Frozen

Heart of Dread #1

by Melissa de la Cruz, Michael Johnston

From New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston comes this remarkable first book in a spellbinding new series about the dawn of a new kind of magic.

Welcome to New Vegas, a city once covered in bling, now blanketed in ice. Like much of the destroyed planet, the place knows only one temperature—freezing. But some things never change. The diamond in the ice desert is still a 24-hour hedonistic playground and nothing keeps the crowds away from the casino floors, never mind the rumors about sinister sorcery in its shadows.

At the heart of this city is Natasha Kestal, a young blackjack dealer looking for a way out. Like many, she's heard of a mythical land simply called “the Blue.” They say it’s a paradise, where the sun still shines and the waters are turquoise. More importantly, it’s a place where Nat won’t be persecuted, even if her darkest secret comes to light.

But passage to the Blue is treacherous, if not impossible, and her only shot is to bet on a ragtag crew of mercenaries led by a cocky runner named Ryan Wesson to take her there. Danger and deceit await on every corner, even as Nat and Wes find themselves inexorably drawn to each other. But can true love survive the lies? Fiery hearts collide in this fantastic tale of the evil men do and the awesome power within us all.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Dystopia, Romance, Magic, Science Fiction, Paranormal

320 pages, Hardcover

First published September 17, 2013

About the author

Melissa de la Cruz is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for teens including The Au Pairs series, the Blue Bloods series, the Ashleys series, the Angels on Sunset Boulevard series and the semi-autobiographical novel Fresh off the Boat.

Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.

She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.

Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).

She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.

Reviews

[Gillian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rating:

ZERO STARS.

Originally posted at Writer of Wrongs

There's no beating around the bush. Frozen is a bad book. It's a bottom-of-the-slush-pile, never-gonna-happen, mish-mash-mess of a book you'd expect from someone who just woke up one day and decided to be a novelist. It is stupefying and fascinating in its awfulness. It contains poor grammar, poor plodding plotting, flat characters, and world-building that's entirely without focus. Is it a fantasy? Is it dystopian? Who knows? And, more important, who cares?

Why did I finish this book? Your guess is as good as mine. Perhaps it reached such a high level of hilarribad that I was physically incapable of looking away from it. Maybe I wanted the book to deliver on its promise so much, even though I knew it wouldn't, that I had to give it a chance.

Vague plot overview that can't be more specific because I didn't understand anything but this:

Nat is a "Marked", which means she has freaky eyes and hears a voice in her head and has weird powers. One day, she escapes from... prison? A hospital? A secret evil governmental place?... and goes to New Vegas to become a dealer. The world is frozen and post-apocalyptic-y, which means everybody is poor and the government is totalitarian like every other book I've ever read. The voice in Nat's head  tells her she must go find "the Blue", which apparently is the one place on Earth that's not all frozen over, because that is exactly how meteorology works. To do this, she hires Wes, the leader of the least exciting crew of teenage mercenaries in literature, to ferry her across the frozen nuclear wasteland to the frozen nuclear sea. Then there's a polar bear. For some reason.

Why was this book the worst thing to happen to me since that time I stepped on a Lego? Several reasons, the key ones being:

1. Grammar

Or, more accurately, a complete and total lack of it. This book makes the English language cry and my inner copy editor rage. When reading an ARC, you're guaranteed to run into the odd typo or grammatical error. I've come to expect this in ARCs every now and then, and I can tell what's accidental. But the writing in this book is not accidental. When almost every sentence is a run-on mess, or has errant commas and semi colons just hanging around wherever they please, or switches POV for a couple of words, it's not an accident. It's style. It's TACKY STYLE.



All quotes are taken from an uncorrected advance proof. I understand this, but STILL.

"Wes carried one because he had to, but he'd never killed anyone with it, he'd threatened many, of course, he'd waved it around, and shot drones and trucks and who knew what else, but his hands were clean, and so were his boys'."



HOW ON EARTH IS THAT ONE SENTENCE

"He smiled and she smiled back, and for a moment they were just an ordinary boy and girl in a car, neither runner and client, or mercenary and thief, and Nat saw a glimpse of how normal things could be."

Gillian's edit: He smiled, and she smiled back. For a moment, they were just an ordinary boy and girl in a car, neither runner and client NOR mercenary and thief, and Nat saw a glimpse of how normal things could be.

"Neither" is followed by "nor". "Either" is followed by "or". Periods go at the end of complete sentences. I... I can't.



"They will find their own way, the voice murmured, but Nat felt her stomach twist, here she was, in the safety of the truck, while outside, her friends--her friends were dying. People like her, hunted and killed. "

Gillian's edit: They will find their own way, the voice murmured, but Nat felt her stomach twist. Here she was in the safety of the truck while outside, her friends were dying. People like her were being hunted and killed.

(I'm such a bitch for doing this, but I CANNOT HELP MYSELF.

"Wes was visibly trembling, and, more than once, he would ask Nat if it was day or night, his eyes were bothering him."

Gillian's edit: Wes was visibly trembling, and, more than once, he asked Nat if was day or night. His eyes were bothering him.

"Shakes--just plow through the fence--look there's a hole over there--we'll just rip through," Wes ordered.

Gillian's edit: "Shakes, just plow through the fence. Look, there's a hole over there! We'll just rip through!" Wes ordered.

Now, doesn't that look better? Still not great, but better?

"She realized he wasn't trying to wriggle out of the
job; he was simply being decent; and she felt another rush of affection for this impulsive, good-looking boy."

TWO; SEMI; COLONS; IN; ONE; SENTENCE.

 

 "She joined him in laughter, but they both froze, as the sound of the wailer broke over the waves again--that awful, horrible scream--the sound of broken grief--a keening--echoing over the water--filling the air with its mournful cries..." [SIC SIC EVERYTHING SIC IT MAKES ME SICK]

What--do you-- think you are-- doing--exactly--here...



2. World-building

Everything but the kitchen sink. Absolutely no logic whatsoever. Crammed, crowded, and defying logic. Fragments that emulate the tacky writing style. Nothing but fragments and run-ons. Apparently there was a big Flood but also a Freeze and the government took over for some reason but there are battles being fought in places and population control for some reason but there are also magical Marked people with dragon tattoos and voices in their heads and light eyes and nobody has money or warmth but everybody has full tanks of gas and boats and Hummers and nobody can read but some people speak in texts and none of it makes a DAMN LICK OF SENSE.

No, seriously, this book includes:

a frozen, post-apocalyptic wasteland; "Marked", magical people; sylphs or something (?) ; smallmen (?!?!); psychic dragons; polar bears; and
even some things called thrillers, which are, hilariously, wonderfully, zombies.



Literacy and English are a thing of the past. All information is conveyed in either images and sounds or an "amalgam of symbols" called TEXTLISH. YES. TEXTLISH. That sound you just heard was the booming of a mushroom cloud where my brain used to be. A very popular "Reading-Based Entertainment" is called XCLNT <3 LULZ. Oh, but Korean still exists, because they go to K-Town and all the signs are in Korean and "textlish".

The true tragedy of this is how many good ideas are squandered. A bleak and frozen future? A toxic sea dotted with "trash-bergs", aka huge heaps of garbage comprised of the remnants of the past? These are all elements that could be amazing! Things really pick up once they make it to sea, both plot-wise and world-building-wise. There's actually a nice-ish twist regarding a messed-up protection spell that's almost immediately ruined. The few glimmers of promise are drowned in an icy and interminable flood of stupid.

"But there were very few scientists these days, and the only books that remained were the physical ones that dated until the early
twenty-first century."

WHY? Why are there no scientists
or books?! I am a thousand percent positive the frozen apocalyptic future would have both. ESPECIALLY SCIENTISTS. THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SCIENTISTS. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SCIENTISTS. You are using futuristic technology, dolts. Therefore, there are scientists. And early twenty-first century, how clever. In the frozen future, all the little kidlets will be sitting around reading... Frozen! It will be the only book left! NO WONDER NOBODY CAN READ.

It was after curfew, when the only vehicles allowed in the streets were the Willie Winkie patrols...



OKAY. YOU CANNOT BRING UP SOMETHING AS ABSURD AS WILLIE WINKIE PATROLS AND THEN NOT EXPLAIN WHAT, PRECISELY, THAT IS.

There is a lack of water, and most people can't afford to drink it, and get by on a crap substitute called Nutri. HEY. PSST. GUYS. YOU LIVE IN A FUCKING FROZEN TUNDRA. YOU ARE SURROUNDED BY FUCKING SNOW AND ICE. DO YOU KNOW WHAT SNOW AND ICE ARE? THEY. ARE. WATER. JUST. MELT. IT. YOU...

"It's Bacon Fruit. Tastes like fruit, looks like bacon." 

Giselle warned me about this, but no amount of warning could have prepared me for this. I laughed so hard I choked on my own tongue. Bacon Fruit. There is a thing called Bacon Fruit. They use it as jacket insulation. To keep warm. But it's edible. Why the everloving fuck would you need or want such a thing? Why on earth wasn't it mentioned BEFORE it was used to miraculously save the day? Why didn't the editor ALSO choke on her own tongue and immediately strike this from the manuscript?

But logic is not at all present in Frozen. Somehow, on their journey from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, the characters pass through Phoenix. *checks handy US map* Um. No. There's also the part where Wes implies to Nat that he can't read and then... reads the title of her book over her shoulder. And then there's the part where the engine on the boat stops working, and then later the book references someone "turn(ing) the wheel and power(ing) the engines." Also, WHY did the frozen apocalypse happen? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

3. Characters:

Everybody in this book is bland and floats around doing whatever stupid thing they're supposed to be doing at the moment, whether it be racing cars, jumping out of buildings, or standing perfectly stock still while a polar bear charges at their face. Mind you, that exhilarating car race TO THE DEATH lasts... three paragraphs. Thank you, Wes. That was thrilling. You sure showed me what an adrenaline junkie you are! Wes and Nat have the strangest flirtation going on through most of the book, and it's totally forced and awkward. INSERT ROMANTICAL FEELINGS HERE! BANTER, PUPPETS!

"We're not sticking around after that. Got it?"
"Who says I want you to stick around," [sic] she said tartly. [WHEN YOU ASK A QUESTION, USE A DAMN QUESTION MARK.][Tartly. Honestly.]
His dark eyes sparkled. [Just say 'darkled' and be done with it.]
"Careful, you might change your mind about that once you get to know me."
"Doubt it," she said, even as her cheeks flushed a little.



Also, this is the second time they've ever spoken. Why are they flirting? Why do they like each other? Wait, all of a sudden they're in the most tepid "true love" ever? Who are these people? Oh, God, is that a dragon? WHERE THE SHIT DID A DRAGON COME FROM? WHY?

4. "Plot"

Yep, this book suddenly becomes a high fantasy adventure right at the very end. Just when I thought, "Hey, wait a second, that was maybe not so terrible", BOOM! The book erupts with lunacy. In the last 20 pages we FINALLY learn what Nat's powers are and what the hell anything is. It's all so very deus ex machina, too. I couldn't understand the world-building or anybody's motivations or the "love" story. The adventure part should totally be entertaining, but its not. Nat is using a jewel necklace as a map to the Blue. How? How do you find a location using a necklace? HECK IF I KNOW. The navigating part is mostly just:

 

It's the same deal with the voice in Nat's head. Nat goes on this whole quest just because the voice tells her to. And then she special-snowflakes all over the place and yaaaawn. So much narrative cheating at the end, so much "twu wuv saves the day and brings people back to life" and vommmmm.

This book is a train-wreck. No, it's a plane crash-landing on a boat
that takes out a bridge that explodes a train that wrecks thirty cars. DON'T READ THIS BOOK. That's all I have to say. DON'T, DON'T, DON'T.

OR THE THRILLERS WILL GET YOU.

 

[Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is plagued with so many problems, I hardly know where to begin. Ms. de la Cruz is an extremely prolific author, and a successful one, but sometimes I think that there is a problem with quantity over quality.

This book was such an utter mess. The plot is barely held together by the weakest of smear from a grade-school quality glue stick. The world building is slapdash, haphazard, nonsensical, inconsistent. The characters are devoid of personality and emotion.

There are pirates, small child-size ice men "smallmen," sylphs, drau, drakon (dragons), zombies (called "thrillers," after the Michael Jackson song *facepalm*), banshee-like "wailers," "mages," "warlocks." Pretty much the only things missing in this mishmash mess of a quasi-dystopian, pseudo-sci-fi, fucked-up fantasy are vampires, werewolves, and unicorns.

Contrary to popular beliefs, I don't enjoy giving out 1-star-ratings. I absolutely hate writing reviews for books to which I give a "1," because generally, it means there are so many problems that I hardly know where to start. It's hard for me to gather my thoughts and write a coherent review with everything that I find to be lacking. It's a strain on my nerves, it's stressful, and it pisses me off to have to revisit a book that I do not enjoy. I don't give a book a 1-star unless I feel it's truly deserved, and I feel that this book is worthy of my low rating (or unworthy, if you would).

Summary: The world is covered in ice after some random events (the Great Wars, the Black Flood, the Big Freeze). Las Vegas is now one of the last cities left standing. Food is scarce, water is a delicacy. There are creatures of magic that emerged after the ice came. There are child soldiers. Adults are as rare as unicorns because they're all dead. Anyone who lives to be 30 is considered ancient.

Natasha Kestal (Nat) is a 16-year old girl, working as a blackjack dealer. Ryan Wesson (Wes) is a "runner," a mercenary, a wizened old ex-Marine Sergeant at the ripe old age of---wait for it---16. He runs a sought-after mercenary team, composed of a pair of teenaged brothers (Zedric and Daran), Shakes, a "scruffy, goateed beanpole of a soldier," and an idiot kid of 13, Farouk. The KONY of the future.

Natalie randomly acquires a jewel which supposedly contains a map (HOW?!) to the fabled Blue. "Blue" is supposed to be a land where the water is not poisoned, where the sun still shines. She enlists Wes' aid, despite having no reason to trust him, and off they go, across the icy land and uh...sea.

Inconsistent world building: Absolutely terrible. It is vague, it is inconsistent, it simply makes no sense. I don't even know where to start, because this new icy dystopian world is so poorly built. The background is unbelievably vague. There are wars, there are flooding, there's freezing. No details whatsoever. Everything comes out of fucking nowhere. Las Vegas stands, most other cities have failed. Somehow, California and New York have been washed away, yet the team is able to visit Korea Town...in formerly Los Angeles, California.

There's a horrifying lack of resources. Citizens can't even afford water. Water is a luxury. People drink a mixture called "Nutri" instead. Think of it as Ensure, for the people. It's probably better than Soylent, but not by much. In the middle of all this shortage, in the middle of a fucking frozen wasteland, somehow people still manage to find the time to fucking gamble. In the middle of a starvation crisis, people still have the emergy and power and resource to breed organic cows and Wagyu to feed the privileged few. And it is a FEW, because the vast majority of the people are so fucking poor and deprived that they have to depend on the government for the very basic of food. Which is again, barely food. Think of it as a mixture of chemicals and nutrients, the very basics of what is necessary for the human body to survive. And we have fucking 5-star restaurants catering to the few.

In the past, salt was as expensive as gold. Apparently, it once again becomes a valuable commodity in the future, because in this book, salt (sea salt: fleur de sel) is as rare as diamonds. The fact that the human body requires salt to live? Please, minor details, right? A handful of salt is almost enough to buy a fucking ship.

“This is the real treasure.” Nat placed a small velvet pouch on the table. She pulled the string and showed him what was inside: tiny crystals that sparkled in the light, bright as diamonds.
Sea salt. Real salt, not the synthetic kind—which was at once too salty and not salty enough—but the real thing, from before the floods, when the world was still whole.

I should start stockpiling salt. Or not, since I probably have enough in my pantry right now to buy all of California and probably some parts of Canada. Actually, most of Canada.

Practically everyone are children. Teenagers. With the world-weary air of ones decades older. Wes' crew, consisting of the various teenagers, have the air of either battle-worn soldiers from WWII and talk like they're in the Italian Mafia of the 1920s. They call Wes "boss."

We are extremely short of resources, yet we have the power and the fuel to have drag races in the streets of Las Vegas. And they travel across the frozen wasteland on a Hummer. Where the fuck are those gas stations, right? OH, THEY DON'T EXIST. Hmm...Hummers of the future must run on fucking air.

A few kids in a truck manage to beat down 4 heavily armored tanks.

For some fucking reason, magical creatures just emerge right the fuck out of nowhere after the ice come. Magical children with light-colored eyes are born. They have the power to make illusions, to mind control.

Zilch. Zero. No explanation whatsoever. In the middle of our adventure, random ass magical creatures appear out of nowhere to interrupt things. We get zombie attacks. We get polar bear attacks. We get wailers. We get dragons. The use of magical beings is just ludicrous. They're a plot device to make things more interesting. The magical aspects of this story never feel like they belong in the book.

Despite the fact that all the kids are somehow workers or soldiers or homeless or mercenaries, Nat has attended school. She's learned about Chernobyl. I don't know how they manage to be in school, or where they find the time, because the world is run by children.

Wes is uneducated. He can't read. But in the next paragraph, he reads the name of an author right off a book Nat is reading. And he's able to identify a label written in French for some reason.

And speaking of reading, the written English language hardly exists anymore, there is only "Textlish".

The latest RBEs, or “Reading-Based Entertainment,” were all composed in textlish, but Nat couldn’t quite get excited by a story called XLNT <3 LULZ.

People actually SPEAK textlish.

The slavers’ language sounded brutal to her ear, a corruption, all consonants and no vowels. Then she realized they were actually speaking textlish, a language that was only designed to be written, not spoken

And rest assured, you will be happy to know there is a thriving industry of pop music, even in the dystopian future when everyone is poor and hungry as fuck. Gooooooo Britney!

Inconsistent plot, inconsistent characters, inconsistent romance: I usually go into details, with very specific supporting examples, but I'm just all worn out by now. I don't have the energy for a detailed analysis of their inconsistencies. Here is a rough version. Nat is stupid as fuck. She meets Wes for the first time in a situation when they both believe the other is tricking them. Then she decides to entrust her life to a bunch of mercenaries to travel across the country to some mythical land despite not knowing them at all, despite their initially distrustful encounter.

Nat's reaction to Wes is so dumb. The second time she meets him, she didn't know "whether she wanted to slap him or kiss him." That just makes no fucking sense to me whatsoever, given the context. Natalie's powers are so completely out of nowhere, so completely random, I don't even know what to make of them. She can move objects. She can make a gust of wind blow. She can push people back. Like everything else in the book, there is just no explanation given for any power of hers.

For a hardened ex-Marine, Wes is really, really soft. His thoughts run along the line of "I shouldn't trust her. But she's so pretty. I need to get the map from her. But she's so lovely! I need to get my team fed and safe. But Nat's hair is so soft!" Literally. He cannot stop thinking about how pretty pretty pretty Nat is.

Despite the fact that the fabled "Anaximander's Map," and the land of the Blue is the driving point of the book and our characters' mission, it plays a surprisingly tiny role in the book overall. Besides a few mention of "WE WANT TO GO TO THE BLUE," the map is not explained at all, and HOW it came to be in Natalie's hands is just so completely random that I cannot believe it. Nat literally has it handed to her.

I'm just so tired of this book, and I don't want to continue writing this review. Screw this book. I wish I could have my 2 hours back.

[Giselle · Rating 1 out of 5]

I haven't read a book I could describe as truly terrible in a long time. I was surprised at every turn of a page that I was still reading it. I'm not really sure why I kept reading. A fruitless hope that it would suddenly turn into a good book? Or catch fire? Either way, this book has taken hours of my life I will never get back! ROBBERY! This is a book that, if read drunk... would still be terrible. Beer goggles can never be thick enough - well I guess once it blurs the words so much you have to make up your own...

Ok moving on.

How did I go about hating this book so much? Mostly the fact that this whole world is filled with nonsense and contradictions, then add to that a mish mash of any kinds of paranormal... thing you can think of. Zombies, Nymphs, Drakons, "Smallmen", polar bears, you name it. Its shell is a post apocalyptic world where everything is frozen over, people are starving, supplies are scarce, but wait… one of the main characters has a ship and drives a Hummer! When he's not starving, that is, because otherwise it would be uncomfortable I suppose. Although, this is the same character who, in the same paragraph as admitting he can't read, reads the author's name off a book, then later on could tell a label was written in French. So obviously, he's speshul!

Not as speshul as Nat, though. SHE has a voice in her brain telling her to do things! I thought that's when we diagnosed schizophrenia, but I'm no doctor. At least she hasn't let it affect her ego:

"So what if I was? Interested, I mean." He shrugged. "It wouldn't be a surprise," she [Nat] said. "I'm sure half the crew has a crush on me." She rolled her eyes."

We can't blame them for all their awesome, though, because much of the human brain is not wasted on lesser things anymore, like written language. Written language has devolved into "amalgam of symbols and acronyms", basically very simple text speech. For instance, a book in this world is titled XLNT <3 LULZ - yeah LULZ is right! No disrespect to its author, I'm sure it's an excellent read full of lulz! (Sometimes I surprise myself with my cleverness!) But anyways, there's not much reason to read anymore since most information in this world is relayed via videos and images - you know, like we do with newborn babies...

How about we give it up for the quotes that speak for themselves:

It was after curfew, when the only vehicles allowed in the streets were the Willie Winkie patrols […] Wait for it… LULZ!

Every citizen an armed citizen, was the country's unofficial motto. (Pssst - what is everyone shooting at?)

"[…] to keep things confidential, to make us forget… they used to put us in ice baths, to freeze our memories somehow." Think twice next time you give your feverish kid an ice bath! Should we tell the hospitals?

"Wailers. Like funeral wailers," Nat said, thinking of the elaborate funeral rites that had become the norm for those who could afford it, where professional mourners were hired to wail and cry and pull their hair to show the level of wealth and the depth of bereavement of the family. The more elaborate the show of grief, the more expensive." THIS IS REAL!

It's Bacon Fruit. Tastes like fruit, looks like bacon. I just… I…

[…] and they were kissing, and kissing, and kissing, and his mouth was on hers […] Bravo! *claps enthusiastically*


Oh oh, and they need a license for a one night stand! I wonder what's written on it: = 1 NYT 53X?

On a positive note, at page 30 or so, we get a super duper exciting car race/crash: A full 3 paragraphs of thrill! … No, never mind, I didn't like that either.

FFS!

L8TR!

--
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.

For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads

[Natalie Monroe · Rating 1 out of 5]

Last time, I taught you how to write a Paranormal Romance. This time around, I'm going to show you how to write your very own Dystopian!



Just follow this easy how-to guide and you too can be on the bestseller's list in no time.

Step 1: Creating your world

Everyone knows the key to writing a good dystopian is to make your futuristic world as bleak and destroyed as the one in the picture above! So make sure you throw every disaster possible at your pre-dystopian planet. Earthquakes! Floods! World War V! Meteoroid strike! Large-scale Chernobyl 2.0! Never-ending winter and polluted seas!

"They'd moved after the Flood."

"The toxic sea never froze, but seethed with poison...the waves dancing on occasion with slim wisps of fire."

Just remember to keep at least one city standing. You can't have your protagonists foraging naked in the ragged foliage like an animal! Besides, this will show your readers how resistant the human race is. Even in times of crisis, they can still drink and gamble their houses away in a casino.



A world map is optional. But if you do plan on going the extra mile, combine continents and cultures. With the world so messy all those years ago, it would have perfect sense for countries to annex others to increase their land and population. Cheongsam can be a traditional Korean outfit, and burritos can be a staple food in North America. Keep details as vague as possible. You don't want to overload your readers with information!

And if you really want to get creative with your world-building, toss in some magic. Science-fiction is just one small step from fantasy after all! Put in people with superpowers, zombies, or dragons. But don't call them zombies and dragons. Boring! Give them unique names like 'drakons' and relabel zombies as 'thrillers'. Long live the King of Pop, even in a far-off future with little to no technology.

It's also a good idea to have one of your characters remark on the pop culture reference in case your readers don't get it. Remember, we want to make things as easy as possible for them!



Step 2: Installing an oppressive government

It's not a dystopian if there isn't a dictatorship government ruling over the ruins of civilization with an iron fist. Make sure to tell your readers how bad they are through random acts of violence and arbitrary rules, such as curfews. It will create much-needed tension and make it doubly dangerous for your protagonists to go out at night to do rebellious things.

In fact, doesn't China, a modern-day totalitarian country, have curfews?



I'm almost completely, slightly, mildly sure they do! Who has time for fact-checking? Just hit up a couple social media sites for verification and you're good. Historical accuracy will add authenticity to your novel's scientific background. And if those naysayers say otherwise, point out it's a work of fiction. Everything is up for grabs!

Step 3: Creating your protagonist/rebel

There has to someone brave enough to fight against all that icky oppression and that special someone is your protagonist! S/he doesn't have to be a part of the rebellion at first, but it is essential that she has a special talent that separates her from the rest of the whipped, mindless masses. Oh no, your MC is meant for greater things. To demonstrate this, make her handy with a sword, talented at cracking codes, or give her unexplained powers that can do anything! It will cause intrigue and add to your MC's specialness.



Better yet, ensure her special talent causes unwarranted hate and ensures the government wants to capture/kill her at all costs. Keep the stakes high, and the tension higher!

"The voice in her head was the reason her eyes were not brown or gray. Her clear tiger eyes—hazel-green with golden pupils—told the world she carried a mark on her skin, one she kept hidden, one that was shaped like a flame and hurt like a burn right above her heart."

"She's not marked, is she?" Zedric asked. "You know we don't mess with ice trash."

"People like her, hunted and killed."

Her innate talents will make her look 'kickass' and that's all the rage these days. Bella is out, Katniss is in. And you don't want to break from the trend, do you? Of course not! Have her throw a few punches, but still have the sensitivity to blush when the love interest(s) is around. God forbid you forget the earth-moving, spine-tingling romance! (see Step 4 for details)

Bonus points if the government's stigma spreads to the public as well! This will provide an excellent opportunity for angst, and for the love interest(s) to reassure her that she isn't a monster and that her powers makes her special. Your readers will weep puddles for how noble your protagonist is for suffering this injustice day in and day out.

Step 4: Adding a non-government-sanctioned romance

Twilight sold millions and millions of copies and you too can find a way to work that to your advantage! Instead of having your protagonist fall for a vampire/angel/werewolf/Chewbacca, have her fall for someone that she is forbidden to love because of evil administrative reasons.

"She's not marked, is she?" Zedric asked. "You know we don't mess with ice trash."

"He smiled and she smiled back, and for a moment they were just an ordinary boy and girl in a car, neither runner and client, or mercenary and thief, and Nat saw a glimpse of how normal things could be."

But Daddy, I love food!

Forbidden love is hot, hot, hot, writers! And you certainly can't write a YA without romance. It's absolutely absurd! Girls these days all want boyfriends, while fretting about the valuables in between their legs. The Bechdel Test is only a myth created by bitter old spinsters who hate men. Feminism = misandry. Everyone knows that!

Step 5: Absentee parents/guardians

This step is essential in Paranormal Romances and Dystopians! Your protagonists can't run off to do rebellious things if her parents are around to apply discipline! Have them be brutally murdered by the government (The injustice!!!) or be utterly scatterbrained. This will demonstrate how cruel the government is, and inform your readers how kind and patient your protagonist is to take such good care of their mentally ill parent.

And that's it; you've penned a bestseller! Don't forget to leave your book on an open note. Rome wasn't built in a day, and a government can't be brought down in 300+ pages. Buy a big bag to hold the money in, and start writing the doorstopper second book! Trilogies are in, and we all have to...

'Follow the trend!'

There you go!

Warning: Accuracy of said tips may be in negative figures depending on the alignment of the planets, spots on a ladybird, and the existence of a Justin Bieber shirtless picture on any given day. Natalie Monroe is not responsible for any negative side effects the above tips may bring. Known effects may include violent head-to-wall action, excessive eyerolling, and brain aneurysms. Batteries not included.

ARC provided by Netgalley

[Jill Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frozen is amazing, the most original novel of 2013! I am a librarian. I managed to snag an Advance Reader Copy of the new novel by veteran YA Alum Melissa de la Cruz. The co-author, according the text, is her husband and previously unrevealed co-author. I assumed from the girl-faced cover that frozen would fall into the teen paranormal romance category, but the novel is so much more than I expected. It's a love story, but its also an adventure. It's a science fiction novel that becomes a fantasy novel. It's a genre-bending mash-up of amazing ideas about our society and how it might evolve. The novel deals with important environmental issues (trash, food quality) but never preaches to the reader. It made me laugh and shed a tear at the end. If you can snag an ARC, I highly recommend reading this novel.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started reading, I knew beforehand that this book is high-fantasy. I haven't been reading as much fantasy as I would've liked to, so I was excited to start reading Frozen.

This book is beautifully written. The authors build such an intricate world, and this book introduces you to a whole new dimension. I personally loved how all the characters interacted. I loved the plot, and the story never once bored me. Frozen is definitely one of the most original books I've read in a long time. I admire the authors for being able to do enough world building throughout this book without leaving the reader confused or overwhelmed.


*I'm honored to have read this book early; I won an ARC at bookbitereviews.

[Shay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It's original and different and just awesome. It's kinda dystopian and fantasy and its blends together so well that you never think to question it. I loved the world and the characters. There's twists and turns that you never see coming and that can be hard to find in some YA. It's magical and thrilling, and has everything from a corrupt government and military to pirates, slavers and mages.
I loved pretty much everything about this book and would highly recommend it to any fans of dystopian/post apocalyptic and/or fantasy books. =)
My Blog - http://theblogoftheteenagenobody.blog...

[Brielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars! I thought it was a very original book and the fantasy was blended in quite well. Parts of the ending left me a bit confused but I can't wait to read the next book!

[L.A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Posted first on Blog Critics as Book Review: Frozen: Heart of Dread Book I by Melissa De La Cruz and Michael Johnston

Las Vegas has always been a Mecca to draw those who look for the high life, and enjoy the bling and lights of the city. What if Las Vegas became New Vegas, a city covered in crystals of snow and ice instead of the usual glitter. In Book one of Frozen: Heart of Dread by Melissa De Las Cruz, New Vegas is the new frontier, the major city left after destruction of the world. A city that plays 24 hours a day, it still draws the crowds looking for a stake.

Stories of sorcery and the rumors of a paradise called the Blue abound, drawing those who are looking for something different. Natasha Kestal, a blackjack dealer, with no evidence of a past is one of those seeking to find this land of sunshine, or ready to die in the process. If anyone one finds her secret she knows she will not survive. She carries a voice of death and destruction in her mind, urging her to pursue the rumors of this magical city.

She must find a way to leave the city, and has unearthed the name of one who may help. As with all mercenaries, there is a chance this Ryan Wesson will take her money and turn her in for the reward. Yet is it a chance she must take. Handsome and bold, he heads a ragtag crew that makes a living through protection as well as thieving.

Nat and Wes (Ryan) are drawn together by feelings they can’t control, but there are too many lies between them. Can their love survive the deceit of others and the anger of evil men as they try to destroy all that is beautiful in an effort to control a world gone crazy?

De La Cruz has a knack of bringing you heroes and heroines that are strong yet flawed. Their unusual beauty is offset by darkness or past that creates a crossroads to making them more malleable as well as good. Her worlds are uniquely interesting, often vulnerable or dangerous, much like the characters she peoples them with. With an ever escalading volume of books De La Cruz has kept her imagination in check, dredging another fascinating work of fiction and fantasy. Never far from romance, this tome sparkles with the beginnings of a powerful attraction, another hook to draw you into the fold.

If you enjoy mystery, magic, dystopian worlds, fantasy and romance, this is a great find. As usual from the work I have followed she has penned another volume that doesn’t disappoint.

This book was received from the authors publicist. All opinions are my own based on my reading and understanding of the material.

[Ellen F · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up a copy at BEA last week and tore through the novel this past weekend. I was both awed and moved by the scope of world building and character development. Frozen contains a wholly formed and incredibly well developed universe that seems just a moment ahead of our own. The world as we know it is gone, but many of its trappings still remain. The culture is still saturated with processed food that comes in tubes and spray cans and clean water is as rare as a real apple, priceless. Nat and Wes live in place where trash covers the land as well as the ocean. Frozen has a message, but it doesn't preach. It talks about our world and our environment, but speaks through humor and world building detail. I found the book a rare gem and highly recommend it to anyone looking for something that feels fresh, vivid, and new.

[Tee loves Kyle Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frozen is an amazing book! I just loved how Melissa set up the world and created a dystopian world. I have to say that I was actually shocked to find out she co-authored this book with her husband. Man oh man what a lucky team these two are. At first I was skeptical to read something from her because I started reading her other series and got side tracked and stopped so now that I am done with school I will start fresh from book one and read the series as well as the spin off.With Frozen I was completely blown away and I want no I need book two.

In Frozen we meet Natasha AKA Nat who is living in this icy land. She works as a black jack dealer and longs for a better place. She wants to find this mysterious place named Blue. It is said that is the land of flowing water and fresh food and places to live that have everything you could think off. But does this place really exists? If it does how can she find it? It is said that the passage is dangerous and dam near impossible to go through so why should she attempt it? See Nat is hiding a secret and if exposed could get her killed.

So Nat finds out who knows about Blue and how can she find it? She is told that a band of misfits and sort rebels knows how to get there. When she finds out she will have to trust a bunch of misfits Nat is not so sure she will go through with it. But when she meets Ryan the leader there is something there about him that draws her in. She knows she feels something for him and she trusts him and she is not so sure why she does because she does not know him. But when they are around each other there is something there and Nat is willing to make a sacrifice if it means she can find this mysterious blue place.

This story is so full of twits and turns and action that I could not put it down until I was done and when I was done reading the last page I was mad because I wanted no I needed more. Lord I have such a long time to wait for book two but that is okay I can do it! Happy Reading because you will love this one!

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I scanned an ARC at a friend's house last weekend and was blown away by the details of the world, meals ready to squeeze, a world covered in ice where the farm animals live better than the soldiers. Into this world we meet Nat, a dealer with a voice in her head, a voice that's calling her toward the ocean, toward a place called the blue that she's not certain exists. I was not certain what to make when I saw the cover, but I discovered Frozen was packed with fantasy and sci-fi details. Very fun. (Full disclosure: I have not yet finished the book)

[Caroline Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got my hands an advance copy from a friend and fellow blogger. I am a romance reader primarily, but I do dabble in a little fantasy. FROZEN had a lot of both. I am not yet finished, so I may update my review, but the writers paint a lucid, vibrant picture of a future where technology has died and magic is seeping into the world. In this world, we find a girl who is herself infected with a new kind of magic, one that is calling her to a distant place, where the world is still whole and not yet destroyed. It's an amazing portrait of a new kind of world and tragedies and loves that might unfold in such a scenario.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

  Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice
From what I've tasted of fire.
But if it had to persish twice,
I think I know ebough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
 - Robert Frost "Fire and Ice"

In Frozen, part one of the Heart of Dread series, Natasha Kestal is a young black jack dealer in what is called New Vegas. As one of the "marked" she longs for a place where she can be at peace without worry that someone will discover her secret and be found dead or worse. She hears about the a mythical land in the ocean called "The Blue" where the ugliness of this world has left it untouched. She then hires mercenary, Ryan Wesson, and his crew of misfits to charter the course and take her there. Of course it is very dangerous journey because besides dealing with corrupt government, backstabbing colleagues, and treacherous waters, Nat (Natasha) herself might be their demise.

I have to be honest, I don't have much experience with dystopian/post apocalyptic fantasy books but I can tell you that I liked this one very much. I felt the concept was original and the characters likeable Yes, there were some issues but with any novel that is expected but I'll get to that later.

The setting of the book is obviously Earth but the Earth we know is over due to a mixture of both nature based and man made destruction. The world is in a permanent state of deep freeze and the waters are all dark and murky filled with chemicals that not even fish live anymore. All food is processed and the drinking water is enhanced with drugs to curb the populations emotions. Only those with the means are able to stay warm, eat natural foods and drink fresh water. That's a common theme in any dystopian book. Government and wealth is king.

In the center of this we have our heroine Nat, who as I mentioned before is working and trying to stay under the radar, as a blackjack dealer in New Vegas, what was considered Las Vegas. What motivates her to leave New Vegas and essentially this world and seek out the paradise known as "The Blue" which in the past has been referred to as Atlantis and Avalon is that a voice in her head which she thinks is a monster is telling her she needs to get there and quick. As one of the marked, she has supernatural abilities which in her case is fire, she is an outcast in society and many are sentenced to death by the government which essentially is all military now. All the marked have supernatural abilities from telekinesis to precognition. Unfortunately for them though, they are easily spotted because for one their marks, yes they have marks I suppose you can like them as birth marks but more sophisticated, are easily spotted for many of them carry them on their faces but also they carry the disease which is dubbed "The Rot". The Rot is a mysterious disease only carried by the marked peoples which over time they are reduced to walking zombies in appearance but their minds are completely intact and from what I read it is very painful to them not being able to communicate the anguish they feel.

Also in the center of the story Wes, Ryan Wesson, is hired by Nat to take her to The Blue which he agrees to do because like any mercenary they are ruled by money but he genuinely cares what happens to his cargo and the fate of his fellow crew. Wes also has many secrets that come to light throughout the novel along with the revelation that he has a sister that has been missing since they were children. He was once a very decorated military man who could have made a career of it but something happens in Santonio (what used to be Texas) that made him think twice about the military and incidentally the way he lives his life.

What I really liked about this book was the setting. I don't know about you but I don't read many post apocalyptic books set in the ocean. It was like a character in itself. We had this water which is dangerous. Chemical filled. Just touching it can be harmful but the characters are at its mercy because it is the only way to get to their destination. I liked that within the water we got to see the destruction man has made in the world not only from the chemicals dumped into the waters but from the "thrashbergs". Trashbergs are just that. Big hunks of floating garbage out in the ocean where everything from scissors to refrigerators can be found in them. Having these trashbergs can be beneficial though in aiding ships to hide behind them for sudden ambushes or just trying to stay hidden from pirates and patrolling military ships.

The only real issues I had with this book was that the characters seemed older than their ages. They were described from thirteen to seventeen years of age and if I wasn't told that information I would have thought that they were in their late twenties to early thirties. Thankfully this was actually addressed by one of the characters in the book commenting about how they may act older but in reality they were just scared children and I appreciated the author acknowledged that. The other issue was I felt the romance between Wes and Nat could have been developed better. It seemed forced at times instead of developing naturally. The last issue was a case of hurriedness. I would say the last two chapters happened rather quickly. There was lots of information divulged in a short span of time but that in no way took away from the enjoyment.

All in all it's a fast read so don't let my five day progress fool you (I had some personal issues to deal with). There's no doubt that this book is part of a series but it can actually be read as a stand alone although there is enough for readers to come back for its sequels with the mysteries surrounding the source of The Rot and Wes' missing sister which incidentally can be connected somehow. The action is consistent and the characters are likeable so I have no doubt fans of the genre will enjoy this one as much as I did.

4 stars

ARC courtesy of Penguin.

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well what can I say I LOVE Meliss De La Criz she is one of my favorite authors of all time and I have meet her so it makes it that much better. I know this book was coming out so when I was able to be on the tour with it I JUMPED for it!

Lets see where do I start, I have to start with this one was different, intense, other world like and just that GOOD! Whatever Melissa and Michael got going with this co-author thing I think they need to keep it up because this book NEVER EVER disappointed!

Ok to the book! It’s a whole other world and I loved it. New Vegas now coved in ice and everyone living for the next thing to eat. Natasha has a past and one she just cant figure out and now that she has escaped and is living as a blackjack dealer she is must do her best to hide her secrets. She wants out and she needs a way to find the Blue, a place that is noting like the New Vegas it is NOT covered in ice. So she gets her chance and now is looking for someone to take her there, but it can coast her life.

Wes or Ryan Wesson is his name and danger is his game!! I loved him I loved everything about his character and that fact he was rugged but knew how to take charge. Ex-military he is now working with his crew Daran and Edric (brothers), Shakes ( BFF) and Drakon taking odd job to try to live. Well these boys find out there is someone looking for a runner and they take the job but never did they think it would end up being a girl and one that like her self can get them killed a long the way. They are all young in this one so never forget, you will along the way but they are just teenagers and I loved that they were so strong and I think that’s what really made this one so much MORE for me. Cruz and Johnston did a wonderful job with these boys making me fall in love with all of them and really enjoying reading each and everyone of them.

There is tones of adventure, excitement, heart ache and danger in this one. And I never at any point was disappointed while reading this incredible story of life during the ice. There is paranormal for sure as well in theses pages and that’s what made for a more intense read. I don’t want to say a lot because then I will be giving it away because I was shocked at a lot of the turn outs so I know you will be too! I want to give more but this is a hard review for me because I just cant put into words how good it was so when you can GET IT and read and let me know. I think you will fall into this book like me and want MORE MORE at then end. I sure hope Cruz and Johnston are looking into a book 2;)

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a diehard MDLC fan. I loved Blue Bloods and I absolutely loved this book. I read it in ARC form and finished last night! It had all the romance of the Blue Bloods books, but the settings were new and fantastic. I read a lot of fantasy, but this one felt completely new completely different. Did I mention there is a DRAGON!! IS THAT A SPOILER? It's on the cover, so I guess not! The novel was truly engrossing, a well built, well executed world, that you fall into and never want to leave. Highly recommended.

[Caroline Hartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fantasy reader, but I also scan a lot of Young Adult. This was is a crossover and a good one. It's premise reminded me of Terry Brooks. It's a bout a destroyed world that learns to reinvent itself through magic. There are small men, and there are sylphs, and there is dragon. It's fantasy, but its presented in a completely new and original way. Thumbs Up!!

[Jessa Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The worst thing about ARC's is that when they are part of a series you have to wait that much longer for the next book. Frozen is the fist book I've read where a dystopian future is combined with fantasy in a way that doesn't feel either forced or like an afterthought. Nat is a strong female lead who, unlike many of the heroines these days, doesn't start making idiotic choices based on a guy. I'm hoping this doesn't change in future books. Aside from the great characters, the world building in Frozen was wonderful. The desert has been used so often in this genre, but a frozen tundra filled with this generations garbage is a new take on the barren wasteland.

[Karissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I got a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. To be honest I haven’t enjoyed De La Cruz’s more recent endeavors (I thought the last few Blue Bloods novels were awful and didn’t like her Witches of East End series that much either), so I was reluctant to read this book. Imagine my surprise when I absolutely loved it. The world is incredibly creative and imaginative, the characters likable and engaging, and the story absolutely gripping.

Nat is one of the Marked. Despite this she has been able to hide her Marked status and is making a living as a blackjack dealer in New Vegas. Even with all the world under a layer of ice, New Vegas is very much the city of chance and sin it’s always been. But Nat has a voice that won’t leave her alone and this voice is telling her to leave New Vegas in search of the Blue. The Blue is a supposed paradise that many go seeking but few find. When Nat finds Wes and his ragtag group of runners they seem like the perfect people for the job of helping her make the trip...at least that is what Nat hopes.

I absolutely loved the idea behind this ice laden future Earth and the magical creatures that inhabit it. This book is equal parts fantasy/adventure/post-apocalyptic/dystopia.

The Marked are people who have strange powers, but they are also people who are touched by Fey blood or Fey themselves. I love that for some reason the advent of plummeting temperatures on Earth has somehow awakened the Fey and drew them back to humanity. It makes for some interesting background story and for some interesting and unexpected encounters as far as creative creatures and races go.

Nat is an excellent heroine. She has such a mysterious past and is fairly savvy. She is an interesting blend of innocence (because she can’t remember a lot of her past actions) and deadliness (because of her Marked powers). She’s not naive but she wants to trust people. It makes her an fun character to read about.

Wes is the main male lead. He is noble to the point I wanted to smack him at times. Still, it makes for an interesting dynamic. He lives in a world that is so cut-throat, yet he is constantly trying to see the best in people. Still, there were a number of times he made very poor decisions as a leader that put the rest of the group in horrible danger. Let’s just say he keeps things interesting.

The world here is incredibly creative and we are just starting to learn the complex background behind it. Everything is set up here and small bits of the complex world are discovered but there is so much more here for us to learn about as readers.

The plot is well done but this is definitely just the start of a much larger series. You have one small plot point tied up in this book, but there are many more questions than answers. So, just know that this book doesn’t really resolve much at all.

I only have one complaint about this book and that is that there are two parts where Nat makes these mental leaps that totally don’t make sense. Normally this wouldn’t be a big deal, but they are realizations that really drive the story line and they pretty much come out of the blue. I felt the authors could have lead up to this a bit better or at least foreshadowed a bit. As the book is written I have no idea why Nat makes the huge conclusions she makes from what she has experienced.

Overall a fantastic read. It is a post-apocalyptic book but this book also has a ton of adventure and fantasy in it. I really enjoyed the complex world, the fantastic types of races we meet, and the interesting characters. It is just a really unique read that blends interesting elements in a way I have never read before. Recommended to those who enjoy post-apocalyptic fantasy with a heavy does of traditional fantasy and adventure in it.

[Emily Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was skeptical picking up this book, since I was never a big fan of de la Cruz's Blue Bloods series, but Frozen was SO worth the risk.
The story is your basic future-world-sucks scenario, this time with a frozen globe. Unlike most dystopian tales, though, Frozen isn't just badass heroines running around trying to save the world (let's be real, it's getting old). Nat is just trying to get where she's going, and she hires a gang of swoon-worthy mercenaries to take her there.
If you like:
-adventure on the high seas
-romance
-fast-paced plots with lots of action
-the name Wes
then this is the book for you.

Definitely recommend for fans of Marie Lu's Legend and Jennifer Rush's Altered.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Enticing, alluring, and exciting are the best words to describe Frozen. Both De la Cruz and Johnston accomplished something wonderful in this book with both the characters and the plot.
Nat, the main character in this story showed a great development throughout the novel of coming into her own and realizing there is nothing wrong with being different. I admired that about her. With Wes, I would have like to have seen more of his development. It felt as though we didn't see the process of his development, it was just there all of a sudden. But, it could be because this is Nat's story and not his. Understandable. However, it's important for writers to give attention to ALL their characters. The love between the two seemed a bit rushed, but I still found myself loving them together all the same (I especially loved the way they met. I found it to be incredibly cute and unexpected). The other "marked" characters we encounter are also quite loveable and their mystic and eeriness was very captivating.
Pacing of the book was great! The action was one after the other and descriptive enough that I felt like I was there too.
The ending...oh boy I knew I had to get here sometime soon. I CRIED MY EYES OUT, OKAY? It was adorable. I mean I was a bit confused by Wes' standoffish demeanor towards Nat but then again, he just faced the reality that he loves her and then THAT HAS TO HAPPEN? Ugh. My heart weeps for him.
Oh, and I'm not sure if it was just in this unedited version of the story or what but I was a tad confused after Nat was seriously injured and then the other marked girl (her name escapes me, I'm so sorry) said she could help and to follow her..she leads them to the Blue and then boom Nat wakes up. but that whole scene confused me I mean did they just forget she was seriously weakened and was NOT BREATHING? I mean I don't know. Melissa PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND!
All in all, this was an enjoyable read and I can't wait to read the second book because now the whole gameboard has changed! I am excited to see where this new change takes Nat and what happens between her and Wes.
Great job, Melissa and Michael!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I could stop right there... but I won't. This is a FANTASTIC read! I haven't yet read any of de la Cruz's other work, the author of the Blue Bloods series among others. I am not sure what I was waiting for?! This is co-authored by her husband, who has, unknown to the world, collaborated on previous works with his wife.

The world as we know it has ended, covering the Earth with ice and changing society right along with it. The world building in this book was amazing, almost but not quite unrecognizable from our own. Most of the book takes place in New Vegas, the post-apocalyptic Las Vegas. California and New York have been wiped off the map, as has much of the RSA... the Remaining States of America. Everything has changed, from society to agriculture to the military to everyday life. Along with all the changes are the emergence of new forms of humanoid life. And we all know that human beings do not always react well to that which is different.

This book was thoroughly engrossing, from being drawn into the world and drawn to the characters. Nat is mysterious, but strong, brave, and intelligent. Wes is tough, loyal, and smart... the perfect foil for Nat. Each of the members of Wes' team, although generally supporting characters, had a story of their own and illicited feeling, whether affectionate or not. It was hard sometimes to remember that this is a YA novel. For example, Wes is only 16 and already a veteran of the army and a man responsible for his team, some of whom are as young as 13 or 14. One of his enemies is only 19, but there is a mental image of a man much younger than that. They are all cast into adult roles far earlier than they would be in our own society, with the new world having a much shorter life span than our own. It is in those moments that you are reminded of their ages that the stark reality of the world of Frozen is really driven home.

The world in this book is reflective our own, a world that has been smashed, abused, and changed by the government, the military, religion, humanity, and science to create a new world and society, with ambivalent results. There are messages in this book. Messages on the state and values of society, on the capacity for human cruelty in the face of adversity, and messages, too, on the capacity for kindness in the face of adversity. There was a part that I loved, one that clearly delineated the difference between our society and that of the post-apocalyptic Frozen world:

"While they ate, Nat told them that back before the floods, fat was a sign of poverty, and the rich flashed their status by going on extreme diets - juice "cleanses" and spa vacations where they paid for the privilege of not eating. None of them believed her."

Things to love about Frozen...

--The characters. Whether you loved them, hated them, felt sorry for them, or were annoyed by them, they were each fascinating people with their own histories and stories.
--The world. There isn't much to love about this world in reality, but it was so well written that you lived there, too, and were a part of the story.

Things I wanted more of...

--Shakes. I loved him, his loyalty, his courage.
--The Slaine brothers. They seemed so different from each other and I wanted to know more about them.

My recommendation: A fantastic read that you should plan for... you will need a block of time because you won't be able to put it down!

[Mar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very interesting new take on a post apocalyptic society where magic has been reintroduced giving it the fantasy edge. The book really keeps you intrigued on what’s happening and the characters journey. This was an unexpected yet beautifully written read that had enough action and suspense to keep you reading and yet it still had a touch of romance that really adds to the story. The emotional rollercoaster was great and gives you great surprises.

The characters were well developed and fit the story like a glove. Nat was secretive and stand offish but it plays good with what is happening to her and around her. I like that she remains a mystery for a while and then slowly we start to get background information about her. She’s also a strong and powerful heroin that doesn’t whimper because of difficulties that she comes by. Even though people are after her, people fear her and she herself can’t control her powers she still remains determined to reach her goal. I like that Wes compliments her nature being silly and confident. There was too many moments between them that left me saying, “Oh my God, no!” It was a bittersweet moment at the end between both of them but I hope we get more of the pair in the upcoming installments.

I liked the incorporation of the magical powers and the fey. All the creatures lurking and the dragon. Its interesting how the magic is being manifested in the marked ones with special powers dictated by the mark they carry. This was also a different take to a dystopia type of society separating the magical from the rest of humanity yet even then restricting those that are considered normal. Of course with new things comes power hungry people and the way that the marked are being treated and used adds to the ugliness and acceptance of society.

Overall it was a great book, easy ready and fast pace. I loved the imagery throughout the book everything is very vivid and life like. You can really get a feel for what the characters are seeing the detailed descriptions are fantastic. This new world they have created is truly amazing because you get to see the beauty in all the ugliness that the characters are surrounded by. The actual plot is also interesting and keeps you on the edge of your seat to see what’s going to happen. I highly recommend this new start to a great series.

[Julie Salinas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beginning of this story was familiar to me and I was afraid that I was going to be disappointed, but before the end of the first chapter I was Captain Wes hooked. Nat is in a prison but doesn't know who or what she is, just that she has a power she can't control, a voice whispering to her, and is used by nefarious people. Wes is the teen who took charge of a motley crew and is older than his years just trying to keep everyone warm and fed. Nat escapes the prison and the non-stop action kept me reading with surprises around every icy corner. This story is unpredictable. It is a mix of paranormal, dystopia, pirates, magic, and romance. Did I miss anything? I recommend this book, one of my favorite for this year.
I was so happy to get my hands on this book from firsttoread by Penguin books but now sadly have to wait for the sequel.

[Nelli Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't give fire stars all of the time, I try to reserve five for the books that I really love. Yes, I love quite a few books, but they really do need to be special. There is a lot to love about Frozen, good characters, a lot of humor, a fast moving plot, a big beautiful world. It's not perfect, its really cool—check it out if you can!

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fast paced and exciting. What's not to like about a post-apocalyptic world where magic is seeping back in?

The story is about hundreds of years in the future, there were terrible disasters that led to the world now being covered with ice and snow. The life expectancy rate is extremely low, making for children to be taking full adult roles as early as 11 years old. For some unknown reason, after these disasters some people have started being born with "mage's marks" and have magical powers. Our heroine, 16-year-old Nat, is one of these people. She hires 16-year-old Wes (think of an Earth-bound Han Solo type character) and his ragtag team of tween/teen former soldiers to smuggle her across the ocean to get to the fabled "Blue," a paradise where the air is clear and the land is warm.

Flew through this story. The constant action keeps the pacing going strong, but at times you just feel like everything that could possibly go wrong does and everything is a matter of life and death and can't they just freaking breathe for a second? Sometimes in these kinds of para-romance-new adult genre books the romances feel forced or overdone, but the love lines in this seemed very well done. At times the internal dialogue of "if this is just a harmless flirt, why do I have these strange FEELINGS?!" is a little heavy-handed, but in the end it seemed to work alright. Overall, the story was very interesting and I'm looking forward to the next installment.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Frozen is actually a fantasy novel. The book starts out in a post-apocalyptic world, but as we progress through the story, we find ourselves in an increasingly fantasy environment: Drakons, small men, and sylphs. Frozen is a wildly original, surprising and new.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world is brilliant, the characterization striking, and the adventures suck you right in. I recommend this book highly.

For a more detailed review, check out my blog.

[Harley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had received this book as part of a goodreads giveaway
Wow! this book is just wow. I loved it, i felt it was beautifully put together. I loved every aspect of this book.

Frozen is about a girl named Nat who wants to get out of New Vegas and find the blue, just like the voice in her head is nagging her to do. The only problem is that the blue isn't suppose to exist. All of the land is covered in ice, no where is free from the frozen tundra, so how can a place like the blue where everything as we know it exists. With the help of Wes and his crew, Nat goes on a journey to find the blue, go thing unthinkable hardships along the way.

So yea, i'm once again in love with another book. The only thing i wasn't to excited about was the beginning, i felt that I was just thrown head first into a pool and had to learn to swim, or in this case a frozen pool. I wasn't completely sure what was going on at MacArthur and when the explosion at the casino happened i was very confused. To me the explosion should have been a bigger deal than it was, but everyone just went around like it was an every day..which it just might have been.

I loved the connection between Wes and Nat, they both clearly liked each other, they just didn't want to admit it. They just kept wanting to tell themselves that they don't feel anything, and that the other person is only acting as is to trick them. Its not till they almost lose each other that they really come to terms with their feelings.
I also loved Shake as well, i felt he brought fun and happiness to these dark times on Earth.

All in all i found this to be an exciting, fast paced book. My heart was literally pounding at some points. I'd recommend this book to just about anybody wanting an awesome read.

[Anna Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natasha 'Nat' Kestal is living in the city of sin, New Vegas, as a blackjack dealer. All she wants though is to find a way out and to the mythical land known as the Blue - which may or may not actually exist. In a world with nothing but pockets of land left, floating in a sea of toxic waters, the Blue is said to be a land of pure water, sunshine and perfect days. Nat has a secret though - she is marked, one of those that the government wants nothing more than to exterminate for their special abilities. When she out-hustles cocky ex-military guy Ryan Wesson, Nat turns around and hires Wes and his crew to sail her out to find the blue. Drawn to each other, but both wary and hiding secrets, Nat and Wes must learn to trust one another and make some difficult decisions. If they're both going to survive and make it to the Blue, the time will come to tell the whole truth. But could that be just as deadly as the secrets they keep?
I went into this with a bit of hesitance, seeing as when a mysterious 'co-author' is suddenly introduced, it's usually code for "this person is my ghostwriter and I've given up on hiding it." Thankfully, the difference in the alternating third-person omniscient point of views is distinctly and obviously written by two separate authors. That said, this was by no means the best book that I've ever read. Most of the time, reading it was like a cross between an action movie (a la Waterworld), a cheesy romance and a hard boiled noir. I found myself struggling to get involved in the story at first, but once they finally get out of the city things began to pick up for me. I loved the character development on the side characters, like Shakes (whose loyalty is beautiful) and the 'little men' that are rescued by Wes' crew from the pirates. I did feel like I was reading character types, more than actual characters at times with Nat and Wes.
There is something that was bothering me about the world-building, sitting in the back of my mind nagging at my suspension of disbelief. If the water was so toxic, how could there be fish in it that were alive and safe to eat? And with that in mind, why the HELL weren't they just melting/boiling the damn ice for a water source??? If your whole world is covered in ice, you'd think there'd be a way to utilize that! I guess that wouldn't make for a very interesting plot though, and would eliminate pretty much the entire conflict of the novel. So I suppose I can live with that particular plot hole! :) Even if it is a pretty large one. This book reminds me of watching an action movie, and that is probably what saved it for me as a reader. There are some interesting elements to the world-building besides the non-believable water shortage and it did make me do some thinking. Where the authors lost me was near the end when the fantasy elements came into full swing and added in a dragon. I guess I'll just have to wait and see if I decide to read the second book when it's released. If you're able to glibly read some actiony fluff, you may enjoy this. Otherwise I'd advise you to avoid it. Unless you live for cheesy, bland romances. Then you may like it with complete seriousness, heaven help you!

VERDICT: 3.5/5 Stars

*I received this book as part of Around the World ARC Tours, run by the lovely Princess Bookie. No favors or money were exchanged for this review. This book's expected publication is September 17th, 2013.*