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Of Thorns and Ice
Gwen
Demon sacrifices have been around for as long as I can remember. Every year, one unlucky girl is sacrificed to one of two demons, and as luck would have it, I am that unlucky one this year.
I don’t know which demon would be worse—the fire demon or the ice demon.
But it looks like my fate lies with ice.
Village Thorns has made its choice, but I’m not going down without a fight. When the ice demon shows up to collect his sacrifice, I’m prepared to do anything to escape.
But the darkly alluring ice demon with his jet-black hair and crystal blue eyes isn’t all that he seems.
Can I thaw his frozen exterior enough to find out what’s really going on—and if he even has a heart in that icy chest of his?
Demon sacrifices have been around for as long as I can remember. Every year, one unlucky girl is sacrificed to one of two demons, and as luck would have it, I am that unlucky one this year.
I don’t know which demon would be worse—the fire demon or the ice demon.
But it looks like my fate lies with ice.
Village Thorns has made its choice, but I’m not going down without a fight. When the ice demon shows up to collect his sacrifice, I’m prepared to do anything to escape.
But the darkly alluring ice demon with his jet-black hair and crystal blue eyes isn’t all that he seems.
Can I thaw his frozen exterior enough to find out what’s really going on—and if he even has a heart in that icy chest of his?
81 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 25, 2023
248 people are currently reading
1175 people want to read
About the author
Kenzie Skye
28 books93 followersKenzie Skye writes short and spicy books with a touch of magic. Her stories are over the top and always feature obsessed heroes who will do anything for the women they love. Sign up to my newsletter on my website to get a free book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
May 11, 2024
I felt like I read an entire series in 73 pages, it was that rushed. Way to rushed
May 29, 2023
Oooh loved this one!! The hero is under a curse by a powerful entity called the priestess and she has condemned him to have to accept a “sacrifice” every year. Unfortunately every year the sacrifice goes insane. He’s never emotionally—or physically—bonded or connected with any sacrifice. Until the heroine is given to him. He wants her when he has never wanted another. But he is agonized knowing how she will end up.
This was a quick, well-written, satisfying novella about a demon and a girl who fall in love. Because of its length, it’s not a complicated story. Very straightforward and I enjoyed that. I also loved that the hero, even tho he was a demon, wasn’t a manwhore. He was celibate and possibly even a virgin, tho not explicitly stated.
Safe. Hero’s past isn’t mentioned except to say he’s never wanted anyone before. Heroine is a virgin and belongs only to her hero. No others, no cheating or sharing or abuse. HEA with epilogue
This was a quick, well-written, satisfying novella about a demon and a girl who fall in love. Because of its length, it’s not a complicated story. Very straightforward and I enjoyed that. I also loved that the hero, even tho he was a demon, wasn’t a manwhore. He was celibate and possibly even a virgin, tho not explicitly stated.
Safe. Hero’s past isn’t mentioned except to say he’s never wanted anyone before. Heroine is a virgin and belongs only to her hero. No others, no cheating or sharing or abuse. HEA with epilogue
October 7, 2023
Left with questions
How did Gwen past the test is it because she was willing to kill Bastain, or who did she think she was stabbing. Also what did she see behind the door. What really happened to the others?
How did Gwen past the test is it because she was willing to kill Bastain, or who did she think she was stabbing. Also what did she see behind the door. What really happened to the others?
October 29, 2024
terrible
February 24, 2025
Of Thorns and Ice reads like a fanfiction written by a teenager with big ambitions and a lack of skills. A teenager who clearly hasn't mastered the 'show, don't tell'. It's a real shame too, because the plot has a lot of potential:
The characters are flat and static with no personality at all. There's no consistency in either of their thought processes, and developments just happen for no reason at all. The pace was also all over the place.
With not even 90 pages, Kenzie Skye has way too many ambitions and too little space. This "book" would have greatly enjoyed 100-200 pages more, or even beyond that.
I think this book could've been real good if it actually gave its characters personalities and developed the world and world building at a better pace.
DNF at 53% (p. 44).
The characters are flat and static with no personality at all. There's no consistency in either of their thought processes, and developments just happen for no reason at all. The pace was also all over the place.
With not even 90 pages, Kenzie Skye has way too many ambitions and too little space. This "book" would have greatly enjoyed 100-200 pages more, or even beyond that.
