Polar Opposites

Frost Peak #1

by Amity Allen

A novice witch, a polar bear familiar, and a murder under the Northern Lights.

Ever since I was little, unusual things have happened around me. But nothing quite as strange as a wild polar bear coming to my rescue and telling me I’m a witch.

Even though I grew up a California girl, the unexplored tundra of the Great North has called to me since childhood. On her visits, my grandmother would tell me stories of magical creatures and great battles fought in the vast cold. A place that is all white on the surface, but underneath is as awash with secrets as colorful as the night sky.

When my grandmother passed away, my grandfather asked me to come North to help him run their general store. Since my fiancé just unceremoniously ditched me, I looked forward to the change of scenery. Besides, I couldn’t wait to experience the magic of my ancestral birthplace myself.

Unfortunately, the welcome I receive from the people of Frost Peak was as icy as the town’s name might imply. And when a local man is killed right outside my back door, everyone becomes suspicious I'm the murderer.

Eager to clear my name, I do my best to find out who the killer could be.

Along the way, I discover not only is there magic in the North, there’s also magic inside me!

Now if I can only harness my powers and find the killer before Sheriff Brodie puts me in a jail cell.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

222 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 27, 2022

Reviews

[Kandice Miles-Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book as I saw another person had read it for Polarthon and I thought, hmm seems interesting enough.

Well, color me surprised, but this was quite enjoyable. From the beginning, the plot is being built and moving quickly. I read the book pretty quickly due to this as well. I would say this book is much more plot based, but there is a good amount of character development. This is seen especially in the main character as well as her grandfather.

I enjoyed the magic system in this book and I really liked that it is quite funny as well. The main character struggles to learn how to handle her magic and the way in which the magic responds to her was so hilarious to me. Also, the familiars done in this book were excellent. I love the idea of the main character not only being new to town, new to her magic, but also having quite the different familiar.

Just the perfect combination for a cozy, enjoyable read. I would recommend to other who love cozy, romantic, mysteries.

[Sirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frankie moves to Alaska after a disastrous breakup, hoping to help out her aging grandfather. She does not expect to discover that she's a witch and has a polar bear familiar. Her first day at her grandpa's general store is pretty much ruined when she finds a dead body out by the dumpster—the body of a man she recently threatened after he was caught shoplifting.

This is pretty much everything I want in a cozy mystery. The romance felt really awkward at times, but otherwise, this book was fast-paced and full of fun characters. The scenes of Frankie learning to use magic were silly, which did wonderful things to break up the tension as she tried to track down the killer. This book is a good choice if you're looking for something to cozy up with on a snow day.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh, this was such a fun series starter and I’m already sad there’s only three books. Since it was written a couple years ago and I didn’t see anything past 2022, I’m assuming it finished, so I hope it gets a good ending. Anyway, I really love Frankie and Grandpa’s characters a lot, and Nina too! And who wouldn’t love that awesome polar bear Frankie found out that’s her familiar. He sure saved her skin and more than once!

The showdown with the killer was really exciting, but Frankie used her head and got help in a couple different ways. The murder for the book was definitely solved, but there’s a cliffhanger at the end. Now I’ve gotta go and borrow that next book!

[Lois Hinderliter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable book.Frankie moves to Frost Peak Alaska to help her grandfather run his store. She gets in a confrontation with a man stealing from her grandfather then later finds the man dead. She becomes a suspect and she meets the sheriff who likes her when they meet. She finds out she is a witch but doesn't know how to do magic. Then finds out her familiar is a polar bear. There is lots of action and it is interesting the situations she gets into trying to figure out magic. I can't wait to start the next book.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were some things to like about this cosy mystery with witches set in an Alaskan small town. It was a light and easy read, and then the author had to pull out that old chestnut about non-rabid wolves attacking humans. Yes, I know, this is fantasy, there's a talking polar bear and magic , but fantasy needs a solid bedrock to rest on and this trashed my suspension of disbelief.

[Mystery, She Read]

DNF at 26%. Early on to quit but I just don’t think I need to get far with this one to know it’s maybe not for me.

The concept is really fun but the writing and how it’s put together was just not well executed. Especially coming off some 5 star reads it didn’t seem worth it to give this one a shot when based on the juvenile writing it would be a 3.5 at best.

[Meredith VanOordt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this book and really enjoyed it. It takes place in the frozen north, a
small town and a murder, of course, with lots of twists. Can be enjoyed by teens also. no offensive material. I highly recommend it.

[See Kritz Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was a cute murder mystery set in Alaska that doesn't take itself too seriously. It is the set-up to a series, and I had a fun enough time that I would continue on this journey. Did I mention there is a talking polar bear familiar? What else do you need?

[Alesia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute funny witch romance mystery. I really liked this one!

[Phaedra Snow]

p.6 come back to winter