The Prince of Snow

The Prince of Snow #1

by L.B. Divine

Charmaine Grimes has a dangerous she possesses the power of invisibility. But in the First Kingdom, those found with magic are forced to serve the wicked King Ronan or face execution.

No one has seen Dalton Saphirrus, Prince of the First Kingdom, in five years. Locked away as a result of the icy power flowing through his veins, he has been imprisoned by his own father.

After a devastating fire in Charmaine’s hometown, knights escort the survivors to King Ronan’s castle. With a mysterious enemy at large, the First Kingdom is threatened, and the destiny prophesied is ever-looming over Dalton’s head.

As Charmaine falls for the Prince of Snow, she is thrown into a world of politics, cruelty, and temptations she never expected.When the First Kingdom’s enemies attack the surrounding towns, and eventually the castle, Charmaine, Prince Dalton, and other allies must rise up for the battle of their lives, or die trying to save the kingdom.

The Prince of Snow is influenced by the legends of King Arthur. It is perfect for fans of Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen, Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass, and the CW’s Reign.

Genres: Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Romantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Young Adult Fantasy, Retellings

368 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 18, 2023

About the author

L.B. Divine is a fantasy lover, cat mom, Outlander enthusiast, and has always dreamed about writing stories of the fantastical. The Prince of Snow is her first novel. L.B. Divine can be found on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok at @lbdivineauthor.

Reviews

[L.B. Divine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I WROTE IT!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!! LIVE LAUGH LOVE DALTON SAPHIRRUS!!!!!!

[Pia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 ✨
Spice: No spice in this one but so much swooning over Dalton ♥️

First of all, thank you to the author for the eARC opportunity. Like always, this review will be completely honest and voluntary.

So, have you ever read a book and while reading it, it felt like you were being wrapped up in the warmest hug ever? This is what reading this book felt like to me. The book, the characters, the world the author created were so comforting for me. I completely fell in love. An addition to my small list of comfort books? Definitely.

Let me start of with Dalton because duh. Dalton is such a beautifully chaotic character and I love that about him. He is such a complex character in the best way. He is hilarious, charming, caring, mischievous, fierce, I could go on. He was put through so much and yet he was a ray of sunshine regardless. Although he could also be an absolute menace in the best way. I see so much growth potential in future books and I cannot wait to see it.

Charmaine. Listen, I would go to war for her, she just needs to say the word. I cannot wait to see more of her. She is one of those characters that you know has so much strength inside her, just building and building. She has also been through IT and yet she is kind and hopeful still. She is going to be such a force in the future books, I just KNOW it. Queen behavior for sure. And her relationship with her brother James? It made my heart full.

James, this is my official proposal. I love him. Randolph? I wanna figure you out, but I like you so far. Lawton? Another chaotic mess that I love so far. Elena? Fierce Queen goals that I will be cheering on 25/8. In conclusion, read this book and cry with me because that ending destroyed me. You will not regret it, emotional damage aside because that was worth it too! 💙

[Nicole Platania · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m lucky enough to have read an early copy of TPOS, and the characters immediately became some of my favorites. One of my favorite things in fantasy books is reading characters who are just like us in terms of their insecurities and struggles, but they do it with magic. LB writes very realistic people in magical settings, and I think this book will be relatable for both young adult and adult readers—especially Charmaine. Her growth is so admirable and a great example for readers.

Each character is flawed in the most perfect way, and throughout the book you get to know each of their histories and secrets (emphasis on SECRETS). Our chaotic prince is truly an isolated boy who just needs love. Our knight is dark and brooding and makes you want to shake him until he opens up. I’m so excited to see where the rest of the series takes Charmaine, Dalton, Randolph, and crew!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect cozy, wintery read. The characters were so lovely and the world was so easy to visualize. A new favorite in the genre for sure!

[vxmpslibrary [hiatus] · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually don't remember what I read since I read this long time ago but this book was good to an extent where it was good to go through.

[mina · Rating 5 out of 5]

YOU GUYS. MISS L.B. DIVINE DID NOT COME TO PLAY🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️

this was one of my anticipated reads for the year, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. I don’t even know where to start.

i talk about aesthetics of books a lot in my reviews because it matters a lot to me and the aesthetic of this book is phenomenal and the one word i would use to describe it is regal. the character names and the way they behave is super old money royalty vibes😋

char is fantastic from the second you meet her (she would be a good game of thrones character lol) she knows her job and she gonna stick to it!! james, her brother, is a character i grew fond of super quickly too he’s a gem.

DALTON. true star of the show. his backstory is awfully sad (tbh it’s a fantasy book, who’s isn’t?😭) he’s one of those characters that’s an onion LMAO there’s so many layers to unpack.. i feel like book2 we gonna get to see him even more unraveled

plot wise it didn’t feel slow to me, the beginning might take some time to hook you but at the end of the day that’s any book1 in a fantasy series as there’s a lot of world and character building going on, so nothing excessive.

i wasn’t expecting that ending whatsoever. like at all. i was deeply upset btw. 🥲😂😍🤗

[Michaela (books.with.mick) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so thankful to LB for allowing me to read early copies of this book! From the very first page I fell in love with sweet, lonely, abused Dalton, and never stopped loving him. He is charismatic and relatable and so, so enjoyable to read. The sass gets me every time. Charmaine is another very lovable character, as she suffers through insecurity and fear and trauma and figures out how to cope with her situation. Randolph is a conflicting character, and I think there will be people on both sides in his circumstances. I can't wait to see what everyone thinks of all these wild little hooligans LB sets loose in our lives.

There's drama, tension, romance, laughter, and everything in between. I loved it, I think others will too, and I cannot wait to see where our chaotic bunch of characters goes! ⚔️❄️

[madie (madieanne) · Rating 3 out of 5]

the prince of snow was a decent read.

the story started strong, but the entire middle section felt boring and pointless. there was very little going on. things did pick up in the last 40 pages, and i must admit, the ending left me heartbroken, shocked, and wanting more.

i did like the characters individually, and i loved the sibling dynamic between james and charmaine, but i wasn’t a big fan of the romance or any of the other relationships.

i think l.b. divine has a ton of potential, and i’m excited to see where she goes from here.

[Cheyenne Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

First I’d like to thank LB for allowing me to be on her ARC team. Thank you for giving me a glimpse into your characters' lives. I really enjoyed this book. I feel like oftentimes YA books can feel old and repetitive but this book was like a breath of fresh air it felt like coming home. It has everything I love to see in a YA fantasy angst, a slow-burn romance, a witty sarcastic main character, and a unique magic system. The banter between characters is fantastic and I cannot wait to see where this series goes.


I loved these characters and I found myself thinking about them throughout my day and being so excited to come home and read a little bit more about them. I love the dynamic between Dalton and Char and how they can’t stay away from one another. I also loved the relationship between James and Char. I feel like I haven’t read a story with a brother-sister dynamic as strong as this one and it was refreshing to see. That ending hurt and I feel like there were a lot of unanswered questions so I can’t wait to read the next one. I loved this story and these characters so please do yourself a favor and read this book

A quote that lives rent free in my mind: “I learned a long time ago it is best not to dim your light for others to try to shine.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read from the author, both are absolutely captivating and I ate them up. I can't believe this was her debut...refuse to believe it because it was so good from the prologue until the very last word. I'm screaming, swooning and spiraling.

❄️Vibes❄️
Magic
-Prince of Snow...obviously-
Slow burn/No spice
Cliffy but the next book is out
Royals

[Karlie]

DNF at 16% just not enjoying the writing on this one 😢

[Arianne Laporte · Rating 2 out of 5]

dnf at 60%

i wanted to love this SO much, but unfortunately i just couldn't connect with the characters and the writing.

[Tbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunning! This is an upper YA fantasy with the most compelling and lovable characters. This is such a beautiful and cozy read.

Read if you love:
-commer x royalty
-forbidden magic
-slow burn
-King Arthur reimagining

Very grateful to have read this and I hope it also finds it way to you <3

[Restless Isabelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me unfortunately but I can see I’m in the minority so hopefully others might have better luck! DNF around 60% and skimmed the rest ⭐️1.5

I think my main issue was the world building felt simultaneously vague and complicated at the same time. The “politics”, persecution of the magic users and lore surrounding gods blessings of kingdoms in the world didn’t feel clear so it didn’t feel concrete or high stakes to me. Add to this multi povs (which I personally don’t mind) and a few seemingly “pre-destined” pairings and I just couldn’t get into it.

I definitely see potential in this author and will keep my eyes peeled for future books but probably not in this world.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look if you market anything to me with Reign I’m gonna buy it, and I’m glad I did. I really liked this read. I want so many things to happen! It made me sad a lot too. But I like when books make me feel. Ugh I have a lot of emotions about it but overall highly enjoyable and can’t wait to see what happens!

[Sofia02 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a ton of potential; I really like the general premise of it but there were a few things that threw me off.

One thing I noticed right at the start were the many repetitions. While this got better towards the end of the book, it really distracted me and disrupted my reading flow while reading the first part of it. Another thing that bothered me about the writing was the inconsistent use of formal language; These switches made sense in some situations but in others they just randomly occurred and seemed really out of place.

The characters themselves were quite likeable (except Randolph I hated that guy) and I really liked how different they were. I did feel like they were kinda underdeveloped tho which made it hard for me to really connect with them.

New Sarridolon, the world this story takes place in, was quite easy to understand but I really would’ve liked to see more of it outside the first kingdom. This is just the first book out of four tho so I really hope this gets explored further!

Overall I found the story to be a bit hard to follow at times.
I really can’t explain why but some scenes were just really hard to grasp and I often was surprised by parts of the story that apparently had happened but I just didn’t notice somehow? (Maybe that’s on me tho idk 😭)

While this book did kind of let me down I think that L.B Divine has a lot of potential and I could see her writing improve throughout this book. I will probably read book two when it releases! 🤞

[Caroline | caro.library · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for a gifted ARC.

2.5 stars. I really wanted to love this as it came highly recommended, the premise sounds right up my alley, and the early events drew me in, but I could not click with this story.

I found the writing repetitive and difficult to follow, with confusing word choices and awkwardly phrased lines that continually pulled me out of the story. The entire middle of the book was boring.

I also really struggled with the way the characters were portrayed. I never fully grasped their motivations, decisions, and interactions with others. There were multiple cases of insta-love and potential love triangles that I didn’t understand the purpose of.

While I was intrigued by the mysterious prophecy, forbidden magic, and the characters’ potential, I was underwhelmed by the execution.

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[Will Overton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read for anyone interested in fantasy or young adult or just looking to try something new!

The characters are well written and their relationships are entertaining while also leaving you wondering what will happen next!

The story itself is a slow burn but each chapter ends with you wanting to read ahead and see what happens!

Overall, a great story amazing characters and having me itching for the sequel!

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25⭐️ ~ Thank you to the author for gifting me an E-book of the first two books of this series!!

So. Where do I even begin 😬

To start off…the writing in this book was just not for me. I didn’t really like how the characters talked, I didn’t really like how it was from a 3rd person pov but then had thoughts and flashbacks in first person. And I didn’t rlly like the descriptions. Idk the writing just wasn’t very good to me and I think it could’ve used more revision.

That being said, I have to admit that the worst part of this book was the plot and the way it was laid out. The author had a pov from EVERY character at some point in this book. Mind you this is like 6-10 different characters (I lost count tbh). The chapters were not even labeled with whose pov we were reading and you had to just assume based off of whose name was mentioned the most since it was 3rd person. AND it would just randomly switch perspective in the middle of the chapter. I was so confused.

As for the plot I thought some parts were interesting such as the world structure and the whole prophecies/thinkers thing. But the main plot was a cliché “it’s forbidden to have powers” but ofc the prince I born with them and so is some common girl and they fall in love blah blah blah. Along with the mid plot and bad writing there were SO MANY PLOT HOLES. Like some points you would get the same scene from two character povs and they described it COMPLETELY DIFFERENTLY. I was so lost and since pov changed like every chapter I lost track of the timeline because it would mention the next morning and then go back to the night before and omg I was just so lost at some points. I honestly feel like the author rushed through this and hardly revised because there was also so much repetition and parts where someone would refer to one of the mmc’s wife as his fiancée still? Like did we not just read about the wedding?

I know that this book and book 2 were published in the same year (2023 I think) which I think contributes to the poor writing quality. Book 3 has just now been released so hopefully its quality is better. But I truly just don’t understand how the author let so many holes and info slip past her? It makes me feel like she did not reread.

Anyways, you are all probably wondering “Emily why did you even finish this book?” Well let me tell u, sometimes u have a book or tv show that’s so bad u just have to see where it goes and that’s what this was for me. On top of this I did enjoy small parts of the romance plot (if u can even call it that 🤨) and that kept me going for a bit. But honestly NOTHING happened in this book fantasy plot wise until I was 90% through no joke. Up until that point it just felt like a basic forbidden romance novel set in a random fantasy world with no explanation.

The worldbuilding twas not good as well. Once again quite confused and I think having the 10 kingdoms be called the First Kingdom, the Second Kingdom, etc was dreadfully boring and unoriginal. And the whole prophecy this entire book surrounds I feel like is SO OBVIOUS. We obviously know from the start who the prince of snow is but the violet queen? You want to just ignore the emphasis on the fmc violet eyes?? Tf.

As for characters. I didn’t connect with any of them. 🫤 They honestly didn’t develop much from the start to the end of this book. And they switched up so fast. One minute you don’t trust each other and the next you are kissing and spilling your secrets like you’ve known eachother for years. It made no sense.

On top of this (Ik u are wondering when this rant will end) the author marketed this for fans of the tv show Reign. That is my FAVORITE SHOW and this book can’t even compare and I lowkey don’t know why it’s marketed that way because I saw no similarities other than taking place in a royal court 😭

So. Overall, I WILL be reading book 2 because it was so bad I must know what happens and I want to know if I’m right about that dang prophecy. However, as an avid fantasy and Romantasy reader this book is not good. I can’t speak for books 2 and 3 but I do not recommend this one unless you feel like being bored and confused.

This is probably one of the most negative reviews I’ve done and I feel so awful for saying all of this because I’m sure the author did put in effort and Ik this book probably means a lot to her. But in truth this book needs more work. I think it could be great with more revision (maybe the copy she gave me was an arc and unrivised???😬) but right now it’s just not.

This is her debut novel as an indie author and I think she has amazing potential as a writer just not in this one. Maybe book 2 will be better?? At least this one was not a DNF.

[Millie Shepherd · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I heard that The Prince of Snow was a King Arthur retelling, I knew I had to read it!! And I'm glad I did!

I was hooked and didn't want to quit reading this story! I'm still trying to process it, so this might be a little chaotic.

All the characters were very interesting and different, and I love how they all interacted. The magic system wasn't overly complex, and I could easily follow it, which was nice since fantasy isn't my go-to genre (but I am slowly beginning to fall in love with it).

If I had to choose a character to be my favorite from this, it would probably Charmaine. She was strong, yet sensitive and kind and I love that in a female lead. Plus, I really liked how Randolph's secrets were slowly unveiled. Another thing I thought was neat was how none of them had the same magical powers--they could all do something different.

It's safe to say that I can't wait for book 2 and that if you enjoy King Arthur retellings and closed-door romance, then you'll like this novel!

Thank you, L.B. Divine, for the ARC!

[Jessica Ayala · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely Upper YA fantasy that will have you turning pages and begging for answers.

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to be part of the ARC team. It has been a hot minute since I read an upper YA fantasy book but I found myself unable to stop reading! Especially towards the end - I mean, the reveals?! The mysteries?! The secrets?! So many questions but it leaves you satisfied (maybe a bit heartbroken) enough for the sequel. The characters also captured my heart. Dalton, Charmaine, and Randolph are so well-developed, experiencing their POVs and their struggles had me connecting with them instantly. Any story with chaotic and tortured characters, magic and love - count me in. I am excited to see how their stories will unfold throughout the series.

I found myself admiring LB’s writing style very much, it’s poetic and beautiful. Ahh it was just so good! These characters are just getting started and I’m eager to see how they’ll rise to the occasion.

[Brooke · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fun idea, but poor execution. I see wish I could rate higher, but not without editing.

Third person and then back into first person whiplash, grammar mistakes, and simple character tropes that don’t fully pan out due to lack of development left me exhausted and rereading simple sentences. It could be a fun YA with better editing and a bit more character development — especially when it comes to the constant “draw” between Dalton and Charmaine. I found the side characters, especially James and Elena, to be the most interesting aspect of the book.

[Callie Dahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

one word: DALTON

[Zehra · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.95/5 stars

that ending killed me.

[Monika · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to read a non-spicy yet swoon worthy story, this is perfect for you!! Its a very simple yet beautiful story with complex and likeable characters. This first book in the duology has a good plot depth to it and most importantly, it is realistic! It has people next door type characters set in a fantasy world of The First Kingdom. The story has magic, mayhem & mystery and is inspired by Arthurian mythology. Plus—that cover 😍

[Andrea | andidireadies · Rating 5 out of 5]

First things first... HOW am I supposed to wait for book 2?!?!

Okay, now that that's out of the way.

The author provided me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review. Here goes:

Big swoon for Dalton. We love him. He is reckless and impulsive and sassy and mischievous and caring and it's AMAZING. I started out actually liking Randolph better, secretive, broody lil jerk he is. Still love him but love Dalton more. Charmaine is so authentically herself (besides the hidden magical powers, thing, of course) and it's inspiring. She's candid, and loving, and vulnerable, and it shows us that it's OKAY to be those things... that those traits are a strength and not a weakness like so many believe. Her relation with James makes me wish I had a big brother. Which James is the perfect example of, btw. He and Lawton are the Dynamic Duo (TM). They are absolutely hilarious both together and on their own, and I live for the banter they bring to the table that is this tale. And last but not least, Elena. Queen energy. Literally and figuratively. I love her fierce and logical nature. She's level-headed but passionate at the same time, and has a knack for seeing the greater good even when those circumstances are against her own wishes.

Overall, if it wasn't obvious... I loved this. One of my favorite things about it is that you truly feel like you're living this story alongside the characters, especially Charmaine. The story is immersive and all the characters are relatable; we get their fears, their thoughts, their secrets, their insecurities, their longings, their pain, their grief, their joy, and their love.

I cannot wait to see how Charmaine continues in her personal growth, Randolph opens up, Dalton embraces his responsibilities, and whatever else is in store for this series.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It's the start of a good story.

The story is engaging and there are a lot of developing pieces all at once. Because of this sometimes the characters might not develop fully and/or the pacing struggles.

The psychology of Dalton is a highlight and I think he is the character I'm most interested in. This book is the beginning of Dalton coming in to his own and that is very engaging.

The ending was also a whoa moment and is going to create an uptick in action for book 2. I'm excited to dive in!

[Max Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author (Liz <3) for sending me a copy.

THE PRINCE OF SNOW is the first book in a series of Upper YA fantasy novels that explores grief, power, love and family. Inspired by the CW's Reign, L. B. Divine crafts an incredibly memorable world with remarkable writing, intriguing characters and a story that keeps you on your toes.

I have been reading fantasy all my life, and I truly believe THE PRINCE OF SNOW is something I'll come back to, time and time again. I loved the mysteries unfurling within this book, as well as the individual dynamics between the characters. I would deem this book character-driven, but Divine does a wonderful job of seamlessly weaving together the development of the characters and the natural progression of the storyline.

Of all these characters, Dalton really resonated with me. I adored that he was chaotic, in a way, and often unpredictable even while you're reading from his POV. This approach to characterisation is adopted throughout the book, giving the reader a raw, visceral understanding of their complexities.

I'm already planning a re-read for this book because the author is so good at creating vivid, intricate worlds that I'm sure there's something I missed. Nevertheless, I cannot wait until the sequel releases!

Thank you again to the author for sending an ARC my way.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ce livre est une découverte agréable mais ce n’est - à mes yeux - pas la lecture la plus exceptionnelle que j’ai eu. Elle a du potentiel mais je n’ai malheureusement pas autant accroché que je le pensais.

Le résumé était assez prometteur, il me donnait vraiment envie au premier abord. Le world building en lui-même est bien construit même s’il a un air de déjà vu, ce qui ne l’empêche pas du tout d’être intéressant et assez bien maîtrisé.
On se retrouve ici avec plusieurs POV, et autant d’habitude ça ne me dérange pas, autant cette fois-ci les multiples POV couplés à la narration à la troisième personne, ça m’a énormément dérouté, perdue aussi et c’est probablement le point qui a fait que je n’ai pas apprécié ma lecture comme je le pensais.

On est dans un royaume où la magie fait peur. Où la magie n’est théoriquement donnée qu’à des personnes de sang royal, mais en réalité on est loin de tout savoir. La magie fait peur et elle est donc interdite. On se retrouve avec des personnages très bien travaillés, avec énormément de potentiel!

J’ai un vrai coup de cœur pour Randolph, très mystérieux, très torturé et je ne m’attendais tellement pas à ça venant de lui!!! J’apprécie également James et Charmaine, le frère et la sœur qui ont survécus. Ils ont une manière de fonctionner et d’affronter les choses qui touche en plein cœur. Une force ensemble contre les obstacles de la vie, un véritable ancrage mutuel rempli d’amour, de soutien de manière inébranlable. Une petite préférence pour James quand même.
Par contre, Dalton - le Prince de Glace - m’a laissé et bien….. de glace justement. Je l’ai trouve trop immature, trop « sanguin » dans son comportement. Je l’imagine tellement bien taper du pied et se jeter par terre quand il n’obtient pas ce qu’il veut… Alors qu’il pourrait être tellement plus!!

Bref, c’est un premier tome, donc très introductif mais trop introductif pour moi. Je pense sincèrement que je ne tenterais pas la suite, la fin ne m’a pas donné envie de connaître la suite. C’est dommage, mais cette lecture m’a tellement paru sans fin que ça me refroidit pour tenter l’aventure du second tome…

[Nouha Jullienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC of her debut YA fantasy!

When I first heard of this story that was influenced by King Arthur and Reign, I was immediately interested in reading this book! And let me tell you, L.B. Divine did not disappoint- she didn't mess around!!!

This book was such an joy to read. From the easy world-building, to the complex characters, intriguing storyline (THE SECRETS and SUSPENSE), and to the magic system. It was all so wonderful and perfect. I loved the dynamic between the main characters. Randolph is a broody night, a young man with so much love nd care to give. Lawton, my favorite goofball, mysterious in his own way. James...will you marry me? I feel in love with him the first time I saw him on the page. Charmaine...our strong-willed yet sensitive girl. I love her so much. And last but not least, Dalton, the snowy prince full of an untamable fire. I love each and every character and I developed bonds with them that I will cherish forever!

This book made me laugh, tear up, and swoon. The growing relationship with them made my heart happy.

The writing in this book was fantastic. Easy to understand and I had no trouble following the world-building.

I highly recommend this novel to anyone who is looking for a new YA fantasy book to binge.

5 snowy stars!!!