" fuese una película (creedme: lo leeréis como tal) duraría 90 minutos, unos magníficos 90 minutos llenos de persecuciones, giros argumentales, humor, sus momentos tranquilos para fortalecer a los personajes, sangre y movidas aliens. Fuera nostalgia mal entendida, fuera intereses amorosos innecesarios y bienvenido sea el Kevin Bacon de "Temblores".
Un ritmo demoledor, una tensión constante, acción y humor, "Frost Bite" es el inicio soñado para una serie de novelas. Como decía, la novela tiene un final "en pausa": podría quedarse ahí con uno de esos finales maravillosos de película de "serie b" pero tiene ideas y caminos para seguir.
"Frost Bite" marca la irrupción de Angela Sylvaine como una de las autoras a tener en cuenta en el futuro. Una de esas autoras capaces de hacer sencillo lo complicado, con una novela deliciosamente generacional, con todos los ingredientes y habilidades para ser un éxito.
Una de mis mejores lecturas del año.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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July 28, 2023Please note: I do not rate on Goodreads.
Frost Bite was one hell of a quirky, fun ride! So imaginative, with original spins placed on tropes such as aliens and cults. It’s also a great read if you loved the 90s, like I did, as it sparks many fond memories.
Full of energy with no ‘down time,’ Frost Bite provides the perfect mix of gory horror and soft heart, with the inclusion of a young person dealing with a parent who has Alzheimer's. Oh, and some great comedic moments thrown in to the mix too.
An entertaining whirlwind of a read! I thoroughly enjoyed it.
My thanks to the publisher and author for providing an ARC copy.
Frost Bite was one hell of a quirky, fun ride! So imaginative, with original spins placed on tropes such as aliens and cults. It’s also a great read if you loved the 90s, like I did, as it sparks many fond memories.
Full of energy with no ‘down time,’ Frost Bite provides the perfect mix of gory horror and soft heart, with the inclusion of a young person dealing with a parent who has Alzheimer's. Oh, and some great comedic moments thrown in to the mix too.
An entertaining whirlwind of a read! I thoroughly enjoyed it.
My thanks to the publisher and author for providing an ARC copy.
July 31, 2023
Buckle up for a good time with FROST BITE and the alien invasion that ensues all while being captivated by a brilliant return to the 90s! From the beginning when the meteor lands all the way until the end, I was invested in these characters and this small town. The snowy Christmas vibes and all the 90s pop culture just added more and more the further into the story I got. I loved how the aliens were parasitic in nature and so it added a whole extra level to them. And it really upped the ante in terms of the suspense, fear, and fun factors. And I had the best time with these infected prairie dogs!
October 3, 2023
It’s the winter of 1997 in Demise, North Dakota when Realene witnesses a meteor crash in her backyard. The government gets involved with the crash, but not before parasitic alien worms are released into the ground. Realene teams up with her best friend Nate as they combat feral prairie dogs, a doomsday cult, and all the zombified people in their small town.
This absolutely delightful young adult science fiction horror adventure is such a fun ride! With its nostalgic 90s aesthetic and isolating small town vibes, it’s so charming and impossible to put down. The humor hit every single time- it was so funny and silly, but it was not afraid to get serious when the mood got darker.
I loved Realene and Nate’s friendship dynamic, they both supported each other through their troubled pasts. They felt like real 3-dimensional people to me. Their unique situations and backstories helped develop their characters and truly made this story as incredible as it was. I appreciated that there was no romance between these characters.
If you know me, you know I love zombies and parasites, and this book incorporated elements of both in such a killer sci-fi horror crossover.
If you’re looking for a hilarious small town 90s time capsule with alien parasites, killer prairie dogs, and a doomsday cult, Frost Bite comes out on October 10th!
This absolutely delightful young adult science fiction horror adventure is such a fun ride! With its nostalgic 90s aesthetic and isolating small town vibes, it’s so charming and impossible to put down. The humor hit every single time- it was so funny and silly, but it was not afraid to get serious when the mood got darker.
I loved Realene and Nate’s friendship dynamic, they both supported each other through their troubled pasts. They felt like real 3-dimensional people to me. Their unique situations and backstories helped develop their characters and truly made this story as incredible as it was. I appreciated that there was no romance between these characters.
If you know me, you know I love zombies and parasites, and this book incorporated elements of both in such a killer sci-fi horror crossover.
If you’re looking for a hilarious small town 90s time capsule with alien parasites, killer prairie dogs, and a doomsday cult, Frost Bite comes out on October 10th!
January 19, 2024
This book reminds me of "The Thing" for a younger audience. I really enjoyed it.
I liked how this book paid homage to a lot of sci-fi thriller and horror movies all throughout. Even though I don't like pop culture references in books, I think this is one of the very few books that is helped by them. With that being said, though, the sheer amount of movie references started to get a little old. Specifically, I liked the movie references that described the settings rather than the actions. For example, if a character was aiming to hit someone, in their inner monologue they'd think, "Channeling my inner Sydney from Scream, I hit her with the tire iron" or something like that. Using the movie references in the actions took me out of the action itself. Also, the cheesiness of some of the dialogue and one-liners was a bit much for me. I do realize that that is what made many of the B-list sci-fi and horror movies mentioned and glorified in this book so entertaining, but even in the movies themselves it's a little much for me.
Speaking of the action, this book was jam-packed with it and I loved it. This was so fast-paced because of how much was going on. But I have to say that sometimes I felt like there was almost too much going on for readers to be able to focus on key events. For example, I wished that we had stayed with the cult for a little longer. Overall, the action seemed to be moving from scene to scene in order to be as action-filled and chaotic as possible.
A few typos aside, I really enjoyed this book. It was a really fun romp through a 90's teen "The Thing"-esque cheesy story, and it kept me hooked throughout.
I liked how this book paid homage to a lot of sci-fi thriller and horror movies all throughout. Even though I don't like pop culture references in books, I think this is one of the very few books that is helped by them. With that being said, though, the sheer amount of movie references started to get a little old. Specifically, I liked the movie references that described the settings rather than the actions. For example, if a character was aiming to hit someone, in their inner monologue they'd think, "Channeling my inner Sydney from Scream, I hit her with the tire iron" or something like that. Using the movie references in the actions took me out of the action itself. Also, the cheesiness of some of the dialogue and one-liners was a bit much for me. I do realize that that is what made many of the B-list sci-fi and horror movies mentioned and glorified in this book so entertaining, but even in the movies themselves it's a little much for me.
Speaking of the action, this book was jam-packed with it and I loved it. This was so fast-paced because of how much was going on. But I have to say that sometimes I felt like there was almost too much going on for readers to be able to focus on key events. For example, I wished that we had stayed with the cult for a little longer. Overall, the action seemed to be moving from scene to scene in order to be as action-filled and chaotic as possible.
A few typos aside, I really enjoyed this book. It was a really fun romp through a 90's teen "The Thing"-esque cheesy story, and it kept me hooked throughout.
October 17, 2023
This is a fantastic full speed ahead combination of sci-fi, horror, and comedy that mixes these elements perfectly and makes for one hell of an awesome read.
Set in the 90s and featuring many pop culture references to that time, the small town of Demise is a frozen wintery landscape. But when a meteorite crashes in a field, well, things are about to get much worse. Parasite infected prairie dogs! That alone should make you want to immediately read this novel.
The characters are the highlight of this trippy bloody alien invasion book in my opinion. These are people you'll love from the outset (and others you'll despise along the way). All I can say is I really hope to see more of Carl in upcoming books set in this world.
And while it is gruesome and bloody (as infected animals going on a killing spree should be) it's not excessive or exploitative. And there's enough humorous intervals to lighten the mood when needed but it always stays on track and never crosses the line to become a full blown comedy.
