Thanks to netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book. The following review is my fair and honest reaction to the story.

This book started off a bit slowly as the characters and world were being introduced. There was action to pull the reader in but the scale will feel very small and a bit formulaic until about 2/3 of the way in, when, for me, it seemed as though the world and story expanded into something pretty great. So my first advice to the reader would be that the story does pay off, even though early it feels a bit like something you've read before.

The atmosphere feels a bit Naomi Novik like at times and the POV switches in between the main characters. This both serves the story well and impedes it very on in that the scale and stakes feel small. The alternating POV will feel a bit like this is How You Lose the Time War. The alternating POV did help develop the main character quickly and helped you identify with both of them, even before they started getting along.

So, it sounds like I didn't like the book, but I did, but I only wish that the first 2/3 of the book were condensed into 1/3 of the book and the scale and stakes got bigger faster. This book seems like it is a prequel to something much larger, which is promising. I haven't read anything else in the series, so was puzzled when various characters showed up and were only obliquely introduced,

Fans of Novik, Time war, and maybe even Suzanne Collins will find something to interest them here. I am rating it three stars, but it was almost 4 for me.

I was excited to get to this book but unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it as much. I like enemies to lovers but the way it was handled here felt so rushed that the "enemies" part of the trope wasn't felt much. This focused more on the romance and less on the plot and the worldbuilding, both unfortunately fell flat for me; it felt rushed as well which may be the reason why this was such a fast read. The dialogue didn't feel natural either, it really affected the way I enjoyed the book. The revelations that happened in the latter part of the book wasn't shocking for me and I felt it only happened or was only mentioned for shock value. I also would have liked to know more about the side characters like Silas, but they were just that in the story, in the sidelines. There are still questions left unanswered here and since this is book #0 in the Flameskin chronicles, loose ends may be cleared up in future books that I hope to enjoy better.

“Are you a huntress or are you the prey?” . . . “I’m a Huntress”, Sol whispered. Marta smiled and her voice went dark. “Then hunt.”

*Thank you NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review
First thing I want to point out about Firefrost, is that stunning cover. I know the age old advice that a book should never be judged by it’s cover, but dagger surrounded snowflakes set ablaze was too striking to not grab my attention. Both dagger and flames are symbolic to the two protagonists this prequel, prequel, set 100 years before the prelude to the Flameskin Chronicles follow.
Sol, a Huntress, guiding a royal envoy safe passage through the treacherous mountains in the dead of winter. Her main objective being to provide for her mother and three younger sisters. And Kelan, a newly promoted Lieutenant of the Flameskin army, born to share his soul with a Pyra. A demon that feeds on his emotions and grants him strength and the power to wield destructive fire at the cost of becoming possessed and losing his freewill. The two meet on opposite sides of a war that’s been raging for many years and when circumstances isolates Sol and Kelan on a barren wasteland of snow and ice, the two must put away prejudices to survive.
Firefrost is a Fantasy Romance that falls heavily on the latter. A Romeo and Juliet type scenario rather than an enemies to lovers as it lacked the tension and banter which is normally present. The structuring felt familiar to a Chinese fantasy Drama, or C-Drama. At first the dialog was a little stiff, but does smooth out as the story progresses. I didn’t quite understand the chemistry between Sol and Kelan. Sol’s prejudice and fear of Kelan and his Flameskin nature was warranted as most Flameskins give in to their demons mid teens and become violent, destructive monsters. Burning all in the path as their Pyra seems to crave reducing all to ash. But Sol’’s wishy-washy attitude towards Kelan and his own declaration of love despite only knowing each other for a few weeks, came across a little cringy. The two seemed quite juvenile in their emotions which didn’t fit well with their mature career paths of experience village Huntress, a title given to the best hunter in that region, and military Lieutenant. A man proven capable of commanding soldiers in the heat of battle.
The world building was both captivating and curious and I found I wanted to know more about the kingdoms involved in this war as well as some of the preternatural creatures mentioned.
It was difficult to tell if the Flameskin Army answered to their own kingdom, fighting to stop the murdering of young Flameskins in neighbouring kingdoms across the continent. Or if they were a very organised rebellion, strongly militarised with they bright red, brass buttoned uniforms.
Firefrost is a perfect read for the romantic at heart. Dealing with the evils of war and the questionable moralities one is faced with when choosing a side or sitting on the fence. Giving the reader an overhead view on two sides to a war and how neither side is truly evil or wholly good.

Sol is on a difficult journey. She is required to wear a uniform which she hates. I couldn't get interested in the events or world building but I liked the descriptions.

Thank you BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. My review is my own and not influenced by others.

The cover of Firefrost draw my attention right away, I think it is an amazing cover.

The way the story was written was very good, I liked it a lot because you keep reading without any effort.
What I didn’t like was the Pyra and the train of thought of it, it annoyed me through the story. The characters were a bit flat for my opinion, I just couldn’t feel a connection with them, the romance was a bit too fast and there was not enough world building in my opinion to get truly in the story.

What I did like was that there were two POV’s from which the story was told, this gives something extra to the story. Besides that is that will be coming a few other books in this series so maybe the world building will develop in the other books.

An enemies-to-lovers fantasy story, Firefrost is an adventure-filled prequel to the Flameskin Chronicles. Sol, a huntress, leads a group through the mountains, she knows the journey is dangerous. Flameskins an enemy race have targeted Princess Isabella, one of the people in Sol’s party. They are attacked, but that isn’t the only trouble that lurks in the mountains.

An avalanche kills all but Sol and Kelan, enemies on the opposite sides of a raging war. In order to survive, Sol and Kelan reluctantly travel across the mountains together. The pair have been taught to hate each other, but, as they travel across treacherous territory, they begin to question all they know. The enemies turn to friends, and they realize that their feelings for each other are the least of their problems. They must face the war that continues to rage, the political deception that they are unwittingly pulled into, battles for power, the dangerous land that they travel, and the prejudices that threaten to tear them apart.

The fantasy elements in the story are unique and immersive, as is the world that the author created. Flameskins, for example, have the power of fire because of the pyras that live inside of them and constantly try to take them over. Once the pyra takes over, the person is lost to the demon forever. Mages and nature that has magical components are equally dynamic, as is the setting. I could easily visualize the frigid mountain, the icy, frozen paths, the epic battles, the villages, and other elements of the setting.

Sol is a fantastic protagonist. Strong, stubborn, and hard, she grows so much throughout the story. She has strong biases against Kelan’s race. Sol idolizes her deceased dad, who told her how evil the Flameskins are, and she has no reason to doubt him. However, the more she gets to know Kalen, the more she thinks her father is wrong. Watching her slowly come to terms with her ever-growing feelings and her fear of giving in to love is fantastic!

As much as I like Sol, Kalen’s character is equally fascinating. Trained from age ten to fight and embrace his pyra, Kalen struggles between his duty and his desire to not lose himself. Kalen is a strong-willed warrior who fights to maintain control over his pyra. He is also quicker to show his feelings and fierce in his desire to protect Sol. I found his character to be complex and intriguing.

Of course, my favorite part of the story is the romance between Sol and Kelan. I’m a sucker for a good romance, and Sol and Kelan won my heart. They both have to face their life-long prejudices in order to work together and survive the mountains. You can tell how uncomfortable they are at first by their stilted and awkward conversations and Sol’s angry refusal to compromise. Kelan even tries to joke with Sol at times, but she still grapples with hate and anger. However, traveling together in extreme conditions softens both of them, and they grow to trust, rely on, and even like each other.

I love how their relationship grows. When Sol asks Kelan to wait for her, his response is so sweet. “For a thousand years he would wait, if he had to.” These are two wounded and conflicted people who have suffered loss and have insurmountable responsibilities. However, they learn that they are stronger together than they ever were apart.

There are also some great messages in this story about what it means to be a family, the long-lasting and detrimental effects of racism, facing inner demons (literally and figuratively), and embracing love. Political intrigue, found families, secrets, potential kidnappings, and more make for a richly developed and action-packed plot.

A binge-worthy romance/fantasy, Firefrost is a wonderful prequel to the Flameskin Chronicles, and I can’t wait until the first book in the series is released. Thanks so much to Netgalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a page-turner. I read it in one sitting. If you like an enemy to lovers' story this one is an excellent read. It started out with two young people Sol and Kelan on opposite sides of a war. Both believing the other is a monster. But when circumstances forced them to rely on each other for survival they begin to slowly understand that they were not so differnt.. Sol was known only as Hunter to Kelan. She was strong-willed and fought with herself over her interest in Kelan. Kelan in his own right was strong-willed and fought to not be possessed by his inner fire. Through their struggles to survive the cold of a mountain pass, the attempt by bandits to take Sol and kill Kelan their feeling for each other begin to emerge. Two very strong characters forged a union in spite of differences, wars, and what others expected of them. This story held my attention right to the last sentence. I am looking forward to the sequel and finding out more about Sol and how things turned out for her and Kelan.

FireFrost is a typical YA Fantasy book where the worldbuilding and plot are much less strong than the focus on the romance. It wasn't exactly what I was looking for but I could see people who prefer romance heavy fantasy enjoying this.

Sol is a hunter, she knows the mountains better than anyone, especially now her father is dead. When Princess Isabella needs safe passage through the mountains she disguises herself as him in order to help them for her village. Flameskin's are waiting for them. People that are possessed by fiery demons they're incredibly dangerous and have burned down villages like Sol. With her help they manage to slay the demons, taking one as a prisoner. When an avalanche destroys Princess Isabella and her entourage the only prisoner is the only survivor. Kelan doesn't know what to make of the hunter that hates his species, but he needs her help to make it off the mountain alive.

This book is pretty typical of YA fantasy and it didn't bring much new to the table. It's got all the hallmarks of the genre so if you do enjoy this type of thing you should give it a shot. For me, there was a lot of potential here but it didn't live up to it.

I'm mostly interested in worldbuilding and interesting characters. Unfortunately, this book was a bit lax with both of these aspects. Most of the book is spent with only Sol and Kelan and I wasn't connected to either of them enough to care. The most engaging aspect was the idea of learning more about the Flameskin's and the political intrigue of war and leaders fighting amongst themselves. It just didn't seem to take any of that far enough.

One thing I am understanding of is that this is a sequel to an ongoing series. I'm hoping that explains the lack of worldbuilding as it's pretty typical of sequels to be less detailed.

The plot could have used some streamlining. By that I mean that for most of the book there wasn't a plot other than 'getting off of this mountain', it didn't feel like there was an overarching theme to the book whatsoever and instead it just jumped around in reaction to events that unfolded.

The romance was okay. It was a little bit rushed especially for an enemies-to-lovers book, I do always tend to prefer slow burns though. I can understand other people's comments that the chemistry in the beginning was forced, although they did grow into a couple that I enjoyed.

Overall, this just didn't do much for me, but I could see other people enjoying it.

This was a great slow burn romance lost in the snow adventure with a side of prejudice and self hate. Hate in the deacon within got a bit old but still a good book.

“Firefrost” by Camille Longley follows Sol, a huntress and Kelan, a Flameskin. Sol is skilful when navigating the mountains and uses her talents to put food on the table for her family back home. Kelan lives with a pyra which pumps fire through his blood and threatens to possess him. He fights in the Flameskin army and is taught to destroy all who stand in his path. Sol and Kelan are brought together in a world which has declared them enemies when they must rely on each other to survive.

I found “Firefrost” fast paced and constantly stimulating to read. When it wasn’t developing deep insight into the characters or drastically transforming their relationships, this novel was literally throwing fireballs across the page. Packed with action, romance and fantasy, I was holding my breath the whole way through. I have to admit, it wasn’t particularly unique as far as YA fantasy goes and I’m not sure I’d commit to reading the rest of the series but the novel was entertaining nevertheless. Anyone keen on fire powers and survival in the snow can dive right into this beauty.

I love me a good enemies to lovers story! This story was action packed and had me on the edge of my seat. I found Sol and Kelan to be interesting characters. I thoroughly enjoyed their journey together to outrun and survive the burning war. I do wish that there had been a bit more world building. I was left with many questions about the different kingdoms and who Saint Katrine. Overall, this was a good read. Can’t wait for the next!

Thanks to NetGalley and Books Go Social for giving me the chance to read and review this E-ARC. I will publish this review on my blog (A Bookish Star), Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Instagram (@ABookishStar) closer to the publication date.

Firefrost is beautifully written by Camille Longley. The author's style of writing stood out as beautiful and flowed seamlessly with the book. It was easy to fall into the character's train of thought. I liked that this book is told from both Sol's and Kelan's point of view. I particularly adored Kelan's narration.

Firefrost is an enemies to lovers story. I thought the romance was developed quite nicely in the novel. The romance did not occur too quickly or too slowly. Instead, I could clearly map out how their feelings evolved throughout the book.

Sol was an interesting character. There were moments in Firefrost where I was annoyed with her reluctance to fall in love. She kept going back and forth with her feelings. However, with her backstory, it makes sense for her to act that way.

I'm curious to see how Firefrost fits in with the events of the Flameskin Chronicles. This book, from my understanding, is a prequel to the main series which is coming out in November 2020.

The idea of Flameskins is a unique addition to the fantasy genre. I like the idea of people being able to create fire from thin air, while fighting an inner demon from possession at the same time. Readers will find themselves rooting for Kelan as he fights for control of his soul throughout the novel.

My only critique of Firefrost, and the reason why I did not give it 4 stars, was that I thought the plot and the world-building could have been stronger. Firefrost is a story of survival and I felt this book was a bunch of mini-plots instead of a strong-overarching plot. There were moments where I was thinking: "This is the end" and then the characters would be going off in a different direction. Due to this, I felt the story drag on at times.

I don't want to be too harsh with my review because this is a prequel. My judgment is based on reading Firefrost as a standalone (since I haven't yet read Flameskin). It would be interesting to reread this book after the rest of the Flameskin Chronicles come out.

Overall, this book is perfect for fans of enemies to lovers. I recommend checking Firefrost when it comes out on September 21, 2020. Flameskin will be released in November 2020.

I LOOVE Firefrost! I am quite impressed by the book. The book , set in the mountains was definitely unexpected, but the world-building is good, and the characters are well-developed too! Kelan is my favorite, especially considering how he goes through his own struggle for control from his pyra. Sol, took me a bit more time to get used to, but in the end... I ended up enjoying her character. I am a huge fan of the enemies-to- lovers trope and while the romance was a bit rushed... like fire, i think it should've been slower, but overall... I honestly can't wait for more! the plot knows how to pull you in and I found myself devouring this book

Thank you Netgalley and Camille Longley for letting me read this book!

This is a typical enemies turn into lovers scenario, but in the best way possible. The story captivated me immediately, as the author plunges the characters into a dangerous, action-packed adventure. There was so much going on throughout the book, but I never felt overwhelmed or to the point where I had difficulty remembering everything that had previously transpired.

The beginning of Sol and Kelan's romantic relationship did feel a bit unnatural at first, but I think this helped showcase how difficult it was for them to overcome their racial differences. It definitely had a forbidden romance vibe similar to Romeo and Juliet where the rest of the world couldn't fathom or understand how they fell in love.

The only cons I had were in the beginning, there were times where the dialogue was very cringe worthy, but it smoothed out after the first chapter or so!

My final thoughts: Overall, this was a magical adventure that left me wanting more, and I can't wait for the next installment!

My Overall Rating: 4/5

Disclosure: I received a complimentary eARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this opportunity!

3.5 stars

I was provided an arc from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This was exactly the fantasy romance I was in the mood for.

Its a story about two people from rivaling races or cultures who through an original fear and twisted history are both told to kill the other first ask questions later. However, due to a natural disaster in the forest, the two have to reluctantly team up to survive and reluctance turns into comradely then love.

Kelan was honestly my favorite character in this. He is the Pyra which is a person that shares a body with a fire demon and eventually that demon becomes dominant but the two work in one body together. There is the other option like Kelan when the Pyra takes over it consumes and controls. The body is only one and that is the Pyra. Because of this scary ability and tenuous control, everyone he meets calls him a demon and other bad things, and just watching how that has mentally worn him down and how easily he gives up on himself is heartbreaking. Like I just want to protect this pure soul.

I appreciate what the author did with the mages being a complimentary being to the pyro and how that came to play in the relationship.

The wolves, forest, etc. that were talked about and shown in the book gave a feel of folklore environment that I can never get enough of. Yes, the magic at the end was a little convenient and quick but I don’t think I would have been satisfied without what happened. I like those books where you as a reader don’t have to assume the characters will be okay and make a home you know it will happen.

The ending also has adoption in it and how love can be given outside of biological parents.

Not onto the cons:
70% to the end was suddenly ridiculous or outrageous. By 70% they have faced off, ran from, escaped multiple conflicts. Together they braved a really survivalist environment, bandits, Sol has stood up against friend and family betrayal to protect Kelan. Now due to those consequences, they are on the run from three different army/soldiers. Because they are being hit with everything from all sides the plot becomes so diluted and strained because too many things are trying to play out.

Though I wanted this to happen the story was not hurt or bad because it did not have it. By that I mean I wish Kelan would have at least had one moment possessed by his pyramid and once he killed whoever he needed he then turned to Sol but stayed Pyra but the fire laced snd he just stared at her all content. My heart would have exploded. I love moments like those. We almost got one. In the end, he was without the stone yet he was not possessed because his Pyra was now in love and trusting of Sol’s love for him so he no longer needed the stone. Kelan was going to say something but is cut off so the couple never has that cute conversation about how love tamed the fire demon. But then also when it was discovered he was in the “human’’ form so wasn’t as impactful for my hopeless romantic ass heart. However, despite that this was a very enjoyable romance I’m just being a picky bitch.

Enemies to Lovers? Yes please. This was a fun and enjoyable read about two enemies who fall in love. There is romance, action, adventure, and betrayal. The events in the book are fast and this book's pacing is fast. Sol and Kelan were nice protagonist, with Sol being a strong female lead. I did enjoy the magical elements in the story and look forward to how the journey of these characters continue in the sequel.

Wow!! This book hooks you right from the start!! The author has created an incredible novel detailing the story of two seemingly different characters who when intertwined spin this story of love, loss and adventure. Plot twists all the way through. This book is unlike any of the others I've read before with unique storylines that will grab you and keep you wanting more! Couldn't put it down! Both Sol and Kelan are written extremely well each with enough of a backstory to explain more about their characters and their reasoning behind hard decisions. 100% recommend this book!

(1.5 stars / 5 )
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Where to start...

I did not like this. The writing was cringy, the dialog throughout the story was, well, bad. An example of this is:

“Wouldn’t dream of it, sweetheart.”
Sol stomped her foot. “Don’t call me that. I’m no one’s sweetheart.”

Yikes. The story felt rushed, and its weird because nothing happened, at all, in the entire book. It felt like the author wanted the romance to start NOW and it didn't feel natural. The protagonists didn't have personality, and its such a shame because I love stories where the girl disguises as a boy, but this if just an example of how not to do it, and how to use this trope and turn it into something just ultimately bad.

The world building had potential, but again, the actual story and the characters were just mediocre. This reads like a bad fanfic of Prince Zuko from Avatar:LoA and Katara (without her bending).

The ending was predictable and unsatisfying. The Epilogue cringy overall.

(i'm sorry for being too harsh. it just felt like an insult for someone who loves good stories).

Like another reviewer said, this book is totally binge worthy. I may or may not have spent all day just reading it!! 😉

The story really is pretty good, and I’ll be impatiently waiting for the next installment. I really liked that Sol wasn’t one of those heroines that is tough but questions EVERYTHING. She’s strong and sticks to her instincts. I liked how the “prisoner falls for the captor” dynamic played out in this book. It was refreshing. The books covers a bunch of plots in very cohesive way. Perfect ending to setup the sequel.

This was the book that kept on giving! The plot was fast paced and contained loads of twists and action.

I adored the relationship between Sol and Kelan, which was a beautifully written enemies-to-lovers romance. Sol was such a strong female lead and I felt Kelan brought out the best in her. I think their relationship was a little rushed initially, but I still found their love to be believable and strong.

I am looking forward to the sequel and can't wait to discover more about Sol's heritage, Saint Katrine and the royal family.

Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.