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Ice
In Minterville, Georgia, the residents live in relative seclusion, partly to keep crime out of their small, tranquil community, and partly to prevent the world from finding out about The Minter, a form of telepathy that interconnects them and gives them a sense of unity.
Then The Minter, which cannot function in the presence of evil, stops working. Mayor Tom Watson suspects that two families who had recently moved to town have ties to Manuela Escribano (known as the Ice Queen), a prolific drug lord who, unbeknownst to the rest of Minterville, has a deadly score to settle with Tom.
No one, including Tom, has any idea how deep the Manuela's desire for revenge runs, until one Friday morning, twenty women disappear. When Manuela sends in a video detailing her diabolical plot to get revenge against Tom and the community that has harbored him for thirty years, Minterville must come together as one to rescue the women before time runs out. They must act quickly, or innocent people will die and their beloved community (and along with it, The Minter) will be destroyed forever.
Then The Minter, which cannot function in the presence of evil, stops working. Mayor Tom Watson suspects that two families who had recently moved to town have ties to Manuela Escribano (known as the Ice Queen), a prolific drug lord who, unbeknownst to the rest of Minterville, has a deadly score to settle with Tom.
No one, including Tom, has any idea how deep the Manuela's desire for revenge runs, until one Friday morning, twenty women disappear. When Manuela sends in a video detailing her diabolical plot to get revenge against Tom and the community that has harbored him for thirty years, Minterville must come together as one to rescue the women before time runs out. They must act quickly, or innocent people will die and their beloved community (and along with it, The Minter) will be destroyed forever.
- GenresParanormalThriller
125 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 29, 2014
7 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
August 9, 2015
I want to be Mint. I loved each page of this book. I was instantly hooked and found myself devouring it. I love the town of Minterville. It was well written and fast paced. I enjoyed the different point of views. I liked how you read what was going on in the different situations. I felt connected to these characters so much in fact I found myself crying at several different points in the book. This is the first book I have read from this author but it won't be my last. I hope there is more from Minterville because I am not done with these characters.
July 24, 2015
Minterville is a quiet and peaceful place, a small town where the residents really show what community means. Until two new families move in, and women start to disappear.
This was a nice book, and I enjoyed it. My main impression was that it was like a Town Called Eureka, crossed with a Sunday afternoon murder mystery, with a dash of something more sinister.
I liked the supernatural element - that the whole town could communicate on the Minter - a telepathic network that only Mints (original residents of Minterville and their descendants) could use. The only problem is that the Minter does not work when evil is near. Which sets alarm bells off when it starts to fade, when the new families move in.
I like how the Minter is the perfect example of how good and pure the Mints think they are; but really they are closed off and ignorant and distrustful of outsiders.
I also like how Wren has written this telepathic ability into the story as an everyday thing, that's just accepted by the residents. It's an interesting thing, and doesn't actually have much to do with the whole drama of the story; it only establishes the strength of the community.
The slow, painful death that has been devised for the women (as punishment for Tom crossing a drug queen years ago), is suitably horrid. It's simple, and gory, and you hold your breath for them to survive.
There were a few little things that nagged me. To be honest, I struggled to keep everyone straight. Absolutely everyone in the town is introduced with their whole back story. Again, if it was a tv show, you're watching A Town Called Eureka, and you can tell in a second who the character is, who they are close to and have an idea of their personality, because a picture tells a thousand words. Which means it is perfectly feasible to introduce the whole town.
Unfortunately, in book form, you have to have those thousand words. It just felt like I was being bombarded with character profiles for the first third or so. Once their out the way, it all runs a lot smoother.
The "hints" were more like someone standing on a pedestal with a megaphone, pointing out that This. Is. Important. Please remember, and keep your arms in at all times.
Like the kid seeing the door open to the old swimming baths. Or the whole entire story of how they had some pepper spray ammo - when that one came out of nowhere, I was like "yup, I bet that pops up later".
The only other thing that struck me as odd was actually the synopsis - stick with me.
For me, these thriller books are a slow unveiling and clues toward the Who, Why and How.
The big three answers are already given in the synopsis - (Who) The drug queen Escribano, (Why) because Mayor Tom has pissed her off, (How) punishing several Mint women via the dodgy new family.
I know there are other cool twists, but I kinda want to discover the above three for myself.
But overall, a very pleasant read (with some gory bits). My favourite part was the ending, when the town faces its monsters in court and moves on, stronger.
This was a nice book, and I enjoyed it. My main impression was that it was like a Town Called Eureka, crossed with a Sunday afternoon murder mystery, with a dash of something more sinister.
I liked the supernatural element - that the whole town could communicate on the Minter - a telepathic network that only Mints (original residents of Minterville and their descendants) could use. The only problem is that the Minter does not work when evil is near. Which sets alarm bells off when it starts to fade, when the new families move in.
I like how the Minter is the perfect example of how good and pure the Mints think they are; but really they are closed off and ignorant and distrustful of outsiders.
I also like how Wren has written this telepathic ability into the story as an everyday thing, that's just accepted by the residents. It's an interesting thing, and doesn't actually have much to do with the whole drama of the story; it only establishes the strength of the community.
The slow, painful death that has been devised for the women (as punishment for Tom crossing a drug queen years ago), is suitably horrid. It's simple, and gory, and you hold your breath for them to survive.
There were a few little things that nagged me. To be honest, I struggled to keep everyone straight. Absolutely everyone in the town is introduced with their whole back story. Again, if it was a tv show, you're watching A Town Called Eureka, and you can tell in a second who the character is, who they are close to and have an idea of their personality, because a picture tells a thousand words. Which means it is perfectly feasible to introduce the whole town.
Unfortunately, in book form, you have to have those thousand words. It just felt like I was being bombarded with character profiles for the first third or so. Once their out the way, it all runs a lot smoother.
The "hints" were more like someone standing on a pedestal with a megaphone, pointing out that This. Is. Important. Please remember, and keep your arms in at all times.
Like the kid seeing the door open to the old swimming baths. Or the whole entire story of how they had some pepper spray ammo - when that one came out of nowhere, I was like "yup, I bet that pops up later".
The only other thing that struck me as odd was actually the synopsis - stick with me.
For me, these thriller books are a slow unveiling and clues toward the Who, Why and How.
The big three answers are already given in the synopsis - (Who) The drug queen Escribano, (Why) because Mayor Tom has pissed her off, (How) punishing several Mint women via the dodgy new family.
I know there are other cool twists, but I kinda want to discover the above three for myself.
But overall, a very pleasant read (with some gory bits). My favourite part was the ending, when the town faces its monsters in court and moves on, stronger.
August 2, 2015
AN ENTERTAINING FORAY INTO SMALL TOWN AMERICA
This is an entertaining Stephen King-esque delve into the consequences of a past mistake now come to haunt a small town in America. Women start to go missing, and within the first couple of chapters you'll find yourself hooked and wanting to find out just what the heck has happened to them. I found it a convincing portrayal of small town America - the homeliness, the fear of outsiders - and it makes you want to go there for a cup of black coffee, similar to that yearning you get from watching Twin Peaks.
I enjoyed the scenes in the festering swimming pool the most, and for the most part it was a convincing and scary trip and an original form of torture. I also enjoyed the end and the payoffs set up earlier, for example, the pepper bomb, and I LOVED the resolution to Elenita's story.
However: Are there too many backstories?; Are there moments of switching tenses?; Is the revenge plot a little extreme for the crime? Probably to all three questions. But it brings me to an important point about fiction: Is the book simply entertaining enough for you to reach the end? Because actually, that's the most important question. And the answer in relation to 'Ice' is a resounding yes. At no point did it occur to me to put the book down and stop reading, and really, in a sense, that's ALL that matters, and achieving this is never an easy task.
I noticed some people have criticised Wren for not monopolising the psychic power of the Mint. Actually, that was one of the things I really liked. I preferred the Mint being in the background and serving almost on a metaphorical/allegorical level and a way of showing how the community has broken down and how it might find peace again.
Overall a good, page-turner of a read. The story is entertaining from start to finish, there's plenty of characters to root for, and it's wonderfully squeamish in all the right places. I'll certainly be interested to see what the author does next.
This is an entertaining Stephen King-esque delve into the consequences of a past mistake now come to haunt a small town in America. Women start to go missing, and within the first couple of chapters you'll find yourself hooked and wanting to find out just what the heck has happened to them. I found it a convincing portrayal of small town America - the homeliness, the fear of outsiders - and it makes you want to go there for a cup of black coffee, similar to that yearning you get from watching Twin Peaks.
I enjoyed the scenes in the festering swimming pool the most, and for the most part it was a convincing and scary trip and an original form of torture. I also enjoyed the end and the payoffs set up earlier, for example, the pepper bomb, and I LOVED the resolution to Elenita's story.
However: Are there too many backstories?; Are there moments of switching tenses?; Is the revenge plot a little extreme for the crime? Probably to all three questions. But it brings me to an important point about fiction: Is the book simply entertaining enough for you to reach the end? Because actually, that's the most important question. And the answer in relation to 'Ice' is a resounding yes. At no point did it occur to me to put the book down and stop reading, and really, in a sense, that's ALL that matters, and achieving this is never an easy task.
I noticed some people have criticised Wren for not monopolising the psychic power of the Mint. Actually, that was one of the things I really liked. I preferred the Mint being in the background and serving almost on a metaphorical/allegorical level and a way of showing how the community has broken down and how it might find peace again.
Overall a good, page-turner of a read. The story is entertaining from start to finish, there's plenty of characters to root for, and it's wonderfully squeamish in all the right places. I'll certainly be interested to see what the author does next.
April 10, 2015
This is a cleverly crafted and fast-moving genre-bender, part psychic-paranormal, part investigative crime story. The compelling, believable teenage narrative voice and lead character make it a shoe in with YA-readers.
Among my favorite elements of the story: the author has an excellent sense of what information the reader needs to know and when he/she needs to know it, which helps the story to motor along at a fast rate without tripping a person up; the eerie, “just what is going on here” component of the mystery was very effective and worked to great page-turning effect.
I also felt that for a novella the author crammed in a whole lot of story in the hundred and twenty-five or so pages. The fact that this is a debut effort signals to me that this is an author to watch.
Honestly, not a whole lot to complain about with this one. A few typos, but they were within an acceptable range for professional writing. I would have liked to see the psychic-paranormal element drive the story more, but that’s because as much as I enjoy mysteries, I’m an even bigger fan of the psychic-paranormal sub-genre. As it is, it adds a dash of color and contributes to the overall eeriness of what’s going on in this small town, but is mostly background to the crime story itself. If you’re more of a crime story type of person, that may work in your favor.
Among my favorite elements of the story: the author has an excellent sense of what information the reader needs to know and when he/she needs to know it, which helps the story to motor along at a fast rate without tripping a person up; the eerie, “just what is going on here” component of the mystery was very effective and worked to great page-turning effect.
I also felt that for a novella the author crammed in a whole lot of story in the hundred and twenty-five or so pages. The fact that this is a debut effort signals to me that this is an author to watch.
Honestly, not a whole lot to complain about with this one. A few typos, but they were within an acceptable range for professional writing. I would have liked to see the psychic-paranormal element drive the story more, but that’s because as much as I enjoy mysteries, I’m an even bigger fan of the psychic-paranormal sub-genre. As it is, it adds a dash of color and contributes to the overall eeriness of what’s going on in this small town, but is mostly background to the crime story itself. If you’re more of a crime story type of person, that may work in your favor.
April 30, 2015
When I first started reading Ice, I thought of Stephen King books such as Needful Things, where a small, close-knit town is invaded by evil magic and different characters tell the story as each one confronts his or her own demons, trying to survive. The twist in Ice is the opposite. Minterville has its own magic that knits the residents closer than any outsider can comprehend. The evil that the town confronts seems to have defeated the town’s magic just as the story begins. So without the magical bond that connects them, how can the town survive and then protect its people?
The suspense is constant and the solutions are unpredictable but genuine, surprising and appropriate. I enjoyed the book and found the emotions genuine and the climax and the ending moving and satisfying.
On a personal note, my own life’s work is to tell size positive stories and I have to note a 300-pound woman is part of the town and its magical community and is one of the women in jeopardy during a hostage situation. She tells the story from a hostage point of view and is proved to be resourceful and real. No stereotypes here. Excellent.
I enjoyed Ice a lot and I’m looking forward to reading more of Jessica Wren's books in the future.
The suspense is constant and the solutions are unpredictable but genuine, surprising and appropriate. I enjoyed the book and found the emotions genuine and the climax and the ending moving and satisfying.
On a personal note, my own life’s work is to tell size positive stories and I have to note a 300-pound woman is part of the town and its magical community and is one of the women in jeopardy during a hostage situation. She tells the story from a hostage point of view and is proved to be resourceful and real. No stereotypes here. Excellent.
I enjoyed Ice a lot and I’m looking forward to reading more of Jessica Wren's books in the future.
March 18, 2015
Free book for honest review. juliesbookreview.blogspot.com
In GA there is a isolated town called Minterville. This little town holds secrets, one is soon to be revealed. When new families move into this peaceful little town 6 months ago, the Minter lost all telepathic communication available to them. The police chief, Andy and Mayor, Tom try and figure what and why they are here.
Then one Friday morning they are quick to discover that 20 of their female town members are missing. It didn't take to long before "the Ice Queen" makes an appearance to collect on an old drug debt. It could be just alittle to late. . . . .
This was a very powerful story that was jammed packed into just a few short pages. I was intrigued from the first sentence and quickly gained a connection with the women. My heart went out to them ! ! ! I love the secrets this town as and each character was colorful and well written :) This was 2 hours well spent and hope to read more from this author !
5 stars
Wende
In GA there is a isolated town called Minterville. This little town holds secrets, one is soon to be revealed. When new families move into this peaceful little town 6 months ago, the Minter lost all telepathic communication available to them. The police chief, Andy and Mayor, Tom try and figure what and why they are here.
Then one Friday morning they are quick to discover that 20 of their female town members are missing. It didn't take to long before "the Ice Queen" makes an appearance to collect on an old drug debt. It could be just alittle to late. . . . .
This was a very powerful story that was jammed packed into just a few short pages. I was intrigued from the first sentence and quickly gained a connection with the women. My heart went out to them ! ! ! I love the secrets this town as and each character was colorful and well written :) This was 2 hours well spent and hope to read more from this author !
5 stars
Wende
March 10, 2015
"Ice" by Jessica Wren skillfully combines elements from paranormal, suspense, and mainstream fiction and weaves them together in a taut mosaic that makes you want to keep turning the pages to see how it all turns out in the end. This short novel is also intriguing in that it doesn't "star" one or two characters. Rather, the entire town of Minterville, an idyllic town in the American South ripped apart by the events in the story, is, in effect, the main "character" of the novel. The book is segmented into various Parts, each Part told, in first-person narrative, by one of the residents of the town. This provides a bird's-eye overview of the story, as it were, allowing the reader to experience the drama from different points of view.
If you're looking for a tight, well-written tour de force with a small-town setting complete with intrigue, suspense, and unexpected plot twists, then look no further. Highly recommended!
If you're looking for a tight, well-written tour de force with a small-town setting complete with intrigue, suspense, and unexpected plot twists, then look no further. Highly recommended!
December 2, 2014
This book felt like eavesdropping in people's diaries. I had the feeling I was having a conversation and being told a story throughout.
In essence, it is about a mastermind's revenge against one man. The addition of the supernatural via a "Mint" communication system worked well.
The story was gripping and I have to admit that I could easily see this as a movie. Lots of characters, twists, and clever plot lines. I enjoyed it and read it pretty much in a day. A very easy, enjoyable read.
In essence, it is about a mastermind's revenge against one man. The addition of the supernatural via a "Mint" communication system worked well.
The story was gripping and I have to admit that I could easily see this as a movie. Lots of characters, twists, and clever plot lines. I enjoyed it and read it pretty much in a day. A very easy, enjoyable read.
March 27, 2015
This book was a good book too. This book kind of reminded me of the "Tomorrow People" TV show, in a way. But most the town had this unique ability. Life in small town Minterville is a town that kept in interest through out the book. I enjoyed the book and it's town and characters very much. If you are looking for something a little different to read, check this book out. * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
July 27, 2015
Jessica Wren writes as an author who is on top of her craft delivering a story that creates a world for a reader to step into and watch the events unfold through their own eyes and mind.
i fully enjoyed the narration and the flow of the story, The author provides a strong control over the characters and the emotions that each bring to the story, i totally enjoyed the tale and would persuade all to take a gander at this fabulous book.
A cracking read from a fantastic author.
i fully enjoyed the narration and the flow of the story, The author provides a strong control over the characters and the emotions that each bring to the story, i totally enjoyed the tale and would persuade all to take a gander at this fabulous book.
A cracking read from a fantastic author.
February 7, 2015
Murder, Revenge and Karma. Wanted More Metaphor and Magic.
For casual readers Ice delivers a fast-paced, edge of the seat tale of dark motives and darker pasts that leaves no doubt why many rated it four stars and higher. More critical readers will find themselves wishing Wren had wrestled with a few more books before she tackled this one.
Ice (a send-up of Marquez' masterpiece "One Hundred Years of Solitude”) assaults the isolated Georgia town of Minterville with a seemingly unmotivated act of terror. Recent—and unwelcome—newcomers, the Quiroga family, kidnap twenty women and chain them in an abandoned community pool filled with ice where they will soon die from hypothermia.
The town fails to uncover the kidnappings because their psychic network, the Mint (which allows them to maintain their isolation from the larger world), has been knocked out of commission. During the hours that follow the abductions, as the community tries to mount a rescue, readers unravel the connected threads that motivate the abductions and allowed the sources of corruption to sprout in the seemingly Eden-like town.
Ice is no cozy mystery, but readers looking for a fast-paced thriller with telenovela plot twists will find it hard to put their eReaders down. The plot is streamlined with characters well developed to serve their purpose on resolving the story.
Most of the characters function well at an empathetic level, especially through Wren’s depictions of the interactions between the women in the pool. Wren does a fairly good job of making readers care about the victims and even a few of the Quirogas as well.
Reading past the story, however, I feel Wren still needs to develop her prose style. Wren’s prose is far from wooden, but for the most part Ice lacks grace and precision, poetic turns of phrase that only arrive on the last page of the book. This becomes especially clear when the book switches between first person narrators with no clear change in narrative voice.
Given the putrified conditions of the abandoned pool, Wren had an additional opportunity to use her prose to extend the metaphor of slowly growing purification and corruption in Minterville . But these techniques come with practice.
None of this changes the fact that I enjoyed Ice. I can only hope Wren hones her craft and delivers something even better next time. And I did pull my hard cover copy “Solitude” off my bookshelf to read again, water marked and dusty, which, surprisingly, may be the one item in my house which was exactly where I remember leaving it.
Okay, one book over, but after thirty years that’s pretty damn close.
Phillip T. Stephens is the author of Raising Hell and Cigerets, Guns & Beer Follow him on Twitter @stephens_pt
For casual readers Ice delivers a fast-paced, edge of the seat tale of dark motives and darker pasts that leaves no doubt why many rated it four stars and higher. More critical readers will find themselves wishing Wren had wrestled with a few more books before she tackled this one.
Ice (a send-up of Marquez' masterpiece "One Hundred Years of Solitude”) assaults the isolated Georgia town of Minterville with a seemingly unmotivated act of terror. Recent—and unwelcome—newcomers, the Quiroga family, kidnap twenty women and chain them in an abandoned community pool filled with ice where they will soon die from hypothermia.
The town fails to uncover the kidnappings because their psychic network, the Mint (which allows them to maintain their isolation from the larger world), has been knocked out of commission. During the hours that follow the abductions, as the community tries to mount a rescue, readers unravel the connected threads that motivate the abductions and allowed the sources of corruption to sprout in the seemingly Eden-like town.
Ice is no cozy mystery, but readers looking for a fast-paced thriller with telenovela plot twists will find it hard to put their eReaders down. The plot is streamlined with characters well developed to serve their purpose on resolving the story.
Most of the characters function well at an empathetic level, especially through Wren’s depictions of the interactions between the women in the pool. Wren does a fairly good job of making readers care about the victims and even a few of the Quirogas as well.
Reading past the story, however, I feel Wren still needs to develop her prose style. Wren’s prose is far from wooden, but for the most part Ice lacks grace and precision, poetic turns of phrase that only arrive on the last page of the book. This becomes especially clear when the book switches between first person narrators with no clear change in narrative voice.
Given the putrified conditions of the abandoned pool, Wren had an additional opportunity to use her prose to extend the metaphor of slowly growing purification and corruption in Minterville . But these techniques come with practice.
None of this changes the fact that I enjoyed Ice. I can only hope Wren hones her craft and delivers something even better next time. And I did pull my hard cover copy “Solitude” off my bookshelf to read again, water marked and dusty, which, surprisingly, may be the one item in my house which was exactly where I remember leaving it.
Okay, one book over, but after thirty years that’s pretty damn close.
Phillip T. Stephens is the author of Raising Hell and Cigerets, Guns & Beer Follow him on Twitter @stephens_pt
January 23, 2015
Writing is like fishing. You toss out your line (i.e. your book) hopping to hook a fish(i.e. a reader). They say as well that if you don’t hook your reader within the first few lines then it’s over. That person will probably not continue reading your book. Well luckily Mrs. Wren is a great fisherman for she hooks you within the first few lines with her tantalizing use of words. She writes with a mystery that begs you to read more to find out the meaning behind her setting of words.
Jessica Wren’s book “Ice” takes you on a dramatic, jolting ride. There is a mystery brewing in the small town of Minterville, Georgia. First two mysterious families have moved into the small town of Minterville, which has also brought on an eerie physical gloom of clouds that hang over the town. The clouds just hang there like a cover of gloom giving no rain. Next the Minter stopped. The Minter is this little secret mental communication board some of the towns folks have in Minterville. The big problem with it stopping is that it only stops when there is an evil presence around.
If that is not of enough worry for the residents of Minterville, the women of Minterville start disappearing…
Jessica Wren then takes the floor out from under you as the story takes a shockingly, wicked turn. To remind you this book is title “ICE
” there is a reason for that. I enjoyed how the Mrs. Wren weaved the title of her book into the story itself. There is a reason this book is entitled “ICE”. It is not pretty either.
Written in parts, with different narratives by certain towns folks of Minterville was an interesting narrative choice. It worked too. It gave the book a feel of finding an old town newspaper, or town history book. This worked with the overall tone of the story too.
Overall I enjoyed “ICE”. The book was not what I thought it would be. Jessica Wren sets up a nice cozy setting then all of a sudden it takes an enthralling unexpected turn that does not disappoint you.
There were a lot of characters and people being related to this person and that in the book. It kind of confused me a bit, but that is just me. Genealogy confuses me sometime with your brother being your uncles monkey or something like that. In the end good read. This innocently titled book will shock you.
Jessica Wren’s book “Ice” takes you on a dramatic, jolting ride. There is a mystery brewing in the small town of Minterville, Georgia. First two mysterious families have moved into the small town of Minterville, which has also brought on an eerie physical gloom of clouds that hang over the town. The clouds just hang there like a cover of gloom giving no rain. Next the Minter stopped. The Minter is this little secret mental communication board some of the towns folks have in Minterville. The big problem with it stopping is that it only stops when there is an evil presence around.
If that is not of enough worry for the residents of Minterville, the women of Minterville start disappearing…
Jessica Wren then takes the floor out from under you as the story takes a shockingly, wicked turn. To remind you this book is title “ICE
” there is a reason for that. I enjoyed how the Mrs. Wren weaved the title of her book into the story itself. There is a reason this book is entitled “ICE”. It is not pretty either.
Written in parts, with different narratives by certain towns folks of Minterville was an interesting narrative choice. It worked too. It gave the book a feel of finding an old town newspaper, or town history book. This worked with the overall tone of the story too.
Overall I enjoyed “ICE”. The book was not what I thought it would be. Jessica Wren sets up a nice cozy setting then all of a sudden it takes an enthralling unexpected turn that does not disappoint you.
There were a lot of characters and people being related to this person and that in the book. It kind of confused me a bit, but that is just me. Genealogy confuses me sometime with your brother being your uncles monkey or something like that. In the end good read. This innocently titled book will shock you.
July 31, 2015
“Ice” has the potential to be a good story but it needs to be developed. More of an outline than a full fledged thriller, the characters should be fleshed out and the motivation for the crime could be firmer. There are a lot of characters in this book, too many for such a short story. Without truly getting to know the people in the town of Minterville, it’s difficult to care about them. There is certainly the potential for empathy; the young couple who had recently learned they were expecting a baby, the just engaged couple, and others whose names escape me.
It’s also disturbing to know the bad guys and the plot from the beginning of the story. There is little building of the tension that makes a thriller, thrilling. All this being said, the premise of the story is great. The crime itself is diabolical. It is in the confines of the recreation center that I began to feel some sympathy for the characters. Through their brief interactions and even shorter conversations I got some insight into their lives.
The chief protagonist is never fully developed. The motivation for the assault is weak and once again there is potential for a deeper plot.
At the bottom of it all are the town of Minterville and the mystery of the Minter. This almost seems like a different story. Minterville itself is fascinating. A small community could be hiding a lot more than the telepathic ability shared by the residents. There are a lot of teen pregnancies and the suggestion of some inbreeding. Once more there is the potential for a darker tale.
I would love to see Jessica Wren take this story and expand it. I want to learn more about the characters. I want to hear their voices. Is there more to the relationship between Tom and the drug lord? Does Kendra know more than the other residents of Minterville? Why does the Minter exist?
As it stands now “Ice” makes a decent YA novella. It lacks enough excitement and tension for more mature readers. Hopefully Ms. Wren will revisit this tale and invest her characters with more personality, her back story with more meat, and a greater explanation of the mysteries of Minterville.
It’s also disturbing to know the bad guys and the plot from the beginning of the story. There is little building of the tension that makes a thriller, thrilling. All this being said, the premise of the story is great. The crime itself is diabolical. It is in the confines of the recreation center that I began to feel some sympathy for the characters. Through their brief interactions and even shorter conversations I got some insight into their lives.
The chief protagonist is never fully developed. The motivation for the assault is weak and once again there is potential for a deeper plot.
At the bottom of it all are the town of Minterville and the mystery of the Minter. This almost seems like a different story. Minterville itself is fascinating. A small community could be hiding a lot more than the telepathic ability shared by the residents. There are a lot of teen pregnancies and the suggestion of some inbreeding. Once more there is the potential for a darker tale.
I would love to see Jessica Wren take this story and expand it. I want to learn more about the characters. I want to hear their voices. Is there more to the relationship between Tom and the drug lord? Does Kendra know more than the other residents of Minterville? Why does the Minter exist?
As it stands now “Ice” makes a decent YA novella. It lacks enough excitement and tension for more mature readers. Hopefully Ms. Wren will revisit this tale and invest her characters with more personality, her back story with more meat, and a greater explanation of the mysteries of Minterville.
September 4, 2015
Minterville, Georgia, is a small and isolated community. There's a hometown feel. A place where everyone knows everyone else. Perhaps a bit better than the usual small town, since the people of Minterville have an unusual telepathic gift that they use to communicate with one another. That changes when dark corners from one of the very few 'outsiders' who settled into the cozy community push into the open. Suddenly, it's X-Files meets Criminal Minds.
Wren drags horror into the sleepy community like an old Hitchcock movie. It plays on the heartstrings in a way that those of us who came from small towns can relate to. Nothing terrible like that could ever happen here.
There are some gaps, I feel, in the story telling. Why has someone holding a grudge for more than 25 years decided to take such drastic measures? What is the motivation for the cruelty? The leader of the evil gang inflicting terror seems to be from a criminal element, and perhaps a puppet of the real evil behind the atrocity, but why would this criminal have no exit strategy? Another thing I feel is lacking is an established empathy with the specific victims. There would be a greater feeling of tragedy if the reader were more invested in some of the characters who suffer under the hands of their heartless captors.
The story is told in a floating first person style. I'm not a fan of a first person narrative that drifts around the characters, but that might be a personal preference.
I've read other reviews that suggest that Wren has written an outline of a larger story. While I think she has created more than an outline, I do believe there is more to this story and it could be improved by filling out the characters a little more.
Wren drags horror into the sleepy community like an old Hitchcock movie. It plays on the heartstrings in a way that those of us who came from small towns can relate to. Nothing terrible like that could ever happen here.
There are some gaps, I feel, in the story telling. Why has someone holding a grudge for more than 25 years decided to take such drastic measures? What is the motivation for the cruelty? The leader of the evil gang inflicting terror seems to be from a criminal element, and perhaps a puppet of the real evil behind the atrocity, but why would this criminal have no exit strategy? Another thing I feel is lacking is an established empathy with the specific victims. There would be a greater feeling of tragedy if the reader were more invested in some of the characters who suffer under the hands of their heartless captors.
The story is told in a floating first person style. I'm not a fan of a first person narrative that drifts around the characters, but that might be a personal preference.
I've read other reviews that suggest that Wren has written an outline of a larger story. While I think she has created more than an outline, I do believe there is more to this story and it could be improved by filling out the characters a little more.
December 2, 2014
When I initially agreed to review Ice, I had no idea it was a psycho-melodrama (is that a word?). Since I am not a fan of "psychic" related novels, I approached Ice with a jaundiced eye. I was intrigued by Wren's approach to her story, telling in the first voice, but from several characters, with overlapping segments. At first, I was put off by the "Minter." Then I decided just to set it aside and go with the story.
I found the story both compelling and engaging, especially as the entirety of the plot was revealed. The enormity of the crime took my breath away, as did Wren's ability to conjure up such a tale in the first place. For a first novel, this is an impressive effort. I did find a few errors in formatting and English usage, but in this respect, Ice is superior to many first efforts.
At the story's end, with the reestablishment of the Minter, I still was asking why the Minter in the first place. I think the story stands on its own without this plot device that actually seems to detract somewhat from the intensity of the evil that the author portrays. Consequently, I have awarded the story four stars instead of five. Had I been able to choose four-and-a-half stars, I would have done so.
I highly recommend this book to any fan of the psycho-melodrama. I suspect the Minter will not affect these readers as it did me. I also recommend Ice to crime drama fans (just ignore the Minter). It's definitely worth reading!
I found the story both compelling and engaging, especially as the entirety of the plot was revealed. The enormity of the crime took my breath away, as did Wren's ability to conjure up such a tale in the first place. For a first novel, this is an impressive effort. I did find a few errors in formatting and English usage, but in this respect, Ice is superior to many first efforts.
At the story's end, with the reestablishment of the Minter, I still was asking why the Minter in the first place. I think the story stands on its own without this plot device that actually seems to detract somewhat from the intensity of the evil that the author portrays. Consequently, I have awarded the story four stars instead of five. Had I been able to choose four-and-a-half stars, I would have done so.
I highly recommend this book to any fan of the psycho-melodrama. I suspect the Minter will not affect these readers as it did me. I also recommend Ice to crime drama fans (just ignore the Minter). It's definitely worth reading!
November 18, 2014
Shortly after the large Quirogas and de los Santos families moved into the somewhat isolated southeastern Georgia town of Minterville, the town's secret resource, the Minter, a sort of social media style of telepathy connecting the longtime residents of the town, begins to crackle and fade, suddenly going silent with the arrival of a perpetual storm five months later. But the loss of the Minter becomes a minor issue when a month later twenty women and girls disappear, which the town authorities soon discover is a vengeful, psychotic act of frigid terrorism and extortion. This long novella is a quick read that, at its core, will satisfy fans of suspenseful and thoughtful crime thrillers. However, any fan of paranormal thriller fiction will find disappointment as the Minter is not greatly significant to the main plot, rather only offering a subtle clue to a minor reveal. Instead, I could see the Minter more as a symbol of community from its fragility in the face of mistrust, suspicion and fear to its regaining of strength and resilience through loss, understanding, and forgiveness. Yet, it is not clear whether this was the direction the author was seeking with this element, leaving it open to discussion as to its clarity and importance to the story. Editing and grammatical errors were in an acceptable range and not a distraction to the general read, so all in all, this was a decent debut effort from this author.
February 19, 2015
A fast paced, quick read.
The setting is a small Georgia town with close-knit people that are cold and suspicious toward outsiders that move into their community. One outsider brought with him a secret past, which brings evil to the community. The setting was a good choice by Wren for this story.
Wren tells her story through the eyes of the characters in first person, which was new for me. I continued to read for the enjoyment of the story. A third person approach would have served this story much better. I was looking forward to the psychic ability of the people, the "Minter." However, Wren missed a great opportunity with this unique ability of the Mints. I didn't get the feel that anyone in the story was that concerned with his or her loss of the psychic ability. Therefore, I didn't feel the story was advanced by this ability nor the loss of it. It is unnecessary to the story as written.
There were a few plot gaps that left me asking why--an abandoned building with a swimming pool filled with water; a drug Lord waiting twenty years to take revenge; kidnapping twenty women to get back at one person, an ex-mule; an a drug Lord taking such extremes if she wasn't known to have killed anyone before--but an interesting story concept.
I overlooked the grammatical and editorial errors.
Admirable effort for a first novel. An author with a good imagination. Watch her!
The setting is a small Georgia town with close-knit people that are cold and suspicious toward outsiders that move into their community. One outsider brought with him a secret past, which brings evil to the community. The setting was a good choice by Wren for this story.
Wren tells her story through the eyes of the characters in first person, which was new for me. I continued to read for the enjoyment of the story. A third person approach would have served this story much better. I was looking forward to the psychic ability of the people, the "Minter." However, Wren missed a great opportunity with this unique ability of the Mints. I didn't get the feel that anyone in the story was that concerned with his or her loss of the psychic ability. Therefore, I didn't feel the story was advanced by this ability nor the loss of it. It is unnecessary to the story as written.
There were a few plot gaps that left me asking why--an abandoned building with a swimming pool filled with water; a drug Lord waiting twenty years to take revenge; kidnapping twenty women to get back at one person, an ex-mule; an a drug Lord taking such extremes if she wasn't known to have killed anyone before--but an interesting story concept.
I overlooked the grammatical and editorial errors.
Admirable effort for a first novel. An author with a good imagination. Watch her!
May 31, 2015
I was given a free copy of this book by a fellow #indiebooksbeseen member
That was fantastic.
Minterville is a strange little town. Half of the population of the town has the ability to speak psychically to each other while the other half can't. But after two new families move into the town, things began to change.
Elliot is a high school student that begins to realize something is wrong when women start disappearing from the town. After contacting his Uncle Andy who is the police chief and hearing that even more women have been reported missing, Elliot takes it upon himself to begin investigating. What he uncovers will shock everyone in the small town of Minterville and lead to the biggest massacre to ever take place there.
I was sent this novel for review from the author and could not be more satisfied with it. Even though the book is only 121 pages, Jessica Wren managed to pack a ton of world building and character development into an action packed psychological thriller that was beautifully screwed up and kept me grasping for more.
Ice was incredibly entertaining and the writing style this author has is fantastic. Easy to read with very strong storytelling abilities. She'll be an indie author to watch for years to come.
That was fantastic.
Minterville is a strange little town. Half of the population of the town has the ability to speak psychically to each other while the other half can't. But after two new families move into the town, things began to change.
Elliot is a high school student that begins to realize something is wrong when women start disappearing from the town. After contacting his Uncle Andy who is the police chief and hearing that even more women have been reported missing, Elliot takes it upon himself to begin investigating. What he uncovers will shock everyone in the small town of Minterville and lead to the biggest massacre to ever take place there.
I was sent this novel for review from the author and could not be more satisfied with it. Even though the book is only 121 pages, Jessica Wren managed to pack a ton of world building and character development into an action packed psychological thriller that was beautifully screwed up and kept me grasping for more.
Ice was incredibly entertaining and the writing style this author has is fantastic. Easy to read with very strong storytelling abilities. She'll be an indie author to watch for years to come.
February 24, 2016
A good and well paced thriller set in a protective community.
In a small town, people are living a quiet and nice life. Some of them are very talented in what they do and most of them are connected in a strange way. But one day, women start to disappear and it's the beginning of a nightmare.
The story was well balanced and I particularly enjoyed the change of point of view with each part, it added depth to the story and helped to understand the events and to connect with different characters. The secluded mentality, the fear and the links between people were well depicted and added to the atmosphere of the thriller. I'm not a big fan of the genre but found this one creepy enough and planned in a sensible way, with all the important and necessary parts from the events to the closure, through the explanations. However, the lack of action during an important part drove me angry, I'm probably too much accustomed to heroes. Overall, a pleasant and entertaining read which kept me interested all along.
In a small town, people are living a quiet and nice life. Some of them are very talented in what they do and most of them are connected in a strange way. But one day, women start to disappear and it's the beginning of a nightmare.
The story was well balanced and I particularly enjoyed the change of point of view with each part, it added depth to the story and helped to understand the events and to connect with different characters. The secluded mentality, the fear and the links between people were well depicted and added to the atmosphere of the thriller. I'm not a big fan of the genre but found this one creepy enough and planned in a sensible way, with all the important and necessary parts from the events to the closure, through the explanations. However, the lack of action during an important part drove me angry, I'm probably too much accustomed to heroes. Overall, a pleasant and entertaining read which kept me interested all along.
March 3, 2015
This short novel introduces a ton of characters. I honestly couldn't keep them all straight. But don't let this deter you. I can't even keep the names of my own cousins straight (no offense, James, or is it Jimmy?). Once I got over the fact I wasn't going to remember everyone's family tree I was easily hooked by the book's driving question: What is going on?
The answer, which in one way or another involves the entire town of Minterville, is gritty and disturbing, yet also manages to be poignant in its portrayal of human kindness in desperate situations.
Note: Because of the language and subject matter I wouldn't recommend this book to the younger YA crowd.
This is the twenty-first book I've featured on my book's (Atomic Aardvark) blog called "Bobbing for Indie eBooks" . A feature where I promote and give away copies of eBooks by Indie authors I've discovered and whose books I have enjoyed.
The answer, which in one way or another involves the entire town of Minterville, is gritty and disturbing, yet also manages to be poignant in its portrayal of human kindness in desperate situations.
Note: Because of the language and subject matter I wouldn't recommend this book to the younger YA crowd.
This is the twenty-first book I've featured on my book's (Atomic Aardvark) blog called "Bobbing for Indie eBooks" . A feature where I promote and give away copies of eBooks by Indie authors I've discovered and whose books I have enjoyed.
February 16, 2015
I had a happen-stance encounter online with Jessica Wren, the author. As it turns out we exchanged eBooks and agreed to review each other's book. I typically am not one that reads fiction books but thought this would be a really good chance to step out of my 'normal' path. I'm glad that I did. The reason that I typically don't read fictions is that I sometimes lose interest and focus. The reason that I am giving 'Ice' a 5 Star rating is that I remained totally engaged from beginning to the end of the book. It seemed that each chapter brought a new twist to consider. It does involve a lot of different characters which actually made it necessary for me to focus and think more. The bottom-line is that I enjoyed reading it. I wish Jessica well as she continues on her path of an emerging author. It's great to see people like Jessica stretching into new ventures as well.
May 27, 2015
Well, as you can see from my read dates, I liked it - a lot! It was a little tough getting started but once I got to chapter 3, I was hooked. This book is a different format from usual. It is set up in 4 parts - each part being told by a different character in the book. They tell their parts of the 'incident' in their town and it flows wonderfully. You get a different perspective with every turn of the page. This town is very unique and that's all I will say about that. The residents are also unique and that's all I will say about them as well other than they are very close knit community who looks out for everyone else. This horrible 'incident' happens, and they have to find a way to end it, without people getting hurt. They come together and devise a plan and well, you just have to read the book to find out what happens. I promise you won't be disappointed. Five stars ++++++++++.
November 1, 2014
This was an interesting and original read that mixes elements of supernatural, Americana and crime fiction to create a wholly unique and potent literary cocktail. Told from the various perspectives of multiple narrators from a small Georgia town with myriad secrets under siege from narco-terrorists, this sometimes-graphic story is often compelling and adroitly delves into several themes including morality, social dynamics, multiculturalism and gender politics all while maintaining an entertaining narrative/plot and brisk pace. The foreshadowing and plot twists are delivered with deft precision, the characters are memorable and the seemingly-conflicting genres/styles are blended together seamlessly... Definitely an author to keep an eye on.
July 22, 2015
A small Georgia town with a close knit community, face as dark evil. The people there have a supernatural gift that binds them but then fades and abandons them. This gift is really not necessary to the story itself, but represents the uniqueness of this village.
The main characters are well developed and we see the events that occurred from the different perspective of some townsfolk. Wren builds in us, the reader, sympathy, empathy and a likeness for her characters.
This novel is a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat and turning pages. For Wren's first novel, I give her kudos for a job well done. It is engaging from beginning to end, and is a compelling tale.
If you like investigative crime, psychic-melodrama, mystery novels, then this is a novel for you!
The main characters are well developed and we see the events that occurred from the different perspective of some townsfolk. Wren builds in us, the reader, sympathy, empathy and a likeness for her characters.
This novel is a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat and turning pages. For Wren's first novel, I give her kudos for a job well done. It is engaging from beginning to end, and is a compelling tale.
If you like investigative crime, psychic-melodrama, mystery novels, then this is a novel for you!
June 25, 2015
This book grabbed me and sucked me into the story from the very beginning. I love Minterville and all the people there. The idea of how the town came to be in existence was something that you would have seen a long time ago and the attitude of the people there is something that I wish we could see more of in this day and age.
The suspicion of anyone new to town is something that we see all too often but in this case it was completely justified (they just didn't know that at the time).
I loved the different perspectives for the different situations. It made me feel more a part of the story to know exactly what was happening at the important locations even though the same person was not there for each of them.
I hope to see more of Minterville and it's residents!
The suspicion of anyone new to town is something that we see all too often but in this case it was completely justified (they just didn't know that at the time).
I loved the different perspectives for the different situations. It made me feel more a part of the story to know exactly what was happening at the important locations even though the same person was not there for each of them.
I hope to see more of Minterville and it's residents!
January 10, 2016
I really enjoyed this thriller of a book. It has all the elements you expect to find in a small American town: where everyone knows all there is to know about everyone else and strangers are treated with some suspicion. What’s not expected is the special telepathic capability the community have. It’s an unusual story with some powerful, unexpected twists.
This book has a thrilling plot, an unusual crime scene, believable characters, and interesting sub plots. The author has cleverly handled the large number of characters well and you feel as though you get to know most of them quite quickly. The various threads of the story are woven into a perfect tale with no loose ends. It’s a remarkably well-written, exciting read. Well done!
This book has a thrilling plot, an unusual crime scene, believable characters, and interesting sub plots. The author has cleverly handled the large number of characters well and you feel as though you get to know most of them quite quickly. The various threads of the story are woven into a perfect tale with no loose ends. It’s a remarkably well-written, exciting read. Well done!
July 7, 2015
Minterville population 500, but a population with a special telepathic power. That power they share starts to fade shortly after two new families move into town. The Quirogas and the De Los Santos families are not trusted by the town, but does their waning power have anything to do with those families? Twenty women disappear and someone in the town knows the reason. Can those women be saved from what the Ice Queen plans or are they doomed to die in her plot for revenge? I did enjoy this books. It did have a small paranormal twist, though I think the other twists really came in solving the mystery and getting closure.
October 18, 2014
This was a really enjoyable read. I loved the small American town feeling to it, with everyone knowing each other (their thoughts too). It worked well when the town was suddenly faced with a terrible crisis and they all had to band together to overcome it. The Minter is a very original take on Telepathy too. It makes sense without being over explained.
The mystery is there throughout. All in all this was a highly entertaining read that kept me going all the way to the end. I would absolutely recommend this book to family and friends (in fact I already have).
The mystery is there throughout. All in all this was a highly entertaining read that kept me going all the way to the end. I would absolutely recommend this book to family and friends (in fact I already have).
July 14, 2015
In a small town in Minterville, Georgia, the residents live in relative seclusion, partly to keep crime out of their small, and to prevent the world from finding out about The Minter, a form of telepathy that interconnects them and gives them a sense of unity.
When a few new couples move to town the Minter stops working. They believe one of those families is responsible. The ice queen is amongst them & has issues with Tom.
When a few new couples move to town the Minter stops working. They believe one of those families is responsible. The ice queen is amongst them & has issues with Tom.
July 9, 2015
Intriguing read. This short novel has a great plot and story line. Though I am not used to been told everything by the characters it still gave a good story. Personally I found it hard to read though only because I prefer book where characters talk to each other. That's a me thing. The book could be developed more and made into a full length novel. Well done Jessica, keep writing. :-)
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