Breathing Ice Like Fire: A Novella

by J.N. Kindig

From author J.N. Kindig comes a standalone novella featuring a Norse-inspired setting, a king with an ice-cold heart, and the least romantic arranged marriage you'll likely ever read.

When Sívar, the prince of Ispinne, slays a dragon, he finds that it’s no ordinary beast—the dragon is a nameless woman who’s been cursed to take that form. Word of her rescue spreads and the two are married, but when her secret is discovered, Sívar must choose between his vows and his duty to his kingdom.

Please note that “Breathing Ice Like Fire” is intended for mature audiences and contains instances of violence and blood, slight body horror, attempted murder, and the death of a parent. Reader discretion is advised.

67 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 24, 2025

About the author

J.N. Kindig has been writing since childhood, when she made construction paper books about the care and keeping of dragons and bound them with yarn. Her writing craft has matured since then, thankfully, but her love for fantastical stories has remained. She writes fantasy and speculative fiction that draws on elements of Gothic literature and horror, but that always has enough light to counteract the dark. Her work explores themes of belonging, power, and how devotion shapes who we are.

She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in English. She lives in South Carolina with her husband and their dog, Luna.

Reviews

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW - why do I feel like crying over this?! It just goes to show that the page count of a book does NOT matter to have an impact on your emotions and feelings for a book. This one might be a new favorite of the year for me.

It had such a unique spin to it by being told from the perspective of the descendants of the story while being put down for bedtime. Literally reading this right before bed just added to that point even more. I could not stop reading this as soon as I started.

While their feelings for each other were complicated I do think the young king and his dragon wife had a sort of love for one another. They were opposites yet were made for each other - one being made of fire and the other of ice. With him being long passed away and their kingdom still not having a dragon attack just shows she kept her promise to him. I wish they could’ve had a happy little ending together but this was more real and raw.

I absolutely devoured this and will be one I think about for a while ❄️❤️‍🔥🐉 book 2 of nevermore event finish!!

[Sarah Gee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella was simply wonderful. JN is such a great writer, and that was a great little taste to ride you over. This novella was written in such a way that I actually felt I was on the other end of a bedtime story! This could be blown up into a full length book if she really wanted to do it!
Great job 🤍

[Allison Welte · Rating 5 out of 5]

JN Kindig’s novella is so wonderful! I love a frame story, and I love her writing! If you like fantasy, dragons, arranged marriage with complex feelings, you will like this. Everything Kindig writes is fantastic!

[booksnbluejeanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: Breathing Ice Like Fire
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Breathing Ice Like Fire is a beautifully crafted fantasy novella rooted in Norse mythology. Told in the form of a mother sharing a bedtime story with her child, it feels both intimate and epic—a rare combination that works brilliantly.

This is an enemies-to-allies tale, and while it’s not a romance, it does feature a unique and touching exploration of love in an unexpected form. The storytelling is poetic and immersive, with a mythic quality that makes it feel like a long-lost Norse legend.

It’s short, sharp, and deeply atmospheric. Perfect for readers who love mythology-inspired fantasy with emotional depth and lyrical prose.

Highly recommend if you’re looking for something a little different but powerfully memorable.

[Stef Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Breathing Ice Like Fire is a 66 page novella about a forced marriage between a cold hearted Norse prince and a she-dragon. This tale was told like a bedtime story, in which the reader is addressed as a child who can’t sleep - I found this very unique & it lent a cozy element to the narrative. It definitely read like a folk tale.

This novella was my first taste of J.N. Kindig’s work, and I’m excited to read her Nightmare Novellas next 🤩

[amber nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

"But no one can resist love, not even beasts, and I suppose dragons have funny ways of showing it."

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novella and I also loved that it had a list of songs to go with it.