I think this book could've been real good if it actually gave its characters personalities and developed the world and world building at a better pace.
DNF at 53% (p. 44).
August 18, 2025
This story had great potential to stand out as a big novel with greater details but since it was a short book it was really rushed. Like really really rushed.
I felt like Gwen and Bastian needed more time to connect and their love story almost felt very instant. I liked the spice a lot, nothing over the top, it was sweet and steamy. A good read in my opinion.
I felt like Gwen and Bastian needed more time to connect and their love story almost felt very instant. I liked the spice a lot, nothing over the top, it was sweet and steamy. A good read in my opinion.
February 16, 2025
I feel like this could have been a fairly good story if the author had fleshed it out a lot more. We needed more world building, more character development, more of a plot development and it would have worked a lot more. We’re left with more questions than answers and with how the story went it didn’t even make me interested to read the brother’s story.
May 17, 2024
Gwen is chosen as sacrifice for her village, and is given to the Ice Demon
She knows she should fight, she knows she should run away, but maybe she's got Stockholm syndrom, because she finds the demon Bastian gorgeous, and can't help but want to be with him.
After Bastian meets Gwen something inside him begins to stir (in his chest and in his pants...) and he tries to protect her, trying to prevent her from the same fate that has come to all the girls that were given as sacrifice before Gwen.
They begin to like each other, become intimate, and ultimately pass the godesse's test, Gwen doesn't become crazy and they fall head over heels for each other. Yey!
She knows she should fight, she knows she should run away, but maybe she's got Stockholm syndrom, because she finds the demon Bastian gorgeous, and can't help but want to be with him.
After Bastian meets Gwen something inside him begins to stir (in his chest and in his pants...) and he tries to protect her, trying to prevent her from the same fate that has come to all the girls that were given as sacrifice before Gwen.
They begin to like each other, become intimate, and ultimately pass the godesse's test, Gwen doesn't become crazy and they fall head over heels for each other. Yey!
April 10, 2025
That was pretty painful. The writing is very simplistic and has quite a few spelling and grammar errors. It was incredibly predictable and the demon hardly had anything demon about him. The sex was painfully vanilla and repetitive. I honestly felt nothing for these characters and didn’t care what happened to them.
May 23, 2024
I could have skipped this and not been sad
I would say this book has zero plot, but it does have a plot. It’s just not very good. Also would consider this more of a short story than a book.
I would say this book has zero plot, but it does have a plot. It’s just not very good. Also would consider this more of a short story than a book.
June 29, 2024
DNF.
This had to be taken straight from Wattpad. There is a plot, but hardly any build up or world building.
The love interest happens pretty immediately and it just reads so much like a teenage fanfiction, it is cringe.
This had to be taken straight from Wattpad. There is a plot, but hardly any build up or world building.
The love interest happens pretty immediately and it just reads so much like a teenage fanfiction, it is cringe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2025
First off, I think the story had a good base, but it lacked the depth needed to make it great. It was fast-paced and that left no room for personality and character development or building the relationship between Gwen and Bastian.
There wasn’t much background given on whom the characters were, what they were like as people and there was no build up to the relationship. It went from Gwen being a chosen virgin sacrifice to Oh, they are in love and the bad priestess is trying to ruin it to suddenly never mind all is well. I’d liked to have seen more between the two characters, like them getting to know each other and the tension building between them until they finally allowed something to happen. I’d also like to have seen some sort of big twist or build suspense to the scene with the priestess.
I also feel that it could have been written better. The writing was a little subpar, which in turn allowed it to feel underdeveloped and kind of like a first draft.
I was left with a lot of questions like how did Gwen even pass the test? Was it that she had to follow what the manic state was telling her to do or was it something that just wasn’t mentioned? What was the transformation she went through, she didn’t turn into anything else so what did that actually mean or did she just sparkle from then on? Or was the so called transformation just her going from normal to manic?
There’s so many things that needed to be answered but weren’t. The story just needed more depth and to be less rushed. It could have been something filled with excitement, spice and suspense. There needed to be a lot more explanation in order to actually understand any of it.
This book had so much potential and I think with the extra information it could have been great. The author had a great basis for the story, but it just needed more.
