I received this via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved it guys. This book was just what I wanted It to be. The world building was fun. The characters were very well flushed out. I loved the plot of this. I can not wait to read more by this author. I highly recommend this book.

3,5 stars

This last year I read a lot of new series of debut authors and I noticed that I tend to give 3 and 3,5 star reviews. My main issue is that most of the stories are not original or not well written.

Beasts of the Frozen Sun is a story about two enemies whose paths are entwined. Lira, is the daughter of a Chieftain in a place like Britain, while Reyker, a warrior from a distant and cold land, where the people look like giants and are known as Beasts of the Frozen Sun. Lira can read souls and Reyker is the star warrior of his chief, a man without soul who made him done horrible things in order to survive. In the past, he saved Lira's life and years later she made the same choice.

The writing was good, the story a little confusing at times because the moment I knew where it was going, the setting changed again, but in general I like how the main focus was the soul. At moments I felt like I was in an episode of Viking with more magic, and even though the vibe was similar to Sky in the Deep, the approach was different.

Lira and Reyker were both very likeable characters, and to be honest, I liked that their romance grew slowly, how they learned about each others pasts, mistakes and how they ended up loving and trusting each other so deeply. I also loved her relationship with her brothers and every single time that Lira read Reyker's soul. Reyker is wonderful, the way he trusts, loves, and protects Lira, despite everything that he lost, is amazing.

The one thing I didn't like was that the story felt repetitive at times and Lira and Reyker spent the majority of the book in the same place. It would be amazing to learn and see more about the world. Also, I would prefer the end a little different. I am not talking about the twist, which I loved and didn't expect at all, but I would like Reyker and Lira to be forced apart in the end, like in different continents.

Trigger warnings for death, abuse, mention of rape, loss of family.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this e-arc, in exchange for my honest review.

Another fantastic Viking-themed story! This book, written by Jill Criswell, has gods, magical gifts, chilling warriors, and so much action I could barely put it down. The story follows Lira, a soul reader who saves an enemy warrior from death. As Lira and Reyker's forbidden bond grows stronger, they discover that the threat from an evil warlord grows stronger, and they must find a way to save themselves, their souls, and their people.

This book has so many elements to it. Even the synopsis falls short of doing this book justice. There's incredible relationships, twisting magic, and vengeful gods. The plot continues to build until the last page, leaving me wishing for more. I know without a doubt I'll be continuing with this series because I absolutely love Lira, Reyker, and the world building. I think it's one of the best Viking reads I've read, and I wouldn't hesitate to group it with Sky in the Deep and Warrior of the Wild.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 4.5
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4

Would I recommend? Yes! This book is for readers who love Vikings, fantasy, battles, and the enemies-to-lovers trope.

Thank you, NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing, for the ARC! This book will be released on August 6, 2019.

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

Thank you so much to Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read this amazing book early! Lira is an amazingly complex character with emotions she does not quite understand. She is close minded in the beginning and slowly welcomes the vastness the world has to offer. Her abilities are so intriguing and I can't wait to see more of them in the next installment. I feel some bits of it were shortchanged which is why I gave 4 stars instead of 5. I would have liked her abilities to be emphasized more.

Reyker's life was just doomed it seemed from the start. I want to know more about his brother and how everything happened. They have beaten so many odds and I expect great things out of this series.

I went into this book kind of blind. I did read the blurb when I requested the ARC from NetGalley, but after I got approved I basically just dove straight into reading. After reading the first couple of pages, I was hooked. I read this book in one Saturday and I have absolutely no regrets.

Lira, the protagonist, is the headstrong daughter of the chief of Clan Stone, born with a gift that makes her valuable to her father and the clans around them. The island of Glasnith is currently under attack of the Dragonmen, warriors from the Westland, the land of the Frozen Sun.
When she discovers a wrecked boat on the shores of Glasnith, she recognizes one of the men: Reyker.


Reyker is a conflicted character. He was forced into the group of Dragonmen, cursed with battle-madness, but he is rethinking his actions. He falls in love with Lira after she rescues him from the shores, and they battle through the language barrier with gestures and soul-reading.
Their relationship (hate-to-love) was very gradual and I loved that. It felt really natural for them to fall in love. I was kind of expecting insta-love, but I was pleasantly surprised by Jill Criswell’s writing.

Character I didn’t like were Lira’s dad and his brother Madoc. They were absolute pricks, not only to Lira, but to the entirety of Clan Stone. It got even worse when they battled for dominance when the chieftain died and one of them had to stand in his place.
There was absolutely no room for them to redeem themselves, and even if there was, I don’t think I would’ve warmed up to those characters.

Jill Criswell’s writing is fast-paced, captivating, and her world building is amazing. She gives you just enough information about the location that it feels like you’ve actually stood where Lira stands. She uses Lira’s narrative very cleverly to introduce just the right amount of suspense into the story, and I loved the fact that every once in a while, we got a chapter from Reyker’s point of view as well.

The plot is incredibly intriguing. I was hooked after reading a couple of pages and I told myself I wouldn’t go to bed without finishing this book, and that’s exactly what I did. There are gods, there are myths, the Dragonmen are everywhere and so much happens that you just want to keep reading.

This book has elements of a typical YA fantasy book, but that’s one of the things I love so much about it. I love YA fantasy, my whole bookshelf consists of this genre. This book has me aching for the next installment, even though this book isn’t even out yet. The cliffhanger is killer, trust me. I applaud Jill Criswell for writing such a gripping and intriguing book that kept me up for most of Saturday night. All in all, it’s a wonderful start to a new fantasy series.

Such a great read, it was intriguing from the beginning. Reyker and Lira both have their own untold history that we have to uncover as we read further along. Great hook!

Beast of the Frozen sun opens with a very dark and creepy scene of war and bloodshed. This opening gives the readers a glimpse of what is to come in the story. It also has a richness to it in the detail, luring the reader into the story before taking the reader on a fast-paced journey. It does not give a hint as to this male character but alludes to this internal battle within him. It is unknown what is going to happen to him, especially when the story shifts to Lira.

This shift is where the story begins. Criswell does an excellent job world building, giving the reader just enough detail and history to familiarize the reader with Lira’s world. The atmosphere in the storytelling is very telling as well. Lira has love in her world, but there is also this cold bleakness to it as well. She is a conflicted character who uses her power as her people see fit rather than as she would want to. It brings rise to conflict within her narrative that makes for magnificent tension building. Her power is a core element in the novel, and the place where her gift came from is as well.

There are times when this novel feels very much like the tale of Tristan and Isolde because of how the story brings Reyker and Lira together and how they seek to battle Gods and monsters together against all the odds. It has that medieval feel to it as it tells the story which makes is invigorating.

As for the story after the initial opening, the pace of the novel does slow down. It is hard to say where exactly the story is going to take the reader because there are multiple antagonists. The central antagonist is off screen manipulating the events of the story. It is interesting to read the events unfold, but the pace for part one of the novel is slow as it introduces these many villains and sets up the direction for the characters.
As for the characters, the flip back and forth between POVs allows for a better understanding of the world, the characters and the challenges they face. Lira is a strong character and is very reminiscent of a shield maiden. She has the strength and will to fight this battle and keep her head high through it all. Yes, there are times where she falters, but this only makes her human and more relatable. As for Reykey his internal battle between darkness and light, while cliché, it works here and does not come off as cliché. His past and pain he feels mirrors the conflict very well and allows the reader to connect to him.

Together these two characters make a dynamic team. How they interact, how they evolve through the course of this novel is compelling, and the way the story evolves around them, bring to light twists and turns is exceptionally well done. Overall it is an exciting start to a new series.

“I will be there, always. To keep you whole”.

I really really loved this book. First of all Lira is a very strong character, she knows what she wants and even if she has lost so much she is not afraid to give her heart to a “Beast”. Because it is what her people think Reyker is. At the beginning they are enemies, but they are linked by something stronger that they really cannot understand!
This story is full of love, betrayals, gods and magic and I really couldn’t put it down. I’m already waiting for the sequel!

First I have to mention that I love the cover. I liked the world building, it was a good beginning to a fantasy series. There's political intrigue and betrayal, and plot twists all good ingredients for a great fantasy. Although everything about this book was impressive, I have to say I was a bit disappointed. It was not as epic as I thought it would be, I feel like there was something missing for me. It's a middle of the road fantasy read for me but I think many fantasy readers would enjoy it and book two is promising. I am looking forward to book 2. This is debut novel and in no way does this seem like it, the author seemed like a seasoned writer who transported readers to an interesting world with complex characters and promises of an even better book 2.


Lira has a cool gift, she can touch people and see their souls and through that she can see their memories. I did fee like Lira and Reyker had chemistry and it was clear that they cared for each other. Other characters were also written very well. Their world was brutal and the main characters were put through a lot in this story. At first with the actions of Draki the villain, I got The Darkling feelings but they're not the same. I was so excited for that but he wasn't the charming Darkling, Draki didn't have the same plans, but he is just as evil though. The characters were strong and the plot was good except for everything the characters did something would go wrong and there were always consequences. The story was fast paced and that is something I enjoyed very much.

**My review is scheduled to be up on my blog on August 1 but I will be posting it on my goodreads and mentioning it on my facebook and instagram. I will also post on Amazon.

Book – Beasts of the Frozen Sun
Author – Jill Criswell
Series – Frozen Sun Saga #1
Cliffhanger? - Yes
Publication Date – August 6, 2019
Genre – YA Fantasy
Type – Double POV
Rating – 4.25 out of 5 Stars

Complimentary copy generously provided by the author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts - Story
I immediately have to comment on how much I loved the bond that developed between Lira and Reyker. I absolutely LOVE books about enemies coming together as a love interest and this definitely happened in this book.

He (as an enemy) washes up on Lira’s shore and she takes care of him – this isn’t insta-love or even insta-trust – their relationship was slow building throughout the book which the author used a very “real life” development of these characters.

And I have to add that even the secondary characters were enjoyable and written with depth and life.

Reason for Reading – Requested from NetGalley
Story – 4 out of 5 Stars
Steam – 4 out of 5 Stars
Angst – 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Writing – 4 out of 5 Stars
Content Flow – 4 out of 5 Stars
Would Read More from Author? Yes
Recommend To – Lovers of Fantasy with a believable romance

Jill Criswell undoubtedly nailed how and Gods and Goddesses play with mortals on Beasts of the Frozen Sun! This is a fantasy based off of Celtic mythology and if you're a fan of the Vikings show.

This is a wonderful love story of Lira and Reyker who were doomed from the very beginning, as each belong in a different clan.

"You will chase what you cannot catch. You will love what you cannot keep, You will kill what cannot die."

Characters:

💫Lira - a god-gifted soul-reader and daughter of Torin

💫 Reyker - a Westlander, Giants with hair like straw, eyes like water. The beasts of the Frozen Sun.

💫Torin - a chosen clan Chieftain by God of Death, Gwylor

💫Madoc - Torin's brother and Sons of Stone Commander

💫Draki - a Westlander demigod, daughter of Idja

However, it missed some mark and the author failed to create a more complex world for the characters. I just want the characters to get away from the Island and go to Iseneld already! There's definitely highs and lows in this book and I'm hoping that some of my questions will be answered in the sequel.

And I cannot wait for Lira's character to develop like Lagertha's and be as fiercesome as she should be.

Thank you Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with this e-arc to review.

Book one in a new trilogy, the main character is Lira a daughter of Allira and Reyker, a Dragonman. Lira and Reyker are at odds initially as they are enemies from rival clans. Criswell does a great job of creating a world centered around Gods and their mythology. The description and back story of the Fallen Ones is well done. Looking forward to book 2.

This was a brilliant book that had me captivated from start to finish. Full of magic and mythology this book would be perfect for any reader of YA fantasy and I would recommend it to fans of Sarah J Maas' Throne of Glass series.

It was...ok...it had an interesting story concept. I think I just need more action nowafays
I feel like something was missing though.
I will probably read the second book.

This sounded like a great book, but it just really fell flat for me. Lira is a soul-reader and the princess of her clan, and encounters a warrior one night while her village is being attacked. Lira saves the warrior instead of turning him over to her family, and realizes she has a connection to him that goes back many years. She learns while trying to heal his wounds that his name is Reyker, and he does not want to follow the Beasts of the Frozen Sun, but has no choice. As various forces conspire to hurt Lira and Reyker, Lira must decide who to trust and how to save her home.
I think my biggest problem with the book was the plot. It just felt very aimless. I kept thinking something big was about to happen to kick-start the action, and that Lira and Reyker would be forced to work together to find a way to defeat their enemies. But it just seemed like they were stuck in an endless cycle of "Reyker is hurt/captured/imprisoned and Lira must save him and then Lira feels trapped by her culture/clan/family/religion and must find a way to escape, maybe with Reyker's help." It felt like one-step-forward-two-steps-back without any progress in action or character development.
I also felt very fuzzy on the backstory/world-building of the book. I was confused about they mythology of their home and needed more clarification. Were Lira's powers good? Was her religion good? I don't know.
The secondary characters were also not well-fleshed out. Lira's friends were one-dimensional and I kept getting members of her family confused.
This book just wasn't for me.

I was given a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Title Beasts of the Frozen Sun

Author Jill Criswell

Release Date August 6, 2019

Description from Amazon

Every child of Glasnith learns the last words of Aillira, the god-gifted mortal whose doomed love affair sparked a war of gods and men, and Lira of clan Stone knows the story better than most. As a descendant of Aillira and god-gifted in her own right, she has the power to read people’s souls, to see someone’s true essence with only a touch of her hand.

When a golden-haired warrior washes up on the shores of her homeland—one of the fearful marauders from the land of the Frozen Sun—Lira helps the wounded man instead of turning him in. After reading his soul, she realizes Reyker is different than his brethren who attack the coasts of Glasnith. He confides in her that he’s been cursed with what his people call battle-madness, forced to fight for the warlord known as the Dragon, a powerful tyrant determined to reignite the ancient war that Aillira started.

As Lira and Reyker form a bond forbidden by both their clans, the wrath of the Dragon falls upon them and all of Glasnith, and Lira finds herself facing the same tragic fate as her ancestor. The battle for Lira’s life, for Reyker’s soul, and for their peoples’ freedom has only just begun …

Initial Thoughts

This book immediately caught my attention when I saw the cover. The title is interesting and the cover art really draws you in. The description also sounded different than anything else I was currently reading. It reminded me of the TV show Vikings.

Favorite Quote

“Burn brightly. Love fiercely. For all else is dust.”

I normally don’t highlight when I read on my phone (unless it’s by accident when I’m trying to turn the page). But this quote really stood out. So much so that I finally utilized that highlighter in the Kindle App to capture it so I wouldn’t forget. In my opinion, the above quote summarizes the whole story. Lira and Reykar live in a world where they don’t know if they will live from one moment to the next so they live by those words. Be the best version of yourself, because that’s all that matters.

Themes

A lot of the story is about redemption and finding yourself (as well as quite a bit of family drama, politics, and romance). I liked that the main characters made mistakes and freely admitted they were not perfect. They worked together to become better.

Final Thoughts

I loved the semi-alternating POVs in this book. It was mostly Lira telling the story, but I liked the Reykar chapters sprinkled throughout.

The ending left me wanting so much more. This book isn’t even released yet and I want to read the sequel, RIGHT NOW.

As always, I enjoyed the historical element to it. It reminded me of a Vikings or even Game of Thrones type of atmosphere.

Overall, highly recommended.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recommendations for Further Reading

Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson – I’m all about enemies to lovers and both of these books fit that mold.
The Traitor’s Game by Jennifer Nielsen – once again, enemies to lovers. There is also a magical/prophecy element to this story that is similar to Beast of the Frozen Sun.
Daughter of the Pirate King – not super similar but both main characters have red hair and that’s right, you guessed it, more enemies to lovers! (Do I sense a theme here 😉)

Although, I would classify beasts of the Frozen Sun as a fantasy romance, I'd say that it has many other underlying themes. The one that stood out the most to me was Reyker's redemption arc. I loved that questions it brought about about morals and hard choices and what someone could do when they're pushed too far. I liked that I could genuinely understand how Lira could love him. He had a lot of baggage and was far from perfect but his redeeming qualities outweighed that. He was a well-intentioned young man who grew up in the wrong place, and didn't want to let that define him. That's admirable. I loved all the characters though, not just Reyker. Lira was brave and impulsive, and kind and fierce, but still flawed like any normal human being, and her fierceness wasn't hyped up to make her seem like an invincible cookie-cutter heroine. I also loved her friendships with Ishleen and Quinlan. Even when things got complicated, I feel like Ishleen's loyalty won over. I also liked the way Quinlan's love for Lira was handled. I can't stand love triangle and I was glad it wasn't one of those books where Quinlan was pushed on the reader just to keep us on our toes about who she picks. I also love that her rejecting him didn't change anything about their friendship. He wasn't just a plot device to be used and thrown away after Lira decided she didn't want him romantically. He was a good character and his loyalty was unfailing. This book will definitely now be one of the first that comes to mind when someone asks for a recommendation.

Oh Gods, what a glorious book!

I love everything Beasts of the Frozen Sun has to offer: the characters, the story, the pacing, the world building, the mythology, the magic system.
Even the brutal battle scenes and frightening aftermaths because even if most is just hinted at the scenery is real enough to read between the lines.

Jill Criswell's writing is beautiful, she brings unique characters to life and she knows how to create great chemistry between them.
Of course, I love Lira and Reyker the most, but can we just appreciate the wonderfully written Quinlan? He is a true hero, noble, generous, lovely.
And then there is Draki, one of the best villains I ever came across in a book. He is cold, cruel and terrifying, even more so because of his icey beauty.

Beasts of the Frozen Sun is a great start to an epic story and I hope there's at least a second book coming soon. That ending nearly killed me.
I need to see where the fates take Reyker and Lira next. Burn bright. Love fiercely.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this great book!

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this but I knew it was fantasy and the cover was beautiful... well... so was the story! I loved watching Lira fall for her "beast". What a tale full of adventure, magic and legends! There truly wasn't a dull moment. So many things happened in this book- things that made my heart shudder, break and swoon. This was a great fantasy book and I am so upset I have to wait for the next book! Loved this one!

*** A huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review ***

I love books inspired by mythology and playing with gods, and I loved the narrative in this book around the two different stories about what happened so many years ago. Which god is the hero, and which is the villain? Which one of them is the traitor? And how does the mortal woman the gods love play into all of this? With solid, intricate world-building, mesmerizing writing, a complex cast of characters and heart-melting us against the world romance, Beasts of the Frozen Sun is sure to ensnare you from start to finish. You'd wish it didn't have to end.