I requested this title back before my blogging break. I have ended up with a number of titles that are overwhelming to catch up on now I am back from my blogging break. I am regretfully not going to be reading and reviewing this title, but now I am back from my blogging break, I am looking forward to reading and reviewing some of your future titles. Thank you so much for the opportunity and apologies.

Prisoner of ice and snow by Ruth Lauren.
Book 1 of prisoner.
Valor is under arrest for the attempted murder of the crown prince. Her parents are outcasts from the royal court, her sister is banished for theft of a national treasure, and now Valor has been sentenced to life imprisonment at Demidova, a prison built from stone and ice.But that's exactly where she wants to be. For her sister was sent there too, and Valor embarks on an epic plan to break her out from the inside.No one has escaped from Demidova in over three hundred years, and if Valor is to succeed she will need all of her strength, courage and love. If the plan fails, she faces a chilling fate worse than any prison ...
A good read with good characters. Likeable story. I did like Valor though. 4*.

An adventurous middle-grade read, PRISONER OF ICE AND SNOW was fun and action packed.

When Valor gets herself arrested, it is only the first stage in the plan to break her sister out of jail. Now with both of them condemned to life in an icy fortress, all for crimes they didn't commit, they will need all their cunning and resources if they are to defeat the evil warden, and pull off a jail break in a building that has an unbroken track record of keeping people in.

But knowing they didn't commit the crimes, Valor can’t help but wonder who did? Who is targeting the royal family? And in turn, who is determined to seal Valor lips before she can speak out the truth…

Overall I really liked this book. It’s very action orientated and from the get go Valor is always in motion, plotting and trying new things. The setting of the world is also fantastic, with a big Russian influence draped over an icy backdrop of crisp white snow.

Valor herself is an excellent main character and one who was both relatable and easy to root for. The other prisoners however I didn't connect with as much. Even though they were all suitably shady, I would have liked a little more backstory and to see them fleshed out more. Of course there is always hope for that in book 2!

The plot was tricky and kept me guessing in places, however the pacing moves up and down and it actually took me a while to read this book. Some nights I sped through the chapters while others I plodded through. All in all though the story was good and I plan to continue the series. I'm very interested to see where Valor’s adventures take her next.

3 stars!

You are really thrown straight into the action with this book, which isn’t something I’m used to with the other fantasy YA books I’ve read. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I get like I spent a lot of the book trying to catch up with what’s as going on.

The story begins with Valor, a young girl, who has begun her slightly crazy plan of getting herself thrown into jail. Her sister, Sasha, has been thrown into jail for stealing a prized possession belonging to the royal family. Determined to break her sister free from a jail that nobody has every escaped from, can Valor set her sister free?

It’s a great concept and the plot could have allowed the book to be brilliant. There are plenty of twists and turns to make it exciting but the pace felt a little off. At times it feels like you’re running headfirst into the action then waiting for the next bus to take you further along into the book. I hadn’t realised that this was part of a series so didn’t get the ending completion and sense of resolution that I was expecting but it now makes sense why I did not.

This was a book with a lot of promise and great thinking behind it, which just fell a little short for me. The characters were great but I felt as though we only got to see Valor fully and the other characters had less revealed about them. Due to this being part of a series, this may have been intentional.

A decent read but I’m not sure that I’ll be in any hurry to complete the series.

Will no longer be reading or reviewing this book due to lack of interest in the title, and the fact that the title has been archived.

Prisoner of Ice and Snow is a very enjoyable young adult novel. The fictional world is well described and it is easy to believe that it is real, that people could live their lives there. The characters are sympathetic and interesting, with fantastic relationships that keep the story going.

A very likeable book more aimed at the middle grade audience.
It reminded me a little of Six of Crows and the Lunar Chronicles where the character worked together for an end goal.

The characters were likeable but found that they needed slightly more character development. I enjoyed the story and how fast paced it was, I particularly liked the main character Valor who was loyal and strong and would do anything for those she loved!

Looking forward to the next book where we can hopefully see more character development especially around Valor!

I would definitely recommend this to a younger audience (9-14). Fast paced, action packed with a character that would go to the ends of the earth to save those she loves.

I did not manage to finish this book as I could not connect with the characters over the first quarter of the book. Although the plot has twists and turns and was quite fast-paced, the characters felt two-dimensional and especially the characters around Valour had few distinctive characteristics to make them stand out as individuals to me. I did not feel like I could connect to any of the characters and their motivations. For example, I understood that Valour wanted to save her sister, but her sister had such little 'screen time' that I didn't feel Valour's emotions or feel invested in the story personally.
However, I do think that Valour is a great protagonist for the target audience of this book. She is strong, clever, and brave, and fights for what she wants. I just wish that she, and the other characters in the book, had not had their characters sacrificed for plot as much.

I picked up this book not realising it was for a middle grade audience but thoroughly enjoyed it! Perfect as a Christmas present for your pre-teen or teenager.

'Prisoner of Ice and Snow' is an exciting adventure story set in a fantastical Russia-inspired realm. From the opening the pace is clipping, with Valor attempting a daring feat in order to be sent to the prison where her twin sister, Sasha, is. Unsure whether or not Sasha stole the music box – the crime for which she was convicted – Valor has contrived a brilliant plan for the two of them to break out of the impenetrable fortress, Demidova. Even though Valor has worked for weeks on an escape plan she can’t foresee the challenges that will face her once inside Demidova; harsh punishments for transgressions, finding steadfast friends, catastrophic fires, and a thwarted escape all test her courage and resilience in seeing her sister freed.

I loved this book. By the end of opening section I forgot I was reading a middle grade novel as the storytelling and prose was excellent. All thought of audience escaped as I immersed myself in the fantastical world Lauren has created. Characterisation was strong as was imagery – reading the book was like watching a film in my mind. It was exciting that the book ends on something of a cliffhanger to open up the story for a possible trilogy.

Beautiful prose, fantastic world-building, great pace, and wonderful characters, 'Prisoner of Ice and Snow' is a great read for anyone who loves adventure tales with a touch of fantasy.

8/10

This was utterly fantastic! Okay it took me a few pages to get into it, to be honest... the way we jumped right into the middle of the action with no backstory I found a bit confusing, and I did wonder if it was actually a sequel to something I hadn't read. But once Valor was captured the story began to come together most deliciously, and I was unable to put it down. It's short and neatly told, with lots of action and excitement and suspense, and no extraneous bits that make it lose its momentum. If there is a sequel I would RUN to get my hands on a copy! I loved the setting too, it reminds me of an AU version of Russia or somewhere. And the prison is just chilling, both figuratively and literally!

I don't often read middle grade books but this one caught my attention and I'm glad it did. I really enjoyed this story. It is fast paced action packed book. It's prison break set in a fantasy world. The story starts straight away with the action. Valor purposely gets herself arrested so she is in the perfect position to break her sister out. Valor believes her sister stole a priceless music box but little does she know her sister is innocent and greater powers are at play to make sure she stays locked up.

Valor is a strong and clever girl. She is only thirteen but her planning skills are amazing and she is a brilliant shot with a bow. Sasha isn't as tough as her sister but is very politically minded and has a way with words.

The world building was really good. I felt like I was there with Valour in the ice at times. I worked out the culprit really fast but the sisters journey of getting back to one another, escaping and then trying to clear their names was enjoyable. I will definitely be on the look out for the sequel.

This was really good! I really enjoyed how original the story was. The only thing i didn't love was that it felt a bit more MG than YA to me and i thought going into the book it was YA. Still thought the book was good though :)

This is a beautifully written story about the friendship between two sisters. It’s an engaging, enjoyable story, and one I think a lot of people will really love. The plot is full of twists and turns and has that perfect blend of action and plot that fantasy fans will just love.

The main character Valor is a brave, determined young lady, and she’ll do anything to help her sister – even commit a crime. I admired her strength and courage, she’s a wonderful leading lady and I think she would be a fantastic role model for younger children reading A Prisoner of Ice and Snow. There are a few smaller characters that I would like to get to know as well as Valor, but perhaps that will come along later in the series.

The prison that Valor and her sister end up in is certainly a horrible one, and they depictions of the different settings – most notably the prison – is certainly vivid and well laid out. At only two hundred and eighty eight pages the book is quite a quick read, but there is plenty to keep you guessing and wanting more. If you’re looking for a fun enjoyable MG fantasy, Prisoner of Ice and Snow is definitely a book to pick up. I for one am particularly looking forward to seeing what’s next in store for the series!

I can't stress enough how exciting this YA book is. After the first few pages I knew it was a winner and a cracker of a new series.

Prisoner of Ice and Snow is similar to Prison Break in that it involves genius ideas from the brave and determined Valor on how to break out of Demidova, an icy prison of hell. It's full of action from the very first page and it just keeps coming. I read it in a couple of days but could have easily read it in one sitting.

The author has lots of tricks up her sleeve, Prisoner of Ice and Snow is the start of something big I'm sure. Cleverly written, strong characters, a freezing cold setting that will chill you to the bone, what more can you ask for?

I was willing Valor all the way through the book to get her sister out of prison. The relationship between Valour and her sister reminded me of the sisters in Frozen. The strong bond that no-one can get in between.

As I've said previously I have nothing but praise for this exciting series, and cannot wait to see what the author has up her sleeve for the next books!

I've decided to give Prisoner of Ice and Snow by Ruth Lauren 5 out of 5 stars ( I would have given it a 6 if there was 6 stars!)

A 'middle grade' book probably suited to 9-13 year olds, that quickly builds your curiosity into what is motivating Valor towards his mission of entering the dreaded Tyur'ma prison of Demidova. Without giving too much away, this fantasy has royalty, treachery, bravery and enough excitement to make you want to read just one more chapter before putting it down.

In my attempt to read more middle-grade novels, Prisoner of Ice and Snow caught my attention as the perfect read. It's a mix between Frozen, Prison Break and Six of Crows, and since I love the first two (I haven't read Six of Crows), I was excited to give this book a go.

In a thrilling fantasy that’s equal parts Prison Break and Frozen, Valor attempts the impossible—breaking her sister out of prison.

When Valor is arrested, she couldn’t be happier. Demidova’s prison for criminal children is exactly where she wants to be. Valor’s sister Sasha is already serving a life sentence for stealing from the royal family and Valor is going to help her escape . . . from the inside.

Never mind that no one has escaped in three hundred years. Valor has a plan and resources most could only dream about. But she didn't count on having to outsmart both the guards and her fellow prisoners. If Valor’s plan is to succeed, she’ll need to make unlikely allies. And if the plan fails, she and Sasha could end up with fates worse than prison.

Ok, I absolutely devoured this book. At first, I didn't think that I would like it because of the characters being so young, but then I reminded myself that this WAS a middle-grade book so I had to expect the characters to be younger than what I'm normally used to. I loved how the book instantly threw us into the action with Valor planning to 'shoot' the Prince.

*MINOR SPOILER IN NEXT PARAGRAPH*

I was expecting a lot of issues to be wrapped in bubble wrap because of it

being a middle-grade novel, so I surprised to see a lot of things that were dark make it into a middle-grade book. There's an upsetting scene when Valor is cased in ice as a punishment and I found it absolutely horrible to read and really upsetting as being cold is something that I hate! But the dark twists and turns that happened throughout the book are the things that made it stand out from other middle-grade novels that I have read.

There was a huge range of likeable characters and I felt that all of the characters had so much depth to them and were written in a way that all of them seemed like main characters as each character had a major part to play in the story. There are still a lot of questions about the characters that I would love answers to, and hopefully, we get these answers in the second book: Seeker of the Crown (I don't know when it's coming out). Whilst I was reading the ending, I didn't know that there was a sequel, but the ending was definitely hinting at one at the time and I'm glad that there is because I loved the characters and the whole world. I have read that this book is set in a Russian-inspired world? But, I cannot say for certain as I didn't notice anything like that as I was reading the novel.

However, there was a slight problem with this book, which is why it got four stars instead of five: the ending. It seemed rushed compared to the rest of the book. The entire book was well thought-out and had loads of development but then in the last few chapters, it seemed as if things were just thrown in randomly and just seemed really rushed. BUT, we have a sequel so everything is all good!

I also loved that nearly every position of power and authority throughout the book was held by a female and were both good characters and evil ones. It was just amazing to see so many strong women in a middle-grade novel and I think that some of the characters can be amazing role models to the young children who read this book in the future.

Also, I can't write this review and not mention the amazing sisterly relationship in this book. I loved Valor and Sasha and their love for each other. It was so strong and prominent throughout the book and I can't wait to read more about them and their family in the second book.

Overall, this book was a very enjoyable read. I loved the characters, I loved the premise of the book, I loved the relationships and I LOVE THAT WE'RE GETTING A SEQUEL BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS! I definitely recommend this book if you're looking for an inspiring, dark, thrilling book that is also a quick read!

Warning: contains a handful of scenes that may be upsetting to younger children. I recommend this book for ages 11+

Disclaimer: this book was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Overall I enjoyed this book, it was a good story with a decent plot and interesting characters. However the world building was quite limited, the only character we really got to know was the main one and it felt rushed in places and slow in others.

I know this was a middle grade book and I did try to take that into account when reading. I did enjoy reading it and it's definitely been left open for a possible sequel which I most likely would read.

It wasn't the best and wasn't the worst so for me it was an average read. But if you like a slightly grittier Frozen story this might be a good one for you. But I do think it is aimed at the 11-12 year old market.

Prisoner of Ice and Snow throws us right in at the deep end. From the very first pages we are in the thick of the main plot and it took me a few chapters to fully understand and realise what was going on. Maybe that’s the YA fantasy reader in me though who is used to chapters of world building at the beginning of the books I read, so that isn’t a criticism by any means.

Valor, our leading lady, willingly commits a crime in order to get herself sent to the same prison as Sasha, her twin sister. The prison itself is horrible and that goes to show how great a sacrifice Valor has made for her sister. I really loved that this book was about sisters because it made me think of my own and I know that I would also do anything to protect or help my own sister. I think many young readers will also admire Valor for her bravery and courage, definitely two traits that I was really pleased to see represented by a female character in middle grade literature.

The plot was interesting with the right amount of twists and turns along the way but I found that the pace was quite on/off. Some chapters felt full of action and others seemed a lot slower. I didn’t know when reading this that it is the first book in a series and so I was disappointed with the ending. Knowing now that it is a series I think the ending makes more sense but it still frustrated me slightly as it felt very rushed. It has certainly left itself open for plenty more action in the next book though and I’m sure younger readers will audibly gasp at the last couple of paragraphs.

As far as characters go there wasn’t enough detail for me. I felt like I got to know Valor quite well but I really wanted more depth to the other characters she befriends along the way. There’s a fab selection of characters and I really wanted to get to know more about them, maybe that will come in book two. Valor is a character I can imagine a lot of young readers really liking, especially young girls who may feel inspired by her courage and bravery. She does make some decisions that are really not very well thought through and at times she was a bit unlikeable to me but that’s just my own opinion.

Overall I thought this was a good book with an interesting plot, plenty of action and a nice selection of characters. I’m sure younger readers will enjoy this quick fantasy, especially any sisters out there.

I was intrigued by Prisoner Of Ice And Snow by Ruth Lauren after reading a blurb that started with 'a cross between Prison Break and Frozen...' and that was it. An MG combination of those has to be good and so I started reading...

Valor gets sent to the prison where her sister, Sasha, is imprisoned for stealing a music box which was to have been a major part of a peace treaty between Demidova and Magadanskya. Instead, the two are on the verge of war, Valor's parents have lost their positions as the queen's most trusted advisors and now both of their daughters are locked up in Tyur'ma, Demidova's infamous prison. The prison that nobody has escaped from in 300 years...

Despite being warned not to make friends or to trust anybody Valor soon has a merry band of cohorts. Feliks, the street urchin caught up in her arrest, Sasha, her sister, and three inmates of the prison, Katia, Natalia, and Nicolai. Together they learn that Sasha just might be innocent, that someone is plotting against the throne, and that they absolutely have to break out of prison. That might be easier said than done, no matter how determined Valor is. Warden Kirov seems to appear at the most inopportune moments, buildings are mysteriously set on fire, and cruel punishments are handed out to the sisters at the (im)perfect time and thwart their attempts.

To find out if they escape you'll have to read the book but I thoroughly enjoyed the first installment of this Russian-inspired fantasy. It says suitable for middle-grade readers but to be honest, I would say it's at the younger end of YA. The characters obviously all have their own stories to tell but this book is the story of Valor and Sasha so there are only hints at the other children's lives before Tyur'ma.

Valor is definitely the more stubborn of the two sisters and once she sets her mind on something there's no going back. To rescue Sasha she puts herself at risk and doesn't ingratiate herself with the other prisoners to start with, thanks to the rather chilly punishments they receive. Sasha is interesting in her own way though, and I sincerely hope we get to see more of her in the next book along with the rest of the gang. There are lots of unanswered questions and a plot twist or two that need to be resolved so I'll definitely be adding it to my wishlist. As to the 'Prison Break vs. Frozen' comparison? Well, I wasn't disappointed that it was more Prison Break than Frozen. I assume that comparison comes from the fact the book is about two sisters...

With a peacekeeping musical box stolen from the palace, Valor wants to prove her sister Sacha is innocent of the crime.

Prisoner of Ice and Snow is a fantastic book for children aged around 8-11. Firstly, it is well written so that it models good writing for children. I loved the settings and the way in which X portrays the cold and bleakness of the prison to the extent that it almost made me shiver. However, it is the exciting plot, great characterisation and the meaningful themes that make it such a good read.

The story is fast paced and thrilling with plenty of peril facing Valor and the friends she makes along the way. Every time I thought there might be a resolution another really exciting event took place. Even the end of the book isn’t entirely resolved with the potential for further adventures and I’d love to read any follow up story.

The characters are wonderful, especially Valor. She is a fantastic role model for girls, even when she behaves somewhat recklessly because her motives for doing so are admirable. She’s brave, strong, loyal and an excellent shot with a bow and arrow. Prisoner of Ice and Snow has no simpering girl as its protagonist, but a skilled dynamic being in whom all gchildren would find something to emulate.