On Thin Ice

by Sade Rena

God of Malice meets Pucking Around in this spicy hockey romance where one girl becomes the obsession of three university hockey players.

I only have one shot to make a life for myself, and more than just my future is on the line. My baby brother is still back in the dump I escaped from, still living in a house of cigarette butts stuffed in beer cans and slurred arguments. So now that I've gotten to Sovereign Kings University, I have to make it worth it. I'll keep my eyes down, ignore the rich kids’ taunts, and graduate.

At least that was my plan before I busted the knee of a hockey player. Having possibly ruined the team’s chance of a championship, I'm now the target of the players. The golden boy captain, Alexander, is the ringleader of the popular students. Every day Kane—the tall, dark and perpetually pissed-off defense—finds a way to humiliate me. Yet, being painfully ignored by the huge, reserved goalie they call Mountain may just hurt the most.

When the players aren’t making my life a living hell, these three are twisting me up inside with desire and glimpses of the real them. But can I risk losing my heart to one hockey player—let alone all three? I’m certainly in for a long, hard season.

Genres: Hockey, Romance, Why Choose, Sports Romance, Dark Romance, Audiobook, Enemies To Lovers

Audible Audio

Expected publication April 14, 2026

About the author

Sade Rena is a USA Today Bestselling Author of Contemporary and Multicultural Romance.

A lover of all things romance, Sade enjoys spinning tales that are angsty, emotional, and sexy. Stories that sometimes blur the lines and test the limits of love. She writes diverse characters who are flawed, and maybe even a little broken, but either way, the men in her books will worm their way into your heart.

If you enjoy dark contemporary and dark paranormal romance, please be on the lookout for titles under S. Rena!

Visit www.saderena.com
Join the mailing list for updates- https://www.saderena.com/email-list
Facebook and Instagram -@saderenawrites

Reviews

[Kursed Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

When 19-year-old Sam Collins arrives at Sovereign King’s University, she is surprised to see a familiar face. Met with a scowl instead a smile, she’s saddened by Everest Kane’s reaction. To make matters worse, with one frat party gone wrong, she’s become a social pariah across campus.

Each passing day with the Sovereign King’s University Kings hockey team and its star players is a conundrum. Alex Williamsburg lusts after and loathes her in equal measure. Bryden “Mountain” Montour is drawn to her, but is desperate to avoid distraction. Meanwhile, she holds a past that Everest is hellbent on leaving there. Yet he is inexplicably drawn to her.

First things first, I like this darker edge to Sade! The characters all had independent personalities and carried the weight of their own trauma and histories. Likewise, the secondary storyline kept me flipping pages as quickly as I could to unravel the past and how it intersected with the present.

Y’all know that I’m a slow reader and don’t like overly lengthy books. That said, I feel like things were a smidge rushed, particularly with the development of Sam’s relationship with each of the guys. Perhaps we needed a few more pages to really have had it all fleshed out. All in all, a great read that I would easily recommend to friends who enjoy these tropes! Looking forward to more of Sade‘s darker side!!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Darkness: 🩶🩶
Heat: 🌶️🌶️
Range of Emotions: 🥺😳🤫😡😍
Ending: 💗 {HEA}

POV: 👫🏻 {Multiple | Present}

🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): Dark, Mystery/Suspense, New Adult, Sports

✨ Tropes: Bully, Enemies-to-Lovers, Heroine in Danger, Insta-Obsession, Rich Boy x Poor Girl, Secret Society, Why Choose
 
💫 Microtropes: Interracial/POC, Jersey Moment, Pet Name, Reformed Player, Secrets & Lies, Tragic Past/Trauma Bonding, “We’ll Make It Fit”

🔆 Character: Athlete

💋 Kinks: Biting/Marking, Finger Licking Good

🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a

🚩 Red Flags: Alphahole

⛔️ Safety Squad: Attempted Assault, Child Abuse, Suicidal Ideations/Attempt, and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page, and in the past and present. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!

📍 Setting: College

⚠️ Warning: This sweet and steamy read will leave your panties damp and your cheeks flushed.

📣 Type: On Thin Ice is a standalone.

🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.

[Smutty Little Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m really conflicted on this one so I’m giving it a tentative 3.8 stars. 🙈🙈

First of all, the plot and romantic suspense had me completely hooked from beginning to end. I was fully invested and loved how the storyline developed. I honestly thought this was going to turn into a series and leave me with a brutal cliffhanger, so the epilogue definitely caught me off guard.

That said, while I was enjoying the book, the abrupt ending left me pretty disappointed. If this had been a duet with more time to continue and deepen the storyline, this easily could’ve been a top read for me because I really liked it. It actually gave me vibes similar to the Break the Girl series by Rachel Jonas, which I loved. Unfortunately, the rushed ending made it fall short for me.

As for the narrators… BRAVO!! Seriously, round of applause. Blaire Le Blanc, Winston James, E.M. Wylde, and Edward Black were all new to me, and they absolutely delivered. I loved their performances, and I really appreciated the representation in this book. You can tell the author put genuine care into understanding and portraying the characters’ cultures and the narrators delivered on what she was writing.

Overall, I did enjoy this one. I just wish I had more.

[Angela | nerdslovebooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I'd give this book 3.5 stars. I wasn't expecting the romantic suspense so that was a pleasant surprise. I enjoyed the mystery and wanted to see how the story would unfold. The relationship between Sam and the boys were so different, but I felt like her relationship with Mountain was the only genuine one. I'm not sure Everest would've had a chance if not for their history and Alex was mostly toeing the fine line between hate and lust. Around halfway, I thought this was going to be a series because so many different things were building, but nope, not the case. The book ended way too abruptly and caught me by surprise. I needed a lot more from that ending.

*Why choose
*College
*Hockey romance
*Secrets - boys club

Format: audiobook

Thank you NetGalley, Sade Rena, Forever, and Hachette Audio for the ARC and ALC!

[Sade Rena]

Hey. It's me, Sade. I thought I would take this time to leave a note. While this wasn't my first darker romance story (all of my S. Rena books are darker), On Thin Ice was a lot of firsts for me—my first traditionally published book, a brand-new subgenre, new tropes that I've tried and, in my personal opinion, failed until this one. It was a labor of love for me; it challenged me and pushed me to grow as a storyteller. It's because of these characters that I was able to redefine my voice as a writer. It was these characters that revived my love for the craft, because, fun fact, I was burnt out, and on the verge of retirement. But Sam, Alex, Kane, and Bryden brought me back. And I love them for it, and I do hope you love them as well.

So, thank you for reading my words and for allowing me to share their story. I can't wait for you to read their journey on April 14, 2026.

PS. They might piss you off, and that's intentional. Be sure to check the very detailed content warning in my author's note, as this book touches on themes that may be triggering for some.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ “Secrets have a way of spilling over if you keep them bottled up too long.”

This is my first book by Sade Rena and I loved it! I had no idea going into it how many different levels of mystery we were going to get.

I love mysteries so getting that mixed with a forced proximity, enemies to lovers, why choose, had me kicking my feet!

The guys are going to start off having you yelling at your kindle. This is bully lite in my opinion, the guys don’t necessarily do any of the bullying, but they don’t stop it at first either. Mind the TW’s and protect your mental health!

“Maybe it’s because of the way he’s looking at me, something in his gaze telling me that he needs this. Maybe I don’t stop him because, deep down, I need this, too.”

The mystery was great in this story, I loved all the clues and the ultimate ending was definitely something I didn’t see coming.

“Yeah, well, I’d rather be hated than to hate myself.”

Sam was a seriously strong and resilient FMC. She is on a mission to build a better life for herself and her brother. I loved her personality and how she stood up for herself.

“You like this?” His voice drops lower. “Like me touching you even though you hate me.”

The guys were each unique and they each built relationships with her separately before ultimately evolving into a group dynamic. I felt like the spice was a perfect amount and definitely didn’t overpower the plot!

“Mm. You even taste like Sunshine.”

If you are a why choose lover, I definitely recommend picking up this story when it releases!

Tropes:
👊🏼 Bully-Lite
❤️‍🔥 Enemies to Lovers
🤭 Why Choose
💖 Multicultural Representation
⛸️ Hockey Romance
✨ Forced Proximity
👀 Secrets, Lies & Plot Twists
🥵 Slow Burn + Spice

[Briana Ortega · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, Sade Rena, and Hachette Audio for the ALC!

This to me read like a dark romance meets why choose and mystery/thriller which I personally loved! There were moments when I thought I had the plot figured out but then a twist came and it left me with my jaw on the floor. FMC Sam is randomly granted a scholarship to her dream college and attends in hopes of creating a better life for her and her brother. She quickly makes enemies of the popular group on campus and they set out to make her life miserable. But of course she fights back, which I love to see! Things start to shift as three hockey players get to know the real her and that’s where the fun begins. The unlikely pairing then start to uncover secrets they shouldn’t and you realize just how intertwined these webs are. Overall, this book gave me every element I love in a book which I was not expecting. I love spice and I love romance but I also love plot and this gave it all! There are some content that might be sensitive to some so check the triggers! I had a lot of fun with this one and I found myself doing more chores around the house just so I had an excuse to keep listening!

As an audiobook listener I did appreciate the fact that there was a narrator for each character. This is the first audiobook I’ve heard that does this and it made the characters feel real and more personal. It helped the flow of the book knowing who was talking not just because it’s stated at the beginning of the chapter but because you associate the voice with the character. Overall, the production of this audiobook was well executed and I hope more start using more than just one female and male narrator.

[charisse ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

˗ˏˋ 3 stars ⟡ ݁₊ .

i really liked the premise of this book and how sam, kane, bryden and alex came together. i liked how sam wasn't a doormat, she literally didn't take any shit from the guys and she stood up for herself. i loved how gracie was sam's best friend and [redacted] and i loved their friendship!

i loved the mystery subplot and trying to figure out what their mothers were doing in the school's secret society that got shut down. honestly didn't see a lot of the twists coming so it kept me hooked.

however, i felt like the plot was kinda rush, especially the last 30%. there were so many unanswered question and i genuinely thought it was going to end of a cliffhanger and we'd get book 2 with more answers. so to find out everything being briefly answered in the epilogue threw me off a little? i think everything was just way too jammed pack towards the end..

⤷ thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Tonyalee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It is not affect my opinions of the book or the content of this review

Hockey romances aren’t my first choice for a sports romance (even though I enjoy hockey!) but the more of them I read, the more I GET IT. I devoured this book.

First and foremost, I loved Sam. She’s smart, witty, and goes after what she wants: from questioning the motivations of her arrival to SKU to taking what she wants from the team. She’s resilient & tough.

It was refreshing to read a why choose where all characters have their own stories, battles, and voices. Multiple POV is also typically not my favorite, but it’s so well done in ON THIN ICE. I couldn’t get enough! Her writing is so easy to read.

And holy smokes on the romance and spice. Naturally, I’d have loved more spicy scenes, but the angsty yearning, and development of their relationships made it so much hotter. Plus, this isn’t just a romance; ON THIS ICE has a dark mysterious undertone and secret society vibes.

If you’re looking for a diverse HOT AF why choose hockey romance, this is IT! Get it nooooow!

[Mercedez Rose Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me tripping all over the place. The spice was spicing and the story line phew. This book had me on the edge. This actually has real life scenarios. I loved the representation as well. The three men were incredibly different and human all the same. Alex had his fault but learned to lean into them even with stress. Everest just was an Ashamed to be himself and open up. Mountain boy he was my favorite all along. This man deserves the love he got from Sam. Sam was so strong for so long but then she fell for each of them individually and she was never the same!

[Alicia Chop · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so much deeper than I was anticipating!

Every character has so many layers, a connected history, and secrets.

I love the personal journey they all take while growing even closer together.

[Jenni | The_BookishBrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

On Thin Ice — S. Rena
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
📅 Publishes April 14

🏒 Hockey romance
🔥 Why choose
⚔️ Enemies → lovers
🖤 Slow building tension
🧩 A plot that actually keeps you guessing

This one had me hooked. The tension between the characters builds perfectly, going from enemies to something much more complicated (and hotter). The mystery element kept the story moving, and the romance delivered exactly the kind of intensity I wanted.

And the ending? Completely satisfying. Everything wrapped up in a way that felt earned.

If you love hockey romances and why-choose dynamics with real tension, keep this one on your radar.

[BarnKat · Rating 3 out of 5]

A reverse harem poly hockey romance? If you say so. I’m a sucker for all hockey roms, but this one was definitely on the darker side. With a dash of murder mystery and a heavy dose of trauma, this one was a quick and easy read. Very spicy and definitely check your triggers, but over all a pretty good time. Some of the twists were a bit too predictable for me. It was definitely laid out for you to guess kind of early. There was also not nearly enough tension. I would hardly call it a bulky romance or enemies to lovers. I wanted way more from Mountain. Mountain stole the show.

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever, and the author for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Forever Publishing, NetGalley, and Sade Rena for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.

NOTE: Goodreads does not offer half-stars. In the interest of fairness, I have rounded my review up to 4. I would've given it 3.5 had that been an option.

Please also note that this book has an extensive list of trigger warnings, including sexual assault, mental health crises, suicide, and gender-based and other violence. Before reading this novel, please read the novel to determine whether its content is appropriate for you.

If I had to use a NHL metaphor to describe this book, I would say that it made it all the way to the end of the Conference championships, but stopped just short of getting to the Stanley Cup final. The book was a fast-paced, relentless read, filled with angst and emotions, and featured flawed characters that really gave you something to do dig into. But, the last third of the novel lost me a bit with the implausibility of the twists and the somewhat rushed ending.

The novel, which is told in multiple POVs, follows Samantha "Sam" Collins' first year at prestigious Sovereign Kings University (SKU), a prestigious school known for churning out leaders in business, politics, and other high-ranking industries. After living with an abusive stepfather in a poverty-stricken home, Sam finds herself at SKU on scholarship, determined to make a better life for herself and her younger brother, Desmond. Samantha's mother tragically died by suicide after years of mental illness, leaving Samantha bereft and grieving. She carries these scars as she begins her tenure at SKU, determined to block out anything that does not help her achieve her graduation goal.

While at SKU, she meets her new roommate, Gracie, a bubbly and generous young woman who is more than willing to share her ample closet and her knowledge of campus. Sadly, Gracie is the only one to show Sam kindness. When Sam goes to class, she's ridiculed for her old clothes and well-worn backpack, and teased for her scholarship status by the resident mean girl clique. Sam perseveres, not letting it affect her outwardly even though the relentless bullying takes its toll.

All of this comes to a head one fateful night when Sam decides to attend a party hosted by members of SKU's elite hockey team, the Knights. Powerful, arrogant, and influential, the Knights own the school and have their worlds on platters--and they make sure everyone knows it. From Alex, the charming bad boy center, to Kane, a brooding ghost from Sam's past, to the mammoth man they call The Mountain, all three of players are symbols of power at the school, free to do what they want without accountability. But, what starts as nothing more than a standard college party soon changes the trajectory of Sam's entire life, as an incident occurs that leaves Sam in the crosshairs of the Knights and even more sinister, the very academic administration that is supposed to protect her. Now forced to serve as the team's equipment manager, all Sam wants to do is make it though the year unscathed, not knowing that what's in store for her will leave her life--and her heart--on thin ice.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It isn't too often that you find a story that's willing to take on the dark side of college sports, and it's even rarer that the FMC in one of those stories is BIPOC. The representation of diverse backgrounds was one of the highlights of the novel. I am an avid hockey fan, so I had some minor nitpicks about the way the game and college hockey was portrayed, but the world the author created was robust enough that I was able to overlook those. If you're looking for spice, this book has plenty of it, just be aware that most times it comes with a huge side of angst.

What I enjoyed most about this book was its unflinching look at trauma, emotional scarring, and the impact of mental illness. It wasn't glossed over, tied neatly up with a bow, or explained away by some magic "solution". As we get deeper into the mystery of what actually brought Sam to SKU and the relationships she slowly builds with the players, it's messy and complicated, which made me more vested in the story. It's only toward the end, when we get to the "big reveals", that things went a little off-course for me. This may just be a "me" thing, but the connections that are revealed at the end of the novel, and the true secrets that have been hidden at SKU, were just a little too implausible to me. I can definitely suspend disbelief (fantasy is my favorite book genre!), but when I got to the end of the book, I was like, "nah, I don't know how realistic that would actually be" and it took me out of the story. Having said all that, I'm sure there are people who really just want to go along for the ride and who would take those final jaw-dropping twists in stride.

I think you'll enjoy this book if you're looking for a darker read full of complicated people, emotions, and relationships, with a bit of thriller/suspense thrown in for good measure. It's got the flavor of "why choose" mixed with a hefty dash of enemies to lovers, and the pacing is relentless enough to keep you constantly turning pages. It was a solid read for me, and I'll be checking out more from this author soon.

[Victoria Arroyo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay… this one is a tricky one.

The premise? Absolute madness. I was SO hyped. Goodreads was selling it as a mix between God of Malice (dark, twisted, borderline unhinged romance) and Pucking Around (my all-time favorite poly MMFM romance). Add hockey, three guys obsessed with one girl… yeah, I was sold. Immediately.

First things first: the audiobook? Ate. Each character had their own voice, and let’s not lie to ourselves, the male voices were very attractive. That definitely enhanced the experience.

Character-wise, I loved Mountain. No surprise here, goalie supremacy always wins. He’s easily my favorite. He felt like the most developed character, and his relationship with Sam was by far the healthiest: calm, genuine, and actually built on something solid.

Kane… annoyed me at first, not gonna lie. He came off as kind of bratty and angry for no reason. But once we get more of his backstory, it makes more sense and becomes pretty touching. Still, he’s probably the least developed of the three.

Alex though??? I got attached. He had that something, that angsty, intense, slightly messy energy that makes everything hotter and more emotionally charged. His dynamic with Sam was really compelling.

As for Sam, I liked her. She felt real, grounded, she tries to do the right thing… even if at times I was like “girl… maybe communicate a little more??” Her relationship with Gracie was also a really nice touch.

Now. The plot.

This is NOT a dark romance. Like… not even a little bit. I genuinely do not understand why it’s marketed that way. There is absolutely zero God of Malice vibe here (which, honestly, I’m not mad about). And unfortunately, it’s also a very watered-down version of what Pucking Around delivers.

At first, I was really into the romantic suspense side ! Figuring out how Sam ended up at this college, uncovering the secrets, the past… I was invested. But then the actual plot kicks in, things start getting really interesting… and I check my phone and realize I’m already 60% in.

And I’m like: wait. Why did it take this long? And how are they going to wrap this up in 40% when the poly relationship hasn’t even really started yet??

So naturally I thought: okay, must be a duology.

Nope.

It’s just… rushed. Extremely rushed. The whole plot gets wrapped up in like the last 30%, everything happens super fast, everything resolves a bit too easily, and it loses a lot of credibility. Plus, there are still quite a few unanswered questions by the end.

Same issue with the poly aspect.

It felt very rushed. For like 3/4 of the book, she’s just getting to know them, things happen here and there, but there’s no real co-construction of the relationship. She only really becomes fully honest near the end, and the actual “decision” moment is… quick.

Like, one of them basically goes “so, who do you choose?” and she’s like “all of you or none,” and they’re like “okay.” And that’s it.

And I’m like… where are the conversations???

Because that’s the whole point (for me) with poly/why choose romances. I want the discussions: how does this work? Is everyone actually on board? What are the boundaries? The expectations? The fears? The logistics?? Give me the process.

So yeah… maybe don’t use Pucking Around as a comparison because that sets expectations that are definitely not met here.

All that said, it’s still a steamy, intriguing story with interesting characters. The chemistry is there, the vibes are there, and honestly, I expected more smut for this kind of setup.

[ZuMo's Book Nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Genre: romance
Publication Date:4/14/26
Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
Format: eBook
POV: First Person
Highlights: why choose, hockey, mystery, multiple POVs

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
On Thin Ice was an interesting read. Being that this book is a why choose, I expected more spice than plot but I was pleasantly surprised that there was a solid mystery to unravel and just the right amount of spice.

When Sam gets a surprising acceptance letter and full scholarship to the prestigious Sovereign Kings University, she jumps on the opportunity so that she get change her life and get her and her younger brother out from under the thumb of her abusive stepfather. At a party thrown by the Knights, the university's champion hockey team Sam breaks the knee of one of the players effectively ending his season and potentially costing the team the championship. While balancing the consequences of that with her studies, she begins to look into and unravel the mystery of her scholarship, unearthing secrets long buried. It's not just the secrets that get her blood pumping though. Golden boy Alex, broody Kane, and silent but steady Bryden are all in her orbit in differing capacities and Sam has to navigate her feelings for each, good and bad.

The plot in this book had me hooked and I couldn't put the book down in favor of finding out the mystery surrounding SKU and Sam's scholarship. I did guess some things but still enjoyed reading how Sam and company found out for themselves. The mystery was intricately woven and not overly convoluted. Instead, it was pieced together slowly throughout the book. I was happy with how it all came together in the end.

The character arcs in On Thin Ice felt like they were done really well. The guys were angry but not abusive before starting to succumb to their attraction to Sam, which I appreciated. The gradual change in feelings felt realistic and reading about the guys and Sam slowly falling for each other while unraveling the mystery surrounding the school was rewarding. I really enjoyed reading about their different relationships. Each character had decent depth and background but Sam and Kane's were probably the most fleshed out. Bryden was probably the most flat of the main characters but even he had enough background to be understood.

The spice. I felt like the spice was really well done in this book. It wasn't overwhelming and didn't take away from the plot. Instead, it felt like the spice was there to show the progression of the relationships between Sam and the guys. The wording in the scenes wasn't cringe worthy or awkward like it can sometimes be.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. It was a surprising balance between plot and character that meant I had a hard time putting this book down. It didn't hit my right in the feels like some other romances do, which is why it isn't quite a four star read for me but I felt like this book was well written and the story was compelling. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys why choose books with a solid plot and medium spice.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Blair Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh My God! This is exactly what I wanted and needed. If anyone knows me you know I love hockey and I love why choose. Throw in some bully, secret society, forced proxiemty, enemies to lovers. I was sat the whole time. Now I have never read I’ve never previously read anything by S (Sade) Rena. But I need to rectify that immediately because I vibe with her writing. I absolutely loved each and every freaking character, that I was suppose to, and despised every character that I was supposed to she did so well with writing each individual character to those specific specifications, in my opinion. If you go to the blurb of this, it says God of malice meets Pucking Around. Well, I haven’t read God of malice yet. It is on my TBR. I would not say this is anywhere near Pucking Around. It’s a totally different vibe. I wouldn’t say this is completely dark, but it has a tinge more of that with a trigger warnings then Pucking Around does.
Our girl has Sovereign King University as her dream school. And she was previously denied and now she gets to go, but when she gets there, she sees a familiar face. A face she is well acquainted with., Everest Kane. They met in a psych psychiatric ward when both their mothers were there. He’s one of the star players of the hockey team. And he does not need anybody else to know what’s up with his mom. We also have Alex. He’s the captain of the team and kind of a playboy. And then we have Brayden “Mountain. And he’s just drawn to her and they end up being partners in class. Love it. But when. Sam ends up going to a party and things end up going not so great she ends up being forced in proxiemty to a team who does not like her, especially the three best friends.
I really liked how this was constructed together S Rena is a master mind. I will say at the end of the little twist I somewhat sought coming I said what if, but I still gassped, I was also so frustrated during parts of the book. She really had my emotions going every single place while reading!
I also had the privilege of doing this as an immersion read and let me tell you right now you need the audiobook Blaire Le Blanc, Winston James, E.M. Wilde and Edward Black freaking killed this it is dual style, but every single voice from chapter to chapter seamless. If they had to do different, gender voices, they were perfect. I could not stop this book I had to keep going. This is probably going to be one of my favorite sports/college romances of the year. I also see on goodreads that it says its the Ice Kings, 1. So that means this is gonna be a series and I need more. I’m feral… I’m a feral raccoon. Give me more of this world. Give me more of these characters. I beg of you. Please!
Thank you so much to Forever and Hachette Audio for the complementary copies. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

ALC received from NetGalley — thank you!

🌊 Why I Picked It Up
I was immediately drawn to this one because it promised both Indigenous and African American representation — something I don’t see often in this subgenre. S. Rena was new to me, and I don’t usually reach for college romances or hockey‑centered stories, so I went in curious but cautious. What I found was surprisingly refreshing, like catching a cool ocean breeze when you weren’t expecting it.

❄️ The Story
Our FMC, Samantha (Sam), is carrying a heavy emotional load: a mother lost to suicide, a father drowning in alcohol and anger, and a little brother she’s trying to protect. When she receives a full‑ride scholarship to an elite school, she knows something isn’t right ... and she’s absolutely right to question it.

Once she reconnects with Kane, an old friend turned hockey star, the truth starts to unravel. The hockey team runs the school. The puck bunnies run the bullying. And underneath it all is a web of secrets, power plays, and cover‑ups that ripple through every chapter. It’s very much a story about what happens when the wrong people try to bury life‑changing events — and the fallout that refuses to stay hidden.

I’ll be honest: I kind of saw the twist coming at the end, but I don’t think most readers will — and I actually love that for this book. It’s the kind of twist that feels earned.

🔥 The Romance
This is a why‑choose romance, and yes — there is one group scene.
But here’s the important part:
- There is absolutely no sword crossing.
- The group scene happens at the very end like 89% in.
- Every other spicy moment is strictly one‑on‑one.

Sam’s relationships with Kane, Alexander, and Mountain each have their own emotional texture, and the dynamic between all four of them builds naturally. This was my first time reading a setup like this, and I ended up enjoying it far more than I expected.

🎧 The Audiobook
The full‑cast dual narration was one of my favorite parts of the experience. Every major character has their own voice, which makes the tension, emotion, and shifting dynamics feel even more vivid.

Narrated by:
- Blaire Le Blanc
- Winston James
- E.M. Wylde
- Edward Black

They brought the story to life in a way that reading alone probably couldn’t. The performances added depth, urgency, and personality to every scene.

🌫️ Final Thoughts
This book wasn’t what I expected .... and that’s exactly why I’m glad I listened. It’s twisty without being confusing, dark‑adjacent without being overwhelming, and full of secrets that keep you leaning in. I really enjoyed this, and I can’t wait to experience more from this author.

[Lauralee · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

On Thin Ice is a twisty dark academia university “why choose” (to me it a little more love triangle with four people until quite literally the very very end.)  and in it, we follow Sam, an FMC that has been through a lot in her life, and is given the opportunity to attend a prestigious university on a scholarship. But everything is not what it seems to be, and even after just a couple days there, Sam is confronted with someone trying to drug her drink, and she retaliates (rightfully so). The man in question is on the hockey team, and she just ended his season by breaking his knee. In response, she is tasked with working for the hockey team the rest of the season, and that's where she meets our three MMCs. You have Alex, a ladies man that absolutely doesn't give most women a second's thought, until he meets Sam. Then, you have Kane, who also goes by Everest, and he's just doing everything he can to get out of this university and to the NHL. He's the only one Sam knows from before she came to University, because of a history that their mother's share. Finally there's Bryden (Mountain), who is over basically everyone and is drawn to Sam once he finds out why she's been working for the hockey team, he's the goalie and I feel like that speaks for itself (he turned out to be my favorite). 

I'm not really sure where this book hits for me. I love hockey and why choose, and this book definitely did have things that I liked. The author warns readers at the beginning, letting them know that we may not like the characters. I didn't really dislike any of the main characters, but Bryden and Alex were my favorites. The book is definitely hockey light, so if you're looking for a hockey heavy hockey romance, this isn't that, and that is totally fine, but I like to let people know as someone who loves a lot of hockey in her hockey romances. The writing isn't bad, but there was a couple of instances that felt a little rushed or odd, mostly in the spicy scenes. I think it was the fact that they were not elaborated much at all, which sometimes it felt like they needed to be. Overall, I craved more from the story and didn't feel like there was a lot of questions left unanswered and not a whole lot of communication. I did enjoy the suspense aspect even if it was wrapped up really fast and not very well. The ending was incredibly abrupt and I really didn't love that. I feel like the premise of this book promised so much, but it really didn't deliver for me even though I did really like some of the characters. 

[Nicole Seafolk · Rating 3 out of 5]

The bones of something really good are here, and that honestly makes the frustrations harder to shake rather than easier.
The biggest issue is the pacing, and it is a consistent issue from start to finish. Every time the story builds toward a moment that actually matters, it cuts away before you get there. Two characters finally start making out and the other guys walk in, abrupt chapter end. She answers the phone and he overhears the threatening call from Jackson, abrupt chapter end. It happens over and over again in a pattern that starts to feel less like intentional tension building and more like the story is actively avoiding its own most interesting scenes. The things you actually want to see keep happening off page, and what you get on page never quite has the depth to compensate for that. An extra book in a duet format would have given this story the room it needed to breathe and actually deliver on what it kept promising.
The back half of the book then compounds the problem. Around the halfway point I genuinely thought this was building toward a series because so many different threads were developing simultaneously, and then everything gets resolved in the last 10 percent at a speed that strains credibility. The darker elements, including some heavier themes around assault and difficult family dynamics, are present but never really land with any weight because the book skims the surface of all of them rather than sitting in any of it. It is grey at best and not the dark read it might position itself as. If you go in expecting something truly dark, temper those expectations.
Sam as a character works well enough. She feels grounded and real, she generally tries to do the right thing, and her relationship with Gracie is a genuinely sweet touch. Though I did spend a fair amount of the book wanting to gently shake her and ask her to please just communicate. 😅
The real standout here is the audio production. Blaire Le Blanc, Winston James, E.M. Wylde, and Edward Black were all new to me as narrators and every single one of them delivered. The representation in this book is handled with genuine care and the narrators honor that on every level. Loud applause for all four of them. 👏
On Thin Ice is not a bad book, but it is one that needed more time and more pages to become the story it was trying to be.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting story, our girl, Sam, from the wrong side of the track, got accepted to a very prestigious college - full ride?! As she sticks out like a sore thumb, she does have a mouth, and guts, and the defense to protect herself. Good thing she's smart and protected herself. But as things goes on, they are not jiving. She protected herself by taking out the knee cap of a major hockey player where the team is on their way to Nationals and scouts are scoping. And an offense like that would've been severe enough to cause a student to be expelled, yet Sam got to stay.

The more she thought about it, the more she doesn't understand how or why, especially she was rejected just the year before. She recruited the cocky hockey captain, also son of the chancellor to help. They hated each other but over time, they also have an understanding. Meanwhile, Kane has alot to hide, not only about his mom, his father and how he knows Sam. Then you have Bryden, super stoic type but have so much love to give.

Amongst all the encounters Sam has each of them, there's also this underlying mystery that they teamed up to discovered. Boy, that thing is messier than heck, and it is a web upon web of lies, deceptions, and very skull and bone society of them.

The story concept is interesting for a poly- I will say, the first 30% of the book is the set up. And you don't even get the 'action' until Chapter 21. But once they broke thru, the actions and pacing of the story goes really fast. So much so that I have to go back and make sure I understand the web.

If you do get the audio book, I highly recommend that. There's 4 narrators, Blaire Le Blanc; Winston James; E.M. Wylde; Edward Black, and each of them are new to me, but ALL of them does a great job with various voices and their emotions at the point of the story. Bravo on that.

Thank you NetGalley & Hachette Audio for audio ARC & Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC

[Cdoc's Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really excited for this one, and I genuinely thought I was going to love it. A why choose, hockey, darkish romance? Yeah sign me up every day of the week. But unfortunately, this just didn't work for me.

💙 Hockey Romance
🧊 Why Choose
💙 Bully-ish
❄️ Enemies to Lovers
💙 Multicultural
🧊 Dark Academia
💙 Trauma-Bonded

Let me start off by saying, this was not all bad. There were moments that were really great, including a mystery subplot that I was really intrigued by through a good portion of the book. I think if we had more time with Sam and the boys, the romance aspect would have worked for me there too. There was so much potential with each of those relationships, but again just not enough time.

I think because of not having enough time, the pacing became off as a whole. It felt slow in some moments and then really fast in others. One of my least favorite things in books is when something really big happens (like a big reveal), and then the chapter just ends. And instead of picking up soon after we just continue on without any mention of what just happened. It irritates the crap out of me. There were a number of moments, especially towards the end that this happened. It was like we were finally gaining momentum for it to fall off immediately.

Sam's relationships with the boys felt again (word of the day) rushed as well. It was hard to me to really feel any sort of connection to her with any of the boys, because I feel like there wasn't enough time focused on her with each one. Towards the end it felt like we were just ticking boxes like, okay check she kissed this one, then the second guy, third check, then okay we sleep with one, then come round to the second, and then oh you'll never believe this here comes the third. Wham bam we did it, yay! 🙄

As I stated earlier, I really enjoyed the mystery subplot. Sam's journey to finding out about her mother's past (and how it tied into many of the other characters pasts as well), was really compelling. I was more focused on that than even the romance between her and the boys. With that being said, the mystery wrapping up in the end felt quite rushed. You get all these "big reveals" that felt sort of all slammed together in the last 5-10% of the book.

I think maybe if this was developed into a duloguy, we would have had the space to let each individual relationship grow, alongside the mystery plot line. Trying to do both in one book was asking for a lot, and in the end I feel like both suffered.

Overall not for me. I hope others can look past my issues and have a good time with it, I really do. So much potential, I'm sad it didn't work out.

** Thank you Netgalley and Forever Pub for the eARC of this in exchange for my honest review 🫶🏼

[mood_reading_maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Forever for the e-ARC and Hachette Audio for the ALC.

What a wild ride this was! I had a great time reading. On Thin Ice follows Sam as she enters the elite and privileged world of Sovereign Kings University. There are an abundance of richie rich students, systemic misogyny and corrupt power structures to confront, mean girls and man-o-sphere wannabes, and so many secrets to uncover. This book has stakes! The plot quickly gets moving and never really loses steam. This isn't a new adult/college romance that lingers too much on the slice of life vibes; On Thin Ice balances plot and character development really well. The hockey angle is in the background for the most part, with one tense on ice scene that, as a non-sports watcher, I was able to follow and found written with fast paced action.

While this is a why choose romance, the relationships develop gradually with all the love interests involved. It makes sense for the story, establishing Sam's emotional connections to Kane, Mountain, and Alex individually before bringing them all together. I do wish there had been a bit more of this quad together on page, but all in all this is a great book for someone who has never before read a why choose relationship.

As someone who enjoys bully romances and enemies to lovers trope, I find that the bullying aspect can sometimes be so over the top that it makes any romantic angle completely unbelievable. While there is some initial animosity on the part of the MMCs, the bullying mostly comes from other hockey team members, with Kane, Alex, and Mountain pivoting to protectors. Each MMC has a distinct voice and personality, which I appreciated and added balance to the relationship dynamics between the characters.

The narration was really well done and made the reading experience all that much more enjoyable.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

I'd like to thank Forever Publishing for the gifted galley as well as the eARC of this book!

I love all things hockey romance, or any sport romance if I'm honest! This is a dark romance (check the triggers!) that takes place between 4 MCs, we have Sam (our FMC), Alex (golden boy hockey captain MMC), Kane (ex-friend from her past MMC), and Bryden (aka Mountain and the team's goalie MMC). Each character gets their own POV chapter, so we get a glimpse inside each of their heads at different moments throughout the story.

Sam mysteriously gets a fully paid scholarship to an exclusive university in town, which is just the ticket she needs to help make a better situation for her and her little brother. After Sam is attacked by a member of the hockey team, she is sent to work as the team's equipment manager (and naturally none of the powers that be believe her side of the story) where she continues getting harassed by members of the team. The whole time, Sam has a weird feeling about exactly *why* she received a full scholarship after originally being rejected from the university, so she begins to look for further information. That information could prove to be incredibly dangerous for her, and for many others.

I enjoyed how complex the relationships between the characters was, and getting to see how different each of the MCs was with Sam was interesting.

I did feel like the conflict was resolved both too quickly and easily with it having been found and done with in a matter of chapters. The build-up for the conflict was great, but I felt like we needed to spend more time on the resolution as it had such a huge part throughout the rest of the novel.

I'd love to read more by this author!

[Jocelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a unique take on a why choose romance, and I ended up really enjoying how different it felt from others I’ve read.

One of the most interesting parts for me was how S. Rena built each relationship separately. Even though the three men are already best friends and teammates, the connections with the FMC develop in distinct ways, which made each dynamic feel intentional and layered rather than rushed or blended together.

What I did not expect going in was the suspense element and honestly, that’s what hooked me. There’s a full on mystery woven into the story that becomes central to the plot. It kept me guessing the entire time and made it so hard to stop listening because I needed to understand what was really going on.

I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrators did an incredible job bringing these characters to life. Their performances added so much depth to the emotional moments and really pulled me into the story. It ended up being a super quick listen for me because I was so invested.

I’ll admit, with about three hours left, I wasn’t sure how everything was going to come together, but S. Rena delivered. All my questions were answered in a way that felt satisfying and complete.

Compared to other why choose romances I’ve read, this one had much deeper emotional layers and stronger backstories for the characters. It’s definitely emotional, and while it leans dark, I wouldn’t say it’s overwhelmingly intense, but as always, check trigger warnings.

There is some hockey in the story, but if you’re like me and prefer more romance than sports, this still totally works. The romance and emotional arcs take center stage.

Thank you to Hachette Audio and Forever for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

[casey ⋆˚౨ৎ ⋆.˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️ (rounded up)

⋆˙⟡ tropes ⟡˙⋆
🏒hockey romance
⛸️why choose
💻bully-ish
😡enemies to lovers
💙multicultural
📚dark academia-lite
❤️‍🩹trauma bonded
⚡️good girl x bad boys

⋆˙⟡ thoughts ⟡˙⋆
the characters are meant to be flawed and put you though a wave of emotions. same definitely has complex relationships with sam, everest, and mountain… but out of the three guys, i felt she had the most chemistry with mountain. alex felt more like a lust and hate kind of vibe and everest has a past with sam that haunts them. i loved sam and how she didn’t take any of the guys shit and stood her ground.

while i enjoyed this and the mystery element, i felt the ending was rushed and a lot was wrapped up in the epilogue and left me feeling like it was all jammed into that. it definitely had me angry often especially with a certain character (you’ll understand why when reading). this was my first book from this author and certainly not my last!

⋆˙⟡ synopsis ⟡˙⋆
told in multiple povs. sam, a college student with a difficult past gets entangled with three hockey players when she accidentally injures one of the players making her a “target”. this includes alex, the captain, everest (kane), a defensemen, and mountain (bryden), the goalie. dare i say that each one of them is obsessed with her??? 😮‍💨
please do check content warnings as this is a darker romance

🎧audio: the four narrators did a great job and being a multiple pov, i was able to follow along easily!!! each of them brings a different tone and enhanced the emotions and tensions throughout the story.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book said “pick a lane”… and then swerved into all of them.

3.5⭐️

This was a full-on rollercoaster. Some highs? Really good. But by the end, I was more relieved than wowed. It’s also not what I expected. Think dark romance, sports romance, thriller, why choose—all mashed into one. It works… mostly.

The standout? This is a real sports romance. The hockey scenes actually matter. In the audiobook, it legit felt like I was listening to a live game at times, which added a lot. Finally, a sports romance that remembers the sport exists.

But… it’s not just about hockey, and that’s where things get messy. There are a lot of moving parts, and while they technically fit, they don’t always flow. It can feel a bit cobbled together instead of seamless.

The multicultural representation was a win. It felt natural and lived-in, not forced or performative, which made it easy to appreciate.

Now the ending? Oof. After such a detailed buildup (and yes, a little tell-over-show creeping in), it rushes the finish. And that kind of whiplash sticks.

The spice was well done—balanced, purposeful, and no cringe. Bless. And the FMC? She holds her own against three very strong personalities, which made her easy to root for.

Narration? 5⭐️. Blaire Le Blanc, Winston James, E.M. Wylde, and Edward Black all delivered. Great emotion, great pacing, no notes.

Bottom line: if you like why choose with a side of mystery and don’t mind a genre mashup, this is a fun ride. Just don’t expect a perfectly smooth landing.

I am thankful to have received a complimentary ALC from Forever Books and Hachette Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.

[Magically Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please check the triggers before starting this book! There are quiet a few and are throughout the story, so do your part.

Slams iPad down and proceed to fan myself... this audio is SPICY! I was blushing at parts, and I did in fact have to put it away at work. I needed to finish it in the comfort of my home.

Sam really could have let so many things in her past get her down. But instead, she fought for a better life for herself and to one day be able to take care of her little brother. Her strength showed through the whole story. And the way she handled those men, and their sometimes not so great attitude. She is an icon.

Now the men, I don't know which one if my favorite. I almost always have one in a why choose romance. But... I don't think I can pick this time around. Mountain is just so sweet, Kane while a little rough around the edges, turned into a big old teddy bear for her. And then Alex! He really did everything he could, even when he was trying to tell himself no. And the way they all had zero issues sharing was just the cherry on top.

The secrets that everyone had in this book !!! No spoilers, but they had me. Each new one had me going this HAS to be the last surprise. But nope, there's still more. Truly a well thought of plot that keeps you so engaged.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Multi POV

🎧 Full Cast Narration 11h 18m
🎙️ Blaire Le Blanc, Winston James, E.M. Wylde, and Edward Black
Narration Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hockey Romance
Dark Romance (lighter side)
Why Choose
Enemies to Lovers
Bullies
College Setting

Thank you to Hachette Audio | Forever, and author Sade Rena, for providing me with the ALC of “On Thin Ice”.

[Susan McKay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Netgalley

On Thin Ice by Sade Rena
-Genre: A dark why choose college hockey romance
-Publication info: Not yet published Expected 14 Apr 26
-Trigger Warnings: Bullying, dubious consent, verbal and psychological abuse, abuse of power, sexual harassment (off page), corrosion, physical assault, past sexual assault, mention of self-harm, suicide (off page), parental death, mental health struggle, emotional manipulation
-Why I picked it: The description of “God of Malice meets Pucking Around” was right up my alley.

No Spoilers, Just Bookish Vibes
-Setting/World building: While this book is set-in modern-day Minnesota the author does a great job making you feel enmeshed in the world of Sovereign King’s University.
- Pacing: The pacing on this book felt off, it was doing a lot and while I really enjoyed the thriller mystery element of the book, adding the bully and why choose subplots made the romance feel rushed.
-POV: Multiple first-person perspectives.
-Vibe check: Perfect for fans of Pretty Little Savage by Lucy Smoke

Spoiler Zone, Now It's Time For The Rewind
I would rate this book a 3.5 stars, while it was not what I expected I enjoyed the experience overall. The book was front loaded with a lot of inner monologuing from all the characters and while that did add depth to the characters it felt like that didn’t leave enough time to resolve the mystery of the secret society or develop the central polycule which felt more like a love square with concessions.

[Micheala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the early copy. All thoughts are my own.

4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this! I’m a huge hockey romance lover but don’t read as much dark romance as I’d like to. So this was a nice combination of the two. There was so much happening and I was hooked. It got me out of a reading slump so it definitely gets bonus points for that.

I really loved the mystery aspect to the story. It was super layered and there were so many mini mysteries to be uncovered. The ending was not exactly what I was expecting, but I like that everyone got what they deserved.

I loved all of the guys so much. Don't ask me to pick a favourite because there's no way I could. They each brought something different to the table and it was done so well. I love that Sam's relationship with each of them started out separately because I feel like I learned so much about them that way. I feel like they all brought out a different part of Sam and I enjoyed watching her grow as she spent more time with them. I really really liked Sam. She was so strong and focused on her goals. She was tenacious and kind and I just loved her so much!

I will say that the ending felt a little rushed. There was so much buildup throughout the book, and I do feel like that rushing made the ending fall a little flat.

If you are a why choose mystery lover, I would highly recommend checking this out!

[Megan Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Ok. There were so many parts of this book that I did like, but also some parts that just weren't it for me. Let me first off say, this book is not going to be for everyone. But if your in for a wild ride of secrets, lust, polyamorous relationships and some mystery, then buckle up.

Sam, the FMC, didn't have enough depth for me to ever really find her all that likeable. But then on the other hand, the 3 MMC's of this book, I loved them all equally and could totally understand why Sam did too. That being said, I didn't like how any of these relationships developed. It was literally hate, to lust ? to sex? and then love?? There was NO emotional development at all. I get the idea of wanting to get into someone's pants, but beyond that, I had a hard time becoming invested in the relationships.

There was a lot of emotions in the pages of this book. It dealt with some very heavy topics like mental health, grief, sexual assault, etc. While I do think they were handled well, there were also times that I felt like they were mentioned but never addressed, and for me, that just does not sit right. If you're going to read this book, please check trigger warnings!

At the end of the day, I do love a dark romance type of story, and I did love the dynamic of the relationship that was being built, but overall, it hit the mark for me.