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Frost and Death: The Last of the Heirs
Six Deities. Six Kingdoms.
Each monarch gifted one of the Maker’s abilities…
But one heir is tormented by her power.
Tove, the new Queen of Axidoria, inherits a magical gift from the Makers that accidentally casts a frigid winter throughout her kingdom. Unable to control her new abilities, Tove spends most days living with her failure as queen alongside fighting her inner demons.
As the bitter cold hardens the public’s opinion of her, Tove is given no choice but to search for a suitable union. At the encouragement of her handsome royal advisor, Nikolaj, the occasion evolves into a week-long celebration in hopes of raising spirits and finding Tove a match.
But when a potential suitor draws Tove in, so do the long-buried feelings between her and Nikolaj. Despite being torn between duty and her heart, tension rises as Tove’s magic continues to threaten everyone and herself.
Can Tove brave the storm within?
Or will power consume her, proving to all the snow queen is here to stay?
***Author’s This book contains content intended for mature readers only.
Each monarch gifted one of the Maker’s abilities…
But one heir is tormented by her power.
Tove, the new Queen of Axidoria, inherits a magical gift from the Makers that accidentally casts a frigid winter throughout her kingdom. Unable to control her new abilities, Tove spends most days living with her failure as queen alongside fighting her inner demons.
As the bitter cold hardens the public’s opinion of her, Tove is given no choice but to search for a suitable union. At the encouragement of her handsome royal advisor, Nikolaj, the occasion evolves into a week-long celebration in hopes of raising spirits and finding Tove a match.
But when a potential suitor draws Tove in, so do the long-buried feelings between her and Nikolaj. Despite being torn between duty and her heart, tension rises as Tove’s magic continues to threaten everyone and herself.
Can Tove brave the storm within?
Or will power consume her, proving to all the snow queen is here to stay?
***Author’s This book contains content intended for mature readers only.
536 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 27, 2024
66 people are currently reading
1709 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
March 14, 2025
╭ ✦ •
│ ⊹ 𝟹 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜 - 𝙳𝙽𝙵 - 𝟽𝟺% ⊹
╰ ✦ •
Finally made the decision to DNF this at 74%, I was so bored, and nothing was happening. It wasn't bad but I don't want to waste more time on a book that is just 'mehh'
-FMC was starting to annoy me, she felt whiny and super childish. All she ever talked about was grieving her family, her love for Niko, her attraction to Jerrick, and trying to control her powers. I totally get it, but Jerrick had been genuinely trying to help her. Yet, she still kept complaining about it??
I almost forgot to mention that the FMC gets her period multiple times throughout the book and goes into detail about the pain she experiences. It kind of just took me out of the book?? It's not something I necessarily want to read about or be reminded of.
A character having her period is not something we usually see in books, (thank god) it was a nice slice-of-life aspect added but why? Throughout the whole time I was reading it just reminded me that 'hey your period is going to start soon' (which I just got yesterday and yes I'm suffering in pain just like the fmc, not as dramatically but same difference)
-The plot felt stagnant - FMC, Tove (tov-uh) plans to get married, has a ball, she has feelings for her Advisor 'Lord Niko'. After days of searching for a suitable husband, Niko grows jealous and eventually confesses his feelings for her. Things take a turn when Jerrick the King of Palaena arrives at the Ball, Tove feels a slight connection to him.
Jerrick kidnaps her and brings her to Palaena, he presents a marriage contract, signed by her mother, that binds her to marry him. They marry just days later. (it's a whole situation Jerrick is cursed, he killed his father, etc - not a major spoiler but I am leaving a lot about her mother out)
Despite being held captive, Tove manages to communicate with Niko and her Lady-in-Waiting, Betina, through her mother’s magical mirror, and they devise a plan to invade Palaena. Tove also has a trade deal with Jerrick.
After spending a few months in her new role as Queen, Tove grows close to her new companions—Prince Jonas, who becomes like a brother to her, her new lady-in-waiting, Dorit, who becomes a close friend, as well as Ophelia & Cordelia the kitchen staff who are wonderful characters, and always have a laugh with Tove. Even Jerrick, her husband, proves to be more complex and not as bad as she initially thought. Tove begins to reconsider her plans to invade, as she comes to cherish the found family she’s built in Palaena.
Niko wasn't thrilled about the news of a ceasefire. Honestly, Niko was annoying af. Niko is like one of those 'nice guys' but gives off narcissistic misogynist vibes.. ickkkkk! Also Niko's weird jealousy.
I’m not sure what happens later in the book, but I can easily imagine Niko going behind her back to undermine her decision about the ceasefire. Him showing up with a GIANT ARMY and the book ending in a cliffhanger.
(maybe I'll eventually finish this since I really only have 140 ish pages left but I'm DNFing for now)
I loved Jerrick and wish we had his pov. he's so 🥰🥵🥹
-I didn't like the semi-love triangle going on.
-Jerrick's nickname for her was 'Frostbite' unsure how I felt about it, kinda ick but also cute in a way???
Thank you for the ARC, L.L. Riley
_________________________________
Blog ಇ StoryGraph ಇ Instagram ಇ Twitter ಇ Facebook
│ ⊹ 𝟹 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜 - 𝙳𝙽𝙵 - 𝟽𝟺% ⊹
╰ ✦ •
Finally made the decision to DNF this at 74%, I was so bored, and nothing was happening. It wasn't bad but I don't want to waste more time on a book that is just 'mehh'
-FMC was starting to annoy me, she felt whiny and super childish. All she ever talked about was grieving her family, her love for Niko, her attraction to Jerrick, and trying to control her powers. I totally get it, but Jerrick had been genuinely trying to help her. Yet, she still kept complaining about it??
I almost forgot to mention that the FMC gets her period multiple times throughout the book and goes into detail about the pain she experiences. It kind of just took me out of the book?? It's not something I necessarily want to read about or be reminded of.
A character having her period is not something we usually see in books, (thank god) it was a nice slice-of-life aspect added but why? Throughout the whole time I was reading it just reminded me that 'hey your period is going to start soon' (which I just got yesterday and yes I'm suffering in pain just like the fmc, not as dramatically but same difference)
-The plot felt stagnant - FMC, Tove (tov-uh) plans to get married, has a ball, she has feelings for her Advisor 'Lord Niko'. After days of searching for a suitable husband, Niko grows jealous and eventually confesses his feelings for her. Things take a turn when Jerrick the King of Palaena arrives at the Ball, Tove feels a slight connection to him.