There wasn’t much background given on whom the characters were, what they were like as people and there was no build up to the relationship. It went from Gwen being a chosen virgin sacrifice to Oh, they are in love and the bad priestess is trying to ruin it to suddenly never mind all is well. I’d liked to have seen more between the two characters, like them getting to know each other and the tension building between them until they finally allowed something to happen. I’d also like to have seen some sort of big twist or build suspense to the scene with the priestess.
I also feel that it could have been written better. The writing was a little subpar, which in turn allowed it to feel underdeveloped and kind of like a first draft.
I was left with a lot of questions like how did Gwen even pass the test? Was it that she had to follow what the manic state was telling her to do or was it something that just wasn’t mentioned? What was the transformation she went through, she didn’t turn into anything else so what did that actually mean or did she just sparkle from then on? Or was the so called transformation just her going from normal to manic?
There’s so many things that needed to be answered but weren’t. The story just needed more depth and to be less rushed. It could have been something filled with excitement, spice and suspense. There needed to be a lot more explanation in order to actually understand any of it.
This book had so much potential and I think with the extra information it could have been great. The author had a great basis for the story, but it just needed more.
December 2, 2025
Gwen is this year's virgin sacrifice to the demon. Each year a female is sacrificed to the demon is exchange for favors, but what are the favors? Who knows. The ice demon appears while Gwen is fighting the men holding her and takes her away.
Bastian and his brother were cursed a long time ago by the high priestess for some unknown reason. Both were put into their own hell prison and Bastions was an Ice prison. Each year they are required to accept a virgin sacrifice from the villagers, if they don't, they both get extremely sick and since they can't die, it would be eternal torment.
Gwen is different right away because she talks to Bastion, and he starts to have feelings for her, something that's never happened to him before. Bastion tells Gwen everything, including what has happened to all the other sacrifices so she'll know. He tells her he'll do everything he can to save her from a same fate and they think that she might just be safe. But then the high priestess shows up and complicates things.
This was a short, sweet novella. I liked how it ended and am looking forward to reading Bastion's brothers book now.
Bastian and his brother were cursed a long time ago by the high priestess for some unknown reason. Both were put into their own hell prison and Bastions was an Ice prison. Each year they are required to accept a virgin sacrifice from the villagers, if they don't, they both get extremely sick and since they can't die, it would be eternal torment.
Gwen is different right away because she talks to Bastion, and he starts to have feelings for her, something that's never happened to him before. Bastion tells Gwen everything, including what has happened to all the other sacrifices so she'll know. He tells her he'll do everything he can to save her from a same fate and they think that she might just be safe. But then the high priestess shows up and complicates things.
This was a short, sweet novella. I liked how it ended and am looking forward to reading Bastion's brothers book now.
September 2, 2024
2.5 - 3 Stars
Of Thorns and Ice is the first book in the Demon Sacrifices Duet by Kenzie Sky. I was drawn to this book/series by the intriguing covers and the promising blurbs- and had really high expectations going into the stories. I really wanted to love these books- so much more than I did. They just didn’t really hit the mark for me, and I have to admit that I struggled to finish the duet. But since I always finish a book that I start, because I am always worried that if I DNF, that I might miss something that turns the story around for me… so I persevered with this – but ultimately it was not for me.
A paranormal romance with demons and a demon sacrifice and is a novella-length story which made for a quick and easy read. But I just didn’t connect with the characters, so that made it impossible to invest in them, or the outcome of their stories.
But this just might be a ‘me’ issue- as I see there are plenty of other readers who absolutely loved this duet.
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Kenzie Sky!
Of Thorns and Ice is the first book in the Demon Sacrifices Duet by Kenzie Sky. I was drawn to this book/series by the intriguing covers and the promising blurbs- and had really high expectations going into the stories. I really wanted to love these books- so much more than I did. They just didn’t really hit the mark for me, and I have to admit that I struggled to finish the duet. But since I always finish a book that I start, because I am always worried that if I DNF, that I might miss something that turns the story around for me… so I persevered with this – but ultimately it was not for me.
A paranormal romance with demons and a demon sacrifice and is a novella-length story which made for a quick and easy read. But I just didn’t connect with the characters, so that made it impossible to invest in them, or the outcome of their stories.
But this just might be a ‘me’ issue- as I see there are plenty of other readers who absolutely loved this duet.
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Kenzie Sky!
April 16, 2025
A whole series pushed into 81 pages.
