“Propulsive and intricate, Greta Kelly has constructed a world of twisting politics and thrilling magic following a heroine who is both clever and uncompromising, but ultimately, has heart. A stellar read that I thoroughly enjoyed.” — Emily Duncan, New York Times bestselling author of Wicked Saints
A princess with a powerful and dangerous secret must find a way to save her country from … secret must find a way to save her country from ruthless invaders in this exciting debut fantasy, the first novel in a thrilling duology packed with heroism, treachery, magic, and war.
Askia became heir to the Frozen Crown of Seravesh because of her devotion to her people. But her realm is facing a threat she cannot defeat by sheer will alone. The mad emperor of the Roven Empire has unleashed a horde of invading soldiers to enslave her lands. For months, her warriors have waged a valiant, stealth battle, yet they cannot stop the enemy’s advancement. Running out of time, she sets sail for sun-drenched Vishir, the neighboring land to the south, to seek help from its ruler, Emperor Armaan.
A young woman raised in army camps, Askia is ill-equipped to navigate Vishir’s labyrinthine political games. Her every move sinks her deeper into court intrigues which bewilder and repel her, leaving her vulnerable not only to enemies gathering at Vishir’s gates, but to those behind the palace walls.
And in this glittering court, where secrets are worth more than gold, Askia fears that one false step will expose her true nature. For Askia is a witch gifted with magical abilities—knowledge that could destroy not only her life but her people. As her adversaries draw closer, Askia is forced to make an impossible choice—and no matter what she decides, it may not be enough to prevent Seravesh’s fall.
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Queen, warrior, and witch — THE FROZEN CROWN delivers the kind of fantasy heroine I’ve longed for, the kind who is truly heroic. Askia’s story held me rapt from beginning to end, and I can’t wait for part two!
Excuse me while I stumble my way through this review. I always struggle to review fantasies and I feel like spoilers are so much harder to avoid.
The way Greta builds this story – from world building to introducing a million characters to plot flow – feels far more natural than others in this genre (which I’ll classify as NA fantasy). There’s no major information dump at the beginning so my gnat-like attention span ate it up. And the ending! So glad the second book is available to grab immediately because I was basically in a bit of shock as it ramped up quickly.
The thing that I really didn’t love was the multitude of love interests for Askia. It seemed all over the place and may have hit all of the tropes (slight exaggeration here). I’m just going to say that I’m team Illya and call it a day.
Onward and upward to The Seventh Queen!
Thank you to Avon Books for the gifted copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
I found yet another book at my local library while browsing the shelves that I enjoyed reading. The Frozen Crown by Greta Kelly is a New Adult Fantasy/High Fantasy novel. (It may be listed as Young Adult, but I have it listed for an older audience due to some of the mature topics and scenes in the book while reading it.) The Frozen Crown is Greta Kelly’s debut Fantasy novel, and this book was hard to put down when I was reading it.
Storyline/My Thoughts: The minute I started reading The Frozen Crown, I knew I would like the female protagonist, Askia because she’s determined to win back the crown that her cousin stole from her. (Kickbutt heroines are always my favorite, especially in fantasy novels.) Askia is definitely one of those heroines, primarily when she trained with the strongest warriors in the north. Her people are being tortured and killed by her cousin and the Emperor of the Roven Empire. She’s determined to get an army to help her defeat her cousin and the Emperor of the Roven Empire. It will take her traveling to Vishir to ask the Emperor there for his army. His son, Prince Iskander, helps Askia on getting her to Vishir. It will not be easy for Askia once she gets there because there are protocols to follow, especially since she’s a young single royal woman. The Emperor’s wives are skeptical at first of Askia and, at first, shun her from being invited to the court. It takes Askia on breaking some protocols for her to be finally be invited. Once she is, she finds out the Queen is someone she can trust, especially with the secret she’s kept hidden, especially after her parents were killed.
For being a debut fantasy novel, I liked how Greta Kelly created this world and characters. It has a lot of politics to it for a fantasy world, which I usually don’t like in books. Greta Kelly had me enjoying it, though. Poor Askia ends up doing things in this book that she doesn’t want to do, but she has to be a leader to her people and prove to everyone that she is a strong leader.
One issue that bothered me was there was a slight love triangle in this book. It’s mainly two male characters that are in love with Askia. Askia has feelings for one of them, but she can never be with him since he’s not royalty. The other one she sees as a friend, and this person is not liking being put in the friend zone. The book does take a turn at the end with who Askia ends up with, which I found strange, but then I understood why she did it.
Overall, this book had a lot of twists and turns in it. I give it four stars and look forward to diving into the next book in the duology, especially since Greta Kelly left readers with a cliffhanger.
Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of a duology, and I would recommend reading in order.
Cliffhanger: Yes.
Trope: Rightful Heir to the Throne; Love Triangle (somewhat); Magic; Good vs. Evil.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. If you enjoy New Adult Fantasy/High Fantasy novels, then I would recommend this duology.
Propulsive and intricate, Greta Kelly has constructed a world of twisting politics and thrilling magic following a heroine who is both clever and uncompromising, but ultimately, has heart. A stellar read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
A gripping, intricate tale of court intrigue with no shortage of thought-provoking questions about power, morality, and identity. Askia is a strong-willed yet vulnerable and utterly human character that will linger in readers’ hearts and minds long after they turn the final page.
The Frozen Crown is fantasy at is best — bold, original and fiercely compelling.
I liked this book, but I’m irritated. I strongly dislike books that end in cliffhangers, and this one definitely did. It just left the story hanging. That’s not necessary. The author could have tied things up enough so that the reader did not feel forced to buy the second book when it comes out. As the author left it, poor Princess Askia is left in the clutches of her biggest nemesis following a dreadful ambush, and the reader is left waiting until book two comes out in the autumn. Ugh! Did I say that I hated that?
The book got off to a slow start due to the many characters, countries, provinces, and such that were introduced in the early chapters. I actually put the book aside for a week or so after those first few chapters in order to allow all the details to settle a bit. When I picked it up again, the pace picked up and began moving along. I can’t say if that’s because I had a better handle on everything going on or if the amount of new information eased off. Once I got to that point, the book easily captured and held my attention.
I thought the characters were well crafted, believable, and sympathetic The plot is twisty-turny and filled with surprises. There is a fair amount of romance worked into the fantasy, at times getting a little detailed for a young reader. I’d call this a book for Adult readers, not for anyone under sixteen.
A good partial story; unfortunate that it left things hanging.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I thank all involved for their generosity in sharing this book, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.
I am Princess Askia’s biggest fan!! Askia understands her life and duty, and fights for her people’s safety and livelihood among court intrigue, while constantly hiding her magic from those who wish to steal it or destroy her. Askia comes to grip with the only way she feels she can safe her kingdom, only to have those plans crushed.
Interesting characters and an intriguing storyline made this adult fantasy shine. It kept me engaged throughout the whole book. I enjoyed it immensely.
I received a paperback copy of this book from the publisher. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.
Askia is the princess and rightful queen of Seravesh, a kingdom that is under threat from the evil emperor of the Roven Empire. As the emperor slowly takes over Seravesh, Askia meets with the neighboring kingdom to garner support and, hopefully, use their army to defeat the emperor. Political intrigue, dangerous trainings, and a murderous plot threaten to end Askia before the emperor can.
Askia is a fierce protagonist willing to sacrifice her life and freedom for her people. She continually casts her feelings and desires aside because she knows they’re not in the best interest of her country. An admirable and courageous woman, Askia’s abilities are rare, and she learns to use them throughout the novel. I loved this part of the story and can’t wait to see how she further utilizes her abilities in the next book.
Askia’s strength, intelligence, and beauty gain the attention of several suitors, most of whom are not of interest to Askia. She loves someone that she can’t have, and this forbidden romance is so good. The longing and desire Askia and her love interest feel are palpable, and I found myself rooting for the pair. The political maneuvering and the unrequited love are the highlights of this novel, as are the strong and determined women.
Askia is out of her element in court. Political maneuvering is not one of her strengths, and she struggles to find her place in this new situation. With guidance, she learns the customs and roles in court while also learning who she can and cannot trust. She also trains while in court and learns to control her power. I found the scenes where Askia works with other women to learn about her ability fascinating. Not only are her powers unique, but the strong, fierce, and smart women working together to learn and grow is also fantastic. Everything Askia does, from training to flirting with men, she does to benefit her kingdom.
The Frozen Crown is a gripping story filled with political intrigue, dynamic characters, and a jaw-dropping cliffhanger ending. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series! Thanks so much to Netgalley and for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
When Radovan takes over the Kingdom of Seravesh, Princess Askia flees across the sea to Vishir to plead for help, only to end up in a tangled web of court politics.
Court intrigue and politics are some of my weaknesses when it comes to fantasy. I’ll gladly forego all the violence, blood, action, and ultimate battles for court intrigue. Give me a bunch of characters who manipulate each other, have ulterior motives, and hold your fate in their hands and I’m a happy reader. Except I was a little frustrated with Askia and her childish behavior, so The Frozen Crown was a bit of a disappointment.
The Plot: Interesting Court Intrigue
Princess Askia and her soldiers have been pushed out of Seravesh by the invading Rovan Empire, who worked with her usurping cousin. Idun is supposed to be a place of safety, but the Roven Empire is prowling on the edges. With her life in danger, Askia convinces her childhood friend, Prince Iskander of Vishir, to take her across the sea to Vishir so she can petition his father the Emperor for an army to drive out the Roven Empire.
But Vishir is not Seravesh. Even though she spent her childhood traveling Vishir with her late parents, Seravesh has become her home and she has no idea how to navigate the foreign halls. At every turn her Seravesh ways are met with resistance and mockery from the Vishiri court, until she learns to play the game to get what she needs.
There’s magic, danger, and court intrigue at every turn in The Frozen Crown. The story moves quickly as Vishiri court politics seem to be mercurial and Askia struggles to keep up. It’s a dizzying game with some surprises thrown in, but, at the same time, complications and roadblocks are expected, so aren’t complete surprises. It just begs the question of what’s going to happen next.
Overall, the story is quite simplistic: a princess trying to keep out of Radovan’s, the ruler of the Roven Empire, grasp by getting the attention of the Vishiri emperor so she can gain an army. Of course, there’s more to it that Askia needs to do in order to fulfill her needs. But it’s a simple story couched in court politics that changes with the wind.
But it also falls into what I think of as boring fantasy pitfalls. There’s a great deal of focus of the clothes and costumes the members of court wear, as well as large ceremonial gatherings that require special attire. Then there’s the focus on teaching Askia how to properly use her powers, which was mildly interesting, but felt like overly large scenes for smaller plot points.
Despite the stereotypical fantasy bits, The Frozen Crown presents an interesting enough story, but it’s really the ending that steals the show, taking a turn I didn’t expect. It’s a quick, easy, and uncomplicated read that attempts to throw curveballs.
The Characters: A Young Princess
Askia is a bold, outspoken princess who was raised far from the land she becomes heir to. With a mother from Seravesh and a father from Vishir, she grew up traveling Vishir, exposed to war and battle, until she was orphaned and tortured by the Shazir. It presents few problems to her, though, as she appears to carry trauma when it suits her. Instead, she attempts to march full force as a Seravesh princess into a foreign court that doesn’t take well to her presumption.
Askia is young, and it shows. I liked her fire, but was annoyed when she expected the Vishiri court to bend to her. She refused to play their games even though she needed them, so came off as a pampered brat with far too many love interests. The Frozen Crown isn’t listed as being YA, but, with Askia being so young and so impudent, I got a very strong YA vibe. Needless to say, I was not impressed with her. Nor was I impressed by the men who kept falling in love with her.
The one I was absolutely impressed with was the emperor’s primary wife. In Vishir, the emperor is married to a number of women in order to stitch the empire together. His first wife Ozura, though, rules over the other queens and it is she who determines if another woman will be allowed to enter court. She was strong and insightful and continually pushed Askia. She also had her softer moments and points, but I adored the strong hand she had and how self-assured she was.
There were a number of other characters surrounding Askia, from Prince Iskander to the head of her guard to her Vishiri lady-in-waiting, who helped round out the story and Askia. They were all interesting in their own ways and added a bit to the story, but also felt very one note.
The Setting: Polar Opposites, but Fascinating
Most of The Frozen Crown takes place in Vishir, but the lands north of it strongly reminded me of Russia. They were painted as being cold with heavy, white winters and full of evergreens. It’s also clearly European-inspired with fortresses and cold castles. Even though little of the story takes place there, it still left a strong impression on me, likely because it did feel so stereotypically European.
Vishir, on the other hand, is described as warm and sun drenched. It appears to be the polar opposite of the lands to the north. It’s full of bustling color, indulgences, and frivolities. It also made me think of Morocco. With the bold colors, fragrant foods, warm climate, and darker skinned characters than Askia and her people, I couldn’t shake the feeling Vishir is Moroccan-inspired. It was vibrant and beautiful. There was such a strong sense of place that the world was probably my favorite part of it, and I really wanted to stay in Vishir forever, even though women are more limited in what they are allowed to do and are often to blame for men’s actions.
The magic system was probably the most fascinating to me. Since a good portion of the story is focused on teaching Askia how to use her powers, there’s quite a bit given about it. I liked that there are two sides to the god, one that rules over magic and one that fosters a religious order that seeks to purge the land of witches. The powers themselves are well-described and it was easy to figure out what was in the realm of which power. I was a little disappointed the more elemental powers didn’t figure much in the story, but the other three (the powers of healers, truth witches, and death witches) were fascinating. With the way the book ended, I’m hoping for more exploration of the magic system in the next book.
Overall: Fun Court Intrigue, but Uncomplicated
The Frozen Crown is not a complicated book, but I did enjoy the court intrigue when Askia wasn’t annoying. Askia spoiled much of the book for me with her childish unwillingness to work with the system she desperately needed help from, even though she had grown up in and around the very same court. In theory, this was an interesting idea. In execution, I think the main character falls short and I have a hard time looking past her bad points to find an interesting story. Overall, not a bad start to the duology, but I hope Askia matures quickly in the second book into a figure worthy of being a queen.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Fantasy readers may expect Greta Kelly’s The Frozen Crown to follow the lines of other fantasy novels meant for young adult readers that are popular within the genre. However, the amount of action, politics, adventure, and much more keeps readers interested and rooting for our cast of characters as they try to navigate the conflicts at hand.
The first in a new fantasy series by Greta Kelly, The Frozen Crown follows the story of young Princess Askia, heir to the Frozen Crown of Seravesh. After the evil Emperor Radovan killed her parents and began his tirade into Seraveshi lands, the task of finding an army to save her people fell into Askia’s hands. Her army has been able to keep the Roven Empire’s forces at bay, but after the discovery of a town burned to the ground Askia realises her time is running out and she needs to make some important moves in order to secure her peoples’ safety. After riding to the desert lands of Vishir and spending time amongst the court trying to figure out a way to convince Emperor Armaan to join her cause to save her people. However, shortly after Askia becomes accustomed to her life in Vishir she realises that one of her biggest secrets could be revealed—and get her killed.
Through the dense politicking throughout the novel, there is a lot Askia needs to learn about the customs of the Vishiri Empire and through the conversations Askia has in and out of court the reader is provided with important insight when it comes to each of the important leaders Askia comes face to face with. In addition, the heated discussions Askia has with Prince Enver of Vishir proves to the reader that her journey in this territory is not going to be an easy one—it will take a lot of willpower and negotiating to get these people to stand with her cause. These discussions that take place throughout the entirety of the novel proves to keep readers interested and wondering what could come next.
Through Princess Askia’s cutthroat attitude and compelling story, readers may find her and her many friends easy to fall in love with. From watching Askia’s development from the beginning of the novel in Eshkaroth to watching her fight and win over the Khazan Guard in Vishir, each twist and turn in this novel shows the true development of a young princess turning into the queen she needs to become. In addition, the conflict of heart Askia faces throughout the novel provides tension and mystery that compels readers to continue turning the pages to see just who Askia will or will not end up with in the end.
While there is a lot of information revealed about Askia’s past throughout the novel, there is more information needed in order to really understand Askia’s rage. It is known that the Shazir, a group of believers of The Day Lord who seek to expel witches from the world are the people who killed her parents. However, when the Shazir pledge alliance to Askia it seems very suspicious and out of context. This could just be more court politicking, but it would be helpful for readers to understand the Shazir’s intentions a little bit more without revealing too much.
Overall, The Frozen Crown is an epic tale of love, loss, and how much a young princess will sacrifice herself in order to save her people. Readers who enjoy adventure, action, and just the right amount of politics may find this novel the perfect read to keep them warm and excited in the impending cold winter months.
The Frozen Crown is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of January 12th 2021.
I was lucky enough to be chosen to read an ARC from @netgalley and the publishers. I loved this book from the moment I started reading. Askia isn’t your normal princess, she’s a strong, fierce warrior who will do whatever she can to save her kingdom. She is the epitome of a strong female heroine.
The author does an amazing job giving you character depth without dragging the book along. This was a super fast read for me, one of those that will have you up at night saying “Just one more chapter!” The ending will leave you begging for more. The only thing I didn’t like is the fact I have to wait for the second book to come out!!
Thank you Greta Kelly, Harper Voyager, William Morrow Books & Netgalley for the #gifted copy of the book and ebook.
5/5 Stars
2/5 Steam Rating
Askia is the heir to the Frozen Crown which has been usurped by her cousin, with the backing of the mad emperor of the Roven Empire. Askia travels to Vishir in the hopes of gaining an army, to help her fight against Roven. With enemies on all sides, she will stop at nothing to save her people; even if it means sacrificing herself.
This is a epic fantasy full of political intrigue and secret witches; Kelly did a marvelous job at world building and bringing these characters to life. Askia was skillfully created; she’s smart, strong and brave, while also being damaged and naive to life at court. So often these kind of characters become whiny, yet that couldn’t be further from the truth where Askia is concerned! Askia is the kind of woman that I love to read about; she’s unapologetically strong and knows that as a Queen, her happiness cannot come before the safety of her people. There’s so much push and pull between all of the characters, which just draws you into the story more with each turn of the page.
I honestly could not get enough of this story and these characters!! My heart breaks a little that I have to walk away from Askia until the next book releases this fall. But you better believe, I WILL be reading it!!!
The Frozen Crown: A Novel Hardcover – January 12, 2021
by Greta Kelly
Thank you to the author and the publisher for the complimentary ARC. I am choosing to leave a fair and honest review.
Please note this book will be released on 1/12/2021
“ I came to Vishir for an army not a husband.”
Askia, soon after the assassination of her parents, seeks aide from an ally. Her kingdom is now in the hands of an age old adversary. Her only choice is to head south and beg for troops.
This is a worthy successor to the Kushiel series by Jacqueline Carrey. Much like that classic, this a book filled with intrigue and unrequited love. Askia is a fascinating character. She is pragmatic, intelligent and extraordinarily brave. She is will to do whatever it takes to save her nation.
The magical system is complicated and brilliant. With seven forms of magic, most witches are hunted down. Askia is a Death Witch. Her struggle to hide it and deal with it at the same time is well-balanced, which brings the reader closer to the story.
Askia was trained as a warrior. The fighting scenes are well-choreographed. Ms. Kelly does a good job of using real fighting techniques. People who seek some kind of realistic fighting scenes would truly love the fight between the princess and the emperor Armaad. It is as sexy as it is thrilling.
World-building was the some of the best I have read, particularly the religious system. There is a two-faced god – Lady Night and Lord Day.
Askia and her friends witness more than their share of intrigue in the foreign court. The one drawback was the number of characters. I had to page back several times trying to remember who a character (who hadn’t been on the stage for a few chapters) was and where we were in the story.
The final chapters will cut out the reader’s heart.
Ms. Kelly flavors her world’s cultures with Russo-Slavic and Middle Eastern names and behavior. It provides the fantasy and real world balance that I personally love. Because of this the book’s visuals and royal courts are very textured and I couldn’t help falling into the story
All is all, this is a wonderful epic fantasy. At times, it is grimdark and brighthope, so it appeals to all fantasy fans.
5 stars out of 5
https://www.amazon.com/Frozen-Crown-Novel-Greta-Kelly/dp/0062956957