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Tales of Eukarya #3
A Bond of Ice and Sunshine
The Snow Queen meets King Thrushbeard…
As the crown prince of the tiny, coastal island of Kysta, Frederick had many expectations surrounding his future marriage. He had expected it to be an arranged, political match with a neighboring country. He had expected that the union would be weighed down by social and economic consequences. When his childhood friend and playmate, Princess Eliza of Nedra was announced as his intended, it was a pleasant surprise, but not unexpected.
What Freddy didn’t expect was the sudden icy temper and stone cold stares that Eliza has been gracing him with since the announcement. He also never expected to be left at the altar.
Twice.
But if there’s one thing Freddy knows, it’s that not even the coldest ice can withstand the sun. He’s willing to cross the whole of Eukarya to bring her back, and he’s determined to melt his way into the icy princess’s heart…even if it means risking frostbite to his own.
As the crown prince of the tiny, coastal island of Kysta, Frederick had many expectations surrounding his future marriage. He had expected it to be an arranged, political match with a neighboring country. He had expected that the union would be weighed down by social and economic consequences. When his childhood friend and playmate, Princess Eliza of Nedra was announced as his intended, it was a pleasant surprise, but not unexpected.
What Freddy didn’t expect was the sudden icy temper and stone cold stares that Eliza has been gracing him with since the announcement. He also never expected to be left at the altar.
Twice.
But if there’s one thing Freddy knows, it’s that not even the coldest ice can withstand the sun. He’s willing to cross the whole of Eukarya to bring her back, and he’s determined to melt his way into the icy princess’s heart…even if it means risking frostbite to his own.
186 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 9, 2024
16 people are currently reading
311 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Beran
31 books196 followersSarah lives in sunny southern California with her husband, two small children, and dog Pippin. An elementary music teacher by day, when she is not writing or devouring books she spends her free time running, making music, or playing make believe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
September 3, 2025
5 stars ✨ Clean Fiction / Light Faith Content - Fairytale Retelling
2024 review:
Let’s note something real quick: I’ve been hard pressed to find a King Thrushbeard retelling I’ve enjoyed. The Princess is typically a brat and it’s just not enticing to me. 🤷🏻♀️ The Snow Queen? I’ll take Frozen any day.
*squints at rating*
But this book? Oh, my goodness. This was excellent. I’m over here twirling in a circle, giddy as all get out. Sound of Music in the hills style. My cheeks hurt from smiling so much vibes.
I love how the author shares a summary of both of these stories at the beginning of this book because she does it so well and it really highlights how crazy some of these original fairytales are. (Petition for her to do all of them because some Wikipedia pages are too long and boring to sit through.)
It should be noted that our main girl, Eliza/Lizzie, has been subjected to verbal and physical abuse from her father and that is an important part of the book because that’s why she’s cursed herself to not feel emotions—thinking that her husband one day will be the same because that’s the only marriage she’s ever seen. My heart hurt for her during these scenes, but I don’t think it dragged the book down to sadness. That said, if a reader has experienced that themselves, it could be hard to read.
Reading this book has me so excited for the next book in the series as I’m nearly positive we met the male lead (Prince Shea) in this book and it being a Mulan retelling crossed with a Goose Girl retelling anyway just has me bouncing on my heels in eagerness. 😁
The flashback chapter to when he was six and they became friends for the first time was precious! All the details that fit so well for a six year old were perfect and as weird as it might be to say, I immensely enjoyed it and was amused by that chapter with seeing them at younger ages. Seeing their friendship in the thick of it and then when Freddy notices that Lizzie has changed was a perfect addition to the book. Them in their child forms and then another kiddo we meet in this book had me absolutely tickled pink and laughing so much.
I was an absolute fool—I didn’t realize until 88% through—near the end!!!—that this was the best friend of our Male Lead in the second book in this series. Can I blame lack of sleep? Because what. Lindsey Grace. I’m disappointed in my own self and I need to reread all of these back to back so I can appreciate this connection. I knew after reading the second book that this third book was his story but apparently I forgot it within the few weeks it’s been?? My huge blunder aside, it was wonderful to see the couple of the second book and I’m so glad I realized it eventually. I wish I would have gone in with that knowledge but it just made me even giddier while reading.
When the Male Lead of a book is completely smitten and like a golden retriever puppy around the main girl >>> nothing can top that for me.
2025 reread review:
Okay, yes, I'm bumping this book up to a 5 star rating. It's just so good and Freddy is just the perfect MMC. How smitten he is and how determined he is to show Lizzie how much he loves her just makes me melt into a puddle of emotions. I'm literally the happy crying emoji over this book 🥹 This book has so many ridiculously cute and adorable and quotable scenes and I leave you with a couple of them:
Being left at the altar was a very uncomfortable situation to be in. Unfortunately for Freddy, it was also a familiar one.
"Well, I, for one, highly recommend married life." "You've been married for less than ten minutes, and your wife is likely fleeing the country at this very moment."
Main Content-
Mentions of a priest; A few mentions of the Almighty & prayers to Him.
To keep herself from feeling emotions (as she believes that she will one day be betrayed by Freddy), ; Mentions of magic & curses (including from prior books in the series).
At the beginning of this book, the author summarizes both The Snow Queen and King Thrushbeard which has mentions of a hobgoblin, some magic, and someone thinking another drowned (but the person didn’t).
No major language; Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Freddy does lie a few of times under the guise of his secret identity.
Lizzie’s father is verbally and physically abusive with cruel and callous words towards her and Lizzie recalls hearing her mother being slapped by him (Lizzie is also grabbed at and bruised by her father); When Lizzie flinches around Freddy, he has the horrified realization that her father was probably physically abusive to her and the thought makes him mad.
Being kidnapped and tied-up & Pain (up to a few sentences); Mentions of wars, battlegrounds, fighting, & deaths; Mentions of a kidnapping, ransom, criminals, thieves, & stealing (including a child pickpocket); Mentions of injuries, pain, & blood/bleeding; A few mentions of an assassination attempt; A mention of being held at knife-point; A mention of a drunken soldier.
1 palm kiss,
1 forehead kiss,
1 nose kiss,
1 kiss lasting a couple sentences;
Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Flutters, & Nearness (including him pulling her onto his lap, up to a couple sentences).
Because of her father, Lizzie doesn’t want to get married (having only seen her parents who act like nothing is wrong in public, but her father is abusive at home) and is afraid her husband would be like that as well; Once married under the guise, Freddy (Kai) respects the boundary that Lizzie creates about them not sharing a tent or bed; Later, they share a bed but nothing sexual at all happens; Freddy (Kai) says he’ll wait until Lizzie is ready to kiss him; Some gossip about an affair that ended up starting a war; A married woman comments on a handsome young man and says she’s married, but “not blind”.
Mentions of kisses (a little girl asks Lizzie if Freddy/Kai’s beard tickles when he kisses her and Lizzie says he doesn’t kiss her, much to the shock of the little girl); A handful of mentions of young girls (older teenagers) being married off to much older men (including a mention of one being expected to bear him a son); A couple mentions of jealousy.
