I have been provided with a review copy of this title from NetGalley for an impartial review. Ahhhhh this was just such a great read. I just didn't want this book to end and I was sad to turn the last page. I'm so excited to see what's next from this author.

3.5 stars rounded to 4.

This book has an interesting concept, combining many types of mythical creatures. However, some things didn't sit right to me, like how fast they formed a couple or some scenes really needed a TW in my opinion or the whole chemistry between siblings.

While some things seemed rushed, the pacing is quite slow and I got the feeling like some parts were forgotten. They do reappear but I feel like too much time passes that not accounted for.

All in all, it is intriguing, but it may not be everybody's cup of tea.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion

I tried to finish this book multiple times but the pace was much to slow for me. I finally put it down and then forced myself to go back and finish it since it was published in January.
Along with the slow plot, the instant love seemed rushed and jarring. Add in all the different types of paranormal and it’s hard to keep up.
I do feel that the concept is a good one, but it needs some polishing.
I received a copy of this for free.

This was a great start to the frostbite series. It has everything that I was hoping for from this type of book. The characters were really well written. And I loved that it was a witch hunter and a witch. It had a strong romance going on, And had a great supernatural feel to it. Kathryn Troy has a great writing style and I enjoyed how everything worked together. I can't wait to read more in this series.

Unfortunately I don’t think I was the intended audience for this book. I found that the pace of the story was way too slow and I was really struggling to finish the book because of it. However, I did like the overall plot line, I found it to be really creative! So if you like a slow paced story I would definitely check it out!

I made several attempts to finish reading this book, but I couldn't get through it. The plot was confusing, and the romance in the story didn't make sense to me. I felt like I wasn't getting what I was promised.

DNF

I do not normally DNF any books. I only DNF 2 books last year. This one was just not holding my attention. The story was lacing in connection and context.

I had high hopes for this one. While it kept my attention A Vision in Crimson had so much more story to tell. The central story seemed disjointed and some of the elements that were introduced were never elaborated upon. I am unsure if this is the start of a series that will explain various aspects, but I felt let down at the end of the book as it ended very abruptly.
I did enjoy all the mythological side characters and the interdimensional travel aspect. I just felt like there was so much more story to be told and it was hard to follow.

This book was really hard to get into. The characters were seriously underdeveloped and did not peak my interest, I had a really hard time finishing this one. The story peaked my interest but the writing was definitely not enough to keep me interested.

Love at first wet-dream 🥺🖤💦

TW: SA, abusive parent

Tropes:

❗ Instalust

❗ Secret identity

❗ Emotional scars

❗ Grumpy x Sunshine

❗ Underdog

POV: 3rd person (but sometimes it felt like a 1st POV through Luca’s character).

Setting: The book’s setting was confusing. 😵 The characters feel like medieval fantasy, but the world itself feels modern/futuristic (like sci-fi). This also made the time period confusing, I couldn't tell you if this story took place in the past, present, or future. 😕

Pacing: slow, no action, and low stakes

Plot: Where? The entire book we follow the FMC and MMC just doing their things. Kinda like watching a sitcom. I also went in expecting to peer into the life of a vampire hunter, but we only got 2 pages of that until the story changes focus to the FMC’s life. 🙃

Nothing stake-worthy happens until 40% in, where I believe the first plot point appears. There was no lead-up to this point, it sorta just happened. Then, just as fast as the pain point was introduced, it was quickly unheard of ever again. This is a consistent theme in the book, where plot and subplots just happen, which imo makes for an unsatisfactory read. 😴

Characters: This book is definitely more character-driven than plot-driven. However, the characters themselves don’t have clear motives for why they do the things they do. This was another instance in which I felt distant from the book. 💔

Luca’s character felt underdeveloped because once the FMC was introduced all his thoughts and feelings became about her. So in a way, Luca’s character was used to develop Kate’s character. I did enjoy learning Kate’s backstory because she’s the typical headstrong FMC and I liked her magical abilities. 💫 However, their instant love was something I was not a fan of. I like when the romance is a slow burn and the characters get to know each other before they fall.

There are also like a MILLION characters that get introduced throughout the book, and almost all of them we never see again. 🙄

Writing quality: Some parts were difficult to read, mostly because the dialogue for the characters wasn’t distinctive. So it would get confusing trying to follow who was saying what since the characters kinda sounded the same.

Also, I’ve read plenty of spicy scenes where I cringe and get over it, but golly did I skim all the smut scenes that happens in this book, it made me feel icky and uncomfortable. 😖😖😖😖😖😖

Recommendation: I would recommend this book if you like the tropes I listed above (Instalust, Secret identity, Emotional scars, Grumpy x Sunshine, Underdog). I do enjoy reading all these tropes, but they didn’t do it for me in this book because I didn’t see what motivated the characters (a lack of connection). ⭐1/5 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy of this book.

2.5 Stars
When I got approval to read this early, I was really excited and hopeful - sadly the story just wasn't for me.
The main characters Luca and Kate seemed to have no chemistry, it felt as though they were faking their love for each other, and it was purely just attraction rather than a true connection.
There were so many characters being introduced throughout the book, that it seemed like no actual plot line could exist and make sense.
I found it really difficult to be captivated by the story

2.5 stars rounded up-

I always struggle to give a low rating to an ARC I receive, but I rounded this one up to 3 stars because I do think many people will enjoy this book. I was excited by the premise of this book, but the execution was not great. I had a difficult time finishing the book. I did not connect with the romance between Luca and Kate, which made it hard for me to be invested in the story. It also seemed like so many creatures and ideas were crammed in to one story.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

From just the title and cover I thought I was going to love this book but I really didn't. I just did not really vibe with the story which sucked.

The premise was great but the execution fell flat. I hate saying this especially since it is an arc but the story is all over the place. It seemed as if the author had too many ideas for one book.

The book had everything I love, vampires, witches, Greek mythology, magical creatures which evidently is too much for one book.

The story is more character driven than plot driven which is my absolute favourite. However the characters are lacking depth and are not strong enough to carry the story.

Thank you City Owl Press for providing me with an arc.

Thank you to netgalley and owl city press for the chance to read this eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The beginning gave me Witcher vibes with the hunter not being accepted or welcome in the towns but the towns people are more than happy to hire them to do the dirty work. I instantly liked Luca, he's just trying to survive and making his way through the land to find his sire. When it's revealed how his mother treated him my heart broke, somehow he still turned out to be a great person with morals.
I wish the book had been longer, I was very enthralled by Luca and Kate! Right as we were getting to the action it was the end of the book. Great world building and great set up for the next installment!
The inclusion of Hercules and other myths really made this book next level, im hoping to see more of them in the next book.

I dnf at 46%

The constant changing of pov was jarring. There is just something icky about a main character names Kate when the authors name is Kathryn. The use of classic mythology in a new way was a fun twist but I think it falls flat. Really I was reading just to get it over with which isn’t a great feeling. This book may be for some but it really didn’t work for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

There were so many different characters and paranormals in this book that I was totally confused, and found it hard to follow.

I started, stopped, reread, and reread again. I finally had to take notes and was constantly referring to them just to follow the story.

It was just to much. I finished, but would not recomnend.

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for this advanced copy.
A Vision in Crimson is the first book of the Frostbite series, and there is a LOT going on-world building, character introductions-I felt like a lot was thrown at readers right from the get go. This is high adventure, with more than a smattering of smut, and I’m not sure that any character got their due diligence with so much going on. What started out as an interesting premise unfortunately just didn’t connect with me.

A Vision in Crimson, is the first book in the Frostbite series. It is a captivating blend of fantasy and romance. The author weaves a rich narrative, introducing readers to a world where mythical creatures and human emotions collide. The protagonist's journey unfolds with a mix of suspense and passion, keeping the reader engaged from start to finish. The author's vivid descriptions and well-developed characters contribute to the overall immersive experience. It sets the stage for an enticing series that promises both adventure and romance in a fantastical realm. The writing style and world-building make this novel a compelling read for fans of the genre.

A Vision in Crimson had amazing world building.
This book was very smutty and fun to read. The only thing that I didn’t enjoy was the instalove trope. Like the FMC and MMC spoke only a word to each other and they were already love