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Cold As Hell
The town of OpenFields is cold as hell...
Magic exists in OpenFields, and everyone but Adie plays their part. So what happens when murder and strangers visit the secret town?
Adie's normal isn't "normal." Cameras watch her sleep, the eyes of the townsfolk narrow at her sight, and when she discovers her bosses' office in disarray, and a stranger who makes her heart thunder, her world changes forever.
Author Neen Cohen's Cold as Hell is an Urban Dark Fantasy like no other.
What secrets do OpenFields hold?
Adie's journey will rock the town to its foundation.
Magic exists in OpenFields, and everyone but Adie plays their part. So what happens when murder and strangers visit the secret town?
Adie's normal isn't "normal." Cameras watch her sleep, the eyes of the townsfolk narrow at her sight, and when she discovers her bosses' office in disarray, and a stranger who makes her heart thunder, her world changes forever.
Author Neen Cohen's Cold as Hell is an Urban Dark Fantasy like no other.
What secrets do OpenFields hold?
Adie's journey will rock the town to its foundation.
Kindle Edition
Published May 31, 2021
5 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
Neen Cohen
38 books86 followersNeen Cohen is a Sapphic Speculative Fiction author. Her debut novella, Cold as Hell was released in May 2021, with the sequel, Black as Day due out in November 2022.
She has a Bachelor of Creative Industries and is a member of the Springfield Writers Group.
Neen lives in Brisbane Australia with her partner, son, and fur babies. She loves to roam cemeteries, botanic gardens, and construction sites and can often be found writing while sitting against a tree or tombstone.
Check out her latest adventures here
https://linktr.ee/neencohen
She has a Bachelor of Creative Industries and is a member of the Springfield Writers Group.
Neen lives in Brisbane Australia with her partner, son, and fur babies. She loves to roam cemeteries, botanic gardens, and construction sites and can often be found writing while sitting against a tree or tombstone.
Check out her latest adventures here
https://linktr.ee/neencohen
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
September 8, 2021
What if Hell really wasn’t the burning pits everyone liked to think? What if Hell was a frozen wasteland.
Kindle Unlimited or 99c to buy, I think I got this on a freebie deal a few weeks back now.
A really intriguing supernatural/paranormal mystery! The tone is very evocative and the bleak atmosphere conveyed in the writing along with the confusion of our MC Adie, is palpable. Creating a creepy environment to discover what secrets lurk in this small town in Queensland, Australia.
I really had no idea what to expect from this story, it's strange and evasive, yet beautifully written, to keep you interested and reading, and wanting to discover the truth. You feel a lot for MC Adie and the hopelessness she feels.
When we meet a stranger in town, investigating a disappearance and a murder, plus other strange happenings in the quaint town, the two women are drawn to one another, and into the twisting spiderweb of lies and deceit, where strange magics are lingering.
A very impressive story, and I truly hope we haven't seen the last of these characters! I would love to follow them on more adventures, and seeing them connect and bond.
It gave me slight Keepers of the Cave vibes, or Harkworth Hall so if you liked those books, I think you'll like this one. It's 2+ ish hours. But captivating! Highly Recommend!
Kindle Unlimited or 99c to buy, I think I got this on a freebie deal a few weeks back now.
A really intriguing supernatural/paranormal mystery! The tone is very evocative and the bleak atmosphere conveyed in the writing along with the confusion of our MC Adie, is palpable. Creating a creepy environment to discover what secrets lurk in this small town in Queensland, Australia.
I really had no idea what to expect from this story, it's strange and evasive, yet beautifully written, to keep you interested and reading, and wanting to discover the truth. You feel a lot for MC Adie and the hopelessness she feels.
When we meet a stranger in town, investigating a disappearance and a murder, plus other strange happenings in the quaint town, the two women are drawn to one another, and into the twisting spiderweb of lies and deceit, where strange magics are lingering.
A very impressive story, and I truly hope we haven't seen the last of these characters! I would love to follow them on more adventures, and seeing them connect and bond.
It gave me slight Keepers of the Cave vibes, or Harkworth Hall so if you liked those books, I think you'll like this one. It's 2+ ish hours. But captivating! Highly Recommend!
May 10, 2021
A strong, emotional and grounded urban dark fantasy from Neen Cohen.
Showing a steady grip at creating characters that feel real, the author is able to deftly take us on a journey of personal stakes and world-changing events. The dialogue zips, the descriptions are vivid and the world feels alive.
Can't wait for more.
Showing a steady grip at creating characters that feel real, the author is able to deftly take us on a journey of personal stakes and world-changing events. The dialogue zips, the descriptions are vivid and the world feels alive.
Can't wait for more.
August 29, 2021
Dark, gritty, sad but a wonderful story altogether. I really liked it from the beginning even though I sensed the darker tones but I felt it would be something I didn't encounter before and I was right. It seemed too short though, but hey... that's just me.
July 9, 2021
Wow. I had read some of Cohen's short stories for various horror and dark fantasy anthologies before picking this up, but didn't know what to expect. She's one hell of a fantasy writer and the world building especially seemed incredibly creative but also authentic. It feels like Adie's world is our own. Very nice debut and I'm really looking forward to what's next from Neen Cohen.
May 28, 2021
ARC review: I was hooked from the very first chapter and dragged deep into the mysterious and dangerous world of OpenFields. With some seriously fierce female leads, a magical murder mystery and monsters lurking around every bend, there's plenty to satisfy fans of dark urban fantasy.
May 17, 2021
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I went into "Cold as Hell" completely blind. David Green (the editor of this little tale) mentioned that he had some review copies going for an urban fantasy novella and I eagerly signed myself up.
I'd heard of neither the book nor Neen Cohen before, so I had no idea what to expect. I didn't even read the synopsis.
So, I was pleasantly surprised when I was greeted with a story full of magic, murders, a strange town, and beautifully flawed characters. Our main character, Adie, carries us through a plot rich in intrigue and more than a little blood. The world building is subtle and there are no huge info dumps. Instead, vital pieces of information about magic or other such goodies, are woven through dialogue and descriptions by Cohen's expert hands.
Which reminds me... The prose. OMG, at times it's absolutely beautiful. I kept wanting to quote certain lines on Twitter while I was reading, but then I remembered this was an ARC and I probably shouldn't do that.
As you can tell, I really liked this novella. The pacing was perfect, the dialogue was natural and realistic, but my favourite aspect was the ending. It managed to balance itself perfectly between being oh-so-satisfying and setting things up for Cohen to explore more things with some of these characters.
"Cold as Hell" is a short, but fabulous read that leaves you wanting more.
I went into "Cold as Hell" completely blind. David Green (the editor of this little tale) mentioned that he had some review copies going for an urban fantasy novella and I eagerly signed myself up.
I'd heard of neither the book nor Neen Cohen before, so I had no idea what to expect. I didn't even read the synopsis.
So, I was pleasantly surprised when I was greeted with a story full of magic, murders, a strange town, and beautifully flawed characters. Our main character, Adie, carries us through a plot rich in intrigue and more than a little blood. The world building is subtle and there are no huge info dumps. Instead, vital pieces of information about magic or other such goodies, are woven through dialogue and descriptions by Cohen's expert hands.
Which reminds me... The prose. OMG, at times it's absolutely beautiful. I kept wanting to quote certain lines on Twitter while I was reading, but then I remembered this was an ARC and I probably shouldn't do that.
As you can tell, I really liked this novella. The pacing was perfect, the dialogue was natural and realistic, but my favourite aspect was the ending. It managed to balance itself perfectly between being oh-so-satisfying and setting things up for Cohen to explore more things with some of these characters.
"Cold as Hell" is a short, but fabulous read that leaves you wanting more.
July 19, 2021
Cold as Hell by Neen Cohen is an urban fantasy small town murder mystery – all things that I love in a story.
Adie lives in the mysterious town of OpenFields, a place where magic is real. She is an outcast watched by the entire town. She even has cameras watching her sleep each night. When someone is murdered and her boss disappears, a beautiful stranger, Detective Tala, comes to investigate. As they work together to unravel the mystery, they discover the truth of the town and Adie’s past.
I love a small town mystery that uncovers dark secrets and this had plenty of that. Adie was a compelling character. A lot of the tension in the story is based on her internal struggles to control herself and battle her anxiety. This made the character more engaging and unique as often a lot of the struggles in these types of stories are external.
Neen’s writing is solid throughout. It is accessible, but also has poetic moments in the descriptions that I enjoyed. One of the more compelling scenes is where Adie is about to lose control of herself:
“Flames danced shadows and light over the chattering congregation, and Adie wanted to scream as the flames called to her.” There is some good tension in that scene.
I do wish the magic had been explained a bit better. At times it seemed like only certain people had access to it, but then also everyone else did, too, as it was a cited as a reason for staying in this strange, little town. I also would have liked a more thorough explanation of what powers the magic offered people other than Adie.
Overall the book is well-written and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys urban fantasy and mysteries.
Adie lives in the mysterious town of OpenFields, a place where magic is real. She is an outcast watched by the entire town. She even has cameras watching her sleep each night. When someone is murdered and her boss disappears, a beautiful stranger, Detective Tala, comes to investigate. As they work together to unravel the mystery, they discover the truth of the town and Adie’s past.
I love a small town mystery that uncovers dark secrets and this had plenty of that. Adie was a compelling character. A lot of the tension in the story is based on her internal struggles to control herself and battle her anxiety. This made the character more engaging and unique as often a lot of the struggles in these types of stories are external.
Neen’s writing is solid throughout. It is accessible, but also has poetic moments in the descriptions that I enjoyed. One of the more compelling scenes is where Adie is about to lose control of herself:
“Flames danced shadows and light over the chattering congregation, and Adie wanted to scream as the flames called to her.” There is some good tension in that scene.
I do wish the magic had been explained a bit better. At times it seemed like only certain people had access to it, but then also everyone else did, too, as it was a cited as a reason for staying in this strange, little town. I also would have liked a more thorough explanation of what powers the magic offered people other than Adie.
Overall the book is well-written and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys urban fantasy and mysteries.
May 13, 2021
I had the honour of reading Cold As Hell by my beautiful friend and author Neen Cohen, as both a beta and ARC reader. The world of OpenFields is rich in detail and mystery, carving out a slice of magic and feeding it to you crumb by crumb with the result that you race through its pages to discover what the hell the town is hiding.
While some of the writing didn't flow as well as others, some of it was liquid gold, evidencing Cohen's origins in her debut poetry collection:
-"While clouds could be consumed by almost all elements, not all conduits could force them to weep."
-"Adie's heart raced too quickly, and she felt that liquid fire beneath her skin, the one that led to the dark places of her anxiety."
-"He growled, scowling down at his shoes, heavy black boots splattered with mud and darker purposes."
(If you see some form of that last sentence in my own writing, don't tell Neen. It's just so beautiful and I want it.)
It was hard to like any of the characters as they were so flawed, but maybe that is the point: they are human and ugly and real, and we see ourselves in them even as they repel us. And this is what I've always liked about Cohen's writing - its raw quality that seeps through into all of her work, as if she presses her heart into the pages along with the ink.
A novella from Breaking Rules Europe, Cold as Hell releases on 31 May 2021. It's a mixture of urban fantasy and something more primal and fearsome, a horror that lives in the ground...yet with splashes of delightful humour and romance.
While some of the writing didn't flow as well as others, some of it was liquid gold, evidencing Cohen's origins in her debut poetry collection:
-"While clouds could be consumed by almost all elements, not all conduits could force them to weep."
-"Adie's heart raced too quickly, and she felt that liquid fire beneath her skin, the one that led to the dark places of her anxiety."
-"He growled, scowling down at his shoes, heavy black boots splattered with mud and darker purposes."
(If you see some form of that last sentence in my own writing, don't tell Neen. It's just so beautiful and I want it.)
It was hard to like any of the characters as they were so flawed, but maybe that is the point: they are human and ugly and real, and we see ourselves in them even as they repel us. And this is what I've always liked about Cohen's writing - its raw quality that seeps through into all of her work, as if she presses her heart into the pages along with the ink.
A novella from Breaking Rules Europe, Cold as Hell releases on 31 May 2021. It's a mixture of urban fantasy and something more primal and fearsome, a horror that lives in the ground...yet with splashes of delightful humour and romance.
May 22, 2021
What I liked:
A very strange feeling accompanies the reader from the very beginning up until one third of the novella. It’s a feeling of horror that makes me want to shout out loud to warn others off, to warn the characters of the impending doom that seems inexplicable. I felt very oddly, as if being among the characters but at the same time watching them through a thick glass wall.
The setting and speculative elements (laws of magic) are also engaging.
The novella reads smoothly.
What I liked not:
The story unfolds slowly and then… goes on slowly.
I wish the rules of magic were explained more in depth as I just fell there’s more to say about it.
The novella was too short to create the emotional bond between me and the characters, which means I was somehow unable to sympathize with them, and I just was indifferent to pain and suffering of others.
I think it does not really have a plot, it’s more about the interpersonal relationships between characters, which may be good or bad, depending on what one likes.
This is, of course, my personal opinion, and other readers might read the novella differently.
A very strange feeling accompanies the reader from the very beginning up until one third of the novella. It’s a feeling of horror that makes me want to shout out loud to warn others off, to warn the characters of the impending doom that seems inexplicable. I felt very oddly, as if being among the characters but at the same time watching them through a thick glass wall.
The setting and speculative elements (laws of magic) are also engaging.
The novella reads smoothly.
What I liked not:
The story unfolds slowly and then… goes on slowly.
I wish the rules of magic were explained more in depth as I just fell there’s more to say about it.
The novella was too short to create the emotional bond between me and the characters, which means I was somehow unable to sympathize with them, and I just was indifferent to pain and suffering of others.
I think it does not really have a plot, it’s more about the interpersonal relationships between characters, which may be good or bad, depending on what one likes.
This is, of course, my personal opinion, and other readers might read the novella differently.
June 23, 2021
I had the privilege of listening to Neen read her prologue live at the launch of her paperback copies. From those very first moments, Open Fields gripped me and I was sucked into Adie's world.
I love Adie. She is one hell of a character and one of the best things about the novella. I also loved Neen's unique twist on magic.
There were a few brief moments where the novella lost pace because of awkward phrasing or a missed typo, and so for me Cold as Hell is a four star book. Otherwise, the language and imagery used by Neen are phenomenal and I am blown away by this author's talent.
I love Adie. She is one hell of a character and one of the best things about the novella. I also loved Neen's unique twist on magic.
There were a few brief moments where the novella lost pace because of awkward phrasing or a missed typo, and so for me Cold as Hell is a four star book. Otherwise, the language and imagery used by Neen are phenomenal and I am blown away by this author's talent.
May 19, 2021
This was one hell of a magical murder mystery tour! I don’t want to give too much away about the plot of this story, but as I was reading I kept getting flashes of other books in the similar genre which I read and loved. I’m talking Joe Hill’s The Fireman and Chuck Wendig’s Wanderers; so Neen is in with some very talented company.
It’s a great debut novella, and I can’t wait to read what comes next from her!
It’s a great debut novella, and I can’t wait to read what comes next from her!
July 10, 2021
The Beast Within.
Woah that was intense and amazing, Adie's an orphan found as young child in a magical secret village of Openfields, Adie is not normal and is a prisoner, recorded while sleeping in her home and constantly under scrutiny by the villagers, everything changes when visitors come after people start to go missing, A killers lust for magic knows no bounds, Dark, fast pacing and edge of seat stuff, highly recommended....😁
Woah that was intense and amazing, Adie's an orphan found as young child in a magical secret village of Openfields, Adie is not normal and is a prisoner, recorded while sleeping in her home and constantly under scrutiny by the villagers, everything changes when visitors come after people start to go missing, A killers lust for magic knows no bounds, Dark, fast pacing and edge of seat stuff, highly recommended....😁
August 25, 2021
This story hooked me from the start—the prologue pulled me right in and kept me turning the page to find out exactly what was happening in this strange little town. Cohen has done an amazing job—I was surprised it was her debut novel as it was so well written. Her descriptions of settings are especially fantastic and made me feel like I was in the story uncovering the secrets of the town along with Adie. Look forward to reading more from this author.
June 20, 2021
Intense and gripping!
The world set up in the prologue is ominous and original...and in the best way I had no idea where it would take me and the main character, Adie who goes through an incredible ordeal to discover the truth about herself and her home town. I really hope this is the beginning of a series, this is so rich in ideas. Neen Cohen is a horror writer to watch!
The world set up in the prologue is ominous and original...and in the best way I had no idea where it would take me and the main character, Adie who goes through an incredible ordeal to discover the truth about herself and her home town. I really hope this is the beginning of a series, this is so rich in ideas. Neen Cohen is a horror writer to watch!
July 30, 2021
Hell...
First time reading anything by this author, will definitely be checking out more of her work. Great job world and character building.
First time reading anything by this author, will definitely be checking out more of her work. Great job world and character building.
May 23, 2021
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review, and I am so glad I did.
Cold As Hell was a fabulous read from beginning to end. I loved the character of Adie, flawed and struggling to survive in a world where she had lost touch with the one thing that seemed to make life worth living. As she trudges through a world that seems to want to keep her down, her perseverance is something so many people can understand.
And there is such a rich tapestry to Neen Cohen's world building. Open Fields is a town with a lot of secrets, and it's thrilling to follow along with Adie to solve this mystery.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I look forward to more stories from this author in the future. Maybe a follow up to see what happens to Adie next?
Cold As Hell was a fabulous read from beginning to end. I loved the character of Adie, flawed and struggling to survive in a world where she had lost touch with the one thing that seemed to make life worth living. As she trudges through a world that seems to want to keep her down, her perseverance is something so many people can understand.
And there is such a rich tapestry to Neen Cohen's world building. Open Fields is a town with a lot of secrets, and it's thrilling to follow along with Adie to solve this mystery.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I look forward to more stories from this author in the future. Maybe a follow up to see what happens to Adie next?
July 2, 2021
A wonderful debut book written by an emerging author to watch! Cohen’s book features a unique dark fantasy story concept written in heartfelt and cinematic prose. A great read. Highly recommended!
November 29, 2021
Enjoyable story, kept me entertained the whole way through.
November 20, 2021
Good book
I usually don't read this type of book but it turned out to be a good book. I liked how all the characters interacted.
I usually don't read this type of book but it turned out to be a good book. I liked how all the characters interacted.
December 6, 2021
Cold as Hell focuses on the town of OpenFields, an isolated rural town where magic blossoms only within the town limits and none stray beyond the boundaries. But there is a dark undercurrent to OpenFields that is immediately apparent when a series of murders brings detective into the town. For protagonist, Adie the deaths in the town and the disappearance of her lover Lisa, and the stirring of her own supposedly dampened magic, has her on edge. The arrival of Tala, an alluring detective with connections to Adie’s own terrifying nightmares draws the two closer to the truth of OpenFields.
Soon, Adie and Tala confront the leader of OpenFields and expose the cult for what it is. But their plans go awry when they’re drawn deep underground to the source of the magic for OpenFields and the many deaths that have provided it. In the darkness beneath the town, Adie is forced to confront the truth about herself and the knowledge that Old Gods are imprisoned not just in OpenFields. She and Tala must chose a path to follow into the future.
Final Thoughts:
Cold as Hell was a murder mystery, urban fantasy and complex folklore woven together into its sinister cult-like town of OpenFields. Unfortunately, these threads often seemed to tangle leaving some questions unanswered and underdeveloped characters led to confusing decisions. Despite this, Cold as Hell was a unique novella exploring complex social issues of cult behaviour, pressures for those identifying as LGBTQI and all the while, exploring unusual folklore. A promising debut in urban fantasy.
Conclusion:
Recommended read for those who enjoy Australian urban fantasy, LGBTQI characters and an unusual folklore inspiration.
Soon, Adie and Tala confront the leader of OpenFields and expose the cult for what it is. But their plans go awry when they’re drawn deep underground to the source of the magic for OpenFields and the many deaths that have provided it. In the darkness beneath the town, Adie is forced to confront the truth about herself and the knowledge that Old Gods are imprisoned not just in OpenFields. She and Tala must chose a path to follow into the future.
Final Thoughts:
Cold as Hell was a murder mystery, urban fantasy and complex folklore woven together into its sinister cult-like town of OpenFields. Unfortunately, these threads often seemed to tangle leaving some questions unanswered and underdeveloped characters led to confusing decisions. Despite this, Cold as Hell was a unique novella exploring complex social issues of cult behaviour, pressures for those identifying as LGBTQI and all the while, exploring unusual folklore. A promising debut in urban fantasy.
Conclusion:
Recommended read for those who enjoy Australian urban fantasy, LGBTQI characters and an unusual folklore inspiration.
June 23, 2023
Cold as Hell by Neen Cohen takes place in the mysterious town of OpenFields. In an otherwise close-knit community, Adie is an outsider who came to the town as an eight-year-old with no memory. She might be the only one who can uncover OpenFields's dark secrets.
What I Loved: This is a powerfully unique fantasy novella. It toes the line between fantasy and horror, and if you like dark, mysterious reads, I recommend it. The tone and writing style are both very strong. Though short, it's extremely well-paced and really draws the reader in to this dark story.
What I Didn't: I didn't feel like i knew the main character very well by the end of the story. But a lot happens in just over a hundred pages, so that makes sense!
What I Loved: This is a powerfully unique fantasy novella. It toes the line between fantasy and horror, and if you like dark, mysterious reads, I recommend it. The tone and writing style are both very strong. Though short, it's extremely well-paced and really draws the reader in to this dark story.
What I Didn't: I didn't feel like i knew the main character very well by the end of the story. But a lot happens in just over a hundred pages, so that makes sense!
August 18, 2023
i think i read a different book to the other people who have reviewed this book.
i found it hard to follow, with weak characters and an underbaked plot. i mean without spoiler-ing it too hard one of the characters dies and the author clearly tries to make us feel for them but it just doesn’t work in the slightest.
again, this book is described as being “dark” and all in all it’s pretty tame apart from one bit.
so maybe this book wasn’t for me. i’m clearly in the minority so maybe take what i say with a pinch of salt.
i found it hard to follow, with weak characters and an underbaked plot. i mean without spoiler-ing it too hard one of the characters dies and the author clearly tries to make us feel for them but it just doesn’t work in the slightest.
again, this book is described as being “dark” and all in all it’s pretty tame apart from one bit.
so maybe this book wasn’t for me. i’m clearly in the minority so maybe take what i say with a pinch of salt.
June 18, 2024
Some very interesting concepts are introduced in this as truths are gradually revealed in the fictional town of OpenFields in Australia. A mix of horror (bodies being torn limb from limb isn’t pretty) and speculative fiction with a lot of darkness mixed in. But nevertheless, there is some light as Adie struggles to reclaim what proves to be her birthright, aided by gorgeous, strong and mysterious Tala. I’ll say no more about the plot suffice to say I now want to read the sequel and can’t find it anywhere! Aaaaaaaaaaargh!
September 22, 2023
Cold as Hell(Children of the Gods Book 1) by Neen Cohan is a very enjoyable read with surprises along the way. I definitely recommend. This is a well written Urban Dark Fantasy and Adie's journey will rock the town of OpenFields to its foundation
September 15, 2022
Great imagination, the story is very interesting and the plots complicated and reasonable, a unique and cool world.
October 1, 2024
Really enjoyable, even with its dark aspects, with a lot of depth and plenty of twists along the way. Looking forward to seeing more of these characters.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews