The Flame in the Frost : A Dark Epic Fantasy Romance

by Olivia Boothe

When a cursed Winter Prince and a royal guard with a forgotten bloodline are bound by an ancient prophecy, they become the only ones who can stop a rising enemy—if their forbidden love doesn’t destroy them first.

They tried to silence their bond, but the gods had already sung their fate into the heavens.

In the frostbitten kingdom of Skadgard, Sylvanna Isenwulf has finally claimed her mantle as Captain of the Guard, but her loyalty to the crown is tested when Prince Jökullson “Jack” Drakmyr—her best friend and heir to the Frostbound throne—is forced into an arranged betrothal with a princess he’s never met and an alliance that could ignite war across the northern realms.

Ordered to accompany Jack on a dangerous envoy through the cursed Wildlands, Sylvanna is thrust into a perilous journey filled with ancient magic and deadly creatures. But it is another kind of danger that threatens to unravel their friendship...

Bound by an invisible tether that has pulled at their hearts since childhood, Sylvanna and Jack must not only confront their deepest secrets and darkest desires but choose between the love consuming them at their core or the duty binding them to their kingdom.

And when a ruthless enemy rises, threatening to tear Sylvanna and Jack apart, The Frost Prince must decide to either honor the crown that has caged him his whole life or unleash the deadly monster dormant in his veins—a winter storm fiercer than anything Skadgard has ever faced.

Enough to topple kingdoms. Enough to shatter fate.

The Flame in the Frost is a Norse-inspired Friends to Lovers Jack Frost reimagining romantasy intended for readers 18+. Reader discretion is advised.

Genres: Romance, Fantasy

Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 30, 2026

About the author

REAL LOVE AS IT IS. MESSY. COMPLICATED. AND SINFULLY ADDICTIVE.

Olivia Boothe has always been drawn to stories that blur the line between devotion and destruction. She writes emotionally charged romance infused with dark fantasy, magic, and high-stakes desire—where love is never simple, heroes are beautifully flawed, and passion can be as dangerous as it is intoxicating.

Her novels are known for their deep, layered plots and slow-burn intensity, because for Olivia, romance isn’t about the first kiss or the happily ever after—it’s about everything that happens in between: the longing, the sacrifice, and the moments that change you forever.

When she isn’t writing, Olivia can be found devouring books across every genre, binge-watching her latest TV obsession, or hosting Tuesday-night wine and junk-TV therapy with her girlfriends. She lives in Northern New Jersey with her husband, three sons, and her mini Aussie writing companion, Rosie.

Reviews

[Bookishness]

Received an ARC copy… a Jack Frost retelling!! A dark romantasy with a slow burn that tortures, forbidden love, intense yearning, and a badass FMC—see a pattern here?? These are my absolute weakness!

[BookishKB]

❄️ 💙The Flame in the Frost💙 ❄️

A Norse-inspired dark fantasy romance

📖 Bookish Thoughts
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.

🔥 What to Expect
• Friends to lovers
• Cursed prince
• Captain of the guard FMC
• Forbidden love
• Arranged marriage
• Norse inspired world
• Magic and deadly creatures
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: June 30, 2026
📝 Thank you to Three Brothers Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for my early copy of A Flame in the Frost. When I started this, I thought it would just be a cozy Jack Frost retelling, but it ended up being so much more. The world building and plot were so complex and rich. I didn’t want to put this book down. This book made me realize that I love friends to lovers as much as I love enemies to lovers. The tension and yearning were top notch and I loved these characters. I’m really excited for the continuation of Sylvi and Jack’s story.

[⊹₊⟡⋆Mandy Darling⊹₊⟡⋆]

🚨 OMG a Jack Frost-inspired fantasy romance!!! 🚨

[Ash Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

You guy's aren't ready for this book - unputdownable!

ARC Review

A Flame in the Frost
Olivia Boothe | June 30th, 2026

The Perfect First Book & beginning to an epic Trilogy.
A Norse-mythology inspired romantasy with a Jack Frost retelling that will make you pant, cry and potentially angry at Sylvanna and Jack's antics.

Vibe Rating: 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Writing Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️


Reading Experience:
- Dual First Person POV, fast pace with a character driven plot.
- Medium burn romance with explicit open door scenes.
- Realms with Portals, Elemental Magic, Shifters, Fae, Witches and other mythical creatures

For lovers of: A Bridge Kingdom, Road of Bones, Direbound

Tropes
🎭 Strong FMC — Captain of the Guard
🎭 Political Intrigue and Subterfuge
🎭 Feminine Rage
🎭 Forbidden Romance
🎭 Friends to Lovers
🎭 Suppression of Power
🎭 Touch Her and Die

⚠️ Trigger Warning: Explicit Sexual Content and Violence. Themes of non-consent are present without full conclusion.

In the mythical northern plane of Nordveld, we find ourselves bound to Sylvanna, Captain of Skadgard and Jack, dutiful Prince and Heir to the Frostbound Court. Nordveld sits on the edge of war and at its centre, The Ice Queen herself and ruler of Skadgard and the Frostbound Court is pulling all the strings. Slyvanna and Jack are torn by duty and their devotion to each other. Their life long friendship is put to the test as they discovery the hidden truths within Skadgard and each other. Can their friendship and the realm survive the longing they have for each other?

Where it shines: Where this book truly shines is in the tension Boothe builds between two people who have known each other too long to pretend. The friendship-to-romance slow burn is executed with real skill — every charged moment feels earned rather than forced. The banter is sharp and genuinely fun, the kind that makes you grin and then immediately feel stressed for them. And Jack's POV was a particular highlight — getting inside his head added a layer of complexity to what could have easily been a brooding love interest, and instead made him one of the more compelling male leads I've read in a while.

Where it fell short: There was a lot of internal monologue which can be translated as telling and not showing. However it was truly an excellent story and first book and I cannot wait for book two. A map would also be spectacular.

A Flame in the Frost is a confident, addictive series opener that romantasy readers will devour — especially if you love a friends-to-lovers slow burn wrapped in mythology and chaos. I'll be first in line for book two.
Thank you to NetGalley and Olivia Boothe for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Deirdre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an eARC from the author via Book Sirens. This is my honest review!

- ✌🏻dual POV
- ❤️ best friends to lovers
- ❄️ Jack Frost coded MMC
- 🖤 strong, intelligent MFC
- 🎅🏼Christmas realm with King Santa Claus
- ‼️political unrest
- 🙌 they can APOLOGIZE to each other
- 🥶touch her = he will freeze & unalive them
- 💕 romance focused with strong side plot
- ♾️ fated mates
- 🗣️ they both talk dirty 😉

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The ending was a huge cliffhanger and I am looking forward to book 2! I have a few critiques. Therefore, I am rating this book 4.5 stars, rounding up to 5 for Goodreads.

Alright, first, I loved the author’s opening message to the reader. “To every girl who has ever fallen for her best friend… go on. Kiss the boy. I did.” So cute and I just absolutely loved it.

I thought the book started in a very unique way, focusing on the Frost Queen and her people immediately after this queen failed to invade another land, having retreated back home. Usually, books are taken from the perspective of the winner of a battle or invasion. Therefore, to have a change up on whose perspective we were getting was refreshing!

We were told about this brutal loss by the Frost Queen and then shown that her son, the MMC, had been missing for a week. He came home all shady, hiding information from his mother and the MFC (his best friend). We were then given the rational for why the MMC was keeping secrets from the MFC, and this rationale was very strong. As I’ve mentioned in other reviews, I hate when we have one person keeping secrets and the rational is quite silly and not strong. Here, the author took time to show us the MMC’s POV and reasoning, making complete sense. This secretive behavior really had me hooked to keep reading.

Overall, the primary storyline of this book was the romance. There was a strong plot that was politically focused; yet, that definitely took a back seat in comparison to the romance. The politics of this book were nothing shocking and ones that are common in other books, but still interesting! There was strong character growth by both MCs and there were several action scenes throughout. Also, there was a lot of mystery and I had so many questions throughout, all of which helped me stay hooked into this book. As the book progressed, questions started to get answered and we learned more. We also started to find out that things shown to us earlier in the book played a huge role in everything. Some of the surprises were obvious, whereas others were not. I really enjoy being right about seeing certain things coming (makes me feel smart), while also being surprised and not expecting other things to occur (keeps me on my toes).

The pacing ebbed and flowed; slowing to focus on relationships and/or character growth, and other times picking up speed to propel the plot forward. This book had really strong antagonists, they were everywhere and really drove the political plot. I loved to hate them! The MMC’s mom, this uncle fae King, the fae King’s granddaughter, and Fenrik (f**k this guy!) are just some bigger examples.

Something I appreciated that, although the MMC and MFC did not tell each other everything, they had a policy of being honest with each other. The MFC immediately told MMC when his cold mother had threatened her and given her some information that was not good. The MFC could’ve hidden that information, but she did not. It was so nice to have MC’s that communicated more than not! ❤️ Also, THEY BOTH APOLOGIZED TO EACH OTHER, OFTEN, this was fantastic! ❤️ I’ve been saying I wanted some more mature MC‘s who could communicate and own their behavior/mistakes. There are only a few books where I feel like authors actually have this and this is one of them!

Now, of course, the MFC and MMC both made mistakes, had their flaws, did not communicate perfectly, and we’re messy, but at the exact same time they stood up for themselves, set boundaries, protected and were loyal to each other, and wanted to do what was right. They both were not constantly ignorant nor arrogant, and were intelligent and thoughtful. We really had strong MCs. More about this: they both did not take much bull crap from anyone, including each other. They really challenged each other, especially the MFC challenging the MMC to stop being so stupid sometimes. Although the MFC could be intimidated by power at times (as anyone would), she stood up for herself much of the time, including in front of a king when she had the MMC backing her. She was intelligent and would not mouth off in front of a king that could kill her, but when she had the MMC there to protect her, she felt safe enough to share her opinion and knew her powerful man would agree with her. I really liked her. I also loved the MMC, especially his willingness to support the MFC by not intervening and letting her stand her own ground in such a sexist world.

The author really prolonged the full love connection/bond between the MCs. There was so much tension throughout the book! Right when you think things were going to move forward, they either did just a tiny bit and then regressed, or they just did not. The author did a great job with keeping me hooked. So much tension!

I noted that, at 38%, 😱WOW… so many emotions. The author did an EXCELLENT job provoking so much within me. This scene was descriptive, harsh, shocking, and hard to read. Although this was sooooo brutal, I understood why the author wrote this, it was such a pivotal moment for the MFC to start changing, questioning her ideals, and challenging her behavior.

Then, at 71%, I literally said out loud “oh boy.” 😮Couldn’t believe that princess said that about our MFC in front of the MMC.… Yikes. Although our MMC was incredibly stupid for pushing the MFC away, he was always trying to do his best for the good of the whole realm. Despite always thinking about the realm, the one thing/person he would say screw the realm for was our MFC. No matter what, he stood up for the MFC, even in front of this other king and princess. I appreciated that he was loyal to his core for the MFC, no matter what had happened between them or the decisions he/they had made. I LOVE when MCs (that are a good fit) are loyal to each other, no matter what. So, when this happened in the book, I was super happy. Then, after all of this, the MMC got on his knees and begged the MFC for forgiveness. It was delightful!

Overall, these were messy and complex characters who really had to challenge themselves to grow independently and together. For both MCs, at times, I was shaking my head, thinking what? At one point the MFC became passive-aggressive, which extremely irritated me. The MFC was not a passive-aggressive person; therefore, when she became that way I was frustrated. But, I paused and thought through how much she went through right before that, leading to me having a lot of empathy for her. AND, after her passive-aggressive behavior, she apologized to the MMC (YES!!) 🙌. Also, I wanted to shake the MMC, multiple times, for his self-loathing and related behavior. I just wanted him to get it together. Don’t worry, he does, and he also apologized (YES!!!!) 🙌. I believe the MCs made A LOT of progress and started to think for themselves, not what anyone else wanted them to do. The MMC and MFC both made the big choices they needed to make as a person to then give themselves fully to each other.

- Further, both MCs at times start to take on guilt for events/things that were not their fault. I understood why the author wrote that in, as it made the MCs more human and relatable to the reader. People in real life take on guilt for things that were not their fault. Therefore, to write that into the book made sense to connect to the reader. I also really appreciated that the author did not make this guilt central to the characters thoughts, as I find so many books stall a characters’ growth, suck up pages of internal dialogue that readers get bored with, and prevent the plot moving forward because of inappropriately assigned guilt. The author had the MC’s talk through their feelings of guilt early and often to prevent it from festering. Don’t get me wrong, guilt impacted the MC’s behavior, but that drove the plot forward. I did not feel bogged down by everything always being on the MC’s internal guilty thoughts. I really liked how the author approached and navigated guilt in this book.

A note I wanted to make: I LOVED that we had an MFC who was not shy sexually. She owned herself, what she wanted to receive, and what she wanted to give. She let the MMC take control at times, whereas other times she demanded control. They both gave and took with equal effort. She also was a DIRTY talker, just like the MMC. Most books in this genre only have the MMC being the one with the 🌶️ pillow talk, not this book. The MFC dished it right back and I was all for this female empowerment! Women have wants, needs, and ideas. Why are only the men the one’s written as communicating those things? Not here, and it was awesome. Overall, the balance between the two during intimacy was phenomenal and top tier, I have never seen it written so well!

I absolutely loved some of the side characters. My favorite was Ravin. He was stealthy, strong, loyal, and funny. I really enjoyed him and he added so much to the story. Then Helka, I also really loved her. She was the blunt communicator I love in every story. She was direct and called the MFC out for everything, I LOVED IT. Finally someone who was willing to just tell it as it was, no fluff, denial, and worrying about how the MFC would react. Essentially, she said, “this is what this is and stop lying to yourself.”

Another thing to note: The details of the world, magic system, and creatures were initially complex and I struggled to understand everything, but I understood enough to keep going. As the booked progressed, more and more was explained and I finally understood it all. I found the world, magic system, and creatures unique, nuanced, and really cool! THEN, I found a glossary at the end. Oops, I could have checked their earlier.

The ending was fantastic. Ended with so much happening, to everyone. Book 2 can really hit the ground running with that cliffhanger ending.

---------------------------------------------------------
As I mentioned, I really loved this book. Yet, I do have a few critiques.

Overall, this book was really creative and unique, yet some tropes readers have been getting really bored with because they are constantly used were huge in this book.

📕 First, readers are really getting bored with these specific tropes for the MCs:
- MMC that is all powerful, special, and the strongest, typically a prince.
- MFC initially is not powerful and typically more “basic,” but we find out she is SUPER powerful, extremely special, and “the one” who will save everyone. And, of course, this then means all the males want her.

Unfortunately, that is EXACTLY who the MC’s are in this book 😭😭

One trope readers are also getting really annoyed with is an overly stabby and sassy MFC, for no clear reason, even when it could get her killed. I will say that the author DID NOT use this trope in this book, and I am so happy about this! We had a much more well-rounded MFC, who had a blend of emotions and thoughts. At times, she made overly logical decisions, where’s other times she made overly emotional decisions, and other times she blended her emotions and logic to make choices. I really appreciated this more balanced and realistic female.

📕 Second, one trope that I don’t mind when used on occasion is when the MC’s are finally communicating and going to share a secret and/or their feelings, they get interrupted (e.g., someone knocking on the door, someone walking in, something big happening, like an explosion) so they have to wait to engage with each other at another time. However, I find that, when this trope is used over and over and over again in the same book/series to justify prolonging the secret/feelings from being told or an act being engaged in, it lacks creativity. It just gets super predictable and I roll my eyes and think “of course the author wrote this happening yet again.” I wish authors would find other ways to prolong things without recycling the same trope.

Unfortunately, this trope was constantly used in this book, I mean CONSTANTLY, all the way until the last few chapters. The amount of times the MCs were interrupted right when they were about to have a very critical conversation or do something really important. It was just so predictable. I wish the author would have picked an alternative and more creative way to prolong the MCs sharing things with each other.

📕 Third, the weird trope of having an MC that is intelligent, while also living in denial about everything. Everyone struggles to accept information at times, but its not usually denial about everything or every time new information is presented. This just does not make sense when someone is written as thoughtful, insightful, reflective, and mature. Again, I can understand denying or lying to oneself about something, but not everything. I get it. Authors write characters like this so that the character can have huge growth and it helps slow the plot down and/or create tension. However, I just don’t buy into the MC being that silly about everything.

This trope really exhausted me in this book. Here, the MFC denied EVERYTHING. The MMC gave her information about her possibly having power, but she denied it. Ok, fine I could see this one initially, but as she got more physical proof in her own body, she still just lived on denial island. Also, her brother presented her with evidence and she denied his point of view. She had a best friend she loved more than as a friend, which she also denied. The witch gave her more information, and of course, she denied it. The MFC just denied, denied, denied. Maybe if the author had not written such a strong MFC I would have believed this a bit more for the MFC, but the author did not do this. She wrote such a strong, mature MFC. Again, of course smart, insightful, thoughtful characters can deny information, but the level in which she denied information did not match well with who she was. So, to see the MFC lie to herself about everything, all the time, and have zero growth on this until near the end did not land well with me. I was hoping this MFC had more development and growth earlier, OR more open-mindedness, OR willingness to explore information, not just denial. I would have been much more interested in a blend of denial and willingness to explore.

📘 Ok, last critique. Something I find super annoying is when authors use the same phrases numerous times. I’m not talking about 5 to 10 times, I’m talking about over 30. Recently I noticed that authors are using the following obsessively and I don’t know why, “I shook my head” or “I shook my thoughts.” Unfortunately, the author used the word “ shook“ 52 times in this book, many of which were referring to shaking thoughts or their head. You read that right, 52 times! Yikes. Hopefully this author has an editor to edit this. This is the third book I read this year where “I shook my head” was used over 40 times.

[what.deci.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The moment I saw the Jack Frost retelling, I knew I had to review this book! ❄️

If you’re looking for
-best friends to lovers (eventually!😏)
-dual POV’s
-touch her and get ripped to shreds 🌶️
-endless yearning🤤
-very strong political bat & ball game going on
-fated mates✨
-shifter romance teased just a little 🐺
-a land of Christmas gone rogue 🧊
-strong communication between FMC & MMC (most of the time)
-strong baddie for a FMC 🥵

Then this is the book for you. Add it to your TBR girlies, and save the date
📆 June 30th, 2026❄️ (definitely should have been a Christmas release)

The story follows Sylvie, a lowly born common fae woman who just broke through the ranks to become Captain of the Guard following in her late fathers footsteps, and Jack, ice Prince and rightful ruler of the throne. Sylvie is bound by vows, and maybe a little bit of love, to protect Jack and his kingdom.

They grew up together after Sylvie not so accidentally wanders into a maze that traps everyone within it, and stumbles across the infamous ice Prince practicing his magic skills. The two become fast friends and the years roll by until now, both are in their prime, both are strong and fearless warriors of the Kingdom.
The yearning between the two had me kicking my feet and taking a break to sip some cold water. As the reader, we can absolutely see they are meant to be together. This tether inside them, calling to the other, only grows stronger with time until it’s yanking on them. They are MEANT to be, but forces beyond their control will do anything to hold them back, namely his mother. Cue the eye roll. The b*atch queen who has warmed her behind on the throne for way too long, who poisons an entire magical forest of trees in her quest for power. She throws the kingdom into uproar, turns friend into foe and has everyone looking for someone to blame. Unfortunately for Jack, that might be him.

With talk of dissent stirring, Sylvie follows a lead into a sketchy part of town, and in doing so, meets some less than unsavoury characters. Lucky for her, Jack arrives just in time (he totally wasn’t stalking her) to save the day. Or just rip everyone to shreds, same same.

Tensions within the kingdom and between each other reach an all time high when Jack’s mother decides that a union between kingdoms is in order and signs him up to a marriage of convenience. Or more power for her, whichever way you look at it.
Jack is duty bound to protect his kingdom, but does that mean it has to be at the sacrifice of his epic love?

After Jack is punished for his crimes against the men who sought to take all and more from Sylvie, the two and a group of friends and foe set out to meet the infamous Bride-to-Be (bridezilla) and bring her home to wed. Along the way, they encounter dangerous enemies, and even more dangerous truths. With tensions reaching an all time high, Jack has a choice to make. Do what he was born to do, or risk it all for the woman he can’t bring himself to admit he loves.

The book ends on a HUGE cliffhanger, after only just revealing some really big plot twists in the very final stages, and I found myself frustrated that I’ll have to wait a long time for the next one. But such is life with any good series, and I truly hope people enjoy reading this one. It was a really fun read, and I ate it up. The spice was beautifully done, the yearning was thoroughly satisfying, and the eventual confessions had a huge impact on my happiness and wellbeing.

Overall, I loved this book and finished it in a matter of hours. It had me on the edge of my seat out of suspense, and a smidgen of annoyance at times. With all books, I have a couple of probably niche critiques that don’t matter too much in the grand scheme, but in return for my ARC read I promise my full and thorough review.
As much as I love a bit of *I’m going to tell them how I feel, but wait, I’ve been interrupted* trope, it feels like it gets old pretty quick and can feel like it falls a bit flat. Another thing I do feel I have to mention, is that every single character in this book seems to do the little head shake when they are about to say something and decide against it. I started noticing it early on and thought it was just a coincidence, but as the book continued to progress it seemed to be a common thing in many conversations. It felt a bit overused and repetitive, and I found myself thinking that about what words or body language I’d use in place to convey those emotions instead of using the same thing over and over.
One other thing that frustrated me at the beginning, and probably only because I used to be a rider also, the author explains how the FMC urges the horse to go faster, but in the same sentence says she pulled on the reins. If you are pulling on the reins, you are slowing down (hopefully). If you are nudging the horse on and shifting your position in the saddle, you’re generally going to speed up. The two things felt like a contradiction of each other, but to anyone who doesn’t know their way around the horse, it’s easily overlooked.

There were also a few small grammar or spelling mistakes, but I’m sure they will be ironed out in the editing process.

All said and done, this was a solid 4/5 for me.
❄️❄️❄️❄️/5

As always, a huge thank you to NetGalley, publishers and author for the early access to the book in return for an honest review.

[B Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

I received an advanced copy of this from Netgalley.

A Jack Frost retelling about an ice prince and the captain of the guard who has been his best friend since they were 7 years old. Jack, a royal fae prince who is more interested in his scholarly pursuits than power but will unleash his inner beast for those he loves. Sylvi, a common fae who has worked her entire life for her newly appointed captain position.

I adore these two. A friends to lovers story always hits right. They were interrupted twice and I wanted to throw my kindle out of frustration but the payoff was so good. Their chemistry was undeniable. The yearning, the longing, the devotion to one another even before they crossed the lines of friendship, top tier. I had to put it down at one point because I was so heartbroken over their situation. Forces outside of their control are determined to keep them a part but there is no denying their pull towards each other.

This is just personal preference and I understand that it's a delicate balance but I wish there had been a little more build up before the story got going. It immediately jumped into the action and did the story building as part of the story and not at the beginning. Which I normally prefer but this time it could have benefited from some boring day of the life stuff to get a a good standing. I also wanted more out of the side characters. One was really developed but I felt that the others were a little lacking.

I really enjoyed this story and am looking forward to seeing more of this world.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had always known it, but tonight, tonight, she was luminous. Gods. She was brighter than all the stars burning over the Northern Realms. And that light would never be mine.

You looked at him like he was the sun, and you were desperate for his warmth.

Elskan mín. . . you've been mine since the day you first stepped into my maze.

A delicious, torturous ache that deepened with every breath until it bloomed into something wilder, something star-born and infinite, the kind of kiss that unmade worlds and rewrote them anew.

Looking at me not as a friend, not as a prince. . . but as if I were the first sunrise he'd ever seen after a thousand years of night.

But he built that wall between us, brick by brick. And I didn't know how to climb it anymore.

Elskan mín. . . My mark is not a brand that signals to others that you belong to me. It is not a claim of ownership. It's a surrender of my very being. A beacon that signals to others that I belong to you. Always have. Long before I even knew it. And long after I take my last breath.

There's no escaping this anymore. Every night I can't have you, I die a new death. I'm done struggling just to breathe. I need you, Sylvi. And not just as my friend. I want you as my lover. My partner. My equal.

I know I don't deserve you, Syl, but fuck. . . I'd trade my life for just one taste of your skin.

Gods, she was beautiful. So beautiful it hurt. And it did hurt, this love. It twisted in me like something monstrous, too big for my chest, too wild to be contained. Loving her was like carrying fire in my veins and ice in my bones at once. It consumed, devoured. And every ounce of devotion came laced with venom, with the terror of losing her.

Gods, Sylvi. Don't you know I love you? I love you with every fucking breath, every scar, every heartbeat. With every fiber of my soul. You are the marrow of my bones, the blood in my veins. And if you were to ever leave this world, my heart would stop beating the moment yours did.

I don't need a goddess Sylvi. . . Or fate to tell me you belong to me. You're mine. Only mine. Now. Forever. Even after my heart stops beating and long after the stars have fallen from the sky. . . I love you, elskan. That is my only truth. And nothing - no prophecy, no crown, no war - will ever take you away from me.

[Lorena · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded to a 5 because it’s just that good and my one issue is not a real issue.

minor spoilers ahead so read with caution

When I saw that Olivia had posted about ARCs of The Flame in the Frost, I immediately signed up because I really love the Christmas Prince and I knew this was an expansion of the world. I went in expecting a fun winter romantasy and somehow ended up completely obsessed and emotionally destroyed by the end of it. The worldbuilding was honestly one of my favorite parts. You can tell the author pulled a lot from norse mythology and lore, but it never feels like a history lesson or anything heavy it’s just woven into the world in a really cool way that makes everything feel real and ancient. The magic system and creatures were super interesting too and the setting felt so immersive. Like the creepy forest scenes and all the frost magic stuff had such a vibe.
Jack and Sylvi absolutely wrecked me. I usually read enemies-to-lovers so I didn’t expect a friends-to-lovers story to hit me this hard but the slow burn between them was torture in the best way. The whole will they / won’t they thing had me stressing the entire time because you can just feel how much they care about each other. Their history and friendship make everything feel really believable so like every little moment between them hits harder. Jack is just so perfect because he’s so noble but also can turn into such a beast whenever Sylvi’s safety is concerned and it’s like… yeah, such a red flag but that’s my vibe. And when the spice finally shows up… WOW. That beast shows up too but he’s also like vulnerable and stuff, specially when he grovels.... I was not expecting the heat level to be that high. genuinely some of the best spice I’ve read. I knew Olivia could write spice like no ones business but this was on a differen level. It was intense but also super emotional which made it even better. I think that forest scene will be forever ingrained in my brain.
I also really loved the side characters because they added so much personality to the story. Ravin totally surprised me because I didn’t expect to get attached to him but his humor and sarcasm were perfect for balancing out all the tension. And I loved that Sylvi actually makes female friends who feel like real friends. Sascha and Ingrid are great, but Astrid is such a badass and I really hope we get more of her in the next book. The magical creatures and monsters were awesome too. I knew there were dragons because of the cover but like the way they start hinting at them in this book was such a cool premise. You only get glimpse into the dragon lore but you can tell they’re going to be a big deal later. Which brings me to Jack because I have SO many theories about him now. I can’t tell if he’s secretly a dragon shifter or if it’s like a dragon spirit thing he can summon?? I have no idea but that ending absolutely destroyed me and now I need the next book immediately. Also that mysterious archer??? GAH!!!! What is going on?? Part of me is like please don’t turn this into a love triangle, but another part of me is like… I wouldn’t hate the drama because Jack would absolutely burn the world down over Sylvi. Or like plunge it into a infinit winter. And seeing a character ffrom Winning the Christmas Prince’s Heart pop up was such a fun surprise too. Also, can we talk about the wisp and the cabin!!! I was getting such Brave vibes. I feel like this is all going to be important later. I think the only thing I would’ve liked to have seen was some retribution or consequenses for the villains because OMG they way I want to rage at the Frost Queen and herf minions. Anyway I could keep going but I don’t want to spoil too much. this book had the perfect mix of fantasy, romance, tension, and chaos and I already can’t wait for book two.

hurry up Olivia!

[SelinaNoelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ein Buch, inspiriert von der nordischen Mythologie, über ein Reich aus Schnee und Frost, mit einer Eiskönigin, ihrem Sohn, und der Kommandantin der königlichen Wachen. Es gibt Fae, und Magie, und wunderschöne, winterliche Landschaften.
Sylvie und Jack, der Frostprinz, sind seit ihrer Kindheit beste Freunde. Er ist adlig. Sie ist eine normale, junge Frau, die sich in die Reihen der königlichen Wachen hochgearbeitet hat und nun endlich zur Kommandantin ernannt wurde. Die beiden verbindet eine enge Freundschaft - die vielleicht auch mehr werden könnte. Doch dann erhält Jack von seiner Mutter den Befehl, die Prinzessin eines benachtbarten Reichs zu heiraten, um eine politische Allianz zu sichern. Wird er es tun? Wird seine Freundschaft mit Sylvie das überleben?

In der Theorie klang das Buch wie eine Geschichte, die mir gefallen könnte. Doch leider habe ich schnell gemerkt, dass mich die Umsetzung nicht überzeugt. Es begann schon damit, dass man als Leser sehr abrupt in eine Storyline hineingeworfen wurde, die offensichtlich in einer Vorgeschichte ausführlich beschrieben wurde. Zwar sagt die Autorin zu Beginn, dass man ihre "Christmas Novella" nicht kennen muss, um dieses Buch zu verstehen, doch für jemanden wie mich, der sie tatsächlich nicht gelesen hat, gab es zu viele Lücken. Es wurde so viel angedeutet und auf einige Ereignisse hingedeutet, die in der Vorgeschichte passiert sind, dass ich mich immer wieder gefühlt habe, als würde mir etwas fehlen. Vor allem da der Konflikt der Novelle enorm viel Platz in diesem Buch eingenommen hat; es war der Auslöser für die meisten Konflikte, denen wir auch hier begegnen. Ich empfehle also jedem, der dieses Buch lesen will: fangt mit der Novelle an. Ich habe es nicht getan, und deshalb bin ich nie wirklich in die Geschichte reingekommen.

Ein weiteres Problem: die Charaktere. Sylvie und Jack fühlen sich an wie jedes andere Paar eines High Fantasy Buches. Sie ist ein normales Mädchen, vermutlich Anfang 20, und schon die oberste Kommandantin aller Wachen, weil sie offenbar sehr gut kämpfen kann und sehr strategisch denkt - wovon wir allerdings kaum etwas sehen. Sie begibt sich in unzählige dumme, leichtsinnige Situationen, aus denen sie dann wieder gerettet werden muss. Meist von Jack, der ein typischer "Alpha Male" ist. Er würde jeden töten, der Sylvie nur falsch anschaut, und verhält sich öfter wie instinktgesteuertes Tier als ein Kronprinz.

Als wir am Ende herausfinden, dass Sylvie vielleicht doch ... magischer ist als wir denken, war es für mich vorbei. Diese spezielle Storyline, dieser "Twist" hat die Welt für mich ein bisschen ruiniert. Ich werde nicht spoilern, aber für mich war das Konzept des Buches einfach nicht mehr stimmig. Die Geschichte endet mit einem Cliffhanger, aber es interessiert mich absolut gar nicht, was nun im zweiten Teil passieren wird.

Ich denke, dass es Fans von Büchern wie "Quicksilver" oder "When the Moon Hatched" gefallen könnte, aber für mich war es einfach etwas, über das schon zu viele Bücher geschrieben wurden.

2 Sterne.

Danke an NetGalley für den ARC dieses Buches.

[Emily-May · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first time reading a book by Olivia Boothe, and it was wonderful! Everything about her writing is perfection.

This is the kind of book where you feel with the characters, and the world is so wonderfully written you can picture it perfectly.

The romance is a slow burn with a hot medium dose of spice, but the whole book is filled with rich chemistry and sizzling looks. Dual point of view is used brilliantly to build the bond between the two main characters and keep the tension tight.

Sylvie is a fierce warrior of a FMC. She is strong and feisty but also balanced with vulnerability that makes you sympathize with her so much, even with the odd bad choice or two. She goes through a lot in this book, and I found myself at times pulling away from the book for a few minutes every now and then as I was so invested in her I didn't want her to have to go through what I knew would be coming (a sign of a great book).

Jack has exceptional depth to his character. His battle between duty and emotion left me wanting to scream in frustration sometimes. In many moments in this book, his devotion to Sylvie seems all talk and no trousers. He is not a flawless Prince; he is the opposite, and yet his POV helps you love his character despite this. You can understand his reasoning even when you don't always agree. Without this, I think Jack would have been much harder to like at times.

That being said, the one thing that bothered me about this book is ultimately Jack. Very early on, it is stated that Jack should be King and his mother is not truly meant to rule. It is quite obvious that Jack is not content with the way things are, and yet he never does anything to claim his rightful power. The reason why, in my opinion, is never really made clear. As the whole plot of the book would be null were his mother not in charge, I feel there needed to be a clearer, more compelling reason for this.

I am endlessly going to be impatient for book 2. The cliffhanger is devastating, and I was not ready to leave this world yet. I am definitely regretting putting myself through that torture! Fenrik's character has me very intrigued, and I can't wait to see where Jack and Sylvie end up next.

[bells · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5⭐️


A Jack Frost-inspired story? Yup, this book had me at hello. Immediate yes. No hesitation.

And to be fair, the premise is intriguing. The plot has potential, the concept is solid, but the beginning was a little slow. It took me a while to really sink into the story. But once it gets going, it does get better.

I actually loved the world-building. The fae world, the magic, the politics. It’s all very immersive and interesting. The political intrigue especially added that extra layer of tension that kept things engaging. It gave the story some weight.

But here’s where I struggled a bit. The characters. And this is tricky, because they’re not badly written. They do have depth. I can see the effort. I can see the layers. And yet, I couldn’t fully connect. I think part of it is that childhood-friends-to-lovers just isn’t my favorite trope. Like, yes, Sylvi and Jack growing up together is cute. The bond is there. The history is there. But maybe it’s just a preference thing for me. And there’s also this… unnameable thing. Like something is missing, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. The emotional connection just didn’t fully click for me, and that made it harder to stay completely immersed.

Now let’s talk about Jack. You are supposed to be a king-to-be. Where is the ambition??? I needed more drive. Especially with the whole situation surrounding his mother and the throne. I expected more urgency, more initiative. But it just wasn’t fully there. And that made his character feel a little underwhelming in moments where I wanted him to step up.

The plot itself, though, is genuinely interesting. The magic system works. The political elements are engaging. But I do wish there was a bit more build-up to really raise the stakes. I wanted things to feel just a little more intense. A little more high-risk.

Overall, this is an atmospheric, magical read with a strong concept and an engaging world. It just didn’t fully hit for me on an emotional level. But if you love childhood-friends-to-lovers, yearning, and a frosty fae setting with morally questionable politics? This might be right up your alley.


════════════════════════

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Yolanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since Rise of the Guardians introduced me to a certain icy troublemaker, I’ve had a soft spot for Jack Frost. Which is mildly ironic, considering I live in New England and spend half the year battling his real-life counterpart. And somehow, despite all that time in the cold, I had never read a Jack Frost retelling… until now.

And wow. The Flame in the Frost was absolutely worth the wait.

This is a Norse-inspired take on Jack Frost, layered with magic, curses, shapeshifters, fated mates, and political upheaval. It’s like a snowstorm of tropes: sharp, sweeping, and impossible to ignore.

The world-building? Incredible. Olivia Boothe introduces us to the Seven Northern Kingdoms, and even though we primarily explore just one in this installment, you can feel the vastness of the world waiting beyond the edges. It’s rich without being overwhelming, detailed without dragging, exactly what you want in a fantasy like this.

The writing pulled me in completely. I was deep in this story, so much so that having to stop reading for real-life responsibilities (rude, honestly) felt like being yanked out of another world mid-scene. The pacing is spot on, and the dual POV structure flows beautifully, with each perspective picking up right where the last left off. It creates this seamless, addictive rhythm that makes “just one more chapter” an outright lie.

And the characters, Jack and Sylvi. I loved them. Truly. But also, the emotional torment they endure?? I cannot. The constant interruptions, the obstacles, the sheer amount of suffering, it had me internally screaming more times than I can count. You get so invested in them that every setback feels personal.

And then… that ending.

WHAT. THE. ACTUAL. ****.

I’m still recovering. I don’t know how Olivia Boothe thought that ending was acceptable. The emotional damage? Astronomical. The audacity? Impressive. The need for the next book? Immediate and non-negotiable.

If you love icy magic, aching romance, and stories that will absolutely wreck you before leaving you begging for more, read this book. Just… maybe prepare yourself first.

[Cee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC copy through NetGalley, these are my honest thoughts.

3.5 Stars -- good but probably not the right book for me.

I’m going to preface this by saying these are purely my opinions based on what I like to read. I can very easily see a lot of people liking this far more than I did, if they enjoy a more romance heavy story. When I read Norse-inspired, I think I was hoping for more action (that's on me).

For me the ‘will they, won’t they’ felt more like a ‘when will they’ and a ‘can they just get it over with’ by the end but, again, that’s personal preference more than anything. But it did feel like the main plot of the book often had to wait for some dramatic scene between Jack (the MMC) and Sylvi (the FMC) to finish before it took its next step. Again, it’s by no means bad, it just felt tonally inconsistent to me.

Questions get raised at the start of the book, then barely get answered by the end (especially regarding Sylvi). I guess it’s because there’s clearly going to be a sequel. And, on that note... I wasn’t a massive fan of the cliffhanger ending.

Then there’s the characters. They were likeable enough, but it didn’t feel like the stakes were all that high? They’re already extremely close at the start and already have feelings, so there’s no real development beyond them needing to overcome what the plot throws at them. (Again, I don’t think most people will have issues with this -- I think this just maybe wasn’t the right book for me.)

The dual PoV did, however, irk me a little by the end. There’s a lot of repetition; we get a scene from Jack’s PoV, then the first page or so of Sylvi’s PoV is retelling what happened at the end of Jack’s chapter but from her perspective. In places it worked fine, in others it felt a little unnecessary.

But, overall, this was a fun read. The world was interesting, the intrigue kept me going, and it was well-written. I don’t know if I’ll go out of my way to read the next one but this is definitely a book that I can see a lot of people enjoying.

[Liis]

I am a simple woman, give me a book where the two love interests are pining for each other but keeping it a secret and leave me alone for a few days! Also, not gonna lie, the idea of going to war with Santa is hilarious; and truly not the main plot of this story, but it is important enough to be mentioned on multiple occasions.

The Flame in the Frost is a dual POV story centered around a friends-to-lovers forbidden romance between a prince and the captain of the guard. The story starts off fast and does not slow down till the very last page.
Our main characters, Sylvi and Jack, have been friends since childhood and when newly promoted captain of the guard Sylvi feels that Jack is keeping important secrets from her she is determined to figure out what he has been up to after the recent conflict between kingdoms. Jack however is focused on keeping Sylvi safe from his own scheming as well as trying to manage a betrothal to a princess he has never met. Neither of them can fight the undeniable pull toward each other which means they now have to make choices between love and duty.

Sylvi was the star of the story for me. The woman just wanted to do a good job and follow in his father's footsteps and the men (including Jack and her brother) just kept being in her way. There was a good balance between her competency and her age. I was afraid her promotion as the captain coming at a young age was a little much, but when the reasons were revealed coupled with the mistakes she made (if you can consider almost getting murdered a mistake) it made her rank more believable. Her struggle of giving in to the feelings for Jack and balancing her duty to the kingdom was a central theme throughout the book.

Jack. Jack….Jaaaaack. You were good, but you could have been great. I got some vibes. There were some serious moments where I was side-eying his character so much. He loves Sylvi, he wants to keep her safe, he is possessive of her (which we love in books!), and he is caring. But Jaaaaack. All I will say is when I got to the end of the book and found out that maybe, just a little bit, there is this tiny option of Not Jack it made me smile. I think Jack should be really concerned about book two.


Thank you Three Brothers Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Shannen Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flame in the frost is a Jack Frost -inspired dark fantasy romance!!

They tried to silence their bond, but the gods had already sung their fate into the heavens.

In the frostbitten kingdom of Skadgard, Sylvanna Isenwulf has finally claimed her mantle as Captain of the Guard, but her loyalty to the crown is tested when Prince Jökullson “Jack” Drakmyr—her best friend and heir to the Frostbound throne—is forced into an arranged betrothal with a princess he’s never met and an alliance that could ignite war across the northern realms.

Ordered to accompany Jack on a dangerous envoy through the cursed Wildlands, Sylvanna is thrust into a perilous journey filled with ancient magic and deadly creatures. But it is another kind of danger that threatens to unravel their friendship...


Once I got into this I could not put it down!
The friends to lovers in this…. The yearning! Eurgh it was 🤌🤌 had me kicking my feet so much! I love how jack was so so protective of her!
It’s deffo a slow burn but the pay off is so worth it!

The queen safe to say I have the worst kind of hate for this women, like hate!! The way she spoke to sylvi and the prince and tbh everyone! She’s the most Infuriating women 🫣🤣

I also really enjoyed the magic system and the way the story unfolds, revealing truths that does cause some questions! So you’re like okay I need to keep reading because what is happening!!!

But can I say the ending! WHAT what do you mean? Why 🫣🤣 I need to know more I need book 2 I reread the last couple of pages like x4 times like AHH!

So if you like-
✨Best friends to lovers
✨Yearning
✨Slow Burn
✨Cursed prince
✨Captain of the guard FMC
✨Arranged marriage
✨Norse inspired world
✨Magic and deadly creatures
✨Court intrigue

This is for you!! This releases on the 30/06!

✨So make sure you preorder ✨

[alexa ! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. GOSH. This book needs ACOTAR and Fourth Wing level praise and attention, it's a GOD-TIER BOOK!!! It's the definition of romantasy, I wouldn't trade it for ANYTHING.

If you like:

- Bestfriends to Lovers 💝
- Jack Frost Retelling ❄️
- Complex Political System 👩‍⚖️
- Touch her and you'll die 🗡️
- Fated Mates ♾️
- Hidden Magic 🪄
- YEARNING 🔥

Then this is the book for you! (seriously, go buy it)

Slyvi is the newly appointed Captain of the Guard. A lowly, common fae, who just so happens to be best friends with the crown prince. Jack Frost is the Winter Prince that Slyvi is sworn to protect. But Jack has secrets, and so does Slyvi, and there's this....tension brewing between them that none of them can really name.

Jack's upcoming arranged marriage to Princess Isolde of the Unseelie kingdom could ruin everything they've built together. Will they find a way out of the woods, or live in sorrow for the rest of their lives?

The book was some of the most immersive world-building I've ever seen, and the history intertwined isn't just thrown together; it actually made sense.

ALSO. A quote I ADORED:

"You and I--we are two halves of one whole. If that means we're bonded mates, then so be it. Because from the moment I saw you, that tether that vibrates between us has pulled me closer to you each day, feral and unforgiving. Alive with its own pulse."

I loved this book so much!! Thank you to Olivia Boothe for providing me with a free advanced review copy via BookSirens! I hope this book gets very popular, fingers crossed for an ARC of book 2!!!🤞

[Nancy (The Avid Reader)]

The Flame in the Frost is the first novel in the Northern Kingdoms Series by Olivia Boothe, serving as an excellent introduction to a new universe. From the beginning, The Flame in the Frost had me on the edge of my seat, wondering whether Jack and Sylvi would ever admit their feelings for each other, both to themselves and to those around them.

Jack’s mother appointed Sylvi as the Captain of the guards, a role she had dreamed of her whole life. The queen’s motive for promoting Sylvi to captain was to keep her close to Jack and persuade him to marry a princess he had yet to meet.

Although Jack and Sylvi are honest with each other most of the time, they tend to keep some secrets, mainly to protect each other, their families, and the kingdom. The queen has her own secrets that could lead to conflict. What truths are they hiding? What are they afraid to reveal?

These questions and more motivated me to keep reading, eager to find out the answers that arose with each page. The intrigue and suspense added to the story’s appeal.

The world-building was done wonderfully, helping me visualize everything clearly, as if I were part of the story myself. I found it hard to turn the pages as fast as I wanted.

I didn’t want to stop reading, though there were times when my real world interrupted Jack and Sylvi’s, forcing me to put the book down for short breaks.

I can't wait to read the next book in the Northern Kingdoms Series to discover more about this realm and its characters.

I strongly recommend The Flame in the Frost to all fans of epic fantasy! Be sure to get your copy today!

[Keeley Ribchester · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found The Flame in the Frost to be an immersive, slow burning romantasy that completely pulled me into its frostbitten world and aching, heartfelt romance. To me this was a 4 star read, it was one of those stories that sneaks up on you emotionally and then refuses to let go.
From the very beginning, the Norse inspired setting felt rich and atmospheric, with icy landscapes, political tension, and a looming sense of fate threading through every page. The world building struck a lovely balance detailed enough to feel vivid without overwhelming the story.
The real standout here was the relationship between Jack and Sylvi. This is friends to lovers done right to me giving tension, history, and that quiet, devastating yearning. Watching their bond shift from loyalty to something deeper was both beautiful and frustrating in the best way. Wow the slow burn? Painfully good. The kind that has you internally screaming “JUST KISS ” while also never wanting the tension to end
It gave me strong ACOTAR and Fourth Wing vibes in terms of emotional intensity and romantic tension, but with its own icy, folklore inspired identity that sets it apart.
While the pacing dipped slightly in places, the emotional payoff and character depth made it more than worth it. By the end, I was completely invested in both the romance and the wider conflict and very ready for what comes next.
Overall, a beautifully written, emotionally charged romantasy with a romance that truly hurts so good. Definitely one to pick up if you love longing, loyalty, and love fighting against fate.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC this is a series I’ll absolutely be continuing!

[Melissa Givens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received Advance Copy from Netgalley

When I picked up this book, I had NO idea how great it was going to be! The story takes place in Nordveld, a magical realm made up of eight Norse-inspired kingdoms that exist parallel to Earth. It immediately pulls you into a world full of intrigue, magic, and high stakes.

The story begins with Prince Jack—also known as the Son of Ice—and Sylvi, his Captain of the Royal Guard and childhood best friend. Their bond is undeniable, and they are deeply in love, much to the frustration of his (in my opinion, very EVIL) mother, the Queen. Sylvi’s belief in peace and her altruistic heart make her vulnerable in a court that thrives on manipulation. When Jack returns from a mission, he discovers his mother has arranged his marriage to a princess from another kingdom. Torn between duty to his kingdom and his love for Sylvi, he’s sent to escort his future bride—setting off a journey that quickly spirals out of control.

From there, everything goes sideways in the best way. I felt every high and low alongside the characters—the frustration when things didn’t go as planned, and the excitement and relief when they did. It was such an emotional ride, and as a vibe reader, this book kept me completely hooked until the very last page.

I especially loved how the story kept introducing new plotlines and side quests. It’s packed with everything I enjoy: good vs. evil, complex relationships, adventure, battles, magical realms, and fascinating creatures. The twists made it feel like an unpredictable journey the entire way through.

I’m officially a huge fan and can’t wait to see where this adventure goes next!

[Denise Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review from NetGalley

The Flame in the Frost is one of those rare fantasy reads that fully immerses you from the very first page and never lets go. Olivia Boothe crafts a world that feels both magical and familiar, weaving in subtle but effective nods to Christmas lore and the myth of Jack Frost in a way that feels fresh rather than predictable.

The world-building is easily one of the strongest elements of the novel. Boothe creates a setting that is rich, atmospheric, and layered with meaning. The parallels to winter folklore, especially the reinterpretation of Jack Frost, add a nostalgic yet original twist that keeps the story engaging throughout.

What truly elevates the novel, though, is the emotional tension. The slow-burning yearning is executed perfectly—it builds naturally, never feeling forced, and makes it nearly impossible to put the book down. Every interaction carries weight, and that emotional pull keeps readers invested from beginning to end.

The relationships are another highlight. The dynamic between Jack, Sylvi, and Ravin adds depth and warmth to the story. Their friendship feels genuine and grounding amidst the magical elements, providing moments of connection that balance the tension beautifully.

Overall, this is a captivating, fast-paced fantasy with strong emotional beats, compelling relationships, and a uniquely crafted world. If you enjoy atmospheric fantasy with slow-burn tension and meaningful character bonds, The Flame in the Frost is absolutely worth the read.

[Mrs. G · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Norse inspired fairy tale, that holds Jack Frost as the main character. For those looking for more Norse knowledge, there is a Glossary in the back of the book (personally, I love when these are included).

Jack and Sylvie have been best friends since they were 7. Now they are adults and Sylvie is the captain of Prince Jack's royal guard. They both have duties that are pulling them in opposite places, yet they seem drawn together more and more every day - as if their souls are calling to one another. As the kingdom is on the brink of war, Prince Jack Frost must choose between his kingdom and his love.

Fans of ACOTAR and Throne of Glass will enjoy this series. The author creates a world that feels expansive, atmospheric, and endlessly fascinating to explore. The romance between the two main characters is devastating in the best way, full of longing, tension, and emotional moments that linger long after finishing.

I enjoyed this book overall, yet I did feel there could have been a little more depth to the characters beyond just their longing for each other. It's a good romance novel, but I want more adventure. I will read the next book hands down.

Trigger Warnings:
- Violence and battle scenes
- Dark magic and supernatural horror elements
- Emotional distress and trauma (attempted rape)
- Grief and loss
- Political manipulation and coercion
- Imprisonment / restraint
- Sexual tension and explicit sexual content


***NetGalley ARC Reader Review***

[Haylee Blevins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Flame in the Frost was such an enjoyable read and exactly the kind of fantasy I tend to get pulled into. The setting really stood out to me — the cold, unforgiving world isn’t just there for aesthetics, it actively shapes the tension and the characters’ decisions, which made everything feel more immersive and high-stakes.

What I appreciated most was the balance between the external conflict and the emotional depth of the characters. The relationships felt like they developed naturally over time rather than being rushed, which made the interactions and choices feel more meaningful as the story progressed. There’s a strong sense that both the environment and the emotional stakes are working together to drive the story forward, not competing for attention.

The pacing worked well for me too. It gives the story enough room to breathe without ever feeling slow, and I definitely had a few “just one more chapter” moments. If anything, I would have loved just a little more depth in certain side characters or moments, but it didn’t take away from the overall experience.

Overall, this is a strong, immersive fantasy with a great atmosphere and engaging character dynamics. It’s the kind of book that pulls you in gradually and keeps you there. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys character-driven fantasy with a rich setting and emotional tension.


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

[Lilith's_Library_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia Boothe’s The Flame in the Frost is a dark, intoxicating epic that had me turning pages long into the night. From the very first chapter, the story drew me into a frozen, brutal world where love and danger are inseparable, and every character carries shadows both haunting and alluring.

What really captured me was the romance—fiery, forbidden, and so achingly raw that it lingered long after I put the book down. The tension between the protagonists crackled like ice meeting fire, and Boothe doesn’t shy away from letting the stakes bleed into every intimate moment. It’s a romance that is bold, unapologetic, and deliciously spicy, without losing the grit of its epic fantasy foundation.

The world-building is immersive, painting a realm that is as chillingly beautiful as it is ruthless. There were moments where I wanted to linger just to savor the detail, and moments where the pace hurtled me forward, heart hammering. I did wish a few plot threads had tighter resolutions, which is why I’m giving it four stars instead of five—but honestly, the intensity, passion, and darkness of this story more than make up for it.

If you love your fantasy epic with a side of scorching romance and morally complex characters, The Flame in the Frost is a story you won’t forget. I’m already eager to see where Boothe takes this world next.

[scottiethegpreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nordic inspired Jack Frost with a twist. It’s like an LJ Andrew’s book had a baby with Frozen (sans sisters). 4.25 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️2 chili peppers🌶️🌶️. First person. Dual POV. A lot of pages (my kindle said 7800 - obviously it wasn’t). 1st in a series. Female captain of the guard!!!!! This is a relationship forward fantasy - the plot is fantastic but it heavily centers around these two dancing around each other.

This was a fabulous read, although it did take me a hot minute to get into it. The beginning includes a rather large information dump that kind of went over my head at first, but it all smoothed out. It’s entertaining, intriguing and sucks you in. There is a lot of emotional grit and hurt and feels. And there so much intrigue! Cliffhanger ending, but of course.

Tropes:
- Bestfriends to Lovers
- Jack Frost Retelling
- Morally gray prince
- Fierce female warrior
- Complex Political System
- Touch her and you'll die
- Fated Mates
- Hidden Magic
- YEARNING
- Slow burn that tortures
- One tent

I wanted to give this a 5 star but the relationship dance these two had brought it down for me. I don’t want to give spoilers, so the most I can say is at times the plot just seemed too focused on their inherent need to deny each other because of him being a prince and her being common (when she’s anything but!)

[Cassandra Western · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Olivia Boothe and Netgalley for the eARC.

💫 Friends to lovers
💫 Arranged marriage
💫 Forbidden love
💫 Mating bonds
💫 World building

Slyvi has just been appointed as the new captain of the Royal Guard. She is from the lowly common fae, but happens to be best friends with the Winter Prince, Jack, since they were 7 years old. There is tension burning between these two, a touch her and all hell will break loose vibe.

The Queen, in a political move, has forced an arranged marriage to Princess Isolde of the Unseelie Kingdom on the Prince. Slyvi is sent to accompany Jack on a dangerous envoy though the Wildlands. The yearning and longing they have for each other throughout the envoy is palpable. There are many forces at work trying to keep them separated but they always find their way back to each other, their bond strengthening every time they are in each other's presence.

This is a dual POV from both Slyvi and Jack, which helps build the depth of both characters and enhances the overall reading. The worldbuilding was great, setting up the stage for more of the series as there many kingdoms mentioned and this could lead to spin off stories.

I cannot wait for book 2 after the hangover from this seriously heavy cliffhanger!!!

[Rachel Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled with rating this.
The beginning of this was slow and very hard to get into. There is a large info dump over the first few pages, and honestly I still don't know what any of it means.
Parts of this book were truly enjoyable. The magic systems were unique, the world was wide, and there were some moments I was so sucked in I zoned out. The issue was Sylvi and Jack. I struggled with them. Their connection seemed so childish at times---so back and forth. They'd have a moment and then someone would shut down, only to cave in again a few pages later and put them back in another compromising position. It became maddening, and not in a cool way. I wanted to reach through the book and slap both of them. There was too much internal exposition and a lot of scene repetition, I found myself skimming a lot of it.
Of course there's a mating bond and a prince from another kingdom laying claim to her now.
Jack needed to find a backbone this entire book.
Sylvi was wishy-washy, unable to stand her ground.
Together, they chased each other around and around too many times to count.
The lore that's dropped in the last forty pages was interesting, and could lean into some really cool stuff if/when the series continues.

[Liz | ᥫ᭡reakawayreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack and Sylvi’s friends-to-lovers slow burn was straight-up torture. The tension, the history, the constant will-they-won’t-they… every moment between them hits. You can feel how much they care, which makes it all the more painful (and addictive).

Jack is that perfect mix of noble and dangerous, but when it comes to Sylvi? Absolutely unhinged in the best way. The “touch her and burn the world” energy is strong here—and I loved every second. And the spice?? Way hotter than I expected. Intense, emotional, and that forest scene is permanently stuck in my brain.

Sylvi really holds her own too. She’s strong, calls him out, and doesn’t just go along with everything. I also loved that they actually communicate, mess up, and apologize—it made their relationship feel real despite all the chaos.

The side characters added so much (Ravin was a standout), and the hints at bigger plot elements—especially the dragons—have me full of theories.

The only thing I wanted more of was some real payoff for the villains because I was ready to throw hands. But that ending?? Brutal cliffhanger. I need book two immediately.

[Marietta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly didn’t expect to be diving into a Jack Frost-inspired story in the first days of spring, but The Flame in the Frost completely won me over!

The magic system in this world was captivating, and I loved the political intrigue. The characters felt complex, and the relationships between them added so much depth to the story. Sylvanna and Jack’s dynamic was full of tension, emotion, and moments that made me root for them constantly.

The atmosphere was amazing—it really made me feel like I was in the frostbitten lands of Skadgard, with its dangerous Wildlands and the weight of prophecy hanging over everyone. The beginning was a little slow to pick up, but once the story got going, I couldn’t put it down.

That ending was such a cliffhanger! I’m beyond excited for the next installment—I can’t wait to see what happens.

Overall, this was such an immersive, emotional, and exciting read. I loved the magic, the politics, and the characters—I felt like I was living this world alongside them. A strong 4.25-star read for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Rhiannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of The Flame in the Frost in exchange for an honest review.

I ended up DNFing this for now, though I do hope to return to it at a later date. There’s a lot here that I genuinely appreciated, particularly the strong foundation in Norse mythology, which adds a rich and atmospheric backdrop to the story. It’s clear a great deal of care went into building that world.

However, I found myself struggling with the pacing and overall direction. While the mythological elements are compelling, they sometimes feel a bit overwhelming, and the narrative didn’t quite feel like it was moving forward in a clear or focused way. Because of that, I had a hard time staying fully engaged.

That said, this feels very much like a “not the right time for me” read rather than a reflection of the book’s quality. I’d be interested in picking it back up in the future, as I can see the potential for a story that will really resonate with readers who enjoy immersive, mythology-heavy fantasy.

Thank you to the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this ARC.