Shadow Frost

August 1, 2019
In a world where magic exists through nine elemental affinities, a headstrong princess who has the potential to wield them all seeks to prove her worth. Ma's debut introduces readers to 17-year-old Asterin Faelenhart, the Princess of Axaria and one of the few in her world who possess multiple affinities. When she learns that a demon has ravaged villages near the kingdom's outskirts, Asterin volunteers to find and kill it. She is joined by three trusted companions--her Royal Guardian, Orion; the commander of her Elite Royal Guard, Eadric; and her best friend, Luna--and two soldiers, Rose and Quinlan, whose queen sent them as a gift to Axaria from distant Eradore. On their journey, the group discovers that a greater force of evil than the demon is at work. With the fate of the kingdom at stake, Asterin must confront hidden truths and make an impossible decision. Readers will enjoy the novel's exciting action sequences and original mythology, but abrupt tone shifts cause the narrative to falter on occasion, and the rather overblown writing style is reminiscent of fan fiction. Flirtation between characters abounds, slightly undermining the gravity of their quest. Loose threads and an unexpected reveal in the epilogue set the stage for a sequel. The majority of characters are white; two secondary characters share a same-sex romance. A fantasy with an intriguing premise that is ultimately more style than substance. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)

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August 30, 2019

Gr 7 Up-Teenage princess Asterin and her most loyal advisors set out to slay a deadly demon of darkness that is killing inhabitants of the Kingdom of Axaria in this good but overly long fantasy series opener. Citizens have magical abilities that are tied to affinity stones representing nine elements, each hailing from a different kingdom and bloodline. A tenth element, shadow, is the most powerful, but its use is forbidden. Asterin has mastered five elements but acquires even more skill after receiving another stone as a gift from neighboring Queen of Eradore. Orion, Asterin's Royal Guardian; Eadric, the captain of her guard; Luna, Eadric's girlfriend and Asterin's lady-in-waiting; and two new young Elite Guards from the kingdom of Eradore accompany Asterin on her quest. They encounter a wyvern, a pit full of corpses of villagers brutally killed, and other dangerous beasts in their demon hunt. The twisty plot is full of intrigue, and a sweet queer romance unfolds as the plot is told through characters' third-person points of view, but the story's middle section lags. The author originally wrote this novel at age 15 and uses anachronistic language that doesn't exist in this fantasy time period ("my bad"). VERDICT Asterin is a strong and realistically flawed heroine, and the other characters are satisfactorily fleshed out, but the book's pacing is uneven. Recommended only for larger libraries where fantasy is popular.-Sharon Rawlins, New Jersey State Library, Trenton

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2019
Grades 7-10 Princess Asterin is an exceptionally powerful magic wielder, so when she learns of a demon terrorizing her people?after scores of royal guards fail to hunt it down?she volunteers to help. Accompanied by her closest friends, Asterin journeys deep into the forest to find the demon while exploring the full scope of her own abilities. After uncovering a treacherous plot that topples Asterin's world, she and her group must devise a plan to take down the real threat, and they'll need more than just their magic to face it. Ma's debut takes readers on a suspenseful ride set in a deftly detailed fantasy world built upon a magic system that revolves around affinity stones, used to access a range of nine elemental forces. While the attempt at an ensemble cast was a bit lackluster, the characters are individually real and relatable as they tell their personal story alongside the bigger plot. The hint of a sequel promises more adventures in this vivid world.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)