Frostfire by Amanda Hocking
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Published by Pan Macmillan on January 1st 2015
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Young Adult
Pages: 321
Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher
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Frostfire is the stunning first installment in a tale of love, betrayal and the need to belong. Here Amanda Hocking returns to the world of her million-copy bestselling Trylle trilogy, with an all-new series . . . Will she give up her dream to follow her heart?Bryn Aven is determined to gain status amongst the Kanin, the most powerful of the hidden tribes. But as a half-blood, winning respect is a huge challenge. Bryn's almost-human community distrusts people, and those from other tribes are almost as suspect.She has just one goal to get ahead: to join the elite guard protecting the Kanin royal family. And Bryn's vowed that nothing will stand in her way, not even a forbidden romance with her boss, Ridley Dresden.But her plans are put on hold when fallen hero Konstantin starts acting dangerously. Bryn loved him once, but now he's kidnapping Kanin children - stealing them from hidden placements within human families. She's sent to help stop him, but will she lose her heart in the process?

Trolls are one of the most underappreciated supernatural beings. I used to think all they did was lurk under bridges and give billygoats trouble.

Amanda Hocking has brought these creatures out of the darkness and into the spotlight with the Trylle trilogy and her new series, the Kanin Chronicles.

Frostfire, the first book of this new series, features Bryn Aven – a a half-Kanin, half-Skojare Troll determined to become an elite guard despite the extra hurdles she faces due to her status as a halfbreed. When her father was attacked and she was injured coming to his rescue four years ago, Bryn has been even more single-minded in her pursuit of becoming one of the elite guards and protecting Kanin from danger. As a Tracker she’s one of the best at what she does but when Kanin changelings start going missing, Bryn knows she has to stop the threat regardless of what it takes.

I have read Hocking’s Trylle trilogy which is set in the same world as the Kanin Chronicles and I have to say I think Hocking has really come into her own as a storyteller with this new series. The pacing, characters and world have really developed. If you enjoyed the Trylle series – I think you will LOVE Bryn and the Kanin. For those new to Amanda Hocking’s work, Frostfire works perfectly as a standalone to introduce this new series. There is a brief appearance of characters from the Trylle however no previous knowledge of the universe is required to understand and enjoy Frostfire.

Bryn is one of those characters I love to read about. She’s intelligent and brilliant what she does. She may be a little arrogant regarding her tracking and fighting skills but her attitude is warranted – she’s one of the best and she knows it. That said she’s not perfect. Her communication efforts with her personal life are less than impressive and when it comes to relationships, Bryn is a bit of a mess. I loved how grown up Bryn felt whilst she was on a mission and then the contrast of how young she really is as she has to deal with the goings on of every day life (friends, family and romantic entanglements). Following Bryn as she tries to navigate Kanin politics and complete her missions was fantastic.

There is romance and adventure, intrigue and disaster in this book and it all works together beautifully. The action is fast-paced and exciting yet there is enough detail to really bring Bryn and the Kanin to life. Frostfire is a page turner which combines the paranormal elements of Trolls with the contemporary issues of being a teenager in today’s world.

 

Many thanks to Pan Macmillan Australia for the review copy.