In fact, there are a few deaths in here that come as a shock and will tear at your heart strings a bit. This author manages to bring some laughs, some sadness, and a whole lot of intense thrilling sequence for a balanced reading experience.
I absolutely loved this book and it's one I can highly recommend.
Set in the 90s and featuring many pop culture references to that time, the small town of Demise is a frozen wintery landscape. But when a meteorite crashes in a field, well, things are about to get much worse. Parasite infected prairie dogs! That alone should make you want to immediately read this novel.
The characters are the highlight of this trippy bloody alien invasion book in my opinion. These are people you'll love from the outset (and others you'll despise along the way). All I can say is I really hope to see more of Carl in upcoming books set in this world.
And while it is gruesome and bloody (as infected animals going on a killing spree should be) it's not excessive or exploitative. And there's enough humorous intervals to lighten the mood when needed but it always stays on track and never crosses the line to become a full blown comedy.
In fact, there are a few deaths in here that come as a shock and will tear at your heart strings a bit. This author manages to bring some laughs, some sadness, and a whole lot of intense thrilling sequence for a balanced reading experience.
I absolutely loved this book and it's one I can highly recommend.
November 1, 2023
Frostbite is a wild ride of a book chock full of 90s nostalgia. Underlying all the craziness in this story is also deep themes of human emotion, dealing with what life puts in your path on top of an alien invasion. So not only is the story wacky but you also feel for the characters and what they are going through as well.
The main character's mother is suffering from dementia/alhzeimers and her best friend Nate has a violent and abusive father. And while he has moved out of his house he still has to deal with him at a certain point in the story.
This book is absolute insanity, filled with body snatched prairie dogs, an apocalyptic religious cult, the things that life throws at you, and the question of will they be able to stop this alien invasion from spreading and taking over. Also spanned throughout the pages you'll find a soundtrack straight from the 90s that is pretty killer.
I was hooked from the get-go with this book, the characters are great, the story pulls you into the chaos, hook, line, and sinker. I couldn't stop reading it because I needed to know what the heck was going to happen next.
The main character's mother is suffering from dementia/alhzeimers and her best friend Nate has a violent and abusive father. And while he has moved out of his house he still has to deal with him at a certain point in the story.
This book is absolute insanity, filled with body snatched prairie dogs, an apocalyptic religious cult, the things that life throws at you, and the question of will they be able to stop this alien invasion from spreading and taking over. Also spanned throughout the pages you'll find a soundtrack straight from the 90s that is pretty killer.
I was hooked from the get-go with this book, the characters are great, the story pulls you into the chaos, hook, line, and sinker. I couldn't stop reading it because I needed to know what the heck was going to happen next.
December 21, 2023
(Finished on the 19th)
The book features a playlist called "We're All Gonna Die." It's a mix of 90s music for the apocalypse. If that doesn't set the mood, I don't know what will.
This book was a blast from the past. I loved all of the 90s nostalgia. Renting a VHS, the Spice World movie, the MUSIC, I could go on and on. The main characters are ones you can easily root for. This is fast paced and once things get going, it's non stop.
I was surprised at how much I was invested in certain characters surviving. There are also a few characters to hate. Besides an alien invasion, there's also a religious cult, and a tiger. (Yes, really).
I'd recommend this to anyone. Especially if you're into Stranger Things, The X Files, anything set in the 90s.
I'm looking forward to reading the sequel.
The book features a playlist called "We're All Gonna Die." It's a mix of 90s music for the apocalypse. If that doesn't set the mood, I don't know what will.
This book was a blast from the past. I loved all of the 90s nostalgia. Renting a VHS, the Spice World movie, the MUSIC, I could go on and on. The main characters are ones you can easily root for. This is fast paced and once things get going, it's non stop.
I was surprised at how much I was invested in certain characters surviving. There are also a few characters to hate. Besides an alien invasion, there's also a religious cult, and a tiger. (Yes, really).
I'd recommend this to anyone. Especially if you're into Stranger Things, The X Files, anything set in the 90s.
I'm looking forward to reading the sequel.
April 24, 2024
I received an ARC in exchange for and honest review.
Wow. This was fun. It reminded me of the types of movies I would rent over and over at the video store with my friends. Just fast paced, fun and with the bonus of characters that were fully developed. If you like your horror with a side of fun this is the book for you.
Wow. This was fun. It reminded me of the types of movies I would rent over and over at the video store with my friends. Just fast paced, fun and with the bonus of characters that were fully developed. If you like your horror with a side of fun this is the book for you.
September 20, 2023
A mix of The Faculty and Stranger Things in a setting we don't usually see in stories like this. I'm a huge fan of small-town horror stories where the kids are as anxious about external threats as they are about ever being able to leave the place they grew up in. Add a pinch of 90s nostalgia (I'm a 90s baby), hints of Christmastime, and a doomsday cult, and you have a story that's right up my alley.
A comet crash-lands in Demise, North Dakota, right behind the trailer park our main character Realene lives in. Space worms begin infecting the animals and turning them violent, a sickness that eventually spreads to the townsfolk. It turns out the worms wipe the memories of their hosts. The longer they're inside, the more memories they eat. It's a fun horror metaphor for Realene's predicament as a new adult who's fresh out of high school and working a dead-end job, anxious that she'll be forgotten just like everyone else in Demise.
Realene teams up with her group of friends to stop the spread before the whole town is infected while traversing a landscape of government agents, infected parents and prairie dogs, and a Christian extremist cult that believes the comet is a sign of the end times.
Let's just get this out of the way: Angela Sylvaine is a very good writer (this book is being blurbed by some of the best horror/thriller writers working today, so don't take my word for it). She creates characters that are all distinct, dimensional, and have something at stake, and expertly crafts the environment of Demise (if I didn't know already, I would have guessed she was intimately familiar with the setting). There's a great sense of pacing, especially in the climax, which reads like the last act of 90s kids-against-aliens action movie.
Foundationally, this is a story we've seen before. I've never connected with the trope of an otherworldly force turning people violent, but Frost Bite had a different enough take to keep me engaged. Part of the joy of these stories is seeing how the characters discover a cure for the outbreak and then implement it, and this story has a very fun take on that.
This was a joy to read!
I received an ARC of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Side note: I love 80s nostalgia, but can we get more of the 90s please?
A comet crash-lands in Demise, North Dakota, right behind the trailer park our main character Realene lives in. Space worms begin infecting the animals and turning them violent, a sickness that eventually spreads to the townsfolk. It turns out the worms wipe the memories of their hosts. The longer they're inside, the more memories they eat. It's a fun horror metaphor for Realene's predicament as a new adult who's fresh out of high school and working a dead-end job, anxious that she'll be forgotten just like everyone else in Demise.
Realene teams up with her group of friends to stop the spread before the whole town is infected while traversing a landscape of government agents, infected parents and prairie dogs, and a Christian extremist cult that believes the comet is a sign of the end times.
Let's just get this out of the way: Angela Sylvaine is a very good writer (this book is being blurbed by some of the best horror/thriller writers working today, so don't take my word for it). She creates characters that are all distinct, dimensional, and have something at stake, and expertly crafts the environment of Demise (if I didn't know already, I would have guessed she was intimately familiar with the setting). There's a great sense of pacing, especially in the climax, which reads like the last act of 90s kids-against-aliens action movie.
Foundationally, this is a story we've seen before. I've never connected with the trope of an otherworldly force turning people violent, but Frost Bite had a different enough take to keep me engaged. Part of the joy of these stories is seeing how the characters discover a cure for the outbreak and then implement it, and this story has a very fun take on that.
This was a joy to read!
I received an ARC of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Side note: I love 80s nostalgia, but can we get more of the 90s please?
October 12, 2023
Title: Frost Bite
Author: Angela Sylvaine
Genre: Horror
A meteor crash lands in an isolated North Dakotan trailer park carrying alien worms that begin infecting the local prairie dog population. The first sign of a prairie dog bite is memory loss... and then violence. Nineteen-year-old Realene and her best friend Nate are on a mission to stop the spread, defeat the alien worms, and save her hometown of Demise - all while being chased by an apocalypse doomsday cult.
If 'Frost Bite' sounds like a wild ride, that's because IT IS! I had a total blast from start to finish and did not want to put it down. It checked so many boxes of what I LOVE in horror. Nostalgia, cults, alien invasions, quirky band of characters teaming up to thwart said-invasion, etc. The list goes on. If you love 80's-90's horror with great kills, gore, humor, and a bit of cheese... you're going to absolutely love this. Definitely one of my favorites of 2023 so far!
Huge thanks to Angela Sylvaine for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I can't wait to read more of her work!
Author: Angela Sylvaine
Genre: Horror
A meteor crash lands in an isolated North Dakotan trailer park carrying alien worms that begin infecting the local prairie dog population. The first sign of a prairie dog bite is memory loss... and then violence. Nineteen-year-old Realene and her best friend Nate are on a mission to stop the spread, defeat the alien worms, and save her hometown of Demise - all while being chased by an apocalypse doomsday cult.
If 'Frost Bite' sounds like a wild ride, that's because IT IS! I had a total blast from start to finish and did not want to put it down. It checked so many boxes of what I LOVE in horror. Nostalgia, cults, alien invasions, quirky band of characters teaming up to thwart said-invasion, etc. The list goes on. If you love 80's-90's horror with great kills, gore, humor, and a bit of cheese... you're going to absolutely love this. Definitely one of my favorites of 2023 so far!
Huge thanks to Angela Sylvaine for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I can't wait to read more of her work!
October 9, 2023
Frost Bite by Angela Sylvaine is a great book, it is a quirky, gorey, nostalgic for those who lived in the 1990s. She weaves the popular alternative music in so well to the plotline. Now the premise; a meteor crashes and out protagonist rushes to check it out, following day cops and government officials have arrived. But something fishy is going on with the cute little groundhogs start acting weird. Progressing to getting very aggressively turning into predators against anything with a pulse. It's fight or flight. Thankfully fight kicks in. Truly and utterly enjoyed this book. I want to purchase it but maybe later down the line. Frost Bite is one I can see myself reading a few more times and getting a kick out of it as the first read. It's similar to a few movies, well it may or may not even reference them too! Favorite book of year Whalefall by Daniel Kraus move over. New sheriff in town. I don't do ratings, if I did It's a 5.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2026
Infected, rabid-like prairie dogs, religious cults, and a thwarted alien invasion all wrapped up in 90s nostalgia? Sounds like a good time to me! Also, can we take a moment to appreciate the cover art. Just...wow!
Stuck in her nowhere hometown and struggling to care for her mother's steadily progressing alzheimer's, Realene is just wishing for a reason to get out of there. But you've gotta be careful what star you wish on, baby! When a meteorite crashes into the field near her home, she finds a weird goo seeping out of the space rock and into the ground. And pretty soon, the locals, wildlife and otherwise, begin acting very strangely.
This felt like an alien thriller from the 90s that I just know I would've EATEN up as a kid. It was well paced with plenty of action and emotional moments to balance them. It did get a liiiiiittle heavyhanded with the 80s and 90s references, but you can tell it's all in good fun so I'll allow it.
Stuck in her nowhere hometown and struggling to care for her mother's steadily progressing alzheimer's, Realene is just wishing for a reason to get out of there. But you've gotta be careful what star you wish on, baby! When a meteorite crashes into the field near her home, she finds a weird goo seeping out of the space rock and into the ground. And pretty soon, the locals, wildlife and otherwise, begin acting very strangely.
