It is a well written book, but a bit slow for my taste. The characters are well developer and everything, but as I said the slow pace for the way things are going...that makes me leave the book alone for a while.

An intriguing read, however due to personal pacing preferences I failed to connect fully to the world and its characters. However, I think the book's regal theme and diverse collection of characters have a tonne of potential.

I didn't finish. I just couldn't get into the story and wasn't excited to pick it up and read it again. I did like the Russian politics involved but I just had a hard time following and keeping up with the characters. I think it will interest those that like the Russian history and fantasy combined.

There was a lot of potential here to make a really interesting, unlikeable/messy main character, and I've seen a lot of reviews touch on it but none of them have brought up what I think is the biggest problem - Katza kind of doesn't have much to her at the start of the book.


When the story opens, she's bogged down with thoughts of all the things she isn't. Mostly, that she isn't her brother, the golden child of the family who just died. That's...pretty much the sum of her character, she's a lack of traits and whines about them. We don't get to really connect with her and find out her own, personal thoughts or goals or morals. (But mostly that last one, the morals.) So when characters start to reassure her that she's "strong," I'm left going "but why? and how? and maybe show?" When the villain of the piece manipulates her, it doesn't have any weight to me, because Katza is just such a blank slate that it doesn't even feel like manipulation. We don't even get much in the way of history for Katza, as no part of the story ever comments on her past, her childhood, her connections to the people around her, or any acts she might have committed in her entire 17ish years of life. She might as well be a magical clone that was created yesterday for all the interpersonal weight she has.


So when she starts doing brutal and desperate things while being manipulated...there's no emotional payoff for that. It's just tedious. I can see what the book wanted to do, and on a conceptual level it's really interesting. I like the exploration of power going on here, I like way Katza continually justifies things to herself while taking progressively more extreme steps. I just...don't feel invested in it.


Added to the problem of Katza is the fact that all of this manipulation going on by the books main bad guy is very, very obvious from the start, so the book drags on while waiting for our viewpoint character to catch up. I think the villain was supposed to be kinda grey/quasi, and thus cause tension through a 'is he really bad, or is he really that bad' tension, but I wasn't sold at any point. He was just bad from the start.


Last thing I want to talk about is the magic system, which is tied up very thoroughly with Russalka's religion. People call on the 'saints' for 'blessings' that take the form of magical happenings, and the royal family can call on all the saints and thus all the different kinds of magic. Throughout the story we find out that the saints aren't really necessary, some people can just access magic directly. Which is cool...until you think about the rest of the world. Because there's a rather pervasive feeling that this magic system is treated the same way religion would be in our world, with people in the book going so far as to talk about how they 'don't believe in the saints,' and a character from another country having a whole different religion. And...okay, but once praying can cause very visible insta-healing or make a whole bay freeze in the middle of summer, doesn't that kind of fuck the notion of not believing? Can other religions access this magic, but in a different way? Do they just not have magic? It's implied that the saints religion is just a tool for accessing the power, but then shouldn't people from other countries also be able to access it? Is Russalka blocking other countries from access? Are other countries mad about this? I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS.


When will fantasies stop writing in tangible proof of their religions and then failing to change how those religions are handled?


Sigh, anyway. The setting is fun, and it's very interesting on a conceptual level, but the minute you step down from that over-arching view, there's just too many unanswered questions and missing pieces.
(to be posted 8/29)

This story had a compelling premise but it was not executed well. I disliked Katz’s. She was a weak character and was easily manipulated. I found the world-building to be confusing at times. A Web of Frost was slow moving and seemed drawn out. I recommend this for fans of Russian inspired fantasy!

I was part of the promotional blog tour for this book, however, I encountered issues with downloading the title to my device, so had to purchase a copy from Amazon UK. I posted a full review to my Goodreads account.

Sorry but I couldn't get into the book at all. I tried though, I'm so sorry for my ADD brain.

I received an ARC of this via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was actually really looking forward to reading this one because I'm very interested in Russia and Russian folklore and I thought that this might be an interesting take on it. Instead, this was a chore to read. It was very repetitive with the dialogue and the plot. It seemed like a constant tug of war of using magic versus not being allowed to use magic without any good explanation why.
The main character, Katza, was extremely self absorbed, naive, power hungry, and flat out annoying. At times I'm not even sure she's the protagonist. She doesn't really do much except feel entitled, threaten and kill people, and basically bring down her entire country. Even her adversary doesn't have much substance.
I'm not a fan and I expected more. I don't ever think I've ever disliked any leading character more than I did this one.

This was an intriguing book. Katza is a princess who never expected to be in control of her kingdom. It was always supposed to go to her older brother. Her job was to marry whichever royal her father deemed and strengthen ties to a bordering empire. Life has a way of changing everything. Her family has always had power, but the priests have limited how much they can use it.

Katza wants to do what her older bother would be proud of and be a voice for their people. Her brother used power more than he was supposed to and she is scared of hers. Her visions show a terrible fate for her country, but are they true visions or her own fears? She meets Ravin, a prophet unlike any other she has ever met. He wants to help her but will her acceptance of his help be the best thing she's ever done or the worst mistake she has ever made? It is an interesting book from start to finish. It did get a bit bogged down in places, but overall it was a good story.

It was a 3/5 for me.

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Sometimes i go into a book thinking i know what age group it geared for as it was this one i was expecting a middle grade novel but what i got instead was a fantastic young adult novel that has been crafted magnificently.

I was delighted with how much i love this interesting tale of a hierarchy that uses the saints power to defend their country. They have made everyone believe that the government are the only ones who can understand the blessings from the saints. Then we are introduced to Ravin who teaches that this is not the total truth. Our main character is left with the chance to mold her country into a whole new way of thinking. Will she take this who new power and give it to everyone with no way to control it or will she step away and teach Russalka who to grow and live without the blessings?

I was on the edge of my seat through out the story and was sure i knew what would happen and who the bad guys were. But like any good story what you think you know is not always true. The cliff hanger is perfect and i am eager to see what happens next in this series.

Lindsay Smith’s WEB OF FROST is the first in a new YA fantasy series inspired by the events of the Russian Revolution. Fans of character-driven stories, take note!

Russalka is a nation of harsh climes and even harsher royal dictates: the Silovs, the tsar and his family, rule with an iron fist and the otherworldly powers granted to them by the saints. After the death of the heir-apparent, young tsarechka Katza is next in line for the throne…but she has neither been raised to rule nor does she have the saints’ favour. With the threat of war looming and open rebellion brewing in Russalka, Katza must quickly learn to harness the saints’ power if she is to save her country, and herself.

Perhaps the greatest strength – and weakness – of WEB OF FROST is Katza herself, for she’s equal parts compelling and infuriating. Raised in a society that condescends to women, shut out of the politics of her own country, and constantly told that she’s not strong enough to wield the saints’ gifts, it’s little wonder that Katza has low self-esteem. She’s easily manipulated and taken advantage of by those around her, easy prey for a handsome, charismatic young prophet named Ravin. While somewhat painful to see, it was realistic and I understood why Katza responded well to Ravin’s flattery and influence; Katza’s poor decision making was actually pretty compelling, I just wish that she had made more proactive decisions herself rather than responding to circumstances only when forces to by necessity.

Katza’s reluctance to make a choice about the kind of ruler she wants to be is made more pronounced by the plodding pace of the story. WEB OF FROST suffers from uneven pacing and a serious case of “set up book” syndrome, wherein most of the plot seems to be devoted to setting up events that won’t unfold until later on in the series. I suspect that the secondary characters will also play a greater role in the sequel, particularly Nadika, a solemn and duty-bound warrior who acts as Katza’s personal guard. She was my favourite character, so fingers crossed she gets more page time in the sequel!

While I enjoyed the characters, I was somewhat underwhelmed by the world building in WEB OF FROST. The magical powers accessed via the saints of Russalka are powerful and interesting, with each ability being associated with a specific saint; but the actual mechanics of that magic is never explained. Katza spends a considerable amount of time developing her connection to the saints and exploring her powers, but I still couldn’t tell you exactly what she changed to make them start working for her after a lifetime of uncooperative magics. That said, the conclusion of WEB OF FROST implies that the magic system will be further developed in the sequel.

Overall, Lindsay Smith’s WEB OF FROST is a solid YA fantasy that will please historical fiction readers and those looking for a character-driven read. If you’re hoping for complex world building, you may want to look elsewhere.

2.5 - 3 stars

Web of Frost is the first book in the Saints of Russalka series by Lindsay Smith and as soon as I read the summary, I knew I wanted to get my hands on this book. I ended up having mixed feelings about this one and it may be because the books I love typically include characters that have me fully invested in them, but I wasn’t really a fan of anyone in this story. With that said, the story itself was interesting and kept me turning the pages.

This story is centered on a young princess who becomes a queen who is fully unprepared to lead her country. Having grown up as the younger daughter, Katza was never expected to lead and because of a vision she continues to have, she is afraid to use her magic to help. When she meets a young prophet named Ravin who has a questionable reputation, she begins to trust in her powers and question the rules.

Katza was so wishy washy from the start that I just didn’t know what to think about her. And then once she started spending time with Ravin and embracing her power in conjunction with leading the empire, she was someone completely different. While I suppose it was growth, it just felt like she was trying to be someone she wasn’t really comfortable with and it was really only because Ravin was nudging her to do it, not because she thought she could.

I found Ravin to be interesting. While he definitely had ulterior motives, he was the only one who encouraged Katza to embrace her role and he power that comes along with her bloodline. I can’t say I liked him or what he was trying to get her to do, but it was his storyline that kept me turning the pages as I wanted to know what he was up to and why.

I thought the story itself had a lot of promise and I loved that it had a Russian feel to it. As the empire faces a rebellion from the very people it is there to protect, Katza has to figure out how to quell the anger as well as keep her strength and power through her reign. She definitely has to make some concessions and it will be interesting to see where Smith takes the rest of the story.

As I mentioned, I am on the fence with this book due to the characters, but I am thinking it was because I couldn’t connect with any of them. I might check out the next book to see what happens next but I’m not sure yet…we’ll have to see.

Web of Frost is high-fantasy novel with very unique and intriguing setting. Is the world where power/magic is received from Saints, if you are lucky enough to be blessed and highly controlled by the Church. The magic system is very thought out, with good take on religion. You can draw a lot of parallels with history.

Katza is afraid of her powers, because of horrible vision. She doesn't use them. Being second in line for the throne, she didn't though she will have to. After untimely deaths, when she is in charge, she relies heavily on Ravin to guide and teach her.

I like the way Ravin guided her, not telling her what to do, but encouraging her to listen to herself, empowering her.
Received from in exchange for honest review
I really like his characters, it's very complex and mysterious.

The start was a bit slow, but after about third of the book, it's get really intense and I couldn't put it down.

I didn't like her at first didn't like her at first, she din't have a spine or opinions. I loved to see her grow, to see her growing a spine, growing into her role and her powers. I love her strength at the end and determination

She went from no voice, to the total opposite of it, and it took a lot to find her own self and the right thing to do.

I tried so hard to like this book but unfortunately this will be a DNF for me.
The premise is great, the writing is not bad and quite engrossing with the flow but the main character was my problem. She is so unlikeable, the only redeeming quality about her is her powers.
This could have been a book I'd easily love especially with such a resplendent cover but I just can't.
Perhaps it does get better eventually but I just can't stomach another moment with her.

Web of Frost will immerse you in a world of mysticism and folklore. With its elegant prose, and vivid imagery, it feels like a dream. For those who love enchanting stories full of Russian folklore and stunning twists, you will not be disappointed.

I was absolutely stunned at how much I enjoyed this one. Lindsay Smith enchanted me right from the start. I could see everything in my mind so clearly as if I was watching a movie set in a fantasy world.

Web of Frost introduced me to an incredible world cloaked in folklore and magic. I never felt lost or confused. The world was highly developed and I loved the flow of the story and the way the saints were incorporated in to the every day life of the characters.

I loved the fact that Katza was not the typical strong willed ya character. She was actually quite gullible, and weak at times. But, she fit the story and emanated grief at having suffered loss while her kingdom was on the bring of falling from a rebellion. She also had powerful moments of fierceness when using her gifts.

Ravin was dark and mysterious. It was no surprise as to the role he played in tempting Katza’s heart. He was a tempestuous influence on Katza and he added intrigue to the story.

This story felt like a Russian folk tale. It had a mildly slow pace, but was fascinating as far as its development and depth. With the amount of world building Lindsay did, I was quite surprised to learn that the saints were, in fact, fiction. The mythology and folklore entwined in the tale felt genuine and captivated my mind and my heart. This one had me so entranced that I have already decided to pre-order book two the minute it is announced!

Thank you to Barclay Publicity for providing me with this free e-copy in exchange for my honest review and as part of the blog tour!

Part historical, part fantastical, Web of Frost is worth the read.

A young girl is destined to be married off to ensure prosperity of her family's throne. Instead, she finds herself to be married, yes, but instead of moving away, she is to be trained to take the throne. Mourning for her older brother, Katza, born of powerful blood, fears everything especially herself. But the Silov's are powerful and her visions show her the way.

When an uprising kills her father, Katza finds herself truly alone. Ruling an entire kingdom and finding she has been sheltered from too much about her people, she turns to a young prophet to aid her. Yet the church has cast him out. What is a young tsarika to do when the taste of raw power Ravin offers is bittersweet and she craves something entirely different?

The plot twists and turns in this coming of age first novel in the series is breath-taking. For what I've pictured in my minds eye is something combining Dr. Zhivago, Xmen and a half dozen other B-rated movies. Personally, I look forward to the second novel in the series and hope I have the chance to review it as well. I cannot wait to discover what happens in Katza's life as she matures in her power and in her status as the tsarika.

Thank you so much to the publisher and Lindsay Smith for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Web of Frost. All opinions are my own and do not represent thoughts about the author or publisher.

I enjoyed Web of Frost for the first 50% of the book and then unfortunately I found myself a little bored. The world building was great. As a big fan of Russia and its history I enjoyed seeing the similarities the author had drawn. The idea of using Saints as magical aids was intriguing too. Overall I would not recommend this book to my friends and family, but I can certainly see how some would really enjoy it.

Web of Frost is the first installment in the Saint of Russalka series about a young girl name Katza who rises to power after a series of unfortunate events during a time of government uprising of the Russian revolution. Due to her magical heritage, she is prone to visions and is able to call on the saints to do her bidding. These aspects of the story were what intrigued me enough to pick it up. Unfortunately, the carry through was a bit lacking. Katza is a weak, annoying, immature girl who makes terrible choices without thinking things through and is easily distracted by boys. I found the story to be very predictable. The end got a bit better, but unfortunately, you have to get through the slow, annoying parts that make you want to grab Katza and shake her senseless. I did enjoy the Russian folklore and political aspects to the story.