The Frozen Star (Star, #2) by Jessie Lane
Fantasy/YA
Ebook
May 29, 2014
Whiskey Girl Publishing
Reviewed By Tori
Favorite Quote: “No one could own me in death.”
The Frozen Star picks up right where The Burning Star left off. Kay has been kidnapped by Lord Donovan and Kira is recovering from the near fatal wounds she received trying to stop him. Kira is the main focal point of this story as we learn how she came to be raised by Lord Donovan and what her connection to Kay is. Now safe and secure in the Seelie castle, Kira is finding her first taste of freedom somewhat stifling.
Kay, waiting for the unknown in Lord Donovan’s dungeon, gains unexpected allies as she tries to figure out what Donovan is planning. Still reeling from learning she is not human and she has powers galore, Kay struggles against her illness while trying to find away to escape and make her way back to her family, friends, and Ryan.
Jessie Lane has upped the ante on her fantasy YA series. More action, intrigue, suspense, violence, and romance permeate this installment. Emotions run high as we learn the of the complicated ties that bind Kay and Kira and Lord Donovan’s end game. Lane continues to manipulate the legends of the fae, borrowing from other fairy tales to create their own version. Crisp concise writing and a fast pace engages the reader from page one. I enjoy the YA tone that the series continues to carry. Still refreshingly barren of the purple prose and huge emotional angst scenes that seem to clutter YA much more often than not. A good balance of suspense and humor goes far in keeping the storyline on an even keel. The world continues to build and evolve with added knowledge and characters.
Kira and Kay’s back stories are incredibly different yet they are very similar personality wise. Kira, like Kay, is strong, committed, and loyal. You get an old soul feeling from her even though she is only seventeen. Her life has aged her both emotionally and mentally. Not raised in the most loving of homes, Kira’s childhood was a study in cruelty. She was raised by Lord Donovan with his malicious son, Cole. Abused and tortured, Lord Donovan systematically stripped her of everything, leaving her an almost empty shell, devoid of even the smallest of emotions. Unlike Kay though, Kira is a warrior. She will not be content sitting safe in the castle while everyone else fights for her safety. This causes some untold problems when Kira’s parentage comes to light and suddenly Kira has a large family that loves and cares for her.
The unsure romantic entanglements from The Frozen Star are sorted out in here. There are multiple romances that sweep through the book offering hope and humor to lighten the dark undertones. The romances are sweet, heartfelt, and undeniably YA which worked perfectly with the tone of the book. Prince Kane is undeniably a romantic as he tries to convince Kira she is the only one for him and shows her in a manner that can’t be ignored. Ryan is heartbroken Kay is gone but receives a gift, proving to Ryan that she is indeed his soul mate. Even Nick finds love with a prickly fae but certain events keep the reader unsure if they are meant to be.
The main conflict is supported by various subplots but easily contained in that the storylines are told primarily from Kira and Kay’s viewpoints. The shifts are easy to follow with no lag time or confusion. Through the girls we learn the source of Lord Donovan vendetta and what his future plans are. Some new characters are introduced to help widen the scope of the world while some are lost. I enjoyed seeing familiar faces and getting to know them better. Prince Kane has to be my favorite. He’s so open and the perfect foil for the darker more somber Kira.
Lane once again systemically resolves the main conflict with the appropriate means, leaving us some what shocked and dismayed by some of the results. We are left with a cliffhanger but not a major one.
The Frozen Star more than answered the challenge left by The Burning Star and is perfect for those YA readers who enjoy a steady diet of dreamy boys, action packed adventures, and diabolical villains in their paranormal diet. I look forward to the next and I look forward to book three, the final installment, title and release date to be announced.
RATING: B
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Nice review Tori, it sounds like a good series. I might pick this up for my stepdaughter.