Frost, Faelan, and Fairies: A Skye O'Shea Holiday Paranormal Cozy Mystery

by Rowan Dillon, Christy Nicholas

He’s sworn to guard his village… but when Christmas magic curdles into rot, can one arrogant fae cat hold back the wildwood’s wrath?Faelan the cat sídhe has never had much patience for human nonsense. Especially not for his human, Skye, squealing over Christmas lights and cinnamon cookies. But when the town’s holiday tree reeks of broken magic, the feline guardian realizes something far older and darker than tinsel is clawing into Ballybás.

Summoned to the Otherworld, Faelan learns an ancient Pact, binding mortal and fae, has been shattered with the theft of a sacred ward stone. If he can’t mend the balance, the woodland lord, Firruadh, will plunge the town into endless winter. Worse, a fae hunter walks in disguise among the villagers, and even Skye’s safety is at risk.

As Faelan stalks between cozy kitchens and frostbitten realms, he must fend off random fae, bargains, and nosy humans who never listen to cats. And when the banshee at the east gate whispers of a kitten, he faces the one oath even his arrogance can’t dodge—family.

Can Faelan outwit fairies, hunters, and meddling mortals before Christmas Eve turns deadly?

Frost, Faelan, and Faeries is a snarky holiday novella in the Skye O’Shea paranormal cozy mystery series. If you like sardonic familiars, folklore twists, and a dash of Christmas peril, you’ll love Rowan Dillon’s festive fae tale.

Buy Frost, Faelan, and Faeries to curl up with a cozy magical mystery today!

122 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 16, 2025

Reviews

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skye O Shea ,what can I say ? This book of yours blew me away Rowan Dillon ,Christy Nicholas. It’s a great cover . I am a cover lover. What’s inside is divine a great storyline . So clever ,I could read about them forever . Well different stories of course but is read this again of course. Well there’s discord in this and things don’t look bliss ,when Faelan learns that in actual fact the pact that binds humans and Fae has been broken with the theft happening of an ancient sacred ward stone … this is an awesome ,imaginative book that draws you in . So immersive it is and the storytelling is bliss the storyline is divine and compelling .

[Joseph Lau · Rating 5 out of 5]

This side story follows Faelan: spirit, overseer of Sky O’Shea, and nasty feline (but aren’t they all?). Something evil is threatening this quiet, Irish town – and the cat has to find the culprits or the world may come to an end!
Rowan does great work with this series, and this is a fun addition. Faelan has been a mysterious but interesting character for books now – great to see where he goes from here.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

When reading a short story/novella, I always expect the main character to be the main character. Well, in this one, Faelan is the main character. We get to see the village from his standpoint and how his role changes in this along with a mystery threat via the theft of a Ward Stone. I really enjoyed this feel of this; it was almost ethereal and otherworldly in a different way than usual probably because we see it from his point of view. Great addition to the series. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Anne Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faelan is unsettled by the smell around the tree the village has decorated for Christmas, also he notices some strange marks on the base of the tree. He realises that once again he must work hard to save his village from disaster. He had to seek out the person responsible for stealing something very important. He gets called to The Council to get firm orders, so he knows what he has to do. An enthralling read.

[Christina Frøkjær · Rating 5 out of 5]

This snarky holiday novella in the Skye O’Shea series is an absolute joy to read, centering on the brilliantly arrogant cat sídhe, Faelan, who proves to be an unforgettable protagonist. Set during Skye's first Christmas in the charming, yet perilous, town of Ballybás, the festive setting quickly turns into a high-stakes paranormal mystery.

The story wastes no time in establishing its epic conflict. When Christmas magic curdles into rot and the holiday tree reeks of broken enchantment, Faelan realizes something far older and darker is clawing into Ballybás. With the Wildwood Lord Firruadh stirring and the theft of a sacred ward stone threatening to plunge the town into eternal winter, Faelan’s mission is clear: recover the stone and stop the hidden fae Hunter.

As Faelan stalks between cozy kitchens and frostbitten realms, dealing with meddling mortals and the whispering banshee who brings a new complication of 'family,' the action drives forward with compelling urgency. This book delivers a cracking good mystery, rich with authentic Irish legends and ancient magic colliding seamlessly with the present day. If you like sardonic familiars, high-stakes folklore twists, and a dash of Christmas peril, this festive fae tale is highly recommended.

[Laure · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas has come to Ballybas. Fae cat, Faelan, is just as arrogant and snarky, and that won't change when he realizes that an ancient Pact that binds humans and the fae has been broken. Unless he can find the ward stone, and return it to its proper place, the woodland lord will bring endless winter to the town of Ballybas. While he would never admit it, he has become quite fond of Skye, and he will do anything in his power to save her and the other humans who live in the village. Unfortunately, he also can't ask Skye for help, so he is the only one who can save them all.

I love these characters, they are all so fun, sometimes funny, but they all have wonderfully compelling and engaging characteristics that keep me engrossed in their stories from the first page to the last. Magic, mystery, a little suspense, and some interesting twists in the plot had me hanging on to every word. Fantastic book! A must-read!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC provided by the author.

[Sarah J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frost, Faelan, and Fairies is a book about a snarky, immortal, talking cat (Faelan), trying to save his human and her village from ancient forces and broken treaties.

It was a good novella but it struck me as more of "fantasy" than "cozy mystery", as in, it focused much more on the legends and otherworldly threats than a typical cozy mystery does. But I did enjoy how Faelan moved thru realms and figured out who the bad guy was and how to fix the treaty!

I have not read the first ones in the series, so I was a little confused on some of the background, but I am looking forward to going back and reading the first ones in the series! (I typically stick to the series order unless I am reading ARC books, then I will jump into the middle of a series, especially for a Christmas story)

Overall, this was a very interesting story and I recommend it but you may want to go back & read the others in the series before jumping into this one.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Chere Gruver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can Faelan save Ballybas?

Our entry into the Skye O’Shea Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series this time around doesn’t really have a lot of Skye in it. This one deals with Faelan and we get to learn more about him and his relationships with the supernaturnal creatures around him. Also, I never realized that Faelan was the guardian of the area and in charge of keeping the nasty critters away from Ballybas. In this tale, Faelan is called to do just that, without Skye’s help. I really enjoy these stories. I love the way Rowan Dillon weaves Irish folklore into her tales. The world building couldn’t be better, the writing style pulls me into the stories and the plot keeps me there. Plus, I adore just how Faelan tries to fight against the fact he really does love Skye.

I received an advanced reader’s copy and am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frost, Faelan, and Fairies: A Skye O'Shea Holiday Paranormal Cozy Mystery (The Skye O'Shea Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series), my fourteenth read from author Christy Nicholas, co-written with author Rowan Dillon (her pen name). I first heard of this author when I received an email from Green Dragon Press and read An Immigrant's Tale: A Druid's Brooch Prequel Short Story 0.5 (Druid's Brooch Series), one thing lead to another and here I am 14 books later. Well-written with a well-developed primary character, a good read. “I received a complementary Kindle copy of this book am reading it & voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to reading more from this author with Bogs, Brews, and Banshees (The Skye O'Shea Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) high on my TBR list. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snarky cat sidhe Faelan is center stage in this story. It’s Skye’s first Christmas in Ballybás and she’s dreaming of cosy fires and tree lighting. But the wildwood Lord is stirring and a strange priest who may be a Hunter, shows up in town. Faelan takes on the task of finding a stolen anchor stone or winter will forever swallow up Ballybás including Skye. There is another life that might be at risk, one Faelan refuses to lose. He must return the stone and trap the Hunter for the Lord Fhirrine before the solstice or all he loves will be forever lost.
The Old Gods of Ireland are not gone and in this exceptional tale of past and present colliding is a cracking good mystery as well as a glimpse of Irish legends. Dive into the whole Skye O’Shea series. Go raibh míle maith agat, Rowan.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fan of this series and I especially liked this one because it comes from Faelan's point of view.

For those of you new to the series, this is a delightful series of novels about Skye O'Shea who moved from the States to take over her Granny's pub in Ireland and her many adventures along the way. She learns a lot about the community, herself and a bit about the Fae. The cat-sidhe Faelan is her guide through many of these lessons. In this story, Faelan needs to deal with a very serious problem relating to the Fae side of things and he can not tell Skye about it. We get to see Faelan in all his sarcastic, cat like glory. Its a delight.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Louisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Labeling this as #4.5 in the series is perfect. We hear Faelan’s voice as narrator in this Winter Solstice novella, and while it carries the pride and knowledge expected, it left me flat. Faelan must protect the folk of Ballybás, including Skye O’Shea and her friend Jess, from permafreeze. Decay and evil emanate from the town Christmas tree, in spite of it being blessed. Faelan has until the solstice to find the Hunter and the ward stone he has removed from its proper place, and several people including one Skye counts as friend, are possible hosts for the Hunter. Unlike previous Ballybas tales, this one fell flat for me, although the Fair Folk seen through the eyes of a sidhe are vastly complex. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Melonie Hewitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, @booksirens and author Rowan Dillon, for the ARC of this cute, whimsical book.

I decided to let my 🐈 and my love of 🐈 make an additional choice for this evening while I think of a challenge for my next read.

What I love about this book:
🐈 Easy and quick read to end a busy evening on a snowy day

🐈 The characters are witty, sarcastic, and charming

🐈 The cat theme is entertaining (don't you know they conspire lol)

🐈 The format of this fantasy book is written perfectly, which allows the reader to be entertained as they are drawn into this magical world

🐈 The chapters are short but descriptive

Read this if you love:

🐈 Cats
🐈 Magical Realms
🐈 Cozy mysteries
🐈 Christmas

[Jessica Forbes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely novella just in time for Christmas. Faelan the sidhe cat has a mission to recover an ancient ward stone by the Winter Solstice to prevent an ancient woodland lord from taking his village and bathing it in an eternal winter. I liked the folklore woven into the story, and the story is perfect for anyone who wants something just a little bit different for their Christmas celebration. Faelan is all sass, as any cat familiar should be, and he was an entertaining MC to follow.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Payel Das · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read previous O'Shea books and as usual this one holds the same magic vibe. Writing is very matured. As an ARC reader, I get sneek peak of this book and this one hit right with the christmas and holiday season around. Cozy mystery that keeps you on your toes and I love the cat sìdhe, Faelan. Human and animal emotions entwined and engaged the reader wanting to know how this cat sìdhe save the town.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frost, Faelan, and Fairies is Book 4.5 in the Skye O'Shea Series by Rowan Dillon. Although Skye is in the book, the star is Faelan. He is summoned to the Other world where he is assigned for him stop whatever is taking the town's magic. I love Faelan, but, is he up to the task of saving the town he loves? Come along and join in the adventure. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Martine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows Faelan, the cat-sídhe, as he tries to save the magical town of Ballybas, told entirely from his point of view. It’s a fun, fresh angle, but the shift in perspective makes it feel different from the rest of the series. Enjoyable overall, though I prefer the regular stories.
I received an advance review copy and I'm leaving a voluntary and honest review.

[LizJ. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frost, Faelan, and Fairies Book 4.5 in the Skye O'Shea Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series by Rowan Dillon is a fun and witty cozy mystery with likeable characters, I love Faelan the cat! I can't wait to read more!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series and loved this novella featuring Fealan as MC. There's folk horror, there a pinch of horror, and there's a lovely story that mixes festive and mysterious atmosphere.
Cannot wait to read the next one
Highly recommended.
Many thanks for this digital copy, all opinions are mine

[Cyndi Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable addition to this series. Having it be from the cat's pov was really interesting. I really loved delving into his story and more of the fae in general.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[DMA · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very unusual read and it was compelling in its uniqueness. A tail of mystery and danger from a fae feline with a hefty note of cat-ty-ness.

Really enjoyable read

[Debbie Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm voluntarily leaving a review after receiving a free copy. I liked how Faelan completed the task he was given and the duties he took on.

[Jodi Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! Faelan is bound by geis and cannot reveal the evil he is having to combat this solstice to anyone. What is at stake will take all that he loves and cherishes. He cannot fail!