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    Touch Of Frost
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    Touch Of Frost
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    Touch Of Frost
    Audiobook9 hours

    Touch Of Frost

    Written by Jennifer Estep

    Narrated by Tara Sands

    4/5

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    Currently unavailable

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    About this audiobook

    But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why - especially since I should have been the one who died …

    "Touch of Frost is an intriguing start to an exciting new series!" - Award-winning author Jeri Smith-Ready
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateFeb 19, 2013
    ISBN9781469283869
    Author

    Jennifer Estep

    Jennifer Estep is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author who prowls the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea. Jennifer is the author of the Crown of Shards, Elemental Assassin, and other fantasy series. She has written more than 35 books, along with numerous novellas and stories. In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys hanging out with friends and family, doing yoga, and reading fantasy and romance books. She also watches way too much TV and loves all things related to superheroes.

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    Reviews for Touch Of Frost

    4/5

    317 ratings53 reviews

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    • 3/5
      Here is the thing: I really, really enjoy books that take place at magical/mystical/wacky boarding schools. This book is average for that trope, leaning more toward Harry Potter than toward Hex Hall (meaning more fantasy/mystery than urban fantasy). Gwen is likeable and the mystery is entertaining even as the high school stuff is typical.
    • 4/5
      Reviewed by: Rabid ReadsIn the face of months of separation from Gin Blanco while I hungrily await the next Elemental Assassin installment I decided to give Jennifer Estep’s Young Adult books a whirl. I’m not a huge reader of this genre but every so often I venture out of my comfort zone and Touch of Frost turned out to be an excellent choice. The age of the characters may have changed but Estep’s terrific world-building, unique magics and action driven plot still remain at the forefront of this story which are the main reasons I enjoy her writing so much anyway so the fact that this tale unfolds in high school quickly became a non-issue. Besides, even I enjoy some good mean girl drama just so long as the characters are mature and Gwen Frost is indeed a very grown-up 17 year old.I like that this series features Valkyries, Amazons and Spartans instead of the typical vamps and weres; it made the Mythos Academy universe captivating from the get-go. Instead of looking for the one trait that will set her paranormals apart from the crowd, Estep goes completely off the reservation by incorporating Norse mythology instead. I enjoyed learning about these creatures through Gwen’s eyes because, coming from a “normal” school, she was as skeptical about their impossible natures as I was. It’s hard to avoid information dumps in the first installment of a series but Jennifer cleverly disguises them as lessons in Frost’s classes which I found much more enjoyable than the standard format.At first glance, the plot seems relatively straightforward: a girl is murdered and Gwen’s on a mission to find the killer. However, the story quickly morphs into so much more and also helps set the tone for future installments in this series. I appreciated the fact that amidst all of the drama, the school setting never gets forgotten. Frost may have bigger fish to fry but she still has to write that darned myth-history essay. I find that a lot of the time in Young Adult fiction the author forgets that her characters are still supposed to attend class and do homework. This is a personal pet peeve of mine so I’m glad that Estep didn’t make the same mistake that I’ve encountered countless times before.Gwen Frost is an easy character to like; she’s feisty, intelligent and just an all-around good person. The most popular girl in school gets murdered and none of her classmates even bat an eye. I like that she cares about everyone, even the mean girl. She learns a few very important life lessons in this book which is another pivotal element to a good story in my opinion. I have no use for whiny characters that don’t evolve over the course of a series. I think Gwen definitely has potential and I enjoyed witnessing the first phase of her transformation from “that Gypsy girl” to something more.Gwen is definitely no Elemental Assassin but I loved Estep’s little hat tip to the Pork Pit; I didn’t expect any mention of her Urban Fantasy series in this book so I couldn’t help but crack a little smile at the mention of BBQ. Vic was a lot of fun too and a great example of an element that’s cute in a Young Adult setting but would be absolutely ridiculous in a more grown-up tale. Touch of Frost is proof that a talented author can win you over with a great story no matter the genre.
