The Prince and the Ice King
Ratings1
Average rating5
15
Ratings1
Average rating5
Every Winter Solstice, the Emerald Kingdom sends the dreaded Ice King a sacrifice--a corrupt soul, a criminal, a deviant, or someone touched by magic. Prince Reardon has always loathed this tradition, partly because he dreams of love with another man instead of a future queen. Then Reardon's best friend is discovered as a witch and sent to the Frozen Kingdom as tribute. Reardon sets out to rescue him, willing to battle and kill the Ice King if that's what it takes. But nothing could prepare him for what he finds in the Frozen Kingdom--a cursed land filled with magic... and a camaraderie Reardon has never known. Over this strange, warm community presides the enigmatic Ice King himself, a man his subjects call Jack. A man with skin made of ice, whose very touch can stop a beating heart. A man Reardon finds himself inexplicably drawn to. Jack doesn't trust Reardon. But when Reardon begins spending long days with him, vowing to prove himself and break the curse, Jack begins to hope. Can love and forgiveness melt the ice around Jack's heart?
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I enjoyed this book a lot more than I ever thought I would. Like, a lot a lot. For me, the only slightly weak point is the romance. I didn't dislike it, and I am pleased for the couple in a very quiet way, but I never felt like I just had to see them together. I think that's mostly because it moves a little fast, so by the time I was finally starting to ship them, they were already a couple. (Nothing bad here, but would have been happier with the ‘getting to know you' phase lasting longer.)
But, really, the romance isn't even needed, which was a nice surprise. Look, I was so enamored by the world building, the characters that inhabit said world and, mostly, the strong threads of found family and themes of finding your people, a place where you belong, that I was sold on the book long before I even was sold on the romance.
(Also, I must note that this is a ‘magic is evil' fantasy book, but there is a reason that magic is seen as evil and that is pretty much put to paid by the end of the book. So...if you have the same issues I do with ‘magic is evil' but are liking the book despite that, stick around. It gets even better.)
(And celebrate for the eBook cover, because that paperback cover is a thing of horror.)
Featured Series
3 primary booksTales of the Gemstone Kingdoms is a 3-book series with 3 primary works first released in 2021 with contributions by Amanda Meuwissen.
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