Jerrick kidnaps her and brings her to Palaena, he presents a marriage contract, signed by her mother, that binds her to marry him. They marry just days later. (it's a whole situation Jerrick is cursed, he killed his father, etc - not a major spoiler but I am leaving a lot about her mother out)
Despite being held captive, Tove manages to communicate with Niko and her Lady-in-Waiting, Betina, through her mother’s magical mirror, and they devise a plan to invade Palaena. Tove also has a trade deal with Jerrick.
After spending a few months in her new role as Queen, Tove grows close to her new companions—Prince Jonas, who becomes like a brother to her, her new lady-in-waiting, Dorit, who becomes a close friend, as well as Ophelia & Cordelia the kitchen staff who are wonderful characters, and always have a laugh with Tove. Even Jerrick, her husband, proves to be more complex and not as bad as she initially thought. Tove begins to reconsider her plans to invade, as she comes to cherish the found family she’s built in Palaena.
Niko wasn't thrilled about the news of a ceasefire. Honestly, Niko was annoying af. Niko is like one of those 'nice guys' but gives off narcissistic misogynist vibes.. ickkkkk! Also Niko's weird jealousy.
I’m not sure what happens later in the book, but I can easily imagine Niko going behind her back to undermine her decision about the ceasefire. Him showing up with a GIANT ARMY and the book ending in a cliffhanger.
(maybe I'll eventually finish this since I really only have 140 ish pages left but I'm DNFing for now)
I loved Jerrick and wish we had his pov. he's so 🥰🥵🥹
-I didn't like the semi-love triangle going on.
-Jerrick's nickname for her was 'Frostbite' unsure how I felt about it, kinda ick but also cute in a way???
Thank you for the ARC, L.L. Riley
_________________________________
Blog ಇ StoryGraph ಇ Instagram ಇ Twitter ಇ Facebook
September 28, 2024
Spicy Snow Queen retelling with Frozen vibes???? YES PLEASE
I love a good retelling and up until this book I had read exactly 0 Snow Queen stories.
Frost and Death was a refreshing, unique take on a reimagining of a classic story. With elements from the original fairytale and inspiration from Disney's Frozen it was a joy to read. A young woman becomes queen in an inheritance of power when her mother passes. Her new magic is foreign and dangerous- with zero control or knowledge of how to use it, she accidentally plunges her entire country into eternal winter. Needing to secure her station politically, she must find a husband to help her rule. They throw a huge party in hopes of finding a suitor but it all goes downhill when a pair of blue eyes walks in.
If there was a song to pair with this book it would be Hot N Cold by Katy Perry. The female and male main characters are both dealing with their own struggles and have a difficult time with their emotions as the stories play out. We get to watch them both grow into the people they were always meant to be.
This one does deal with elements of loss, grief and other things that may be triggering for some people. Please read responsibly.
I love a good retelling and up until this book I had read exactly 0 Snow Queen stories.
Frost and Death was a refreshing, unique take on a reimagining of a classic story. With elements from the original fairytale and inspiration from Disney's Frozen it was a joy to read. A young woman becomes queen in an inheritance of power when her mother passes. Her new magic is foreign and dangerous- with zero control or knowledge of how to use it, she accidentally plunges her entire country into eternal winter. Needing to secure her station politically, she must find a husband to help her rule. They throw a huge party in hopes of finding a suitor but it all goes downhill when a pair of blue eyes walks in.
If there was a song to pair with this book it would be Hot N Cold by Katy Perry. The female and male main characters are both dealing with their own struggles and have a difficult time with their emotions as the stories play out. We get to watch them both grow into the people they were always meant to be.
This one does deal with elements of loss, grief and other things that may be triggering for some people. Please read responsibly.
September 22, 2024
Another great debut romantasy novel! I could not put this one down once I started! Frost & Death is a snow queen retelling with Frozen vibes and a bit of hades and Persephone if I do say so myself 😅. Our FMC, Tove (Toe-vah), is burdened by her powers and hopes that making a political marriage match will help her kingdom. This sets off a series of events Tove is not expecting, full of twists and some betrayal.
𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦-𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘯𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯, 𝘢 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵.
I thoroughly enjoyed Tove’s journey. She is struggling with her grief, a prominent theme in this book, and having lost a parent in my early 20s this is something I (and I’m sure many others) can relate to. Everyone experiences grief differently but I found the representation in this story very real. I was definitely tearing up several times while reading. I’m also a sucker for a good healing arc and this one delivered. The dedication is so good too:
𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯.
But let’s talk about the ✨romance✨
Tove has a few prospects for her hand in marriage and I’m obviously on team tall, dark and mysterious. There are some great ball and dance scenes, I loved the royal vibes. I loved the dynamic between Tove & Jerrick.
𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴.
The push and pull, the slow burn 😮💨 And when the spice hits, it hits 🌶️🌶️🌶️. And anytime a MMC says “wife” I’m all in 😂
𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘐 𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘦, 𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘦.
There’s also a great group of side characters and found family dynamic! This is a standalone in a series so I am excited to see how the world expands in the next book, which will feature a new FMC! We learn a bit about the deities/makers of the world and I look forward to learning more as the series continues!
Definitely add this one to your tbr if you like:
❄️ Magic
👑 Royalty
❤️🩹 He Takes Care of Her
🐴 One Horse
💍 Arranged Marriage
⚔️ Who Did This to You
❤️🔥 Slow Burn
Thank you so much to the author for the advanced readers copy! I truly enjoyed this one!
𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦-𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘯𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯, 𝘢 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵.
I thoroughly enjoyed Tove’s journey. She is struggling with her grief, a prominent theme in this book, and having lost a parent in my early 20s this is something I (and I’m sure many others) can relate to. Everyone experiences grief differently but I found the representation in this story very real. I was definitely tearing up several times while reading. I’m also a sucker for a good healing arc and this one delivered. The dedication is so good too:
𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯.
But let’s talk about the ✨romance✨
Tove has a few prospects for her hand in marriage and I’m obviously on team tall, dark and mysterious. There are some great ball and dance scenes, I loved the royal vibes. I loved the dynamic between Tove & Jerrick.
𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴.
The push and pull, the slow burn 😮💨 And when the spice hits, it hits 🌶️🌶️🌶️. And anytime a MMC says “wife” I’m all in 😂
𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘐 𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘦, 𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘦.
There’s also a great group of side characters and found family dynamic! This is a standalone in a series so I am excited to see how the world expands in the next book, which will feature a new FMC! We learn a bit about the deities/makers of the world and I look forward to learning more as the series continues!
Definitely add this one to your tbr if you like:
❄️ Magic
👑 Royalty
❤️🩹 He Takes Care of Her
🐴 One Horse
💍 Arranged Marriage
⚔️ Who Did This to You
❤️🔥 Slow Burn
Thank you so much to the author for the advanced readers copy! I truly enjoyed this one!
September 11, 2024
✨Frost and Death✨
Ok, I just LOVED this story so much. It was like Frozen meets Beauty and the Beast but make it adult and relatable and heart aching in so many good ways.
In FAD, we follow the 1st person POV of Queen Tove, a young woman going through extreme grief from ascending after the deaths of her parents and sister AND the freezing of her kingdom. She is broken, scared of her magic, and feels alone. She is flanked by her advisor and crush, Niko. But when Niko convinces Tove she needs to marry, everything goes well… wrong. Tove is kidnapped by a dashing male, Rick, and from there your story blossoms into one of the most beautiful romances. But is it with Rick or Niko?
Forced to marry and help break Rick’s curse, Tove finds herself discovering not only that her past may have been a lie, but also that there is much more to this new kingdom, her crush, the king, the curses, and herself. Finding grace and self acceptance are huge themes in this book along with a chosen family who also support with said grace, loving the characters right where they’re at. Truly heartwarming. And y’all, the spice is 👏👏.
Tropes you may find in FAD are arranged marriage, love triangle, enemies to reluctant allis to lovers, slow burn, he comforts her, stand-alone, banter, found family, mental health rep, hidden identities, one horse/one blanket, medium spice, plot twists, and alll the tension.
Thank you for this gifted arc, Riley. It goes down as one of my favorites!
Ok, I just LOVED this story so much. It was like Frozen meets Beauty and the Beast but make it adult and relatable and heart aching in so many good ways.
In FAD, we follow the 1st person POV of Queen Tove, a young woman going through extreme grief from ascending after the deaths of her parents and sister AND the freezing of her kingdom. She is broken, scared of her magic, and feels alone. She is flanked by her advisor and crush, Niko. But when Niko convinces Tove she needs to marry, everything goes well… wrong. Tove is kidnapped by a dashing male, Rick, and from there your story blossoms into one of the most beautiful romances. But is it with Rick or Niko?
Forced to marry and help break Rick’s curse, Tove finds herself discovering not only that her past may have been a lie, but also that there is much more to this new kingdom, her crush, the king, the curses, and herself. Finding grace and self acceptance are huge themes in this book along with a chosen family who also support with said grace, loving the characters right where they’re at. Truly heartwarming. And y’all, the spice is 👏👏.
Tropes you may find in FAD are arranged marriage, love triangle, enemies to reluctant allis to lovers, slow burn, he comforts her, stand-alone, banter, found family, mental health rep, hidden identities, one horse/one blanket, medium spice, plot twists, and alll the tension.
Thank you for this gifted arc, Riley. It goes down as one of my favorites!
July 4, 2025
4.5 🌟
"Melded by love.
A love I cannot help but fear some unknown force in the future will try to use to wedge us apart because of my own mistakes."
Audiobook review.
Tove is filled with gnawing guilt from a haunting past, yet she is driven by a strong desire to fulfill her duty to her Kingdom and do whatever it takes to ensure that it thrives and stays safe. She does not want war. She becomes torn between the man she has cared for and known all her life and the man who kidnaps her and makes her blood boil. But the mystery surrounding her mother's disappearance torments her, and the pressure to do what is right weighs heavily upon her. And her powers are as untrustworthy as the people that surround her... and her own traitorous, forbidden feelings.
"Dark thoughts crawl to the forefront of my mind, and I can’t help but think this is all too good to be true."
Enthralling fairytale enriched with strife, heartache, despair, sense of duty, discovery, and betrayal.
ALC Audiobook review
"Melded by love.
A love I cannot help but fear some unknown force in the future will try to use to wedge us apart because of my own mistakes."
Audiobook review.
Tove is filled with gnawing guilt from a haunting past, yet she is driven by a strong desire to fulfill her duty to her Kingdom and do whatever it takes to ensure that it thrives and stays safe. She does not want war. She becomes torn between the man she has cared for and known all her life and the man who kidnaps her and makes her blood boil. But the mystery surrounding her mother's disappearance torments her, and the pressure to do what is right weighs heavily upon her. And her powers are as untrustworthy as the people that surround her... and her own traitorous, forbidden feelings.
"Dark thoughts crawl to the forefront of my mind, and I can’t help but think this is all too good to be true."
Enthralling fairytale enriched with strife, heartache, despair, sense of duty, discovery, and betrayal.
ALC Audiobook review
September 10, 2024
I wanted so bad to love this i just couldn't connect with the story line or the characters it took me so long to be interested ill still probably read bokk 2
October 29, 2025
DNF. 74 pages in and absolutely no hint of a plot or what the main issue is.
June 5, 2025
Frost and Death is a beautiful retelling of the Snow Queen, exploring grief, self-loathing, growth, and love. It's an incredible debut novel that was everything I was hoping for and much more!
This book took me on a wonderful, tear-filled, yet spicy ride. Oh yes, there is plenty of spice! If you love Chapter 55 from ACOMAF, you must read this book, because you're going to love Chapter 44 just as much. 😏
The genuine range of emotions this book has me feeling is unmatched. Tears filled my eyes because I was devastated, tears filled my eyes because I was overcome with joy. I laughed at the banter and wanted to slap a character or two when they pissed me off! 😂
Here are some of the tropes you'll find in Frost and Death:
❄️Found Family
🪞Royalty
❄️ Elemental Magic
🪞Character growth
❄️ Everyone else can see it
🪞 Nightmares
❄️ Slow burn
🪞 Arranged marriage/Marriage of convenience
❄️One Horse, One Cave, One Blanket!
Check the trigger warnings because this book can be quite heavy at times. Other than that, happy reading! ❄️
***Edit: The audiobook has been released and it's phenomenal! It's duet narration and the narrators do an incredible job. Find it on Audible, Spotify, Chirp, Hoopla, Kobo, and Libro.FM!
I received advanced copies of this book and am honored to share this completely honest review.
This book took me on a wonderful, tear-filled, yet spicy ride. Oh yes, there is plenty of spice! If you love Chapter 55 from ACOMAF, you must read this book, because you're going to love Chapter 44 just as much. 😏
The genuine range of emotions this book has me feeling is unmatched. Tears filled my eyes because I was devastated, tears filled my eyes because I was overcome with joy. I laughed at the banter and wanted to slap a character or two when they pissed me off! 😂
Here are some of the tropes you'll find in Frost and Death:
❄️Found Family
🪞Royalty
❄️ Elemental Magic
🪞Character growth
❄️ Everyone else can see it
🪞 Nightmares
❄️ Slow burn
🪞 Arranged marriage/Marriage of convenience
❄️One Horse, One Cave, One Blanket!
Check the trigger warnings because this book can be quite heavy at times. Other than that, happy reading! ❄️
***Edit: The audiobook has been released and it's phenomenal! It's duet narration and the narrators do an incredible job. Find it on Audible, Spotify, Chirp, Hoopla, Kobo, and Libro.FM!
I received advanced copies of this book and am honored to share this completely honest review.
September 13, 2024
Wow, wow, wow! I DEVOURED Frost and Deat by LL Riley in two days! I wanted to slow down and savour it more, but I just couldn't; the story is so achingly beautiful and delicious. Riley has crafted a Frozen meets Beauty and the Beast retelling, but she has made it her own and truly unique. Frost and Death may have some elements from these fairytales, but Riley has elevated her book to a higher level by making it more profound and raw. She has tackled some serious issues like grief, loss, anxiety, etc. and has done it with respect by showing what grief can be and how it can affect us long-term.
Frost and Death delves into the emotional journey of Tove, the Snow Queen, as she grapples with grief, loss, self-deprecation, and other inner demons following her family's tragic death. Advised by her long-term friend Nico to consider marriage, Tove's life takes a dramatic turn when she is unexpectedly swept away by a mysterious stranger, Rick. As hidden identities are unveiled, secrets and betrayals surface, and Tove is left to navigate the treacherous waters of trust and loyalty. Her struggle between her enduring affection for Nico and her burgeoning attraction to Rick is masterfully portrayed.
I loved the story; the plot was well-executed, the pace was perfect, and the characters were flawed yet real. Tove's character was beautifully portrayed; my heart was aching for her and her torn devotions. The same goes for Rick, the epitome of a morally grey character who would burn the world for those he cares for.
Frost and Death is a standalone novel in a future series of interconnected stories, and I can't wait to see what the following characters will bring us. Frost and Death is being released on September 27th, so mark your calendars!
Frost and Death will bring you
- Frozen meets Beauty and the Beast retelling
- standalone romantasy
- rivalling kingdoms
- secrets, intrigue & betrayals
- curse breaking
- arranged marriage
- forced proximity
- he takes care of her
- she brings him food
- morally grey characters
- found family
- grief and loss
- HEA
Frost and Death delves into the emotional journey of Tove, the Snow Queen, as she grapples with grief, loss, self-deprecation, and other inner demons following her family's tragic death. Advised by her long-term friend Nico to consider marriage, Tove's life takes a dramatic turn when she is unexpectedly swept away by a mysterious stranger, Rick. As hidden identities are unveiled, secrets and betrayals surface, and Tove is left to navigate the treacherous waters of trust and loyalty. Her struggle between her enduring affection for Nico and her burgeoning attraction to Rick is masterfully portrayed.
I loved the story; the plot was well-executed, the pace was perfect, and the characters were flawed yet real. Tove's character was beautifully portrayed; my heart was aching for her and her torn devotions. The same goes for Rick, the epitome of a morally grey character who would burn the world for those he cares for.
Frost and Death is a standalone novel in a future series of interconnected stories, and I can't wait to see what the following characters will bring us. Frost and Death is being released on September 27th, so mark your calendars!
Frost and Death will bring you
- Frozen meets Beauty and the Beast retelling
- standalone romantasy
- rivalling kingdoms
- secrets, intrigue & betrayals
- curse breaking
- arranged marriage
- forced proximity
- he takes care of her
- she brings him food
- morally grey characters
- found family
- grief and loss
- HEA
August 30, 2025
4.5⭐️
Let me start this off with two words only: THE. DECEPTION. 😮💨
In this one, we follow Queen Tove (TOVAH) through a journey that is equal parts grief, self-worth, betrayal, and reclamation. And listen, our girl does not start out strong. She gets knocked down, dragged, tested, and broken more times than I could count… but watching her rise from the ashes? Absolutely kept me glued to the pages. 👏
Jacci Prior & Christian Leatherman we phenomenal in this audiobook. I could not imagine queen Tove, being portrayed by anyone else, nor Jerrick! Mythical Gems Media delivered production that was clean, crisp and completely cinematic with atmospheric music playing during the most intense aspects of the book, bringing the listener even further into this world.
And then there’s Jerrick. Sinfully delicious, tension-thick, dark, brooding, and forbidden MMC. The push and pull between them had me clutching my Kindle like it owed me money.
Which brings us to the aforementioned betrayal. I did not see that twist coming. The author masterfully crafted that reveal and left my jaw on the floor.
For my fantasy bébés— yes, this is technically a frozen retelling, but it’s loose. Think: borrowing a character and spinning an entirely different, darker world around her. And that world? Rich, broody, laced with spice that doesn’t hold back.
Final verdict: if you love dark fantasy with spice that burns, emotionally harrowing journeys, betrayal sharp enough to cut, and tension so suffocating it makes it hard to breathe— this one is for you. Highly, highly recommend. 💙
Let me start this off with two words only: THE. DECEPTION. 😮💨
In this one, we follow Queen Tove (TOVAH) through a journey that is equal parts grief, self-worth, betrayal, and reclamation. And listen, our girl does not start out strong. She gets knocked down, dragged, tested, and broken more times than I could count… but watching her rise from the ashes? Absolutely kept me glued to the pages. 👏
Jacci Prior & Christian Leatherman we phenomenal in this audiobook. I could not imagine queen Tove, being portrayed by anyone else, nor Jerrick! Mythical Gems Media delivered production that was clean, crisp and completely cinematic with atmospheric music playing during the most intense aspects of the book, bringing the listener even further into this world.
And then there’s Jerrick. Sinfully delicious, tension-thick, dark, brooding, and forbidden MMC. The push and pull between them had me clutching my Kindle like it owed me money.
Which brings us to the aforementioned betrayal. I did not see that twist coming. The author masterfully crafted that reveal and left my jaw on the floor.
For my fantasy bébés— yes, this is technically a frozen retelling, but it’s loose. Think: borrowing a character and spinning an entirely different, darker world around her. And that world? Rich, broody, laced with spice that doesn’t hold back.
Final verdict: if you love dark fantasy with spice that burns, emotionally harrowing journeys, betrayal sharp enough to cut, and tension so suffocating it makes it hard to breathe— this one is for you. Highly, highly recommend. 💙
November 22, 2024
With thanks to the author for an eARC to read and review. All thoughts are my own.
Debut author with a well edited retelling of The Snow Queen with Frozen inspired elements. There was so much going on, I did wonder if we had any tropes left to use.
The first third of the book was a bit frazzled for me. Then again, virginal snow princesses with uncontrollable ice magic but a healthy sexdrive might fit some reader demographics, just not mine.
Unfortunately some of the character points were lost in the early building of the plot “tension”. An example being, Tove and her musical inclinations, this could have been a beautiful part of the story but it was lost in the internal monologues and misplaced “he’s the bad guy”. More character input there and less on shoe-horning the spice into the story next time. Certainly a first for me, was reading phone sex via magical mirror…A reminder that less is more - in self gratification and vocabulary.
Some of the vocab choices were over blown - like an outfit, read it, take an adjective out. This wordiness and fluffiness were distracting. Which leads me to language choices - either we’re all cussing and committing to it or, we’re high society manners and propriety.
I DNF’d at 65%, however skimmed the remainder, where my hunches were confirmed.
January 26, 2025
I absolutely loved this slow burn Snow Queen reimagining. Bonus for me was that it gave off a few Frozen vibes. You had forbidden love, curses, and fated mates, along with betrayal and self-discovery. Queen Tove thought she was the "Snow Queen" After all, that is what the people of her kingdom called her, or did they? Then she gets kudnapped by King Jerrick of Paleana and expected to break his curse. Is Tove doomed to fail, or is she the key to breaking the curse and bringing peace to the kingdoms. This retelling was amazing, and I can't wait to read L.L. Riley's next book.
October 1, 2024
A story that bewitches you because the more you advance the more you can't let go of the novel.
The background is very rich and promises to return to this universe easily for other novels because we still have a lot of things to discover.
The heroes are very well worked and their anxiety or feminine problems tend to make them even more concrete for us. I loved seeing the hero take care of the heroine during your cycle.
There is a love triangle that is very well turned and makes the heroine's choices uncertain. Doubt inhabits her and we follow her wanderings with passion.
There is also lgbtqia representation that I loved. Really this novel has such strength because it takes several things and exploits them to their maximum. Nothing is underestimated.
In summary, an excellent first novel that augurs even more wonderful sequels as the author gains confidence.
The background is very rich and promises to return to this universe easily for other novels because we still have a lot of things to discover.
The heroes are very well worked and their anxiety or feminine problems tend to make them even more concrete for us. I loved seeing the hero take care of the heroine during your cycle.
There is a love triangle that is very well turned and makes the heroine's choices uncertain. Doubt inhabits her and we follow her wanderings with passion.
There is also lgbtqia representation that I loved. Really this novel has such strength because it takes several things and exploits them to their maximum. Nothing is underestimated.
In summary, an excellent first novel that augurs even more wonderful sequels as the author gains confidence.
September 4, 2024
I was given an arc for this & I am so glad I was able to read it!! If you like fairytale retellings, spefically a spicy Snow Queen retelling, this is definitely for you 💙
This book has me in a chokehold!! Guysss! The feelsss of this one woww!
The minute I began this story, I was hooked right away- it has such a beautiful plot, funny and loveable characters, magic, spice, a nice slow burn & the tensionnn👌
It is definitely an emotional one, like veryyy emotional but in the most wonderful way possible(but srsly be ready to cry & feeel alll the emotions). I related to Tove- the fmc so damn much! It touches on anxiety, mental health and even menstruation- which is refreshing to see!
The relationships between all the characters was also nice to see, so much love & yet so much heartbreak 🫂
I can't wait for release day! 🔥
This book has me in a chokehold!! Guysss! The feelsss of this one woww!
The minute I began this story, I was hooked right away- it has such a beautiful plot, funny and loveable characters, magic, spice, a nice slow burn & the tensionnn👌
It is definitely an emotional one, like veryyy emotional but in the most wonderful way possible(but srsly be ready to cry & feeel alll the emotions). I related to Tove- the fmc so damn much! It touches on anxiety, mental health and even menstruation- which is refreshing to see!
The relationships between all the characters was also nice to see, so much love & yet so much heartbreak 🫂
I can't wait for release day! 🔥
September 7, 2024
This book was really good! It did start off slow and I had a bit of trouble getting into it, but I am so happy that I stuck with it! There was such great character development in this book and I loved seeing the characters grow. The ending was insane and I loved how everything got resolved. I highly recommend this!
September 1, 2024
I read an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the author!
For a first time author, this book was well-written. The ARC had very few, if any typos. There was also some artwork of the characters that readers will enjoy.
I’m struggling to leave a review because I disliked the entire beginning of the text. It began with some tropes I’m not a fan of, namely the naive virgin, and some silly plot points that felt very amateur. It also seemed very derivative of Frozen. The FMC Tove (I’m hoping the pronunciation of that name is Tove-uh? Because I kept reading it like Stove), is grieving the loss of her entire family. As such, she’s in a very vulnerable position. To make things worse, she can’t control her ice magic, so her entire kingdom is frozen over. She has her servant Betina and political advisor Nico, who oddly is a 21 year old male, and that’s it. Are there no older, esteemed characters in this world at all? Literally everyone was 19-24, even the heads of other kingdoms. Nico is pushing her to marry immediately/within a week, and it feels incredibly rushed and silly. At no point does Tove say this, either. She just goes along with his plan, too wrapped up in menstrual cramp pain and grief to concentrate and think for herself.
A mysterious scarred man arrives at the week’s celebratory events and she’s instantly drawn to his cologne and smirk. His cologne is mentioned many times throughout the text. She dances with him and then Nico gets jealous and wants to marry her and she agrees because she’s always loved him. But what of the scarred man she’s attracted to? Will he show up and save her somehow? How will she learn how to control her magic? What about those period cramps that are debilitating? What happened to her parents and sister? Does Nico really love her?
The big mysteries of the text were relatively easy to discern. After the wedding, the book improves and slows down for much needed character development. But then we get another of my least favorite tropes in Romantasy, which is the virgin who, during her very first sexual experience, does all the things like an old pro, no nerves, no soreness. This happened with Tove even though the beginning of the book she literally has never even been kissed. I also got very distracted by the way the FMC cursed, which was to make liberal use of the phrase “Sweet Makers” (makers are the gods of this world). Speaking of—a list of deities and their powers should be provided with the map.
Ok, so the parts I enjoyed: the scarred man and his world and magic (don’t want to give too much away), the fact that the author didn’t shy away from pain and grief and dug into it with Tove—especially women’s pain, which is never mentioned in Romantasy, and the found family and female friendships that were fast but sweet. She also wrote good spice, and some fun twists and turns by the end of the book. I cared for the FMC and wanted to see her succeed and was relieved to see her begin to wisen up and grow throughout the text.
Even though this book felt a bit young to me, I’d read more from this author. I think she’s off to a strong start and there was some really fun stuff in this book that kept me interested.
Read if you love Frozen, found family, love triangle, character growth, and light political machinations and world building.
For a first time author, this book was well-written. The ARC had very few, if any typos. There was also some artwork of the characters that readers will enjoy.
I’m struggling to leave a review because I disliked the entire beginning of the text. It began with some tropes I’m not a fan of, namely the naive virgin, and some silly plot points that felt very amateur. It also seemed very derivative of Frozen. The FMC Tove (I’m hoping the pronunciation of that name is Tove-uh? Because I kept reading it like Stove), is grieving the loss of her entire family. As such, she’s in a very vulnerable position. To make things worse, she can’t control her ice magic, so her entire kingdom is frozen over. She has her servant Betina and political advisor Nico, who oddly is a 21 year old male, and that’s it. Are there no older, esteemed characters in this world at all? Literally everyone was 19-24, even the heads of other kingdoms. Nico is pushing her to marry immediately/within a week, and it feels incredibly rushed and silly. At no point does Tove say this, either. She just goes along with his plan, too wrapped up in menstrual cramp pain and grief to concentrate and think for herself.
A mysterious scarred man arrives at the week’s celebratory events and she’s instantly drawn to his cologne and smirk. His cologne is mentioned many times throughout the text. She dances with him and then Nico gets jealous and wants to marry her and she agrees because she’s always loved him. But what of the scarred man she’s attracted to? Will he show up and save her somehow? How will she learn how to control her magic? What about those period cramps that are debilitating? What happened to her parents and sister? Does Nico really love her?
The big mysteries of the text were relatively easy to discern. After the wedding, the book improves and slows down for much needed character development. But then we get another of my least favorite tropes in Romantasy, which is the virgin who, during her very first sexual experience, does all the things like an old pro, no nerves, no soreness. This happened with Tove even though the beginning of the book she literally has never even been kissed. I also got very distracted by the way the FMC cursed, which was to make liberal use of the phrase “Sweet Makers” (makers are the gods of this world). Speaking of—a list of deities and their powers should be provided with the map.
Ok, so the parts I enjoyed: the scarred man and his world and magic (don’t want to give too much away), the fact that the author didn’t shy away from pain and grief and dug into it with Tove—especially women’s pain, which is never mentioned in Romantasy, and the found family and female friendships that were fast but sweet. She also wrote good spice, and some fun twists and turns by the end of the book. I cared for the FMC and wanted to see her succeed and was relieved to see her begin to wisen up and grow throughout the text.
Even though this book felt a bit young to me, I’d read more from this author. I think she’s off to a strong start and there was some really fun stuff in this book that kept me interested.
Read if you love Frozen, found family, love triangle, character growth, and light political machinations and world building.
May 17, 2025
This is a spicy Snow Queen retelling that definitely gave me Frozen vibes. The Queen has recently lost her parents and family, and now she’s struggling to control her powers. Tove has frozen her entire town. Oops! She is determined to find a husband to help control her magic. There are several, but one clearly stands out to me, Jerrick. Oh but alas, plot twist! I wasn’t a fan of Niko, but I was totally fine with how his role played out. I loved the banter between Tova and Jerrick. It felt genuine. They are both lost souls. I also adored Jerrick’s sibling. He’s such a keeper and a good brother. Overall, I loved that this was a standalone romantasy. The narrators, Jacci Prior, and Christian Leatherman are great together! I love their duet narration and they truly breathed life into their characters. LOVED it!!! The tones and inflections used were spot on. I can’t wait to read the next story and dive deeper into the world of the Deities, Kingdoms and magic. Perfect for lovers of spicy romantasy with slow burn tension, arranged marriage, found family, royalty, mental health rep, powerful magic, and a hero who takes care of her in all the best ways.
Please be sure to check CW.
A very special thanks to the author for the gifted audiobook.
Please be sure to check CW.
A very special thanks to the author for the gifted audiobook.
September 6, 2024
“Hello there, Frostbite,” he purrs.
“I’m going to treasure every inch of you if it’s the last thing I do.”
“He danced with you before I got to. So, I made sure he knew what is mine.”
“Eyes on me, love.”
Thank you L.L. Riley for trusting me with this ARC. Where to start? This book has angst, personal battles, revenge, magic, betrayal, love and banter. What a wild ride. I think I forgot to breathe while reading this book. I read this book in 2 days, I just couldn’t put it down. The writing had a chokehold on me and dragged me through each and every emotion. I don’t like to spoil the story in my reviews but let me tell you this book has all the feels. The way L.L. writes brings you right into this world and makes you invested in the characters. The world building was just right, their magic was great and added to the tension. The characters are so well written, complex, they have personal demons they deal with as well as trying to navigate their relationships. I love that the side characters all have personalities and are very involved in the story. I was very invested in them as well as the main characters. While reading this book I laughed, my heart broke, I raged and at times I felt all warm inside. So yeah, all the rides. I loved that the main characters went through personal and relationship growth. The slow burn is so full of tension and it feels so good when the fireworks go off, and let me tell you, they were blazing hot. There were some twists and turns in the plot that I didn’t see coming and being surprised always makes me enjoy the book more. I’m a sucker for nicknames and Jerrick had me melting at “Frostbite”. The ending was epic, so much tension and everyone got what they deserved. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Fairytale retellings, slow burn, touch her and die, one bed, found family, kidnapping and magic.
“I have an idea for next time,” he says, promising seduction. “Next time, I want to use our magic.” “And when is next time?” “Now.”
“I’m going to treasure every inch of you if it’s the last thing I do.”
“He danced with you before I got to. So, I made sure he knew what is mine.”
“Eyes on me, love.”
Thank you L.L. Riley for trusting me with this ARC. Where to start? This book has angst, personal battles, revenge, magic, betrayal, love and banter. What a wild ride. I think I forgot to breathe while reading this book. I read this book in 2 days, I just couldn’t put it down. The writing had a chokehold on me and dragged me through each and every emotion. I don’t like to spoil the story in my reviews but let me tell you this book has all the feels. The way L.L. writes brings you right into this world and makes you invested in the characters. The world building was just right, their magic was great and added to the tension. The characters are so well written, complex, they have personal demons they deal with as well as trying to navigate their relationships. I love that the side characters all have personalities and are very involved in the story. I was very invested in them as well as the main characters. While reading this book I laughed, my heart broke, I raged and at times I felt all warm inside. So yeah, all the rides. I loved that the main characters went through personal and relationship growth. The slow burn is so full of tension and it feels so good when the fireworks go off, and let me tell you, they were blazing hot. There were some twists and turns in the plot that I didn’t see coming and being surprised always makes me enjoy the book more. I’m a sucker for nicknames and Jerrick had me melting at “Frostbite”. The ending was epic, so much tension and everyone got what they deserved. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Fairytale retellings, slow burn, touch her and die, one bed, found family, kidnapping and magic.
“I have an idea for next time,” he says, promising seduction. “Next time, I want to use our magic.” “And when is next time?” “Now.”
May 30, 2025
Frost and Death perfectly blend romance, fantasy, and trauma healing. The FMC, Tove, struggles with her past and how to be the best queen for her kingdom while also struggling to control her unpredictable snow magic. Her character development was to die for, and I ate it up like candy!
Enter Jerrick, one of the MMC, broody and mysterious. And about to wreak Tove’s life (in the best way possible). Jerrick has his own secrets, but is willing to help Tove master her magic. The tension and hate are strong between these two and make for a FANTASTIC slow burn.
The ending is satisfying with a sweet HEA, and I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys retellings and slow burn laced with trauma healing because it is to die for!
Enter Jerrick, one of the MMC, broody and mysterious. And about to wreak Tove’s life (in the best way possible). Jerrick has his own secrets, but is willing to help Tove master her magic. The tension and hate are strong between these two and make for a FANTASTIC slow burn.
The ending is satisfying with a sweet HEA, and I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys retellings and slow burn laced with trauma healing because it is to die for!
February 7, 2025
This book was soooooo deliciously good! i loved this retelling of the Snow Queen and the slow burn was such a torture but worth it! I’m so glad I got a special edition of this from the author that also featured so many magical pieces of art throughout the book (the NSFW are a dream).
The story focuses a lot on grief and healing and how it’s okay to not be okay. Such important concepts woven throughout and it was a beauty watching Jerrick’s patience in teaching her how to trust herself and how to heal.
The story focuses a lot on grief and healing and how it’s okay to not be okay. Such important concepts woven throughout and it was a beauty watching Jerrick’s patience in teaching her how to trust herself and how to heal.
Read
June 4, 2025This snow queen-inspired tale was well-written with a likable FMC. I really enjoyed the twist early on, and seeing Tove learn and grow as a character. I also enjoyed the found family!
Jacci Prior and Christian Leatherman did a PHENOMENAL job at bringing the characters to life!!! Christian is a new-to-me narrator, and became an instant yes on my fave male narrators list. Jacci always knocks it out of the park!
Thank you to the author for the ALC!
Jacci Prior and Christian Leatherman did a PHENOMENAL job at bringing the characters to life!!! Christian is a new-to-me narrator, and became an instant yes on my fave male narrators list. Jacci always knocks it out of the park!
Thank you to the author for the ALC!
October 27, 2025
3.5 stars!! This was a super fun read and i really enjoyed our characters! especially the side characters. it just felt kinda similar to the books ive read recently with the plot twist and the story. i still would recommend this to anyone who just wants a fun laid back read!! i also absolutely ADORE the author! she’s super sweet!!
September 3, 2024
“Feeling warm over there, Frostbite?”
“You just have to go and ruin all my fun now, don’t you.”
“Plant your pretty c*nt on my face so I can revel in your taste.”
Snow Queen reimagining with royal politics and great character growth.
I love fairytale retellings, so of course I wanted to read this one too, and I really enjoyed it. I don’t think I’ve read Snow Queen retellings before.
The book is told in one POV, Tove. I liked her as a FMC. She had a tragic past and she was fighting with her inner demons. I liked how she grew as a character throughout the story and how relatable she was, I mean I also love pastries and have anxiety 😅 Tove’s struggles with her painful monthly cycles is something you don’t usually see in fantasy books.
The side characters were also interesting and helped to move the plot forward. I liked the banter, tension and relationship development between Tove and the MMC. I liked having the nice build up and slow burn.
This book was an emotional rollercoaster in the best way possible. There were some sad parts but also some parts that had me laughing out loud. And some parts that truly took me by surprise with plot twists I didn’t see coming.
I loved having the pronunciation guide and map right at the beginning. And there was some beautiful character art inside the book.
The world seemed really interesting and I would love to learn more about it and for example, the deities. Can’t wait to read more!
I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review. Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book.
“You just have to go and ruin all my fun now, don’t you.”
“Plant your pretty c*nt on my face so I can revel in your taste.”
Snow Queen reimagining with royal politics and great character growth.
I love fairytale retellings, so of course I wanted to read this one too, and I really enjoyed it. I don’t think I’ve read Snow Queen retellings before.
The book is told in one POV, Tove. I liked her as a FMC. She had a tragic past and she was fighting with her inner demons. I liked how she grew as a character throughout the story and how relatable she was, I mean I also love pastries and have anxiety 😅 Tove’s struggles with her painful monthly cycles is something you don’t usually see in fantasy books.
The side characters were also interesting and helped to move the plot forward. I liked the banter, tension and relationship development between Tove and the MMC. I liked having the nice build up and slow burn.
This book was an emotional rollercoaster in the best way possible. There were some sad parts but also some parts that had me laughing out loud. And some parts that truly took me by surprise with plot twists I didn’t see coming.
I loved having the pronunciation guide and map right at the beginning. And there was some beautiful character art inside the book.
The world seemed really interesting and I would love to learn more about it and for example, the deities. Can’t wait to read more!
I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review. Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book.
August 27, 2025
This was a fun read! Spicy Elsa vibes for the WIN! There were so many creative elements to this book, and I loved the mirror most of all. I was able to read it in a day, and I loved the way the book ended. I’m very excited to start book two!
October 14, 2025
Six stars. Perfection. No notes. Only complete and utter love for this book. Jerrick is easily one of my top MMCs at this point. Tove is complex, filled with grief, anxiety, and a sense of obligation all while being kind and soft. We don’t get enough soft FMCs anymore. This book did it so right.
December 20, 2024
4/5 ⭐️ | 📚 Incredible debut novel! Like a dark & spicy frozen! Great writing style & I loved the FMC so much
May 26, 2025
If you love the movie Frozen, but want an epic adult fantasy version... this book is for you. The way I ate this book up was unreal. The story line took me through a loop. The plot twists and the witty banter where everything! This book follows a "snow queen" Tove who is learning about her powers and how to control them.. similar to Elsa in my opinion. She then has to get married to help her kingdom but not to who we think she will marry. This enemies to lovers romantasy book is just an epic telling of love, sacrifice, self discovery, grief, and more. I will say read the trigger warning if that is something that bothers you. The opening of this book is so beautiful and heart wrenching. I highly recommend you listen to the audiobook as it has some of the best narrators. It is a duet narration and epic with the different immersive sounds. 10/10 would recommend! Also not to mention, the spice was spicing! I literally cannot wait for the second book to come out!
September 21, 2024
I received an Advanced Reader Copy and all thoughts are my own.
Let me start with this:
I am not a fantasy reader. It just simply has never been a genre that I gravitated towards.
Also, I am a high school English teacher, so I go into every novel I read with a very analytical approach naturally.
That being said, this is my first exposure to the “Snow Queen” story, so I don’t have other tellings to compare it to.
However, I have become ABSOLUTELY obsessed with the way this story has been articulated!! The intentional depth of character development for EACH character that Riley created is one of the best I have ever read. I wish there was a “clean” version of this so I could use it as a teaching piece in my classroom to discuss characterization.
The language is so vivid and developed that this is a novel that “struggling readers” would fall in love with. Talk about creating a movie in your mind! The artistic vocabulary and syntax of each sentence/paragraph makes each page flow effortlessly. Simply put, this was intoxicating to read.
Finally, the actual story development.
Oh. My. Lord.
The power struggles..😳
The antagonist/protagonist dynamics..😳
The suspenseful techniques this author uses made me NEVER want to put this novel down. I actually became angry at one point that there isn’t an audiobook version for me to listen to when I wasn’t able to have the physical copy in my hand.
Overall, it is shocking to believe this is L.L. Riley’s debut novel. The natural skill she possesses as an author has made me anticipate ever other literary piece she will release in the future.
After the release of this novel in the near future, I will post an additional review with spoilers once others get the chance to experience this artistry for themselves!
Let me start with this:
I am not a fantasy reader. It just simply has never been a genre that I gravitated towards.
Also, I am a high school English teacher, so I go into every novel I read with a very analytical approach naturally.
That being said, this is my first exposure to the “Snow Queen” story, so I don’t have other tellings to compare it to.
However, I have become ABSOLUTELY obsessed with the way this story has been articulated!! The intentional depth of character development for EACH character that Riley created is one of the best I have ever read. I wish there was a “clean” version of this so I could use it as a teaching piece in my classroom to discuss characterization.
The language is so vivid and developed that this is a novel that “struggling readers” would fall in love with. Talk about creating a movie in your mind! The artistic vocabulary and syntax of each sentence/paragraph makes each page flow effortlessly. Simply put, this was intoxicating to read.
Finally, the actual story development.
Oh. My. Lord.
The power struggles..😳
The antagonist/protagonist dynamics..😳
The suspenseful techniques this author uses made me NEVER want to put this novel down. I actually became angry at one point that there isn’t an audiobook version for me to listen to when I wasn’t able to have the physical copy in my hand.
Overall, it is shocking to believe this is L.L. Riley’s debut novel. The natural skill she possesses as an author has made me anticipate ever other literary piece she will release in the future.
After the release of this novel in the near future, I will post an additional review with spoilers once others get the chance to experience this artistry for themselves!
September 11, 2025
I’m so glad I came across this author’s TikTok of her receiving her proof for her debut novel. Her tears of joy and happiness, in addition to the book blurb, made me preorder her limited print first 100 order boxes and I am SO. GLAD! I am so glad I was in the small group of people who received the first 100 book debut box because I get to say that I was there before it went viral.
The book is absolutely gorgeous. The limited edition paperback has 19 full color pages of art within its pages that absolutely spoiled me. 3 of those portraits are NSFW and are 🔥🔥🔥 The Snow Queen/Frozen retelling was awesome, and it wasn’t a Disney solution to the problem. People had to WORK for that ending.
Over all, I loved it! Definitely one of my favorite reads of the year. I will anxiously be awaiting book 2.
The book is absolutely gorgeous. The limited edition paperback has 19 full color pages of art within its pages that absolutely spoiled me. 3 of those portraits are NSFW and are 🔥🔥🔥 The Snow Queen/Frozen retelling was awesome, and it wasn’t a Disney solution to the problem. People had to WORK for that ending.
Over all, I loved it! Definitely one of my favorite reads of the year. I will anxiously be awaiting book 2.
July 1, 2025
Frost and Death by L.L. Riley
*Firstly let me just say OMG was this book amazing! Sometimes books seem very similar to others and tend to be repetitive but Frost and Death kept me always guessing and wanting more.
**Secondly, the Snow Queen isn't as popular as some of the other retellings or reimaginings but this book will definitely put it on the map.
Without any spoilers, I loved Tove and Jerrick. How their characters grew throughout the book. How we got to know each side character and got to love them as well. The magic abilities in this book were unfamiliar to other books and it was perfect! Great read!
*Firstly let me just say OMG was this book amazing! Sometimes books seem very similar to others and tend to be repetitive but Frost and Death kept me always guessing and wanting more.
**Secondly, the Snow Queen isn't as popular as some of the other retellings or reimaginings but this book will definitely put it on the map.
Without any spoilers, I loved Tove and Jerrick. How their characters grew throughout the book. How we got to know each side character and got to love them as well. The magic abilities in this book were unfamiliar to other books and it was perfect! Great read!
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