Note: There are spoilers below!! Lots of spoilers!! You have been warned.
Before I get into the list, let me say a few things. First of all, I’m a huge fan of the Fever series and I was desperate to get my hands on this book. For those that are new to this author, I feel the Fever series must be read before you read Iced, as this book builds on previous events. While I was excited for this one, I was also nervous. Dani (the heroine) wasn’t a favorite character of mine in previous books. Being 14 years old and extremely hyper, she kind of got on my nerves towards the end of the Fever series. But I am so happy to say, I adored her in Iced. She is funny, smart, mature yet still a kid. Engaging and just really fun to read. We also get Christian’s point of view (we have much to talk about with him) as well as some brief scene’s with Kat.
I’ve talked extensively about this book yesterday with some readers and one of the biggest things we argued about was – who will be Dani’s HEA? For me, I am 100% on board with Ryodan. How can it not be him? But I understand where others are coming from. Christian is in love with her (or at least obsessed with her – Christian has some major issues y’all!) and Dancer is her best friend. She has three dudes that are basically following her around. My friends have argued that Ryodan is more a father figure to her, not a love interest. I say WRONG! She has seen him naked twice. She kind of has funny feelings about him, as any 14 year old would. I have some quotes down below that support my stance. I know some are angry because Ryodan has entered into a relationship with Jo and is somewhat flaunting it in her face, but she is 14. It would be creepy if Ryodan was waiting for her. And Dani knows more than anyone that Ryodan is just dragging Jo along for the ride as she as continuously tried to tell Jo this.
I would love to hear your thoughts/theories on who you think Dani will eventually end up with.
10. Level Four at Chester’s, a place Ryodan and his men visit to get it on.
“You’ve been on level four.” His eyes are scary. Then again, this is Ryodan. His eyes are scary a lot.
“What’s level four?” I say innocently, but he’s not buying it for a minute. Level four is like something out of a porn movie….
My mind flashes straight back to level four and I see him behind that woman again and he groans like he did that night, then he laughs, and I feel almost sick to my stomach remembering. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I wish I’d never fecking gone down to level four!
9. Ryodan needs Dani’s help to solve the problem of places getting Iced. First she needs convincing…
“Kid, Batman needs Robin.”
Dude. I go all soft and melty inside and swallow a dreamy sigh. Robin to his Batman! Superhero partners. There are lots of versions where Robin gets way stronger.
But then…Ryodan really isn’t familiar with Batman….
Gotta love the dudes that wrote Batman. They had to sit around cracking themselves up all the time. “Or, Holy crystal ball, Batman, how did you see that coming?” I look up at him.
He’s staring at me like I have three heads.
The truth dawns on me. “Holy prostrate rugs, you lied! You’ve never even read Batman have you? Like not one single issue. You never even watched an episode on TV! That was, like, your only redeeming quality and it wasn’t even true. You been pretending we’re superhero partners and you don’t even know the first thing about Robin!” No wonder Ryodan’s no fun to hang with. I’m so disgusted I can’t stand it!
8. When Ryodan asks a question, his voice doesn’t rise at the end of the sentence. This annoys Dani to no end.
“Nothing else.”
I give him a look. I hate his statement-questions. I’m not answering them anymore.
He laughs. “Nothing else.” His voice rises on else about one one-hundredth of a note higher than the word ‘nothing,’ a concession only someone like me with superhearing would ever be able to pick up. Still, it’s a concession. From Ryodan. Rarer than water in the desert.
7. Ryodan likes sex. (And evidence that he is Dani’s HEA!)
“You’re with me until dawn.”
“Why dawn? You a vamp or a zombie or something that can’t stand the light?”
He freeze-frames away, moves in on the scene. “I like sex for breakfast, kid. I eat early and often.”
There I am thinking normal thoughts about iced people and how much he bugs me, then he slams me in the eyeballs with sex for breakfast stuff, and just like that my hormones do that crazy thing they do sometimes, where they start slapping up pictures all over the inside of my head and each one is more embarrassing that the last.
And then visions of level four come back…
But there he is, in graphic detail because I know exactly what he looks like naked, I saw him. I know how his body moves. He’s got a lot of muscle. Scars, too. I know that when he has sex he laughs like the world is a perfect place.
6. Any mention of Barrons, must make this list. I also think KMM does a nice job making Ryodan his own man. I was worried about comparing him to Barrons, but I didn’t find myself doing that.
With Barrons you expect to get fucked up royally. With Ryodan you don’t see it coming.
5. Ryodan and Christian are vying to be the alpha male in Dani’s life. One of my favorite scenes is when Ryodan is ushering Dani back into his club and Christian is perched on a nearby roof (told in Christian’s pov)…
He (Ryodan) squats at the edge and watched her go and, for a split second, I see an unguarded expression on his face.
It chills even a creature as cold as me.
I know that look. I’ve seen it on my own face.
Then the son of a bitch looks up at me and, this time, there’s no question in my mind that he sees me. He looks straight at me and inclines his head with a mocking smile. I return it coolly. My nod says, “yes, yes, I see you. Be very careful.”
Later Christian thinks..
He (ryodan) knows she’s worth waiting for.
And when it’s time, he intends to be the one. That’s why he’s keeping her close. To those of us who live forever, a few years isn’t long to wait.
Nor for something worth waiting for. Not for a once-in-a-lifetime girl.
…And he’s staking his claim.
Over my. Dead. Fucking. Body.
And I can’t die.
4. Ryodan is forced to undress at one point to help Dani who got herself extremely cold. We discover – he doesn’t wear underwear. Told in Christian’s POV:
I look down. Ryodan’s dick is as big as mine. “Why the bloody hell don’t’ you wear underwear?” To an Unseelie prince, an exposed male dick is a call to battle.
“They chafe. Too small and confining.”
“Fuck you,” I say.
3. Dani and lots of Ryodan’s men get in a mess and they are all crammed together in the middle of the street.
There are more balls in twenty feet of street here than there are in all of Dublin, and I’m proud to be swaying in the nut sack.
2. There are times when Ryodan shows just how much he respects 14 year old Dani.
“You’re going to be one hell of a woman one day, Dani.”
or this:
“Turn it off,” Ryodan says without even looking at me. “You’re distressing Dani. No one distressed Dani but me.”
(also, Ryodan is so bad ass in this scene. LOVE it.)
1. Dani is still crushing on Barrons.
He smiles faintly. “I’ll be damned. You have a crush on Barrons.”
“I do not have a crush – “
“You do, too. It’s all over your face. Anybody can see it.”
“Sometimes, boss, you’re just wrong.”
“I’m never wrong. You might as well take out a billboard. ‘Dani O’Malley thinks Jericho Barrons is hot.’
And one of my favorite scenes with Ryodan and Barrons lying in an alley:
“I’m going to kill the kid,” Barrons says faintly.
Ryodan makes a burbling sound like a bloody laugh. I don’t think he even has the parts left to laugh with. “Get in line.”
I really enjoyed this book! Dani and Ryodan worked really well for me. Christian and his insane ways made me laugh. I loved what we get with Lor. Kat and Cruce had some interesting developments. I really can’t wait to get to the second book, please write fast KMM! *wink*
Check out Hanging With Bells. and Fiction Vixen for further discussion.
Also, here is a Q&A KMM did (not sure when it was originally posted) but it does have a few answers in there that might interest you.
I loved that scene with Ryodan and Barrons in the alley! I loved this book.
I really hope Ryodan is Dani’s HEA. I really do. But…
Don’t “but” me Sophia!!! It has to be Ryodan……
;)
I know!! I so want it to be. It has to be. But…lol
I am with you guys, I WANT her HEA to be Ryo!!
Ok Mandi…refresh my memory please!!!
At the end of Fever series, wasn’t V’Lane missing? It turned out V’Lane wasn’t really V’lane? I think I need to reread the series first. I hate it when a series of any kind has big gaps in release dates. Plus I need a Barrons fix
I’m a spoiler ho. I haven’t even finished but I have no willpower. *sigh* I should be ashamed of myself… but I’m not.
Hey. No shame. Cause that means I should be ashamed too. And I am not. Not one little bit.
*hugs* My fellow spoiler ho
I’m at 45% – bookmarking and coming back as soon as I’m done!!
BETTER BE FECKING RYODAN!!!
word.
I am team Ryodan. I can’t see the other men as real contenders next to him. He and dani have something that can grow. The other two just wouldn’t be as KMM intriguing as romances.
That said, I think starting with Iced is possible! I think those of us who read fever series know more details, but it could be a starting point for newbies and I love that she did it that way and that it works thanks to a whole new POV
Interesting – I think meeting Christian and Dani in Fever is important but I understand your view of starting Iced fresh
This book has totally messed with my mind. It seemed so straightfoward at first. Sob.
I WANT IT TO BE RYODAN. Dammit I hope you are right and my theories are wrong. I will happily eat this one.
Her HEA is Ryodan!! I will hear nothing else! #RyoHo #LorWhore
I thought cruce said he switched places with v’lane and queen killed who she thought was cruce. Hmmmmm but how trustworthy is cruce???
Iced was great. I want to now reread last 2 fever books to get up-to-date on ryo. Great post!
Cruce is V’lane..right? He is NOT trustworthy at all! Currently under the abbey ‘trapped’ in ice.
but could v’lane be dancer (okay: I am WAY pushing the limits with that one) & still wonder if Ryo isn’t more of a father figure (sorry, but that Jo thing seems so weird to me—why pick one of her friends if he is her HEA?)….all in all, the various theories and pondering goes goes to show how good kmm is at worldbuilding. can’t believe we don’t have a pub date for next book :(
She is excellent at worldbuilding.
Isn’t V’lane = Cruce? Or am I mistaken….
I feel like Dancer must have big secrets…right?
cruce did take v’lane’s place (and said the original v’lane was killed). I’m just trying to figure out who dancer is (this is the problem with series with releases once a year: I want answers now!). sigh. but the time allows for better books which is a win for us all.
GREAT Post…it helped elicit quite a response!
I just want to be sure. KMM has promised an HEA for Dani even though she’s only 14?
Yes. There will be a HEA. I assume time fast forwards in bk 2 or 3….I THINK she said at one point Dani will be 17.
KMM writing is just…captivating. She grabs you like she put some kind of spell in that words of hers and you are blind for real world.
I was one of those who didn’t like Dani in Fever books and kudos to KMM for making me love her with Iced.
Yes, yes and yes. :)
I have one more to add in support of Ryodan being her HEA…
“No one but me is ever going to teach you, Dani.”
He touches me before I see it coming, has his hand under my chin, turning my face up. My shiver is instant and uncontrollable.
“That’s non-negotiable. You signed a contract with me that grants exclusivity. You won’t like it if you try to break it.”
Sorry, but I can’t find anything fatherly in that scene…lol ;)
Oh yes…very good quote!
Grrr!!! Can’t read your list yet because I haven’t read Iced! I have it on my phone ready to go but had to stop after reading the blurb. I’m a huge fan of the fever series and my plan was to re-read it before Iced came out but life got in the way. Now Iced is here and the blurb mentions “Dani’s ex-best friend MacKayla Lane, wants her dead…” and for the life of me I can’t remember why Mac and Dani aren’t friends anymore. I remember all other story-lines but that one is just “poof” gone. Can you remind me what happened so I can finally read this book and then your post :)
Thalia..Mac is mad at Dani because he found out Dani is the one that killed her sister…although forced to because of Rowena….
I was going out of my damn mind since Tuesday because I desperately needed somebody to discuss this book with. argh!!! I loved it and CANNOT get it out of my head!!
I can’t either – I thought it was so well done!!
As I only started the second fever book (Bloodfever) I must ignore this list but I am sure its filled with awesomeness
Thanks for the info! Man, I can’t believe it still doesn’t ring a bell. Think I’ll have to skim a few pages in Shadowfever to refresh my memory then will move on to Iced :)
Waiting in SA for Iced to come out is torture! While I love Ryodan, I need to ask: what’s happening with Lor? I have a HUGE crush on him.
Like Tori, I’m a spoiler ho too.
Lor is like Ryodan’s right hand man. He becomes Dani’s bodyguard of sorts…he likes women with big boobs. LOLOL. He was much more comical in this book than in SF.
I love all kmm’books.
Does anyone know when book2/3will be out?
So I can estimate the torturous waiting time……
I haven’t seen any news – I assume same time next year? I might have to stalk her message boards to see if anyone has heard anything.
Wait the character is 14??…doesn’t thta make it YA
If you go by age of protagonist yes, but KMM has said it is not a YA book.
MANDI – did we ever figure out what that dream was about when she is first in Ryo’s dungeon, before Jo shows up – Mac appears to her and tells her to trust Ryo, that he is like her Barrons, and keeps calling her “Dani Dani” and she’s all why are you calling me that? I thinks he figured out it was a dream, but was it foreshadowing??
The iPod music situation at the end had me DYING of LOL. That was hilarious, LOVE Lor.
I think her HEA is ultimately with Ryo. I get the argument that he is more of a fatherly figure to her, but I am NOT getting those vibes from her. He is the top dog alpha and I think he is ultimately the HEA HERO.
I cannot believe how much I loved this book. Go, KMM!
ooooh..I am going to have to go back and reread that part. I forgot about that. I bet it is foreshadowing.
I know – this book was really awesome
Is this top ten reasons to read Iced or top ten reasons that I LOOVE Ryodan and he IS the HEA hero? haha. I need to start the Fever series asap!
LOL..is it obvious I love Ryodan? *giggles*
I think all of mine would have been: Ryodan! I’m still a bit shocked at how much I loved him in this book. I was worried about the comparisons to Barrons as well, and was happy I didn’t compare them at all. Also, I found myself really like Lor. :)
Yes yes and yes!
TYVM for the info!
The main character is 14?…does this author skip years in books? She would need to age 4 years before anything sexual should happen…who is waiting that long for her and Ryo? Why make a character that young?
I think I read that she will be 17/18 by end of trilogy….
She was 14 in Fever series and she starts Iced one week before final fever book ends…not sure when progression in age will occur – she is still 14 at end of Iced.
I trust KMM though ;)
I also hope it’s Ryodan. I really loved this book. It was such a fun read. Karen Moning is the best. I can’t wait for the next book. I’m so curious about everyone. It’s going to be great.
I hope Ryo is her HEA, I hope when it happens its graphic – does that make me perverse ;)
I am so glad Ryo is his own man and I didn’t find him a pale shade of Barrons…to test their individuality I had to close my eyes and picture them under the covers…very different…ok I am a pervert!
And hello Dnacer….I think there is a diamond in the rough there no? Not my pick for Dani but I think a definite one to watch
Loved Lor too.
I’m hoping the next one is out soon!!!!!!
“I hope Ryo is her HEA, I hope when it happens its graphic”
HELL YES.
I think we are all waiting this moment. LOL
I have re-read a couple of areas ( ok ALOT) and I still don’t get the JO thing. How will that work out, she’s going to have to die. Really I don’t want her hanging around when Dani and Ryo get together. because. they. are. getting. together.
When Dani tells her he fed her steak! priceless.
“He really gave you steak and milk today?”
Moning, Karen Marie (2012-10-30). Iced: A Dani O’Malley Novel (Fever Series) (Kindle Location 5734). Random House, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
I think she will die….hopefully soon. (is that horrible?)
He!! no it’s not horrible! I can’t stand her. Sheeeeeeeep! Dani’s right. And I don’t expect Ryodan to wait for her, because yeah that would be creepy but it is a bit of a jackass move to flaunt it with Jo (someone Dani cares about) in her face. Really irks me!
LUV Ryodan! I agree with you Bookster, I don’t like the Jo relationship with him! I worry she will turn into a Fiona and turn on Dani.
So many great moments showing Ryodan’s jealousy and posesssive feelings for Dani
I think Chriatian is key to dealing with Cruce. and next book Dani goes to help him get away from Red Hag
I agree with the Christian/Cruce thing….can’t wait to see how that plays out.
*digs grave* DEAD! LOVED this book!!! I swear you Smexy-ass girls never steer me wrong! Ryo….have mercy love him. Christian is crazy as hell, haha comic relief to the 10th power….Okay, initially I thought that 14 was too young and young adult bookish….now all I can think is PLEASE let Dani spend some more time in Farey and speed up the aging process. I need Ryo to claim her heart like yesterday!
I hope we don’t have to deal with tons of time with Dani fighting the attraction…but figure this is only a trilogy, so we have what 2 books to get her grown and properly wedded and bedded…haha
And I have not even read the Fever series, so I may go back and check those books out too.
Thanks for the review, made a believer out of me!
Oh yesss….I’m SO glad you liked it!!!
You must go back and read Fever – you would love those just as much!!
As we all sit here and wait for Dani to age so she can get nekkid with Ryo. ;)
Also, the Jo thing, I initially thought he picked Jo to kind of counteract his ‘feelings’ for Dani. Like to save him from himself- remember he ‘chose’ Jo right after Dani nearly died, I wish that would have been explored a little more. I think he needed to put a physical & psychological wedge to remind himself that she was not yet ‘his’. And he needed an outlet for how crazy he felt. That or he just felt like it. lol
When he was shaking after being naked around Dani – and then Lor said something about going to get some (meaning Jo) – yeah – it is almost like he is just using Jo to sate his need for Dani. I wonder why he is ONLY with Jo though – why not continue to take random women? Is there a reason??
He is practicing being monogamous for when Dani is ready for him!!!!! :P :P
omg..I love this. LOLOLOLOL
But he has to worry that if he hurts Jo, Dani may follow the girl code and not want to be with him
This is true. Dani already thinks Ryodan will eventually hurt Jo – so she is on alert about his behavior.
Maybe something will happen to Jo by accident…or maybe she will wise up and get rid of Ryodan.
Why must we wait a year for the next one? :)
@Sheena on Jo – that is EXACTLY my feeling on “why Jo”!!
Not to go on a tangent about Lor again but did anyone see the picture that KMM shared on Facebook last night? It’s a picture from a group called Linkin Fever of how they imagine Lor to look.
Lor-lovers will trip over their own tongues! This dude is outrageously smexy…
Here is the link
And also – HELL YES.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=397116073689880&set=a.215020088566147.47473.211569022244587&type=1&theater
**swoon** for that Lor picture. Really there has to be a spin-off on the rest of the 9 right? They ALL need their HEA and even though we don’t really know the rest of them it seems shes introducing them a little more in each book right?
I get that he used Jo because he was *needy* after being naked with Dani but why why why use her again and again?? That’s what irks :( Nod at different women !!!
Yess..we need Lor to get HEA. Isn’t there another dude that hasn’t spoken in a gazillion years or something? I think we met him in Fever. They all intrigue me.
Sooo, many good quotes in this book! I also think Ryo will be the one she ends up with, but I pretty much hated him thoughout this entire book. He’s a little too manipulative for my tastes. However, I think KMM is an amazing writer and she can make me believe in almost anything, and I can’t wait to see how she turns things around.
Okay, I’m late to this party but I just finished ICED and wanted to weigh in:) I’m in the Ryodan camp for sure – I got absolutely no father figure vibes from him, I got only sexual-tension-to-come-in-the-future vibes and I eagerly await those moments. I was initially worried about this book since Dani is 14 and part of what I loved about Mac and Barrons was all the tension between them and the will they/won’t they battle, but I loved how she handled everything, I thought she managed to make me see a relationship with Dani and Ryodan down the line without having him make any inappropriate overtures in this first book.
Also, the silent guy’s name is Kasteo. I hope we get a story for him and Fade and Lor:)
Yes – I thought she handled her age so well! I was really happy with that. And glad to have another on the Ryodan=HEA team ;)
Ah – Kasteo. Thanks! And Fade. Yes..they all need books :)
Hi Mandi! I am VERY late to the party, I know. I finished ICED last week and I have a lot of mixed feelings about it. KMM’s writing is impecable, that’s for sure. She is super awesome! But I am totally not liking what’s going on with Ryodan and Jo. Yes, Dani is 14 and still too young for him but Ryodan does not do exclusive and for him to be exclusive with Jo and then throwing it all up in Dan’s face, I really didn’t like it. BUT, knowing KMM, she has a reason for everything. I also didn’t like how Jo is so lovestruck over Ryodan. She appears weak to me in this book.
Dancer is super cute but I think Dani needs a strong man. Christian is definetly…different but I don’t think he will be her HEA. I agree with you that Ryodan will be her HEA.
I’m really curious to see how this whole Ryo/Jo thing plays out. Will Jo get hurt? Does Ryodan have secret motives? Gah! I need the next book ;)
Me too! There are things that lead me to believe she is a passing thing but I just don’t understand the whole “relationship.” Like when Jo told Dani her and Ryo were exclusive and he tells her everything?? Of course that’s not true because Ryo told Dani that Jo can never know he died and then came back. And then there’s the big dinner with milk and steak and all the goodies and Jo was like, really you actually got milk and..etc.
And then there’s the scene when they came back after Dani almost died and his hands were shaking and Lor told him to go take care of himself. Me thinks that Ryo needs sex as a sort of healing maybe??
I hope Burned comes out soon because this not knowning is KILLING me!!
Yeah – it makes me thing Jo thinks their relationship is more than what Ryo things it is (as Dani is trying to stress that to Jo).
I LOVED that Ryo came back….unsettled…after seeing Dani almost die.
Hurry and grow up Dani!!
You’re comments are dead on. And all of the scenes are some of my favorites. I’m team Ryodan all the way.
I know this comment is so ridiculously late to the discussion, but scene that I thought really pointed to Ryodan being Dani’s HEA is:
Dani just attempted to sneak out with Jo, claiming Jo counts as one of Ryodan’s “people”. Through the whole scene he never says he considers Jo one of his “people”, never claims her. Then they proceed to COMPLETELY ignore Jo as they argue with each other.
After Dani’s definition of love, Ryo says, “Think about what that entails,” he says. “Providing food. Shelter. Protection from one’s enemies. A place to rest and heal.”
This is a statement toward Dani. Jo never needed any of those things from Ryo, especially not protection from enemies or a place to rest and heal.
He tells Dani, “Pull your head out of your ass and see the world.” But I wonder, is that a statement in itself telling her his actions speak louder than his words – and that she is the one that actually matters.
Yes to all of those!!
Since this posted, KMM has confirmed Ryodan and Dani will have a HEA . Thank goodness!!!
I do not like will they/or won’t they relationships dragged out for several books. I do not. But the exception is Karen Marie Moning’s books. After her Fever series, I have faith that this will be one spectacular HEA for Ryodan and Dani.
I am late to this conversation but I was thinking Ryodan IS Dani’s father. Not a “father figure”…
As we know Barron’s had a kid so why would it be surprising that Ryodan has one too.
Ryo and Dani have very similar personalities (thus why they don’t always get along) as well as super powers. His are stronger but he is older and he keeps offering to teach her.
As far as the sex, Dani never said it turned her on, just that it made her sick. But even if she was turned on if she doesn’t know he is her father it may have that effect because he is a good looking man.
Ryo also enjoys pushing people buttons (as Mac pointed out several times in the FEVER series) and sex is one of Dani’s hot buttons so why wouldn’t he press it. Throw Jo in her face (although that wasn’t really on purpose, she walked in on them) Sex is a fact of life to Ryo like eating breakfast and not something to protect her from and might be trying to teach her that too.
Just my thoughts.
Also I am hoping Lor becomes one of her suitors. I like him…
KMM has confirmed Ryo will be Dani’s HEA..so he is not the dad. But many thought that!
I love Lor. I love all the guys. I hope they get books too
Mandi!! Where is burned???!! Have you read it ??
Our thoughts (me, sheena and May) go up at noon today on Burned!!!
Everyone is a bit frustrated with it..
I know!! That’s why I’m hounding your website :((
It’s up!
I reread Iced so many times and I stubbornly pretend that the book after Iced never exist. I really wish she continue the story of Iced on what she originally have in mind.
I thought that the reason Ryodan stayed with Jo is because his pride was hurt. Dani caught them in the act and talk to Jo about why hooking up with Ryodan is bad. When Dani went to Ryodan office to confront him, she didn’t find him but notice a breeze. I thought that breeze was Ryodan, not wanting to talk about what Dani saw. When Dani is done listening to Jo, Ryodan was looking down on the stairs. It seems to me like his listening to the conversation the whole time and didn’t like that Dani thought of him as not relationship worthy. That’s probably why he nod to Jo again.