On Thin Ice

by Sade Rena

God of Malice meets Pucking Around in this spicy hockey romance where one freshman becomes the twisted 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 my popular bullies. 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 guys aren’t making my life a living hell, they’re twisting me up inside with desire and giving me 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: Why Choose, Hockey, Sports Romance, Romance, Dark Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Hockey Romance

672 pages, Paperback

Published 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.

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

On Thin Ice by Sade Rena
Ice Kings series #1. Diverse dark romance. Sports. 1st person, alternating POVs. Why choose troupe.
When Samantha Collins gets a full ride scholarship in her sophomore year to Sovereign King’s University, she promises her younger brother she will be gone only a short time and when she returns, she will petition for guardianship to get them away from their father. Trying to fit in, Sam attends a party the hockey players are hosting. Street smarts has her knowing not to drink but when one of the players tries to force her, then attacks, she fights back and ends up breaking his knee. Now the team has it in for her.
Sam focuses on her schoolwork and job of keeping the locker room and equipment for the hockey team in pristine condition. As time progresses, three of the players keep their attention closely on Sam. Somewhat out of anger, but also interest and attraction. She reciprocates and lust has them all looking for private moments.

🎧 I listened to an audiobook version narrated by Blaire Le Blanc, Winston James, E.M. Wylde, and Edward Black. The performances of all were impressive with clear emotions of anger, and lust practically jumping off the page with steam and passion. Chapter headings included whose POV we were in, plus voices were distinct and clearly different so easily followed from each POV jump.

Dark and traumatic subject matter at times followed with strong strength of character by Sam. With three male college hockey players there was also a lot of steamy passion and sex talk.
Lusty and passionate. Why choose?

I received this from NetGalley and Hachette Audio.

[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.

[thebookish.dragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Format: 🎧 & 📖
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

“God of Malice meets Pucking Around in this spicy hockey romance where one girl becomes the obsession of three university hockey players” — this one line sold me immediately on this book. Dark Romance meets HOCKEY ROMANCE? Yes please, hand me the 🍴because I’m about to eat this upppp (and I did, like all in one day).

Huge conspiracy (extremelyyyyy topical to current events) by the Elite 1%, innocent young girl who’s never had a real boyfriend suddenly ensconced in a Why Choose situation? Yes ma’am, hit me with it!

I always have a favorite in a RH, and I have to say Mountain is definitely my favorite. Size difference, he’s big and broody and introverted, Native American and culture rep?? I’m in love! 😻

Can’t wait for the next book in the series!

The audio: This was a multi-actor duet audio (swoon 🥰) featuring Blaire Le Blanc, Winston James, E.M. Wylde, and Edward Black. They all did an amazing job personifying their characters and I really enjoyed the experience! Winston does read a bit quicker paced than the other actors, so I did have to slow down the speed on Kane’s chapters but that wasn’t a huge biggie for me!


Notable tropes & themes —

🏒 Hockey Romance
🥅 Why Choose
🏒 Dark Academia
🥅 Trauma Bonding
🏒 Multicultural
🥅 Enemies to Lovers
🏒 Bully-ish
🥅 University setting
🏒 Big Conspiracy/Elite 1% coverup


I received the ALC from Hachette Audio & an early proof copy of On Thin Ice from Forever as an opportunity to read and give honest review.

[Kaitlyn Renee (kosmickait) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited for a POC hockey romance. But I’m mostly disappointed. I never wanted to DNF a book sooooo late into it.

all these trigger warnings thrown in for what? Shock factor?
I was soooo invested and then at 90% shit got wack for no reason.


Spoilers:
She recognizes her half sister as her sister but is in a polyamorous relationship with two guys who are half brothers?? Nah.
The whole ending was rushed and felt so random.
A sex cult? Hello?

Had to skip the whole poly sex scene because I just couldn’t deal with the fact that two guys who know they’re brothers are participating, hard pass

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this read 3 stars. It was a fun and spicy read BUT there are two reasons it didn’t score higher for me. One is the FMC was only 19. For how smutty this book was though 19 is legal age it was a bit cringe so I kept thinking of them in their 20’s to get past the ick factor for me. Second is I felt the story didn’t flow easily. Usually it follows a pattern of there’s a problem, solution and aftermath. A lot of the times throughout the story it felt like it kept skipping over the middle so there would be a problem and then I’m reading about the aftermath of it all. I’m left thinking what happened inbetween. Overall the story was entertaining.

[Chelsea fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/4 ⭐️

I have always been and always will be such a why choose girlie! I also love dark academia and sports romance so it’s safe to say I couldn’t wait to start this!

I enjoyed the mystery aspect of this book, it definitely kept me listening in order to find out how the story would unfold! I honestly thought this book would end up being a series with that ending! I wasn’t expecting the epilogue but was pleasantly surprised when it wrapped up the book as whole. I did feel like the ending could have been spread out a little more but I still really enjoyed the book!

The narrators did an amazing job! I love that it was a multi-actor narration!

[Nootka Lenoir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hockey YESSSS
Multiple men HELLS TO THE YESSS
Dark suspense and some mystery at the school? SIGN ME UP

I was so so sorry excited to start this one and I did enjoy myself while listening to the ALC I received through netgalley.
Did I scream WHERE IS MY GROUPSCENE for about the entire book? Well yes. This was an unexpected slow burn for me.
But in the end the fireworks were there.

I felt at points the story itself was rushed, and not in the pace but more that it felt certain parts that would’ve been important were crossed out. A bomb dropped or it felt like something important was happening and we went forward a couple days and it was not mentioned again.

In the epilogue a little fell into place and that really tied it nicely together.
But there were also parts in the book that I was like is this really necessary for the story or could it have stand without it.

I received and ALC from netgalley.
And even though in the beginning I had to get used to some of the narrator’s in the end I enjoyed the voices.
One of the male narrators talked really fast and I clocked in on his breathing. That’s nothing against him but it stuck with me and it take me away from the story.

I also wished this was a cast narration.
Now the female chapters, the female narrator did also the male voices.
And in the male chapters the male did the female voices.
It didn’t take away from my listening and the story.
But if the narrators do their own voices in all the chapters it would enhance the listening experience.

Overall still a really good story.
And I did love the writing style, i will definitely check out this author in the future!

[Marissa.Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️ this was a funny read, I loved the mystery aspect, and it was fast paced.

When I received this I was so excited, it checked off every single one of my favorite tropes. Bully romance, why choose, dark academia, enemies to lovers, secrets etc. I don’t usually find myself saying this but I wish this was a duet. The relationships needed more time, rather than enemies it was more hate to love, and the ending felt incredibly rushed. I wanted more of their relationship dynamics because they all didn’t really come together until the very end. The bully aspect didn’t really come from the MMCs it was more from outsiders, and idk what this says about me but I love a mean MMC and none of them truly gave that. I did immersive read this with the audiobook though and the narrators did a phenomenal job, and the diversity both with the narrators and the characters in the book was phenomenal! Overall I had a great time reading this, I just wanted more.

Thank you so much to Read Forever for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

[TJ *Book Twins Reviews* · Rating 4 out of 5]

My very first standalone why choose romance!

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝:

On Thin Ice features a diverse cast of characters. I 🩵 Brayden so bad!
This was my very first standalone reverse harem and ate this bad boy up!
The twists, turns, and shocking revelations had your girl reeling. Definitely here for all the wild happenings.
The guys each have a distinct personality and love language. It was great to see how the group came together to provide one another some much needed love and support.
The surprise at the end rocked me! I love a great moment where the reader is caught unaware while reading a rom-suspense. Kudos to the author.
Oh and it’s smexilcious!

I recommend this spicy sports romance to readers who love: Why Choose romance, Hockey romance, and Romantic suspense.

[Melanie (words.aremagic) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really liking this book, it had great story set up and characters. Between the hockey and secrets there was lots going on to keep me invested. Then the story expanded even more in the last hundred pages and so much was going on I figured there must be a sequel. Surprisingly everything was wrapped up in the last 10 pages or so, which felt incredibly rushed and made me really not a fan of the book. Such a good story to then have basically no ending, but an epilogue that sort of explains it all. It felt like a disservice to the characters and all the story that built up throughout the book. I wanted more.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all huuuuuge congrats to Sade on her first trad deal! So proud of you queen! And what an amazing trad debut too. Sam, Mountain, Alex, and Everest were so amazing, all perfectly flawed and felt so real. And I called it, I knew Alex was gonna be my favorite lol. I love that they all had their deep and complicated backstories and girl the plot twists wowwww. It’s crazy how everything was tied together. And don’t get me started on the way these men be yearning good lord.

.
.
.

Thank you to Sade and Forever for the arc copy!

[Steph's Romance Book Talk · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars / 3.5 Fans

This felt more college/dark academia than romantic why choose. Did both of these things happen? Yes; however, the romance was super slow burn to inferno. And the suspense was rushed at the end. I wish the suspense had been drawn out to maybe a duology instead of a standalone book. Overall, I did enjoy the twists and turns. I also respected the why choose aspect over most because of the actual connection between all involved im the relationship.

Major congratulations to Sade Rena for this traditionally published book and hoping for many more.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this angsty, dark hockey romance!! Definitely check trigger warnings - these characters have got some tough things going on. Sam can't choose which hockey player she wants so why not have them all. There's mystery and surprises that add to the storyThe spice is excellent!! The ending wrapped up a little quickly but did tie up loose ends. Will definitely be checking out more of Sade Rena's books! Thanks to Forever publishing for a copy of this book!!

[Reggie 💋 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every second of On Thin Ice!! The pacing was perfect. The way Sam develops each relationship with the boys… chefs kiss. Mountain, Alexander, and Kane all bring different things to the table for Sam but all things together level her out. The suspense! I didn’t want to put this down. I look forward to reading more from this author. Thank you to S. Rena and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Chelsea (thatbookishteach) · Rating 4 out of 5]

OTI is a why choose dark hockey romance. Sam loses her mother, and gets mysteriously accepted in to Sovereign Kings University. After she (rightfully) injures one of the star players, Sam is forced to work for the schools elite hockey team where she meets Alex, Mountain (the goalie), and she remeets her former childhood friend, Kane. There is definitely an enemies to lovers aspect here after two of the 3 guys hate her guts for their own selfish reasons, but by the end they are all head over heels for Sam, as she is for them. There is some spice, but not a ton. There is a lot of talk in reference to mental health, mentions of suicide, and mentions of sexual assault in this so please take care of your own mental health. There are a lot of deep secrets in this one that Sam works her ass off to get to the bottom of. There's plenty of drama, heat, secrets and more in this one and I found it enjoyable. There are different narrators for all 4 main characters which helped make for a great audiobook! I'm glad I did this one via audio!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Pucking Wrong Number meets Pucking Around? I am here for it. This book… did not quite hit the mark. I love a good hockey romance. I even enjoy a cheesy hockey romance. While this one did include hockey and romance, there were aspects of it that lost me along the way.

I really enjoyed how the MCs all had POV chapters, giving the reader insight into who they are outside of the larger group. I think this is valuable to the story and really helped me understand their motivations. Ultimately, this is a story about the FMC, but with three MMCs, it was nice to see some of the scenarios through their eyes. There were some good mysterious aspects to this story and viewing it through different POVs also gave the reader a chance to piece the larger picture together from the clues given.

There were points where it felt like there was twist after twist being revealed. Creating a story in this way did feel like it sacrificed some of the character and plot development that would add depth to this book. Some of the areas where things didn’t quite add up made it hard to fully immerse myself and care about these characters. In the beginning, the FMC moves to a school, and it is very dramatic, with her saying goodbye to her best friend and her little brother, not knowing when she will see them again. Friends, she moved to the other side of town, which was twenty minutes away. Throughout the book, this was part of the FMC’s sad tale, that she couldn’t see her brother or friend, but it was never explained why. Assuming her BFF was a similar age, there are many ways to navigate 20 minutes across town for even a brief hangout or meet in the middle so it’s 10 minutes for each person.

This is just an example of how some of the logic felt flawed in this story. Situations that had simple solutions were made to seem much larger than they needed to be for dramatic effect. Aside from its flawed nature, the story was entertaining, and I appreciated how it was wrapped up in the end. One thing I appreciate about why choose romances is that there doesn’t need to be a lot of page time dedicated to figuring out “the one,” and instead it can recognize what each partner brings to the table and remove the viewpoint that there is only one way to be in a relationship.

This is an intriguing, yet flawed story. It is a good pick for readers who enjoy why choose hockey romances and are willing to overlook some gaps in logic in favor of drama and multiple romantic dynamics. There are entertaining moments, and the multi-POV structure does add something to the reading experience, especially if you like seeing how different characters interpret the same events. Unfortunately for me, the inconsistencies kept pulling me out of the story, and I couldn’t quite get past why a 20-minute commute was such a roadblock in maintaining relationships with friends and family “back home.”

Thank you to S. Rena, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this eBook, which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

[storieswithlizzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and the author for an advanced audio copy for my honest review.

19-year-old Sam Collins gets a mysterious acceptance to Sovereign Kings University, and from the moment she arrives, it’s clear something bigger is at play. Not only does she come face-to-face with someone from her past,Everest Kane, her former crush and friend but she’s also required to work with the hockey team, which introduces her to Alex Williamsburg and Bryden “Mountain” Montour. Sam isn’t here for romance, her main focus is figuring out why she was accepted in a full ride and graduating so she can gain custody of her younger brother but things quickly become complicated.

What starts as tension-filled interactions evolves into a why choose romance with a suspenseful edge. Alex is caught between lust and loathing, Mountain is drawn to her but resistant, and Everest brings history into the mix. I really enjoyed that the relationships didn’t feel instant. That. there was push and pull, and Sam held her ground rather than immediately falling for any of them.

I experienced this on audiobook, and it truly elevated the story. Blaire Le Blanc, Winston James, E.M. Wylde, and Edward Black all delivered strong performances, bringing clear emotion to each character. You could feel the anger, angst, tension, and steam in a way that made the experience even more immersive.

This was my first time reading this author, and I really enjoyed the character development and banter she created. The mix of hockey romance, darker elements, multicultural representation, and underlying secrets kept me engaged and wanting to know more.

My only note would be the pacing it felt a bit uneven at times, with some sections moving slower and others speeding up quickly. A more consistent flow might have made the story feel even stronger overall.

If you’re looking for a hockey romance with darker vibes, why choose dynamics, and twists that keep you guessing, this is definitely one to check out.

[mars · Rating 3 out of 5]

most of the time for a dark smutty romance book i can look past the bad writing and the cringe and enjoy it for what it is - a fun time - but this was some wattpad ass writing. at least the main character wasn’t annoying, i really liked her. i’m not sure if the author introduced the guys as manwhores purely for character development purposes, but all the scenes where they objectify and sexualise women were unbearable.

what i really didn’t like was that every time it felt like we were getting somewhere good, the chapter would end, and suddenly it’s tomorrow and i’ve been robbed of that satisfaction of a major plot point being discussed or of a development in her relationship with someone. because then she ends up just recapping what happened in between the chapters and that’s less satisfying than actually reading this development in live time.

i couldn’t really wrap my head around the whole secret society thing from the last like 20% but maybe that’s just a me problem. i felt like i needed a stronger build up to this subplot.

what i did like? i did really like sam, and bryden was very sweet. ive never read a romance before with Native representation so i liked that it was a diverse romance! the drama with kane’s family was interesting. though alex was the biggest of the manwhores at first, he seemed to be the most obsessed and down bad of the boys for sam and had quite the mouth on him which i liked 🤤

also, i’m not a sports romance person at all like i think this may be one of, if not the, first sports romance i’ve read. what piqued my interest was that it was a why choose sports romance and i was expecting lots of tension and obsession. so i really liked the scene where sam is wearing alex’s jersey and that guy from the opposing team was trying to rile up alex talking about sam and he shows just how much she’s under his skin and he’s obsessed with her aghhhh

overall it was a fine read i just couldn’t vibe with the writing and some plot points and i was left wanting more for so many things that happened.

[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.

[Rachel Marek · Rating 4 out of 5]

On Thin Ice by S. Rena was a thrilling why choose hockey romance. Sam Collins arrives at Sovereign King’s University after receiving notice that she's been offered a full scholarship. Determined to succeed at the university in order to help get custody of her brother, Sam needs to work hard and get through the next few years without trouble. However, things immediately do not go the way she wanted them to. Sam is eventually thrown into the role of hockey team equipment manager in order to pay penance for busting the knee of a player. Through school and being equipment manager, Sam grows close to not one, not two, but THREE players!!! They each help Sam figure out a campus mystery and things also start to heat up between them all.

I really enjoyed On Thin Ice!! The romance was hot and steamy, while also very sweet at times. I loved the different relationships between Sam and Kane, Mountain, and Alex. It was great to see their relationships grow and trust begin to form between Sam and each of the guys! This is definitely delivers on the why choose!

Blaire Le Blanc, Winston James, E.M. Wylde, and Edward Black did wonderful jobs with the narration. This audiobook is in a dual POV style and each narrator was for a different POV. Each narrator did a great job narrating the different characters. It was easy to be able to know who's POV the listener was in and the various characters.

I would recommend this book/audiobook to anyone who enjoys dark romance, likes hockey/sports romances, and likes group activities!

This romance novel definitely topics some tough subjects so make sure to review the trigger/content warnings and take care of yourself and mental health first before reading!

Thank you to Forever and Hachette Audio for the gifted eARC and ALC to review! This review reflects my own opinions.

[KaleidoscopeLaiReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

NetGalley Audiobook Review 🎧
3.75

Let’s start with the narrators. I did like having the different POVs — it helped keep things a little more interesting and the voice actors did a solid job giving each character their own vibe. Nothing over the top, but it worked.

That said… this probably would’ve been better in duet narration. There are a lot of POVs and voices, and having the same person do all the dialogue got confusing at times. I kept having to double check who was actually speaking, which kinda pulled me out of it.

Now into the story…

We follow Samantha during her first semester of college, trying to get her life together so she can eventually get custody of her baby brother. It’s a good setup, but things start moving messy pretty quick.

Then we’ve got Alexander — golden boy captain, very much runs the show. Kane, the tall, dark, always pissed-off defenseman who seems to have a personal issue with Samantha for no reason. And then Mountain, the quiet goalie who barely acknowledges her… which somehow feels worse than the others.

The dynamics are messy (like… messy messy), but I’m not even gonna lie — Mountain and Sam?? 🥵 Yeah… that’s the one thing that had me leaning in a little more.

The tension overall felt kinda mid for me. I wasn’t super locked in and kept waiting for things to pick up a bit more. It’s readable, just slower than I wanted and didn’t fully grab me.

Overall, it’s not bad — just not one that had me hooked.

[Amanda | escapetoerilea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Forever for entrusting me with an early copy!
On Thin Ice by Sade Rena
Ice Kings book 1

Dark academia x spicy hockey romance
Multiple POV, why choose (MFMM), mental health rep, found family, forced proximity, rich hockey players who are kings of campus, outcast FMC, diverse characters, complicated families, hate to love x3, traumatic past, so many secrets, discovering corruption, she tutors him, mystery, she wears his jersey
Please check the content warnings, they include SA

Sam was just trying to get out of her house, so now that she is at Sovereign Kings University she needs to keep her head down and graduate. Too bad one of the star hockey players tries to drug and attack her which ends in her breaking his knee. While the school decides he has been punished enough by her running his hockey career (barf but realistic), they punish her for attacking him by making her work for the hockey team. Who are upset with her for attacking their player because they don't know the whole story. As Sam ends up spending time with several of the guys for various reasons, she fights attraction to them. But when she starts looking into a mystery and dragging them with her, a dark past is taking shape.

This book was just what I needed after a slew of amazing but heart wrecking romantasy books! We have angst and hate to love x 3 (yay!) and academia setting forced proximity for the win! I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters and watch each pairing begrudgingly fall, but then being all in! This says book 1 of series so will be interested to see what the next book is about since this one felt pretty wrapped up. I'll be watching for it though!

[Ashlyn Tickle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Hachette Audio for the ALC through Netgalley! This does not affect my honest review.

Such a diverse crew in this book!! That immediately drew me in on top of the hockey romance and why choose tropes. I absolutely adored Sam, she has not had it easy but is still such a strong character. I loved that she took care of her brother and did everything she could to help him or with him in her mind. On top of this she had to fight her way to the top at school as she was not having the best luck with friends at first…

That brings me to the boys who were quite redeeming by the end even if they had been a bit of bullies. I liked how each of their personalities were distinct from one another and therefore brought different desirable qualities to the table.

This definitely felt more like a romantic suspense and had me on the edge of my seat for the majority of this book! I was dying to know what was about to happen especially with the mystery of the past needing to be revealed.

Definitely interested to see where this story goes next as it wrapped up pretty nicely at the end of this book.

[Ana | Nothingleftunread · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Hockey, rich college kids, mystery, why choose, all components I cannot resist. This was a slow burn why choose which allowed us to develop relationships with each of the characters. I really enjoyed how Sam (FMC) stood up for herself and the suspense to find the truth along the way.

I enjoyed this book and here's why:
🏒 Mountain (he was my favorite)
🏒Alex, I love a misunderstood rich kid
🏒Sam standing up for herself and not letting herself be silenced
🏒Hockey moments, sometimes in romance, we don't get to read actual hockey
🏒Representation, I loved it
🏒Narration was excellent, each narrator embodied the characters so well helping us through the development of their relationship with Sam and finding out truths.

The ending did catch me off guard as I did not realize it was a standalone. I also wish we got to see a bit more of Kane and Sam's relationship as I felt the least connected to their relationship.

Thank you to S Rena, Forever and Hachette Audio for this ALC.

[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.

[Kyle Modschiedler · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5! Ughhhhhh I’m frustrated with this one tbh. This book had so much potential and it didn’t stick the landing. Don’t get me wrong I truly was having a great time with this book most of the time. I mean you had suspenseful romance, mystery, good characters and for the most part good plot! My issue is that towards the last 100 pages or so there were so many elements that were introduced (they were great) and the whole time you are reading you are kind of under the assumption that this was going to be a series or duet type of thing and it’s not. There were so many things that were introduced so late in the game that there wasn’t enough time to finish them properly and it felt so rushed! These book had the ability to be an incredible duet and I needed more! I would still recommend this book but be prepared to be left wanting more