    • 3/5
      Originally Reviewed at Witchmag's BoekenplankOoooh, lots of myths, all tangled up in each other and used to create a whole new world? Where gods from all parts of the world play a part in? This had to be my kind of book. And it was. I just love it when well-known stories are put in a brand new jacket. When you delve in the more unknown depths of said myths. When you get to know more about the powers the gods of yore (supposedly) had and the focus is on the less known gods and goddesses. That’s exactly what happens in this book and I thoroughly enjoyed updating my knowledge of the world of gods and goddesses!Add to that the rather mysterious main character, with powers unlike the Academy has ever seen, and my head was working overtime to think of all the things she could be. What makes her special? Is it her father? Her mother? Hmm.. A little too accidental that they are both death… Maybe something more is going on…. It took most of the story before I had this puzzle solved. And I quite liked the result. Only to discover the bigger puzzle it was part of…. A lot of my questions haven’t been answered, yet, and I’m looking forward to what the answers will be ^^Gwen is you average teenage girl, who suddenly discover a whole new world she didn’t know existed. She has her less than stellar moment, but fortunately ALWAYS knows when to call in for back-up instead of going alone. She even tells at least one person what’s bothering her and doesn’t keep all the weird things happening to herself. Smart girl, otherwise it will create an even bigger fuss if you keep silent! Read too many stories to not know that ;). Gwen also has her heart in the right place, who else would go and investigate the murder of the most hated girl in the school? Even thought the ending is a bit different than Gwen imagined, I admired her for caring.The only thing that this book lacked was romance. There’s enough opportunity in the form of cute boys. Especially Logan would be a great candidate, what with him coming to her rescue time and time again ^^ I loved to see a bit more conversations between Gwen and him, some more bonding moments… Although his reticence has me intrigued. There’s apparently something about the Spartans….Conclusion3 HEARTS. It’s the perfect book for any mythology lover out there. Myths and legend are given a whole new look and different worlds are mashed together in this book. Furthermore there’s a very puzzling main character, whose origins are very mysterious and puzzles me even more. This book only missed a bit of romance and it would be truly perfect for me. But I have high hopes for the next book!
    • 4/5
      In an interesting spin on the "magic boarding school trope", Gwen Frost is already attending Mythos Academy when the story begins. There is still plenty of discoveries for her to make, however, if not about her own powers than about the gods and goddesses that Impact the world around her.
    • 4/5
      Read from February 13 to 15, 2013Read for Fun (Kindle/Paper)/Listened for Review (Brilliance)Overall Rating: 4.00Story Rating: 4.25Character Rating: 3.75Audio Rating: 3.75 (not part of the overall rating)First Thought When Finished: LOVED all the mythology! The characters were growing on me by the end!Story Thoughts: How very clever Ms. Estep! I truly enjoyed my trek into Mythos Academy. I am a sucker for mythology based stories and this series has got potential written all over it. I liked how Jennifer took stories, creatures, and magic that we all know and gave it her own little kick! I was definetly impressed with how quickly I was immersed into Mythos Academy and was stunned that I was left wanting to continue the series (You guys know me and my YA thing). This also has Jennifer Estep's quirky humor and fast-paced writing style that I love from her Elemental Assassin series. Perk: The Pork Pit was mentioned!Character Thoughts: Gwen Frost is the epitome of what most geeky girls with reading problems are in High School. They don't quite fit in but if you could hear their internal dialogue you would be in stitches all day. I love that Gwen does her own thing and I even like the way she ends up making friends. She is growing on me and by the end of book 2 I am certain I will love her. I am enjoying getting to know the rest of the characters too. As always with Jennifer Estep, I think the secondary characters will be very important in books to come. I hope so anyway because they were a delight!Audio Thoughts: Narrated by Tara Sands / Running Time 9 hrs and 46 minsI am going to admit that it took about 3 hours for me to warm up to the narration for Touch of Frost. I don't think Tara Sands did a bad job but sometimes it just takes a while to click. The pacing was great though and after I got Gwen's "voice" the rest fell into place. I will be continuing this series on audio and imagine the audio will get higher ratings from me as I go along.Final Thought: Touch of Frost was a fun ride with very little angst, no triangle, and very fun characters. It makes my very limited YA List!
    • 5/5
      Have you ever bought a book that sounded SO good and that everyone was totally loving on but for some reason didn't get around to reading it right away, and then when you finally did you can't figure out why you waited so long because you absolutely LOVED it? (Does that make any sense?) Well that's what happened with Touch of Frost! I have no idea why I haven't read it before now because I've been really psyched about it since I read the first promo for it - mythology, magic, and monsters? I was hooked from the beginning, but I kept getting books I had to read for review and as I'm sure you reviewers out there know, the books you want to read just for you can get pushed to the back of the bus. I finally just made myself take the time to read it and you know what? It only took me a day and a half because I couldn't put it down!! I loved it, loved it, loved it! Jennifer Estep is a goddess herself to me because of her ability to write in such a way that you fly through the book without realizing that you've totally lost a day or so in your life, and you don't mind at all because the book was totally worth it!Gwen Frost loses her mother and her normal life at the same time. Her mother is killed by a drunk driver and she is taken out of her routine and plopped down in Mythos Academy, a place where the students and teachers actually believe that the gods and goddesses in the myths are real, and that the God of Chaos, Loki, is trying to escape from his prison to wreak havoc on the world that we live in. Nuts, no? Sure, Gwen has a gift, but it's a Gypsy gift, psychometry, which Gwen describes as the ability to touch an object and immediately know, see and feel its history, but in a school that is filled with Spartans, Valkyries and Amazons, she doesn't really stand out at all. Nor does she fit in at all. She has no friends because all the other students are rich, beautiful, powerful and pretty much full of themselves. They've also been trained to be warriors their whole lives, and Gwen can't figure out what the heck she's even doing there. No one will give her any answers either, they just keep telling her it will become clear in time. Extremely frustrating for a teenager!One of my favorite things about this book is the world building. I've always loved mythology and reading about the gods and goddesses and such, and Jennifer Estep puts such a fun twist on it all. She really brings it to life for you, the reader, so much so that I really, really want to go to school there myself! The characters, other than Gwen, start out kind of two dimensional but are quickly fleshed out and come into their own personalities. There is definite character growth through the course of the book, especially with regard to Gwen, but some of the secondary characters really change a lot too. The pacing is excellent and the book is very easy to read. As noted above, I finished it in a day and a half, and with a hyperactive 6 year old at home who wants all of my attention, that's really saying something! I was constantly trying to find things for him to do just so I could pick up the book and read a few more pages! That hasn't happened to me with a book in a while, and I've really missed it! That NEED to read a book, because you've been so drawn into the story that you HAVE to find out what is going to happen next! I already have a copy of book 2 on my shelf waiting for me, and I'm going to start it as soon as I finish typing this - and spending some time with my poor, neglected son of course:)I give this book a very enthusiastic 5 stars and since I've heard that book 2 is even better than book 1, I can't wait to get reading! I highly recommend this to all fans of YA fantasy, especially mythology related fantasy :D
    • 5/5
      wow!! this book was so good, the best fantasy book i have read this year, i just couldnt get enough of it, i read it in one sitting. it is very well written and is unique.
    • 3/5
      I really don't even know where to begin. A Touch of Frost to me was just okay. It was one of those books that I was super excited to read, only it was just an okay story.The world that Jennifer Estep takes you into is fantastic. It was very believable and the characters are very easy to like. The main character Gwen is funny, smart, daring and very nosy. Gwen has the power to see things and feel things by simply touching them and/or it. Gwen's story is a really sad one and you can't help but feel sorry for her. I really liked Gwen, though I did feel that at times she talked way to much. The story is told from her point of view and it was just a lot of talking. I found myself losing interest at some points, but not enough to put the book down. I also feel that a lot of things in the story was repeated a lot. There was plenty of suspense and humor though, for me to continue reading and finish the book. I really liked the chemistry between Gwen and Logan, but I just wish there was more of it. It really wasn't a back and forth relationship, which made me SUPER happy, but nothing really happened between the two even though you can feel the chemistry. It was obvious that Logan was into Gwen. Overall, I feel that A Touch of Frost is more of an introduction to the next. Jennifer Estep did a lot of explaining and introducing in this book and it felt more like an opening to me. A lot does happen in the book and Gwen's life changes, but it still felt like it was explaining the world and how everything works. I am curious to see what will happen next in Kiss of Frost now that everything has been explained and put into motion. Plus, I need more of Logan. He's just yummy!3 out of 5 Stars!
    • 4/5
      Had forgotten that I tried unsuccessfully to get this in a member giveaway awhile back. Anyway, story turned out a little better than I expected. Pretty obvious where the big bad's reveal was going about halfway through. It was nice to see a new elemental added to the standard gallery of heroes. I do have to say was a little disappointed to see a similarity between the sword Vic and the sword featured in Laurell K. Hamilton's old story Nightseer and featured in a short story in her Strange Candy anthology. Talking and literally blood-thirsty swords, yuk. Anyway, willing to give the next story, Kiss of Frost a shot.
    • 3/5
      Touch of Frost was an enjoyable paranormal read with a great mystery and a fun new twist on mythology.I've always been a huge fan of mythology so the idea of Mythos Academy; an elite school for the descendents of Amazons, Valkyries and Spartans was a well developed and unique one. I loved learning about the school, its history, and all the different myths that tie into it.I liked the MC Gwen a lot. I think she's easy to relate to if you've ever felt like an outsider or had to be the new kid at school. Gwen is independent, smart and cares deeply for her family. She also has a great sense of humor, always poking fun at people especially herself. My only complaint with Gwen is that I wish she had been more confident in her gypsy gift and herself. She keeps seeing all this crazy stuff happen around her and sometimes to her, but then just lets it go because she can't figure it out. This becomes more frustrating by the fact that Gwen already knows the answer but can't grab onto what it is.The supporting cast of Daphne, Logan, and Professor Metis all help bring out a new side of Gwen and its fun to see her explore all these different relationships. Professor Metis tries to help Gwen be more comfortable with her abilities, while Logan adds a bit of intrigue with his bad boy ways. However, its Daphne who surprised me the most. She's much more then the mean girl she appears to be and had easily won me over by the end of the novel.I think the murder mystery side of the story was well paced and featured a few surprise twists, some which I never saw coming. In fact I only figured out the mystery shortly before its reveal, which is actually a bit late for me.A few themes do get repeated several times throughout the novel, most notably Gwen's feelings about her gypsy gift and how it landed her at Mythos. While it's a bit distracting I don't think it hurts the novel to much. Instead, it just kind of slows down the pacing for a bit.I think a Touch of Frost will definitely appeal to any fan of paranormal, mythology or mystery books. Its a great start to a fun new YA series and I'm looking forward to reading the next book, Kiss of Frost.
    • 4/5
      Touch of Frost was a very interesting read. The thing I most enjoyed was not just the traditional Greek/Roman myths, but that many culture's myths were mixed to make this unique world. I have always had a soft spot in my reading heart for "boarding school" books and add to that the fact that this is a school for warriors...amazingness is abudant! The main character is Gwen Frost. She is a nerd who loves comics and wears hoodies 24/7...she's awesome! Gwen is a character who feels the need to right injustices and she is more sympathetic or more human than her fellow classmates. There is a lack of self assurance in Gwen that I believe many people experience at least once in their lifetime. She has these amazing abilities and a caring heart, but never sees herself being quite as good as those around her. As for Logan (the main guy in the story), I think I've just found another bad boy crush! He is certainly a naughty boy, but I have a feeling he is hiding something. Daphne was the other character I found very likable. She adds just the right touch of airiness, self assurance, and snobbery to counteract Gwen. The story as a whole was very good, but judging by the cover I wasn't expecting it to be for "older" teens. By that I mean the sexual content. It wasn't excessive and I believe that it plays a role in the story showing what kind of world her classmates have grown up in. The story line overall reminded me a little of Oh. My. Gods. by Terra Lynn Childs (this isn't a bad thing), but on a more grown up level. This is a unique and very enjoyable start to a series that I am sure many will love.
    • 3/5
      Gwen is part of a long line of gypsy's. She can see the history of any object just by touching it, whether she likes it or not. After her mother dies in a car accident, a stranger shows up and tells her it is time for her to learn how to control her magic and go to Mythos Academy. I love anything with mythology, so I was really excited when I read the concept for this story. All though the mythology was toned down a bit, you still get enough to understand what is going on. I had a few problems with the story. First, I got annoyed with Gwen a little. She constantly reminds you that she doesn't believe in all this myth and magic that is going around her. Even when the girl next to her has pink sparks flying out of her fingers, she still doesn't believe in it. The denying became a little too much after the first half of the book. The other thing was the writing itself. So many things are repeated to the point that I was getting mad. Gwen reminds us what her mothers name was about 10 times, or what the color someones eyes were. Eye color must be some important factor, because it's mentioned about every other page. It got to the point where I was thinking that the author thought the person reading wasn't capable of remembering. But other than that, I did actually enjoy the story. I'm just having trouble seeing past those two problems.
    • 4/5
      Starting this book I was a little afraid. Would it really be original enough? I had read so many great reviews of this book, but could it still let me down in it's lack of originality? No way! Okay, so some parts of it didn't feel so original, but I really feel like the author took her own spin and created something different.Gwen- Now that is a character I really loved. I loved her spark, her wit, her snark. She was just endearing. We saw her weakness's but we saw her strengths, we watched her grow and I'm sure we'll see loads more growth in the next book. She was definitely someone I would want to be friends with. I loved the tension between Gwen and Logan. You really feel the sexual frustration between them, they are attracted to each other but there are all these obstacles and the banter between them was delicious. I seriously can't wait for more of those two and hopefully see the HEAT rise a notch {I suspect we will}. Lots of kick butt action and tense moments in this book but the mystery of things also made it impossible to put down. Twists and turns kept me guessing and never really being able to predict how things may go. A few times I had a good idea and would only be partly right.Overall this was a great read. I'm a huge fan of Gwen and Logan now and am eager to see more of them, but am also anxious to see where things go in the next one. I've already bought Kiss of Frost (book #2) and can't wait to read it!
    • 4/5
      Gwen knows she's a gypsy, she knows has the gift of knowing about something when she touches it. She doesn't know why her grandmother agreed to send her to Mythos Academy, a place filled with warrior whiz kids as Gwen herself says. Mythos is filled with a variety of warriors, from Romans and Spartans, to Amazons and Valkyries. They are all descended from more of the same, and cart around their weapons as easily as a laptop. Gwen's definitely lonely, and that doesn't seem like that's going to change until a body is found in the library and Gwen figures someone needs to check into it. I liked some of the touches Estep used in the first of this new series. From the colored sparks of light coming from some of the girls fingernails, to the perfect classification as band geek Carson as a Celt(they have a supposed gift of music), you could tell she enjoyed making this new world.
    • 4/5
      I picked up this book because 1) I like her Elemental Assassin series, and 2) Amazon had a free prequel chapter thingy in their ebooks that peaked my interest. This book looks to be the start of another good series this one aimed at the YA audience. As long as the characters don't get too whiny (I'm thinking of you Bella!) I'll stick with it for awhile.
    • 4/5
      The Good Stuff As usual Jennifer writes a fantastic story that has you hooked from the very first paragraph and doesn't let you go until the very last sentence Tons of Estep's trademark quirky humour laced with fun pop culture references (Bonus points for mentions of Buffy, Xena and Karma Girl) Intriguing storyline with plenty of twists and turns Love Gwen and her Grandmother - Estep always writes kick ass heroines Logan is hot - he's up there with Finn in my bad boy book boyfriends Yummy sounding food - had to make the Pumpkin Cream Cheese Roll she mentions, drooled every-time she mentioned it Great dialogue with tons of witty and snarky comments SPOILER - Love the developing relationship between Gwen and Daphne Dying to read the next book in the series coming out at the end of November Need to get a job at the Library - what a creative and funky sounding library (but the Librarian is a jerk -- how about a hip fun Librarian named maybe either Rayment or Porter who has some kick ass skills & snappy comebacks)The Not So Good Stuff I totally took off points for the character of Nickamedes the Librarian since he is an uptight jerk Librarian (and we know how I feel about negative librarian references LOL) Some repetitive mentions of plot points - Estep is definitely doing less of this, but I do still notice (I think its because I am sensitive to this - I get the point don't knock me over the head with it) This actually might be helpful to more reluctant readers - just a heads upFavorite Quotes/Passages"So far, Professor Metis had been pretty vague about what exactly the chaos was, and I hadn't exactly been paying rapt attention to all the mumbo-jumbo magic stuff. But I was guessing it involved death, destruction and blah, blah, blah. I'd much rather read the comic books that I had stashed in the bottom of my messenger bag. At least they had some basis in reality. Genetic mutations could totally happen.""At least, that's what Nickamedes, the head librarian, claimed. I just thought he liked the free slave labor and bossing me around.""I wouldn't say hate, exactly. You're kind of like fungus, Gwen. After a while, you just start growing on people.""So I'm mold. Wonderful. So why don't you just scrub me off and go sit with your Valkyrie friends like usual?"4.5 Dewey's (Only cuz I'm picky about stereotypical Library characters)I borrowed this from Natasha, since I haven't yet recieved the copy that I pre-ordered (must get off my ass and rectify that)Jennifer's books always make me hungry, usually for something Pumpkin related - so in honor I have made a Pumpkin Cheesecake Roll - hopefully yours tastes as good as Grandma'sGrandma's Pumpkin Cream Cheese Roll (From Grandma's Desserts)Cake3/4 cup flour1/2 tsp. baking powder1/2 tsp. baking soda1/2 tsp. cinnamon1/2 tsp. ground cloves1/4 tsp. salt3 eggs1 cup sugar2/3 cup pumpkinFilling8 oz. cream cheese, softened1 cup powdered sugar6 tbsp butter, softened1 tsp. vanillaPreheat oven to 375. Using a jelly roll pan, line with parchment paper. Get a clean kitchen towel and sprinkle liberally with powdered sugar.Beat eggs and sugar in large mixer until thick. Add flour, soda, powder, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Continue mixing until all ingredients are combined. Pour evenly into pan. It will be very thin.Bake for 13 to 15 minutes, use a toothpick to make sure it is done.Turn cake onto powdered sugar towel. Carefully peel off paper. Roll up cake in towel, starting with the narrow end. Cool on wire rack. For best results, cool for at least 3 hours.Beat cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.Carefully unroll the cake and remove the towel. Take spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture and place them on the cake.It makes it easier to spread, and doesn't tear the cake. Spread evenly across the cake, making sure to get to the edge. Roll cake back up the way it was originally rolled. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Place in fridge for at least one hour.
    • 4/5
      Gwen Frost is a gypsy. What does that mean? It means that she comes from a family with strange magic-like powers. In her case, she can seen the history of items and people just by touching them. It means that her power turned her life upside down and led to the death of her mother. It means that she has been uprooted from everything she know and sent to Mythos Academy, a school for the decendants of ancient mythical beings such as valkyries and Spartans, where magic and destiny are commonplace. But Gwen doesn't fit in. She just wants to go back to her old school and her old way of life.But she needs to come to terms with the fact that her life will never be normal again. It all begins when the most popular girl in school, a Valkyrie named Jasmine, is brutally murdered in the school library. Gwen feels that like she is the only one that seems to wonder what really happened and may have found a use for her power after all, except now it doesn't seem to be working the way it should.I loved Gwen. She was upset and lonely, but there was always a good reason for her emotions and actions. There was no random brooding moments. Throughout the story she begins to feel more like she belongs in some ways, and like she belongs less in others. She finds friends and allies in unusual places and she becomes quite the detective...her mother would be proud.The mystery itself was quite engaging. The hints to solve it were scattered expertly throughout the story and it all linked up very nicely at the end with an ending that was suprising only in the fact that you didn't figure it out sooner. I will definitely be adding the next book to my wishlist.4/5
    • 5/5
      I find myself in awe while reading this book. Amazing from the very first word, I adored this book. I could not get enough of it. I loved the characters, the plot and especially the school!One things I adored about this book is the great story line as well as the character development. The story line has a new girl, not popular and always kept to herself. She find herself in a new school, who she barely thinks she is nobody. WRONG! I loved that the author created such a flawed character to become something more.Ms. Estep captured the reading with a character no one sought out. Gwen is fresh and young. Has a lot to learn and is someone everyone can relate too.The characters in this book were great! I loved the new friendships form and the love that is sought after. Gwen finds friends in the most unlikely places. She also becomes someone she never thought she be. I adore that Gwen is real. She is not a faker and has an attitude that make me laugh.Now the love interest. I am a big romance junkie. Ms. Estep wrote a love interest that is sooo good that it is maddening! I am hooked! I loved that Ms. Estep hooked the reader into a love that is developing, but not quite there. She weaved the love interest where you want it to go on, but just not yet. I like that Logan is a tough guy and is holding back. I know that Gwen is going to get him to sing like a canary once she gets him wrap around her little finger. It 's only a matter of time.You must read this book! The characters are fresh and amazing. Plot line is addicting and non-stop action. Plus, you want Logan, cause I know I do. I mean, who doesn't want a hot spartan? Highly addictive and very engrossing, Touch of Frost is a book that I want to read over and over again. *cursing/ sexual activity*
    • 3/5
      I really enjoy mythology, especially twists on the normal stories. When I read the description of Touch of Frost, I was really excited because it seemed like I book I would really enjoy. Although there were some aspects of the novel that I really liked, there were others that I liked, uh... not so much.Gwen is a "gypsy", along with the other women in her family, and because of that, she has a strange magical power. Gwen doesn't really know why she is a gypsy, or what it means, she just has always known that that is what she is. After her mother's death, she is transported to Mythos Academy, a school made up of kids with otherworldly powers - supposedly decedents of the Greek gods, but Gwen isn't so sure she believes all of it. After a student's death, Gwen decides to start looking for answers... Although her search may bring her closer to the truth, inevitably, that means closer to unimaginable dangers. Okay, so I liked the plot. Although it did take about 100 pages for the pace to pick up, I was interested in what was going to happen next. The ending - showdown. It was highly entertaining and I will definitely be on the lookout for the sequel, Kiss of Frost, coming in December. My problem with this novel was that although I cared about the plot, I didn't really care about the characters. Maybe that's not fair to say... I did care about some of the characters, but not the ones that I normally would, or should for that matter. Truthfully, I didn't really care what happened to Gwen. It wasn't that I didn't like her or that she annoyed me, I just didn't connect with her. I don't know why, there just seemed to be something missing in her development. She didn't seem to really change at all. Although she learned more about her self, none of it seemed to really effect her. It was if she always subconsciously knew the strange things she was about to find out (trying not to spoil), so she didn't seem realistically phased by it. I'm hoping I'll like Gwen more in the next book, because I'm really interested to see where the plot goes next.
    • 4/5
      I am a big fan of Estep's Elemental Assassins series and was excited to see that she was writing a YA series. This is the first book in Estep's new young adult series, Mythos Academy. There are currently three books contracted for this series, but Estep hopes to write 4 or 5. The second book, Kiss of Frost, is due out Dec. 2011. This was a great start to a fun new mythology based series. I loved Gwen as a character and loved how mythology was tied into the story. I recommend checking out the prequel, First Frost, if you want the back-story behind the incident with the girl and her hairbrush which is referenced a number of times in this book.Gwen Frost has just started at Mythos Academy and is having trouble fitting in. She is surrounded by Romans, Amazons, Valkyries, and Spartans...all strong warrior types. Gwen's only power is the ability to get feelings and thoughts from objects people have touched. When a girl is murdered in the campus library where Gwen works, the powers that be at Mythos Academy blame the Reapers of Chaos; but Gwen thinks there is more to it and starts secretly investigating. Her investigation gets her into a lot of trouble and introduces her to a destiny she never knew she had.This book takes a bit to get going; for the majority of the book Gwen only has her touch ability to rely on. Gwen is a great character who is very down to earth, and seems to balance school and family well. Gwen has trouble making friends and is a loner at heart. Gwen's potential love interest, Logan, seems like an interesting character...but you just don't learn much about him or see him much in this book.Most of the book is about Gwen sneaking around trying to figure out what really happened with the girl that was murdered in the library. So this was an urban fantasy with a lot of mystery thrown in. The setting is neat too, Mythos academy is an interesting place. I wish that the powers of the other races there had been expanded on a bit; all of the other races are faster and stronger. There is some mention of other elemental and healing abilities, but it is never talked about in depth and as a reader we never really learn how this relates to the specific races.I loved some of the stuff that happened towards the end of the book and am really looking forward to seeing what Gwen does in her new place, with her added power. Not to mention the training session planned between Gwen and Logan...I am sure those will be very very interesting. The book ends well, with the main mystery resolved and a lot of things dangling for the next book.Overall this was a solid YA urban fantasy. I enjoyed the characters and the setting; loved how mythology is tied into this story. It is kind of like a young adult mythological Harry Potter. I am hoping that the characters' powers will be expanded on in future books and I am also hoping we will get to know Logan better. I will definitely be picking up the next book in this series, Kiss of Frost, when it releases. Fans of young adult urban fantasy should check out this book, as should fans of mythology based urban fantasy.
    • 4/5
      TOUCH OF FROST, by Jennifer Estep, is the first book in the Mythos Academy series. Gwen Frost is a Gypsie in a school full of mythological warriors. She is an outcast and one day stumbles upon a dead body of one of the Mythos students. She launches her own investigation with dangerous consequences. Along the way she makes two friends and learns more about her heritage then she ever bargained for.I really loved this book! Estep created a school full of mythological warriors who were training to protect humans from Chaos. Gwen's mother died previous to this book and she was recruited to attend Mythos. She has no idea why and keeps to herself since she did not grow up believing in the mythology as the rest of the students did. I loved Gwen's 'voice'. She was awkward, snarky, and totally into bad-boy Spartan Logan just as much as I was! I loved following her on the journey to figuring out who killed one of the popular girls. I enjoyed getting to explore Gwen's gift too. Her ability to touch an object and feel emotions from all those who have touched it before was pretty awesome. Although it did limit the amount of touching of other humans, especially Logan. Even though this book was pretty long at 350 pages, it definitely flew by and only touched the tip of the iceberg in the story as a whole. I am very anxious to read the next book! With a cast of characters that are well-developed and interesting and a plot that will keep your eyes glued to the pages, this book is not one to miss!
    • 4/5
      This review refers to the e-arc I received I am a big fan of Jennifer Estep's Elemental Assassin books, so when I heard that she was starting a new series (Mythos Academy), but this time for YA, I almost passed on it, but I'm glad now I didn't. The concept of the series is pretty good. The book uses simple language which allowed me to focus on the story and drew me in. I'm now anxiously waiting for the next book in the series. The story centers on a teenage girl named Gwen. She has the give of psychometry, which means she gets psychic impressions from the things she touches. Gwen and her family are Gypsies, and after the death of her mom, Gwen is enrolled in the Mythos Academy, a school for teenagers with special gifts. The halls are filled with Amazons, Spartans, and other teen warriors. Gwen though feels out-of-place, she's a Gypsy, she's no warrior and she certainly doesn't come from the same type of background the other kids do. Gwen doesn't have things easy, she doesn't fit in, and doesn't understand why she's there, and when she asks why she doesn't get a straight answer from anyone including her beloved grandmother. Things seem to go from "bad" to even worse when she discovers the body of the seemingly most popular girl in school, dead in the library. Afterwards though she is even more shocked to see that no one seems to be sad for the dead girl, the other kids seem more interested in whos going ot be prom queen now that she's dead than in who killed her and why. So, Gwen decides to play Nancy Drew and see what she can find out using her powers. The results are somewhat astonishing, but Estep does set the book up nicely for the ones to follow. I really enjoyed this book, way more than I thought I would at first and therefore I would recommend it and I'd also give it 4 1/2 stars.
    • 4/5
      After read and enjoying Jennifer Estep's adult paranormal romance novels, I was curious how she would transition to the young adult market. I always enjoyed Estep's unique brand of action-packed, fun fantasy complete with witty comments and don't-take-themselves-too-seriously characters. However, I was a little concerned about this same fun spunkiness showing up in a YA novel, as I wasn't sure if the genre would allow Estep the same freedom. While I didn't enjoy Touch of Frost as much as her adult novels, Estep's first YA outing is still an enjoyable, fun and easy story that's a worthwhile read.Gwen Frost isn't like the other students at Mythos Academy. All the students are mythos are training to be warriors -of mythological proportions. Most tend to be the descendants of Valkyries, Amazons, Vikings, Romans, Spartan or any other slew of ancient warrior, but Gwen isn't. Dubbed "the Gypsy girl" by the other students, Gwen has the ability to sense an object's history just by touching. When she finds herself caught in an unexpected murder at Mythos, Gwen gets pulled into the tangled world of the popular warriors at Mythos, even if it means dealing with the uppity popular girls.I was pleasantly surprised by Touch of Frost. It's a solidly written, comfortable read that's quick and easy to read. The plot is fairly simple, but straightforward and easy to understand, while the characters are fairly interesting, though at times somewhat stereotypical. I also had a little trouble with Gwen. Sure, I was a lot like her in high school, and had trouble fitting in, but for the first part of the novel she just spend too long angsting about it. She got better, thankfully, but it was tough to read several pages in a row without any dialog for a little while -but it looks like this issue has been resolved for the future.One of the best elements of this book was the setting. While I do think that it had some shades of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, Estep weaves together established myth with her own brand of fiction seamlessly, and the idea of this "warrior" academy for mythological warriors is pretty fun, especially since Gwen doesn't quite fit the school's norm. Also, while I did see shades of Estep's wit, I felt like it wasn't as prevalent here as in her adult novels, but perhaps it wouldn't have worked as well with the overall tone.Better than I anticipated, Touch of Frost is a quick, fun read that's great for fans of YA paranormal novels and other teen books.
    • 4/5
      I have always wanted to review this author, and thanks to my library I was not disappointed with Gwen's story!! A Touch of Frost spins Gwen Frost, a Gypsy with powers unknown to her, as she is uprooted from her own high school and placed in the Mythos Academy a school of magic. Ms. Estep combines my two favorite genres: Paranormal and Mystery AND I CAN'T WAIT TO READ HER NEXT BOOK!
    • 5/5
      Great beginning to a new series. The narrator does a wonderfully job. I was easily able to distinguish between each or the real-to-life characters. I was enraptured from beginning to end in this well written story.
    • 3/5
      I've been meaning to read this book for a while. I'm glad I finally got around to it. It was a fun kick off to the series. Estep does a good job of developing her world and setting the stage for future novels. It's kind of humorous because it feels a bit like Percy Jackson for older kids. There are all these descendants from Greek mythology that are at a boarding school and preparing for a life of fighting. A new kid thrown into the lifestyle that doesn't understand why she's there or her powers. Gwen is a good heroine and I found myself really pulling for her. I can't wait to see how Estep develops the storyline and brings Gwen along. I also appreciated that Estep didn't jump right into the romantic relationship with Gwen and Logan (or anybody for that matter). She seems to be comfortable with taking her time and that'll be the best way to tell the story.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book. This was a re-read for me but it felt like I was reading it for the first time since I remember next to none of it. I can barely remember the names of characters an hour after finishing a book so it shouldn’t be a surprise that I can forget an entire plot after 11 years. Anyway, I thought that this was a worthwhile read and am glad that I decided to revisit it.Gwen has recently started attending Mythos Academy. Her mom was killed by a drunk driver so now it is just her and her grandmother. Gwen has a bit of gypsy magic which helps her find lost items for other students. She doesn’t have any real friends at school and often sneaks out of campus to visit with her grandmother. One night when she is working her job at the school library another student is murdered and an artifact is taken. Nobody seems to care but Gwen wants to figure out what really happened that night.I liked Gwen and thought that it was great to see a few friendships start to form in this book. I liked the mythology that was worked into the story. The mystery was rather interesting and there were enough twists and turns to keep me invested in the story. I thought that the story was well-paced with enough action to keep things moving. I am eager to see how the events from this book play out in future installments.Tara Sands did a great job with this story. I thought that she was able to bring the characters to life and liked the voices that she used for the various characters, both male and female. I thought that she added just the right amount of emotion and excitement to her voice which added a lot to the story. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others and look forward to continuing with the series.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book. I found myself rolling my eyes a bit at the frequency of the use of certain words and phrases (foremost among them: "Gypsy gift" and "Valkyrie princess"), but it was very enjoyable. And I do like the premise, a lot. As a quick rundown for those who haven't read it, the basic premise is that the old gods and goddesses are real, and way back when they created Champions to defend the world for them because they'd all made a truce among themselves which forbade them from interfering directly. The descendants of these Champions are still living today, (some of them are Champions themselves) and their kids are attending Mythos Academy in order to learn how to become warriors for the gods.It's a fun concept. And – even with those few phrases that bugged me – it's enjoyably written.
    • 4/5
      Same idea as Rick Riordan's books - that the gods and goddess have kids but with a different twist. In this case they are all training to defeat/hold back the god Loki. The book is part mystery part fantasy.
    • 5/5
      I got this book as part of a YA book swap and I really enjoyed it. I love fantasy stuff and this was quite different and really fantastic. The characters are easy to relate to and the storyline is fun to follow along with.