From Amazon bestselling author John Conroe comes a horrifying story of what if.
What would you do to protect a loved one? Would you kill? Widower Ian Moore will do almost anything to protect his daughter from a threat that comes straight out of our darkest fairytales.
If he has his way he'll prove that Ashley was the absolutely worst target they could have picked.
In fact, you might want to take notes, 'cause your family may be next.
I'm the Urban Fantasy author of the Demon Accords series. For more information, check out my website or follow me on Facebook at the Demon Accords page.
This was a spin-off novella set in John Conroe's Demon Accords world. It featured new characters, a new setting, and a new bunch of supernatural creatures and powers. Outside of that it had a similar feel to the main series. The series is heavy on action and told from a single character male first person POV.
I felt like this was an improvement on the last full book in the Demon Accords series I read as the plot was tighter and we benefited from spending some time away from Chris, who was just getting a bit too smug!
The story here was nothing special but it was fast paced and quite readable. Ian Moore has recently inherited his grandfathers old house and relocated there with his daughter. Unfortunately it soon becomes apparent that some of his late grandfathers ramblings about spotting monsters on the property might not have been as much a sign of madness as the family feared as it soon becomes apparent a full blown Fae invasion is imminent. The Fae want human kids and have their eyes on Ian's daughter. The bad news for the Fae invaders is that they are allergic to iron and steel just like the old legends claim and gun and knife nut Ian has tons of them laying around along with some automatic weapons and grenades his gun nut dad was hoarding!!! The story did actually manage to be pretty readable and fun.
All in all I felt like this was a decent novella in the Demon Accords world and it introduced us to a whole new bunch of potentially dangerous paranormal creatures.
Rating: 3.5 stars.
Audio Note: As always James Patrick Cronin did a good job with the narration of this series.
It was overall an enjoyable story and nice to get the back story that related to Winterfall (book 12). I did think there was a bit too much gun-porn info-dumps, though.
I was hesitant to buy this book as it was much shorter than the other books in the series and it also wasn't about Chris or Declan. I knew this story was going to be about Ian and Ashley who we find out about in College Arcane. Since I liked the series so much and I just finished re-listening to the series again for the second time this year, so I thought I would give it a chance. I was pretty disappointed. I knew from College Arcane what generally was going to happen in this book, but this story didn't live up to my expectations. Not having Chris or Declan as the main protagonist was a let down. Ian Moore is the main protagonist in this story. I knew that Ashley was kidnapped and taken to fairy and that Ian fought his way to fairy and got his daughter back. The story was 4/5 ths done though before either one of them ended up in fairy. I guess I am just a little upset that a Demons accords book didn't have any angels, demons, vampires, weres, or magic in it. It kind of defeats the purpose.
This novella, set in the world of the Demon Accords, was a break from the usual narrator. I have to admit that not having Chris tell the story was one of the reasons why I waited until now to read it. Though I have since changed my mind and decided that this was a good book without any of the characters I have come to love reading about in the rest of the series, it still felt lacking without them.
This story deals with the fae, something that was only hinted at in the other novels. The author has provided an interesting angle on them and their world, and has done a great job of tying their magic systems and the way they travel between worlds into the rest of the series.
To be honest this was a very good book. The story was well written, the action as usual was well told and the characters were all very likeable. However, I still kept wishing that it was the usual characters in this series that had met this new race rather than these new ones.
Overall this is an enjoyable read and it might just be my own personal tastes of liking to stick with the characters the author has spent so long getting us attached to that keeps it from that final star. It is a fun, quick read that I can happily recommend.
Overall Feedback: As with all of his novels thus far Conroe exceeds expectations and does a fine job with entertaining us for another chapter in the Demon Accord Series. I would not rate this as the best in the series but I still think it is well worth the read.
Point of View: Only adds to the storyline and stays within the concept of the series.
Voice: Stays in line with the series and drives the reader through in a flash.
Character Development: By now we already know the characters but just when you are happy in your knowledge Conroe brings in some more details.
Plot: Perfectly aligned with the series and shows that the Author paid attention to the series overall and not just to each story. Only issue is some things were left unsaid and a novice gun owner would be a bit confused.
Dialogue: Flawless as expected by this author.
Pacing: Again lightning fast and over before you want it to be.
Setting: Conroe is excellant at placing characters in a believable place, time and circumstance.
Continuity: Does not miss a beat and drives home the thought and I my opinion view of the story. "How would you deal with loss?"
Currently reading the Demon Accords for the first time and since this was marked as book 3.5 on Goodreads, I decided to read it after finishing book 3.
All in all it was an alright read, but I did not enjoy it anywhere as much as I have so far enjoyed reading the Demon Accords books.
It was a nice break after reading the first 3 DA books in rapid succession, but I was happy when I finished the short book and could dive into book 4.
A standalone short novel featuring a widower and his 13 year old daughter in Bear Mountain, NY. The veil between worlds has thinned and the Fae have come to our world to snatch talented children. One man is not going to put up with it and will do whatever it takes. This book is the backstory of one of Declan's College Arcane classmates and can be read on its own
2 1/2 but maybe more like 2.75 There was a lot of drag in telling the past of who this guy is and too much hidden on why his daughter is so special. He was the son of a D.E.A. agent and was taught from a young age how to use weapons and fight so when fae come for his daughter, he gets loaded for bear. His father is even more set up. The end is anticlimactic So at the very end, we get the older man, head of some super natural organization that travels with the wereverine (wolverine were) that limps with the bit leg. We’ve met him with Chris from the demon accords and so this is why this is part of that. From what I understand the girl will play a part in the future books.
This book departs from the Chris & Tanya path and gives us a really great introduction to Faerie. I missed this book as have read all the way up until Snake Eyes and I was told this was a great read and and gives a lot of background info for the Declan & Stacia path Winterfall (The latest book in the series).
So this one has faeries, goblins and dragons! The wold of Faerie includes a Summer Court and a Winter Court, a third faction called the Great Hunt (reminds me of Dresden Files) and Dragons. We meet a young Ashley (whom we will meet later as a friend of Declan and Caeco) and her dad Ian Moore. The story is about a dad's love for his daughter and how he'll travel the ends of this planet (or another planet) to protect her. This is a lovely edition to the Demon Accords series and an nice expansion of the universe the book is set in.
This story is in the same universe as the Demon Accords, but it's different, instead of demons, weres and vampires it focus on the fae. We also only see a couple of known characters, and that's at the end. This book is mostly about a father protecting his child. I was kind of thrown by the unfamiliar characters and theme, but the story was great. I liked how it uses some science to try and explain everything that's happening while still using legends and folklore. I expect this will integrate or at least make an appearance with the main characters in this world, I would like to see how Chris and Tanya react to the elves. The new characters are very interesting and it will be very interesting to learn even more about them, now that they know more about their potential.
When your main protagonists become like Superman it's suddenly difficult to imagine what normal humans do to survive extraordinary events. This welcome addition to the timeline does a great job of putting that into perspective for us. Ian Moore is a standout character in that he is an everyman type of hero struggling to adjust to a harsh new reality. I did have an expectation of a potentially deeper backstory for the Fairy princesses but I am still pleased with the book as a whole. By fleshing out a minor character it helps us to get a first-hand experience of what first contact was like for 2nd amendment loving normal humans. I can't wait until the next book in the series.
How he went to fairy to save his daughter once she was taken and her grandparents were killed by the fay. Believing he didn't have much of a chance, he didn't care she was worth his life. How one man showed all of fay that the earth they knew hundreds of years ago was not the same. Between our population and weapons. But most importantly what parents on earth were willing to do for their children. Something the fay do not understand. Their children are commodities and weapons. They won't give there lives because they don't even comprehend love. Mr was and is a true badass. The book was never boring between the action and the information in understanding the fay, which becomes very important in future demon accords books.
I started reading the first few books in the series in 2013 and read book #4 two months later much to my disappointment. Now 8 years later I accidentally came across the most recent release and much to my delight discovered half a dozen more books had been written. For anyone who hasn’t read the series hang onto your pants because it’s a roller coaster ride that you won’t be able to put down. I’m anxiously waiting for the final books in the series. Awesome sauce!
Black Frost is a great example of how the novellas flesh out the world in meaningful ways. It’s not just a side story; it’s a grounded, emotional tale of a father doing whatever it takes to keep his daughter safe from the fae. Ian Moore isn’t flashy like the main crew, but his blend of grit, tactical smarts, and quiet magic made this feel like a tighter, more personal entry in the Demon Accords universe. Loved seeing how the broader supernatural world touches regular (but still badass) folks like Ian.
Well thought out plot using what we have been told in fairy tales and bed time stories. It should have been written in a series to develop the story further. What I didn't like was the ending with Ashley staying after discovering she was a speaker. This was to soon and would have been overwhelming and should have been developed in a series. I look forward to see if the plot and story will be embellished in another book with the characters. Job well done
I'm a big fan of the Demon Accords series. This was Mr. Conroe's first book and I will say he has developed as a writer and story teller since this was first published. And having just read this for the first time I will say I enjoyed Ashley and Ian's backstory since they are characters in the series and will have more prominence in the next book I'm sure.
The book was well-written but Ian was a bit too much of the stereotypical American for my liking. Again, the long descriptions of weapons annoyed me and Ian's attitude towards the Fae wasn't something I expected from him after reading all the other books. Apart from those points, I did love hearing about the Fae, Ashley's back story and the political aspect of Faerie.
I read this little novella out of order, since this is actually numbered book 3.5. It introduces two new characters, Ian Moore and his daughter Ashley. Ian is an ordinary human who loves his child, so when his daughter is taken by the Fae, he follows after. It seems hopeless, until the Fae and Ian discover that Ashley has a power that hasn't been seen in millenia - she can talk to dragons.
This was a fantastic book and a great read. As an avid reader who reads 10 to 15 books a week , I was pleasantly surprised by the story line. You couldn't predict it and it kept your interest. The only bad part was the book ended and I didn't have a sequel to read. Exalent book and I highly recommend it.
I actually like this story plot better than the main story. Hope to see these characters and the fae worked into the main Demon Accords storyline soon. This is definitely weapon heavy and it has a military, prepper feel that gets to be a bit much…I like that type of story as well but it’s a weird combo. Like Joe Ledger but not as awesome as Joe Ledger.
John Conroe again dazzled me with great characters and a story
John Conroe writes stories that within minutes transport you to places that instantly draw you in. Character development is so good that aa soon as he describes them; you hope they are either dead soon or protected forever. Thanks again. Oops never thank an elf!
This is a side story from the demon accords series. Even though it was short it was very well done, that in such a short story managed to convey an entirely new world and open up a slew of new challenges for the main story arc.
All of his books are so engaging. Unique stories and endearing characters. Start the Demon Accord series from the beginning This book is only somewhat related to the series but well worth the read.
Really good book. I like the father/daughter relationship and the beginning premise hooked me in right away. I would have given it 5 stars but it only got 4 because there weren’t anymore written. I would have liked it to be at least a trilogy.
At first, I was a little irritated because this book featured none of the familiar characters. That faded quickly. The Fae just add another layer of richness to the world-building in the Demon Accords.
This feels a bit like a Sidestory (which it is) but its nevertheless an interesting addition to the Main Storyline. The Characters do not feel as "interesting" to me as the others, but it introduces a seperate storyarc which becomes very important in the later books.
Very good story, but only vaguely related to the mainline Demon Accords books. The climactic encounter is excellent, but the framing story is a bit distracting and the denouement is unsatisfying.
Recommended, but don't expect anything really related to the Chris Gordon storyline.
This was awesome, another backstory to delve deeper into the Demon Accords story I love so much! John always writes an amazing book! Please give us more Demon Accords stories!