What do you think?
Rate this book
The Harwood Spellbook #3
Frostgilded
Two years after Snowspelled, on the eve of the Winter Solstice, Cassandra Harwood faces one of her most ambitious challenges yet: juggling holiday celebrations for all of her students, a nerve-wracking visit from her intimidating parents-in-law, all of the usual fey and human chaos at Thornfell College of Magic for Young Women - and an un-missable personal anniversary for her and her husband, the brilliant magician Rajaram Wrexham.
Luckily, Cassandra has never lacked in determination - but she may yet be surprised along the way!
A sparkling, 7,600-word novelette that serves as an epilogue to the series and includes every couple from Snowspelled, Spellswept, Thornbound, and Moontangled.
Luckily, Cassandra has never lacked in determination - but she may yet be surprised along the way!
A sparkling, 7,600-word novelette that serves as an epilogue to the series and includes every couple from Snowspelled, Spellswept, Thornbound, and Moontangled.
ebook
First published November 18, 2020
13 people are currently reading
252 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Burgis
78 books1,310 followersI grew up in America, but now I live in Wales with my husband, fellow writer Patrick Samphire, our two sons, and our sweet (and extremely vocal) tabby cat, Pebbles. I write fantasy rom-coms for adults (most recently Claws and Contrivances and Good Neighbors) and fun MG fantasy adventure novels, too (most recently The Raven Crown duology). My next series will be the adult romantasy trilogy The Queens of Villainy, published by Tor Bramble, starting in 2025 with Wooing the Witch Queen.
To get early sneak peeks at new stories and novels, sign up for my newsletter here: stephanieburgis.com/newsletter.
To join my Dragons' Book Club and get early copies of every ebook that I put out myself (so, all of my novellas, short story ebooks, etc!), check out my Patreon page, where I also published a series of fantasy rom-coms (Good Neighbors) across 2020-2021.
I only rate and review the books that I like, which is why all of my ratings are 4 or 5 stars.
To get early sneak peeks at new stories and novels, sign up for my newsletter here: stephanieburgis.com/newsletter.
To join my Dragons' Book Club and get early copies of every ebook that I put out myself (so, all of my novellas, short story ebooks, etc!), check out my Patreon page, where I also published a series of fantasy rom-coms (Good Neighbors) across 2020-2021.
I only rate and review the books that I like, which is why all of my ratings are 4 or 5 stars.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
Read
November 2, 2020Available on my Patreon (for Dragon Rulers and above) today, September 18th! Woot! I had so much fun writing this one. :)
Update: It will also be published in all of the usual stores on November 18th - and preorders are available now!
Update: It will also be published in all of the usual stores on November 18th - and preorders are available now!
February 8, 2024
The last installment! I'm sorry to see this world go, even though I DID complain about the worldbuilding a lot 🤭 This is a lovely Winter Solstice story where all the characters come together and have some HEA. This was cozy and heartwarming and a perfect closure to the series. Reading the story, it was kind of obvious to me where it was all going, but that didn't ruin the fun of it (although, it possibly made me question Cassandra's intelligence just a little bit).
This Stephanie Burgis binge was highly enjoyable! I'm sure I'm going to read more books by her, even though I'm not sure what's going to be next. The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart is already on my TBR, but Kat, Incorrigible looks just like my cup of tea! Not now, though, moving on to other authors on my tbr! 🤭
This Stephanie Burgis binge was highly enjoyable! I'm sure I'm going to read more books by her, even though I'm not sure what's going to be next. The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart is already on my TBR, but Kat, Incorrigible looks just like my cup of tea! Not now, though, moving on to other authors on my tbr! 🤭
November 27, 2020
A lovely end to one of my favourite fantasy series!
I'm so sad to be saying goodbye to all of these characters and this world, but Frostgilded was a lovely farewell. If you're looking for a cosy winter read, I cannot recommend the Harwood Spellbook series more highly (especially the audiobooks!).
I'm so sad to be saying goodbye to all of these characters and this world, but Frostgilded was a lovely farewell. If you're looking for a cosy winter read, I cannot recommend the Harwood Spellbook series more highly (especially the audiobooks!).
January 26, 2025
Returning to Cassandra's pov was such a relief. Even though this story was another little slip of not very much it was cosy and felt much more emotional than Moontangled did. I loved the introduction of Wrexham's parents, it would have been much more satisfying to see them in a longer story and explore their dynamic with Cassandra more as the tension there would have been a great story in itself. I also feel like we're being set up for a sequel series with Miranda but I can't be sure.
November 19, 2020
Given the length, it's unsurprising that there's not a lot to this, but it's satisfying to get a moment for Cassandra and Wrexham to be cute together after they were kept apart for most of Thornbound.
September 22, 2020
Sweet, but predictable. Although it was a short story, I really wanted more, especially between Harwood and Wrexham. After the first novella, we really don't get many moments with them together.
November 19, 2020
This was SUCH a delight - so sweet, funny and cosy! I do hope to see more stories in this setting but for now, it was really satisfying to see this warm and fuzzy glimpse of life at Thornfell and know that things are going well for Cassandra and co.
January 22, 2021
This is a short, sweet, and cozy conclusion to the Harwood Spellbook series. (At least for now. I can still hope for more stories focusing on the students at Cassndra's school.) It was great to see all our favorite characters return for this one, and if the plot was predictable it was no less enjoyable for that.
June 23, 2021
A sweet coda to a delightful series!
September 23, 2020
No content warning
What a treat this was! Absolutely perfect for the season - sweet, funny, super comforting.
Cassandra has her heart set on surprising Wrexham on their anniversary but Thornfell is bursting with Winter Solstice energy and between needy friends and imposing in-laws, fey diplomacy and too many students to take care of, her celebration doesn't go quite as planned, or does it? *wink wink nudge nudge*
Here are some of the things I loved the most about this little gem:
- Apple and cinnamon cake!
- Curry! The food talk in this is superb.
- Sybil Wrexham's, Cassandra's mother-in-law, is a woman sailor whose husband looked after the children at home while she was adventuring. Woohoo, reversed gender roles!
- Lovers (including Juliana and Caroline, a lesbian couple) desperately trying to find time for intimacy amidst children. This was very cute and realistic and made me chuckle a few times. I loved it.
-Incidentally, Cassandra fed up of walking in on several couples while she can't even find her husband is HILARIOUS. I love her personality and temper.
- The ending is perfect. Extremely romantic and it beautifully wraps up the whole thing with a bow.
If you want something that you can read in half an hour that will take care of you in all the right ways - Frostgilded is my pick. This whole series is perfect, especially at wintertime, and this is my favourite of them all. I'm off to reread it!
What a treat this was! Absolutely perfect for the season - sweet, funny, super comforting.
Cassandra has her heart set on surprising Wrexham on their anniversary but Thornfell is bursting with Winter Solstice energy and between needy friends and imposing in-laws, fey diplomacy and too many students to take care of, her celebration doesn't go quite as planned, or does it? *wink wink nudge nudge*
Here are some of the things I loved the most about this little gem:
- Apple and cinnamon cake!
- Curry! The food talk in this is superb.
- Sybil Wrexham's, Cassandra's mother-in-law, is a woman sailor whose husband looked after the children at home while she was adventuring. Woohoo, reversed gender roles!
- Lovers (including Juliana and Caroline, a lesbian couple) desperately trying to find time for intimacy amidst children. This was very cute and realistic and made me chuckle a few times. I loved it.
-Incidentally, Cassandra fed up of walking in on several couples while she can't even find her husband is HILARIOUS. I love her personality and temper.
- The ending is perfect. Extremely romantic and it beautifully wraps up the whole thing with a bow.
If you want something that you can read in half an hour that will take care of you in all the right ways - Frostgilded is my pick. This whole series is perfect, especially at wintertime, and this is my favourite of them all. I'm off to reread it!
December 16, 2020
This might be the cutest book I’ve read all year! It definitely doesn’t stand alone, so you’ll want to go back to Snowspelled to start at the beginning of the Harwood Spellbook series, but you should do that anyway because if you haven’t, you’re missing out on a brilliant fantasy of manners. You can check out my review of book three, Moontangled, here, for a hint at what the series is like – it’s wonderful comfort reading. This epilogue, Frostgilded, is set around two years after that first book, so beware, spoilers from hereon out… We rejoin Cassandra Harwood at Thornfell, the school for female magicians she successfully set up across the series – and as Cassandra has come to realise, success comes with a certain amount of chaos. Her house is full of visitors, from students to in-laws, and all she wants to do is sneak away to set up an anniversary surprise for her husband, but she just keeps getting interrupted!
Like I say, this is pure fluffy sweetness. It is so wonderful to get a glimpse into how the characters I’ve come to love are getting on, and even though this is only a short read, there are so many delightful moments of interaction between Cassandra and her family and students. It’s just a book that filled me with warmth! When I describe this series to people, I often liken it to sinking into a hot bath, because they’re so comforting – from the feminist twist to the historical setting, to the wit of the characters and Cassandra’s narration, to the mix of fae politics and family issues, this is everything I like to read. This book in particular has that cozy holiday fanfic feel – which I use as a huge compliment! – and I really loved seeing Cassandra and Rajaram’s marriage as a continuing relationship, after the happily ever after. One of my favourite things to read is couples who have a genuinely strong line of communication, and though this book hinges on miscommunication, it’s all in good fun and you can tell they are so good for each other. It’s so romantic!
Even though I’m sad this is an end to the series, Frostgilded is a wonderful send-off, a window into a happy moment that I can see myself returning to time and again. Five out of five cats, obviously!
Like I say, this is pure fluffy sweetness. It is so wonderful to get a glimpse into how the characters I’ve come to love are getting on, and even though this is only a short read, there are so many delightful moments of interaction between Cassandra and her family and students. It’s just a book that filled me with warmth! When I describe this series to people, I often liken it to sinking into a hot bath, because they’re so comforting – from the feminist twist to the historical setting, to the wit of the characters and Cassandra’s narration, to the mix of fae politics and family issues, this is everything I like to read. This book in particular has that cozy holiday fanfic feel – which I use as a huge compliment! – and I really loved seeing Cassandra and Rajaram’s marriage as a continuing relationship, after the happily ever after. One of my favourite things to read is couples who have a genuinely strong line of communication, and though this book hinges on miscommunication, it’s all in good fun and you can tell they are so good for each other. It’s so romantic!
Even though I’m sad this is an end to the series, Frostgilded is a wonderful send-off, a window into a happy moment that I can see myself returning to time and again. Five out of five cats, obviously!
December 21, 2020
On the eve of the Winter Solstice, Cassandra Harwood has so much to do. She's juggling holiday festivities for her students, intimidating parents-in-law, chaos at Thornfell College of Magic for Young Women, as well as an important anniversary with her husband, the magician Rajaram Wrexham.
This tale is an epilogue, following the book Snowspelled. Snowspelled and Thornbound make up the two volumes of the Harwood Spellbook, a series with other offshoot novellas taking place in Angland, an alternate 19th century England where magic is real, the Sidhe, fairies, and trolls are present, and men are the ones that can get compromised and forced into marriage. Women normally rule the political sphere and men rule the magical sphere, but Cassandra has magic and broke gender norms in order to study it, pushing herself farther than she should have. Even if you haven't read the prior novels in this world, it's easy enough to pick up the relationships over dinner, which opens the novella.
It's a busy evening, and Cassandra is off and running throughout the entire story, putting out one proverbial fire after another. All the while, she still feels like she's not doing enough for everyone else, and that she should be doing more to celebrate with her husband. Truth be told, it's the age-old feeling for every working woman, so it's definitely familiar and helps me bond with Cassandra. She and her husband have genuine affection and respect for each other so that the ending is a cute way to wrap things up and bolster their relationship further. Fans of the series and of Stephanie Burgis will definitely appreciate another look into this world.
This tale is an epilogue, following the book Snowspelled. Snowspelled and Thornbound make up the two volumes of the Harwood Spellbook, a series with other offshoot novellas taking place in Angland, an alternate 19th century England where magic is real, the Sidhe, fairies, and trolls are present, and men are the ones that can get compromised and forced into marriage. Women normally rule the political sphere and men rule the magical sphere, but Cassandra has magic and broke gender norms in order to study it, pushing herself farther than she should have. Even if you haven't read the prior novels in this world, it's easy enough to pick up the relationships over dinner, which opens the novella.
It's a busy evening, and Cassandra is off and running throughout the entire story, putting out one proverbial fire after another. All the while, she still feels like she's not doing enough for everyone else, and that she should be doing more to celebrate with her husband. Truth be told, it's the age-old feeling for every working woman, so it's definitely familiar and helps me bond with Cassandra. She and her husband have genuine affection and respect for each other so that the ending is a cute way to wrap things up and bolster their relationship further. Fans of the series and of Stephanie Burgis will definitely appreciate another look into this world.
September 26, 2020
This is a lovely short story finishing off Stephanie Burgis's Harwood Spellbook series (which consists of two short novels, Snowspelled and Thornbound, one novella, Moontangled, a prequel novella, Spellswept, and now this short story, Frostgilded). It's called an epilogue, and that's exactly what it is: a chance to spend time with all the main characters after their big adventures are done (for now, at least) and to see them reach a satisfying conclusion.
It's a charming, sparky, fun story that you can sink into, and you'll never stop smiling while you're reading it. You will want to have read the other stories first, though.
At this point, the story is only available on Stephanie Burgis's Patreon, although it will eventually be released more widely.
It's a charming, sparky, fun story that you can sink into, and you'll never stop smiling while you're reading it. You will want to have read the other stories first, though.
At this point, the story is only available on Stephanie Burgis's Patreon, although it will eventually be released more widely.
November 19, 2023
This fun little story rounds up all of the characters from the Harwood Spellbook at a Christmas party. As usual, hijinks & magic ensue. It was a delightful way to spend half an hour. I'm only sad because this is the last story set in this enjoyable alternative regency era England. If you haven't yet picked up the Harwood Spellbook, I highly recommend. They are well written, with unique & clever worldbuilding & delightful characters you can't help but root for. The longest one is only 200 pages, while this one is the shortest at a mere 32 pages, so it is possible to read them all in a matter of hours. I hope to see more from this world, & I will absolutely be seeking out future books from Stephanie Burgis!
November 18, 2020
Frostgilded is a perfect encore to the lovely Harwood Spellbook main series. Cassandra has always been my favourite character in the series so reading another story with her is great. We meet all the other characters from the previous books, but we also get little reminders of what happened before. It's a feel good story focused on the love between Cassandra and her husband Rajaram. I love the little teases and the dynamic between the two.
While most of the Harwood Spellbook books can be read out of order, I recommend reading all of the previous stories because Frostgilded refers so much to them.
While most of the Harwood Spellbook books can be read out of order, I recommend reading all of the previous stories because Frostgilded refers so much to them.
November 3, 2024
A lighthearted tale
With this book, Stephanie Burgis ends her Harwood Spellbook series. My only problem? The whole series is far too short!
In this book, we find Cassandra trying to find the time to decorate her bedroom to celebrate an anniversary for her and Wrexham. The only problem is she keeps being pulled from here to there and can't get away.
These books are lovely reads, curled up on your favourite chair with a cup of tea near at hand. If you've not read any, I suggest you start with the first in this series, Snowspell, and take it from there. A delightful series and one I will return to when I need a cosy read.
With this book, Stephanie Burgis ends her Harwood Spellbook series. My only problem? The whole series is far too short!
In this book, we find Cassandra trying to find the time to decorate her bedroom to celebrate an anniversary for her and Wrexham. The only problem is she keeps being pulled from here to there and can't get away.
These books are lovely reads, curled up on your favourite chair with a cup of tea near at hand. If you've not read any, I suggest you start with the first in this series, Snowspell, and take it from there. A delightful series and one I will return to when I need a cosy read.
February 1, 2021
A lovely, bite-sized visit to the work of the Harwood Spellbook where we catch up on how things are going at the somewhat-scandalous magic school for ladies founded in Snowspelled. This short story is set in the snow and cold of the winter solstice and is probably not particularly comprehensible for anyone who hasn't read the rest of the series, but it's a sweet check-in with the school and with Cassandra Harwood and her husband. I really should have read it back in December for the proper solstice feel, but it still worked its satisfying magic in the snow of January.
May 16, 2021
I put off reading this story when it first came out, because I didn't want it all to be over!
And of course I had to re-read all the earlier novellas to prepare for this one... which I heartily recommend to anyone who loves the Harwood Spellbook series as much as I do.
A charming coda to a fascinating historical fantasy series that packs so much complex feminist worldbuilding into elegant, bite-sized stories.
And of course I had to re-read all the earlier novellas to prepare for this one... which I heartily recommend to anyone who loves the Harwood Spellbook series as much as I do.
A charming coda to a fascinating historical fantasy series that packs so much complex feminist worldbuilding into elegant, bite-sized stories.
November 2, 2020
This is a delightful, sweet, funny and charming tale. Cassandra Harwood is particularly keen to surprise her husband with a reminder of their first night together as a couple, but everyone at Thornfell School of Magic seems determined to thwart her at every turn. Fortunately, all's well that ends well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2022
Finished a whole series today... but like All Systems Red the books are shorter than you realize. But also tons of fun!
February 4, 2023
This was a really short story, but it was a sweet and wonderful finale to a series I really loved.
This book was everything I love: strong female characters, homage to my favourite book (Pride and Prejudice), magic, humour and diverse interesting characters doing clever and entertaining things for the reader to enjoy.
This book was everything I love: strong female characters, homage to my favourite book (Pride and Prejudice), magic, humour and diverse interesting characters doing clever and entertaining things for the reader to enjoy.
January 31, 2025
Basic Plot: It's the solstice, and Cassandra Harwood wants to remind her husband of their anniversary, but things just keep *interrupting*!
This was a very short, sweet little confection of a story. No high stakes, no disasters, only a woman trying to get a surprise ready for her husband. It was a satisfying addendum to the overall series but didn't add much to it.
This was a very short, sweet little confection of a story. No high stakes, no disasters, only a woman trying to get a surprise ready for her husband. It was a satisfying addendum to the overall series but didn't add much to it.
November 22, 2020
Really, my only complaint about this entire series is that I wish all of the books were a bit longer, and this one is no exception. That said, it was a lovely conclusion to the Harwood series and I’m always happy to revisit Cassandra and Wrexham.
April 1, 2022
This epilogue to the Harwood Spellbook series sees Cassandra and Wrexham celebrating their second winter solstice at Thornfell College of Magic, surrounded by family and students, but Cassandra just wants some time alone with her husband. Short and very sweet, and a lovely ending to the series.
January 1, 2023
This was a little strange to me. A short story, with not much to it, and what is there is predictable. It was lovely to see the whole cast together, but I'm not a romance-genre lover (no pun intended) so the ending was a bit meh.
Read
November 18, 2020A delightful short visit to characters from the whole series
November 19, 2020
A lovely epilogue to the harwood spellbook series. Highly recommend the series.
November 28, 2020
Too short to be satisfying, alas.
December 23, 2020
I wasn’t expecting this to be so short. I guess I thought by epilogue it didn’t really mean epilogue-length. That was rather disappointing to be honest. Oh well. This was a cute series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews