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The Frost and the Flame
Convent-bred and seductively beautiful, eighteen-year-old Katiana Donova was journeying across Russia when suddenly a band of murderous serfs attacked her traveling party. Soon she was rescued from her frozen hiding place by none other than the dashing Prince Oleg Romanov -- only to become the object of his insatiable lust.
Helpless to defend herself against this cruel aristocrat, Katiana had no choice by to become his frigid, taunting mistress -- despite the vindictive jealousy of Oleg's wife, Princess Elizabeth.
But Katia longed only for Alexei, the gentle handsome nobleman whose very soul seemed to burn with a quiet passion -- for his people and -- could she hope? -- for her.
Ravished and betrayed, Katia would eventually escape Oleg's clutches to a country half a world away. But would she ever be reunited with the man who could melt her frozen passion with the glorious flame of his love?
Helpless to defend herself against this cruel aristocrat, Katiana had no choice by to become his frigid, taunting mistress -- despite the vindictive jealousy of Oleg's wife, Princess Elizabeth.
But Katia longed only for Alexei, the gentle handsome nobleman whose very soul seemed to burn with a quiet passion -- for his people and -- could she hope? -- for her.
Ravished and betrayed, Katia would eventually escape Oleg's clutches to a country half a world away. But would she ever be reunited with the man who could melt her frozen passion with the glorious flame of his love?
360 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1980
1 person is currently reading
281 people want to read
About the author
Drusilla Campbell
27 books138 followersDrusilla Campbell lives in San Diego with her husband, the lawyer-poet-professor, Art Campbell, two rescued dogs and four horses. She was born in Melbourne, Australia and came to California when she was six years old. Before that she criss-crossed the United States by train and car with her brave and resourceful mother and mostly adorable baby brother. She had sailed the Pacific Ocean three times before starting first grade and knew how to run down a pitching outside deck and come to a sliding, slamming stop against a bulkhead, laughing the whole time. She grew up in the Santa Clara Valley in the halcyon days before the dot com magnates discovered it, attended San Jose State University, and then started traveling again. She taught in Melbourne, London and at a remote jungle outpost in Panama before settling down and marrying. While living in Washington, DC she got a Masters Degree in Broadcast Journalism from the American University and went to work for NPR's major DC affiliate, WAMU-fm. She has two sons, Rocky and Matt, and three grandchildren who are smarter, more intelligent and entertaining than anyone elses. The dogs, the horses, the family and friends and writing books keep her happily in one place.
Drusilla is an award winning author of 16 published novels, including the best-selling and award winning novels, The Good Sister, Blood Orange, and Bone Lake. Her latest novel, Little Girl Gone from Grand Central Publishing, is available is available January 31, 2012. you.
Drusilla is an award winning author of 16 published novels, including the best-selling and award winning novels, The Good Sister, Blood Orange, and Bone Lake. Her latest novel, Little Girl Gone from Grand Central Publishing, is available is available January 31, 2012. you.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 3, 2021
Drusilla Campbell’s The Frost and the Flame is one of those naughty bodice rippers where the heroine is separated for a long period of time from her true love, the dull, twatwaffle of a hero, and instead spends more time sexing it up with the lusty, evil villain. For the record, this is just the kind of bodice ripper I like: one that does not take itself seriously and knows how to throw crazy tropes at you, so you’ll keep the pages turning, even if the story is not really romantic.
I loved the Russian setting and liked the heroine’s growth as a character, but the hero, Alexei, is exciting as dry toast. It’s the villain who is the star here: charismatic, evil, and blond!
Eighteen-year-old Katiana Donova is a convent-bred naif. While traveling across the cold depths of Russia, she and her companions are attacked. The dashing blond Prince Oleg saves her. The Prince seems so sweet and kind at first, but he soon proves to be a lustful rogue. Nothing will stop him from possessing Tanya.
Prince Oleg is seriously obsessed with Tanya, but he’s not in love. He’s not capable of true feeling. Don’t dare think this is a villain with a heart. Even the demonic, baby-killing Robert Belesme of Anita Mills’s Lady Of Fire was more of a romantic softy than Oleg. Oleg loves to abuse and use his Tanya, but he does not care about her. He degrades her in awful sorts of ways, so make no mistake about finding redemption in him!
Plus, the dude is going crazy. It’s hinted that Oleg has a brain tumor or something because his headaches make him act more insane.
Even as Oleg will do whatever it takes to make Tanya his, he also has a cruel and jealous wife who will stop at nothing to see Tanya pay. Poor Tanya suffers so much through this book. It’s one catastrophe after another.
But wait, there’s more! There’s a twisted secret– No, no, I won’t say. I spoil enough romances; I won’t spoil another. However, I’d hardly call this bodice-ripper a true romance.
As for the hero? Well, Tanya spends much of it separated from her boring Alexei. He vows to have his Tanya and pines for her, however, ends up having affairs of his own. Not much of a hero, but Tanya loved him, so I tried not to dislike him. There’s not much to like or dislike about Alexei. He’s just there.
At the conclusion of The Frost and the Flame, Tanya is reunited with her beloved Alexei. Sadly, Tanya has been so hurt by Oleg’s torments that marriage is not on her agenda right away. She loves Alexei, yes, although wants to have a deeper relationship with him before taking it further.
So this is a unique romance with a Happy For Now ending, not necessarily a Happily Ever After. Am I ok with that? Bodice rippers occupy a strange corner in Romancelandia, where they can do just about anything. As long as it’s an optimistic ending and the book was fun, I don’t mind. This one was.
Oleg, the psycho villain, was the star of the show. I enjoyed watching his mental and spiritual decline while Tanya grows from an innocent girl to a mature woman. This may not be everyone’s idea of an entertaining romance; however, I consider myself a satisfied reader. I’m holding on to this one!
I loved the Russian setting and liked the heroine’s growth as a character, but the hero, Alexei, is exciting as dry toast. It’s the villain who is the star here: charismatic, evil, and blond!
Eighteen-year-old Katiana Donova is a convent-bred naif. While traveling across the cold depths of Russia, she and her companions are attacked. The dashing blond Prince Oleg saves her. The Prince seems so sweet and kind at first, but he soon proves to be a lustful rogue. Nothing will stop him from possessing Tanya.
Prince Oleg is seriously obsessed with Tanya, but he’s not in love. He’s not capable of true feeling. Don’t dare think this is a villain with a heart. Even the demonic, baby-killing Robert Belesme of Anita Mills’s Lady Of Fire was more of a romantic softy than Oleg. Oleg loves to abuse and use his Tanya, but he does not care about her. He degrades her in awful sorts of ways, so make no mistake about finding redemption in him!
Plus, the dude is going crazy. It’s hinted that Oleg has a brain tumor or something because his headaches make him act more insane.
Even as Oleg will do whatever it takes to make Tanya his, he also has a cruel and jealous wife who will stop at nothing to see Tanya pay. Poor Tanya suffers so much through this book. It’s one catastrophe after another.
But wait, there’s more! There’s a twisted secret– No, no, I won’t say. I spoil enough romances; I won’t spoil another. However, I’d hardly call this bodice-ripper a true romance.
As for the hero? Well, Tanya spends much of it separated from her boring Alexei. He vows to have his Tanya and pines for her, however, ends up having affairs of his own. Not much of a hero, but Tanya loved him, so I tried not to dislike him. There’s not much to like or dislike about Alexei. He’s just there.
At the conclusion of The Frost and the Flame, Tanya is reunited with her beloved Alexei. Sadly, Tanya has been so hurt by Oleg’s torments that marriage is not on her agenda right away. She loves Alexei, yes, although wants to have a deeper relationship with him before taking it further.
So this is a unique romance with a Happy For Now ending, not necessarily a Happily Ever After. Am I ok with that? Bodice rippers occupy a strange corner in Romancelandia, where they can do just about anything. As long as it’s an optimistic ending and the book was fun, I don’t mind. This one was.
Oleg, the psycho villain, was the star of the show. I enjoyed watching his mental and spiritual decline while Tanya grows from an innocent girl to a mature woman. This may not be everyone’s idea of an entertaining romance; however, I consider myself a satisfied reader. I’m holding on to this one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2021
2.5 stars
This book was just too dark for me.
Katia has been prisoner in convent from age 5 to 18. She knows nothing of her parents. After leaving the convent, she almost dies twice and is found by Prince Oleg (easy spot spoiler) . He begins to terrorize her and rape her. ----luckily the book doesn't go into detail. Prince Oleg is just plain crazy and likes innocents. Katia's only joy is a mute child she saved and Prince Alexi. Though the H is only briefly in the story and he leaves the h twice.
So like I said " dark"! There was not really a romance in the book. The MC love feels like an afterthought by the author. The two MC have instant love without ever having an actual conversation. The author should have stuck with the Russian history. I enjoyed that part.
I should say that even though I give the book only 2 stars, I think there are some people who would enjoy this book. Just don't expect a happy romance! I made that mistake.
All in all, the book had some good qualities but it just wasn't for me.
This book was just too dark for me.
Katia has been prisoner in convent from age 5 to 18. She knows nothing of her parents. After leaving the convent, she almost dies twice and is found by Prince Oleg (easy spot spoiler) . He begins to terrorize her and rape her. ----luckily the book doesn't go into detail. Prince Oleg is just plain crazy and likes innocents. Katia's only joy is a mute child she saved and Prince Alexi. Though the H is only briefly in the story and he leaves the h twice.
So like I said " dark"! There was not really a romance in the book. The MC love feels like an afterthought by the author. The two MC have instant love without ever having an actual conversation. The author should have stuck with the Russian history. I enjoyed that part.
I should say that even though I give the book only 2 stars, I think there are some people who would enjoy this book. Just don't expect a happy romance! I made that mistake.
All in all, the book had some good qualities but it just wasn't for me.
July 6, 2018
I don't know if this is a first novel for this author. The characterization was lacking as well as conception and execution of the plot.
However, Drusilla Campbell's research and interweaving of Russian culture, politics and events and the repressive regime of Tsar Nicholas I were second to none. Also, there were moments where the author's writing really shone.
However her characterization was not as great as the depiction of the back drop of early 19th C imperial Russia and the political intrigue.
Also, the actual love story was lacking. I did't see any connection between the h/H or why they should love each other. A very unsatisfying insta-love situation.
Also, the villain's wife outshone the heroine to the point that my self and the ladies with whom I read this book, found her much, much, more interesting. This is a flaw when a minor character upstages the an MC.
The story and characterization deserve 2-stars, but I'm giving an extra star for the superb backdrop and research that went into crafting it.
However, Drusilla Campbell's research and interweaving of Russian culture, politics and events and the repressive regime of Tsar Nicholas I were second to none. Also, there were moments where the author's writing really shone.
However her characterization was not as great as the depiction of the back drop of early 19th C imperial Russia and the political intrigue.
Also, the actual love story was lacking. I did't see any connection between the h/H or why they should love each other. A very unsatisfying insta-love situation.
Also, the villain's wife outshone the heroine to the point that my self and the ladies with whom I read this book, found her much, much, more interesting. This is a flaw when a minor character upstages the an MC.
The story and characterization deserve 2-stars, but I'm giving an extra star for the superb backdrop and research that went into crafting it.
July 28, 2011
Quite an interesting read. This book had it all....rape, incest, drugging, murder and the list goes on. This is a real page turner, especially towards the end. This book is probably not for most but it definately was a great read. I loved it.
July 20, 2018
Review to come. Book deserved a beating, but GR gujdelines restrict me to a passive agressive one star rating. *headache incoming*
Spoilers! Though I can't think of a reason why anyone would want to read this book anyway ...
A short notes on things the book got right:
Historical Backdrop: well researched, well integrated
Side Characters: Some weren't trash!
Prose: The beginning had some moments
Now to the rest: this is a bodice ripper. It's not a historical romance although I shelved it as such. The amount of tropes in this one is alarming and huuuge.
Our protagonist is Katia, arguably not that badly read, but as we figure out during the book, still stupid. Raised in a convent her whole life, she has no knowledge of her parentage, which turns out to be glaringly obvious starting at page 50. Even though she has the dopiest side-kick aunt who is a trashy greedy witch whose stupidity boggles the mind, Katia never actually figures shit out. Instead, Aunt Nikki, the trashy idiot, actually has to coin her in on her last breath.
Our antagonist is Oleg, Katia's half-brother. Oleg's father was such a dick (although he's been dead for a while) that not only did his wife cheat on him and leave him in his castle, she also joined a cloister to escape him and left her daughter behind in the care of the worst choice of nurse you could possibly choose for any living being. Oleg still hates his mother for leaving his father, because he can't divorce himself from his father's dickhood. In fact, Oleg himself is very centered in on his dick. He is also not the brightest flame in the world, so though he's a merciless triehard it takes him quite a while to actually rape Katia. When he does, he's perplexed that she doesn't love it, and continues not to love it, for well, ever. I dunno, but shouldn't his dick of a father Ivan have explained this to him? Or did he think his adulterous runaway wife loved HIM? Somehow I doubt that ... Weirdly enough it seems that he fooled his own wife into thinking that she loved him, which is stunning given the fact that Elizabeth is the only rational character in the book.
Then we have the never present hero (?) who doesn't really do anything, neither to move the plot forward, nor to prove his so-called roguish traitorishness (alluded to countless time and never actually validated), Alexei. Alexei is a flexible guy. Flexible with whom he sleeps with (Elizabeth or Katia, who cares?), flexible with his opinions on Katia (she's young, but hot, but I need to leave this place!) and also flexibly away whenever his beloved is raped. Which happens constantly for months. Still, we are supposed to believe that there are real feelings here on which to base a real relationship at the end of the book!
Meanwhile, Oleg is hideously jealous of the two scenes Katia had with Alexei, because she still doesn't enjoy being raped. Finding a new strategy, Oleg employs all his wits to change her mind. When more rape doesn't work, he tries out date rape drugs. Date rape drugs are my favorite plot device because they just don't work that way. You can give someone drugs that make them horny, but this is the first time I've read about people doing a 180 and actually lucidly changing their minds and forgetting completely about their antipathy... Yeah, right. If that kind of drug excisted, rapes would become a lot easier. Then again, the author isn't the best plotter. Or the best writer, period.
After months of being raped by Oleg and his even more disgusting henchman, the reader is then supposed to believe Katia would form any kind of reconciliation with her mother upon meeting her. Yeah, right! Her tale of adulterous woe in marriage to the terrible Ivan would make the most battle hardened rape survivor swoon, I'm sure.
In the end, Katia escapes to England where after a year of yearning, Alexei makes a convenient reappearance, apologizes for calling her a disgusting whore [and leaving her to be raped some more WTF] back when Oleg made his cool date rape demonstration. Forgiveness is of course imminent, because who wouldn't want to marry a vapid guy who sometimes appears out of nowhere either to moon over you like a calf in love or treat you like a worthless slut? True love, whatever.
To add insult to injury, the characters were very flat and it was impossible to sympathize with anyone. The ending where Alexei appeared on the very last page to apologize and make everything up to Katia enraged me. Couldn't she find a nice Scotsmen, who wouldn't call her a whore, leave her to be raped and moon over her like a lost calf?
Spoilers! Though I can't think of a reason why anyone would want to read this book anyway ...
A short notes on things the book got right:
Historical Backdrop: well researched, well integrated
Side Characters: Some weren't trash!
Prose: The beginning had some moments
Now to the rest: this is a bodice ripper. It's not a historical romance although I shelved it as such. The amount of tropes in this one is alarming and huuuge.
Our protagonist is Katia, arguably not that badly read, but as we figure out during the book, still stupid. Raised in a convent her whole life, she has no knowledge of her parentage, which turns out to be glaringly obvious starting at page 50. Even though she has the dopiest side-kick aunt who is a trashy greedy witch whose stupidity boggles the mind, Katia never actually figures shit out. Instead, Aunt Nikki, the trashy idiot, actually has to coin her in on her last breath.
Our antagonist is Oleg, Katia's half-brother. Oleg's father was such a dick (although he's been dead for a while) that not only did his wife cheat on him and leave him in his castle, she also joined a cloister to escape him and left her daughter behind in the care of the worst choice of nurse you could possibly choose for any living being. Oleg still hates his mother for leaving his father, because he can't divorce himself from his father's dickhood. In fact, Oleg himself is very centered in on his dick. He is also not the brightest flame in the world, so though he's a merciless triehard it takes him quite a while to actually rape Katia. When he does, he's perplexed that she doesn't love it, and continues not to love it, for well, ever. I dunno, but shouldn't his dick of a father Ivan have explained this to him? Or did he think his adulterous runaway wife loved HIM? Somehow I doubt that ... Weirdly enough it seems that he fooled his own wife into thinking that she loved him, which is stunning given the fact that Elizabeth is the only rational character in the book.
Then we have the never present hero (?) who doesn't really do anything, neither to move the plot forward, nor to prove his so-called roguish traitorishness (alluded to countless time and never actually validated), Alexei. Alexei is a flexible guy. Flexible with whom he sleeps with (Elizabeth or Katia, who cares?), flexible with his opinions on Katia (she's young, but hot, but I need to leave this place!) and also flexibly away whenever his beloved is raped. Which happens constantly for months. Still, we are supposed to believe that there are real feelings here on which to base a real relationship at the end of the book!
Meanwhile, Oleg is hideously jealous of the two scenes Katia had with Alexei, because she still doesn't enjoy being raped. Finding a new strategy, Oleg employs all his wits to change her mind. When more rape doesn't work, he tries out date rape drugs. Date rape drugs are my favorite plot device because they just don't work that way. You can give someone drugs that make them horny, but this is the first time I've read about people doing a 180 and actually lucidly changing their minds and forgetting completely about their antipathy... Yeah, right. If that kind of drug excisted, rapes would become a lot easier. Then again, the author isn't the best plotter. Or the best writer, period.
After months of being raped by Oleg and his even more disgusting henchman, the reader is then supposed to believe Katia would form any kind of reconciliation with her mother upon meeting her. Yeah, right! Her tale of adulterous woe in marriage to the terrible Ivan would make the most battle hardened rape survivor swoon, I'm sure.
In the end, Katia escapes to England where after a year of yearning, Alexei makes a convenient reappearance, apologizes for calling her a disgusting whore [and leaving her to be raped some more WTF] back when Oleg made his cool date rape demonstration. Forgiveness is of course imminent, because who wouldn't want to marry a vapid guy who sometimes appears out of nowhere either to moon over you like a calf in love or treat you like a worthless slut? True love, whatever.
To add insult to injury, the characters were very flat and it was impossible to sympathize with anyone. The ending where Alexei appeared on the very last page to apologize and make everything up to Katia enraged me. Couldn't she find a nice Scotsmen, who wouldn't call her a whore, leave her to be raped and moon over her like a lost calf?
July 12, 2025
When I read the blurb for this book I really eager to read this book as it ticked a lot of my boxes. Sadly, though the historical context and intrigue was great, there was ZERO romance. Most of the book, the heroine is with the villain (not the ones you love to hate and hate to love but villain-villain)--not in a sexy way but an icky way. She was portrayed as dumb and utterly helpless (more than she needed to be). I don't particularly like books where the heroine is a victim the whole book.
3 stars for the historical background
1 star for character development
1 star for the amount of times the hero appears in the story
-5 stars for the romance or lack thereof
1 star for how things ended
3 stars for me finishing the book
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews