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The Snow Queen
Kai is not the most popular man in the village. He can’t fish and he doesn’t want to be a warrior. Instead, he wants to excavate the area for traces of the village’s past, whether it happens to be underneath the main street in town or beneath someone’s flower garden. He is content to live a quiet life and dream of something more. Truth be told, Kai is a mystery to most of the people in town… which is why they choose to send him across the frozen tundra to die.The The Snow Queen is not the most popular person in the kingdom, despite the fact that she rules it. Not that she cares what others think. She’s content to sit in her magical ice palace, brooding about all the things she’s lost and striking fear into the hearts of the idiot villagers. But, when her most treasured possession is destroyed by those morons, she comes looking for someone to fix it. Or for some swift, icy vengeance. Instead, she gets Kai. The annoying human is offered to her by the village like a sacrifice. The deal is quite he’ll use his skills to fix her treasure or she’ll destroy everyone. Rather than be terrified of the threat though, the man appears only too happy to assist her in piecing the history of her family back together. What does he want from her? Why hasn’t she simply killed him? And why does his smile melt her cold heart?
251 pages, Paperback
First published May 24, 2013
71 people are currently reading
280 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Gannon
17 books206 followersOvereducated and underemployed, Elizabeth (“Lizzy”) Gannon lives in Florida with her sister Cassandra Gannon (who is also an author) She enjoys romance novels, comic books, and soap operas.
She has always been the type of person who genuinely votes for the bad guys in movies, TV and video games, and usually can’t stand the hero. Even as a child all of her Barbies were always criminals and/or ninja assassins, but their hair still looked perfect.
She has a very spoiled dog, and is lorded over by the world's most evil cat.
She has always been the type of person who genuinely votes for the bad guys in movies, TV and video games, and usually can’t stand the hero. Even as a child all of her Barbies were always criminals and/or ninja assassins, but their hair still looked perfect.
She has a very spoiled dog, and is lorded over by the world's most evil cat.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
November 2, 2015
For being 'overeducated,' the author has a ridiculous amount of typos in this story. There also are some big plot leaps that only worked if I didn't think too hard.
That being said, this was hilarious! The dialogue is snappy and inner thoughts of all characters unique.
mature content, HEA, mild BSDM
That being said, this was hilarious! The dialogue is snappy and inner thoughts of all characters unique.
mature content, HEA, mild BSDM
July 14, 2016
DNF, too cheesy.
First, we're introduced to Kai. What to say about him? The author spent a whole chapter talking about how plain and boring he is. To summarize his description of himself, he says that he's neither liked nor disliked, and yet everyone chooses to dislike him? I didn't understand that. I wouldn't blame them if they didn't like him though. He doesn't bother to learn the names of people who have lived in the village his whole life, never listens to people when they talk, and leaves holes all around the town. Am I supposed to like him? What about him makes him a beauty? Certainly not his crap personality.
The villain. Derricks, was his name? Ugh, what a one dimensional guy. I didn't even want to read his chapters because the author wrote him like one of those silent movie villains that just sit around twirling their mustaches and muttering about world domination.
Captain Bae. Lmao when was this book written? I rolled my eyes reading his name. Just a personal dislike. Anywho, supposedly he's a captain. He's got 0 military bearing though. His personality is that of a snarky teenager. Occasional sarcasm is cool, but it would be cool to see a serious side.
Snow Queen. I dunno, typical hardened female character in power. Pretty predictable.
Did not finish. Would not recommend to anyone.
First, we're introduced to Kai. What to say about him? The author spent a whole chapter talking about how plain and boring he is. To summarize his description of himself, he says that he's neither liked nor disliked, and yet everyone chooses to dislike him? I didn't understand that. I wouldn't blame them if they didn't like him though. He doesn't bother to learn the names of people who have lived in the village his whole life, never listens to people when they talk, and leaves holes all around the town. Am I supposed to like him? What about him makes him a beauty? Certainly not his crap personality.
The villain. Derricks, was his name? Ugh, what a one dimensional guy. I didn't even want to read his chapters because the author wrote him like one of those silent movie villains that just sit around twirling their mustaches and muttering about world domination.
Captain Bae. Lmao when was this book written? I rolled my eyes reading his name. Just a personal dislike. Anywho, supposedly he's a captain. He's got 0 military bearing though. His personality is that of a snarky teenager. Occasional sarcasm is cool, but it would be cool to see a serious side.
Snow Queen. I dunno, typical hardened female character in power. Pretty predictable.
Did not finish. Would not recommend to anyone.
August 24, 2014
so close to awesome. but I didn't finish it. the story crapped out. instead of ice queen,she was all cuddles and "let's screws" -- ah ok. and then what? the side plot was a total distraction. it just gave up being a beauty and the beast story after ice skating scene and was Dow. hill from there. the dialogue was good. the inner monologue was hilarious. this could have been so awesome. it just got lazy and became generic romance novel that you don't give two ----- about. I stop reading at 80%, just stopped caring what happened.besides there was enough foreshadowing that I am pretty positive I know about how it ends.
December 20, 2015
When I first started this book, I was tethering between a 2 & 3 star rating tbh, but as I continued to tredge on I couldnt help it. This book was absolutely great. It was a roller coaster, and no I don't mean emotional highs and lows, but more of omfg what the hell am I reading, I need to stop reading, I can't stop reading, and just I don't want to stop reading til I've consumed this book in all of it's quirky awesomeness.
The characters grow on you and you come to realize not is all as it first seems. I loved everyone in this book and can't wait to read more from this author. I love her sisters books and now Im a fan of hers, typos and all. The Gannon sisters sure know how to weave some very interesting tales.
try the book, bare with the book, it'll be worth it :)
The characters grow on you and you come to realize not is all as it first seems. I loved everyone in this book and can't wait to read more from this author. I love her sisters books and now Im a fan of hers, typos and all. The Gannon sisters sure know how to weave some very interesting tales.
try the book, bare with the book, it'll be worth it :)
July 25, 2014
It was fantastic!! ... except for all the typos, JESUS LORD... the typos!!!! >.< Not as bad as the first book but still the same he/she/insert-random-pronoun-here confusion and the just-ran-it-through-spellcheck-I-don't-care-that-that-word-doesn't-make-sense *gloriousness* <--- that's sarcasm by the way.
Still same as always, I love this author's humor and characterization. The plot was interesting, etc. etc. FIX THE TYPOS!!!
Still same as always, I love this author's humor and characterization. The plot was interesting, etc. etc. FIX THE TYPOS!!!
February 9, 2020
How strange. Not the first snow queen I've read with explicit sex scenes, nor the first to cut Gerta out. Tho I don't understand that decision at all, as Kai is the most boring fairytale boy. Just nothing was very good about it? Didn't really DO anything interesting with bare bones of the tale, which is why I read so many of these. The humor wasn't my type either. Ohwell.
April 20, 2021
Fun read :)
Great story to read from a fun mindset/perspective. The philosophical portions were heartwarming, the action was written well and just the right length, and the dialogue was full of personality.
Reads well as a modern fairytale and I think more people would enjoy if they didn’t try to take the fantasy too seriously.
Great story to read from a fun mindset/perspective. The philosophical portions were heartwarming, the action was written well and just the right length, and the dialogue was full of personality.
Reads well as a modern fairytale and I think more people would enjoy if they didn’t try to take the fantasy too seriously.
no-dnf-zzz-avoid
June 17, 2016Zzz
February 19, 2026
Disclaimer: I'm relatively unfamiliar with the original Snow Queen story. Do not expect me to attempt to critique this as an adaptation/retelling.
I can see why a guy reading this would rate it highly. It's consistently very funny, and most of the characters feel quite well-realized. It has villain POV right from the start in addition to the main couple - a rarity in this desert of dual POV nothingburgers (sorry, it's rarely done well). Vibes wise it's like if Shrek had kink sex. Unfortunately, in other ways, it's also just not very good. Plenty of the jokes are in poor taste and just sort of unnecessarily mean, there's an unironic use of 'you'd be prettier if you smiled', and the smut is underdescribed but overnarrated. Over-dirty-talked? Whatever. Shit's wack and wasn't very gratifying to me.
But I do understand where they're coming from. I'm very much in the same boat with regards to a little self-pub story called Boundless, by Miranda Sapphire, a story that absolutely *nails* my kinks for being a big, buff woman ogling/pegging a small, beautiful man while being a total garbage fire of editing, plot and (arguably) characterization in much the same way that this is. Because make no mistake, as other reviewers have pointed out, The Snow Queen's editing is abominable, even by the low, low standards of kindle self-publishing. And as funny as they are, every character has a fairly similar internal voice and similar snooty sense of their own intellectual superiority, which gets pretty grating once you notice it. It's meant to be bad when the villain dismisses everyone around them as dull and idiotic, but every POV sort of has similarly conceited thoughts just with a different spin, and like... girl, I get it, I was bullied in school too, but this is excessive don't you think?
Don't go in expecting a consistent tone or setting or anything approaching worldbuilding. It's medieval-ish, but they explicitly have plastic and The Taming of the Shrew, so we're squarely in 'rule of funny' Fantasy Parody territory here, and everyone talks appropriately for that. It can be a little jarring for fantasy parody characters to start having a relatively serious argument about how one of them is kind of unthinkingly misogynistic, but it still falls well within the bounds of the romcom genre imo. It's just, as I said, not especially well crafted beyond the minute-to-minute comedy, but I can see how someone might have a good time with it.
I can see why a guy reading this would rate it highly. It's consistently very funny, and most of the characters feel quite well-realized. It has villain POV right from the start in addition to the main couple - a rarity in this desert of dual POV nothingburgers (sorry, it's rarely done well). Vibes wise it's like if Shrek had kink sex. Unfortunately, in other ways, it's also just not very good. Plenty of the jokes are in poor taste and just sort of unnecessarily mean, there's an unironic use of 'you'd be prettier if you smiled', and the smut is underdescribed but overnarrated. Over-dirty-talked? Whatever. Shit's wack and wasn't very gratifying to me.
But I do understand where they're coming from. I'm very much in the same boat with regards to a little self-pub story called Boundless, by Miranda Sapphire, a story that absolutely *nails* my kinks for being a big, buff woman ogling/pegging a small, beautiful man while being a total garbage fire of editing, plot and (arguably) characterization in much the same way that this is. Because make no mistake, as other reviewers have pointed out, The Snow Queen's editing is abominable, even by the low, low standards of kindle self-publishing. And as funny as they are, every character has a fairly similar internal voice and similar snooty sense of their own intellectual superiority, which gets pretty grating once you notice it. It's meant to be bad when the villain dismisses everyone around them as dull and idiotic, but every POV sort of has similarly conceited thoughts just with a different spin, and like... girl, I get it, I was bullied in school too, but this is excessive don't you think?
Don't go in expecting a consistent tone or setting or anything approaching worldbuilding. It's medieval-ish, but they explicitly have plastic and The Taming of the Shrew, so we're squarely in 'rule of funny' Fantasy Parody territory here, and everyone talks appropriately for that. It can be a little jarring for fantasy parody characters to start having a relatively serious argument about how one of them is kind of unthinkingly misogynistic, but it still falls well within the bounds of the romcom genre imo. It's just, as I said, not especially well crafted beyond the minute-to-minute comedy, but I can see how someone might have a good time with it.
March 27, 2026
What an odd little book. Make no mistake, it was a decent enough read despite it committing many of the familiar sins of the self-published. That said, I was a little conflicted with this one.
I have no familiarity with the original Snow Queen fairy tale, of which this is in essence a kind of fanfiction, so I can make no comment on how it changes that story. It starts off well enough, with a clear romance plot of defrosting the (literal) ice queen, and I like the gender-reversed beauty and the beast setup. About halfway through, however, things just got... goofy. Both dialogue and inner monologues became progressively sillier from even the serious characters, and what plot there was quickly becomes cartoonish (more on that later). It also became harder to pin down just what time period this was supposed to be set in, with increasingly anachronistic things popping up in character thoughts and dialogue. I had assumed it was late-medieval or early industrial at first, and yet we have references to plastic, railroads, prom queens, and even 20th century Christmas music. I am still confused on all the worldbuilding.
However, I read the author's afterword in which she mentions the characters as animated movie archetypes. It was at that point that things became as clear as they ever would be, that this book is a Disney animated film with adult scenes. The world isn't meant to be logical or coherent, the characters are over the top, and a spontaneous musical number would not be out of place.
While I personally would have preferred something more grounded, I don't consider the book a waste. If you read the story visualizing it as the blue-haired, disinherited stepchild of the Disney Animated Canon, it'll probably be a little more bearable.
7/10 Not as expected, but far from the worst. If I read it again, and I just might, I'll be picturing everything (yes, EVERYTHING) with the visual aesthetic of the Disney cartoons I grew up on.
I have no familiarity with the original Snow Queen fairy tale, of which this is in essence a kind of fanfiction, so I can make no comment on how it changes that story. It starts off well enough, with a clear romance plot of defrosting the (literal) ice queen, and I like the gender-reversed beauty and the beast setup. About halfway through, however, things just got... goofy. Both dialogue and inner monologues became progressively sillier from even the serious characters, and what plot there was quickly becomes cartoonish (more on that later). It also became harder to pin down just what time period this was supposed to be set in, with increasingly anachronistic things popping up in character thoughts and dialogue. I had assumed it was late-medieval or early industrial at first, and yet we have references to plastic, railroads, prom queens, and even 20th century Christmas music. I am still confused on all the worldbuilding.
However, I read the author's afterword in which she mentions the characters as animated movie archetypes. It was at that point that things became as clear as they ever would be, that this book is a Disney animated film with adult scenes. The world isn't meant to be logical or coherent, the characters are over the top, and a spontaneous musical number would not be out of place.
While I personally would have preferred something more grounded, I don't consider the book a waste. If you read the story visualizing it as the blue-haired, disinherited stepchild of the Disney Animated Canon, it'll probably be a little more bearable.
7/10 Not as expected, but far from the worst. If I read it again, and I just might, I'll be picturing everything (yes, EVERYTHING) with the visual aesthetic of the Disney cartoons I grew up on.
August 15, 2022
Honestly I really wanted to like this book. I really loved the main character Ka! He's nerdy and sweet and fun to read. The idea of him falling in love with an evil snow queen great.
Sadly though this book has a few problems. Firstly, the world building is nonexistent. Its impossible to know when this takes place. They use old fashioned ideas like the "village fathers" and then modern inventions like waffle irons. There's hardly any lore on the royal palace or snow queen. In my opinion there's a lot of missed potential, could have been a fun fantasy novel.
Secondly, the snow queens does a 180 personality wise. I understand her softening up to the main character but she turns into this snuggly sarcastic soft girl which... is quite different from how she was introduced. They're relationship turns very generic quickly.
Thirdly, now this just might be me because I see other reviews liked the humor, but in my opinion this book tries much to hard to be funny. It was funny at first... and then it got to much. It will stay on the same "joke" for three pages straight. Lots of sarcastic one liners that honestly come off as cringe more than funny. Some chapters I found hard to get though because of it.
The first half of this book is a solid 4 stars because of its characters, humor, and story. But it just sinks down quickly where the second half is 2 stars. So I rate it 3 overall. Enjoyable but with a few major flaws.
Sadly though this book has a few problems. Firstly, the world building is nonexistent. Its impossible to know when this takes place. They use old fashioned ideas like the "village fathers" and then modern inventions like waffle irons. There's hardly any lore on the royal palace or snow queen. In my opinion there's a lot of missed potential, could have been a fun fantasy novel.
Secondly, the snow queens does a 180 personality wise. I understand her softening up to the main character but she turns into this snuggly sarcastic soft girl which... is quite different from how she was introduced. They're relationship turns very generic quickly.
Thirdly, now this just might be me because I see other reviews liked the humor, but in my opinion this book tries much to hard to be funny. It was funny at first... and then it got to much. It will stay on the same "joke" for three pages straight. Lots of sarcastic one liners that honestly come off as cringe more than funny. Some chapters I found hard to get though because of it.
The first half of this book is a solid 4 stars because of its characters, humor, and story. But it just sinks down quickly where the second half is 2 stars. So I rate it 3 overall. Enjoyable but with a few major flaws.
November 8, 2017
I was severely disappointed in this book.
The beginning was good, I liked Kai, even though I can understand why people might find him taxing, but somewhere in the middle, the whole book went off the rails - I can't understand why they acted like they did. It's like half the cast changed and the only things that stayed the same were the names.
And every time the Snowqueen was shown as growing nearer to the people, someone else's view was introduced who saw her as monster and evil.
The beginning was good, I liked Kai, even though I can understand why people might find him taxing, but somewhere in the middle, the whole book went off the rails - I can't understand why they acted like they did. It's like half the cast changed and the only things that stayed the same were the names.
And every time the Snowqueen was shown as growing nearer to the people, someone else's view was introduced who saw her as monster and evil.
May 31, 2021
This was a really fun read. There were so many times that I just burst out laughing. Although the ending seemed a bit off, it was funny but a really important romantic moment was wasted for the sake of a humorous take on it instead.
All in all though as I mentioned it’s a really fun read. You’ll come away from it with a smile on your face.
All in all though as I mentioned it’s a really fun read. You’ll come away from it with a smile on your face.
August 15, 2024
Decent enough story
I enjoyed the book no doubt but wow does she have some red flags. Derriks chapters make little to no sense and I can't tell if that's just the writer or how it's supposed to be perceived. But more like a 3.5/5 and not a 4 but definitely a solid enough story
I enjoyed the book no doubt but wow does she have some red flags. Derriks chapters make little to no sense and I can't tell if that's just the writer or how it's supposed to be perceived. But more like a 3.5/5 and not a 4 but definitely a solid enough story
February 20, 2025
This book was fun and funny
Despite a couple of noticeable typos, this book was great. It was offbeat and funny and had its own style. I am already looking forward to reading more books by this author.
Despite a couple of noticeable typos, this book was great. It was offbeat and funny and had its own style. I am already looking forward to reading more books by this author.
November 17, 2018
A really good read
Full of fun, intresting characters, with laugh out loud moments, romance, excitment and heat.
Full of fun, intresting characters, with laugh out loud moments, romance, excitment and heat.
December 22, 2018
I'm disappointed. I usually love any book from the gannon sisters. This time I just kept reading to find the good part but it never happened. It was just kind of blah.
August 21, 2024
Honestly, the dialog is insanely funny at times.
December 14, 2025
FANTASTIC monogamous romance for men
Its worth it. Give it a shot. I laughed amd im going to be looking for more works by this author to BUY
Its worth it. Give it a shot. I laughed amd im going to be looking for more works by this author to BUY
July 21, 2025
DNF. I really did try to push through this book because I had heard it had a more submissive MMC, which is so hard to find. The writing is rough, and there's no good sense of when and where the world this story takes place in might be. It seems like a rather medieval setting, but the characters sound like they are from modern times, and they all talk a lot without having much to say. I think the author said this was the first book she wrote, and she may have gotten better since this was written.
February 17, 2024
This book is a standalone and in a typical Gannon fashion is about a strong female lead and a male who enjoys supporting them rather then bringing them down. In this story the female lead is misunderstood by everyone around her including the male in the beginning and over time the two of them develop a bond which goes beyond just working together or physical attraction.
That being said, in this book there are plenty of twists and turns, with smaller characters often playing a bigger role in the grand scheme as well. I have to say I enjoyed reading it, although there were parts which almost seemed like they were out of the blue but once you actually re-read the book you could see that there was some minor build up to achieving those plot lines.
That being said, in this book there are plenty of twists and turns, with smaller characters often playing a bigger role in the grand scheme as well. I have to say I enjoyed reading it, although there were parts which almost seemed like they were out of the blue but once you actually re-read the book you could see that there was some minor build up to achieving those plot lines.
August 31, 2013
I enjoy beauty and the beast stories and this one is such a unique take on the tale. The "beast" in the story is the female character, a evil queen who terrifies the land. The "beauty" is Kai, an atypical hero who's interested in archeology and who everyone in town thinks is a weirdo. Taken prisoner in the Snow Queen's icy castle, Kai soon begins melting her cold façade. I'd recommend this book for fans of supernatural romance or fairy tales.
April 26, 2014
If you are a fan of quirky, funny, paranormal romance, this book is for you. Kai, an unlikely hero, is a nerd who cares more about the past than the present. When The ice hearted Snow Queen threatens the village, Kai is "volunteered" to fix her damaged artifact. He finds much more than a job fixing the. hall of Eternity, however and soon melts the Snow Queen's heart. This lighthearted tale is full of great sex, funny dialogue and quirky characters.
September 14, 2014
I don't even want to finish chapter one after the typos/grammatical errors so far. Thanks to my Kindle Unlimited trial, I did not actually pay for this book. I honestly just want to read the original, and was looking for a free copy.
August 30, 2015
Pretty "cool" , entertaining and full of humor.
Read
August 20, 2022DNF at 20%. Cute premise, but the writing was all over the place, including some pretty egregious typos.
November 20, 2024
DNF. I couldn’t follow the prose and felt extremely disconnected from the main character.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews