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Ice and Shadows #1
Written on Ice
She’s the figure skater. He’s the hockey player.
And the only thing more dangerous than falling for each other is the truth buried beneath the ice.
Luna del Sol isn’t a legacy at Valcèrre University. She’s an outsider, fighting for her shot at the Olympics.
No mistakes. No distractions.
Until she meets him.
Zayden Aldenhurst. Broody. Untouchable. The arrogant hockey captain who calls her an ice princess, like she hasn’t fought for every second on the ice.
She hates him for it.
No matter how hard she tries to stay away, the tension between them is undeniable. The closer they get to each other, the deeper they're pulled into Valcerre's darkest secrets.
A hidden rink.
A deadly competition.
And a dead student no one talks about—one the school will do anything to keep buried.
They're getting too close to the truth.
And if they’re not careful…one of them might be next.
And the only thing more dangerous than falling for each other is the truth buried beneath the ice.
Luna del Sol isn’t a legacy at Valcèrre University. She’s an outsider, fighting for her shot at the Olympics.
No mistakes. No distractions.
Until she meets him.
Zayden Aldenhurst. Broody. Untouchable. The arrogant hockey captain who calls her an ice princess, like she hasn’t fought for every second on the ice.
She hates him for it.
No matter how hard she tries to stay away, the tension between them is undeniable. The closer they get to each other, the deeper they're pulled into Valcerre's darkest secrets.
A hidden rink.
A deadly competition.
And a dead student no one talks about—one the school will do anything to keep buried.
They're getting too close to the truth.
And if they’re not careful…one of them might be next.
316 pages, Paperback
First published February 24, 2025
119 people are currently reading
1231 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 356 reviews
November 4, 2025
I’m a bit tired of the way books are marketed by referencing other popular titles when the actual vibe doesn’t really match. In this case, the comparison to Icebreaker x A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder made me expect a blend of both when in reality I only found one of those elements. As an AGGGTM fan, I expected a similar touch, but the mystery aspect is only partially developed. I don’t mind that, 'cause every book develops in its own way, but when it’s marketed like this, you can’t help but expecting something specific. So, if the premise caught your attention because of those comparisons, just know that you’ll only get one side of it. However, if what draws you in is the atmosphere or the representation of BIPOC characters, then this might still be a good pick for you.
Rant aside, I have to say I did enjoy the story overall. It has its flaws: there were moments where the story felt too short and could have benefited from more depth to make the narrative feel more natural, and other moments that could have been trimmed. But overall, it’s a quick and engaging read if you’re looking for something to pass an afternoon with.
One of the book’s strongest points — and a major reason I requested the ARC — is its representation. I haven’t come across many stories featuring people of color in this particular sport, so it was refreshing to see how the author showcased a diverse cast without leaning on stereotypes. Because of the color of their skin, both main characters must constantly prove that they are deserving of the places they’ve earned, and this theme is handled with honesty and depth. There’s a strong message here about letting go of the need for external validation and learning to shine on your own, and I loved that.
Valcérre, the snowy elite university setting, is a cool concept, though I found some details a bit confusing at the start. It was also disappointing to see that the setting was later put in the background throughout the story. It could have been one of the central elements, making the narrative feel more unique and immersive. By the end, I felt it was just another reserved, wealthy school, so nothing particularly special.
Both protagonists are well-portrayed, carrying their own traumas and struggles, and while they try to handle them individually, they ultimately find comfort in each other. Luna, FMC, doesn’t leave me with too much to say. She’s likable, and I appreciated her dedication and passion for skating, but I would have loved to see more “therapy sessions”: not just with her family, but moments for her to reflect and work on herself. The story is too short to really show her personal growth, partly because everything happens so quickly. That said, I still didn’t quite understand how she could miss a clue in the mystery that was right in front of her.
Zayden, on the other hand, surprised me and left me with mixed feelings. He’s initially presented as a solitary, closed-off person, but after only a few exchanges with Luna, he suddenly opens up completely — almost like a different person — immediately kneeling at her feet. I understand that confessing your feelings can change you, but his transformation felt so sudden that it seemed inconsistent with his earlier characterization.
This ties into one of my main critiques: the romance. While cute, it leans heavily into insta-lust. — one look, one exchange, and Zayden is completely smitten with Luna. Their chemistry is intense, but I would have appreciated more emotional build-up and development before diving into physical attraction, especially since Zayden had been holding back until that point. Furthermore, the romance dominates most of the story, relegating the mystery to a subplot. Initially, the balance could have been interesting, but after a while, their interactions start to feel repetitive. The emotional connection that could have strengthened their bond gets a little lost, as much of their relationship alternates between confession/connection and physical intimacy, leaving me feeling that their growth wasn’t fully realized.
The mystery is where the book fell short for me. The premise — a hidden rink, dark secrets, and a mysterious death — sounded intriguing, but the plot never fully delivered on that promise. The mystery felt more like a subplot than a driving force, with only a handful of chapters focusing on it, while the rest of the story revolved around the romance. Although Luna shows interest in solving the mystery and Zayden tries both to keep it hidden and figure out who might be targeting them, it often felt like their priorities lay elsewhere. I think it was a missed opportunity, because the setting and themes of elitism, ambition, and hidden danger had so much potential. Zayden could have been portrayed as morally grey, given the background he’s hiding, but instead the story ends up feeling flat, and it doesn’t take long to figure things out. I’m not expecting something overly complex, but at the very least, the way the mystery was presented could have been more engaging and satisfying.
All in all, this was a fast-paced and enjoyable read, particularly if you’re looking for something light and romantic without focusing too much on the mystery. The story leans heavily into the romance at the expense of the suspense it promised, so if you were expecting an Icebreaker × AGGGTM blend, it might feel a little underwhelming. That said, the setting, character representation, and hints of intrigue still kept me engaged, and I’m curious to see where the series goes next, given how this book concludes.
Thanks Torch Lit Ink, for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rant aside, I have to say I did enjoy the story overall. It has its flaws: there were moments where the story felt too short and could have benefited from more depth to make the narrative feel more natural, and other moments that could have been trimmed. But overall, it’s a quick and engaging read if you’re looking for something to pass an afternoon with.
One of the book’s strongest points — and a major reason I requested the ARC — is its representation. I haven’t come across many stories featuring people of color in this particular sport, so it was refreshing to see how the author showcased a diverse cast without leaning on stereotypes. Because of the color of their skin, both main characters must constantly prove that they are deserving of the places they’ve earned, and this theme is handled with honesty and depth. There’s a strong message here about letting go of the need for external validation and learning to shine on your own, and I loved that.
Valcérre, the snowy elite university setting, is a cool concept, though I found some details a bit confusing at the start. It was also disappointing to see that the setting was later put in the background throughout the story. It could have been one of the central elements, making the narrative feel more unique and immersive. By the end, I felt it was just another reserved, wealthy school, so nothing particularly special.
Both protagonists are well-portrayed, carrying their own traumas and struggles, and while they try to handle them individually, they ultimately find comfort in each other. Luna, FMC, doesn’t leave me with too much to say. She’s likable, and I appreciated her dedication and passion for skating, but I would have loved to see more “therapy sessions”: not just with her family, but moments for her to reflect and work on herself. The story is too short to really show her personal growth, partly because everything happens so quickly. That said, I still didn’t quite understand how she could miss a clue in the mystery that was right in front of her.
Zayden, on the other hand, surprised me and left me with mixed feelings. He’s initially presented as a solitary, closed-off person, but after only a few exchanges with Luna, he suddenly opens up completely — almost like a different person — immediately kneeling at her feet. I understand that confessing your feelings can change you, but his transformation felt so sudden that it seemed inconsistent with his earlier characterization.
This ties into one of my main critiques: the romance. While cute, it leans heavily into insta-lust. — one look, one exchange, and Zayden is completely smitten with Luna. Their chemistry is intense, but I would have appreciated more emotional build-up and development before diving into physical attraction, especially since Zayden had been holding back until that point. Furthermore, the romance dominates most of the story, relegating the mystery to a subplot. Initially, the balance could have been interesting, but after a while, their interactions start to feel repetitive. The emotional connection that could have strengthened their bond gets a little lost, as much of their relationship alternates between confession/connection and physical intimacy, leaving me feeling that their growth wasn’t fully realized.
The mystery is where the book fell short for me. The premise — a hidden rink, dark secrets, and a mysterious death — sounded intriguing, but the plot never fully delivered on that promise. The mystery felt more like a subplot than a driving force, with only a handful of chapters focusing on it, while the rest of the story revolved around the romance. Although Luna shows interest in solving the mystery and Zayden tries both to keep it hidden and figure out who might be targeting them, it often felt like their priorities lay elsewhere. I think it was a missed opportunity, because the setting and themes of elitism, ambition, and hidden danger had so much potential. Zayden could have been portrayed as morally grey, given the background he’s hiding, but instead the story ends up feeling flat, and it doesn’t take long to figure things out. I’m not expecting something overly complex, but at the very least, the way the mystery was presented could have been more engaging and satisfying.
All in all, this was a fast-paced and enjoyable read, particularly if you’re looking for something light and romantic without focusing too much on the mystery. The story leans heavily into the romance at the expense of the suspense it promised, so if you were expecting an Icebreaker × AGGGTM blend, it might feel a little underwhelming. That said, the setting, character representation, and hints of intrigue still kept me engaged, and I’m curious to see where the series goes next, given how this book concludes.
Thanks Torch Lit Ink, for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Did not finish
March 3, 2026dnf @ 10%
just not liking the dialogue, it’s either corny and just flat out awkward at times. it kinda just feels like characters in a book and not actual humans at all
just not liking the dialogue, it’s either corny and just flat out awkward at times. it kinda just feels like characters in a book and not actual humans at all
October 16, 2025
Got this as an ARC read and it did not disappoint!! If you love a romance with palpable tension and a cozy winter setting, go head and pick this one up. Written On Ice gives slight enemies to lovers vibes (they dont totally hate each other) and Smardline perfectly captures the electricity between Luna and Zayden. You feel every shift in their relationship, and the descriptions/detailing of the moments where they physically feel the connection they have—the change in breathing, the racing heart, etc., is one of the best parts! The chemistry between the two is both crazy and undeniable, and the tension between them only intensifies with all the pressure they're both under. And the intimate settings? Chile those are 100% swoon worthy😭
While this is a romance, it does give a lil mystery which I really liked!! As they navigate their complicated personal struggles and intense chemistry, Luna and Zayden start to realize the school itself has some shadyyyyyy secrets. Thanks to some anonymous person, Luna and Zayden are basically led to expose the truth about Valcerre.
Smardline also does an amazing job at painting a picture of what the university and surrounding area looks like, I would visit for sure😂
While this is a romance, it does give a lil mystery which I really liked!! As they navigate their complicated personal struggles and intense chemistry, Luna and Zayden start to realize the school itself has some shadyyyyyy secrets. Thanks to some anonymous person, Luna and Zayden are basically led to expose the truth about Valcerre.
Smardline also does an amazing job at painting a picture of what the university and surrounding area looks like, I would visit for sure😂
March 2, 2026
3.5 ⭐
February 19, 2026
I really wanted to like this one, but it just didn’t work for me.
It’s marketed as enemies-to-lovers, but it’s really more “she says she hates him but doesn’t” and “he pretends he doesn’t care but obviously does.” The tension never felt real, and the romance didn’t feel earned.
The setup had so much potential — dark academia vibes, college hockey and ice skating, BIPOC rep, trauma-heavy backstories, and a mystery subplot. On paper, it sounds like something I’d love.
But the story felt unsure of what it wanted to focus on. When I wasn’t connecting to the romance, I tried to stay for the mystery — and that ended up feeling underdeveloped too.
It’s a quick, easy read, but I never felt emotionally invested. This one just wasn’t for me.
It’s marketed as enemies-to-lovers, but it’s really more “she says she hates him but doesn’t” and “he pretends he doesn’t care but obviously does.” The tension never felt real, and the romance didn’t feel earned.
The setup had so much potential — dark academia vibes, college hockey and ice skating, BIPOC rep, trauma-heavy backstories, and a mystery subplot. On paper, it sounds like something I’d love.
But the story felt unsure of what it wanted to focus on. When I wasn’t connecting to the romance, I tried to stay for the mystery — and that ended up feeling underdeveloped too.
It’s a quick, easy read, but I never felt emotionally invested. This one just wasn’t for me.
October 18, 2025
Getting to read Written on Ice ahead of its official release was genuinely special. I’m so grateful to Smardline S. for sharing this story with early readers it’s a rare privilege to witness something this compelling before it reaches the wider world.
From the very first chapter, I was pulled into Luna and Zayden’s dynamic. Their connection felt real and layered, and the story unfolds with a magnetic mix of tension, mystery, and emotional depth. The book blends the best elements of enemies-to-lovers romance, dark academia, and thriller think Icebreaker, The Secret History, and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, all woven into something fresh and unforgettable.
I truly hope that once this book is out, more people get to experience it. You can feel the care and craft in every page, and it deserves to be read, talked about, and celebrated.
From the very first chapter, I was pulled into Luna and Zayden’s dynamic. Their connection felt real and layered, and the story unfolds with a magnetic mix of tension, mystery, and emotional depth. The book blends the best elements of enemies-to-lovers romance, dark academia, and thriller think Icebreaker, The Secret History, and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, all woven into something fresh and unforgettable.
I truly hope that once this book is out, more people get to experience it. You can feel the care and craft in every page, and it deserves to be read, talked about, and celebrated.
February 25, 2026
• POV: 1st Person / Dual
• Book Spice: Level 3
• Check Trigger Warnings
• Content Thoughts:
I went into this book really intrigued by the premise. The summary immediately caught my attention, and the marketing, especially the school ID and artwork emails, made the university setting feel really immersive and fun. It made me excited to start the book.
The first half started off really strong. The pacing felt smooth, and even though you can see the romance forming early on, it didn’t feel insta-lovey to me.
I liked watching the bicker-to-lovers dynamic develop naturally. It felt cute and believable without being rushed.
One of my favorite parts of the book was the mystery surrounding the university. That background storyline kept me interested.
I also really enjoyed the sports elements, with the portrayal of the ice skating and hockey. I honestly wish we got even more of those parts because they were some of the strongest elements of the story.
For some reason, the setup also gave me a slight fantasy vibe. I kept feeling like at some point someone was going to reveal they were a shape shifter or had some kind of magical ability.
I cannot fully explain why, but something about the atmosphere and the way the school was introduced gave me that kind of energy. 🤭
As I’ve said many times, I do not mind spice in books. I just prefer for it to be brought in naturally into the story.
Unfortunately, this book started to fall apart for me around the 56%-62% mark. From there until roughly 79%, the story shifted heavily away from the school plot and into long stretches of spice that felt repetitive and cringey.
The original intrigue took a back seat, and it honestly felt like I was reading a different book with different main characters.
That really took me out of the story.
I didn’t realize beforehand that this book was being marketed as similar in tone to Icebreaker, and if I had known that sooner I probably would have skipped it.
I struggle with stories where the spice takes over and the plot gets pushed aside, and that is what happened here. It was especially disappointing because the beginning was fun to me.
The plot twists were also very predictable and didn’t surprise me at all. Even knowing there are more books planned, I do not think I will be continuing the series.
Anyway, I really enjoyed everything up to about the halfway point and the parts near the end where the story returned to the school mystery.
The side characters were great additions, the romance itself was enjoyable when it stayed balanced with the plot, and the mystery is still interesting enough that I wish I wanted to continue.
Thank you BookSirens and Smardline for this eARC in exchange for my honest review and HAPPY PUB DAY!! 🧚
• Book Spice: Level 3
• Check Trigger Warnings
• Content Thoughts:
I went into this book really intrigued by the premise. The summary immediately caught my attention, and the marketing, especially the school ID and artwork emails, made the university setting feel really immersive and fun. It made me excited to start the book.
The first half started off really strong. The pacing felt smooth, and even though you can see the romance forming early on, it didn’t feel insta-lovey to me.
I liked watching the bicker-to-lovers dynamic develop naturally. It felt cute and believable without being rushed.
One of my favorite parts of the book was the mystery surrounding the university. That background storyline kept me interested.
I also really enjoyed the sports elements, with the portrayal of the ice skating and hockey. I honestly wish we got even more of those parts because they were some of the strongest elements of the story.
For some reason, the setup also gave me a slight fantasy vibe. I kept feeling like at some point someone was going to reveal they were a shape shifter or had some kind of magical ability.
I cannot fully explain why, but something about the atmosphere and the way the school was introduced gave me that kind of energy. 🤭
As I’ve said many times, I do not mind spice in books. I just prefer for it to be brought in naturally into the story.
Unfortunately, this book started to fall apart for me around the 56%-62% mark. From there until roughly 79%, the story shifted heavily away from the school plot and into long stretches of spice that felt repetitive and cringey.
The original intrigue took a back seat, and it honestly felt like I was reading a different book with different main characters.
That really took me out of the story.
I didn’t realize beforehand that this book was being marketed as similar in tone to Icebreaker, and if I had known that sooner I probably would have skipped it.
I struggle with stories where the spice takes over and the plot gets pushed aside, and that is what happened here. It was especially disappointing because the beginning was fun to me.
The plot twists were also very predictable and didn’t surprise me at all. Even knowing there are more books planned, I do not think I will be continuing the series.
Anyway, I really enjoyed everything up to about the halfway point and the parts near the end where the story returned to the school mystery.
The side characters were great additions, the romance itself was enjoyable when it stayed balanced with the plot, and the mystery is still interesting enough that I wish I wanted to continue.
Thank you BookSirens and Smardline for this eARC in exchange for my honest review and HAPPY PUB DAY!! 🧚
February 4, 2026
I had the absolute pleasure of being a Beta reader for Smardline. This book was truly amazing in so many ways. This was actually my first sports romance book I’ve ever read and I’m completely hooked now! Both Zayden and Luna as characters are so well developed as well as the background characters too, Annika was way favorite! The suspense in this book made me read as fast as I could.
The flashbacks of Luna and Zayden’s past are so heartbreaking but are so needed for this story to understand why the way they are today.
One of my favorite parts of this book is when Luna sasses Zayden in different languages but he still knows what she’s saying 😂. I had major flashbacks to Luc and Rylee.
I am so unbelievably excited for part 2 of this book! As always, thank you Smardline for your beautiful writing!
The flashbacks of Luna and Zayden’s past are so heartbreaking but are so needed for this story to understand why the way they are today.
One of my favorite parts of this book is when Luna sasses Zayden in different languages but he still knows what she’s saying 😂. I had major flashbacks to Luc and Rylee.
I am so unbelievably excited for part 2 of this book! As always, thank you Smardline for your beautiful writing!
November 5, 2025
What I liked:
-The gorgeous cover
-That both POC main characters were athletes at an elite prestigious school
-The mystery aspect of the book
-Unraveling parts of the school’s sordid past
What I disliked:
-The book being described as Icebreaker meets A Good Girls Guide to Murder because it didn’t feel much like either
-The book felt very YA and the dialogue felt very unnatural to read and then all of a sudden there were spicy scenes
-We kept being fed an enemies to lovers storyline but it felt like insta lust the whole time
-aspects of the big mystery felt disjointed and underdeveloped
Overall I think this could have been way better with more storyline development because the concept is solid.
-The gorgeous cover
-That both POC main characters were athletes at an elite prestigious school
-The mystery aspect of the book
-Unraveling parts of the school’s sordid past
What I disliked:
-The book being described as Icebreaker meets A Good Girls Guide to Murder because it didn’t feel much like either
-The book felt very YA and the dialogue felt very unnatural to read and then all of a sudden there were spicy scenes
-We kept being fed an enemies to lovers storyline but it felt like insta lust the whole time
-aspects of the big mystery felt disjointed and underdeveloped
Overall I think this could have been way better with more storyline development because the concept is solid.
March 23, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶/5
TW - emotional manipulation, familial pressure, grief, death of a parent (suicide, past, mentioned), trauma, parental neglect / abandonment (past, recounted), abandonment issues, sports accident (sc, past, mentioned), having to try harder due to race (discussed), colourism (past), microaggressions / racism (past), gambling (scs, mentioned), alcohol consumption, smoking (scs, mentioned), nightmares (mentioned), migraines, death / suicide ideation (brief), child abuse (past, mentioned), nausea, vomit
CW - public play, light primal play (hide and seek), light breeding
Tropes - secret society, sports (ice hockey x figure skating), dark academia, forbidden, found family, close proximity, murder mystery, mutual pining
Representation - Mixed Race MMC (Black + white), Afro Latina FMC
This book ends on a cliffhanger and I’m not going to lie, had I known this was an actual series and not an interconnected standalone, I wouldn’t have picked it up, at least not until the next book was out. I didn’t find any indications on Amazon or in the front matter that this was a series so that’s clearly my bad.
Another thing to not is this is not enemies to lovers. Zayden (MMC) and Luna (FMC) are not enemies by any means of the word. It’s more dislike to lovers and the dislike is petty.
I wasn’t sure how I was going to rate this because it felt like there was a lot of back and forth in the beginning and then some mystery. Then the mystery drops completely out of the book to focus on the romance. I really enjoyed the romance aspect of this book, I thought the characters were sweet and I enjoyed their connection. However, I don’t think the book does a good job of fleshing out what is meant to be a murder mystery and at times, it felt like that part of the plot was forgotten and then quickly picked back up for continuity purposes.
The reveal of what was going on had no shock factor for me and, the parts of the mystery we had been privy to so far was easy to piece together when you only meet 3 characters outside of the immediate friendship groups where one is a skate partner and the other stopped being mentioned after chapter 13.
Given the cliffy, I imagine the mystery aspect may pick up more or become more fleshed out in the next book but currently, it’s not giving and it’s mostly the reason for this rating.
Scale:
⭐️ - would've DNF'ed / continued out of spite
⭐️⭐️ - shit, but whatever
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - meh, could've been better
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - lit 👅
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - loved it, inject this shit into my veins 🤪
🫑 - no smut
🌶 - no point
🌶🌶 - mediocre at best
🌶🌶🌶 - standard smut, hot
🌶🌶🌶🌶 - 🥵 okay, some CW
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 - fuck me 🥵🥵 CWs / filthy with a side of filth - see Poison / Room Twenty-Two: Hide and Seek/ The Naughty List / The Naughtier List
TW/CW not to be repurposed by authors / publishers for website / book / content use without permission
TW - emotional manipulation, familial pressure, grief, death of a parent (suicide, past, mentioned), trauma, parental neglect / abandonment (past, recounted), abandonment issues, sports accident (sc, past, mentioned), having to try harder due to race (discussed), colourism (past), microaggressions / racism (past), gambling (scs, mentioned), alcohol consumption, smoking (scs, mentioned), nightmares (mentioned), migraines, death / suicide ideation (brief), child abuse (past, mentioned), nausea, vomit
CW - public play, light primal play (hide and seek), light breeding
Tropes - secret society, sports (ice hockey x figure skating), dark academia, forbidden, found family, close proximity, murder mystery, mutual pining
Representation - Mixed Race MMC (Black + white), Afro Latina FMC
This book ends on a cliffhanger and I’m not going to lie, had I known this was an actual series and not an interconnected standalone, I wouldn’t have picked it up, at least not until the next book was out. I didn’t find any indications on Amazon or in the front matter that this was a series so that’s clearly my bad.
Another thing to not is this is not enemies to lovers. Zayden (MMC) and Luna (FMC) are not enemies by any means of the word. It’s more dislike to lovers and the dislike is petty.
I wasn’t sure how I was going to rate this because it felt like there was a lot of back and forth in the beginning and then some mystery. Then the mystery drops completely out of the book to focus on the romance. I really enjoyed the romance aspect of this book, I thought the characters were sweet and I enjoyed their connection. However, I don’t think the book does a good job of fleshing out what is meant to be a murder mystery and at times, it felt like that part of the plot was forgotten and then quickly picked back up for continuity purposes.
The reveal of what was going on had no shock factor for me and, the parts of the mystery we had been privy to so far was easy to piece together when you only meet 3 characters outside of the immediate friendship groups where one is a skate partner and the other stopped being mentioned after chapter 13.
Given the cliffy, I imagine the mystery aspect may pick up more or become more fleshed out in the next book but currently, it’s not giving and it’s mostly the reason for this rating.
Scale:
⭐️ - would've DNF'ed / continued out of spite
⭐️⭐️ - shit, but whatever
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - meh, could've been better
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - lit 👅
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - loved it, inject this shit into my veins 🤪
🫑 - no smut
🌶 - no point
🌶🌶 - mediocre at best
🌶🌶🌶 - standard smut, hot
🌶🌶🌶🌶 - 🥵 okay, some CW
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 - fuck me 🥵🥵 CWs / filthy with a side of filth - see Poison / Room Twenty-Two: Hide and Seek/ The Naughty List / The Naughtier List
TW/CW not to be repurposed by authors / publishers for website / book / content use without permission
February 19, 2026
Thank you to Smardline S. For the eARC. Here is my genuine review:
Format — ebook (ARC)
Author — Smardline S.
Rating — 3.25 Stars
Release Date — 02/24
The atmosphere, the legacies, the affluence, the vibe — top tier in this novel. Luna and Zayden. Opposite yet so much in common. I really love the dark academia part of it. The mystery of it all. But around 60% the main mystery part of the plot got lost in the “enemies” to “insta-love” of it all. There were things I LOVED. I really enjoyed learning about the characters and the dynamics between them. Despite them being in college, I have to remember what it was like back then. It still gave youthfulness to the group. After the weekend they spent together (which the open door spice goes on for chapters around this time and it seemed like over kill). It seemed like the mystery wasn’t as much of a priority. We are trying to figure out who is doing [redacted] and when we find out who, it’s like it just happened too quickly/perfectly and then they are missing but I was confused on how that person even know we were on to them?? I think in the last 3rd of the book, I could tell the author really enjoyed writing the romance (which at times seemed a little dramatic but that’s “instalove” for ya) but the other parts of the plot weren’t as strong as it was before which left me disappointed. And then we have another intimate scene at the end like they cannot get enough of each other but it’s aggravating bc like…. They aren’t even in a relationship technically nor have they been “together”long. AND there was a certain dialogue that really made me give Luna a MAJOR side eye. Many times I annotated like.. I get it… LOL
All in all, I enjoyed it but I wish the intimate scenes was cut down a chapter ish, and that could’ve been dedicated more to the mystery of it all and give readers a reason on why this is high stakes and important. Essentially, continue to build on what was being set in the beginning (wonderfully) and not let it become an after thought. Also, this is just a me thing and it’s petty — but the mention of Taylor Swift makes me scream. She’s apart of the playlist so it’s expected but she was mentioned twice. LOL Like please, I only get frustrated bc so many books I’ve read lately mentions here, and it’s annoying.
I did enjoy this book. I swear. There is a prequel of them meeting 4 years prior to this “Frost Bound” and I am excited to read that. It’s novella but it is still suggested to read AFTER Written on Ice. I think I will continue with the series and I hope the mystery/thriller/dark academia portion continues to be the priority and is intentionally fleshed out more.
Format — ebook (ARC)
Author — Smardline S.
Rating — 3.25 Stars
Release Date — 02/24
The atmosphere, the legacies, the affluence, the vibe — top tier in this novel. Luna and Zayden. Opposite yet so much in common. I really love the dark academia part of it. The mystery of it all. But around 60% the main mystery part of the plot got lost in the “enemies” to “insta-love” of it all. There were things I LOVED. I really enjoyed learning about the characters and the dynamics between them. Despite them being in college, I have to remember what it was like back then. It still gave youthfulness to the group. After the weekend they spent together (which the open door spice goes on for chapters around this time and it seemed like over kill). It seemed like the mystery wasn’t as much of a priority. We are trying to figure out who is doing [redacted] and when we find out who, it’s like it just happened too quickly/perfectly and then they are missing but I was confused on how that person even know we were on to them?? I think in the last 3rd of the book, I could tell the author really enjoyed writing the romance (which at times seemed a little dramatic but that’s “instalove” for ya) but the other parts of the plot weren’t as strong as it was before which left me disappointed. And then we have another intimate scene at the end like they cannot get enough of each other but it’s aggravating bc like…. They aren’t even in a relationship technically nor have they been “together”long. AND there was a certain dialogue that really made me give Luna a MAJOR side eye. Many times I annotated like.. I get it… LOL
All in all, I enjoyed it but I wish the intimate scenes was cut down a chapter ish, and that could’ve been dedicated more to the mystery of it all and give readers a reason on why this is high stakes and important. Essentially, continue to build on what was being set in the beginning (wonderfully) and not let it become an after thought. Also, this is just a me thing and it’s petty — but the mention of Taylor Swift makes me scream. She’s apart of the playlist so it’s expected but she was mentioned twice. LOL Like please, I only get frustrated bc so many books I’ve read lately mentions here, and it’s annoying.
I did enjoy this book. I swear. There is a prequel of them meeting 4 years prior to this “Frost Bound” and I am excited to read that. It’s novella but it is still suggested to read AFTER Written on Ice. I think I will continue with the series and I hope the mystery/thriller/dark academia portion continues to be the priority and is intentionally fleshed out more.
February 8, 2026
Written on Ice follows Luna Del Sol, a figure skater who has just started at Valcérre, and Zayden Aldenhurst, a legacy hockey player who is in his third year at Valcérre. Where Luna is scared she doesn't belong at Valcérre, Zayden has no choice but to belong there. They both have a lot of pressure on them, to be the best, to win, to make it in Valcérre and not buckle under all of that pressure. Zayden is reserved, he's quiet, gets his head down and only really gives the time of day to his best friend, Jasper. Luna is louder, isn't afraid to back down from a fight, stubborn, and whilst she feels the weight of the world on her shoulders, she isn't always so good at leaning on people. They get off to a rocky start, naming calling and a public argument will do that, and while Luna doesn't know the hold she has on Zayden, she can't help but be drawn to him despite the fact she "hates" him.
I absolutely loved the mystery element running through this story, it really did keep me gripped. The romance unfolding between Luna and Zayden is, of course, a very good part of the story but it's not the bit that drew me in. I enjoyed the darker aspects of Valcérre and the secrets hidden there. I also loved how stubborn Luna was about trying to find out the truth, and the empathy she has for the boy nobody seems to remember is heartbreakingly beautiful. Her character was my favourite throughout; strong, stubborn, fierce, hard working, vulnerable and kind.
I will say, I knew this story was going to be good simply for the fact the ARC acceptance emails were so creative, so thoughtful and fun. You could tell Smardline S really cares about the story from that alone, and then to be able to dive into her world, that is only intensified. Her characters are fleshed out, flawed, wonderful and real. And her story is gripping, detailed and well thought out. The first book gives you enough information to keep you turning the page, but not so much that you aren't left at the end still trying to piece things together!
The story is fast paced, well written and has the perfect amount of romance, sports, spice and mystery to really make a good story! The cliffhanger is cruel and wonderful, and I cannot wait for book two. If you're a fan of dislike to lovers, strong female characters, sports romance, a little bit of mystery and dark academia, I highly recommend this one!
I absolutely loved the mystery element running through this story, it really did keep me gripped. The romance unfolding between Luna and Zayden is, of course, a very good part of the story but it's not the bit that drew me in. I enjoyed the darker aspects of Valcérre and the secrets hidden there. I also loved how stubborn Luna was about trying to find out the truth, and the empathy she has for the boy nobody seems to remember is heartbreakingly beautiful. Her character was my favourite throughout; strong, stubborn, fierce, hard working, vulnerable and kind.
I will say, I knew this story was going to be good simply for the fact the ARC acceptance emails were so creative, so thoughtful and fun. You could tell Smardline S really cares about the story from that alone, and then to be able to dive into her world, that is only intensified. Her characters are fleshed out, flawed, wonderful and real. And her story is gripping, detailed and well thought out. The first book gives you enough information to keep you turning the page, but not so much that you aren't left at the end still trying to piece things together!
The story is fast paced, well written and has the perfect amount of romance, sports, spice and mystery to really make a good story! The cliffhanger is cruel and wonderful, and I cannot wait for book two. If you're a fan of dislike to lovers, strong female characters, sports romance, a little bit of mystery and dark academia, I highly recommend this one!
February 25, 2026
❥ 𝗔𝗿𝗰 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
This book got me hooked from the very beginning! I was a little afraid I wouldn’t enjoy it as much or that it would be just another typical sports romance, but I actually couldn’t put it down.
Valcèrre is an elite school where only the best of the best can attend, but with its prestige comes a lot of secrets waiting to see the light of day.
Zaydin and Luna couldn’t be more opposite, but at the same time they complete each other in a way only soulmates do. Zaydin loves silence and quiet; Luna can’t stand it. He prefers to keep people at arm’s length, while she longs to feel that warmth. You get the gist. The only thing they agree on is their love for ice skating (even though he’s a hockey player).
Their relationship was so much fun to read. They “hated” each other, but were always in one another’s vicinity — always knowing where the other was. Their bickering became their foreplay, and all that tension bursting at the seams had me giggling like a schoolgirl.
Their group of friends was so wholesome — it’s impossible not to love them. The way they’re always there, looking out for and covering for each other, was chef’s kiss.
Even though this seems like a story about elite athletes competing and trying to prove they’re the best, the school hides far too much, and someone wants to bring its dirty secrets to light. Honestly, the mystery aspect will hook you just as much as the romance. And I was really pissed off at the way the book ended — like, you’re just going to leave us hanging like that?!!! I need the second book ASAP! I have so many suspicions and questions that needed answers yesterday!
Honestly, this book was such a nice surprise for me. I didn’t want it to end! I can’t wait for the next one.
Thank you so much to the author for the opportunity to read this book beforehand!
This book got me hooked from the very beginning! I was a little afraid I wouldn’t enjoy it as much or that it would be just another typical sports romance, but I actually couldn’t put it down.
Valcèrre is an elite school where only the best of the best can attend, but with its prestige comes a lot of secrets waiting to see the light of day.
Zaydin and Luna couldn’t be more opposite, but at the same time they complete each other in a way only soulmates do. Zaydin loves silence and quiet; Luna can’t stand it. He prefers to keep people at arm’s length, while she longs to feel that warmth. You get the gist. The only thing they agree on is their love for ice skating (even though he’s a hockey player).
Their relationship was so much fun to read. They “hated” each other, but were always in one another’s vicinity — always knowing where the other was. Their bickering became their foreplay, and all that tension bursting at the seams had me giggling like a schoolgirl.
Their group of friends was so wholesome — it’s impossible not to love them. The way they’re always there, looking out for and covering for each other, was chef’s kiss.
Even though this seems like a story about elite athletes competing and trying to prove they’re the best, the school hides far too much, and someone wants to bring its dirty secrets to light. Honestly, the mystery aspect will hook you just as much as the romance. And I was really pissed off at the way the book ended — like, you’re just going to leave us hanging like that?!!! I need the second book ASAP! I have so many suspicions and questions that needed answers yesterday!
Honestly, this book was such a nice surprise for me. I didn’t want it to end! I can’t wait for the next one.
Thank you so much to the author for the opportunity to read this book beforehand!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book! Luna and Zayden meet at Valcerre where they are both hoping to find some sense of belonging and purpose in life through hockey and ice skating. These two meet and get off on the wrong foot but the chemistry between them is palpable. These two cannot stay away from each other. And outside forces are pushing them together even further. We get some answers in this book but not enough to stop you from needing to read the next in the series. I loved the setup for this book a lot. I was deeply interested in both Luna and Zayden's back stories. I think the pacing of this book felt a little rushed to me which left me hoping for more overall. Additionally, I think some of the relationships with the background characters were lacking depth. But I am definitely interested to see where this plot goes. 3.5 rating rounded up.
February 28, 2026
The dark academia + winter athletics setting gives it a unique edge, and the enemies-to-lovers dynamic keeps the emotional intensity high. Zayden and Luna definitely start with with a love hate relationship that developed into a more love than hate relationship. it includes mystery with secrets imbedded into the school and the Zaydens family. The book was amazing and left on such a cliffhanger it left me wanting more and more excited for book two to come out.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I went into this book really wanting to love it, but unfortunately, it left me feeling disappointed. One of the biggest issues for me was the romance. The tension that was shown, was never properly explored, and didn't make their connection feel believable. Instead of watching their walls gradually come down or seeing pivotal moments that shifted their feelings, the story seemed to skip ahead to immediate infatuation. The transition felt rushed and unearned.
Another challenge was that the story felt very similar to another book I had read previously. The parallels were hard to ignore and I constantly found myself comparing the two.
One thing I genuinely appreciated about this book was the representation. I loved that the main characters were people of color. It's refreshing to pick up a story and not have the default cast be all white. Even though I had issues with other aspects of the story, the inclusion was a definite strength. At the end of the day, I gave this book 2.75 stars.
Another challenge was that the story felt very similar to another book I had read previously. The parallels were hard to ignore and I constantly found myself comparing the two.
One thing I genuinely appreciated about this book was the representation. I loved that the main characters were people of color. It's refreshing to pick up a story and not have the default cast be all white. Even though I had issues with other aspects of the story, the inclusion was a definite strength. At the end of the day, I gave this book 2.75 stars.
February 21, 2026
(arc review) — 3.25⭐️
i will say, this was very entertaining and fast paced. the mystery element kept me hooked, the characters as well. the characters were super enjoyable, i was truly never left bored while reading. the setting was so cool, set in a country where their only season is winter, i loved seeing hockey x figure skating.
BUT, while this was shown as an enemies to lovers, to me it didn’t feel like that. the romance was fun and cute, but it was very insta-lovey/insta-lust. and i also think the mystery element got lost for a decent part of the book and all at once, it was just boom. the plot twist, i kind of figured, and the ending was just a little rushed.
I WILL SAY, i overall did enjoy the book and i cannot wait for the second book to come out, because i genuinely am curious on what’s going to happen with miss luna and mister zayden!! definitely check out the book when it releases, it’s fast paced and a good read, genuinely.
thank you so much for the opportunity for the arc, i had a fun time!!:)
i will say, this was very entertaining and fast paced. the mystery element kept me hooked, the characters as well. the characters were super enjoyable, i was truly never left bored while reading. the setting was so cool, set in a country where their only season is winter, i loved seeing hockey x figure skating.
BUT, while this was shown as an enemies to lovers, to me it didn’t feel like that. the romance was fun and cute, but it was very insta-lovey/insta-lust. and i also think the mystery element got lost for a decent part of the book and all at once, it was just boom. the plot twist, i kind of figured, and the ending was just a little rushed.
I WILL SAY, i overall did enjoy the book and i cannot wait for the second book to come out, because i genuinely am curious on what’s going to happen with miss luna and mister zayden!! definitely check out the book when it releases, it’s fast paced and a good read, genuinely.
thank you so much for the opportunity for the arc, i had a fun time!!:)
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 ⭐️*ARC REVIEW* I had such a good time reading this Dark academia hockey romance. From the moment I started, I knew I was going to love it. The mystery and suspense behind the school’s hidden secrets pulled me in immediately, and the push and pull between the MMC and FMC kept me completely hooked.
When I say I want a good enemies to lovers romance, this is what I mean. It’s not full-on hatred, but more of them fighting the inevitable, and it works so well. The fire, the sizzle, the shift from tension to infatuation. The buildup was worth every second, and you can feel the soul-deep connection between them. don’t let the cover fool you… it definitely gets spicy, and I was absolutely here for it. But I also loved the softer touches: the acts of service, the found family moments, the support, all of it. Ughhh, I just ate this book up.
When I say I want a good enemies to lovers romance, this is what I mean. It’s not full-on hatred, but more of them fighting the inevitable, and it works so well. The fire, the sizzle, the shift from tension to infatuation. The buildup was worth every second, and you can feel the soul-deep connection between them. don’t let the cover fool you… it definitely gets spicy, and I was absolutely here for it. But I also loved the softer touches: the acts of service, the found family moments, the support, all of it. Ughhh, I just ate this book up.
February 3, 2026
I expected a bit more cohesiveness here and there wasn’t really a set genre for me. It started as what felt like a mystery but I felt like I solved it relatively quick and then it was a romance that completely slipped away from any mysterious parts at all. I loved Icebreaker and AGGGTM so I felt drawn to this but it didn’t feel like it fell into either of those categories. There were some discrepancies in the writing where I couldn’t tell where we were supposed to be located. The mystery concept needs developed more because the idea is cool I just felt like it got a little lost in the overall storyline.
Liked:
- The Cover
- The concept of the mystery portion
- the representation
- Jasper as a character (chefs kiss)
Disliked:
- Being sold to the book as a Icebreaker x AGGGTM love child and it not being that
- The dialogue felt clunky at times and we used “ain’t”, “yall”, and “mate” for what reason
- the sex scenes seemed…strange at times
Thank you NetGalley for an arc.
Liked:
- The Cover
- The concept of the mystery portion
- the representation
- Jasper as a character (chefs kiss)
Disliked:
- Being sold to the book as a Icebreaker x AGGGTM love child and it not being that
- The dialogue felt clunky at times and we used “ain’t”, “yall”, and “mate” for what reason
- the sex scenes seemed…strange at times
Thank you NetGalley for an arc.
October 20, 2025
⛸️🏒 ARC Review 🏒⛸️
“𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘺𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘺.”
—Luna
📖 Written on Ice by Smardline S.
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ / 5
⛸️ Book One of Duet
🏒 Black Hockey Romance
⛸️ Dark Academia
🏒 Insta-Hate
⛸️ Uncovering Secrets
🏒 “I hate you!” 😏
⛸️ “Baby”
🏒 He 💦 in His Pants
⛸️ Slow Burn
🏒 Snowed In
⛸️ He’s Only Soft For Her
🏒 She Wears His Jersey
⛸️ He Takes Care of Her
🏒 So Much Tension
Luna is an aspiring figure skater and a new freshman at an elite private university. She was raised poor with a negligent mother, but is able to attend this school after her rich brother in law pays her tuition.
At the university, she’s inexplicably drawn to the broody hockey captain, but they seem to spark off of each other whenever they’re in the same vicinity. When they’re both texted by a mysterious number, they discover that their university has some dangerous secrets.
I went into this book completely blind and loved the whole ride. The beginning of the book was a little bubbly, but it progressively gets darker and more serious as the story progresses.
Luna and Zayden had great chemistry. Their banter started off antagonistic and evolved into a flirty love language. For a slowish-burn book, I will admit that some of their scenes had me fanning my face. 🪭 It took them a bit to get together, but once they did it was FULL SPEED ahead 🥵.
The cliffhanger was so brutal. I adore the hidden message that Zayden left us with 👀 I need to know what’s happening, like ASAP. 🙏 Book 2 can’t come soon enough.
TLDR: Bantery, broody hockey captain tries to hide his infatuation with the new figure skater. Spoiler: He fails 🤭
“𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘺𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘺.”
—Luna
📖 Written on Ice by Smardline S.
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ / 5
⛸️ Book One of Duet
🏒 Black Hockey Romance
⛸️ Dark Academia
🏒 Insta-Hate
⛸️ Uncovering Secrets
🏒 “I hate you!” 😏
⛸️ “Baby”
🏒 He 💦 in His Pants
⛸️ Slow Burn
🏒 Snowed In
⛸️ He’s Only Soft For Her
🏒 She Wears His Jersey
⛸️ He Takes Care of Her
🏒 So Much Tension
Luna is an aspiring figure skater and a new freshman at an elite private university. She was raised poor with a negligent mother, but is able to attend this school after her rich brother in law pays her tuition.
At the university, she’s inexplicably drawn to the broody hockey captain, but they seem to spark off of each other whenever they’re in the same vicinity. When they’re both texted by a mysterious number, they discover that their university has some dangerous secrets.
I went into this book completely blind and loved the whole ride. The beginning of the book was a little bubbly, but it progressively gets darker and more serious as the story progresses.
Luna and Zayden had great chemistry. Their banter started off antagonistic and evolved into a flirty love language. For a slowish-burn book, I will admit that some of their scenes had me fanning my face. 🪭 It took them a bit to get together, but once they did it was FULL SPEED ahead 🥵.
The cliffhanger was so brutal. I adore the hidden message that Zayden left us with 👀 I need to know what’s happening, like ASAP. 🙏 Book 2 can’t come soon enough.
TLDR: Bantery, broody hockey captain tries to hide his infatuation with the new figure skater. Spoiler: He fails 🤭
November 9, 2025
Thank you for the Arc!
Okay, I enjoyed the book, I just feel like it could have been more fully developed. I haven’t read Icebreaker, but I have read A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, and it wasn’t giving that level of depth or tension.
I liked both characters, but there was a disconnect. I wanted more development from them, more insight, more emotional depth. We didn’t really get to know them. They felt surface-level, and the “enemies to lovers” angle didn’t fully land. It was mostly just them repeatedly saying they were a “distraction” or that they “hated” each other. If I had to read “I hate him” one more time, I was going to lose it.
The mystery also felt pretty flat. It was obvious who was involved, so the suspense never built. I think the story would have benefited from more background on Valcérre, too—why it matters, what its significance is.
Overall, it read very YA. For a moment, I genuinely thought the characters were in high school, the banter and conversations felt that young.
Beautiful cover, though.
Okay, I enjoyed the book, I just feel like it could have been more fully developed. I haven’t read Icebreaker, but I have read A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, and it wasn’t giving that level of depth or tension.
I liked both characters, but there was a disconnect. I wanted more development from them, more insight, more emotional depth. We didn’t really get to know them. They felt surface-level, and the “enemies to lovers” angle didn’t fully land. It was mostly just them repeatedly saying they were a “distraction” or that they “hated” each other. If I had to read “I hate him” one more time, I was going to lose it.
The mystery also felt pretty flat. It was obvious who was involved, so the suspense never built. I think the story would have benefited from more background on Valcérre, too—why it matters, what its significance is.
Overall, it read very YA. For a moment, I genuinely thought the characters were in high school, the banter and conversations felt that young.
Beautiful cover, though.
October 18, 2025
Super cute!
It is a fast read, instant attraction. Starts off very YA but moves into dark academia, romance smoothly. I’m an a sucker for a dark brooding guy who turns into goo for his girl. Give me all the YEARNINGGG 🥰
REPRESENTATION MATTERS!! The collection of minority characters that while facing the day to day obstacles of just being who they are without the over work of stereotypes is wonderful. It is very blatantly stated that we must work so much harder just to be considered near comparable and this story is setting it up nicely to prove that once we stop seeking outside validation we can truly shine and I LOVE that.
I feel like the author did a great job at framing plot lines that would typically be overlooked but will become major bullet points as the series continues.
I’m eager to return to this little island of Valcérre!
It is a fast read, instant attraction. Starts off very YA but moves into dark academia, romance smoothly. I’m an a sucker for a dark brooding guy who turns into goo for his girl. Give me all the YEARNINGGG 🥰
REPRESENTATION MATTERS!! The collection of minority characters that while facing the day to day obstacles of just being who they are without the over work of stereotypes is wonderful. It is very blatantly stated that we must work so much harder just to be considered near comparable and this story is setting it up nicely to prove that once we stop seeking outside validation we can truly shine and I LOVE that.
I feel like the author did a great job at framing plot lines that would typically be overlooked but will become major bullet points as the series continues.
I’m eager to return to this little island of Valcérre!
October 21, 2025
ARC Review: I fell in love with the character’s . From the first chapter, I was sucked into the icy, gothic world of Valcérre University — set high in the snow-covered mountains, home of elite figure-skating and hockey programs. Luna Del Sol, a new Black-Latina figure skater arrives at Valcérre. Determined to prove she belongs just like everyone else, meanwhile, the legacy hockey star Zayden Aldenhurst — the coach’s son and only Black player on the team — is hiding pain behind his polish and public persona. 
Add in the anonymous message that leads her to a hidden rink, that she knew nothing about but Zayden knows it all too well, and it’s tied to a student’s death five years ago.
I was hooked to it once I knew broody Zayden only spoke to Luna.
It’s giving everything! If you are looking for a murder mystery romance, look no further.
Can’t wait for book two.
Add in the anonymous message that leads her to a hidden rink, that she knew nothing about but Zayden knows it all too well, and it’s tied to a student’s death five years ago.
I was hooked to it once I knew broody Zayden only spoke to Luna.
It’s giving everything! If you are looking for a murder mystery romance, look no further.
Can’t wait for book two.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2026
This book is about outsider figure skater Luna del Sol and hockey player Zayden Aldenhurst, who instantly start hating each other because of one comment she overheard and created an entire story about in her head. He apologized to her very early on, saying he didn’t mean anything negative when he called her ice princess, but it constantly gets thrown back in his face every time they need something to argue about again, like «oh let me guess, I’m just an ice princess to you, isn’t that what you said Zayden?» over and over and over.
I like hockey and I like figure skating, however, though they both went to a school meant for athletes, it didn't feel like there was much of any of it in the book, except for in the very beginning getting to know the characters.
The characters also just felt unbelievably childish to me, and the majority of the book is just them saying how much they hate each other and arguing for no reason, both being fully aware that they like each other, and then Zayden becoming overly protective and weird, getting angry that someone dares dancing with her at a party and starting fist fights with someone for making an inappropriate comment about her on the ice.
He’ll have his tongue in her hole and she’ll be like omg we hate each other you guys he’s saurrr annoying and I hate him, and because their rivalry didn't feel justified to begin with and it was based on one comment he made once it falls flat, she’s holding her breath in the water during a bath and he’s ripping her up from the water crying about her never leaving him, and she’ll still be like omg he doesn't care about me at all boo hoo
There’s a large chunk of the book where it’s only sex and nothing else, which would be fine if it was a smutty book with less plot, but they just fully forget they’re being lowkey threatened over messages and they’re trying to solve a murder. She’ll squirt on his face and he’s losing his mind for a billion pages, then it’s like «damn someone died, we need to figure this shit out babe». The scene of them figuring out who was behind the messages was the most lackluster reveal ever, Zayden told Luna it was a friend of hers and she's just moving on to focus about her new boyfriend, it didn't really feel like she was that impacted by her friend betraying her at all.
The book ended in a cliffhanger, but honestly I doubt I'll give the second book a chance. Also, she falls on the ice during a lift with her skating partner and Zayden RUNS over the ice, screaming "BABY I'M HERE" like what are we doing.... Let the paramedics do their job holy shit, the whole "you're mine" possessive overprotective thing was too much for me.
I like hockey and I like figure skating, however, though they both went to a school meant for athletes, it didn't feel like there was much of any of it in the book, except for in the very beginning getting to know the characters.
The characters also just felt unbelievably childish to me, and the majority of the book is just them saying how much they hate each other and arguing for no reason, both being fully aware that they like each other, and then Zayden becoming overly protective and weird, getting angry that someone dares dancing with her at a party and starting fist fights with someone for making an inappropriate comment about her on the ice.
He’ll have his tongue in her hole and she’ll be like omg we hate each other you guys he’s saurrr annoying and I hate him, and because their rivalry didn't feel justified to begin with and it was based on one comment he made once it falls flat, she’s holding her breath in the water during a bath and he’s ripping her up from the water crying about her never leaving him, and she’ll still be like omg he doesn't care about me at all boo hoo
There’s a large chunk of the book where it’s only sex and nothing else, which would be fine if it was a smutty book with less plot, but they just fully forget they’re being lowkey threatened over messages and they’re trying to solve a murder. She’ll squirt on his face and he’s losing his mind for a billion pages, then it’s like «damn someone died, we need to figure this shit out babe». The scene of them figuring out who was behind the messages was the most lackluster reveal ever, Zayden told Luna it was a friend of hers and she's just moving on to focus about her new boyfriend, it didn't really feel like she was that impacted by her friend betraying her at all.
The book ended in a cliffhanger, but honestly I doubt I'll give the second book a chance. Also, she falls on the ice during a lift with her skating partner and Zayden RUNS over the ice, screaming "BABY I'M HERE" like what are we doing.... Let the paramedics do their job holy shit, the whole "you're mine" possessive overprotective thing was too much for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2026
This is a 4.25 for me.
Right off the bat I loved the MCs not just as individuals but also together as their chemistry from page 1 was off the charts. I think this is one of the best books I have read in a while that has built up the chemistry between the MCs so well. Now things didn't start off sweet between the two of them. There was a lot of tension, some animosity along with fighting their attraction to one another but their transition to being more felt like a natural progression of their relationship. Honestly, I have never said this before but it there was ever a book I thought should be made into a live action show/movie it should be this book. I would love to see those pair skating moments between Luna and Zayden play out in front of my eyes.
Now as individuals you have Zayden who is the quiet brooding type who has a lot of pressure on him because of the expectations of his father. His father who is the hockey coach of his team which means that there are those who think he was not only given his spot on the team but also the captain position so along with the family pressures he also has to prove himself on the daily that he not only deserves his spot but rightfully earned it. Now Luna is a bit more outgoing who isn't afraid to stand up for herself because as much as her sister loves her and tried to be there for her, Luna only really had herself to rely on at times due to proximity as well as not wanting to burden her sister. So, she struggles with feelings of belonging as well as leaning on those close to her who want to be there for her. So, both of them have personal struggles that they have to work through and feeling like they belong. I think this helped them truly bond on a deeper level because while in some ways their struggles were different, they were at the core of it the same. Kinda like an I see you, and you see me vibe.
Now along with the MCs personal story and struggles this story also has a mystery surrounding it of the dark underbelly of the school and how someone wants to bring the truth of what has happened into the light and hold the powerful responsible. I think the bits of the mystery that we got to really added to the vibes of the story and I am really curious to see how it plays out in the next book as we didn't get all our answers so there are still some twists that I am definitely looking for answers on.
Now I will say that sometimes I wanted the scenes fleshed out a little more because sometimes we would just get the barest of details of the places they were at. Especially it was a spot that they had been, and we would just usually get oh they entered the room and it was cold. It just didn't give me a lot to pictured it out in my head and I personally can remember how each place they were in previously had been described so in my head I was basically just seeing the characters in a black void other than what they were personally in contact with IE a bed or chair. Which is another reason why I think this would be so cool for a live adaptation bc the guts and soul are here for the script and then they would have the visual sets to play out those parts.
Overall, this book had some of the best character chemistry I have read in a while that I would love to see a live action of and the mystery surrounding the story is very compelling that I am curious to see play out in the next book.
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This book is about Luna who is a figure skating who just got into the prestigious Valcerre University. While she feels like an outsider amongst all the legacies and other athletes, she intends to make her mark while working her way towards the Olympics. Which means she can't make mistakes and she can't afford any distractions. But it seems the universe has other plans when she runs in the broody and infuriating hockey captain Zaden whose family is one of the founding families of the school. When their meeting has him remarking that she is just an ice princess to say she is upset is an understatement. But as much as she tries to avoid him there is just a spark between of the two of them that is impossible to ignore. So, the more they try to stay away from one another the more they come into contact with one another. Especially, when there are secret forces at play throwing them together and pushing them to uncover the dark secrets of the school surrounding its hidden rink and a competition put on for the powerful designed to push the players to their absolute limit. One that had deadly results for one student that everyone seems to have forgotten due to a coverup. But as they get closer to uncovering the truth they will have to be careful that they are not the next bodies to be buried beneath the ice.
I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Right off the bat I loved the MCs not just as individuals but also together as their chemistry from page 1 was off the charts. I think this is one of the best books I have read in a while that has built up the chemistry between the MCs so well. Now things didn't start off sweet between the two of them. There was a lot of tension, some animosity along with fighting their attraction to one another but their transition to being more felt like a natural progression of their relationship. Honestly, I have never said this before but it there was ever a book I thought should be made into a live action show/movie it should be this book. I would love to see those pair skating moments between Luna and Zayden play out in front of my eyes.
Now as individuals you have Zayden who is the quiet brooding type who has a lot of pressure on him because of the expectations of his father. His father who is the hockey coach of his team which means that there are those who think he was not only given his spot on the team but also the captain position so along with the family pressures he also has to prove himself on the daily that he not only deserves his spot but rightfully earned it. Now Luna is a bit more outgoing who isn't afraid to stand up for herself because as much as her sister loves her and tried to be there for her, Luna only really had herself to rely on at times due to proximity as well as not wanting to burden her sister. So, she struggles with feelings of belonging as well as leaning on those close to her who want to be there for her. So, both of them have personal struggles that they have to work through and feeling like they belong. I think this helped them truly bond on a deeper level because while in some ways their struggles were different, they were at the core of it the same. Kinda like an I see you, and you see me vibe.
Now along with the MCs personal story and struggles this story also has a mystery surrounding it of the dark underbelly of the school and how someone wants to bring the truth of what has happened into the light and hold the powerful responsible. I think the bits of the mystery that we got to really added to the vibes of the story and I am really curious to see how it plays out in the next book as we didn't get all our answers so there are still some twists that I am definitely looking for answers on.
Now I will say that sometimes I wanted the scenes fleshed out a little more because sometimes we would just get the barest of details of the places they were at. Especially it was a spot that they had been, and we would just usually get oh they entered the room and it was cold. It just didn't give me a lot to pictured it out in my head and I personally can remember how each place they were in previously had been described so in my head I was basically just seeing the characters in a black void other than what they were personally in contact with IE a bed or chair. Which is another reason why I think this would be so cool for a live adaptation bc the guts and soul are here for the script and then they would have the visual sets to play out those parts.
Overall, this book had some of the best character chemistry I have read in a while that I would love to see a live action of and the mystery surrounding the story is very compelling that I am curious to see play out in the next book.
-----
This book is about Luna who is a figure skating who just got into the prestigious Valcerre University. While she feels like an outsider amongst all the legacies and other athletes, she intends to make her mark while working her way towards the Olympics. Which means she can't make mistakes and she can't afford any distractions. But it seems the universe has other plans when she runs in the broody and infuriating hockey captain Zaden whose family is one of the founding families of the school. When their meeting has him remarking that she is just an ice princess to say she is upset is an understatement. But as much as she tries to avoid him there is just a spark between of the two of them that is impossible to ignore. So, the more they try to stay away from one another the more they come into contact with one another. Especially, when there are secret forces at play throwing them together and pushing them to uncover the dark secrets of the school surrounding its hidden rink and a competition put on for the powerful designed to push the players to their absolute limit. One that had deadly results for one student that everyone seems to have forgotten due to a coverup. But as they get closer to uncovering the truth they will have to be careful that they are not the next bodies to be buried beneath the ice.
I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!
This was a fun read! I tend to love a romance that contains a mystery plot, and since sports romance (especially hockey and figure skating) is a trope I love, I knew I wanted to pick this one up. It also features incredible representation, which is another huge plus.
While overall I did enjoy the book, it did have some downfalls. It was a quick, fast-paced read, but it also felt rushed at points. This is a series, so I definitely feel like the relationship as well as the mystery could have been more developed while still keeping the page count down. I'm hoping in the upcoming books, more time is spent on development.
I didn't fully understand the dynamic of Luna and Zayden's relationship. It felt as if we were building up an enemies to lovers dynamic, however that didn't last long and it ended up coming across very insta-love. Instead of a slow build, the relationship continues to quickly shift seemingly out of nowhere. There was also some side characters, friends of both Luna and Zayden, and while they were likeable overall, for the most part they felt thrown in to develop the plot and ended up quite two dimensional.
I was so excited for the mystery aspect, and I was intrigued right away. The set up was there, it was good, but as the story went on we lost the plot slightly. The mystery definitely got pushed to the back, which was incredibly disappointing to me. It started out so promising, and we lost that. I also feel that the reveal was made way too obvious.
I adored the atmosphere. I was hoping for a slightly cozy, dark academia vibe and Smardline delivered. I felt that the school was well described and it felt like a key part of the story. Our main characters, Zayden and Luna, were also very well written and fully developed. They both had a hefty history, and I hope to see more of their personal growth in the upcoming books.
Overall, I do recommend this book, and I do see myself continuing this series. While the flaws are there, it's still a promising and intriguing start to a series overall, and I can see both the romance and the mystery improving as the story goes on.
This was a fun read! I tend to love a romance that contains a mystery plot, and since sports romance (especially hockey and figure skating) is a trope I love, I knew I wanted to pick this one up. It also features incredible representation, which is another huge plus.
While overall I did enjoy the book, it did have some downfalls. It was a quick, fast-paced read, but it also felt rushed at points. This is a series, so I definitely feel like the relationship as well as the mystery could have been more developed while still keeping the page count down. I'm hoping in the upcoming books, more time is spent on development.
I didn't fully understand the dynamic of Luna and Zayden's relationship. It felt as if we were building up an enemies to lovers dynamic, however that didn't last long and it ended up coming across very insta-love. Instead of a slow build, the relationship continues to quickly shift seemingly out of nowhere. There was also some side characters, friends of both Luna and Zayden, and while they were likeable overall, for the most part they felt thrown in to develop the plot and ended up quite two dimensional.
I was so excited for the mystery aspect, and I was intrigued right away. The set up was there, it was good, but as the story went on we lost the plot slightly. The mystery definitely got pushed to the back, which was incredibly disappointing to me. It started out so promising, and we lost that. I also feel that the reveal was made way too obvious.
I adored the atmosphere. I was hoping for a slightly cozy, dark academia vibe and Smardline delivered. I felt that the school was well described and it felt like a key part of the story. Our main characters, Zayden and Luna, were also very well written and fully developed. They both had a hefty history, and I hope to see more of their personal growth in the upcoming books.
Overall, I do recommend this book, and I do see myself continuing this series. While the flaws are there, it's still a promising and intriguing start to a series overall, and I can see both the romance and the mystery improving as the story goes on.
March 14, 2026
2.5⭐️
I received an ARC and this was a highly anticipated read for me! What I did like:
- BIPOC representation
- mystery subplot
- short chapters
I really wanted to love this story, but it fell a bit flat for me. The writing and dialogue leaned more YA than I expected. It still felt age-appropriate for the characters, but because I wasn’t anticipating that, a few moments made me cringe a little. The only parts that felt more adult were the spicy scenes, which surprised me because the last ~20% of the book was very spice-heavy. Those scenes were well written, but they felt much more mature than the rest of the story, which made the overall tone feel a bit inconsistent.
The hockey player/figure skater setup also ended up feeling less important than I expected. The story touches on characters feeling pressured into their sports rather than actually loving them. Luna clearly has a passion for figure skating, but we didn’t get to see that explored very much, which was disappointing. I would have loved more focus on her skating and more development of her relationship with her skating partner/their competitions together.
The mystery subplot was predictable. I knew who was sending the anonymous texts as soon as the character was introduced. I appreciate the author trying to add that element to the story, but it felt a little juvenile at times. That said, the book does end on a cliffhanger and I’m intrigued enough that I might still pick up the second one.
Overall, I think this is a solid book! Writing a book is sooo hard, and I’m excited to see how Smardline grows as an author in the future.
I received an ARC and this was a highly anticipated read for me! What I did like:
- BIPOC representation
- mystery subplot
- short chapters
I really wanted to love this story, but it fell a bit flat for me. The writing and dialogue leaned more YA than I expected. It still felt age-appropriate for the characters, but because I wasn’t anticipating that, a few moments made me cringe a little. The only parts that felt more adult were the spicy scenes, which surprised me because the last ~20% of the book was very spice-heavy. Those scenes were well written, but they felt much more mature than the rest of the story, which made the overall tone feel a bit inconsistent.
The hockey player/figure skater setup also ended up feeling less important than I expected. The story touches on characters feeling pressured into their sports rather than actually loving them. Luna clearly has a passion for figure skating, but we didn’t get to see that explored very much, which was disappointing. I would have loved more focus on her skating and more development of her relationship with her skating partner/their competitions together.
The mystery subplot was predictable. I knew who was sending the anonymous texts as soon as the character was introduced. I appreciate the author trying to add that element to the story, but it felt a little juvenile at times. That said, the book does end on a cliffhanger and I’m intrigued enough that I might still pick up the second one.
Overall, I think this is a solid book! Writing a book is sooo hard, and I’m excited to see how Smardline grows as an author in the future.
February 26, 2026
3 stars
Thank you to the publisher and author for providing me with an e-ARC!
I want to start by saying this is a very fast-paced book, but I definitely had mixed feelings about it. It’s fairly short and super easy to read. I really enjoyed the atmosphere the author created, it almost had a fantasy-like vibe to it. For me, the strongest parts of the book were the friend group dynamics and all of the skating scenes. I just wish we had gotten more of both throughout the story.
The pacing felt a bit off and honestly could’ve been longer to better develop certain characters and plot points. At times it felt rushed, but somehow it also felt like nothing was really happening. There’s a mystery introduced, but it takes a huge backseat once the romance starts picking up. I would’ve loved to see more of that element, along with stronger dark academia vibes.
The dialogue also came off unnatural and awkward at times, and there was a lot of telling instead of showing. Big moments happened off page instead of letting us experience them, which killed the momentum for me. I also wish we had seen more of the academic setting. It honestly felt like the characters never went to class or worked on assignments.
The romance took up a large portion of the book, but it ended up being the weaker part for me. The relationship felt more like insta-lust/insta-love rather than a true enemies-to-lovers dynamic. The FMC repeatedly saying she hated the MMC (when it was obvious she didn’t) got repetitive and a little frustrating.
Overall, I did enjoy the book! It just felt rushed and could’ve been much more developed. Still a quick read if you’re looking for something light.
Thank you to the publisher and author for providing me with an e-ARC!
I want to start by saying this is a very fast-paced book, but I definitely had mixed feelings about it. It’s fairly short and super easy to read. I really enjoyed the atmosphere the author created, it almost had a fantasy-like vibe to it. For me, the strongest parts of the book were the friend group dynamics and all of the skating scenes. I just wish we had gotten more of both throughout the story.
The pacing felt a bit off and honestly could’ve been longer to better develop certain characters and plot points. At times it felt rushed, but somehow it also felt like nothing was really happening. There’s a mystery introduced, but it takes a huge backseat once the romance starts picking up. I would’ve loved to see more of that element, along with stronger dark academia vibes.
The dialogue also came off unnatural and awkward at times, and there was a lot of telling instead of showing. Big moments happened off page instead of letting us experience them, which killed the momentum for me. I also wish we had seen more of the academic setting. It honestly felt like the characters never went to class or worked on assignments.
The romance took up a large portion of the book, but it ended up being the weaker part for me. The relationship felt more like insta-lust/insta-love rather than a true enemies-to-lovers dynamic. The FMC repeatedly saying she hated the MMC (when it was obvious she didn’t) got repetitive and a little frustrating.
Overall, I did enjoy the book! It just felt rushed and could’ve been much more developed. Still a quick read if you’re looking for something light.
February 20, 2026
This book is a romance and a mystery as well, and I feel like it wasn’t equally proportionate when it came to giving the attention to each genre. It would either be all mystery or all romance to the point where we completely forget that there is a mystery even happening.
The book starts off with our main character, Luna and her going to a new school where there are legacies, students who have been training since birth, and wealthy kids. We instantly see that there is a mystery among the school about a secret competition.
Then we immediately meet our Male main character Zayden, and they have a very strong connection but are enemies to lovers. However, they weren’t enemies for long. When they became lovers, I really enjoyed reading it. There was a whole scene where they’re in a cabin and I really enjoyed their connection being built.
But even then the mystery get sidelined and when we get back to the school, it comes rushing back to the point where I’m whiplashed.
When it comes to the mystery, it is interesting but the pacing is a little odd and I feel like we’re getting information too easily. This is definitely a series and we will get more information, but I feel like it could’ve been spread out more.
When it comes to the side characters, I really wish we could get more of them because when they’re all together, I like the banter and the comedy that comes out of it.
I was entertained and had a fun time reading it, the pacing was just a little odd and I feel like having two different genres in one book needs to be written equally. Especially when mystery is one of the genres being added in.
I do plan on reading the next book solely to know how the mystery portion will unravel, but I do hope that the pacing will be a bit more structured.
The book starts off with our main character, Luna and her going to a new school where there are legacies, students who have been training since birth, and wealthy kids. We instantly see that there is a mystery among the school about a secret competition.
Then we immediately meet our Male main character Zayden, and they have a very strong connection but are enemies to lovers. However, they weren’t enemies for long. When they became lovers, I really enjoyed reading it. There was a whole scene where they’re in a cabin and I really enjoyed their connection being built.
But even then the mystery get sidelined and when we get back to the school, it comes rushing back to the point where I’m whiplashed.
When it comes to the mystery, it is interesting but the pacing is a little odd and I feel like we’re getting information too easily. This is definitely a series and we will get more information, but I feel like it could’ve been spread out more.
When it comes to the side characters, I really wish we could get more of them because when they’re all together, I like the banter and the comedy that comes out of it.
I was entertained and had a fun time reading it, the pacing was just a little odd and I feel like having two different genres in one book needs to be written equally. Especially when mystery is one of the genres being added in.
I do plan on reading the next book solely to know how the mystery portion will unravel, but I do hope that the pacing will be a bit more structured.
March 1, 2026
ARC REVIEW
I will always love a romance with a strong mystery subplot, and this one absolutely delivered. I was hooked from the very first page to the last.
Luna has fought for every opportunity in her life, so earning a place at an elite university known for shaping the world’s future power players means everything to her. She’s determined to prove she belongs. I loved how her imposter syndrome was portrayed—because we, as readers, can clearly see she’s more than capable, yet her constant self-doubt and need to prove herself felt painfully real and beautifully written.
Zayden, on the other hand, has spent his life suffocating under expectations. As the coach’s son and part of a legacy family, he’s constantly trying to live up to an impossible standard—especially with an abusive father looming over him. His fear of not being enough, of being abandoned, and the quiet deterioration of his mental health were written with such subtlety and care.
From the start, Luna and Zayden feel an undeniable pull toward each other—one they can’t quite explain. That tension fuels their sharp exchanges and underlying attraction. But as they begin uncovering secrets the school desperately wants buried, the stakes rise. When danger enters the picture, and one of them gets hurt, the protective instincts and sacrifices that follow only deepen everything between them.
The tension between Luna and Zayden is electric. You feel every shift—the racing heartbeats, the stolen glances, the charged silence. Their chemistry is intense and only grows stronger under the pressure surrounding them. And the intimate moments? Completely swoon-worthy.
I cannot wait for book two. If this is how the story begins, I need to know what happens next.
I will always love a romance with a strong mystery subplot, and this one absolutely delivered. I was hooked from the very first page to the last.
Luna has fought for every opportunity in her life, so earning a place at an elite university known for shaping the world’s future power players means everything to her. She’s determined to prove she belongs. I loved how her imposter syndrome was portrayed—because we, as readers, can clearly see she’s more than capable, yet her constant self-doubt and need to prove herself felt painfully real and beautifully written.
Zayden, on the other hand, has spent his life suffocating under expectations. As the coach’s son and part of a legacy family, he’s constantly trying to live up to an impossible standard—especially with an abusive father looming over him. His fear of not being enough, of being abandoned, and the quiet deterioration of his mental health were written with such subtlety and care.
From the start, Luna and Zayden feel an undeniable pull toward each other—one they can’t quite explain. That tension fuels their sharp exchanges and underlying attraction. But as they begin uncovering secrets the school desperately wants buried, the stakes rise. When danger enters the picture, and one of them gets hurt, the protective instincts and sacrifices that follow only deepen everything between them.
The tension between Luna and Zayden is electric. You feel every shift—the racing heartbeats, the stolen glances, the charged silence. Their chemistry is intense and only grows stronger under the pressure surrounding them. And the intimate moments? Completely swoon-worthy.
I cannot wait for book two. If this is how the story begins, I need to know what happens next.
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