This felt like an alien thriller from the 90s that I just know I would've EATEN up as a kid. It was well paced with plenty of action and emotional moments to balance them. It did get a liiiiiittle heavyhanded with the 80s and 90s references, but you can tell it's all in good fun so I'll allow it.
July 6, 2024
If you grew up with VHS creature features as your babysitter this is for you. Frost Bite is a blend of Critters, Phantoms, The Blob, and The Faculty mixed together as a blizzard from DQ. It’s filled with all of your favorite things, it makes you smile, and most importantly you wish you hadn’t scraped the bottom of the cup when it was finished. Reading this was like the first time I saw Slither, just unrelenting fun and visuals every page. Trust me, read this and then watch 90’s David Duchovney classic, Evolution. I’ve probably referenced enough movies in here for you to get the atmosphere; you’ll love this. K thx.
October 31, 2024
To say I was emotionally invested in these characters would be a huge understatement. I cried with them, I cheered with them. For a horror book with a splash of comedy, this book had serious heart.
I loved the premise of this book and thought Sylvaine did an impeccable job at keeping the tension high throughout.
I am a fan of the extreme religious leader trope and was so happy to see that pop up in this one. That subplot just fascinates me.
The pop culture references for the time were so much fun and brought me back to my childhood. Although New England doesn’t get as cold as North Dakota, I could sympathize with the weather and terrain our main characters were also battling.
If I could be Nate and Realene’s biff, that’d be cool.
I loved the premise of this book and thought Sylvaine did an impeccable job at keeping the tension high throughout.
I am a fan of the extreme religious leader trope and was so happy to see that pop up in this one. That subplot just fascinates me.
The pop culture references for the time were so much fun and brought me back to my childhood. Although New England doesn’t get as cold as North Dakota, I could sympathize with the weather and terrain our main characters were also battling.
If I could be Nate and Realene’s biff, that’d be cool.
October 13, 2023
Frost Bite is about a meteor carrying alien worms that infect animals in a small North Dakota town in 1997. This story was 100% pure fast-paced fun. It had some silliness with infected prairie dog attack along with a doomsday cult and alien worms. It also provides many 90s references and nostalgic moments. This would be the perfect winter read as it takes place in the middle of a frozen North Dakota December. There is not a dull moment in this story with its amazing pacing throughout.
If you are looking for a wintry fast-paced thrill ride with all the 90s vibes that steps way out of the norm then Frost Bite is a must read. I recommend it to fans of the thrilling and strange.
I received a copy for review from the author.
If you are looking for a wintry fast-paced thrill ride with all the 90s vibes that steps way out of the norm then Frost Bite is a must read. I recommend it to fans of the thrilling and strange.
I received a copy for review from the author.
February 15, 2024
Demise is a boring town and Realene can't wait to get out! If it wasn't for her mother's advanced dementia, she'd already have left. Yep, Demise is a boring place....until one day a comet crashes just behind Realene's trailer and black ooze comes out. And what's happening with the prairie dogs!?
The writing style was excellent! This was packed with so much 90s nostalgia, action packed, great humor, and some great characters you'll fall in love with! This was a great alien invasion book that y'all need to pick up! Can't wait for book 2!
The writing style was excellent! This was packed with so much 90s nostalgia, action packed, great humor, and some great characters you'll fall in love with! This was a great alien invasion book that y'all need to pick up! Can't wait for book 2!
October 10, 2023
Oh my what was this nostalgic magic?!
Rabid prairie dogs? Blockbuster? Crazy cult? Giant pixie sticks?! Can you still buy those?!
Seriously, this was a hoot (the exact thing I told my friend) if you’re looking for a holiday Christmas horror, then this is it friends!
Rabid prairie dogs? Blockbuster? Crazy cult? Giant pixie sticks?! Can you still buy those?!
Seriously, this was a hoot (the exact thing I told my friend) if you’re looking for a holiday Christmas horror, then this is it friends!
January 6, 2024
4.5 but rounding up. Aliens, a cult, murderous prairie dogs, oh my. This needs to be made into a movie. It was so much fun to read. Never taking itself too seriously but definitely delivered on the punches. Violent and bloody B movie material in book form. Highly recommend.
January 22, 2025
So fun! This reads like a movie full of wild situations. There are parts that are funny and heartbreaking and disturbing. I would highly recommend this to any 90s kid because it’s full of nostalgia and vibes!
January 16, 2024
Cannot wait for the sequel to arrive, next year :(
Basically a throw back to my late 80s/early 90s memories with plenty of fun along the trip.
Basically a throw back to my late 80s/early 90s memories with plenty of fun along the trip.
February 8, 2024
Why is this not a miniseries on Netflix yet? This book is an absolute blast, with real heart. And a killer soundtrack.
The cover tells you everything you need to know.
The cover tells you everything you need to know.
July 6, 2023
“The meteor was the most exciting thing to happen in Demise, maybe ever, and even though she had discovered it, no one cared. She was nothing more than a smalltown trailer park hick, and no wish would change that.”
Set in Demise, North Dakota — a small town named after death and overrun with prairie dogs — Frost Bite opens in bitterly cold December 1997, when 19-year-old Realene Gustafson witnesses a meteor crash into the earth near her trailer park. Derailed from her Arizona State pre-med college scholarship plans and forced to care for her ailing mother, Realene feels depressed, frustrated, resentful, and fed up with her dead-end gas station job, Demise, its people, and the downward trajectory of her life. All she has left is her mother, who’s suffering from early-onset Alzheimer’s, and her best friend, Nathan ("Nate") Haugan, who’s dealing with his own troubled past and frustrated future hopes.
Eager for some excitement and distraction, Realene is the first to arrive at the crash site. What she witnesses is beyond strange, and things only get stranger and deadlier from there, as the meteorite plays host to an alien worm that immediately infects Demise’s animals — beginning with its prairie dog colonies — with a memory-loss-inducing, aggression-inciting, mind-controlling bite. The infection quickly spreads to people, and with the unhelpful police, military, media, and local doomsday cult complicating matters, things quickly escalate into apocalyptic mayhem, and it’s up to Realene and Nate to figure out how to save the town (and possibly the world) before everyone becomes infected.
I loved Frost Bite SO much. It’s a high-stakes, high-octane, nostalgia-fueled, chaos-filled, mega-violent, bone-chilling, gore-soaked ride that’s equal parts thrilling survival story and comforting ’90s hug. It hooked me immediately and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I felt a variety of emotions throughout that ranged from anxiety and terror to anger, sadness, disgust, horror, shock, sympathy, fear, and everything in between, and I teared up and laughed out loud more than once. I also loved the thematic parallels between Frost Bite and classics like Night of the Living Dead, where the reader/viewer begins to question who/what is more dangerous, the monsters, or humanity itself?
Set in a cozy town filled with adorable shops and eateries, this book is also chock-full of innumerable, perfectly placed cinematic, musical, and historical throwback and pop culture references that made me yearn for the days of Blockbuster, Waldenbooks, McDonald’s PlayPlaces, mood rings, roller skating parties, phonebooks, MTV News, and sweet treats like Nerds, Caramellos, and Pixie Sticks. And on top of that, it includes a fantastic cast of characters (including amazing pets!), all of whom are given depth and humanity. The cover art is to die for, and this would make an absolute blockbuster of a graphic novel and movie, both of which I would get in line for right now. This was a total treat from start to finish, and what an absolutely perfect finish it was, so much so that it was absolutely and completely satisfying to have been along for the ride. I also kept thinking what a killer playlist this would make as I was reading, and then I turned to the end and there it was (movie soundtrack, check)!
Filled with wonderfully creepy scenes, ultra-satisfying karma, awesome gross-out horror, pristinely evil villains, the best BFFs, heart-wrenching tragedies, edge-of-your-seat chases, some seriously laugh-out-loud lines and moments, and one hugely satisfying character arc, this book is an absolute chef’s kiss of a reading experience. If I could eat it right up, I would! But since I can’t, I’ve already ordered a physical copy to add to my library. Can’t wait for the official October release!
A sincere thank you to Angela Sylvaine and Dark Matter INK for allowing me to read and review a digital ARC of this fantastic forthcoming release.
Set in Demise, North Dakota — a small town named after death and overrun with prairie dogs — Frost Bite opens in bitterly cold December 1997, when 19-year-old Realene Gustafson witnesses a meteor crash into the earth near her trailer park. Derailed from her Arizona State pre-med college scholarship plans and forced to care for her ailing mother, Realene feels depressed, frustrated, resentful, and fed up with her dead-end gas station job, Demise, its people, and the downward trajectory of her life. All she has left is her mother, who’s suffering from early-onset Alzheimer’s, and her best friend, Nathan ("Nate") Haugan, who’s dealing with his own troubled past and frustrated future hopes.
Eager for some excitement and distraction, Realene is the first to arrive at the crash site. What she witnesses is beyond strange, and things only get stranger and deadlier from there, as the meteorite plays host to an alien worm that immediately infects Demise’s animals — beginning with its prairie dog colonies — with a memory-loss-inducing, aggression-inciting, mind-controlling bite. The infection quickly spreads to people, and with the unhelpful police, military, media, and local doomsday cult complicating matters, things quickly escalate into apocalyptic mayhem, and it’s up to Realene and Nate to figure out how to save the town (and possibly the world) before everyone becomes infected.
I loved Frost Bite SO much. It’s a high-stakes, high-octane, nostalgia-fueled, chaos-filled, mega-violent, bone-chilling, gore-soaked ride that’s equal parts thrilling survival story and comforting ’90s hug. It hooked me immediately and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I felt a variety of emotions throughout that ranged from anxiety and terror to anger, sadness, disgust, horror, shock, sympathy, fear, and everything in between, and I teared up and laughed out loud more than once. I also loved the thematic parallels between Frost Bite and classics like Night of the Living Dead, where the reader/viewer begins to question who/what is more dangerous, the monsters, or humanity itself?
Set in a cozy town filled with adorable shops and eateries, this book is also chock-full of innumerable, perfectly placed cinematic, musical, and historical throwback and pop culture references that made me yearn for the days of Blockbuster, Waldenbooks, McDonald’s PlayPlaces, mood rings, roller skating parties, phonebooks, MTV News, and sweet treats like Nerds, Caramellos, and Pixie Sticks. And on top of that, it includes a fantastic cast of characters (including amazing pets!), all of whom are given depth and humanity. The cover art is to die for, and this would make an absolute blockbuster of a graphic novel and movie, both of which I would get in line for right now. This was a total treat from start to finish, and what an absolutely perfect finish it was, so much so that it was absolutely and completely satisfying to have been along for the ride. I also kept thinking what a killer playlist this would make as I was reading, and then I turned to the end and there it was (movie soundtrack, check)!
Filled with wonderfully creepy scenes, ultra-satisfying karma, awesome gross-out horror, pristinely evil villains, the best BFFs, heart-wrenching tragedies, edge-of-your-seat chases, some seriously laugh-out-loud lines and moments, and one hugely satisfying character arc, this book is an absolute chef’s kiss of a reading experience. If I could eat it right up, I would! But since I can’t, I’ve already ordered a physical copy to add to my library. Can’t wait for the official October release!
A sincere thank you to Angela Sylvaine and Dark Matter INK for allowing me to read and review a digital ARC of this fantastic forthcoming release.
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