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Frozen Heart

by Annabelle Blume (Goodreads Author)

4.19 of 5 stars 4.19 · rating details · 37 ratings · 26 reviews

Cressenda knows how to survive. With her sled dogs as her only companions, she’s spent the past ten years hiding in the snow covered wilderness from the oppressive regime of the Affinity. When a routine trip to civilization takes a turn for the worst, Cressenda is forced to take refuge with the enemy or lose her life to the frozen countryside.

But Beckett, a Guard of the Af...more

Paperback, 183 pages

Published August 7th 2012 by Inkspell Publishing

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Aug 07, 2012 Vanessa E. Leigh rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read this book, and it was a really nice short dystopian read. If you like the novels Matched by Ally Condie, you'll like this novella. Not only was it where there a very good plot, it had an erotic scene that was written to perfection, although I am not a big fan of erotica, it was one of the reasons I liked it because other people think it's alright to put an erotic scene every other paragraph, which tends to get tiring to the average reader. It's not as strong as an erotica novel should be,...more

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Aug 31, 2012 Rebecca Hart rated it 5 of 5 stars

I brought this novella on the plane with me when I flew to California and I have to say, reading it made the time fly by. Before I knew it, I was at the end of the story and looking for more.

Im not one to give spoilers in reviews, so I will stay away from anything too specific, but will say that I loved the descriptions and Ms, Blume really did a spectacular job of describing the dystopian world Cressenda lives in. I was hooked from the first page, and really enjoyed the interactions between he...more

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Aug 04, 2012 Shelley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

Cressenda lives in the wilderness, alone apart from her two sled dogs, Tonk and Tilo. Every few months she makes the journey to the nearest settlement to trade for items she can’t make or find by herself. The journey is a dangerous one as she faces nature, animal predators and the reapers who track people like her who choose to live off the grid. Her latest trip is fraught with extra danger since she’s left it too late in the season. Winter approaches, she comes across a reaper and when she fina...more

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Jun 27, 2012 Aubrie Dionne rated it 5 of 5 stars

The first half of Frozen Heart chills your blood, while the second warms your heart.

My favorite line, “Just because we don’t run away doesn’t mean we’re mindless drones…”

Cressenda lives alone in an ice age, a post-apocalyptic world where memories of a Green Age still linger. If freezing to death isn’t enough, she must battle giant snarly beasts made from genetic experiments, avalanches, Reapers, falling icicles, and last but not least: The Affinity: a controlling, totalitarian government that m...more

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Oct 30, 2012 Nette rated it 4 of 5 stars

A short dystopic novella, Frozen Heart does not disappoint! I really enjoyed the story and it's fast pace! Ms. Blume did an exquisite job of world-building and character development. As a reader you are thoroughly engrossed in Cressenda's world...feeling her loneliness and the longing for her once happy life before the Affinity arrived.

The Affinity is a sort of government division that controls everything...what you eat, where you live, how you dress and if you are not apart of the Affinity yo...more

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Aug 20, 2012 Beverly rated it 4 of 5 stars

My Thoughts:
Annabelle Blume has created a cold, hard, lonely world for Cressenda and Beckett. Cold, hard and lonely on a variety of levels. The world has changed and they live in an ice-age. The government has created an existence that would challenge the hardiest of people. It is in this world that both Cressenda and Becket live, one on each side of the rules. Each of them believing that they are doing the best they can to live as free as possible.
The characters are dramatic and desperate. W...more

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Jul 31, 2012 Marissa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really liked this story. Having it set sometime in the future, in a Dystopian setting, was pretty cool. We learn that Cressenda has basically been on her own, away from the Collective, away from the control of the Affinity for the past ten years. She has lived away in isolation, in a winter wilderness, since she was around sixteen years old. I think there's a good amount of background info for Cressenda, as I understood and got a feeling of what she went through as a child, in her young teenag...more

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Jul 19, 2012 Pamela rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Cressenda is a woman of about 26 years old who is what's called an Outlier because she does not live within the rules of the Affinity, a type of government. Outliers are treated as if they are violent threats to society, so if caught, any Outlier would be put into a work camp. The world in which she lives is in an Ice Age, and Cressie needs provisions for her and her two dogs to survive, so when she is in need of things, she heads to the Collective where there is a Trade Path where she can trade...more Cressenda is a woman of about 26 years old who is what's called an Outlier because she does not live within the rules of the Affinity, a type of government. Outliers are treated as if they are violent threats to society, so if caught, any Outlier would be put into a work camp. The world in which she lives is in an Ice Age, and Cressie needs provisions for her and her two dogs to survive, so when she is in need of things, she heads to the Collective where there is a Trade Path where she can trade various goods that she collects, makes, grows in order to get what she needs.

It's in the Trade Path that she meets Beckett, an Affinity Guard, who when he learns of her 'Missing Person' status, should have immediately taken her into custody but doesn't. Now Cressie is unsure as to why and whether she can even trust him.

I found Frozen Heart to be a very interesting and unusual read. For one thing, the world in which Cressenda lives in, as I said, is in an Ice Age. The population is dwindling and the Affinity takes it upon themselves to Match people, which basically means that if you live within their control, you can't choose who you will marry. They will choose for you based on genetics. That's the primary reason that Cressie is an Outlier. Her parents didn't want the Affinity to control her life so they raised her to be able to fend for herself outside of the Collective.

I really enjoyed the interaction between Beckett and Cressie, though she doesn't immediately feel comfortable around him. Beckett has his story to tell which explains why he's so willing to help Cressie out despite the fact that it puts him in danger as well.

Now although I thought the story was really good, I found that the beginning was a bit slow for me. Maybe part of that reason is because it wasn't until about 13% of the way into the book did I find out what Cressie's name was, and the book is told from her perspective. Apart from her dogs though, she lives alone and has no one else to talk to. So it's her narration or her speaking briefly to herself or her dogs. However, you do learn a bit about her past and the world she lives in, so it is important for building up the story. And then, of course, when the book ended I wasn't ready for it to end. I'm so hoping that there will be a sequel because I really would love to know what happens next. There has to be more because I say so. :P

So yeah, I want more! I guess I will just have to wait patiently and see what Annabelle writes next!

** I received an eARC copy of the book from InkSpell Publishing for review.** (less)

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Jun 22, 2012 Erleen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopia, young-adult

This review was first posted on Books for YA.

After I read the synopsis of this book, I was really curious(more like intrigue) about the story so I immediately request to review the book.

Frozen Heart was set in a dystopian world wherein the Green Age(years where plants and animals were still abundant) was just a thing in the past while the Ice Age continues to numb the existence of humanity. Besides scarcity of food supply and malnutrition, procreation is also one of the major problems of their...more

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Dec 03, 2012 Aliaa El-Nashar rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned

I received this book a while back from Inkspell Publishing for a review, and I don't know why it took me this long to read it. So I am sorry about that! I was a bit disappointed with this book. I mean it works well if you want a short Christmas-y read, but not as a full-on YA novel.

Cressenda lives in the Wilds, the way her parents have been training her to since her infancy, just so she wouldn't be forced to live in the Affinity and be 'matched' - a fate she abhors more than anything. However, o...more

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Jul 11, 2012 Shane rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was one quick read. When I say quick I mean done in two hours. The story was interesting though. The story depicts a time where everything is consumed by the cold but still a selective amount do their best in keeping the traditions of the green age alive; a world where little is available and in order to survive you have to be tough. I take it this is sort of a futuristic-disaster-stricken time where some are restrained and kept from the precious thing called freedom.

I picked up that the ma...more

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Oct 01, 2012 Debbie Peterson rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love to hear stories of how couples fell in love, especially those with rough beginnings. In Frozen Heart, I found myself rooting for Beckett and Cressenda all the way from their first unconventional meeting inside the amazing frozen world Annabelle created, to their HEA... Well done Annabelle!

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Jul 26, 2012 The Bumble Girl {Margie} rated it 4 of 5 stars

Frozen Heart is a well-written short story that I would consider as an adult dystopian romance. It takes place in the "'Ice Ages" were the lands have permanently frozen over, humans are scarce and everything must be rationed and modified by the government, called the Affinity. The "Green Age" was long ago, that stories of a time were the lands were full of green grass, crops, animals and people were free to choose where they wanted to live and who they wanted to marry, are told and passed on as...more

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Jul 09, 2012 Bia rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'll review this one as soon as my hand stops hurting so much!

This is a really short story and that was the main reason this book receive only 3.5 stars… for me, it seems that we could see more from these characters as well as their background.

Meet Cressenda, or Cressie, one of the fewest people to live and survive outside Affinity, an oppressive regime. She has lived with her sled dogs in the snow wilderness for the last 10 years and every once in a while she might come to Affinity to exchange...more

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Sep 15, 2012 Steph at Starry Night Book Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Set sometime in the future, in a Dystopian setting Frozen Heart will take you on Caessenda’s journey to survive and who knows maybe she might even find love.

Cressenda is what they call an Outlier because she does not live within the rules of the Affinity. Outliers are treated as if they are dangerous threats, so if caught, any Outlier would be put into a work camp. When a routine trip to the Trade Path goes wrong Cressenda meets Beckett, an Affinity Guard, he soon learn of her Missing person st...more

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Aug 21, 2012 Stephanie Cover2CoverBlog rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: early-review

Background: Cressie lives with her sled dogs in the wilderness, escaped from society and an Outlier, trying to stay alive and not be captured by the Affinity. Upon a trip into the Trade Post, Cressie is confronted by a guard of the Affinity who finds her out but does not turn her in. Now she must decide what she makes of the situation, is he trustworthy, and why does she have these feelings for someone she barely knows.

Review: I received an e-copy of this book for a blog tour, and have had it fo...more

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Feb 03, 2013 A Voracious Reader (a.k.a. Carol) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book, review-requested, inkspell-publishing, dystopian, romance, sci-fi, short

Cressenda lives with her two sled dogs, Tonk and Tilo, out in the icy wilderness far from the Collective. She’s an Outlier, a Missing Person and if she’s caught (Reaped) she’ll be sent back to the Collective to a work camp and Matched against her will. For ten years, ever since her parents were Reaped when she was 16, she’s been on her own. Surviving. Every trip to the Trade Path in the Collective runs the risk of getting caught, but she has to get supplies every few months and it’s time to make...more

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Aug 13, 2012 Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-book-read, kindle-books

This was a very different dystopian about a world that is no longer warm and bright but instead frozen and almost colorless.

Cressenda's world is in an ice age and the human and animal population are almost extinct. No longer do people get married for love but rather they are Matched based on their genetic abilities to bring strong healthy offspring into the world.

Those who wished to escape the fate of being in a loveless life ruled by the Affinity are known as Outliers and they must face the ha...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Barbara ~*Lindt Ninja*~ rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, futuristic, dystopian, blue-covers

This was a confusing book, starting when I tried to decide which genre to call it. It sounds like a dystopian: society has been oppressed by the government and the non-conformists are Outliers, in hiding and surviving by the skin of their teeth. It also sounds futuristic. There’ve been genetic experiments on crops and animals and technology is way ahead of what we have now. There was even a Reaper mentioned and even though I don’t think it was a paranormal kind of Reaper, it wasn’t explained.

Cre...more This was a confusing book, starting when I tried to decide which genre to call it. It sounds like a dystopian: society has been oppressed by the government and the non-conformists are Outliers, in hiding and surviving by the skin of their teeth. It also sounds futuristic. There’ve been genetic experiments on crops and animals and technology is way ahead of what we have now. There was even a Reaper mentioned and even though I don’t think it was a paranormal kind of Reaper, it wasn’t explained.

Cressie lives with only her two dogs in the arctic, hiding from the Affinity, the lock-step government program all citizens are required to follow that also forces them to be Matched with whomever they are genetically compatible. As an Outlier, Cressie is in constant fear of being caught not having the proper papers, so she avoids public contact as much as possible, only going to the trade market every other month for necessities. This trip turns into a disaster when an Affiliate Guard figures out who she is; for some reason Cressie can’t trust, he doesn’t turn her in but takes her to his home instead.

I loved the way the book started out. Seriously loved it. There were a couple of brief scenes with Cressie’s parents ten years earlier that gave some background for why she would become an Outlier and it really brought that part of the story together for me. Skip ahead to an awesome, self-sufficient Cressie. She knows being alone sucks, but she’s dealing with it in the best way she knows how, trading love and affection with her sled dogs. The descriptions of their journey to the trading post were gorgeous. I wanted more of the sled traveling through the snow and forest, up the side of the mountain. When Cressie made it to the market, the story started to head downhill and it never really recovered.

The trading market itself was interesting, almost medieval if you didn’t count the Affinity guards wandering around. When Beckett grabs Cressie and finds out she’s an Outlier, I didn’t know how he was supposed to have gotten her away from the other guard unnoticed. He whisked her away to his homey cabin where they’re trapped for a few days during a blizzard. I’m sure I was supposed to think Beckett was very sensitive and sexy but I just couldn’t. His story was just so perfectly sad, his reactions just so perfectly stereotypically manly that it felt a little chilly. In contrast, suddenly the calm and powerful Cressie acted like she was possessed, yelling at him one minute, soothing him with homemade chili the next. My brain was scrambled with these two. All I could think was, please, no sexy stuff, please! Alas, my prayers were not answered. More confusion followed. I’ll spare you those details other than to say there was head tilting involved.

I was slightly surprised by the ending and I can’t say parts of it made me happy (don’t worry, there’s an HEA!). It was just more proof that I didn’t know who Beckett was. At least there was no cliffhanger, even if there’s room for a sequel.

It’s entirely possible that if this was a longer book, I would have enjoyed it. More space to learn about Beckett, to figure out how his relationship to Cressie evolved and to have a reason for that ending would have gone a long way towards improving my feelings about the story. Heck, just more about Beckett would have been good. Their romance didn’t seem to fit in this small space for me. In a lot of ways, Cressie felt like the alpha in the relationship and I’m petty enough to say that bothered me.

My thanks to Inkspell for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest review(less)

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Oct 29, 2012 Cammie rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the idea behind it...a world covered in snow and ice, I loved Cressenda and her determination, and I really loved watching her and Beckett's relationship grow (especially the steamy love scenes) I really hope to have a follow up book, or even a prequel though because I feel like I needed more....and that is the only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars. I wanted more back story as to HOW the world came to be what it is in the story, how the Affinity came to be, and...more

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Mar 30, 2013 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Blume's frozen landscape is as beautiful as it is harsh. This novella was an engaging read that left me needing more. Cressie's parents taught her survivalist skills so that she could escape a loveless, genetically compatible match. In Cressie's world, mankind has destroyed itself and the dictatorship known as The Affinity rules with an iron fist.She finds an unexpected love in Beckett, a Guard, and the two decide to risk everything to be together. Looking forward to the next book.

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Nov 12, 2012 The BookWhisperer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Frozen Heart drops readers in a unique world from anything we have ever known. Without much detail I was not certain whether this was supposed to be a imaginative world, or if this was supposed to be a futuristic novel. Either way this did not hinder the understanding of this story, and it was an excited read. Crassandra was a independent and strong character. I was impressed with the drive and determination; while living a life of almost complete solitude. The romance that entails was bitter sw...more

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Oct 03, 2012 Ann Gillies rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reminded me a bit of Clan of the Cavebear.

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Aug 09, 2012 Andrea rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this last night and gave myself time to digest it. And it was delicious!!! Artistically written, with a very real grasp of emotion (especially regarding Cressie's pack) and the ability to express it fluidly. The story grabbed a hold of me and still hasn't let me go. I'm hoping for many more adventures from AB.

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Aug 29, 2012 Angel Smit rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved every single moment of this beautifully written story, except for the last two words - The End. It is a heart warming tale of love found under the most unexpected circumstances and I sincerely hope this author continues on with Cressenda's story.

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Sep 20, 2012 Stephanie Lawton rated it 4 of 5 stars

Rich description, lots of tension and a couple you definitely want to root for. Would love to know what happens next.

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About Annabelle Blume

Annabelle is a Science Fiction and Urban Fantasy Romance author. That is, when she's not checking homework or begrudgingly cooking dinner.

She's also the author/personality of The Bombshell Mommy at Vitacost.com, where she expounds her knowledge of being a vixen clad in sweatpants.

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