Fire and Ice

The Aldurian Chronicles #1

by Jessica Victoria Fisette, Jessica Victoria Fisette

It's been months since the accident on Asher Creek bridge that nearly claimed Allie's life. She hasn't heard from her boyfriend Phoenix since the fire station went up in flames, and she's no closer to finding the man who saved her from drowning that night. To make matters worse, she's somehow lost the elemental abilities that connected her to Phoenix—something she once believed only they shared. Vivid, unrelenting dreams have kept her searching for answers. Phoenix is in danger—she knows it. But, now they've found her: familiar, official-looking men who act nothing like the federal agents they impersonate. To keep her family safe, Allie decides to leave the only home she’s known since she was two years old and search for Phoenix on her own. But, others have different plans for her. The man who saved her returns, and he isn’t alone. A powerful, evil cult leader is after Allie, and she has no choice but to accept the protection of an unexpected ally who holds the answers to secrets from her past. Every step brings her dangerously close to finding Phoenix and discovering her real identity, but the truth is far worse than she ever could have imagined.

Genres: Paranormal

354 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 27, 2016

About the author

Jessica Victoria Fisette is the author of The Soul Reaper series, Fragments, and The Aldurian Chronicles. Her hobbies include discovering the benefits of natural medicine, wine tasting, and trying new recipes in the kitchen. She likes to unwind by typing out a scene or two in her latest obsession or indulging in a good book. Having been passionate about writing since she was a little girl, she is constantly coming up with new ideas for future stories and creating unique, strongwilled—albeit flawed—characters to overcome the difficult obstacles she places before them. Having spent all her life in rural Southeast Texas, she appreciates the tranquility of country living and hopes to implement such a love for nature into her beautiful, ever-so-curious little girl.

Reviews

[Archit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for a nice and cozy book to snuggle up on my sofa next to the Saturday's rain drops
against my window pane.

And this book was very much not so that.



There is no pain grater than the pain of death of your loved ones. Unfortunately, Allie knows and believes that her boyfriend is not yet dead. The night they had an accident, where Allie couldn't save Phoenix, has got mysteries that are not to be unveiled. Join Allie in her quest to testify what she believes is true or not.

Great things happened at the very unexpected moments. There are many surprise factors like that. Well-shaped and at few points, spell-binding, Fire and Ice is an adventurous, bold and classy read. Because it is action-packed and engaging, you can finish it within few hours.

When the protagonist's past is discussed, you can not help but getting involved with her life and experience the same grief she goes through. She also discovers that some intriguing powers are within her just to be discovered. Since then, Allie's voyage is full of suspense and hope.

The book can be summed up in various genres like Sci-fiction, paranormal and amazing action.
Ice and Fire is one of those books that you would want to read multiple times. It keeps the reader interested from page 1 to the last pages.

I must look into what other books are in the series. Recommended for fantasy readers!

[Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gosh this was fast paced. Just when you think all hope is gone, something occurs or someone appears to help Saph, or just when it's all looking rosy, something occurs and it all goes pear shaped. It's very well written and enjoyable, ok I'm on holiday but I whizzed through in just a few hours, great fun. Now I need to look up what other books are available in this series.
Thanks Jessica a really good read.

[N.W. Moors · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allie must find her boyfriend, Phoenix, even though she can't really remember the night he disappeared. She crashed her car into a river and almost drowned, but she's sure he's still alive though her family and friends think he's dead. When the stranger who saved her live that night appears, Allie finds that there is much more to her story.
This book has it all: some sci-fi, some paranormal, fighting, battles, and high-speed chases. This first book of The Aldurian Chronicles is a promising start to this series. It's not the type of book I'd normally read, but I enjoyed the storyline, especially Allie's backstory.

[J.B. Trepagnier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fast paced read with many twists and turns I didn't see coming. I thought it was just going to be about paranormal abilities, but then the author throws some surprises in there about how certain characters got their abilities. I won't spoil it because it's not really revealed until further into the book. The book is told in first person and we find out these things as the main character does. She has gaps in her memory from a car accident. We also find out about why she has those later.

I started this book before bed, then had an extended wait at the doctors office and mowed through the book during my wait. The book is almost nonstop action or plot twists from the main character's past. We get to see the main character learn to use her abilities through out the book because after her accident, she thinks she has lost them.

I think anyone who likes paranormal with plot twists would enjoy this one

[Chris Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fire and Ice. What a ride! It’s fast paced, well-written (for which I wish I could award a sixth star), and kept me wanting more. Its backstory provided the extra boost to propel the story.

Saph lost her soulmate Phoenix before the story begins. Worst of all, she doesn’t know how it happened or what happened. But the Acolytes know and they want her. From the moment the chase begins, Saph moves from one horror to another, and blaming herself for her apparent mistakes. I felt for the poor girl. But she’s no weakling either; Saph fights back, and her desire to fix things adds to the pace while learning about her unreliable powers and family history.

I liked the characters, but would like to know more about Elyse, Valyria, and Janz. The sequel will hold more, I’m sure because Jessica Fisette weaved this story brilliantly.

It’s hard to write without spoilers. But if you like strong female lead characters with attitude, but and read this book. You will be glad you did.

[Kayla Krantz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fire and Ice is the beginning of yet another brilliant series by the talented Miss Fisette. I don’t usually read stories about aliens but this one was so different and alluring that I was drawn right in. This story follows the MC, Allie, as she discovers the truth of who she really is, where her powers come from, and most importantly, what happened on the night her soulmate, Phoenix, disappeared. When the secrets of Allie’s life are finally revealed, she’s taken on a journey full of suspense, fear, and hope.

This story will pull you in right at the start, making you want answers as badly as Allie herself. Highly recommended!

[Bob Platypire · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I was given a copy of this book to be honestly reviewed*

This was really good! The characters were fun, and I really enjoyed getting to know them. The powers coming into play more and more was thrilling to read, and I can't wait to see what she finds out she can do next. I was engrossed enough that when "the bad thing" happened, I was heartbroken. This can be fixed, right?! Oh man. I need the next one, I can't leave my book boo in that situation.

The writing is pretty good, and I think this is a great start to a series.

If you like YA with a heavy dash of magic and paranormal flare, I think you'd probably like this!

Bob says: 4 Platypires

[Pamela R. Ballinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW.

I love this book. Fast paced, emotional and surprising. Can not wait for next chapter. Can Alex be saved. Will Phoenix be found

[K.J. Simmill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allie didn't believe them, the things that had been whispered about Phoenix after her accident. She alone still looked for him, she had faith that he was neither responsible for the fire, nor dead. Of course, having driven off a bridge, and lost her memories of that night didn't help her case any. But a gnawing fear told her there was more to the situation than she thought, more than she remembered. How right she had been, and how lucky she was to trust her instincts when a sudden visit by official looking figures at her school didn't sit right with her. She had run, run as if her life depended on it, and it had. She and Phoenix had touched upon a world of magic, a skill they thought was unique to them, but there were more out there like her, yet at the same time, in the eyes of some, there was no one like her. She was just what was needed. A long lost piece of a play for power, and she didn't even know how to defend herself.

Fire and Ice follows Allie's story. It is easy to initially believe that you have started this book at number two, a clever ploy by the author, Jessica V Fisette, to allow in plot discovery by the protagonist, and as this book is written solely in the first person perspective, we only know and learn what they themselves do, so a gap in memory leading a reader to think they have missed something, is in fact exactly how Allie's feels, and in time, throughout the journey, more is discovered until most things fall into place. This is an ideal young adult / new adult read, reminding me in some places of an L. J Smith novel, whilst not being in any way derivative. You'll cringe at Allie's decisions, but realise that at her age rash and impulsive thinking came more natural in dangerous scenarios than trust and ask questions. A journey of discovery, uncovering the truth about her past, and fighting to reclaim her present before anything more is stripped from her.

[jackmagnus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Fire and Ice: The Aldurian Chronicles, Book 1 is an urban fantasy/coming of age novel for young and new adults written by Jessica V Fisette. She would see Phoenix in her dreams, and it was all so very real. Allie could feel the warmth of his breath, see the concern and love in his silver-irised eyes. She actually felt him, could touch him, but then, as always, something dragged her back to consciousness and the stark unyielding reality that he was gone. Phoenix was so much a part of who she was; she would never be able to wrap her mind around the reality of him being gone forever. The ruby and sapphire ring he had given her still made her smile, and it helped her maintain a belief, against all doubt, that he was still out there somewhere, that he had survived that night. Allie couldn’t bring herself to believe that he had actually caused the fire in the firehouse where he was a volunteer, and she didn’t understand what happened that night when she drove off Asher Creek Bridge. For now, however, she was home with her family, under the strict supervision of her mom and dad, who were not at all sure they could trust her anymore.

Jessica V Fisette’s urban fantasy/coming of age novel for young and new adults, Fire and Ice: The Aldurian Chronicles, Book 1, is an engrossing and well-written story about a young woman whose tragic loss of her soul mate is compounded by her inability to recall what happened that night. Allie has so many mysteries to solve as she tries to understand who she is and why her life is so suddenly imperiled. Fisette’s plot is intricate and cunning, and her characters are well-defined and credible. Her story blends elements of science fiction, fantasy, coming of age, and action and adventure genres, and it does so quite well. Fire and Ice: The Aldurian Chronicles, Book 1 is most highly recommended.

[Cheryl E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessica V. Fisette pens a young adult thriller in Fire and Ice. Allie wakes after having another dream of Phoenix; it seemed so real, not like a dream at all. Where is he? After the fire, he just vanished. Of course, everyone blames him for the burning of the fire station, but Allie knows different. She looks lovingly at the ruby and sapphire ring. It reminds her of the secret gifts she and Phoenix share – the power of fire and ice. Reluctantly Allie goes to school, but she would rather be out looking for Phoenix. A strange and eerie storm approaches. Held within its fury is a familiar, yet foreboding presence. Suddenly, Allie finds herself running for her life. She loses control and unleashes her power. “Maybe whatever happened in her past had something to do with what was happening now.” If only she could remember what happened the night of the fire, and who the stranger was with the glistening eyes?

Fire and Ice is book one of Jessica V. Fisette’s Aldurian Chronicles. Fire and Ice is a fast-paced, heart-pounding science fiction action adventure. The central theme of self-discovery runs rampant from beginning to end. The young heroine is trapped within herself, confused, running for her life, trying to discover her true identity. She repeatedly asks herself, "Why am I different from everyone else?" The answer to her question is beyond surreal. If you love the X- Men, you will love Fire and Ice. Fisette writes with care and she doesn’t give away too much too soon. The mystery, science fiction, and suspense gradually unfold with every turn of the page. The descriptions are imaginative, captivating and defined, luring the reader into the scene. There are questions with bizarre answers, and surprising situations with mind-boggling and at times devastating outcomes. The plot action twists and turns, ascending to its apex, yet the denouement takes you right back to the beginning, hoping and wondering if “Fire and Ice” will be reunited.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for Reader's Favorite by Melinda Hills
Allie has recently discovered there is something different about her and it took her boyfriend, Phoenix, to help her develop the powers she possesses. In Fire and Ice: The Aldurian Chronicles Book 1 by Jessica V Fisette, Allie finds herself the subject of some type of investigation, but the agents are not from the government. Phoenix has been missing for several months since a strange occurrence at the local fire house led to a car accident that nearly took Allie’s life. A stranger saved her, but now he is showing up more often and Allie has no idea what to think.

When Allie is confronted by strange beings, another stranger steps in to save her. Alec escapes with Allie and takes her to a hide away where he hopes to be able to train her to use her powers and take care of herself. As they work, Allie learns about her past but still doesn’t have all the pieces to figure out what is really going on. In spite of many precautions, Allie becomes vulnerable to the evil forces trying to find her and realizes that she has to depend on herself first and foremost.

Jessica V Fisette has created an interesting backstory for Allie while gradually tying it to the present action in Fire and Ice: The Aldurian Chronicles Book 1. With lively dialogue, intense emotions, the insecurities of the teenage years and plenty of action, this Sci-Fi novel is a great read for YA (and older) enthusiasts. Some editing oversights cause minor bumps in the flow, but the plot drives forward with great characters and plenty of twists and turns to keep you engaged and turning the pages. This is a great start to what should be an exciting series.

[Benyakir Horowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been spending the last two weeks of my life swamped in work, but I had Fire and Ice as a break from the stress. It was always a relief to pick it up and let myself get lost in the the story. It tells the story of Allie, a high schooler recovering from a tragedy she can’t quite figure out. The story follows her recovery and a series of daring events that gets the reader involved after the first few pages until the last.

On the surface, the book appears to be somewhat standard fair young-adult novel, however it pushes the envelope in a few ways. Fire and Ice combines Sci-fi and Fantasy with intriguing elements that hint at a larger universe we’re given hints of. There are elements of their combination, that technology is involved with magic, is a consideration that adds an extra punch to the story.

My favorite element is the confusion of the protagonist during the first two acts of the story. It reminded me of human trafficking and kidnapping. Allie becomes confused as she wrestles her returning recollections with her feelings and the counter-intuitive insistences of new friends.

The book wraps up in a way that is satisfying and manages to check a number of boxes to the reader. The strengths of the book come from the basics of the writing. The characters are all relatable and interesting, the settings and descriptions crisp and the inner monolog of the protagonist convincing.

I recommend this book if you are interested in Urban Sci-Fi, Fantasy and YA in an adventure that’s inviting and intriguing.

[James Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have owned this book less that 2 weeks and have read it twice, and starting in for round three. I cannot remember the last time I returned to the front cover of any book and read again so quickly after the first pass. I was drawn in by the story line and found myself in need of more chapter, more action and more... well more. I am eager for the next in the series and would recommend this author to everyone. Simply Phenomenal!

[Tresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad start to a new series. A lot of action, with some paranormal twists. Great storyline as Allie searches for her boyfriend Phoenix, who disappeared the night of the horrible accident. A night she can't remember, but she knows he is alive, though everyone doubts her. Her search opens her world to strange men who are after her, while others are there to help, and she begins to learn the truth of who she really is!!

[Cyrene Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author does a great job with the world and character building in this first book of a series. You are captured into her net and can almost feel like you are hovering in the world along with them. The book takes so many twists and turns, it keeps the reader on their toes – and a bit surprised. Great start to a series.
Reviewed by Cyrene

4 1/2 Stars

[L.C. Perry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review

This book is about seventeen year old Allie who is struggling to figure out what happened the night she was saved and her boyfriend, Phoenix, disappeared. She and Phoenix happen to posses elemental abilities and for a while, Allie believed they were the only ones to possess these abilities. One night however, things go horribly wrong and Allie finds herself on the run with a man she’s never met before – or has she? While an evil organization hunts after Allie, she and her unexpected ally have to stay under the radar…and as the chase continues, Allie will not only learn about the other people like her, but she will also learn about her true identity.

Spoilers ahead – Read at your own Risk

This story was a fascinating one. I liked how the book started off with the aftermath of the scene with Phoenix’s disappearance, which dominates a good chunk of the story and that readers had to gradually receive clues as they progressed through the novel. Allie was a very realistic character and I felt bad for the situation she was put in. Although her rash decisions were understandable, I did find it quite frustrating at times. Throughout the book, Allie is blaming herself for all the things that are going wrong. Normally, I would agree with the characters trying to console her, but in this case I was the exact opposite. Although I understood where she was coming from, I found it aggravating that she made a very reckless choice over and over again. I was really expecting one of these characters to snap at her, which she would have deserved, but they never did. I get that she was sucked into this, but for someone who continually blamed herself, it didn’t make sense to me why she would keep acting on her own. Stabbing Janz, making a call to Emma, running off on her own, falling into Demetri’s trap…she was definitely more of a hindrance than anything and I really wish she was made more useful in the story.

I liked all the characters, which is always a good thing, but I didn’t have much of a chance to really get to know any of them. Janz was missing for a good 80% of the story and we barely get a sense of Elyse and Valyrie’s personality because they hardly had time to breathe between searching for Alec and fighting off Shades. Their dialogue could have been interchangeable and I wouldn’t have noticed. Besides Allie, the only character I got to know was Alec and I wished I got to know him more too. This book can be a very quick read, but I feel the story may have suffered from that because we don’t get the opportunity to see these characters flushed out.

The plot of this story is intriguing and it’s probably the best part of the story. I was genuinely surprised when I found out Alec and Janz were her brothers and the author does a great job in letting the secrets unfold within the memories. I don’t normally read books where the main protagonist already has a boyfriend (usually I read books were the relationship is forming) and to see her relationship through the memories was really interesting as well. I enjoyed these concepts more than I expected and I also enjoyed the fact that Alec ended up being the one in the spotlight rather than Allie. This book is a nice refresher away from tropes typically seen in these types of stories.

Despite my enjoyment with the plot and pacing of the story, there were formatting errors and typos that distracted me from the reading. I also found it hard to picture certain scenes in my head because of awkward phrases and I didn’t understand why Allie woke up in the same manor that had been compromised (shouldn’t they be finding a new place to hide?). I also didn’t understand the point in bringing Allie back to life. If the end goal was to bring Alec back as a Shade, why did they need to revive Allie in order to do so? Couldn’t they have just used Janz or Elyse as blackmail instead?

Another thing that bothered me was the beginning kind of felt a little disjointed. It was written well, but the bullies felt cliché and I was confused by Allie's hunch about something being wrong while it was raining. It seemed like words weren't keeping up with the flow. I was also led to believe her only ability was ice at first, so it caught me off guard when she could use lightning. The adoption news was also suddenly dropped onto me at the beginning.
Overall, this was a good story and I would recommend it. This book has me wanting to read book two, so kudos to the author for making such an attention-grabbing story :)

[Bona Fide Book Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the story of Allie, a silver-eyed high school senior, who is in love with Phoenix. Silver-eyed Phoenix is just as in love with her, and has asked her to marry him. Having no concerns about the future, she accepts his proposal. Not only are they crazy in love, they are both able to control fire and ice, drawing them closer.

After a terrible car accident, Allie loses Phoenix. She cannot remember what happened, but she is certain that he is not dead and tries to find him. When her grades plummet, she begins to look like someone who cannot pull herself together and is continually disappointing her parents. Of course, they do not realize that Phoenix means a whole lot more to Allie.

In her search for Phoenix, Allie discovers she is a person of interest to some very scary men. Getting called out of class to the principal’s office, she spots these men before they can see her, and she is able to stay one step ahead by racing away. When these guys try to abduct her from her home, a man with silver eyes comes to her rescue. Except, during this encounter, Allie is afraid she may have killed him.

This story is full of bad men who exude a black substance that likes to get under the skin and knock people unconscious. She meets two brothers who tell her she is their sister, and have the same silver eyes. There are also two women with silver eyes, who will save her if the brothers cannot. The book has a lot of fighting and Allie feeling guilty about everything that happens, and I do mean everything. A great deal goes on, most of it repetitive fight scenes and repetitive dialogue.

The rating:

Genre and general reading age – YA fantasy for very teens, maybe.
Level of sexuality – None.
Is there graphic language? No.
Did I cry? No.
Did I laugh? No.
Is this part of a series? Yes, the Aldurian Chronicles.
Level of character development – None. The characters are shallow and do not evolve.

I did not find this book particularly interesting. I have read many YA, so I can say with experience that being in that genre does not excuse underdeveloped characters and superficial storylines. Unfortunately, this book has both. I am feeling magnanimus today, so I give it ⭐⭐ stars.

[Tami Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not my usual choice for genre but I am so glad I took the chance. Jessica paints a very vivid picture with her writing which helps readers like me feel like they've become part of the scene instead of just reading words in a book. This is a great story of self discovery mixed with suspense.

I will definitely be checking out more of Jessica's work. If you decide to give this a read, you will not be disappointed.

[Jessica Fisette · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Very nice job! Good pace and movement to the story. Story told in a manner that kept the reader interested in getting to the next chapter." --Reviewed by Lyra 2016 Constest Judge