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Saints of Russalka #1
Web of Frost
A too-young queen must learn to control her powers in order to save her empire, but can she trust the only person who’s taught her to use her gift?
Russalka is a proud empire, frozen and vast, protected for centuries by a royal family who works miracles from the saints. But rebellion stirs in the streets, and its war-hungry neighbors threaten to invade. The young princess Katza has been tormented by visions of her bloodied hands destroying Russalka—a clear message from the saints that she must never rule. So when tragedy places her next in line to the throne, Katza fears their warnings are on the verge of coming true.
Then she meets Ravin, a mysterious young prophet with visions of his own: visions of Katza as a regal empress with unimaginable power. All she has to do seize upon the holy magic of her bloodline. But the more Ravin whispers in her ear, the more Katza begins to wonder whether he has her best interests at heart. With a revolution boiling over and war looming at the border, the greatest threat to Russalka may be Katza herself.
Russalka is a proud empire, frozen and vast, protected for centuries by a royal family who works miracles from the saints. But rebellion stirs in the streets, and its war-hungry neighbors threaten to invade. The young princess Katza has been tormented by visions of her bloodied hands destroying Russalka—a clear message from the saints that she must never rule. So when tragedy places her next in line to the throne, Katza fears their warnings are on the verge of coming true.
Then she meets Ravin, a mysterious young prophet with visions of his own: visions of Katza as a regal empress with unimaginable power. All she has to do seize upon the holy magic of her bloodline. But the more Ravin whispers in her ear, the more Katza begins to wonder whether he has her best interests at heart. With a revolution boiling over and war looming at the border, the greatest threat to Russalka may be Katza herself.
400 pages, Paperback
First published February 13, 2018
13 people are currently reading
803 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
March 28, 2018
3/5 stars
The story is so good and entertaining.
There's so much politics involved in this book, I was not expecting that (I really liked that).
I really liked the magic system and the world.
This was a very surprising read.
The main character I did not like very much, half of the book I kept thinking "Why?/OMG/ No".
She made very rash decisions (some of them I understand) always saying it was the best for her people and her "obsession" and need for Ravin it’s just annoying.
Yes, she was a girl with a power she did not understand, couldn't control and fear it, and then had to become ruler of an entire country (that she really didn't know anything about), everything was new to her.
The other characters in this book I like more then the main character.
the end was a cliffhanger and I will definitely read the sequel to know was going on.
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
February 22, 2018
I was on the blog tour for this book, thanks to Barclay Publicity for letting me be a part of the tour. See my full post here: https://marriedtobooksreviewsandblog....
For me, studying History as one of my FE College course subjects and at the time of being contacted about this tour, I was studying the Russian Revolution which Web of Frost is inspired by. So, I couldn’t say no to reviewing this one! Katza has visions of evil things happening not just to her but citizens of Russalka. There have been protests against the Tsar’s rule over the kingdom (which is very reminiscent of actual historical events during the year 1917). But the arrival of a mysterious prophet that the majority of the court despise called Ravin starts to get closer to Katza leaving massive decisions to be made. Web of Frost had a strong strength with the dialogue, it made the storyline fast-paced and exciting. Ravin as a character was interesting to interpret with questionable beliefs that sprung out from the page as I was reading. Another interesting aspect was the government and politics, the conflicts surrounding the actions Katza’s father took as well as present day circumstances. For anyone studying this period of history and looking for a read that is YA with adventurous elements and the use of magic/bloodlines, this is the book for you!
Other personal thoughts- The worldbuilding and character connection at times did fall a little flat for me, there was romance included which I couldn't quite gel with. The ending was a cliffhanger which did feel a little abrupt, however, a good set-up for book two in the series.
For me, studying History as one of my FE College course subjects and at the time of being contacted about this tour, I was studying the Russian Revolution which Web of Frost is inspired by. So, I couldn’t say no to reviewing this one! Katza has visions of evil things happening not just to her but citizens of Russalka. There have been protests against the Tsar’s rule over the kingdom (which is very reminiscent of actual historical events during the year 1917). But the arrival of a mysterious prophet that the majority of the court despise called Ravin starts to get closer to Katza leaving massive decisions to be made. Web of Frost had a strong strength with the dialogue, it made the storyline fast-paced and exciting. Ravin as a character was interesting to interpret with questionable beliefs that sprung out from the page as I was reading. Another interesting aspect was the government and politics, the conflicts surrounding the actions Katza’s father took as well as present day circumstances. For anyone studying this period of history and looking for a read that is YA with adventurous elements and the use of magic/bloodlines, this is the book for you!
Other personal thoughts- The worldbuilding and character connection at times did fall a little flat for me, there was romance included which I couldn't quite gel with. The ending was a cliffhanger which did feel a little abrupt, however, a good set-up for book two in the series.
April 28, 2018
1.5 stars
Honestly, I can’t remember what the story was. The book was full of politics. I haven’t read many Russian revolution and Russian folklore, so this may be one of the reasons for my low rating. And also I dislike the main characters katza and ravin, Katza for being a naïve and ravin being a creepy for all the time. Katza was happened to be the next ruler, but she doesn’t know what happens around her.
I’m not sure whether to continue with the series.
i received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Honestly, I can’t remember what the story was. The book was full of politics. I haven’t read many Russian revolution and Russian folklore, so this may be one of the reasons for my low rating. And also I dislike the main characters katza and ravin, Katza for being a naïve and ravin being a creepy for all the time. Katza was happened to be the next ruler, but she doesn’t know what happens around her.
I’m not sure whether to continue with the series.
i received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 25, 2018
Web of Frost is the first book in the Saints of Russalka series, which is set in a fantasy country inspired by Russian folklore and the Russian revolution. It incorporates both political and religious themes, with a magic system based on saints and blessings. It promises court intrigue, a compelling romantic dynamic and a perfect wintry atmosphere.
Unfortunately, it didn’t deliver.
For most of the book, I didn’t love the main character. She starts the book being a naive fool, then she takes a 180 turn to ruthless fool and control freak, and doesn’t understand anything of what is happening around her until 70% into the book. Which wouldn’t have been a problem (I do like unlikable, messy heroines) if I hadn’t guessed everything that was going to happen during the first chapters. I said this other times, I will say this again: predictable political intrigue makes your book feel cheap.
I really liked Katza’s character arc – she has a lot of development and she learns from her mistakes – but you still have to endure almost 300 pages of her being oblivious while you know exactly where the story is going. Was it worth it? I don’t think so.
The romantic plotline was a disappointment. I’m always here for pairings like this one (love interests who are kind of monstrous? Girls who might be worse? Sign me up), so this should have been perfect for me, but it wasn’t. The problem I had with Ravin is that he’s really… monotonous. When I fist met him, I thought he was a creep. When I was in the middle of the book, I thought he was a creep, and not an interesting one, as he kept repeating the same things over and over. At the end of the book, I thought he was a creep. There’s no depth to him, he has no character development, and he’s just not that compelling as a character. I didn’t understand the pull between him and Katza.
To me, Web of Frost felt like one of the many books set in Russia that try to explore themes similar to those in Shadow and Bone (light/dark dynamics, unhealthy romance, saints and religion) and fail. Leigh Bardugo did it better.
The beginning reminded me of Burning Glass by Kathryn Purdie because of its setting and naive, inconsistent main character, but at least Web of Frost tries to develop the political intrigue and themes instead of being driven only by the romance.
I also didn’t love the writing. It didn’t flow well, and there was no atmosphere, which was a disappointment: this setting has so much potential. It didn’t abstain from bad similes, however – I know I read an ARC, not the final edition, but was that sentence about the corset being so tight Katza’s breasts could have popped free and smacked her chin necessary? That’s the kind of thing that makes me cringe, taking me out of the story.
This book wasn’t completely bad. I ended up liking the main character, and I appreciated that she was angry and messy and inexperienced, but “angry and naive” is just not a combination that works for me. At least she grows out of it. Another thing I liked was the magic system – it was really interesting, and I loved its symbolism. I also really liked how the book showed that you can’t solve everything with the awesome magic power you inherited from your super special bloodline. That’s a trope too many fantasy books fall into.
I received an ARC (advanced reader copy) from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, it didn’t deliver.
For most of the book, I didn’t love the main character. She starts the book being a naive fool, then she takes a 180 turn to ruthless fool and control freak, and doesn’t understand anything of what is happening around her until 70% into the book. Which wouldn’t have been a problem (I do like unlikable, messy heroines) if I hadn’t guessed everything that was going to happen during the first chapters. I said this other times, I will say this again: predictable political intrigue makes your book feel cheap.
I really liked Katza’s character arc – she has a lot of development and she learns from her mistakes – but you still have to endure almost 300 pages of her being oblivious while you know exactly where the story is going. Was it worth it? I don’t think so.
The romantic plotline was a disappointment. I’m always here for pairings like this one (love interests who are kind of monstrous? Girls who might be worse? Sign me up), so this should have been perfect for me, but it wasn’t. The problem I had with Ravin is that he’s really… monotonous. When I fist met him, I thought he was a creep. When I was in the middle of the book, I thought he was a creep, and not an interesting one, as he kept repeating the same things over and over. At the end of the book, I thought he was a creep. There’s no depth to him, he has no character development, and he’s just not that compelling as a character. I didn’t understand the pull between him and Katza.
To me, Web of Frost felt like one of the many books set in Russia that try to explore themes similar to those in Shadow and Bone (light/dark dynamics, unhealthy romance, saints and religion) and fail. Leigh Bardugo did it better.
The beginning reminded me of Burning Glass by Kathryn Purdie because of its setting and naive, inconsistent main character, but at least Web of Frost tries to develop the political intrigue and themes instead of being driven only by the romance.
I also didn’t love the writing. It didn’t flow well, and there was no atmosphere, which was a disappointment: this setting has so much potential. It didn’t abstain from bad similes, however – I know I read an ARC, not the final edition, but was that sentence about the corset being so tight Katza’s breasts could have popped free and smacked her chin necessary? That’s the kind of thing that makes me cringe, taking me out of the story.
This book wasn’t completely bad. I ended up liking the main character, and I appreciated that she was angry and messy and inexperienced, but “angry and naive” is just not a combination that works for me. At least she grows out of it. Another thing I liked was the magic system – it was really interesting, and I loved its symbolism. I also really liked how the book showed that you can’t solve everything with the awesome magic power you inherited from your super special bloodline. That’s a trope too many fantasy books fall into.
I received an ARC (advanced reader copy) from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 28, 2018
Rating ~1.75?
"I am whole already. Without you."
Well, that was quite the bloody nightmare, until right about the end when our heroine finally started to use her brain.
For most of the book, my feelings fluctuated between this:
And this:
But like I said, at the end, our heroine finally found the brain I think she lost somewhere at the beginning and finally, I could see myself possibly rooting for her.
Things I liked:
The setting, Russalka ~ Russia
It's a place visited not nearly enough it Fantasy so that part I liked. The magic system was a bit strange to me, but I still found it interesting nevertheless. I hope we get more details on this is mysterious magic, prophecy craziness down the road.
I also liked the mentions of Bintar, Fahed's homeland, which seemed meant to represent a Middle Eastern culture. I hope we get more glimpses of Bintar in the future installments as well.
Things I did not like:
Almost everything else. Katza was just so unlikeable to me. She was weak in all aspects of her character. Constantly, comparing herself to her brother who honestly sounds way more interesting and part of me wishes this book was about him instead. She is also illogical. Katza refuses to listen to the ideas and counsel of Fahed, the man who is meant to be her husband, because, after all, she just met him, she does not know him, she cannot trust him, he only wants power etc. Then she turns around immediately trusts Ravin, constantly seeks his counsel, only feels right with her decisions if he approves etc. Like bitch, don't pretend this has anything to do with trust, it's cause you want Ravin. But that is not the only thing she lies to herself about, she also constantly talks herself into believing that every terrible act she commits is for the good of her country, her people and those who do not show complete obedience and appreciate her kindness, who can't see that see that her outrageous actions are supposed to be for their sake, well then they're just ungrateful. Basically, she is terrible and I hated her at least 90% of the time.
But thankfully, when it came to the ultimate choice and sacrifice she made the right choice. Praise, otherwise my Kindle might have been flung across the room. Honestly, this whole thing was sort of like watching a car fire. You know it's a terrible thing, but you keep watch to see how it all ends and if people make it out alive.
Anyway, all things aside I am curious to see where the story goes so I may actually check out the second book to see if Katza manages to pull this shit off.
"I am whole already. Without you."
Well, that was quite the bloody nightmare, until right about the end when our heroine finally started to use her brain.
For most of the book, my feelings fluctuated between this:
And this:
But like I said, at the end, our heroine finally found the brain I think she lost somewhere at the beginning and finally, I could see myself possibly rooting for her.
Things I liked:
The setting, Russalka ~ Russia
It's a place visited not nearly enough it Fantasy so that part I liked. The magic system was a bit strange to me, but I still found it interesting nevertheless. I hope we get more details on this is mysterious magic, prophecy craziness down the road.
I also liked the mentions of Bintar, Fahed's homeland, which seemed meant to represent a Middle Eastern culture. I hope we get more glimpses of Bintar in the future installments as well.
Things I did not like:
Almost everything else. Katza was just so unlikeable to me. She was weak in all aspects of her character. Constantly, comparing herself to her brother who honestly sounds way more interesting and part of me wishes this book was about him instead. She is also illogical. Katza refuses to listen to the ideas and counsel of Fahed, the man who is meant to be her husband, because, after all, she just met him, she does not know him, she cannot trust him, he only wants power etc. Then she turns around immediately trusts Ravin, constantly seeks his counsel, only feels right with her decisions if he approves etc. Like bitch, don't pretend this has anything to do with trust, it's cause you want Ravin. But that is not the only thing she lies to herself about, she also constantly talks herself into believing that every terrible act she commits is for the good of her country, her people and those who do not show complete obedience and appreciate her kindness, who can't see that see that her outrageous actions are supposed to be for their sake, well then they're just ungrateful. Basically, she is terrible and I hated her at least 90% of the time.
But thankfully, when it came to the ultimate choice and sacrifice she made the right choice. Praise, otherwise my Kindle might have been flung across the room. Honestly, this whole thing was sort of like watching a car fire. You know it's a terrible thing, but you keep watch to see how it all ends and if people make it out alive.
Anyway, all things aside I am curious to see where the story goes so I may actually check out the second book to see if Katza manages to pull this shit off.
will-not-read-finish
February 22, 2018I've tried to read this, I've tried.
But Smith did something with the Russian language that I just can't abide. I don't know if she did what Leigh Bardugo did, and changed words just a little to suit her needs or is she just gets them wrong but dear god, are they wrong. Plus they're italicized so it's like seeing all the mistakes on the page ahead of time. I've read Smith's previous work - also based in Russia - and while the language in it wasn't horrible - there were mistakes. But this was just awful.
I didn't make it very far because it annoyed me that much. So if you're Russian, beware, this will give you a headache.
But Smith did something with the Russian language that I just can't abide. I don't know if she did what Leigh Bardugo did, and changed words just a little to suit her needs or is she just gets them wrong but dear god, are they wrong. Plus they're italicized so it's like seeing all the mistakes on the page ahead of time. I've read Smith's previous work - also based in Russia - and while the language in it wasn't horrible - there were mistakes. But this was just awful.
I didn't make it very far because it annoyed me that much. So if you're Russian, beware, this will give you a headache.
January 12, 2018
I am a slightly biased editor, and I can't wait for everyone to meet Katza!
February 8, 2018
Thank you so much to the publisher and Lindsay Smith for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Web of Frost through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and do not represent thoughts about the author or publisher.
I enjoyed Web of Frost for the first 50% of the book and then unfortunately I found myself a little bored. The world building was great. As a big fan of Russia and its history I enjoyed seeing the similarities the author had drawn. The idea of using Saints as magical aids was intriguing too. Overall I would not recommend this book to my friends and family, but I can certainly see how some would really enjoy it.
I enjoyed Web of Frost for the first 50% of the book and then unfortunately I found myself a little bored. The world building was great. As a big fan of Russia and its history I enjoyed seeing the similarities the author had drawn. The idea of using Saints as magical aids was intriguing too. Overall I would not recommend this book to my friends and family, but I can certainly see how some would really enjoy it.
February 14, 2018
Web of Frost will immerse you in a world of mysticism and folklore. With its elegant prose, and vivid imagery, it feels like a dream. For those who love enchanting stories full of Russian folklore and stunning twists, you will not be disappointed.
I was absolutely stunned at how much I enjoyed this one. Lindsay Smith enchanted me right from the start. I could see everything in my mind so clearly as if I was watching a movie set in a fantasy world.
Web of Frost introduced me to an incredible world cloaked in folklore and magic. I never felt lost or confused. The world was highly developed and I loved the flow of the story and the way the saints were incorporated in to the every day life of the characters.
I loved the fact that Katza was not the typical strong willed ya character. She was actually quite gullible, and weak at times. But, she fit the story and emanated grief at having suffered loss while her kingdom was on the bring of falling from a rebellion. She also had powerful moments of fierceness when using her gifts.
Ravin was dark and mysterious. It was no surprise as to the role he played in tempting Katza's heart. He was a tempestuous influence on Katza and he added intrigue to the story.
This story felt like a Russian folk tale. It had a mildly slow pace, but was fascinating as far as its development and depth. With the amount of world building Lindsay did, I was quite surprised to learn that the saints were, in fact, fiction. The mythology and folklore entwined in the tale felt genuine and captivated my mind and my heart. This one had me so entranced that I have already decided to pre-order book two the minute it is announced!
I was absolutely stunned at how much I enjoyed this one. Lindsay Smith enchanted me right from the start. I could see everything in my mind so clearly as if I was watching a movie set in a fantasy world.
Web of Frost introduced me to an incredible world cloaked in folklore and magic. I never felt lost or confused. The world was highly developed and I loved the flow of the story and the way the saints were incorporated in to the every day life of the characters.
I loved the fact that Katza was not the typical strong willed ya character. She was actually quite gullible, and weak at times. But, she fit the story and emanated grief at having suffered loss while her kingdom was on the bring of falling from a rebellion. She also had powerful moments of fierceness when using her gifts.
Ravin was dark and mysterious. It was no surprise as to the role he played in tempting Katza's heart. He was a tempestuous influence on Katza and he added intrigue to the story.
This story felt like a Russian folk tale. It had a mildly slow pace, but was fascinating as far as its development and depth. With the amount of world building Lindsay did, I was quite surprised to learn that the saints were, in fact, fiction. The mythology and folklore entwined in the tale felt genuine and captivated my mind and my heart. This one had me so entranced that I have already decided to pre-order book two the minute it is announced!
August 23, 2018
There was a lot of potential here to make a really interesting, unlikeable/messy main character, and I've seen a lot of reviews touch on it but none of them have brought up what I think is the biggest problem - Katza kind of doesn't have much to her at the start of the book.
When the story opens, she's bogged down with thoughts of all the things she isn't. Mostly, that she isn't her brother, the golden child of the family who just died. That's...pretty much the sum of her character, she's a lack of traits and whines about them. We don't get to really connect with her and find out her own, personal thoughts or goals or morals. (But mostly that last one, the morals.) So when characters start to reassure her that she's "strong," I'm left going "but why? and how? and maybe show?" When the villain of the piece manipulates her, it doesn't have any weight to me, because Katza is just such a blank slate that it doesn't even feel like manipulation. We don't even get much in the way of history for Katza, as no part of the story ever comments on her past, her childhood, her connections to the people around her, or any acts she might have committed in her entire 17ish years of life. She might as well be a magical clone that was created yesterday for all the interpersonal weight she has.
So when she starts doing brutal and desperate things while being manipulated...there's no emotional payoff for that. It's just tedious. I can see what the book wanted to do, and on a conceptual level it's really interesting. I like the exploration of power going on here, I like way Katza continually justifies things to herself while taking progressively more extreme steps. I just...don't feel invested in it.
Added to the problem of Katza is the fact that all of this manipulation going on by the books main bad guy is very, very obvious from the start, so the book drags on while waiting for our viewpoint character to catch up. I think the villain was supposed to be kinda grey/quasi, and thus cause tension through a 'is he really bad, or is he really that bad' tension, but I wasn't sold at any point. He was just bad from the start.
Last thing I want to talk about is the magic system, which is tied up very thoroughly with Russalka's religion. People call on the 'saints' for 'blessings' that take the form of magical happenings, and the royal family can call on all the saints and thus all the different kinds of magic. Throughout the story we find out that the saints aren't really necessary, some people can just access magic directly. Which is cool...until you think about the rest of the world. Because there's a rather pervasive feeling that this magic system is treated the same way religion would be in our world, with people in the book going so far as to talk about how they 'don't believe in the saints,' and a character from another country having a whole different religion. And...okay, but once praying can cause very visible insta-healing or make a whole bay freeze in the middle of summer, doesn't that kind of fuck the notion of not believing? Can other religions access this magic, but in a different way? Do they just not have magic? It's implied that the saints religion is just a tool for accessing the power, but then shouldn't people from other countries also be able to access it? Is Russalka blocking other countries from access? Are other countries mad about this? I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS.
When will fantasies stop writing in tangible proof of their religions and then failing to change how those religions are handled?
Sigh, anyway. The setting is fun, and it's very interesting on a conceptual level, but the minute you step down from that over-arching view, there's just too many unanswered questions and missing pieces.
When the story opens, she's bogged down with thoughts of all the things she isn't. Mostly, that she isn't her brother, the golden child of the family who just died. That's...pretty much the sum of her character, she's a lack of traits and whines about them. We don't get to really connect with her and find out her own, personal thoughts or goals or morals. (But mostly that last one, the morals.) So when characters start to reassure her that she's "strong," I'm left going "but why? and how? and maybe show?" When the villain of the piece manipulates her, it doesn't have any weight to me, because Katza is just such a blank slate that it doesn't even feel like manipulation. We don't even get much in the way of history for Katza, as no part of the story ever comments on her past, her childhood, her connections to the people around her, or any acts she might have committed in her entire 17ish years of life. She might as well be a magical clone that was created yesterday for all the interpersonal weight she has.
So when she starts doing brutal and desperate things while being manipulated...there's no emotional payoff for that. It's just tedious. I can see what the book wanted to do, and on a conceptual level it's really interesting. I like the exploration of power going on here, I like way Katza continually justifies things to herself while taking progressively more extreme steps. I just...don't feel invested in it.
Added to the problem of Katza is the fact that all of this manipulation going on by the books main bad guy is very, very obvious from the start, so the book drags on while waiting for our viewpoint character to catch up. I think the villain was supposed to be kinda grey/quasi, and thus cause tension through a 'is he really bad, or is he really that bad' tension, but I wasn't sold at any point. He was just bad from the start.
Last thing I want to talk about is the magic system, which is tied up very thoroughly with Russalka's religion. People call on the 'saints' for 'blessings' that take the form of magical happenings, and the royal family can call on all the saints and thus all the different kinds of magic. Throughout the story we find out that the saints aren't really necessary, some people can just access magic directly. Which is cool...until you think about the rest of the world. Because there's a rather pervasive feeling that this magic system is treated the same way religion would be in our world, with people in the book going so far as to talk about how they 'don't believe in the saints,' and a character from another country having a whole different religion. And...okay, but once praying can cause very visible insta-healing or make a whole bay freeze in the middle of summer, doesn't that kind of fuck the notion of not believing? Can other religions access this magic, but in a different way? Do they just not have magic? It's implied that the saints religion is just a tool for accessing the power, but then shouldn't people from other countries also be able to access it? Is Russalka blocking other countries from access? Are other countries mad about this? I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS.
When will fantasies stop writing in tangible proof of their religions and then failing to change how those religions are handled?
Sigh, anyway. The setting is fun, and it's very interesting on a conceptual level, but the minute you step down from that over-arching view, there's just too many unanswered questions and missing pieces.
February 25, 2018
Katza, heir to the throne of Russalka, is troubled by visions that seem to prophesy she will destroy the country she wants to nurture and protect. Ravin is a darkly attractive prophet who wishes her to seize control of her tentative powers and use them at her own will, free from the restraints her tsar father and state officials have imposed. Katza must decide what she and her struggling country truly need--complete freedom or complete control--before they both fall to pieces.
Web of Frost is an intriguing fantasy, both for its setting, its magic system, and its characters. I loved the flavor of tsarist Russia--the ice, the furs, the ornate palaces in stark contrast to the poverty of the working classes. The political aspect of a kingdom tipping on the cliff between monarchy and anarchy drives the plot forward without bogging it down in, well, politics. Other kingdoms, less obviously correlated with real countries, have their affects and their influence, but it's for the sake of action and character development. And the Russalkan culture is integrated smoothly as well, from the danse sacre to the fairy tales to the sleds carrying Katza through the cold.
The magic system also stands out. Keeping the hint of Russian influence, it's similar to Eastern Orthodoxy--a great deity or power figure, Boj, and under him a pantheon of saints. Each saint can be called upon to grant a gift--eagle vision or healing or calming power. The church has kept the power limited to royalty and certain other gifted people known as prophets, though illegal (unsanctioned) "prophets" do exist. Throughout the book Katza learns more about how the powers work, what they do and how best to use them, and she keeps a small enough list of powers commonly on hand that the reader grows familiar with them, instead of pulling out a new random power and saint every time she needs something done.
Finally, the characters. Ravin is well developed, from his innocent first appearance to his increasingly worrying hold over Katza (I'm not sure how much to say, because spoilers). The prince Fahed, Katza's betrothed, also is shown to be more than just a handsome face, though I might have liked a truly supportive fiance, as Katza has very few true allies. He does eventually function as more a political figure than a corner of a love triangle, however, which I appreciate.
And Katza. Where do I start with Katza. I'm actually rather torn. Her circumstances understandably could turn a timid girl into a potential despot, but being in her head as she made that slide with almost no misgivings got on my nerves. It's probably a sign that I was attached to her, though, as I was rooting for her to make the right decisions, cheering when she finally made them, and mentally screaming at her when she did the wrong thing (especially after almost choosing otherwise). What's even eerier is that her poor decisions made sense based on where she was coming from. I guess that's a sign of a well-done character, when she can be annoying but you're still on her side.
One note of content warning: several strongly romantic scenes or descriptions. No completely graphic, but a few scenes of intense kissing etc. that may make some readers (including me) uncomfortable.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, the character development, and the beautiful writing style that drew me in to Russalka and Katza. If you want a new spin on a Russian-style fantasy, why not give Web of Frost a try some winter afternoon?
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Web of Frost is an intriguing fantasy, both for its setting, its magic system, and its characters. I loved the flavor of tsarist Russia--the ice, the furs, the ornate palaces in stark contrast to the poverty of the working classes. The political aspect of a kingdom tipping on the cliff between monarchy and anarchy drives the plot forward without bogging it down in, well, politics. Other kingdoms, less obviously correlated with real countries, have their affects and their influence, but it's for the sake of action and character development. And the Russalkan culture is integrated smoothly as well, from the danse sacre to the fairy tales to the sleds carrying Katza through the cold.
The magic system also stands out. Keeping the hint of Russian influence, it's similar to Eastern Orthodoxy--a great deity or power figure, Boj, and under him a pantheon of saints. Each saint can be called upon to grant a gift--eagle vision or healing or calming power. The church has kept the power limited to royalty and certain other gifted people known as prophets, though illegal (unsanctioned) "prophets" do exist. Throughout the book Katza learns more about how the powers work, what they do and how best to use them, and she keeps a small enough list of powers commonly on hand that the reader grows familiar with them, instead of pulling out a new random power and saint every time she needs something done.
Finally, the characters. Ravin is well developed, from his innocent first appearance to his increasingly worrying hold over Katza (I'm not sure how much to say, because spoilers). The prince Fahed, Katza's betrothed, also is shown to be more than just a handsome face, though I might have liked a truly supportive fiance, as Katza has very few true allies. He does eventually function as more a political figure than a corner of a love triangle, however, which I appreciate.
And Katza. Where do I start with Katza. I'm actually rather torn. Her circumstances understandably could turn a timid girl into a potential despot, but being in her head as she made that slide with almost no misgivings got on my nerves. It's probably a sign that I was attached to her, though, as I was rooting for her to make the right decisions, cheering when she finally made them, and mentally screaming at her when she did the wrong thing (especially after almost choosing otherwise). What's even eerier is that her poor decisions made sense based on where she was coming from. I guess that's a sign of a well-done character, when she can be annoying but you're still on her side.
One note of content warning: several strongly romantic scenes or descriptions. No completely graphic, but a few scenes of intense kissing etc. that may make some readers (including me) uncomfortable.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, the character development, and the beautiful writing style that drew me in to Russalka and Katza. If you want a new spin on a Russian-style fantasy, why not give Web of Frost a try some winter afternoon?
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
October 10, 2019
Web of Frost by Lindsay Smith
4⭐️
- ALARKLING LIVES (kinda)
- loved the magic system
- the Russian bullshit I live for
- too easy/fast for Katza to master the magic and grow a spine
- lil predictable
4⭐️
- ALARKLING LIVES (kinda)
- loved the magic system
- the Russian bullshit I live for
- too easy/fast for Katza to master the magic and grow a spine
- lil predictable
February 25, 2018
Ugh, I have so many complaints about this book and I have to admit, I got so fed up with the ‘heroine’ that I only skimmed the second half. The description promised a lot of things it never delivered on and I HATED Katza, the main character. The fantasy veneer over events heavily based on/influenced by the Russian Revolution was pretty thin, though the unique religious structure was just interesting enough to keep this from being a straight-up F review…barely.
I’m not sure I’ve ever come across a more wimpy, whiny, and brainless character than Katza… at least, not one who was presented as a heroine I was supposed to take seriously. Look, I get that losing her brother was tragic and traumatic and that she’d been brought up to not use her gifts, but WE GET IT ALREADY, STOP REMINDING US EVERY OTHER SENTENCE. She had zero personality, going from milquetoast to control freak without learning anything or developing, and her wishy-washy emotions and reactions had nothing to back them up; they were more a convenience for the author than because they were a natural reaction to a given situation. Ravin was flat, predictable, and beyond obvious, creepy from the beginning with nothing to really redeem him. He never grows or changes. The ‘romance’ between the two was eye-rollingly contrived and clumsy and not present enough to merit this being classified as a romance. I wish I’d known that before I agreed to review this book, because I’d have passed and saved myself the wasted time.
As far as secondary characters were concerned, they were ultimately forgettable. All the Russian-esque names were hard for me to remember, let alone pronounce, though it might not have been such a struggle if any of them had been given a personality. The arc of the political goings-on was boringly predictable and Katza being totally oblivious to it for the majority of the story just made me want it to be over already. In addition to crappy characters and names that were both hard to pronounce and remember, Web of Frost needed an editor in a bad way. Nothing screams “rookie” more than a double-spaced ebook (if you’ve ever stumbled across one, you know that annoyance). There were also extra words and sentences that were cut off by… incomplete dialogue, maybe? I honestly don’t even know what was going on (shaking free of her prophet-“ @ loc 268). The writing style didn’t flow well and for what promised to be a rich setting, there was no feeling to it.
However, as I mentioned earlier, this book wasn’t all let-down and unfulfilled potential. In fact, the religious aspects of Web of Frost were the a redeeming quality of interest. The idea of magic based on the gifts and blessings of saints was unique and fairly well thought out. It reminded me a little of the deity setup in The Elder Scrolls, with patrons of certain gifts/attributes. Honestly, it was pretty cool. I wish Katza had employed it less clumsily but seeing how it all worked and how effective it could be made me want to know more.
Bottom line: Even with the intriguing religion, this was disappointing overall and not recommended. I will not be continuing the series.
Review first appears on Red Hot Books
I’m not sure I’ve ever come across a more wimpy, whiny, and brainless character than Katza… at least, not one who was presented as a heroine I was supposed to take seriously. Look, I get that losing her brother was tragic and traumatic and that she’d been brought up to not use her gifts, but WE GET IT ALREADY, STOP REMINDING US EVERY OTHER SENTENCE. She had zero personality, going from milquetoast to control freak without learning anything or developing, and her wishy-washy emotions and reactions had nothing to back them up; they were more a convenience for the author than because they were a natural reaction to a given situation. Ravin was flat, predictable, and beyond obvious, creepy from the beginning with nothing to really redeem him. He never grows or changes. The ‘romance’ between the two was eye-rollingly contrived and clumsy and not present enough to merit this being classified as a romance. I wish I’d known that before I agreed to review this book, because I’d have passed and saved myself the wasted time.
As far as secondary characters were concerned, they were ultimately forgettable. All the Russian-esque names were hard for me to remember, let alone pronounce, though it might not have been such a struggle if any of them had been given a personality. The arc of the political goings-on was boringly predictable and Katza being totally oblivious to it for the majority of the story just made me want it to be over already. In addition to crappy characters and names that were both hard to pronounce and remember, Web of Frost needed an editor in a bad way. Nothing screams “rookie” more than a double-spaced ebook (if you’ve ever stumbled across one, you know that annoyance). There were also extra words and sentences that were cut off by… incomplete dialogue, maybe? I honestly don’t even know what was going on (shaking free of her prophet-“ @ loc 268). The writing style didn’t flow well and for what promised to be a rich setting, there was no feeling to it.
However, as I mentioned earlier, this book wasn’t all let-down and unfulfilled potential. In fact, the religious aspects of Web of Frost were the a redeeming quality of interest. The idea of magic based on the gifts and blessings of saints was unique and fairly well thought out. It reminded me a little of the deity setup in The Elder Scrolls, with patrons of certain gifts/attributes. Honestly, it was pretty cool. I wish Katza had employed it less clumsily but seeing how it all worked and how effective it could be made me want to know more.
Bottom line: Even with the intriguing religion, this was disappointing overall and not recommended. I will not be continuing the series.
Review first appears on Red Hot Books
March 21, 2019
Katza is a naïve young woman who gets taken advantage of the moment someone sees her as something other than a useless and untrained princess. Reminiscent of a villain origin story, Katza is lead down a dark path where she believes she’s doing right by her kingdom, yet her people know she’s the one making them suffer.
To anyone who reads this book and complains that Katza is naïve and isn’t making morally pure choices, THAT’S THE POINT. Katza gets angry, she does the wrong thing, she acts like a villain, and honestly that’s what makes this book so refreshing.
I love that Katza is flawed and isn’t a perfect leader. I love that’s she angry and wrong and falling down a dark hole she might not be able to climb out of. It’s called conflict and some people don’t seem to understand that about this book.
While I loved this book, though, there were still some things from a craft standpoint that I wish were better. For starters, I would have loved to see more of Katza’s inner thoughts. It’s lacking in this book and when we do get her thoughts, the pretty repetitive, which fair, that’s an important part of the story, but I would have loved to see her more fleshed out. In fact, I think all the characters needed more life added to them. We get a basic idea about all the major players, but it feels very surface level. Close to end of the book, there’s a scene and it feels like it comes out of nowhere because we didn’t see anything that would have lead up to that.
None of that hindered my overall enjoy, though. Web of Frost is still a wonderful book and one that is rather different than most mainstream books you see every reviewer talking about.
If you enjoy fantasy Russia and a “the protagonist may be the villain” twist, you’ll love this book.
To anyone who reads this book and complains that Katza is naïve and isn’t making morally pure choices, THAT’S THE POINT. Katza gets angry, she does the wrong thing, she acts like a villain, and honestly that’s what makes this book so refreshing.
I love that Katza is flawed and isn’t a perfect leader. I love that’s she angry and wrong and falling down a dark hole she might not be able to climb out of. It’s called conflict and some people don’t seem to understand that about this book.
While I loved this book, though, there were still some things from a craft standpoint that I wish were better. For starters, I would have loved to see more of Katza’s inner thoughts. It’s lacking in this book and when we do get her thoughts, the pretty repetitive, which fair, that’s an important part of the story, but I would have loved to see her more fleshed out. In fact, I think all the characters needed more life added to them. We get a basic idea about all the major players, but it feels very surface level. Close to end of the book, there’s a scene and it feels like it comes out of nowhere because we didn’t see anything that would have lead up to that.
None of that hindered my overall enjoy, though. Web of Frost is still a wonderful book and one that is rather different than most mainstream books you see every reviewer talking about.
If you enjoy fantasy Russia and a “the protagonist may be the villain” twist, you’ll love this book.
November 7, 2018
Waiting for Book Two!
I liked this almost more than I’d like to admit. The setting felt solid, and it was easy to picture the details of each place in my imagination because the writing allowed for it — that’s a definite plus. There are books I’ve read where I can hardly conjure up any ideas of what things look like, either because there’s nothing to go off of or because the prose is so flowery and ephemeral it obfuscates the actual concrete details.
Several times I wanted to kick the main character. This is also good. She wasn’t perfect by any means necessary, and while there were a few times when she was able to do Exactly What the Plot Conveniently Requires, her otherwise overall flawed humanness made her feel endearing and relatable.
The “antagonist” of the story was easily the best part. Hands down one of my recent favorites. I’m not only referring to the actual antagonist of the story, but what they represented as the internal antagonist for the main heroine.
There are a lot of really strong scenes — again as a result of very strong writing — that really stuck with me, even a whiiile after finishing the book.
One star off for the occasional railroad feeling of the plotting that left behind a slight feeling of irritation each time I encountered it, but to be honest the rest of the experience more than makes up for it.
Excited to see where the story goes!
I liked this almost more than I’d like to admit. The setting felt solid, and it was easy to picture the details of each place in my imagination because the writing allowed for it — that’s a definite plus. There are books I’ve read where I can hardly conjure up any ideas of what things look like, either because there’s nothing to go off of or because the prose is so flowery and ephemeral it obfuscates the actual concrete details.
Several times I wanted to kick the main character. This is also good. She wasn’t perfect by any means necessary, and while there were a few times when she was able to do Exactly What the Plot Conveniently Requires, her otherwise overall flawed humanness made her feel endearing and relatable.
The “antagonist” of the story was easily the best part. Hands down one of my recent favorites. I’m not only referring to the actual antagonist of the story, but what they represented as the internal antagonist for the main heroine.
There are a lot of really strong scenes — again as a result of very strong writing — that really stuck with me, even a whiiile after finishing the book.
One star off for the occasional railroad feeling of the plotting that left behind a slight feeling of irritation each time I encountered it, but to be honest the rest of the experience more than makes up for it.
Excited to see where the story goes!
February 13, 2018
Part historical, part fantastical, Web of Frost is worth the read.
A young girl is destined to be married off to ensure prosperity of her family's throne. Instead, she finds herself to be married, yes, but instead of moving away, she is to be trained to take the throne. Mourning for her older brother, Katza, born of powerful blood, fears everything especially herself. But the Silov's are powerful and her visions show her the way.
When an uprising kills her father, Katza finds herself truly alone. Ruling an entire kingdom and finding she has been sheltered from too much about her people, she turns to a young prophet to aid her. Yet the church has cast him out. What is a young tsarika to do when the taste of raw power Ravin offers is bittersweet and she craves something entirely different?
The plot twists and turns in this coming of age first novel in the series is breath-taking. For what I've pictured in my minds eye is something combining Dr. Zhivago, Xmen and a half dozen other B-rated movies. Personally, I look forward to the second novel in the series and hope I have the chance to review it as well. I cannot wait to discover what happens in Katza's life as she matures in her power and in her status as the tsarika.
A young girl is destined to be married off to ensure prosperity of her family's throne. Instead, she finds herself to be married, yes, but instead of moving away, she is to be trained to take the throne. Mourning for her older brother, Katza, born of powerful blood, fears everything especially herself. But the Silov's are powerful and her visions show her the way.
When an uprising kills her father, Katza finds herself truly alone. Ruling an entire kingdom and finding she has been sheltered from too much about her people, she turns to a young prophet to aid her. Yet the church has cast him out. What is a young tsarika to do when the taste of raw power Ravin offers is bittersweet and she craves something entirely different?
The plot twists and turns in this coming of age first novel in the series is breath-taking. For what I've pictured in my minds eye is something combining Dr. Zhivago, Xmen and a half dozen other B-rated movies. Personally, I look forward to the second novel in the series and hope I have the chance to review it as well. I cannot wait to discover what happens in Katza's life as she matures in her power and in her status as the tsarika.
February 18, 2018
2.5 - 3 stars
Web of Frost is the first book in the Saints of Russalka series by Lindsay Smith and as soon as I read the summary, I knew I wanted to get my hands on this book. I ended up having mixed feelings about this one and it may be because the books I love typically include characters that have me fully invested in them, but I wasn’t really a fan of anyone in this story. With that said, the story itself was interesting and kept me turning the pages.
This story is centered on a young princess who becomes a queen who is fully unprepared to lead her country. Having grown up as the younger daughter, Katza was never expected to lead and because of a vision she continues to have, she is afraid to use her magic to help. When she meets a young prophet named Ravin who has a questionable reputation, she begins to trust in her powers and question the rules.
Katza was so wishy washy from the start that I just didn’t know what to think about her. And then once she started spending time with Ravin and embracing her power in conjunction with leading the empire, she was someone completely different. While I suppose it was growth, it just felt like she was trying to be someone she wasn’t really comfortable with and it was really only because Ravin was nudging her to do it, not because she thought she could.
I found Ravin to be interesting. While he definitely had ulterior motives, he was the only one who encouraged Katza to embrace her role and he power that comes along with her bloodline. I can’t say I liked him or what he was trying to get her to do, but it was his storyline that kept me turning the pages as I wanted to know what he was up to and why.
I thought the story itself had a lot of promise and I loved that it had a Russian feel to it. As the empire faces a rebellion from the very people it is there to protect, Katza has to figure out how to quell the anger as well as keep her strength and power through her reign. She definitely has to make some concessions and it will be interesting to see where Smith takes the rest of the story.
As I mentioned, I am on the fence with this book due to the characters, but I am thinking it was because I couldn’t connect with any of them. I might check out the next book to see what happens next but I’m not sure yet…we’ll have to see.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
Web of Frost is the first book in the Saints of Russalka series by Lindsay Smith and as soon as I read the summary, I knew I wanted to get my hands on this book. I ended up having mixed feelings about this one and it may be because the books I love typically include characters that have me fully invested in them, but I wasn’t really a fan of anyone in this story. With that said, the story itself was interesting and kept me turning the pages.
This story is centered on a young princess who becomes a queen who is fully unprepared to lead her country. Having grown up as the younger daughter, Katza was never expected to lead and because of a vision she continues to have, she is afraid to use her magic to help. When she meets a young prophet named Ravin who has a questionable reputation, she begins to trust in her powers and question the rules.
Katza was so wishy washy from the start that I just didn’t know what to think about her. And then once she started spending time with Ravin and embracing her power in conjunction with leading the empire, she was someone completely different. While I suppose it was growth, it just felt like she was trying to be someone she wasn’t really comfortable with and it was really only because Ravin was nudging her to do it, not because she thought she could.
I found Ravin to be interesting. While he definitely had ulterior motives, he was the only one who encouraged Katza to embrace her role and he power that comes along with her bloodline. I can’t say I liked him or what he was trying to get her to do, but it was his storyline that kept me turning the pages as I wanted to know what he was up to and why.
I thought the story itself had a lot of promise and I loved that it had a Russian feel to it. As the empire faces a rebellion from the very people it is there to protect, Katza has to figure out how to quell the anger as well as keep her strength and power through her reign. She definitely has to make some concessions and it will be interesting to see where Smith takes the rest of the story.
As I mentioned, I am on the fence with this book due to the characters, but I am thinking it was because I couldn’t connect with any of them. I might check out the next book to see what happens next but I’m not sure yet…we’ll have to see.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 4, 2018
This was an intriguing book. Katza is a princess who never expected to be in control of her kingdom. It was always supposed to go to her older brother. Her job was to marry whichever royal her father deemed and strengthen ties to a bordering empire. Life has a way of changing everything. Her family has always had power, but the priests have limited how much they can use it.
Katza wants to do what her older bother would be proud of and be a voice for their people. Her brother used power more than he was supposed to and she is scared of hers. Her visions show a terrible fate for her country, but are they true visions or her own fears? She meets Ravin, a prophet unlike any other she has ever met. He wants to help her but will her acceptance of his help be the best thing she's ever done or the worst mistake she has ever made? It is an interesting book from start to finish. It did get a bit bogged down in places, but overall it was a good story.
It was a 3/5 for me.
Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
Katza wants to do what her older bother would be proud of and be a voice for their people. Her brother used power more than he was supposed to and she is scared of hers. Her visions show a terrible fate for her country, but are they true visions or her own fears? She meets Ravin, a prophet unlike any other she has ever met. He wants to help her but will her acceptance of his help be the best thing she's ever done or the worst mistake she has ever made? It is an interesting book from start to finish. It did get a bit bogged down in places, but overall it was a good story.
It was a 3/5 for me.
Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
March 11, 2018
Katza is definitely thrust into a role she isn't prepared for (in many, many ways), while also dealing with grief. She's angry and feels like she lacks a support system, and she (understandably) turns to the people and actions that give her a sense of control.
I was sometimes frustrated with her wavering, but I was more frustrated with the portrayal of it. Sometimes it seemed like what we were shown she was thinking/feeling at a given time wasn't consistent with how she talked about it later, and not in an unreliable narrator kind of way. It's reasonable for her to be thinking and feeling lots of ways about what was going on (like being angry at and having compassion for the Russalkan people rebelling against Silov rule), but she seemed inconsistent, not just confused and conflicted and overwhelmed.
I like Fahed as a character. He does come on really strong, and it's perfectly reasonable that Katza would be suspicious of him making a power grab. He's an interesting contrast to Ravin. I would have liked to know more about Ravin, though. We get a backstory, but not much of him That's maybe part of the point, but it's a little unsatisfying.
I was sometimes frustrated with her wavering, but I was more frustrated with the portrayal of it. Sometimes it seemed like what we were shown she was thinking/feeling at a given time wasn't consistent with how she talked about it later, and not in an unreliable narrator kind of way. It's reasonable for her to be thinking and feeling lots of ways about what was going on (like being angry at and having compassion for the Russalkan people rebelling against Silov rule), but she seemed inconsistent, not just confused and conflicted and overwhelmed.
I like Fahed as a character. He does come on really strong, and it's perfectly reasonable that Katza would be suspicious of him making a power grab. He's an interesting contrast to Ravin. I would have liked to know more about Ravin, though. We get a backstory, but not much of him That's maybe part of the point, but it's a little unsatisfying.
December 25, 2018
When she had her ephiphany/epiphanies at the end, I just wanted to yell at Katza: "You don't say?!?!?!" It was just too obvious. And as a result of this, she seemed weak and stupid at best, and downright evil at worst.
The Russian lore in this book wasn't good. Several words were in cursive like they were foreign, but they were completely made up, e.g. "tsarika" instead of "tsaritsa". The author also seemed to think she could just take some random syllables, smash a -ev or -ov on at the end, and that would make it Russian(ish). It's telling that Katza's/Katarzyna's horse is called Katyusha - they literally share a name and just use different nicknames.
Because this book is such an obvious retelling of the Russian Revolution, it's obvious what will be happening. I wish it had been at least a little bit less obvious, but with a tsar being called Nikilov, his ailing son being called Aleksei, and the tsaritsa's pet cleric being called Ravin, there was not much left to guess. (Although I'm not sure if Ravin is indeed a variation of Rasputin, or if the author just couldn't be bothered to look up how to say "raven" in Russian.)
The Russian lore in this book wasn't good. Several words were in cursive like they were foreign, but they were completely made up, e.g. "tsarika" instead of "tsaritsa". The author also seemed to think she could just take some random syllables, smash a -ev or -ov on at the end, and that would make it Russian(ish). It's telling that Katza's/Katarzyna's horse is called Katyusha - they literally share a name and just use different nicknames.
Because this book is such an obvious retelling of the Russian Revolution, it's obvious what will be happening. I wish it had been at least a little bit less obvious, but with a tsar being called Nikilov, his ailing son being called Aleksei, and the tsaritsa's pet cleric being called Ravin, there was not much left to guess. (Although I'm not sure if Ravin is indeed a variation of Rasputin, or if the author just couldn't be bothered to look up how to say "raven" in Russian.)
February 6, 2018
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Web of Frost is the first installment in the Saint of Russalka series about a young girl name Katza who rises to power after a series of unfortunate events during a time of government uprising of the Russian revolution. Due to her magical heritage, she is prone to visions and is able to call on the saints to do her bidding. These aspects of the story were what intrigued me enough to pick it up. Unfortunately, the carry through was a bit lacking. Katza is a weak, annoying, immature girl who makes terrible choices without thinking things through and is easily distracted by boys. I found the story to be very predictable. The end got a bit better, but unfortunately, you have to get through the slow, annoying parts that make you want to grab Katza and shake her senseless. I did enjoy the Russian folklore and political aspects to the story.
Web of Frost is the first installment in the Saint of Russalka series about a young girl name Katza who rises to power after a series of unfortunate events during a time of government uprising of the Russian revolution. Due to her magical heritage, she is prone to visions and is able to call on the saints to do her bidding. These aspects of the story were what intrigued me enough to pick it up. Unfortunately, the carry through was a bit lacking. Katza is a weak, annoying, immature girl who makes terrible choices without thinking things through and is easily distracted by boys. I found the story to be very predictable. The end got a bit better, but unfortunately, you have to get through the slow, annoying parts that make you want to grab Katza and shake her senseless. I did enjoy the Russian folklore and political aspects to the story.
February 16, 2018
Sometimes i go into a book thinking i know what age group it geared for as it was this one i was expecting a middle grade novel but what i got instead was a fantastic young adult novel that has been crafted magnificently.
I was delighted with how much i love this interesting tale of a hierarchy that uses the saints power to defend their country. They have made everyone believe that the government are the only ones who can understand the blessings from the saints. Then we are introduced to Ravin who teaches that this is not the total truth. Our main character is left with the chance to mold her country into a whole new way of thinking. Will she take this who new power and give it to everyone with no way to control it or will she step away and teach Russalka who to grow and live without the blessings?
I was on the edge of my seat through out the story and was sure i knew what would happen and who the bad guys were. But like any good story what you think you know is not always true. The cliff hanger is perfect and i am eager to see what happens next in this series.
I was delighted with how much i love this interesting tale of a hierarchy that uses the saints power to defend their country. They have made everyone believe that the government are the only ones who can understand the blessings from the saints. Then we are introduced to Ravin who teaches that this is not the total truth. Our main character is left with the chance to mold her country into a whole new way of thinking. Will she take this who new power and give it to everyone with no way to control it or will she step away and teach Russalka who to grow and live without the blessings?
I was on the edge of my seat through out the story and was sure i knew what would happen and who the bad guys were. But like any good story what you think you know is not always true. The cliff hanger is perfect and i am eager to see what happens next in this series.
March 1, 2018
Neat
I like the kind of flowery language in this writing. It rly works well with the vibe of the world and the setting. It was sometimes a little bland but I kept reading because I wanted to see what was gonna happen; the politics are very relevant in These Sinful Days but also its its super interesting to see basically the other side of the revolutions where the ruler isn’t a mustache twirling villain
The magic was also super good. I really like the world building around the blessings and saints and there being deeper magic etc etc so! I’ll def be on the lookout for book two
I like the kind of flowery language in this writing. It rly works well with the vibe of the world and the setting. It was sometimes a little bland but I kept reading because I wanted to see what was gonna happen; the politics are very relevant in These Sinful Days but also its its super interesting to see basically the other side of the revolutions where the ruler isn’t a mustache twirling villain
The magic was also super good. I really like the world building around the blessings and saints and there being deeper magic etc etc so! I’ll def be on the lookout for book two
February 22, 2018
An intricate and enticing introduction to a fresh fantasy world. The lush fantastic-Russia setting and court politics provide a backdrop of intrigue for Katza's development into tsarika, while her relationship with Ravin will appeal to fans of the Darkling and Kylo Ren. Personally, I'm excited for perhaps more exploration of Nadika and the Mozgai use of the Saints' blessings in the second book, as well as plenty of revolution and the evolution of the tension between Katza, Ulmarova, and the Russalkan people!
March 1, 2018
I was given a free copy of this book for an honest review.
I tried several times to give this book a chance but I just could not get into the story line. It sounded so promising, about a Russian queen trying to save her people with her powers. The beginning of the story was just too slow, and the opening scene with the prophet was intriguing, but the story lost me when prince Fahed came into the story. I'm not sure if it was Smith's writing style, but I am very disappointed by this book. I hope others will read it and enjoy it, it just sadly wasn't for me.
I tried several times to give this book a chance but I just could not get into the story line. It sounded so promising, about a Russian queen trying to save her people with her powers. The beginning of the story was just too slow, and the opening scene with the prophet was intriguing, but the story lost me when prince Fahed came into the story. I'm not sure if it was Smith's writing style, but I am very disappointed by this book. I hope others will read it and enjoy it, it just sadly wasn't for me.
January 30, 2018
I received a copy from netgalley in exhange for sn honest review.
I actually really enjoyed this book. The politics and royal intrigue kept my attention and the character development was not terrible. A little slow, but some people take a while to learn who they are!
I actually really enjoyed this book. The politics and royal intrigue kept my attention and the character development was not terrible. A little slow, but some people take a while to learn who they are!
February 18, 2018
Weak
She is a weak ruler. Her power may be great but she has a super weak mind. Most of the book was her being manipulated, the worst part is it wasn't even sky, she is just dim. It felt like I was reading about a twelve year old girl with no backbone.
She is a weak ruler. Her power may be great but she has a super weak mind. Most of the book was her being manipulated, the worst part is it wasn't even sky, she is just dim. It felt like I was reading about a twelve year old girl with no backbone.
March 19, 2018
Disclaimer: I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
Katza is very young. She’s in her late teens. Completely unprepared to lead her kingdom of Russalka. Her father has left her completely in the dark about the kingdom, the web of intrigue around court life, the unhappiness of her subjects and her magical abilities. So once she gains some power, of course she mucks it all up.
Royally.
I’m not down on an anti-hero per se, but Katza was a little hard to take. She was obviously being manipulated by someone with ulterior motives (no spoilers so I won’t say who but it is very obvious). The magic she is using is also starting to influence her thoughts and feelings to a scary degree. She is becoming a danger to her own people. She needed to either snap the hell out of it or someone needed to put her down … yeah I said it … that’s how I felt, and that is a bad place for your heroine to be in.
The writing itself was not bad. The setting was interesting, but not inspiring. I know Russia is the trend right now, so the book was published with good timing. There were a few odd jumps forward that felt a little jarring. I was also left slightly confused by the end about the effects of the magical system. I’m not entirely sure if she was having the bad effects because of using the magic, or was it because of the outside influence? I’m not really sure. I know this is part of a series, but I’m not sufficiently interested in the character to come back again for a part two in order to find out the answers to my questions. Unfortunately, it is a no for me.
Katza is very young. She’s in her late teens. Completely unprepared to lead her kingdom of Russalka. Her father has left her completely in the dark about the kingdom, the web of intrigue around court life, the unhappiness of her subjects and her magical abilities. So once she gains some power, of course she mucks it all up.
Royally.
I’m not down on an anti-hero per se, but Katza was a little hard to take. She was obviously being manipulated by someone with ulterior motives (no spoilers so I won’t say who but it is very obvious). The magic she is using is also starting to influence her thoughts and feelings to a scary degree. She is becoming a danger to her own people. She needed to either snap the hell out of it or someone needed to put her down … yeah I said it … that’s how I felt, and that is a bad place for your heroine to be in.
The writing itself was not bad. The setting was interesting, but not inspiring. I know Russia is the trend right now, so the book was published with good timing. There were a few odd jumps forward that felt a little jarring. I was also left slightly confused by the end about the effects of the magical system. I’m not entirely sure if she was having the bad effects because of using the magic, or was it because of the outside influence? I’m not really sure. I know this is part of a series, but I’m not sufficiently interested in the character to come back again for a part two in order to find out the answers to my questions. Unfortunately, it is a no for me.
January 29, 2018
I am sorry to say this.... I didn’t like the story at all, I didn’t like the romance, I didn't like the characters.... The only thing I liked was the last page, it was quite intriguing.
October 4, 2018
I really enjoyed this strange little book, with its Russian mythos and its female anti-hero lead. It’s basically “what if Rasputin had won, but also magic.”
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