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Dark Frost
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Dark Frost
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Dark Frost
Audiobook10 hours

Dark Frost

Written by Jennifer Estep

Narrated by Tara Sands

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

Everyone at Mythos Academy knows me as Gwen Frost, the Gypsy girl who uses her psychometry magic to find lost objects - and who just may be dating Logan Quinn, the hottest guy in school. But I'm also the girl the Reapers of Chaos want dead in the worst way. The Reapers are the baddest of the bad, the people who murdered my mom. So why do they have it in for me? It turns out my mom hid a powerful artifact called the Helheim Dagger before she died. Now, the Reapers will do anything to get it back. They think I know where the dagger is hidden, but this is one thing I can't use my magic to find. All I do know is that the Reapers are coming for me - and I'm in for the fight of my life.

Praise for Touch of Frost
"A great start to a new young adult paranormal series." - Night Owl Reviews

"At the Mythos Academy, surviving high school means staying alive!" - Kerrelyn Sparks

"It has literally everything: mystery, romance, mythology, boarding schools. What could be better?" - Simply Nerdy Book Reviews
LanguageEnglish
Release dateApr 19, 2013
ISBN9781469283968
Author

Jennifer Estep

Jennifer Estep is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author who prowls the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea. Jennifer is the author of the Crown of Shards, Elemental Assassin, and other fantasy series. She has written more than 35 books, along with numerous novellas and stories. In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys hanging out with friends and family, doing yoga, and reading fantasy and romance books. She also watches way too much TV and loves all things related to superheroes.

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Reviews for Dark Frost

Rating: 4.044909990419161 out of 5 stars
4/5

167 ratings28 reviews

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Like so many students, Gwen left her Summer assignment until the last minute. She and her friends are among a crowd when they go to the museum to finish that assignment. But they aren't the only people there: the Reapers attack. It's a brutal attack, leaving people dead. Gwen finds out the Reapers are after a dagger, one that her mother once possessed and hid. Now it's a race to see who can find the dagger first.

    A good addition to the Mythos Academy series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Reviewed by: Rabid ReadsDark Frost is hands down the darkest installment I’ve read so far in this series; it kicks off with a bloody Reaper massacre at the museum and only escalates from there. There’s no happily-ever-after to be had in this Mythos Academy book, instead things go from bad to worse and if you’re a fan of this series then you know that that means Loki, the god of chaos, is probably involved. Even the feel good side story featuring Gwen’s friend Nott, the Fenrir wolf from Kiss of Frost, has a bittersweet ending to it. There was however, some development on the Logan front and I for one can’t wait to tune in to their first date in Crimson Frost!Jennifer Estep pulled a fast one on me with the main plot of this novel; all signs pointed to the most likely suspect so of course, I immediately discounted this character as the possible big bad. But, then I began to doubt myself as I neared the end of the book and no other prospects had surfaced so, I started to believe in Estep’s original villain. Well, I’m sure you all know how that turned out. I was blindsided by the real perp who I’d previously pegged as a possible future addition to Gwen’s circle of friends. That’s what I get for assuming that because this novel is shelved as Young Adult that the plot line must be simple. I really don’t give YA authors enough credit sometimes.I was surprised by how quickly things escalated in this installment. The first two were about Frost growing into her powers and coming to terms with the fact that Norse, Greek and Native America gods alike not only exist but are at war with Loki. The Mythos Academy main story arc really takes the lead in this book which basically means that… the sh*t has hit the fan! Some of the things that happen in this novel are downright shocking; I found myself thinking “Estep did NOT just do that!” on more than one occasion. Buckle your seat belts folks because this third installment is one heck of a bumpy ride!I enjoyed how action-packed this book was and I loved that Estep wasn’t afraid to spill a little blood; this installment reminded me a bit of her more violent Elemental Assassin series. I’m happy that Logan and Gwen finally worked out their differences and can move forward with their relationship. I understand the need for slower romance in YA but I do need at least two kisses per novel. Minimum! Dark Frost is just what the title promises: dark. This is no children’s bedtime story.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Originally reviewed at Witchmag's BoekenplankWhen compared to the first two books, I found Dark Frost a bit disappointing. Okay, there are big revelations. Some I’d already seen coming and others… surprisingly not so much. And some just plain out disappointed me. “Is that all? That’s the big evil plan, being, creäture, and so on, and so on…” I’ve repeatedly found myself in this situation. I expected so much more, some more tension, some bigger plot, a more surprising enemy. Anything but this. This was just unsatisfying.I also struggled a lot with Gwen. As I mentioned in my review of Kiss of Frost, Gwen is turning into the average YA heroine you find nowadays. The ones who are too naïve and too proud to ask for help. As I already ranted about her behavior in that review I’ll keep it short here: she was just plain old annoying. Thank God for Logan, who sees where it’s heading and intervenes. And thank god that Gwen also has a moment of insight. Now she can go on to the next step: to act like it!Talking about Logan. In the previous books there were some hints about a big secret, something that has scarred him for life. Okay, the secret was horrific and it must have been hard on him, but it was also some of the times where I thought That’s all? It felt a bit too mundane for such a magical world. Couldn’t his secret be a little more… imaginative?There’s also something that bothered me throughout the story. Where’s the security? I imagine a school as significant, with such important children in it, why wouldn’t it have top-notch security too? Especially when there are indications that a reaper is hiding in school. Okay it could be one of the students, but isn’t this school created to fight them? Why doesn’t anyone take action? This situation reminded me a bit too much about HP, too, and I believe Dumbledore would have taken action ages ago. He DID do everything he could to protect the students.Lots and lots of ranting, isn’t it? So why did I still like it? That’s because of a really great little sword with a very big mouth and Noth (read the story to find out ;) I’m not telling ^^). And the plot. The intrigues, the interference of the gods, the prophecies. The whole magical world that Jennifer Estep created. That was what made me continue, even after the utmost eye-roll for Gwen.Conclusion3 HEARTS. Still a nice book to read, even if I didn’t like it as much as the A touch of Frost and A Kiss of Frost. Gwen continues to be annoying and I was a bit disappointed with some of the things that were revealed in this book. I just expected more. Anyway, it’s still a fascinating world and the minor characters made the idiocy of Gwen’s action more than up for me: they made me laugh ^^
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I liked it but...she needs to get real teens to pre-read it and edit it. Kids don't do a lot of the things she makes them do in her books and she uses a lot of terms that my teenager marked and laughed at saying that no one would use those words. Jennifer, ask my daughter to proof your next book, it'll be more authentic!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    WOW JUST WOW!!!!!!!!!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The end of this book marks the middle of the six book series, and it has appropriately dark parts to show for it. It is, however, still a YA, and still has plenty of hope and humor in the book as well. It's nice to see Gwen developing more friends, and seeing how the friendships develop. It's also great to see her enemies shaping up and becoming less nebulous. I look forward to seeing how this series continues.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    An excellent addition to the Mythos Academy series. One of my favorite Ya's.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I can safely say that the third book in this series is my favorite so far! It has risen above all my expectations. My minor annoyance with the constant repeating of previous information continues, but I endured. I just scanned those pages quickly-- hence the 5 hour read time on this one. I did a good deal of scanning at times. Sigh. BUT, the plot was soooo much better in this book. That I wasn't disappointed in. I was guessing up until the last 50 pages! Whoop. Yes, I still figured out who the ultimate bad guy was way before Gwen did, but that's ok. I even figured out Gwen's new power early on, but there were still enough surprises to hold my interest. For all those Logan Quinn fans out there, hold on to your seats. He ups the steamy factor in this one. Swoon. Logan makes my toes curl. However, my favorite character in this book happens to be Oliver. I love the transformation he has made from the second book. He is one of Gwen's fiercest allies now, and he really pulls through for her in this book. Another interesting aspect of the characters in this book is the subtle change (and not so subtle change) many of the characters undergo. Yes, some of the changes are more obvious-- developing new powers, faces long surpressed fears, etc. But some characters (like Morgan) are really turning out to be full of surprises. I have a feeling she is going to be HUGE in book 4, Crimson Frost. Speaking of future surprises, what is up with Raven? Anyone else suspect that there might be something deeper and more sinister with this so-called protector? I think there might be something there. As promised, the plot is so much better in this book. The action is non-stop, which you experience from the first chapter. The constant battle with Loki is only beginning and I have a feeling that book 4 is going to be epic. Dark Frost is my favorite Mythos Academy book so far, hands down. The characters were better written this time around. They had so much more depth than in the previous books. Gwen's conflict over her new powers was heart breaking. You could feel her inner turmoil over her decisions. The plot was also more developed. The door was left wide open for the next book, and I can only imagine what is going to happen. Too bad we have to wait until January 2013 to find out!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Gwen returns to Mythos Academy after winter break with a new task. She must find a hidden dagger, the final artifact the Reapers need to bring the evil Loki back to life. Fenrir wolves, statues that aren't statues, family secrets, everything is in place for another great Frost story.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    oh my gosh the series continues in # 3. we find out secretes, plots, and monsters come out, i feel like Ive steeped into a soap opera, completed with Gods and Goddesses. this book is just as good as the first two and I'm painfully waiting for the next to come out.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    DARK FROST starts with action and ends after action. A lot develops in DARK FROST, Gwen and Logan are finally advancing with a relationship, Loki's champion is finally revealed, and the Helheim Dagger is found leading up to events everyone was fighting to stop. Gwen has grown so much since book 1 and I have thoroughly enjoyed following her. One of my very favorite things about Gwen is that she isn't overconfident. She is brave, strong, and sticks up for those she loves but she has no doubt that she has flaws and cant do everything. Character development continues and we learn more about our favorite characters. An old friend comes back to Gwen and I absolutely loved how it was worked into the storyline. We get to see that Grandma isn't your normal fragile Grandma. Logan and Gwen work very well together and I loved watching them get closer to each other even if there is a little drama on the way.I have yet to read anything from Jennifer Estep that I didn't enjoy. DARK FROST is fast paced and full of action and suspense. Book 3 so far is my favorite of the series and I'm impatiently waiting to see what happens next in CRIMSON FROST.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Love this series. Jennifer Estep is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Anyone who knows me, know my love for this series. So when I received this book in the mail, my teenage heart squealed for joy! Was it everything I wanted? Heck YA!How can I put this amazing book in to words without spoiling it. Well, for one, the plot is great. Super fast paced and very entertaining, from the first page, I stepped foot on Mytho's Academy as if I never left. I liked that with each plot twist and turn, more secrets are exposed. Gwen is facing much more darker times and you can tell they are really taking a toll of her. Yet, she remains strong and head fast with what she has to do.The love interest... YES! FINALLY! OMG! That's all I have to say.I really enjoyed Gwen characters growth in this book. She learns so much more about herself as well as her friends around her. I like that Ms. Estep took the significant plot twist to make the character see the insight of things. I love these moments cause in twist like this, you can really get to know the character.Dark Frost achieves the right combination of action, secrets, and love. Once you start reading, you are back in the school fighting reapers and running for your life. Dark Frost is an haunting dark book that will kick your emotions in overdrive. You won't want to miss it!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I would really rate this audio book at a 4.5. I really liked it. I didn't give it a 5.0 because I felt it got a bit repetitive a few too many times. However, the narration is well done. The worldbuilding and storyline engaging and the characters well flushed.

    They are times that Gwen or one of her schoolmates are a bit immature or filled with self-doubt and pull the "woe is me" stuff and I want to tell them to grow up. Then I remind myself that they are teenagers and that's what they are doing, or trying to do. Grow up while being expected to deal with very adult stuff. So in this regard, I'd have to say the author is spot on. Lots of action, some awe shucks moments, and a tear-jerker or two.

    I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good YA paranormal or YA urban fantasy.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I thought that this book was very well done! The action starts quickly in this installment and I was eager to see how everything would work out in the end. This is the third book in the Mythos Academy series which I would recommend in order since the story builds on the events in previous installments of the series. I found this to be an incredibly entertaining and exciting addition to the series.Gwen and her friends prove how fierce they can be when they are present during a Reaper attack at a local museum. On top of everything else, Gwen needs to find the Helheim Dagger that her mother hid and locate a lost item for a girl at school. She is having some trouble with her friend, Daphne, who is going through a few things of her own. The mystery kept me guessing until the end and I loved that they were a few surprises along the way.Tara Sands has done a remarkable job with this series. She has expertly brought Gwen and the rest of the characters to life. I love the various character voices that she uses in her reading. I thought that she added just the right amount of emotion and excitement to her reading. I think that she really elevates the story to the next level and I am certain that her narration added to my enjoyment of this story.I would recommend this series to others. I thought that this book did a fantastic job of blending action, excitement, mythology, and character relationships. I can’t wait to read more of Gwen’s adventures very soon.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I absolutely loved this book!!! It only took me just over a day to read. I could not put it down. I love the characters Estep has created in the Mythos world.

    This book probably had the most action so far in the series. I loved it. With each battle, Gwen gets better with her fighting skills. (Thanks to her hunky trainer, Logan.) She's a fighter above all else, and her determination is admirable. She chooses what to do what she thinks is right without thinking, but deals with the consequences pretty well.

    Some of the questions we had in the previous books are answered in Dark Frost. I found at least one of the secrets startling, and did not expect it at all. There is more emotion packed into this book than the previous ones in the series. Even through all the sadness I enjoyed seeing the raw emotions emanating from the characters. It was pretty powerful.

    I can't wait to see what Gwen, and her group of friends, do to remedy the Reaper problem in the next book. Too bad we have to wait until January. :P
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    A little over the top with teenage emotions.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Still waiting on more details regarding the previous war, but a couple more characters become more fleshed out here, which makes me happier. Things move forward at an alarming pace with Loki as well. I did love the pet potential. I also love the occasional hints back to the Bit Time series. I understand there are hints regarding elemental assassin as well. I may have to take a peak at that series too.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I love Mythology books and these are a great series of books. I love seeing how these books progress and how Gwen deals with the things that are thrown her way. I love all the characters especially Gwen and Logan.

    I would recommend these books for anybody who loves Mythology genre.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Full review to be posted soon:

    Ohhh this book is pretty much a game-changer in the series with a huge climatic ending that has emotional, psychological and world changing elements. Gwen really goes through the gauntlet in this book, and discovers a dangerous aspect to her gift. There is also developments with the supporting characters and yes fans of Logan will be very very happy in this one!

    Can't wait for Crimson Frost - this feels this book has really cemented the series for me!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Listened for Review (Brilliance Audio)Overall Rating: 4.00Character Rating: 4.50Story Rating: 3.50Audio Rating: 4.00 (Not Part of the Overall Rating)First Thought when Finished: The original part of Dark Frost was ROCKSTAR but the "rehashing" of previous stories was over done (I don't know why but in this one it really stood out).Story Thoughts: Here is the deal: I loved the original part of the story. I thought it was the strongest to date and everything worked out perfectly. Gwen had to step up her game and really come into her own as Champion. She also had friend issues, boy issues, and school issues to work through and with that much on her plate I was surprised she held it together as well as she did. There was action and a pretty good little mystery to figure out. I wasn't stunned by the culprit but still think it was very well played. My problem is that 40% of the book was repeating stuff from previous books or in two cases things that happened at the beginning of this book. That was a bit overkill and took away from the enjoyment of the story.Character Thoughts: I love the kids of Mythos Academy. As far as teenagers go, these kids are alright. The angst is manageable and believable. Gwen is an excellent central character. She loves her grandmother, she is smart, she has strong role models (in the form a teacher), she has a core group of friends, and appears to have a good head on her shoulders. She has all the typical teenage stuff to deal with along with being chosen as a Champion. She handles it all pretty well! The people that who surround her are pretty interesting too. Characters are where Jennifer Estep shines! I simply haven't read a character of hers that I thought was one-dimensional. That is brilliant!Audio Thoughts: Narrated by Tara Sands / Running Time 10 hrs and 26 minsThis is one of those series where the narration has grown on me! Tara is now who I hear as Gwen even if I pick up the book version. Her pacing, emotion, and "oomph" are a good match for the kids at Mythos Academy. I will continue this series in audio!Final Thoughts: I can't wait to see what adventures Gwen and her friends continue to have!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Dark Frost (Mythos Academy #3)
    By Jennifer Estep

    Jennifer Estep has given us another terrific 3rd novel in the Mythos Academy series; the plot is fantastic, it’s faced paced and full of mystery and suspense. A few times I thought I knew what was going on then realized I didn’t. Jennifer Estep writing is terrific and I can’t wait for book 4 to be released. This is one of those books that once you begin you don’t stop till you reach the end.

    Gwen is on a mission to find the Helheim Dagger that her mother hid before she died. Everyone knows that the reapers will stop at nothing to retrieve the dagger as it is the only artifact that can release the reapers champion Loki.

    When Gwen and her friends come face to face with a group of reapers and fight for their lives, Gwen meets up with the reaper that killed her mother. The reapers may retrieve this time but everyone knows full well that they will be back.

    Can Gwen find the dagger and keep it safe? Will she be able to figure out what is going on between her and Logan and why is her best friend in such a bad mood lately?

    This is a fantastic read and I can’t say much more without adding spoilers, so buy this book and enjoy. I gave Dark Frost a 4 star rating and will recommend this series to all my friends.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Dark Frost (Mythos Academy)By Jennifer Estep4 of 5 stars$7.10 Kindle$8.96 PaperbackProduct DetailsPaperback: 336 pagesPublisher: Kensington (May 29, 2012)Language: EnglishISBN-10: 0758266960ISBN-13: 978-0758266965Reviewed by Avery, age 9, for City Book ReviewI hadn’t read the first two Mytho’s academy books, but Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep was awesome. It is about this Gypsy girl who has special powers to find things and attends a special school. This book is a lot like Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and the X-men all put together.The Reapers are after Gwen because they think she has something her mom hid, but the thing is, she doesn’t know where it is. She also really likes one of the guys Logan, but he didn’t really sound like a good guy. He doesn’t do a lot of nice things to other people. Gwen can be frustrating. Stuff that should be obvious to her, well, isn’t. This reminded me of Bella from Twilight in a way.Anyways, this was a good book. Sometimes it was sad, scary, happy, frustrating, all put together. I think I would definitely read the first two books now!Back of Book Blurb-Everyone at Mythos Academy knows me as Gwen Frost, the Gypsy girl who uses her psychometry magic to find lost objects - and who just may be dating Logan Quinn, the hottest guy in school. But I'm also the girl the Reapers of Chaos want dead in the worst way. The Reapers are the baddest of the bad, the people who murdered my mom. So why do they have it in for me? It turns out my mom hid a powerful artefact called the Helheim Dagger before she died. Now, the Reapers will do anything to get it back. They think I know where the dagger is hidden, but this is one thing I can't use my magic to find. All I do know is that the Reapers are coming for me - and I'm in for the fight of my life.*You can view the original review at City Book Review
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I’m glad I decided to check back in to Jennifer Estep’s Mythos Academy series, because Dark Frost had enough going for it that the series is back on my reading list. Action, romance, death and destruction – with Gwen Frost in the center of it all.

    The action kicks in immediately, with the first several chapters involving an attack on the Mythos Academy students – including Gwen, her best friend Daphne, Daphne’s boyfriend Carson and Gwen’s crush Logan – by the Reapers of Chaos which leaves several students dead or injured. During the battle, Gwen is confronted by a female Reaper who she identifies as Loki’s champion – the same girl who killed Gwen’s mother before the series started. This Reaper is trying to locate the Hellheim dagger hidden by Gwen’s mother and believes it is part of the collection of artifacts in the Mythos Academy library (I said it in my last review – stay away from the library at this school!). But the action doesn’t stop there. Attacks continue throughout the book, with Gwen and the Reaper battling it out in the school prison, Gwen’s grandmother’s house, and in the middle of a forest in the game-changing finale of the book. This was easily the most action-packed installment yet in the series.

    Romance has its place, too, with the relationship between Daphne and Carson still going strong and Logan finally starting to take tentative steps in Gwen’s direction. We also see some character growth, as Daphne’s Valkyrie power finally makes its presence known and Logan’s secret is revealed. I thought it surprising that Daphne was so upset by what her special ability is (personally, I think it is one of the best anyone could have), so it was interesting to see her reactions. Logan’s big secret turned out to be pretty much what I thought it was, so no real surprise there, but the pain he went through while revealing it to Gwen was touching. He is finally moving beyond his “man-whore” reputation (thankfully, that description is kept to a minimum in this book) and seriously considering a relationship with Gwen. The bad-boy Spartan is slowly being tamed.

    As Gwen delves into the mystery of where her mother hid the Hellheim dagger, we learn more about her mother’s experiences at school and get a glimpse into the past. This also brought out an unexpected side to Gwen’s boss (and Logan’s uncle) Nickamedes, and we discover why he has been so tough on Gwen. A surprising return character was the Fenrir wolf that Gwen befriended in Kiss of Frost - who has a little surprise of her own. I liked the wolf in the last book, so it was great to see her again. She also turned out to have a significant role to play in the finale that led to an unexpected revelation about the creatures who are controlled by the Reapers of Chaos, which I think may have some repercussions in the future.

    Speaking of the finale, it was incredible. Dark, dangerous, explosive – and we finally got to meet Loki. Secrets were revealed, Gwen’s ability was taken to an extreme level that will make her a true force to be reckoned with in the future, and even a couple of deaths occurred – one of which saddened me. In the quiet aftermath, Gwen was left to deal with everything that occurred and decide if she wanted to remain Nike’s champion or give it up forever. It was all handled so well and set things up nicely for future encounters with the Reapers. I’m really hoping Estep is able to keep this level of quality through the rest of the series.

    Even though there was a lot going right with Dark Frost, there were also some negatives that are all too familiar with this series. While Estep has pulled back tremendously on the repetition this time around – only reiterating plot points from the last book when necessary to bring the reader up to speed – she still managed to insert my most-hated phrase in the series “Gypsy girl” way too often. Logan is still using this as a term of endearment, and if it only showed up when he used it I wouldn’t have a problem with it. But it shows up much more often than that, with the Reapers of Chaos using it in confrontations with Gwen and Gwen again defining herself by the phrase. Adding insult to injury, Estep then managed to create an additional annoying phrase by making Gwen’s primary adversary a female Reaper and calling her “Reaper girl” – incessantly.

    The other problem I had with Dark Frost was a weakness that was present in the last book, as well – too much foreshadowing. So many hints were thrown around about the villain and the location of the dagger that by the time everything was revealed, the surprise was gone. Estep tried to throw in some red herrings, but since her heavy-handed use of foreshadowing was present with these, too, it was very easy to dismiss them out of hand. I wish these mysteries had been more of a mystery.

    In Dark Frost, Jennifer Estep manages to increase the action, decrease the repetition, and maintain the annoying “Gypsy girl” phrase while adding a new phrase to annoy, “Reaper girl.” She is again a bit heavy-handed with foreshadowing, so it is no surprise who that “Reaper girl” turns out to be. Even with these annoyances Estep managed to up her game with Dark Frost, intensifying the storyline, fleshing out some characters and providing an explosive finale that left me anxious to see what happens next.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: The third installment follows the same patterns–lots of info-dumping and character clichés, but some good dialogue and much better character development this time around.Opening Sentence: “If you guys don’t stop making out, I’m going to be sick.”The Review:The third installment in the Mythos Academy series picks up at the end of the school’s Winter Holidays. Gwen’s still looking up everything she can about the Helheim Dagger, which will free Loki from his prison and begin the next Chaos War. Her mother, the last Champion of the goddess Nike, hid it somewhere before she died. Now it’s up to Gwen and her touch magic to find the dagger and move it to somewhere safer. Because the Reapers aren’t just getting more vicious, they’re getting desperate too. The Helheim Dagger is the last of the Artifacts needed to unlock Loki from his tomb.Gwen’s already learned that her mother’s death wasn’t the drunk driving accident everyone’s always told her it was. But it was more than murder by Reapers — Loki’s Champion was the one who killed her. More than saving the world, Gwen wants to find the woman who killed her mom. Gwen knows there are Reapers at Mythos, knows that there are probably some right under their noses. Then Reapers strike at Mythos students, making the Academy the safest place they can be. But when a routine questioning of Preston snowballs out of control, Gwen’s not the only one in danger.In Kiss of Frost we met Preston’s Fenrir wolf. This wolf bonded with Gwen, she saved its life and the wolf returned the favor later. So when Gwen finds the mythical creature at the gates of the Academy, as if waiting for her, she knows there’s more to this wolf than just a Reapers minion. The Fenrir wolf left the Reapers, for one thing, and Gwen never expected to see it again after the wolf saved her at the ski resort.When a fellow student asks Gwen to find her ring, a gift from her dying mother, neither one of them expects to find the memory of a Reaper tainting the ring. Gwen’s little side business pulls her firmly in the way of the Reapers, once again, and their plans to free Loki. Except this time she doesn’t have Daphne and her friends at her side. Daphne’s been acting cruel since the day her magic quickened, Carson’s sticking close to her side, and Logan (*swoon*) is determined to keep Gwen from learning his secret.Logan and Gwen’s relationship has moved beyond a few kisses. If it wasn’t for this one, single, solitary secret — part of which Gwen already learned at the ski resort in Kiss of Frost – they would be together in a heartbeat. But to be in a relationship with someone like Gwen you will never have secrets. Every time they kiss Gwen will absorb every memory since they last touched, learn everything. And Logan can’t handle that kind of intrusion. Even if it means losing her.I’m a big fan of Logan Quinn, the swoon-worthy Spartan is a total badass and I’m glad this book at least offers some progression of Gwen and Logan’s relationship. Gwen does still whine a lot about everybody keeping secrets from her, etc. but it’s nowhere near as bad as it was in the first two books. What’s gotten worse is the info-dumping and exposition. While the architecture was of considerable importance to the plot of Dark Frost, Estep seriously underestimates the amount of information her readers will remember. Not just from book to book, but over the span of a few chapters. It not only slowed the pace and cut out the tension in the story, but I definitely had to roll my eyes more than a few times. That being said, this was just as entertaining as the first two books. I’ll definitely be back for Crimson Frost, even if it’s just to read more about Logan!Notable Scene:After a few seconds, I realized the wolf was much faster than I remembered her being before–especially around the middle. I reached out and put my hand on the creatures’s stomach. It took a second, but another little flicker filled my mind., another little spark that told me the wolf wasn’t exactly by herself anymore.“Oh,” I said. “Oh. You’re going to have a baby puppy…or whatever.”I didn’t know how much of my words the wolf understood, but she almost seemed to nod her head, like Finally, the silly mortal girl understands what I’m trying to tell her.I didn’t know much about animals, but it seemed to me the wolf was much bigger than she should have been, given the fact that I’d only seen her a few weeks ago. Did mythological creatures have their babies faster than regular animals did? Was that why the wolf was so large already? How soon would she have her puppy? I didn’t know the answers to any of the questions swirling in my mind.The Mythos Academy Series:0.5. First Frost1. Touch of Frost2. Kiss of Frost3. Dark Frost4. Crimson FrostFTC Advisory: Kensington Books provided me with a copy of Dark Frost. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. In addition, I don’t receive affiliate fees for anything purchased via links from my site.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    We pick back up in Dark Frost right after all the winter break issues that happened in Kiss of Frost went down. It has been a while since we were in this world and Jennifer was kind enough to give us a refresher in the first chapter that wove into the plot seamlessly so it did feeling like a forced recap of past events. I was thankful for the information because I remembered the general gist of the story, but the details were a bit fuzzy.Dark Frost story starts out with a bang and does not let up for the entirety of the book. Gwen is still searching for the Helheim Dagger without much success. She is starting to feel the stain of being Nike’s champion and she is not sure she is up to the task that has been given to her. As she searches, there are plenty of Reaper attacks that are obvious and one that is not so obvious. Someone is trying to manipulate Gwen and she has no idea who they are or what they want. I did have the mystery person figured out before the end of the book, but Jennifer did a great job of throwing us off the scent multiple times. The action scenes, as always, are well written and make you feel like you are right there with Gwen fighting alongside her.Gwen and Logan continue to dance around one another. I wish those two would just admit how they feel about one another. I do understand that they have issues they need to work through before they can enter a relationship, but man there were quite a few times I wanted to reach in there and kick Logan’s butt myself. The two of them just need to get over their fears and work it out. I do love the teasing banter they have going on and there were some very precious moments in the book that had my heart breaking for Gwen. I am interested to see where the developments of this book will lead them in the future.I was expecting relationship drama, the action and the mystery that filled the pages of Dark Frost, but I was not expecting the utter heartache in those last couple of chapters. They really tore my heart out and I did not see it coming. There are a couple of characters who meet tragic ends and I did not expect the emotional response I had, but I was practically in tears at the end. Jennifer really grabs onto your heart in Dark Frost. Gwen did not have an easy time during the climax and I just wanted to pick her up and give her a hug. She had to face some tough realities very quickly and I think the outcome of those will end up making her mature much quicker than others her own age. I know she will rise to the challenge though and become much stronger than she already is.Overall, Dark Frost another amazing addition to the series. Jennifer delivers another fast paced, action driven book that is my favorite in the series so far. Thank goodness there is no cliffhanger so we are not left unsatisfied by the end. However, the first chapter of the next book is at the end of this one and wow that did have a cliffhanger! I am definitely dying to get my hands on the next book now! It does not come out until January, so I still have quite a wait ahead of me, but I know it will be worth it once I do get a chance to read it!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Review courtesy of All Things Urban FantasyIf you’ve ever wished the Harry Potter books had been about a girl, you’ll love the Mythos Academy series. Both are set at a magical boarding school, both have villainous professors and cryptic but wise mentors, both feature orphan protagonists who grew up ignorant of their magical heritage, and both are destined to kill the ultimate evil threatening the world. And while that’s not even half the similarities between these two series, there are enough distinctions to make this one stand on its own.Instead of wizardry, the aptly named Mythos Academy series revolves around mythology. There are gods and goddesses, Spartans, Amazons, and one lone gypsy with the gift of Touch magic. This world and the history Estep has built into it are endlessly entertaining with exciting new revelations filling each installment. As with the previous books, in DARK FROST death is a very real reality for the teens at Mythos Academy, and people do die…it really helps anchor the frightening overtones in this world. Like Harry, Gwen isn’t as rich or seemingly powerful as the warriors-in-training she goes to school with. But she is smart, and she has the distinction of being chosen as the goddess Nike’s champion, like her mother before her. In DARK FROST, Gwen and her maybe boyfriend Logan finally overcome his reasons for preventing them from being together, but right on the heels of that Gwen comes up with a reason of her own. It was a little overdramatic for my taste (as was most of the dialogue from the various villains), but fortunately, Logan didn’t allow Gwen to wallow in her situation for long. And while I enjoy most of the Harry Potter similarities, one in particular involving Nickamedes (aka Snape) was perhaps too similar.While not as rich as Harry Potter, fans of J.K. Rowling’s series will find plenty to like in Jennifer Estep’s Mythos Academy series. These books are action filled fun with just enough romance and mythological mayhem to keep me coming back time after time. CRIMSON FROST will hit shelves in January 2013. Looking forward to it already.Sexual Content: Kissing
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is the third book in the Mythos Academy series by Estep. This book was an excellent addition to this series; thing really build in this novel....there is a ton of action right from the get-go. There is just so much that happens. The fourth book in this series, Crimson Frost, is scheduled for a Jan 2013 release. Right now there are six books on contract for this series.Gwen and friends are at a museum finishing up their homework before winter break is over. Things are pretty normal, that is until the Reapers unleash a devastating attack on the museum killing a number of students. Gwen runs into Loki’s Champion during the attack and finds out that the Reapers are searching for the Helmheim Dagger. Now Gwen has to figure out where the Helmheim Dagger is hidden before Loki’s followers, the Reapers, do.This book is action packed right from the get-go. Seriously the opening scene has our beloved group of characters fighting for their lives against a mass of Reapers. This was a great book, a lot of huge momentous events happening and a number of changes in the characters we love so much.This being a YA paranormal book there is some teen angst here. Luckily it never overwhelms the story; there is some angst between Gwen and Logan because they want to be together but Logan doesn’t want Gwen to know his secret and with her psychometry she will know it if she touches him. There is also a little bit of mean girl cattiness between Gwen and Logan’s ex-girlfriend.A lot of the characters grow in major and interesting ways. Daphne learns what her Valkyrie power is, Gwen learns how to use her psychometry as a weapon, Logan tries to make peace with his past, and we finally learn the history behind why that librarian hates Gwen so much.Most of the story is an investigation of sorts. Gwen is trying to hunt down the Helmheim dagger using the clues provided. She also takes on a side job trying to hunt down a girl’s ring; the mysteries end up tying together nicely.There is one really great new character in this book and that is the Fenrir (giant wolf) that Gwen saved in the last book. Her name is Nott and she plays a major role in the story. As with previous books the Goddess Nike makes an appearance as well.I continue to love the mythology throughout the story. I am also really enjoying the magic system and how Gwen is learning to use her psychometry in new and interesting ways. The story never gets too heavy because Gwen is wonderfully snarky and sarcastic. This is a tough book for our characters though, many of them suffer loses, and the situation is more dire than ever before.Overall just an absolutely wonderful addition to this series. This is my favorite book in the series so far. So many huge things happen and there is so much great character development. Things just keep get more interesting. I really enjoy the balance of action, excellent characters, a wonderful world, an intriguing magic system, and a little bit of romance. This is highly recommended for urban fantasy fans; both adult and YA. If you are an adult I also strongly recommend Estep’s Elemental Assassin series.