2024 review:
Let’s note something real quick: I’ve been hard pressed to find a King Thrushbeard retelling I’ve enjoyed. The Princess is typically a brat and it’s just not enticing to me. 🤷🏻♀️ The Snow Queen? I’ll take Frozen any day.
*squints at rating*
But this book? Oh, my goodness. This was excellent. I’m over here twirling in a circle, giddy as all get out. Sound of Music in the hills style. My cheeks hurt from smiling so much vibes.
I love how the author shares a summary of both of these stories at the beginning of this book because she does it so well and it really highlights how crazy some of these original fairytales are. (Petition for her to do all of them because some Wikipedia pages are too long and boring to sit through.)
It should be noted that our main girl, Eliza/Lizzie, has been subjected to verbal and physical abuse from her father and that is an important part of the book because that’s why she’s cursed herself to not feel emotions—thinking that her husband one day will be the same because that’s the only marriage she’s ever seen. My heart hurt for her during these scenes, but I don’t think it dragged the book down to sadness. That said, if a reader has experienced that themselves, it could be hard to read.
Reading this book has me so excited for the next book in the series as I’m nearly positive we met the male lead (Prince Shea) in this book and it being a Mulan retelling crossed with a Goose Girl retelling anyway just has me bouncing on my heels in eagerness. 😁
The flashback chapter to when he was six and they became friends for the first time was precious! All the details that fit so well for a six year old were perfect and as weird as it might be to say, I immensely enjoyed it and was amused by that chapter with seeing them at younger ages. Seeing their friendship in the thick of it and then when Freddy notices that Lizzie has changed was a perfect addition to the book. Them in their child forms and then another kiddo we meet in this book had me absolutely tickled pink and laughing so much.
I was an absolute fool—I didn’t realize until 88% through—near the end!!!—that this was the best friend of our Male Lead in the second book in this series. Can I blame lack of sleep? Because what. Lindsey Grace. I’m disappointed in my own self and I need to reread all of these back to back so I can appreciate this connection. I knew after reading the second book that this third book was his story but apparently I forgot it within the few weeks it’s been?? My huge blunder aside, it was wonderful to see the couple of the second book and I’m so glad I realized it eventually. I wish I would have gone in with that knowledge but it just made me even giddier while reading.
When the Male Lead of a book is completely smitten and like a golden retriever puppy around the main girl >>> nothing can top that for me.
2025 reread review:
Okay, yes, I'm bumping this book up to a 5 star rating. It's just so good and Freddy is just the perfect MMC. How smitten he is and how determined he is to show Lizzie how much he loves her just makes me melt into a puddle of emotions. I'm literally the happy crying emoji over this book 🥹 This book has so many ridiculously cute and adorable and quotable scenes and I leave you with a couple of them:
Being left at the altar was a very uncomfortable situation to be in. Unfortunately for Freddy, it was also a familiar one.
"Well, I, for one, highly recommend married life." "You've been married for less than ten minutes, and your wife is likely fleeing the country at this very moment."
Main Content-
Mentions of a priest; A few mentions of the Almighty & prayers to Him.
To keep herself from feeling emotions (as she believes that she will one day be betrayed by Freddy), ; Mentions of magic & curses (including from prior books in the series).
At the beginning of this book, the author summarizes both The Snow Queen and King Thrushbeard which has mentions of a hobgoblin, some magic, and someone thinking another drowned (but the person didn’t).
No major language; Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Freddy does lie a few of times under the guise of his secret identity.
Lizzie’s father is verbally and physically abusive with cruel and callous words towards her and Lizzie recalls hearing her mother being slapped by him (Lizzie is also grabbed at and bruised by her father); When Lizzie flinches around Freddy, he has the horrified realization that her father was probably physically abusive to her and the thought makes him mad.
Being kidnapped and tied-up & Pain (up to a few sentences); Mentions of wars, battlegrounds, fighting, & deaths; Mentions of a kidnapping, ransom, criminals, thieves, & stealing (including a child pickpocket); Mentions of injuries, pain, & blood/bleeding; A few mentions of an assassination attempt; A mention of being held at knife-point; A mention of a drunken soldier.
1 palm kiss,
1 forehead kiss,
1 nose kiss,
1 kiss lasting a couple sentences;
Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Flutters, & Nearness (including him pulling her onto his lap, up to a couple sentences).
Because of her father, Lizzie doesn’t want to get married (having only seen her parents who act like nothing is wrong in public, but her father is abusive at home) and is afraid her husband would be like that as well; Once married under the guise, Freddy (Kai) respects the boundary that Lizzie creates about them not sharing a tent or bed; Later, they share a bed but nothing sexual at all happens; Freddy (Kai) says he’ll wait until Lizzie is ready to kiss him; Some gossip about an affair that ended up starting a war; A married woman comments on a handsome young man and says she’s married, but “not blind”.
Mentions of kisses (a little girl asks Lizzie if Freddy/Kai’s beard tickles when he kisses her and Lizzie says he doesn’t kiss her, much to the shock of the little girl); A handful of mentions of young girls (older teenagers) being married off to much older men (including a mention of one being expected to bear him a son); A couple mentions of jealousy.
December 26, 2024
╔༺❀༻❄︎༺❀༻╗
♥ “Every day and always” ♥
╚༺❀༻❄︎༺❀༻╝
♫⋆⁺₊⋆♩ “Two” by Sleeping At Last ♩⋆⁺₊⋆♫
This book was beautiful.
And it went by way too fast.
And Sarah Beran is now a top priority author (don’t mind me while I go binge her books)
This book is by no means perfect, but
in my opinion, its pretty dang close.
My only wish is that it was longer!
This book deserves a long, beautiful review, so here we go:
𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐭: 𝟏𝟎/𝟏𝟎
❄︎༄ These two fairytales, The Snow Queen and King Thrushbeard, fit so wonderfully together. They feel like they were meant to be.
❄︎༄ There was some details of the plot I didn’t care for—like when the story would just skip a few days-or three weeks—but I think that’s just because I wanted this story to be LONGER.
❄︎༄ I also liked the little memory chapters, those were so sweet! (and sad)
❄︎༄ Overall though, the plot was paced well and kept me thoroughly intrigued.
𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝟏𝟎/𝟏𝟎
❄︎༄ 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐲 / 𝐤𝐚𝐢
WHERE CAN I FIND ME A MAN AS FINE AS THIS ONE. I mean seriously. He has fluffy golden curls, bright blue eyes, an adorable humor, and the loyalty of a golden retriever.
❄︎ “You love so easily, my son. Your heart is bright and bold, and you aren't afraid of letting it shine. Your affection is not easily swayed.“ ❄︎
Freddy’s resolve in this story is incredible, not to mention how much faith he had in Lizzie
❄︎ “Your emotional well-being is just as important as the physical, and I want you to know that you’re safe with me.” ❄︎
In the words of Flynn Rider, “Ooh mama, I have got to get me one of these”
SERIOUSLY. I want a man like this who has a healthy mindset on relationships and how to treat people (especially since I relate to Lizzie in a lesser degree)
❄︎ “I have loved you since the moment I first saw you smile...and I will love you until my dying breath.” ❄︎
This..this is just beautiful.
❄︎༄ 𝐋𝐢𝐳𝐳𝐢𝐞 / 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚
At first, I didn’t really like Lizzie, but then I got to her pov, and I started to like her quite a bit. Then I got to her memories and my heart broke. It shattered into a thousand pieces, while also feeling compassion and empathy for her. I felt for her on a whole different level because of my growing up in a similar situation. (not physical abuse though, thank God)
And I think Lizzie’s story also healed a little bit of me.
❄︎ “And Lizzie cried.” ❄︎
These three words won’t hit you like they did me until you read the book (so go read it)
Also, as someone who has struggled with numbness in extremely emotional situations, this scene broke me.
❄︎ “Hmm, yes. I know how much you love reindeer.”
Lizzie bit her lip, and he could tell she was wavering. “Some might say they’re better than people.” ❄︎
THIS REFERENCE. 6 year old me is squealing rn.
❄︎ “I can’t marry him.”
“Why not?”
“Because my heart won’t be able to handle it when he turns out to be like Father.” ❄︎
My- my heart.
❄︎༄ 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐚
I don’t have much to say about him other than he was an amazing friend and I dearly hope we get his story!
❄︎༄ 𝐏𝐢𝐱𝐢𝐞
This little girl was adorable! I want a whole book about her too :)
𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: 𝟖.𝟓/𝟏𝟎
The romance was adorable, and while I absolutely loved it, I appreciate that there was also a focus on trust and healing from abuse. It’s a really powerful message that was told beautifully through the sweet romance. (And it was clean!)
All in all, I absolutely loved this book. Adored it. Please read it.
*´❄︎*¨`*✲´❄︎*` “And Lizzie cried.”*´❄︎*¨`*✲´❄︎*`
I’ll never get over this quote
Age recommendation: 12+
Content ⇩
*spoilers*
talks about emotional and physical abuse and trauma, general romance (romantic tension, being married, joking about kissing, kissing, sleeping in the same bed/tend as a married couple and there’s no intimacy) being kidnapped, threatened with a knife, running away, etc.
no language, no spice! 100% clean in my book.
♥ “Every day and always” ♥
╚༺❀༻❄︎༺❀༻╝
♫⋆⁺₊⋆♩ “Two” by Sleeping At Last ♩⋆⁺₊⋆♫
This book was beautiful.
And it went by way too fast.
And Sarah Beran is now a top priority author (don’t mind me while I go binge her books)
This book is by no means perfect, but
in my opinion, its pretty dang close.
My only wish is that it was longer!
This book deserves a long, beautiful review, so here we go:
𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐭: 𝟏𝟎/𝟏𝟎
❄︎༄ These two fairytales, The Snow Queen and King Thrushbeard, fit so wonderfully together. They feel like they were meant to be.
❄︎༄ There was some details of the plot I didn’t care for—like when the story would just skip a few days-or three weeks—but I think that’s just because I wanted this story to be LONGER.
❄︎༄ I also liked the little memory chapters, those were so sweet! (and sad)
❄︎༄ Overall though, the plot was paced well and kept me thoroughly intrigued.
𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝟏𝟎/𝟏𝟎
❄︎༄ 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐲 / 𝐤𝐚𝐢
WHERE CAN I FIND ME A MAN AS FINE AS THIS ONE. I mean seriously. He has fluffy golden curls, bright blue eyes, an adorable humor, and the loyalty of a golden retriever.
❄︎ “You love so easily, my son. Your heart is bright and bold, and you aren't afraid of letting it shine. Your affection is not easily swayed.“ ❄︎
Freddy’s resolve in this story is incredible, not to mention how much faith he had in Lizzie
❄︎ “Your emotional well-being is just as important as the physical, and I want you to know that you’re safe with me.” ❄︎
In the words of Flynn Rider, “Ooh mama, I have got to get me one of these”
SERIOUSLY. I want a man like this who has a healthy mindset on relationships and how to treat people (especially since I relate to Lizzie in a lesser degree)
❄︎ “I have loved you since the moment I first saw you smile...and I will love you until my dying breath.” ❄︎
This..this is just beautiful.
❄︎༄ 𝐋𝐢𝐳𝐳𝐢𝐞 / 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚
At first, I didn’t really like Lizzie, but then I got to her pov, and I started to like her quite a bit. Then I got to her memories and my heart broke. It shattered into a thousand pieces, while also feeling compassion and empathy for her. I felt for her on a whole different level because of my growing up in a similar situation. (not physical abuse though, thank God)
And I think Lizzie’s story also healed a little bit of me.
❄︎ “And Lizzie cried.” ❄︎
These three words won’t hit you like they did me until you read the book (so go read it)
Also, as someone who has struggled with numbness in extremely emotional situations, this scene broke me.
❄︎ “Hmm, yes. I know how much you love reindeer.”
Lizzie bit her lip, and he could tell she was wavering. “Some might say they’re better than people.” ❄︎
THIS REFERENCE. 6 year old me is squealing rn.
❄︎ “I can’t marry him.”
“Why not?”
“Because my heart won’t be able to handle it when he turns out to be like Father.” ❄︎
My- my heart.
❄︎༄ 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐚
I don’t have much to say about him other than he was an amazing friend and I dearly hope we get his story!
❄︎༄ 𝐏𝐢𝐱𝐢𝐞
This little girl was adorable! I want a whole book about her too :)
𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: 𝟖.𝟓/𝟏𝟎
The romance was adorable, and while I absolutely loved it, I appreciate that there was also a focus on trust and healing from abuse. It’s a really powerful message that was told beautifully through the sweet romance. (And it was clean!)
All in all, I absolutely loved this book. Adored it. Please read it.
*´❄︎*¨`*✲´❄︎*` “And Lizzie cried.”*´❄︎*¨`*✲´❄︎*`
I’ll never get over this quote
Age recommendation: 12+
Content ⇩
*spoilers*
talks about emotional and physical abuse and trauma, general romance (romantic tension, being married, joking about kissing, kissing, sleeping in the same bed/tend as a married couple and there’s no intimacy) being kidnapped, threatened with a knife, running away, etc.
no language, no spice! 100% clean in my book.
August 26, 2024
The Book to Melt the Frostiest of Hearts
OH MY GOODNESS I cannot even express how much I love Freddy!!! Seriously, I’ve wanted his story ever since My Fair Mermaid and I LOVE his sunshine-y self!!!
I was fully prepared to dislike Lizzie for being so cold and distant with Freddy (again, because I love him so so SO much) but when I learned of her reasons, my heart just broke for her and I was so glad that Freddy was there to mend it!!!
And then MORMOR RETURNED!!! I looooved all of her “mormorisms” in Winter of the Wandering Wind and I think I highlighted… all of them 🤣
I cannot wait for Shea’s story!!!!!
OH MY GOODNESS I cannot even express how much I love Freddy!!! Seriously, I’ve wanted his story ever since My Fair Mermaid and I LOVE his sunshine-y self!!!
I was fully prepared to dislike Lizzie for being so cold and distant with Freddy (again, because I love him so so SO much) but when I learned of her reasons, my heart just broke for her and I was so glad that Freddy was there to mend it!!!
And then MORMOR RETURNED!!! I looooved all of her “mormorisms” in Winter of the Wandering Wind and I think I highlighted… all of them 🤣
I cannot wait for Shea’s story!!!!!
January 8, 2025
Another clever retelling that will cause you to both laugh and want to hug the characters. I especially enjoyed how Beran combined Thrushbeard and The Snow Queen and made those combined elements seem perfectly natural.
A definite must for readers of sweet and adorable fairy tale retellings.
A definite must for readers of sweet and adorable fairy tale retellings.
September 22, 2025
Content:
Profanity: None.
Violence: Mild. There is the sound of a spouse being struck by her husband out of sight, then bruises later. There is threat of violence throughout, and inferences that domestic abuse happens.
Sexual: Mild. chaste kissing, hand holding.
Triggers: Abusive father/husband. Emotional detachment to survive abuse. Rejection.
Grumpy/Sunshine stories are hit and miss for me, but this one did it beautifully. Especially since the grump was .
The character arcs and development here were fantastic. Eliza had to overcome a lot to let Freddy in, and Freddy had to constantly battle his doubts to keep loving her so faithfully despite not understanding why she'd changed.
Seeing the loyalty and tenacity displayed by Freddy melted my heart. He believed in who Eliza really was, not who she had become. That's real love. He knew her, and loved her, even when she couldn't love him back. I worried for him though, and hoped the author wouldn't go into a dependency on Freddy's part. It was a nice balance, and there was even a part where Eliza helped Freddy see he didn't have to always show positivity to those who loved him. I really appreciated that being in there, because feeling like sadness, anger and the like are burdens to the people we love, is a real thing.
Eliza's upbringing with an abusive father, and her subsequent terror of marriage, was visceral. It was handled so well, because it was about her healing, and believing that men, specifically fathers and husbands, weren't all like hers had been. I especially appreciated that it wasn't just Freddy who helped her heal, but the sweet grandmothers, the little robber girl, and others who simply treated her kindly and decided to love her.
The mash of Thrushbeard and The Snow Queen, was, as usual of Sarah, masterfully done and oh so fun to pick out the aspects of each tale. I enjoy her mash-ups so much, they are unique to her and don't resemble any other author I've read.
The best part about Sarah's books is that they're always centered around hope. Hope for healing, love, and the courage to keep moving forward. When I reach the end of her books, my heart feels soothed and a little stronger, a little more willing to keep fighting my own battles.
And isn't that what the best fantasy does?
As long as she keeps writing, I'll keep reading.
Those were some excellent Homilies, and a few laugh-out-loud puns. Those don't hurt my enjoyment either. Wink wink.
AUDIOBOOK
Tawnya Rollingson takes over the narration for this book, where Emily Shaver narrated the first two Eukarya books. I've only listened to "Callie and the Pumpkin Seed" with Tawnya, and while I thought it was cute, it was a fairly average narration to my mind and had a weird background noise throughout. So, I wasn't expecting much from this one, but was pleasantly surprised that it was much better than Callie. Most of the time when I hear the same narrator in different series I struggle to remember which book I'm in since narrators (understandably) have only a set amount of character voices in their repertoire. Tawnya did a great job in this, making me smile with her delivery, and I never got confused as to who was speaking. It made me quite relieved, as I think Sarah Beran has every audio book available narrated by Tawnya now, (Minus her Order of the Fountain series hopefully) which I am not a fan of for multiple reasons. Now I have hope that I can listen to the other series and not be totally put out.
Profanity: None.
Violence: Mild. There is the sound of a spouse being struck by her husband out of sight, then bruises later. There is threat of violence throughout, and inferences that domestic abuse happens.
Sexual: Mild. chaste kissing, hand holding.
Triggers: Abusive father/husband. Emotional detachment to survive abuse. Rejection.
Grumpy/Sunshine stories are hit and miss for me, but this one did it beautifully. Especially since the grump was .
The character arcs and development here were fantastic. Eliza had to overcome a lot to let Freddy in, and Freddy had to constantly battle his doubts to keep loving her so faithfully despite not understanding why she'd changed.
Seeing the loyalty and tenacity displayed by Freddy melted my heart. He believed in who Eliza really was, not who she had become. That's real love. He knew her, and loved her, even when she couldn't love him back. I worried for him though, and hoped the author wouldn't go into a dependency on Freddy's part. It was a nice balance, and there was even a part where Eliza helped Freddy see he didn't have to always show positivity to those who loved him. I really appreciated that being in there, because feeling like sadness, anger and the like are burdens to the people we love, is a real thing.
Eliza's upbringing with an abusive father, and her subsequent terror of marriage, was visceral. It was handled so well, because it was about her healing, and believing that men, specifically fathers and husbands, weren't all like hers had been. I especially appreciated that it wasn't just Freddy who helped her heal, but the sweet grandmothers, the little robber girl, and others who simply treated her kindly and decided to love her.
The mash of Thrushbeard and The Snow Queen, was, as usual of Sarah, masterfully done and oh so fun to pick out the aspects of each tale. I enjoy her mash-ups so much, they are unique to her and don't resemble any other author I've read.
The best part about Sarah's books is that they're always centered around hope. Hope for healing, love, and the courage to keep moving forward. When I reach the end of her books, my heart feels soothed and a little stronger, a little more willing to keep fighting my own battles.
And isn't that what the best fantasy does?
As long as she keeps writing, I'll keep reading.
Those were some excellent Homilies, and a few laugh-out-loud puns. Those don't hurt my enjoyment either. Wink wink.
AUDIOBOOK
Tawnya Rollingson takes over the narration for this book, where Emily Shaver narrated the first two Eukarya books. I've only listened to "Callie and the Pumpkin Seed" with Tawnya, and while I thought it was cute, it was a fairly average narration to my mind and had a weird background noise throughout. So, I wasn't expecting much from this one, but was pleasantly surprised that it was much better than Callie. Most of the time when I hear the same narrator in different series I struggle to remember which book I'm in since narrators (understandably) have only a set amount of character voices in their repertoire. Tawnya did a great job in this, making me smile with her delivery, and I never got confused as to who was speaking. It made me quite relieved, as I think Sarah Beran has every audio book available narrated by Tawnya now, (Minus her Order of the Fountain series hopefully) which I am not a fan of for multiple reasons. Now I have hope that I can listen to the other series and not be totally put out.
February 11, 2025
Even though I am not familiar with these particular fairy tales, it did not diminish the story at all.
Such a feel good book that made my heart so happy. Freddy is a bae and I loved how much he cared for Eliza and never gave up on her🥰.
Such a feel good book that made my heart so happy. Freddy is a bae and I loved how much he cared for Eliza and never gave up on her🥰.
July 25, 2025
I am at a loss for words to describe how much I adore this story. From seeing Freddie go from kind and thoughtful to absolutely, heart-breakingly steadfast and understanding, to the reappearance of MY dear Mormer, I laughed and cried my way through this story.
It's best if you read at least the previous book, and be sure to check out Sarah Beran's website for the little book Solstices and Second Chances for more of Mormer and to see Jem from her final Seasons book get the happily ever after we've all dying for!
It's best if you read at least the previous book, and be sure to check out Sarah Beran's website for the little book Solstices and Second Chances for more of Mormer and to see Jem from her final Seasons book get the happily ever after we've all dying for!
November 16, 2025
4.75 ⭐️
June 6, 2025
A great blended retelling that comes to life with both characters you enjoy and a setting that remains vibrant and well-detailed regardless of what land they're currently in.
Lizzie, despite being emotionless/cursed, manages to be a character that grabs your heart and rouses your empathy. Having a father who manages to project a good image on the outside while hurting his family in private is something I can empathize with. Fortunately, I didn't have to walk a similar path to Lizzie in order to escape. I do however appreciate when literature highlights real life problems and doesn't excuse the perpetrator.
I loved both Freddy's consistent love and understanding, but also Lizzie's comment near the end that when we hide our struggles and sorrows from people we're hiding a piece of ourselves.
Lizzie, despite being emotionless/cursed, manages to be a character that grabs your heart and rouses your empathy. Having a father who manages to project a good image on the outside while hurting his family in private is something I can empathize with. Fortunately, I didn't have to walk a similar path to Lizzie in order to escape. I do however appreciate when literature highlights real life problems and doesn't excuse the perpetrator.
I loved both Freddy's consistent love and understanding, but also Lizzie's comment near the end that when we hide our struggles and sorrows from people we're hiding a piece of ourselves.
April 22, 2025
This book was absolutely amazing! The take on the Snow Queen and King Thrushbeard was completely original and I like that Princess Eliza had a reason for insulting all her potential suitors. Freddy is so sweet and I love how his love for Eliza never changed despite her cold and harsh exterior. He loves her unconditionally and I enjoyed seeing him tear down Eliza's barriers that she built around herself. In my opinion, this is one of Sarah Beran's best books, although I honestly can't really choose a favourite. I can't wait for A Tangle of Iron and Feathers to come out as I want Prince Shea's story. This was a great book by Sarah Beran!
August 13, 2024
“…Kai was just a man with a lute and a heart full of love.”
A Bond of Ice and Sunshine is the perfect little ray of sunshine to melt even the frostiest of hearts!
Princess Eliza didn’t always use to be cold and emotionless. As a child Prince Frederick enjoyed many of days filled with her laughter and mischief. But when their royal families decide that a betrothal between the two would be advantageous for both kingdoms Freddy’s betrothed arrived suddenly and strangely different. And for ten long years Freddy hoped, prayed, and believed that if he showered her with enough love and sunshine Eliza would someday return to the girl he once knew and would forever love.
But…things don’t always happen as we hope. And soon Freddy finds himself bearded, dyed, and set to perform as a traveling minstrel at a choosing where Princess Eliza is told to choose a suitable match despite her betrothal. And with a frozen heart, a cold refusal, a run away bride, and a heartless king and father, Freddy soon finds himself racing across the continent in the attempt to find and woo his now beggar bride.
I absolutely love! Love! Loved! Prince Frederick in My Fair Mermaid and I love him exponentially more after reading A Bond of Ice and Sunshine! He has such a caring, compassionate, and loyal personality and I honestly couldn’t love him anymore. Then there is Princess Eliza who on the outside is cold and distant and seemingly heartless…but…people are often not what they seem and this story brings a whole new layer to her personality…which I also really grew to love and appreciate…all the while my heart broke and crumbled away for her and the circumstances she endured. Their characters were so well written!
But this story also had some compelling and intriguing side characters! I do love me a well written side character and I really hope we get to experience some of them in other books…Mainly Shea…I do love me an eye patch wearing, rogue prince, with a heart of gold and I have a feeling Shea is going to be one character I’ll happily fall in love with.
So anyways…this book is sweet and swoony, clean romance perfection. The characters were wonderful (one was extremely despicable)! The combination of The Snow Queen and King Thrushbeard was ingenious! And…as always…Beran’s use of humor and puns was completely top notch! 100% masterful! I very highly recommend this book! And the whole Tales of Eukarya Series!
A Bond of Ice and Sunshine is the perfect little ray of sunshine to melt even the frostiest of hearts!
Princess Eliza didn’t always use to be cold and emotionless. As a child Prince Frederick enjoyed many of days filled with her laughter and mischief. But when their royal families decide that a betrothal between the two would be advantageous for both kingdoms Freddy’s betrothed arrived suddenly and strangely different. And for ten long years Freddy hoped, prayed, and believed that if he showered her with enough love and sunshine Eliza would someday return to the girl he once knew and would forever love.
But…things don’t always happen as we hope. And soon Freddy finds himself bearded, dyed, and set to perform as a traveling minstrel at a choosing where Princess Eliza is told to choose a suitable match despite her betrothal. And with a frozen heart, a cold refusal, a run away bride, and a heartless king and father, Freddy soon finds himself racing across the continent in the attempt to find and woo his now beggar bride.
I absolutely love! Love! Loved! Prince Frederick in My Fair Mermaid and I love him exponentially more after reading A Bond of Ice and Sunshine! He has such a caring, compassionate, and loyal personality and I honestly couldn’t love him anymore. Then there is Princess Eliza who on the outside is cold and distant and seemingly heartless…but…people are often not what they seem and this story brings a whole new layer to her personality…which I also really grew to love and appreciate…all the while my heart broke and crumbled away for her and the circumstances she endured. Their characters were so well written!
But this story also had some compelling and intriguing side characters! I do love me a well written side character and I really hope we get to experience some of them in other books…Mainly Shea…I do love me an eye patch wearing, rogue prince, with a heart of gold and I have a feeling Shea is going to be one character I’ll happily fall in love with.
So anyways…this book is sweet and swoony, clean romance perfection. The characters were wonderful (one was extremely despicable)! The combination of The Snow Queen and King Thrushbeard was ingenious! And…as always…Beran’s use of humor and puns was completely top notch! 100% masterful! I very highly recommend this book! And the whole Tales of Eukarya Series!
August 13, 2024
Wow! A Bond of Ice and Sunshine is a really great book. I loved it so much! Freddy was such an amazing person who was always willing to love Eliza, believing that even under her frosty and cold exterior, she was still the Lizzie that he fell in love with. Eliza's struggles were so real. She had an abusive father and became afraid to love because of it. I love how Freddy was so patient with her and understood her struggles and I love how brave Lizzie was to finally be able to realise that not everyone was like her father. I really enjoyed the mix of The Snow Queen and King Thrushbeard. I honestly went into this book having no idea what to expect of the plot but knowing that it would be fantastic, as all of Sarah's books are. I think that Sarah did a great job combining The Snow Queen and King Thrushbeard and it was interesting that "Kai" was actually the one looking for "Gerda" (gender-flipped). Honestly, I had no idea that The Snow Queen and King Thrushbeard could even effectively combine. After all, if she got abducted by the Snow Queen and got her heart frozen, how would she be living a life as a peasant with her husband? Sarah made the two stories fit snuggly together like a puzzle and I enjoyed seeing all the elements from both The Snow Queen and King Thrushbeard scattered throughout the story. I'm really glad that we got to visit Norditch and that Eliza actually stayed with Jem's Mormor! It was great seeing a little bit of Jem and Casper's home country and I really do hope that we do see more of Jem and Casper in later books (Mormor mentioned Jem so they probably weren't in Faerie at that time). I really wish that Jem would get his own book, explaining how he and Anja met although that would probably be difficult as he would be forced to leave her behind to be cursed to wander the seas forever and that would be a pretty sad ending for Sarah as her characters usually have Happily Ever Afters. All in all, this book has been amazing! The characters were amazing, the plot with its mix of The Snow Queen and King Thrushbeard was well thought out and the worldbuilding was amazing, building off of the human world mentioned in Seasons of Music and Magic. I would definitely recommend this book to any one who enjoys fairy tale retellings or cozy and sweet romance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2024
A Bond of Ice and Sunshine is the third book in the Tales of Eukarya series and it is absolutely a follow-on to My Fair Mermaid!
In My Fair Mermaid we meet Prince Frederick of Kysta as a good-humoured young man who is full of sunshine and his fiancee Princess Eliza of Nedra – an icy lady whom everyone calls the Ice Princess. One would think they weren’t a good match, but Freddy is head over heels in love with Eliza and has been since they were children.
So, when King Alfred decides on a whim to marry Eliza off to the first man who walks through the door (long story – read the book to find out why!) Freddy pitches up disguised as a minstrel and ends up married by proxy to his runaway bride.
Not to be deterred, Freddy traipses across the country with his good friend Prince Shea of Cabriole to search for his errant wife. Shea proves to be a loyal and steadfast friend, and a worthy travelling companion, but after numerous adventures, they part ways and Freddy travels to the icy land of Norditch alone. There he meets two spunky old ladies – Norva and Mormor. Yes – if you’ve read Winter of the Wandering Wind you are in for a TREAT in this book as you get to hear Mormor’s wise sayings firsthand and they are GREAT!
Eliza reluctantly agrees to travel with her new husband and they make their way towards Kysta, her wondering why a stranger would love her (he’s still disguised as Kai the minstrel) and Freddy wondering what on earth happened to turn her into such an icy, unfeeling version of the girl he once knew.
Will Freddy’s sunshine melt Eliza’s icy heart? Read the book to find out!
Although these books can be read as standalones (Chords of Green and Gold especially) I would advise you to read them in order and as a series. There are a fair few crossover characters and events in this book, and history that was made in book 2 is referred to in book 3. Also, book 4 – A Tangle of Iron and Feathers ��� tells the story of Prince Shea, whom we first meet in book 3.
In My Fair Mermaid we meet Prince Frederick of Kysta as a good-humoured young man who is full of sunshine and his fiancee Princess Eliza of Nedra – an icy lady whom everyone calls the Ice Princess. One would think they weren’t a good match, but Freddy is head over heels in love with Eliza and has been since they were children.
So, when King Alfred decides on a whim to marry Eliza off to the first man who walks through the door (long story – read the book to find out why!) Freddy pitches up disguised as a minstrel and ends up married by proxy to his runaway bride.
Not to be deterred, Freddy traipses across the country with his good friend Prince Shea of Cabriole to search for his errant wife. Shea proves to be a loyal and steadfast friend, and a worthy travelling companion, but after numerous adventures, they part ways and Freddy travels to the icy land of Norditch alone. There he meets two spunky old ladies – Norva and Mormor. Yes – if you’ve read Winter of the Wandering Wind you are in for a TREAT in this book as you get to hear Mormor’s wise sayings firsthand and they are GREAT!
Eliza reluctantly agrees to travel with her new husband and they make their way towards Kysta, her wondering why a stranger would love her (he’s still disguised as Kai the minstrel) and Freddy wondering what on earth happened to turn her into such an icy, unfeeling version of the girl he once knew.
Will Freddy’s sunshine melt Eliza’s icy heart? Read the book to find out!
Although these books can be read as standalones (Chords of Green and Gold especially) I would advise you to read them in order and as a series. There are a fair few crossover characters and events in this book, and history that was made in book 2 is referred to in book 3. Also, book 4 – A Tangle of Iron and Feathers ��� tells the story of Prince Shea, whom we first meet in book 3.
August 13, 2024
Sarah took two of my favourite fairy tales and turned them into one wonderful story. Pros: I was able to read it in an afternoon, getting more of Freddy’s sunny personality and finding out the answer to the mystery of why Eliza was now so cold (this was very high on my priority list!). Also, MORMOR. If you have read Winter of the Wandering Wind—which I HIGHLY recommend—there are some GEMS, in this book…sadly, though, no “Jem”.
“Miscommunication is the poison oak of relationships; both lead to rash reactions.” Lines like this one make a frequent appearance, often with Sarah’s signature brand of humour. I highlighted a lot of humour in this book. So if you are looking for a short and sweet read, riddled with lines to make you smile, this is for you.
Cons: I needed more! It’s a frequent problem with Sarah’s shorter books. I LOVE that they are short and won’t keep me up all night, but I hate that they end and I don’t get more.
Facts: Though this book well accompanies the two previous books in this series and also has tie ins to the aforementioned mentioned Winter, I think you would be fine reading it as a standalone. It’s merely that it would be more enjoyable if you already loved other characters who were making appearances.
Romance: Super clean. There are no fade to black scenes at all (which you can frequently find in Thrushbeard). I’d let my eight-year-old read it.
Violence: There are mentions of physical abu$e, but they aren’t the focus of the book. There is also a kidnapping, but it’s more humorous than anything, and is actually one of my favourite scenes (though don’t ask me to pick, because I have a lot of them).
“Miscommunication is the poison oak of relationships; both lead to rash reactions.” Lines like this one make a frequent appearance, often with Sarah’s signature brand of humour. I highlighted a lot of humour in this book. So if you are looking for a short and sweet read, riddled with lines to make you smile, this is for you.
Cons: I needed more! It’s a frequent problem with Sarah’s shorter books. I LOVE that they are short and won’t keep me up all night, but I hate that they end and I don’t get more.
Facts: Though this book well accompanies the two previous books in this series and also has tie ins to the aforementioned mentioned Winter, I think you would be fine reading it as a standalone. It’s merely that it would be more enjoyable if you already loved other characters who were making appearances.
Romance: Super clean. There are no fade to black scenes at all (which you can frequently find in Thrushbeard). I’d let my eight-year-old read it.
Violence: There are mentions of physical abu$e, but they aren’t the focus of the book. There is also a kidnapping, but it’s more humorous than anything, and is actually one of my favourite scenes (though don’t ask me to pick, because I have a lot of them).
August 12, 2024
A great addition to the series.
A Bond of Ice and Sunshine is a Snow Queen x King Thrushbeard retelling, blending the two tales seamlessly.
We finally get Freddy’s story, who we were introduced to in My Fair Mermaid. You don’t need to have read the previous books in the series (though there are a few short references), but it definitely adds to the enjoyment.
Freddy was such a sweetie. I’m accustomed to reading most retellings from the fmc’s point of view, so having the majority of the story told from his was a treat.
Short, sweet, and oh so punny, A Bond of Ice and Sunshine is everything you come to love and expect from a Sarah Beran story. Mormor’s sayings were simply inspired.
It’s going to be torturous waiting for Shea’s story (which I’m happy to see will be the next in the series).
My rating: 4.5/5 rounded up to 5
Maturity level: Young Adult (kisses only)
Trigger warning: Addresses abuse
POV: dual first person point of view
Belief: non-preachy references to Christianity (ie: believing in the Almighty)
A Bond of Ice and Sunshine is a Snow Queen x King Thrushbeard retelling, blending the two tales seamlessly.
We finally get Freddy’s story, who we were introduced to in My Fair Mermaid. You don’t need to have read the previous books in the series (though there are a few short references), but it definitely adds to the enjoyment.
Freddy was such a sweetie. I’m accustomed to reading most retellings from the fmc’s point of view, so having the majority of the story told from his was a treat.
Short, sweet, and oh so punny, A Bond of Ice and Sunshine is everything you come to love and expect from a Sarah Beran story. Mormor’s sayings were simply inspired.
It’s going to be torturous waiting for Shea’s story (which I’m happy to see will be the next in the series).
My rating: 4.5/5 rounded up to 5
Maturity level: Young Adult (kisses only)
Trigger warning: Addresses abuse
POV: dual first person point of view
Belief: non-preachy references to Christianity (ie: believing in the Almighty)
October 31, 2025
“What if the reason that the princess in King Thrushbeard was so harsh towards her suitors was because her heart was frozen? And what if King Thrushbeard was as reliable as the sunshine and relentless in his pursuit of her?”
Audio Review: This is the first of Sarah Bean’s books I have read, though I have a few of her books on my physical TBR. Sarah has a wonderful way at creating an enjoyable setting and telling an entertaining story. There are a few flashbacks as we follow Freddy on his quest to find Eliza who has left him at the altar for the second time.
Freddy is the Sunshine in this story. He works so hard to prove himself and to do what he thinks is right. Eliza is more emotionless, she's standoffish and seems disconnected through much of the story. This
The narration by Tawnya was well done, she has an enjoyable way of making this story come to life. Her voice and tones for the characters are done nicely and not overly animated. She does well with the little hints the author puts in to give each character the right emotion and voice.
Audio Review: This is the first of Sarah Bean’s books I have read, though I have a few of her books on my physical TBR. Sarah has a wonderful way at creating an enjoyable setting and telling an entertaining story. There are a few flashbacks as we follow Freddy on his quest to find Eliza who has left him at the altar for the second time.
Freddy is the Sunshine in this story. He works so hard to prove himself and to do what he thinks is right. Eliza is more emotionless, she's standoffish and seems disconnected through much of the story. This
The narration by Tawnya was well done, she has an enjoyable way of making this story come to life. Her voice and tones for the characters are done nicely and not overly animated. She does well with the little hints the author puts in to give each character the right emotion and voice.
October 22, 2024
Crown Prince Frederick of Kysta has been left at the altar — twice. But he knows something is wrong. Eliza was his friend for years, so this ice-cold behavior isn’t normal. He’s determined to find out what happened, even if it means chasing her across Eukarya. Keeping his identity a secret will be a challenge, but he’s determined his sunny personality will break through her walls of ice.
“There’s no better way to start a marriage than intercepting a runaway bride.”
Freddy is the perfect sunshine character! I loved him so much. And Eliza — poor girl! There’s such a relatable reason behind her icy demeanor and I feel for her!
These two were such great foils for one another. And the side characters were amazing! The grannies and a certain young Pixie…
If I’ve not yet convinced you to start reading Sarah Beran’s books, what are you waiting for?? Go read them now!
5 Roses
A couple sweet kisses
No swearing
No injuries
“There’s no better way to start a marriage than intercepting a runaway bride.”
Freddy is the perfect sunshine character! I loved him so much. And Eliza — poor girl! There’s such a relatable reason behind her icy demeanor and I feel for her!
These two were such great foils for one another. And the side characters were amazing! The grannies and a certain young Pixie…
If I’ve not yet convinced you to start reading Sarah Beran’s books, what are you waiting for?? Go read them now!
5 Roses
A couple sweet kisses
No swearing
No injuries
February 6, 2026
Though good, and King Thrushbeard is usually my favorite fairy tale retelling, I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first 2. This is partly because I felt the MCs didn’t spend enough time together (they were going separately for most of the book), and partly because the story felt too disjointed in the events that occurred. Too much Snow Queen and not enough King Thrushbeard.
Freddy is as charming and lovable as ever, though perhaps a little TOO perfect as far as MMCs go. Lizzie isn’t nearly as likable, but that’s to be expected for one cursed to an emotionless state. Despite the flashbacks, I felt the relationship was underdeveloped… But the story IS entertaining.
Though I suppose this could be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading book 2 (My Fair Mermaid) first.
Content:
There is no foul language, sex, or violence. The romance is limited to a chaste kiss. There is magic in the form of curses. There is no real message of faith or God.
Freddy is as charming and lovable as ever, though perhaps a little TOO perfect as far as MMCs go. Lizzie isn’t nearly as likable, but that’s to be expected for one cursed to an emotionless state. Despite the flashbacks, I felt the relationship was underdeveloped… But the story IS entertaining.
Though I suppose this could be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading book 2 (My Fair Mermaid) first.
Content:
There is no foul language, sex, or violence. The romance is limited to a chaste kiss. There is magic in the form of curses. There is no real message of faith or God.
August 25, 2025
Unconditional Love
A man on a mission to bring his true love back in more ways than one. A woman who has seen too many times that love comes with a cost. A rash promise made by a cruel king. Hidden identities, new skills, and a high stakes road trip are all a part of this no spice sweet love story that combines Thrushbeard with the Snow Queen. There are lots of memorable characters and pithy sayings along the way that add extra humor, help, and warmth to the story. The past is woven in with the present in order to write the future. The beginning line ties in with the ending line in a very satisfying movie, Tangled, like way. Freddy is introduced in the previous book in the series, but this book can definitely be read as a standalone. Overall, such a sweet, hopeful, and adventurous read. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
A man on a mission to bring his true love back in more ways than one. A woman who has seen too many times that love comes with a cost. A rash promise made by a cruel king. Hidden identities, new skills, and a high stakes road trip are all a part of this no spice sweet love story that combines Thrushbeard with the Snow Queen. There are lots of memorable characters and pithy sayings along the way that add extra humor, help, and warmth to the story. The past is woven in with the present in order to write the future. The beginning line ties in with the ending line in a very satisfying movie, Tangled, like way. Freddy is introduced in the previous book in the series, but this book can definitely be read as a standalone. Overall, such a sweet, hopeful, and adventurous read. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
January 2, 2026
This is a playful version of two fairytales, which Ms Beran explains in her opening. Silly wisdom speeches permeate it, making the reader chuckle. One I found especially fun was Mormor’s wry comment, “Miscommunication is the poison oak of relationships; both lead to rash reactions.” Since the book is based on miscommunications—intended and erroneous—it is especially apt.
Lizzie and Freddy? Destined to marry or destined to despise each other?
The author keeps the characters simple, shallow, and entertaining. I was actually more interested in the side characters, like Shea, Mormor, and Norva, than I was in the silly couple.
This book takes the promise, “I love you to the ends of the earth and back” to a new level!
Lizzie and Freddy? Destined to marry or destined to despise each other?
The author keeps the characters simple, shallow, and entertaining. I was actually more interested in the side characters, like Shea, Mormor, and Norva, than I was in the silly couple.
This book takes the promise, “I love you to the ends of the earth and back” to a new level!
August 27, 2024
The author, Sarah Beran, skillfully combines elements of The Snow Queen and King Thrushbeard to create a sweeping, beautiful story. Frederick's determination to melt Eliza's icy exterior and win her heart, despite the challenges and obstacles, is both heartwarming and inspiring.
This book brought tears to my eyes and stirred up emotions that hit close to home. A Bond of Ice and Sunshine is a beautiful story of love, resilience, and the power of perseverance. It left me feeling both moved and uplifted
This book brought tears to my eyes and stirred up emotions that hit close to home. A Bond of Ice and Sunshine is a beautiful story of love, resilience, and the power of perseverance. It left me feeling both moved and uplifted
September 18, 2024
I was not expecting this upon picking up this book, but it has one of the most beautiful depictions of marriage (even though they were married under peculiar circumstances). The way Freddy (Kai) sacrifices day in and out for Eliza simply because of love and the fact that she is his wife is just stunning.
It's something I think many of us married folk see in our own spouses but rarely see in male love interests/husbands, it was very refreshing!
Also, any book that makes your heart break for a character in the first two chapters is well worth a read!
It's something I think many of us married folk see in our own spouses but rarely see in male love interests/husbands, it was very refreshing!
Also, any book that makes your heart break for a character in the first two chapters is well worth a read!
December 11, 2024
This was just beautiful. I really enjoyed how the author blended the elements of King Thrushbeard and The Snow Queen so well into one cohesive story. It was a quick, short read, but I felt like I had plenty of time to get to know the two main characters: Lizzie and Freddy, and I was rooting for both of them.
A lovely tale, perfect for curling up with a cozy blanket and a mug of something warm while snow falls outside.
A lovely tale, perfect for curling up with a cozy blanket and a mug of something warm while snow falls outside.
October 9, 2025
My favorite Sarah Beran tale. I love the fearful bride trope. Can Eliza trust Freddy? They've been best friends forever. But marriage is a different proposition.
Freddy has a hard time maintaining his happy go lucky attitude when his dearest friend and deepest heart's desire keeps leaving him at the altar. The Eliza he knows from childhood must still be inside her somewhere. If only he can coax her out.
A mashup of King Thrushbeard and the Snow Queen that works so well.
Freddy has a hard time maintaining his happy go lucky attitude when his dearest friend and deepest heart's desire keeps leaving him at the altar. The Eliza he knows from childhood must still be inside her somewhere. If only he can coax her out.
A mashup of King Thrushbeard and the Snow Queen that works so well.
December 27, 2025
An interesting cross between Thrushbeard (which is a fairytale I've never read before), and the Snow Queen. It was nice to read a story of friends to more, but I think I would have liked to have seen a bit more of their friendship play out on page before Eliza hides her heart away. I also think a shorter engaged would have made the enduring love of the MMC a little more believable. Ultimately, though, this is a sweet fairytale retelling about a man who never gives up on his true love.
October 24, 2024
just what I needed!
Funny, full of wisdom and great, groan-worthy puns. There's depth and development without true angst. It's interesting to see the sort-of gender swapped Snow Queen story; it's definitely a unique take while still holding true to the original tale. Freddy is such a sweetheart, and Eliza's strength is not to be underestimated.
Funny, full of wisdom and great, groan-worthy puns. There's depth and development without true angst. It's interesting to see the sort-of gender swapped Snow Queen story; it's definitely a unique take while still holding true to the original tale. Freddy is such a sweetheart, and Eliza's strength is not to be underestimated.
August 4, 2025
Flashbacks/dual timeline. Childhood Best Friends 🥺 Golden retriever mmc. Grumpy-Sunshine.Themes of selflessness and unconditional love. Ugh, it was so good! I've absolutely adored every story in this series! The mash-ups are SO fun and just seem to be the perfect combinations. Sweet, funny, swoony, cozy fairytales. Sigh. Highly recommend!!
🎧 I LOVE this narrator!! She is wonderful!
🎧 I LOVE this narrator!! She is wonderful!
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November 5, 2025Simple & sweet vacation read! Didn’t have quite the scope and whimsy of Melanie Cellier’s retellings, but I like the concept of crossing two tales together and think the author did a good job. I read this one based on a friend’s review and don’t feel inclined to ready the rest of the series, but I don’t regret trying this one!
August 9, 2024
Lovely combo of two fairy tales
Once again this was a beautiful mixture of puns, laughter and tears by Sarah Beran. The fairy tales used were blended perfectly. Freddy is the best and I'm glad to finally read his friends to lovers journey.
Once again this was a beautiful mixture of puns, laughter and tears by Sarah Beran. The fairy tales used were blended perfectly. Freddy is the best and I'm glad to finally read his friends to lovers journey.
August 19, 2024
I really loved reading this wonderful book! I loved the characters and the plot! I absolutely loved this retelling of King Thrushbeard and The Snow Queen! I had a hard time putting this really wonderful book down! I am looking forward to reading the next book in this really wonderful series!
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