The story has a lot of potential, but I feel like the author mainly focused on creating tension and spice. Her writing style is beautiful and easy to understand, and I really enjoyed it. (My favourite tropes were in this book, I do not fear.) It was a quick read, although I felt like the love story didn’t have much impact because everything happened so fast.
Since it moved so quickly, only Gwen and Bastian stood out as real characters—but even then, I felt like their personalities were missing. A lot of their backstory was left out, and there are still many unanswered questions.
For example:
• What was behind the door?
• What exactly made Gwen stab Bastian?
• What about the other people?
Listen, the Authors Note was too cute to give it less than three stars. 🫶💖
The story has a lot of potential, but I feel like the author mainly focused on creating tension and spice. Her writing style is beautiful and easy to understand, and I really enjoyed it. (My favourite tropes were in this book, I do not fear.) It was a quick read, although I felt like the love story didn’t have much impact because everything happened so fast.
Since it moved so quickly, only Gwen and Bastian stood out as real characters—but even then, I felt like their personalities were missing. A lot of their backstory was left out, and there are still many unanswered questions.
For example:
• What was behind the door?
• What exactly made Gwen stab Bastian?
• What about the other people?
Listen, the Authors Note was too cute to give it less than three stars. 🫶💖
July 9, 2024
I actually didn't find this horrible, but it was too short for my taste. Yes, I know it was a novella but I think maybe it was unnecessary part of the series. There was much I wanted to know, but it felt a little stilted. It wasn't entirely a leave me wanting more kind of thing, but more of a what did I just read? 🤣 I enjoyed the beginning telling about the sacrifices but then the love story happened to completion and I'm left wondering 'where can the story even go from here?' They fall in love WAY too soon with no angst or anything. Meh.
October 6, 2024
2.5⭐️
This was just *way* too short. At just over 70 pages, there was no opportunity for the author to develop the plot or do any worldbuilding (which is pretty important for a fantasy), and in the end, she literally left the explanation completely unresolved. Like, yes, that was in preparation for the second book in the duet, which will be for the brother. However, it feels unresolved, unfortunately. Maybe this would have been better as one book, with multi POV happening at the same time, so the ending could be resolved, and the book would still be only 150ish pages.
This was just *way* too short. At just over 70 pages, there was no opportunity for the author to develop the plot or do any worldbuilding (which is pretty important for a fantasy), and in the end, she literally left the explanation completely unresolved. Like, yes, that was in preparation for the second book in the duet, which will be for the brother. However, it feels unresolved, unfortunately. Maybe this would have been better as one book, with multi POV happening at the same time, so the ending could be resolved, and the book would still be only 150ish pages.
February 9, 2025
Of thorns and ice This book is the start of a duology and where we meet Gwen she has been sacrificed by her village to the fire and ice God.
She immediately meets Sebastian the Ice Demon. Gwen is suddenly surprised to find herself staring into the crystal blue eyes of a darkly, alluring ice demon.
She wonders what will become of her fate. Gwen has a very strong personality and is very inquisitive of the ice demon, past sacrifices, and the Priestess.
This book was fast paced and fun for such a short read. The world building felt unique. The romance just worked in this one.
She immediately meets Sebastian the Ice Demon. Gwen is suddenly surprised to find herself staring into the crystal blue eyes of a darkly, alluring ice demon.
She wonders what will become of her fate. Gwen has a very strong personality and is very inquisitive of the ice demon, past sacrifices, and the Priestess.
This book was fast paced and fun for such a short read. The world building felt unique. The romance just worked in this one.
May 18, 2025
Every year, one unlucky girl is sacrificed to one of two demons- the fire demon or the ice demon. Gwen is the sacrifice this year, but she isn't going down without a fight. The ice demon comes to claim the sacrifice but his jet-black hair and crystal blue eyes aren't all that's there. Gwen recognizes it, but can she thaw his frozen exterior and see what's really going on? Can she save herself?
There was a good storyline but I felt it was rushed a little bit because of the length of the book. I am curious about book 2 and will definitely read it.
There was a good storyline but I felt it was rushed a little bit because of the length of the book. I am curious about book 2 and will definitely read it.
May 13, 2024
This was a clever take on the sacrifice trope. So, basically, a sacrifice is given every year to these two demons, but the demons don't want them. At first, I thought the plot was loose, the grand priestess seemed cruel, but then as I read on it all made sense. I enjoyed reading this book and I'll be picking up the second one. Highly recommend it for all those people out there that used to read fanfiction with this trope. It's a more mature version of the teenage daydream.
November 1, 2024
A short fantasy story, a great book to read if you are trying to speed up your yearly book challenge. I had fun reading this and the fact that it was so short came in handy since I didn't feel like reading a huge detailed fantasy, I also didn't want to start on a big epic fantasy with multiple books. This duo is only 133 pages long for both books combined which is great. The story is fast paced and nothing out of this world but is well written and overall I enjoyed it.
February 16, 2025
Short n’ Spicy
This was a super fun bingeable read. Short chapters and fast paced throughout, just the way I like it!
It’s super light on the world building which makes for an easily digestible read. If instant love isn’t your thing, this won’t be the book for you. There’s simply not enough pages for a true enemies-to-lovers trope, but the vibe is there well enough. I’ll definitely read book 2.
This was a super fun bingeable read. Short chapters and fast paced throughout, just the way I like it!
It’s super light on the world building which makes for an easily digestible read. If instant love isn’t your thing, this won’t be the book for you. There’s simply not enough pages for a true enemies-to-lovers trope, but the vibe is there well enough. I’ll definitely read book 2.
May 8, 2024
This story had so much potential but everything felt rushed and parts were vague. I would definitely love to read the second book but hope they come out with a longer story combing the brothers after they pass their “tests”. I felt like the romance was super rushed and wish there was just a bit more build up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2024
Honestly it’s was pretty good for how short this book was. I think that if the author had made it longer they could have made a better world building and story line book. The spicy took off too fast in my opinion and all I could think of was Jack Frost from the Santa clause movies as the ice demon.
June 30, 2024
ℙ𝕠𝕧: Dual First Person POV
𝕋𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕤: Demons, Paranormal, Virgin
𝕋𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕖𝕣: "I'm not going to hurt you, little one."
𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤: 3.5/𝟝
𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕖: 2/𝟝
𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤: Not really memorable tbh. I read it when I was half asleep. There are many more interesting demon romances out there. Cute nickname but that's pretty much it
𝕎𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕕? eh
𝕋𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕤: Demons, Paranormal, Virgin
𝕋𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕖𝕣: "I'm not going to hurt you, little one."
𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤: 3.5/𝟝
𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕖: 2/𝟝
𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤: Not really memorable tbh. I read it when I was half asleep. There are many more interesting demon romances out there. Cute nickname but that's pretty much it
𝕎𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕕? eh
February 1, 2025
It felt rushed
Storyline was there for something great, although I may be biased as I am used to longer drawing out things with twisted explanations. So I encourage each person to male their own judgment based solely on their own experiences reading the book.
Thank you to the author for writing because without them, we would have nothing to read.
Storyline was there for something great, although I may be biased as I am used to longer drawing out things with twisted explanations. So I encourage each person to male their own judgment based solely on their own experiences reading the book.
Thank you to the author for writing because without them, we would have nothing to read.
March 8, 2025
I love when a book surprises you(in the best way possible) and leaves you craving more of the characters and what lies ahead on their journey.
Gwen is meant to be the sacrifice to a demon. What neither of them expected was the powerful connection that will change their lives forever.
Looking forward to reading Of Thorns and Ashes next!
Gwen is meant to be the sacrifice to a demon. What neither of them expected was the powerful connection that will change their lives forever.
Looking forward to reading Of Thorns and Ashes next!
May 28, 2025
I went into this book blind and idk what I just read 😅
The book was a short read and didn’t take me very long at all. He’s an ice demon, she’s his sacrifice. Their attraction for each other is unstoppable, even with the barriers that try to break them. Interesting book. Not what I was expecting at all.
The book was a short read and didn’t take me very long at all. He’s an ice demon, she’s his sacrifice. Their attraction for each other is unstoppable, even with the barriers that try to break them. Interesting book. Not what I was expecting at all.
October 18, 2025
I’ve read 80 books this year. I have read none that have made me feel like this. This book needs love. It’s so fast, I felt like it was the cliff notes version. I wanted to like it. And the plot and storyline could have been amazing, with more depth and writing. But I should have known with how short it was.
I just wanted much more from it.
I just wanted much more from it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews