The Beautiful Ashes

Starred review from September 29, 2014
Frost's fast-paced paranormal romantic thriller is a pure stunner. Ivy is already overwhelmed by dealing with her parents' death and the disappearance of her sister, Jasmine. The last thing she needs is Adrian, an undeniably handsome stranger, telling her that the visions that she's had since childhood are completely real and Jasmine has been kidnapped by demons. Soon, Ivy is on an epic adventure of Biblical proportions. She comes from the line of King David and can see into demon realms as well as destroy demons. Adrian isn't a demon, but he's the sworn enemy of the Davidians. Nonetheless, the attraction between them is too intense to ignore. As Ivy searches for the one weapon that might let her save her sister, she slowly comes to grips with her place in this archaic and never-ending war. Frost (Once Burned) skillfully balances passion and peril in an attention-grabbing story that's exciting from the first page. The mythos is intriguing and inventive. Readers will hungrily anticipate the next installment.

September 1, 2014

Gr 9 Up-Twenty-year-old Ivy is looking for her younger sister Jasmine after she suddenly disappears. During her search, Ivy discovers the truth behind the strange visions that have afflicted her since childhood-she is able to see into the demon realm, and this just happens to be where Jasmine is trapped. With the guidance of the brooding, too-perfect male specimen Adrian, Ivy will stop at nothing to rescue her sister. However, there's a catch. It turns out that Ivy is the last descendent of the biblical hero David and is the only one that can find and wield a powerful relic to triumph over evil. Adrian is battling demons of his own with a dark past riddled with secrets that deeply conflict with his powerful attraction to Ivy. Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of world- or character-building to be had, and the plot can be groan-inducingly predictable at times. Ideally, the sequels will delve a bit more deeply to give the series some substance. Still, the pacing is tight and readers should fly through the story. Reluctant readers as well as fans of the "Twilight" books and other paranormal romances will eat this one up. A slightly steamy romance scene and the occasional curse word make this appropriate for older teens.-Kimberly Castle-Alberts, Hudson Library & Historical Society, OH

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2014
Ivy is barely holding it together. In the past week, her sister disappeared and her parents were killed in a car accident. Feeling like she has nothing left to lose, Ivy heads to Bennington, Vermont, the last place her sister was seen alive. How could Ivy have known that she actually still had much more to lose, including her heart? When an attempted kidnapping goes horribly wrong, Ivy is saved by handsome, brooding Adrian. Ivy discovers that the visions that have plagued her since childhood are real, glimpses into the supernatural realms that mirror our world. And that is where her sister is being kept. Together with Adrian and a few other supernatural beings, Ivy is determined to find her sister and the ancient biblical weapon that will help her win the war between Angels and Demons. She's just not sure whose side she should be on. The only thing she knows for sure is that she will fight to keep Adrian beside her, no matter what. This is the first in Frost's promising new adult Broken Destiny series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)