Frost Moon (Skindancer, #1)

Apr 24, 2011 new_user rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

Frost Moon's more alternative culture than urban fantasy. Within 284 pages, author Anthony Francis stuffs in BDSM, Magic: The Gathering, anime (e.g. Gothic Lolita and calling attacks, which is lame), Goth, tattooing-- everything except the WHAM-BAM-POW brawls I associate with UF.

In her own words, Dakota Frost's no "bounty hunter" or "detective, or anything like that." She's handed her arse, but mostly she chats alternative culture. Who cares about a serial killer? Dakota doesn't do investigatio...more

20 likes · like · see review

Sep 09, 2011 Lyndsey marked it as to-read

Shelves: free-or-cheap-download, genre-urban-fantasy

Major Freebie Alert! *salute*

Also posted on my blog! Check it out at Strangemore!

You can currently download the Urban Fantasy book, Frost Moon, for FREE on Amazon. GET IT HERE!

Here's the official description from Amazon:
In an alternate Atlanta where magic is practiced openly, where witches sip coffee at local cafes, shapeshifters party at urban clubs, vampires rule the southern night like gangsters, and mysterious creatures command dark caverns beneath the city, Dakota Frost's talents are covete...more

3 likes · like · see review

Feb 21, 2010 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle-smut-club-selection

Dakota Frost is a tattooist who specializes in magical ink. She lives in Atlanta, in an area called Little Five Points that is home to edgeworlders. Edgeworlders are the shifters, vampires, magicians, etc that live on the fringes of society. Dakota is asked to help the Department of Extraordinary Investigations with a case involving tattoos & then is asked to ink a magical tattoo on a were. Chaos ensues from there.

I really enjoyed this book. The world is rich with interesting characters. My...more

3 likes · like · see review

May 22, 2011 Vasya rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-paranormal, favourites

I can't say that I was in the grip of this book from the beginning till the very end, because that was not the case. I had a hard time getting into the book, and reading negative reviews of it even before I started reading is very bad for the book at hand. I think I was just majorly pissed off that there's no romance in the book, but well, all worked out just well in the end.

Dakota was a character by my heart. Tall, that has not a hair on her tongue, brave, bold - I mean, wow. Even though she ha...more I can't say that I was in the grip of this book from the beginning till the very end, because that was not the case. I had a hard time getting into the book, and reading negative reviews of it even before I started reading is very bad for the book at hand. I think I was just majorly pissed off that there's no romance in the book, but well, all worked out just well in the end.

Dakota was a character by my heart. Tall, that has not a hair on her tongue, brave, bold - I mean, wow. Even though she has no power as such, the way she presents herself in the book makes her like the most powerful person in the world. So what if there are those that make her knees shake a little, it is perfectly normal to be aware of the competition (and be totally prepared to go down because you've got shit up your sleeve). And given that I like that side of her, at its highest, I also got to see her at her lowest, and she didn't betray her character because of it. There were none of the reactions that I considered were unnatural to Dakota, because she can cope and assimilate - and that's one hell of a characteristic in my book.

The fact that she's playing for the same as well as the other team would have dampened the whole impression of the book for e, because, as much as I can accept homosexuality, I can't really put myself into their shoes (I don't read homosexual romances because of this) but it didn't bother me one bit because it all just felt so natural. Yeah, she has a history with Savannah, but their relationship isn't overly described (and by that I mean the sex) so it was very much like her coming to terms with an old boyfriend (except he's a girl) and saying your final goodbye as a BOY(GIRL)friend.

Now Phil on the other hand, is just short and I can't begin to imagine him as the perfect candidate for her. I mean, a tall woman and a short man - no, no. I've had my share of short boyfriends, but that's real world, I like them tall and handsome and manly in my books. I cheered for Wulf big time, so I don
t know what Anthony Francis was thinking at the end of this book, but well, I just guess I'll have to read the next book and find out if he ruined the whole experience of this book by the next one or enhanced it.

I also laughed a lot in the end. The thing with Cinnamon and Mom - I mean, it was sweet and pretty touching, but also so much fun. Their roles were completely opposite the ones they had in the book, but they fir so well in them, I really don't know how Francis did it, but it definitely worked.

This review was based on a digital ARC received via NetGalley. (less)

3 likes · like · see review

May 08, 2010 Rosalind M rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to being able to dive into the next installment in the series. Not many books can legitimately squeeze bondage practitioners, debunkers, magical tattoo artists, weres, Bible verses, Gothic Lolitas, and vampires with a sense of humor into a single storyline. The one small stumbling block in all of this was that there were so many first and last names to remember (and I think usage occasionally flipped between the two) that I found myself occasionall...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 29, 2013 Katy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of urban fantasy, magical realism

Shelves: ebook, net-galley

Please note: I first read and reviewed this in January 2012. I'm updating the formatting and adding the disclosure that I received an e-galley from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My Synopsis: Dakota Frost is a tattoo artist – more importantly, she is the best magical tattoo artist in the Southeast, working in the Little Five Points area of Atlanta at a shop called The Rogue Unicorn. As the story opens, she is being taken into the Atlanta Police department, called in to consult by her...more Please note: I first read and reviewed this in January 2012. I'm updating the formatting and adding the disclosure that I received an e-galley from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My Synopsis: Dakota Frost is a tattoo artist – more importantly, she is the best magical tattoo artist in the Southeast, working in the Little Five Points area of Atlanta at a shop called The Rogue Unicorn. As the story opens, she is being taken into the Atlanta Police department, called in to consult by her father’s best friend, Andre Rand. Apparently someone has been killing people who have magical tattoos – even worse, whoever is doing this is stripping tattoos off of the still-living victim, first. To complicate matters, Dakota has also been contacted about doing a tattoo for a werewolf, who is seeking control of his beast, and when she goes to the local werehouse to consult with a magical tattooer named The Marquis, she returns home with a new … friend. A young weretiger has attached herself to Dakota – Cinnamon is what is called a foundling, a werekin whose mother kept the beast shape throughout her pregnancy, and as a result the youngster is unable to pass as human. Cinnamon has tiger ears, a tail, and fur on her hands at all times. Is Dakota next on the killer’s radar? Can she help solve the mystery of the flayed tattoos in time to potentially save herself or perhaps some of her clients? Will she be able to help Wulf control his beast?

My Thoughts: I loved this first book in the Skindancer series! A Skindancer is one who has magical tattoos and is able to control and use them for magical purposes, in case you are wondering, and Dakota is a fine Skindancer. One thing I particularly loved about this book is that, while Dakota is strong-minded and fairly tough, she is also vulnerable and willing to work with others to protect herself if necessary – she’s not one of those “I have to do everyone on my own” types that make me nuts. The characters that Mr. Francis has created are unique, interesting and multi-faceted, and the plot flows smoothly. This book is a page-turner and one I highly – HIGHLY – recommend for fans of urban fantasy and magical reality. Definitely pick it up!(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Apr 03, 2011 Maja rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: dark urban fantasy fans

Shelves: glistening-fangs, dark-urban-fantasy, reviewed-in-2011

Rating this book was a real challenge for me. There was literally nothing wrong with it, and yet I couldn't bring myself to give 4 or 5 stars. It's a real page turner, it has tattoos in it (view spoiler), it didn't have inconsistencies, the characters were all very interesting, there are some pretty good moments and it certainly is different from every other UF I've ever read.

So when there's nothing objectively wrong wit...more

6 likes · like · see review

Mar 03, 2010 Toni (U.A.C.) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: current-urban-fantasy-pnr, favorites, own-amazon

Great story! Outstanding job of creating an alternate and awesome world where Vampires, Weres, Magicians and Magical Tattooists exists. Dakota Frost is a skindancer and magical tattooist. Her tats come to life before your very eyes, dancing with power on her skin. She is one of the best. There is a serial killer on the loose who is collecting magical tatoos and when the cops come to Dakota for help she realizes she has to warn the magical people of the underground, she could even be in danger he...more

1 like · like · see review

May 14, 2012 Kathy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Promising Start to a New Urban Fantasy

I downloaded this book because it looked interesting and while I did enjoy it, it's definitely not worth the exaggerated $9.99 Kindle price; but I digress.

Up until about chapter 20, I had my doubts that I could continue to read this book or even attempt to read the next. Prior to chapter 20, the author really tested my patience. For instance, he spent a whole chapter on Dakota asking a vampire for protection, the scene was funny and interesting but at the sa...more

like · see review

Mar 05, 2012 Aislinn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Frost Moon, by Anthony Francis, is the first book in the Skindancer series.
THE PLOT: Dakota Frost is the best magical tattoo artist in Atlanta. But this Atlanta is crawling with vampires, shapeshifters,witches and those who straddle the edge of both worlds. Edgeworlders like Dakota. But when a werewolf asks Dakota to do a suspicious tattoo for him, Dakota is dragged over the edge she's straddled for so long. Throw in some secret agent men, vampires with fetishes, a bratty werecat, and some very...more

like · see review

Feb 05, 2012 Marlene rated it 5 of 5 stars

Frost Moon by Anthony Francis is the absolutely marvelous opening book in his Skindancer series featuring magical tattooist Dakota Frost. The first full moon in November is also called the "frost moon". In Anthony Francis' alternate version of Atlanta, that's important.

Dakota Frost is the best magical tattooist in the Southeast. Just ask her. She works out of the Rogue Unicorn, which is located in Little Five Points, in a part of Atlanta known to the cognoscenti as the Edgeworld. And Dakota is d...more Frost Moon by Anthony Francis is the absolutely marvelous opening book in his Skindancer series featuring magical tattooist Dakota Frost. The first full moon in November is also called the "frost moon". In Anthony Francis' alternate version of Atlanta, that's important.

Dakota Frost is the best magical tattooist in the Southeast. Just ask her. She works out of the Rogue Unicorn, which is located in Little Five Points, in a part of Atlanta known to the cognoscenti as the Edgeworld. And Dakota is definitely one of those in the know.

I said she was a magical tattooist. I didn't just mean that her tats were magically beautiful, I meant that they were literally magic. The vines inked on her arms can reach out and trip pull her enemies down, never mind about that dragon inked on her back.

But Dakota's magical ink makes her both a police expert consultant and a potential next victim when someone starts murdering people in order to "harvest" their magical tattoos. And Dakota's not just the only potential victim. Every person with a magical tat is sudden a target. There are a lot of those in Dakota's Atlanta, including the entire werewolf community and everyone who has ever requested a magical ward or even just a moving butterfly.

Meanwhile, there's a magician in town (the other kind, a stage magician) who believes that all magic is bunk. He's challenged Dakota to prove that her not faked, and will pay her a million bucks if she can prove her stuff is the real thing.

And on the other side of town, or should I say the under side of town, there's a lone werewolf who wants Dakota to give him an extra special ward, one that will control his beast, before the full moon in ten days time. Trying to get this new tat verified with the local head werewolf and her witch friend to make sure that the tat is not black magic brings down even more trouble on her head.

And gets her ex-girlfriend involved. Her ex-girlfriend is now the head of the Vampire Consulate. They broke over the whole vampire thing. Dakota didn't want her to turn, but well, Savannah did it anyway.

Dakota makes a lot of her own trouble by rushing in where both fools and angels would fear to tread. Nothing is as it seems. This one will keep you guessing until the end.

Escape Rating A: Dakota Frost is a terrific character. She makes mistakes, she screws up, but she keeps on going. She's someone I'd like to have a drink with, or several. Her Atlanta is a place I might want to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there. It's geography is so close to the Atlanta I live in, it's eerie. The way she weaves in and out of the real Atlanta reminds me of the way Simon R. Green works with London in the Nightside, and that's a high compliment. I love his Nightside series.

This was awesome. I would never have read Frost Moon or Blood Rock if Bell Bridge hadn't put both books of this series back on NetGalley, so thank you, thank you for a couple of well spent but very late nights reading.

Any time the "Men in Black" turn out to be the "good guys" you know the story is turned inside-out-sideways but you're in for a load of fun. Spend some quality time with Dakota Frost, you'll be glad you did.(less)

like · see review

Dec 25, 2011 drey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads, urban-fantasy

drey’s thoughts:
I should’ve read Frost Moon back when I got it. But then I wouldn’t be able to pick up Blood Rock when I finished it!

Dakota Frost is a tattoo artist, but not just any tattoo artist–she inks magical tattoos. She’s tall, brash, and full of spit and vinegar. Yes, I like her. *grin*

In this first Skindancer book, Dakota is dragged into were business, vamp business, and plain ol’ homicide investigation. With a heaping side of the feds. Whew! But she has no choice–someone’s been skinni...more

like · see review

Nov 16, 2011 Mel rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: magic, paranormal, urban-fantasy

When I first started reading Frost Moon I was a little worried that I wouldn’t connect to the main character, Dakota. She is a tattooist with a death hawk, she is bi-sexual and attracted to both men and women, as well as living on the edge of a world of magic. None of which is anything I know about. So the first few pages I was a little worried that this would mean I would be outside looking in. Luckily this didn’t last long. Despite appearing to be hard and unapproachable Dakota soon shows us s...more When I first started reading Frost Moon I was a little worried that I wouldn’t connect to the main character, Dakota. She is a tattooist with a death hawk, she is bi-sexual and attracted to both men and women, as well as living on the edge of a world of magic. None of which is anything I know about. So the first few pages I was a little worried that this would mean I would be outside looking in. Luckily this didn’t last long. Despite appearing to be hard and unapproachable Dakota soon shows us some vulnerability and before the book is over, it becomes clear that it is all swagger and mouth. She is exposed to many beings of power and shady morals, which soon makes her realise how vulnerable she really is. For most of the second part of the book, she is the victim and needs protection from those stronger than her – which is much easier to connect with!
In the end though, this is like a trifle – all the ingredients are there - heroine with a unique magical ability, world filled with supernatural creatures, heroine’s haunted past and wide selection of powerful friends. Vampire, Weres and those with magical abilities inhabit the shadows and the edge of the ‘normal’ world – so far, so Urban Fantasy. But the idea of Dakota’s tattoos being magical and having the ability to leave her skin – especially her dragon is different. And the world is much more risqué than most urban fantasy worlds – with plenty of sexual attraction and nudity.

Somehow though these regular UF ingredients aren’t quite in the order you expect them. The sponge is on top of the custard and the cream is under the jelly to stick to the trifle metaphor. Dakota is weaker than you first think and swings between swagger and vulnerability quickly. There are too many potential love interests that I don’t know who to root for. But saying all that, it still tasted good! I loved Cinnamon and Dakota’s tattoo abilities are seriously cool. In the end I guess it doesn’t matter about the order of the layers – as long as it still tastes good and Frost Moon does taste good. Looking forward to the next in the series!
(less)

like · see review

Oct 27, 2011 Madame X rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-urban-fantasy

FROST MOON was way too weird for me. I was cool with protagonist Dakota Frost’s big Mohawk, and her tattoos, and her bisexuality. But the uber-Christian vampire ex-girlfriend who accuses Dakota’s tattoos of being the work of Satan while tarted up in a French maid’s uniform? The “elegant gothic Lolita” and the guy in “cheekchiller” chaps who roleplayed as a dog for the whole book? Toss in a few random vampires with names like Transomnia and Calaphase, and I’d had enough.

I’m guessing that Anthony...more FROST MOON was way too weird for me. I was cool with protagonist Dakota Frost’s big Mohawk, and her tattoos, and her bisexuality. But the uber-Christian vampire ex-girlfriend who accuses Dakota’s tattoos of being the work of Satan while tarted up in a French maid’s uniform? The “elegant gothic Lolita” and the guy in “cheekchiller” chaps who roleplayed as a dog for the whole book? Toss in a few random vampires with names like Transomnia and Calaphase, and I’d had enough.

I’m guessing that Anthony Francis is going for the Laurell K Hamilton crowd here, because in FROST MOON all of his characters are always in costume, they all have stage names, and relationship drama masquerades as plot.

Speaking of plot: FROST MOON has about a dozen. Francis kickstarts the book with a hunt for a serial killer who’s targeting people with magic tattoos, like the ones that Dakota makes. Then we get a sub-plot with a lone werewolf who wants a special tattoo to control his beast. We get a third sub-plot when a sleight-of-hand magician who tries to debunk supernatural events challenges Dakota to a sort of duel. Add in Dakota’s reconciliation with her ex-girlfriend, her relationship with the organized weres (including a young stray named, of course, “Cinnamon”), and a half-crazed vampire out to revenge an insult to his pride, and what you’ve got is…a mess, actually.

At first, none of these plots seem to have anything to do with one another. By the end, they intersect too neatly. In the meanwhile, it seems like Francis forgets about one story in order to pursue another. Halfway through the novel I found myself wondering if anyone was ever going to go look for that serial killer.

Personally, I think it’s a bad sign when a half-dozen people in the novel accuse Dakota, the protagonist, of looking like a stripper or a prostitute. I want to clutch my pearls and buy her a sweater. I roll my eyes when Dakota insults someone for looking like they shop at Hot Topic in one sentence and then admits to shopping there herself in the next. Because I’m not in the target demographic and FROST MOON was written for a different audience.
(less)

4 likes · like · see review

Oct 18, 2011 Joseph Adair rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is an interesting take on the modern fantasy genre. Decidedly not for the weak, or prudish of heart, however, as there are some rather descriptive BDSM lifestyle activities described.

The book takes a look at magic through a venue I don't see written about much, though it does have it's own history...magical tattoos, creating and using power through ink. It's interesting, a bit dark, with some rather bizarrely sappy moments tossed in. Plenty of tragedy, a bit of romance, and A fed in a blac...more

like · see review

Oct 06, 2011 Dawn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-books, urban-fantasy, net-galley

Dakota Frost is not your average tattooist but a magical one, this means her tattoos can move and she is the best in the Southeast. Her skills are so good she has been recruited by the police/feds to help track down a killer. What seems like a quick question and answer session turns into so much more.

The world "Edgeworld" is also quite good, in this genre it seems difficult to find something so original. This alternate reality is fresh and well done, as a person who knows nothing about tattoos I...more

like · see review

Sep 26, 2011 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, urban-fantasy

Frost Moon introduces us to the incomparable Dakota Frost, magical tattoo artist and skindancer. Not only can her tattoos perform some useful function such as make a transformation smoother for a were, they can move on the skin of the wearer. In the case of Dakota, this can make for one impressive display since she has several tattoos inked on her, mostly by her own hand.

The book opens with Dakota being escorted into the police station, not for anything she's done wrong, but because of what her...more

like · see review

Jul 06, 2011 Natasha A. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

For anyone who loves:
Tattoos
Vamps, weres, tigers and bears!
Kick-ass woman who may have a bit of soft side
Secret Agent Man
Why did I read it?
I was totally drawn in by the blurb!

My Rambles:
Wow.
This was a gritty, rough, fantastic read. I love it to pieces and I can't wait for the next in the series!
The world is very much like our own, but with some paranormals. Yup, we've seen that before.
The tattoo artist who tattoos magic into her pieces? Yup, we've seen stuff like that too.
But this, this is so mu...more

like · see review

Jun 27, 2011 Cyna rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Man, this was one of those books that threw me for a total loop - fifty or so pages into it, I was so thoroughly put off by this book that I wanted to quit. In fact, I did quit for a little while there to read Holly Black's much better White Cat, but that's a rant for another time.

Anyway, by the time I dragged myself back to Frost Moon and gave it another ten or so pages to redeem itself, a subplot that was actually interesting wandered through the heroine's door, and I thought to myself, "Yeah,...more Man, this was one of those books that threw me for a total loop - fifty or so pages into it, I was so thoroughly put off by this book that I wanted to quit. In fact, I did quit for a little while there to read Holly Black's much better White Cat, but that's a rant for another time.

Anyway, by the time I dragged myself back to Frost Moon and gave it another ten or so pages to redeem itself, a subplot that was actually interesting wandered through the heroine's door, and I thought to myself, "Yeah, I can stick around for this." It was at that point I found myself willingly reading Frost Moon rather than hauling my brain through it at gun point. Perhaps un-coincidently, this was also around the time that our author decided he'd spent enough time proving his characters to be suitably "alternative" and "edgy", and began to focus on shit that was actually relevant to the plot.

But let's go back a few ticks there, because while there did eventually come a point at which I enjoyed reading Frost Moon, it took quite a while to get there, and there was some seriously deterrent shit along the way. Frost Moon is the tale of Dakota, a magical tattoo artist who lives in a world where vampires, shapeshifters, and witches are out and proud to the public. They form the "Edgeworld", a sort of supernatural alternative culture of which Dakota is - somewhat - a member. At the start of the book, Dakota is recruited by her father's former (police) partner to consult on a murder involving magical tattoos. Which is where the trouble begins.

Within the first oh, I don't know, two chapters or so, Francis does two things - several times - that irritate the shit out of me. He objectifies his heroine, and he has her objectify every good-looking individual she meets. It's a consistent, constant thing in the first quarter or so of the book that some guy is appreciating Dakota's tits or leering at some other part of her body, or hitting on her, or just, y'know, suggesting she get a job as a stripper. At one point her vampire ex puts a collar on her and demands she masturbate in front of her. Creepy. And if that's not happening, then Dakota is making sexual innuendos or thinking every other guy she meets a sexy beast or calling some chick's tits lickable or appreciating a shapeshifter whose head is literally that of a deer, or licking random girls' faces.

It's hard to explain exactly why this bothered me (well, not that deer thing, that's just weird) - it's not like I'm the puritanical type, swooning and crying (in a southern accent) "Oh my stars, this book has sex and this woman has a libido and tattoos, she's a filthy harlot who must be locked away!" but Christ, for a while there it was like being stuck inside Kim Cattral's or Captain John Hart's head.

Then the party really starts, as we're quickly introduced to our cast, which includes a beastly, homeless werewolf, a Gothic Lolita computer hacker, a seedy vampire gang, an illiterate teenaged catgirl, an FBI investigator/Man in Black, and a Christian lesbian bondage-enthusiast vampire Queen, I shit you not (and I'm not gonna lie, that scene, with the ball gags and the mouthless leather masks and the human dogs, seriously creeped me out).

What it comes down to is that it feels like Francis is trying way too hard to prove that his world is very pointedly other. And it's difficult to criticize, because I understand why; this book was written for the people that it's about - for the members of the subcultures that get demonized or stereotyped or just plain excluded from other urban fantasy series. Once we actually get in to the book, Francis actually does a decent job of portraying the various "abnormal" sub-culture representatives as people - totally non-scary, normal, relatively down-to-earth people. Hell, the eventual villain of the story is probably the most upstanding, so-called "respectable" character in the book.

My problem is that the characterization - especially of Dakota - for the first few chapters of the books go so far in the "other" direction that it makes getting to the good stuff that much more difficult. I didn't initially enjoy being in Dakota's head, so I didn't want to continue. It's obviously a very subjective issue, but it's also a big factor in determining whether or not you'll enjoy Frost Moon.

Story-wise...Frost Moon is a mess. The plot is all over the place, and there are like fifty million things distracting Dakota from the cover conflict at any given time...

Read more at You're Killing Me.(less)

4 likes · like · see review

May 30, 2011 Aik Chien 인첸 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Frost Moon is a brilliant urban fantasy novel packed with action, magic... and tattoos that come alive. Our heroine - a gutsy, stubborn magical tattooist named Dakota is being asked to investigate the murder of some people that involves their magically tattooed skin being cut off by a maniacal killer. As Dakota helps to find out the 'Grim Reaper', she notices that the clues all point to Wulf, one of her soon-to-be clients.

Intrigue, suspense and unexpected twists are the important elements in thi...more

like · see review

May 11, 2011 Wendy Darling rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, read-2011, pnr-urban-fantasy, 2011-publication

This is somewhere between 2 and 3 stars for me.

What I liked:

* Dakota Frost is a really cool chick.
* The descriptions of magical tattoos that come to life are stunning.
* The author surprised me a couple of times with minor character elements.
* I liked the descriptions of the scraps of tattooed evidence coming into her hands.

What I didn't care for as much:

* The plot meanders and didn't really hold my interest.
* The violent parts are pretty violent. I don't have a problem with violence per se, but...more

3 likes · like · see review

May 07, 2011 Karen morsecode rated it 3 of 5 stars

Set in an Atlanta teeming with paranormal subcultures, Frost Moon is the first in an intriguing urban fantasy and not-so-cozy mystery series.

The novel's protagonist, Dakota Frost, is the self-proclaimed "best magical tattooist in the Southeast" and a skindancer, someone who can harness the magical energy stored in her tattooed skin. As a member of the Edgeworld, Dakota eschews the traditional secrecy surrounding magic, encourages collaboration between practitioners, and is committed to "dragging...more Set in an Atlanta teeming with paranormal subcultures, Frost Moon is the first in an intriguing urban fantasy and not-so-cozy mystery series.

The novel's protagonist, Dakota Frost, is the self-proclaimed "best magical tattooist in the Southeast" and a skindancer, someone who can harness the magical energy stored in her tattooed skin. As a member of the Edgeworld, Dakota eschews the traditional secrecy surrounding magic, encourages collaboration between practitioners, and is committed to "dragging magic kicking and screaming into the light" (28).

The novel opens with Dakota being brought to the police station. The Atlanta PD are working with the Federal Department of Extraordinary Investigations because there's a serial killer on the loose who is targeting individuals with magical tattoos. They need her expertise and her client list. They also want her to be careful since she fits the victim profile. Dakota doesn't have time to be careful, though. She's just been invited to have her skill challenged by a world-famous debunker on national television, but before she can prepare for that Dakota has to get an arcane control-charm checked out for her antsy new werewolf client.

Frost Moon is author Anthony Francis' debut novel and it reads like a first novel. It seems like the author tried to pack far too much into one book. The world he creates is genuinely interesting and rich, but much momentum is lost in his need to showcase and explain every subculture. Additionally situations and characters are often overcomplicated. For example, Dakota's ex-girlfriend is a vampirologist who had herself turned into a vampire for academic reasons. But, in addition to being a lesbian and a vampire, she's the ruler of the vampires in Dakota's neighborhood (despite the fact that she's very young) and into bondage and a devout Christian.

Dakota is a well-developed and for the most part sympathetic character, but her nearly universal sex-appeal is not believable. She may be stunning and large-breasted, but Dakota is also 6'2" with a deathhawk and covered in tattoos (author's rendition of Dakota). With that strong and distinctive a look she can't possibly be to everyone's taste, yet it seems that almost every man (and woman) who meets Dakota wants to have their way with her.

All that being said, the story itself was compelling and the world Francis has created is rich enough to support any number of sequels.

You can read an excerpt from Frost Moon on the publisher's website.(less)

like · see review

Apr 15, 2011 Claire rated it 3 of 5 stars

Review: More than Skin Deep- Frost Moon

Tattoos that shimmer and move over your body, peel themselves off your skin and come to life, and then rise up protect you from the things that go bump in the night. All in a day’s work for Dakota Frost, the best magical tattooist in the southeast.

Frost Moon is the first in the Skindancer series from Anthony Francis and Dakota is definitely a first in the genre as a six foot two tattoo artist who packs a serious magical punch and has a predilection for outr...more Review: More than Skin Deep- Frost Moon

Tattoos that shimmer and move over your body, peel themselves off your skin and come to life, and then rise up protect you from the things that go bump in the night. All in a day’s work for Dakota Frost, the best magical tattooist in the southeast.

Frost Moon is the first in the Skindancer series from Anthony Francis and Dakota is definitely a first in the genre as a six foot two tattoo artist who packs a serious magical punch and has a predilection for outrageous wardrobe choices and Mohawks. Her life is thrown into chaos as she battles to find a serial killer hunting those with magic in their skin, navigating between the two worlds she straddles.

I loved the way this book came alive in its descriptions of the ‘normal’ and ‘super-normal’ Atlanta with its vampires, magicians, and weres “dragging magic kicking and screaming into the light” and the passion and color that infused any scene featuring her work as a tattoo artist or the magic coming to life under her skin. But like the two worlds she inhabits, the story often takes a turn for the impenetrable as more and more characters are introduced and the plots twists and turns and loops back on itself. It almost felt like a radio station going in and of of range. When the signal was strong I was totally enthralled with the writing, the supernatural beings, and the world-building, but when it faded out all I was left with was faint confusion .

Even Dakota started to get a bit fuzzy around the edges, a hard feat for a woman who doesn’t blend in (or wish to blend in) anywhere she goes. I couldn’t work out whether she was a complex, multi-layered woman or just plain inconsistent.

For fans of urban fantasy, as opposed to paranormal romance, this book will come as a breath of fresh air as the romance is muted. There are lost of references to past lovers and flirtations galore but very little develops, which is a relief because I don’t think the book could have handled another layer of complications.I think it was smart move, definitely going against the norm while also creating lots of possibilities for the future.

I will definitely pick up the next in the series. I really do want to see how she develops her powers and where she goes next, but I hope the author settles down and realizes that less can be more.

Disclosure- I received an e-book copy for review of Frost Moon.
(less)

like · see review

Mar 02, 2011 Jen (In the Closet With a Bibliophile) rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book for me was a little bit better than okay. (I'd go with 2.5 stars) I think I was frustrated with the narrator. She wasn't very believable to me and not even because she was a 6'2" bisexual magical tattooist with a deathhawk. I thought all of that gave her a distinct personality. However, her speech and actions just didn't fit. One minute she'd be telling someone to f-off and the next she'd be crying over something that seemed ludicrous.

I don't know, I felt she was way too manly and I r...more This book for me was a little bit better than okay. (I'd go with 2.5 stars) I think I was frustrated with the narrator. She wasn't very believable to me and not even because she was a 6'2" bisexual magical tattooist with a deathhawk. I thought all of that gave her a distinct personality. However, her speech and actions just didn't fit. One minute she'd be telling someone to f-off and the next she'd be crying over something that seemed ludicrous.

I don't know, I felt she was way too manly and I really don't think it fit her (when I say manly, I really mean the way she thought). The author being a man, I think he did not have the best insight into the female mind (even if she was a bisexual).

Plus, it took me little bit to figure out she was a bisexual which was frustrating because he doesn't come out and say it until later. The sexual orientation of a character shouldn't confuse the reader, it's kind of an important attribute in the character development section. Also, I couldn't get a feel in my mind for the rest of her body and how she looked (except for the tattoos covering her body) and that also bothered me.

Lastly, I thought that her male love interest was ridiculous because he was this short guy who, albeit manly, was in the end, still short. Most girls, bisexual or not, would prefer someone taller. If you are going out with a female, that's different (for reasons unexplainable), but men are men. I don't know, I was just frustrated all around.

But, there were some redeeming qualities. Like the scene where she finally does a magical tattoo. I believe that was my very favorite scene in the whole book. Or the part where we get to see her skindance and watch what the magical tattoos can actually do.

I think though, overall, this book was lacking development in the characters and background. We know that the narrator refuses to talk to her father, but we don't know much else (like why???). We don't know much about her past at all except she has an ex-girlfriend who comes into the story later. All the missing background and development made her a kind of flat character for me who in the end I just didn't get.

(this book was given to me courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book)(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 03, 2011 Kait Ballenger rated it 1 of 5 stars

Synopsis: "In an alternate Atlanta where magic is practiced openly, where witches sip coffee at local cafes, shapeshifters party at urban clubs, vampires rule the southern night like gangsters, and mysterious creatures command dark caverns beneath the city, Dakota Frost's talents are coveted by all. She's the best magical tattooist in the southeast, a Skindancer, able to bring her amazing tats to life. When a serial killer begins stalking Atlanta's tattooed elite, the police and the Feds seek Da...more

like · see review

Feb 02, 2011 Paradoxical rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reading-list, books-otherwise

This book is... interesting.

The main character, Dakota, is tall, has a mohawk, and inks magical tattoos. Sounds interesting, yes? Well, it is, for the most part. Several stereotypes just leap out at me (I was a bit 'meh' about Dakota's characterization when I started reading, but I liked it much more as I went on), while other things in the book are wholly surprising and kind of ridiculous, like the author attempted to break the stereotypes the genre has, but did it in such a manner that made me...more This book is... interesting.

The main character, Dakota, is tall, has a mohawk, and inks magical tattoos. Sounds interesting, yes? Well, it is, for the most part. Several stereotypes just leap out at me (I was a bit 'meh' about Dakota's characterization when I started reading, but I liked it much more as I went on), while other things in the book are wholly surprising and kind of ridiculous, like the author attempted to break the stereotypes the genre has, but did it in such a manner that made me laugh and go, "Really now?" The first vampire scene is a prime example of this. It was surprising, but more than that, it was absolutely ridiculous. I'm still wavering between "that is hilarious" and "that is kind of stupid".

But that was my initial impression (I like starting reviews when I first think of something to say because first impressions are important). However, once the book starts moving, once the plot starts to really heat up, everything becomes very good. The author just seems to mellow out just the slightest bit and the plot races along, the pace is fast, and everything is very nicely done. The book is engaging and there are actually consequences to Dakota's actions--she doesn't just magically bounce back from whatever spot of trouble she gets herself into; she is affected by things, she gets traumatized by events, and she just seemed so much more real to me as I read further along.

The other characters are varied and are more or less fleshed out. Some of them were one dimensional, but a few others were fascinating in their own right (I do wish that they were more fleshed out overall, though). I like the fact that the main character has friends (more than one, even!) and is a nice person all around. She's not super competent, she can't really fight, but she's tough in her own way that was a joy to see.

The book is not perfect (the beginning for example) and a few things had me rolling my eyes (mainly scenes involving the vampires, then the meeting with a bunch of werewolves). They were fairly typical or over the top in a bad way. And of course there is this waifish orphan that hangs around the main character--but, well, I warmed up to the girl fairly quickly, so I suppose that's a vote in her favor.

A rocky beginning, but if you stick it out, you'll probably find yourself enjoying this book. I'd give it 3.5 stars, rounding up to 4. I look forward to reading the next one.(less)

like · see review

Jan 30, 2011 Tracy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy

Welcome to the world of Dakota Frost, the best magical tattoo artist in the south. Strap yourselves in and prepare for a rocking introduction to a slightly alternate world of vampires, weres, and true magics, seers, witches, and all manner of other goodly beasties. There's murder and mayhem and a brutal beating or three. There's confusion and mystery, doubt and fear, hope and loss. In short, this opening volley across the mighty bow of the Urban Fantasy genre is a classy, intelligent, imaginativ...more Welcome to the world of Dakota Frost, the best magical tattoo artist in the south. Strap yourselves in and prepare for a rocking introduction to a slightly alternate world of vampires, weres, and true magics, seers, witches, and all manner of other goodly beasties. There's murder and mayhem and a brutal beating or three. There's confusion and mystery, doubt and fear, hope and loss. In short, this opening volley across the mighty bow of the Urban Fantasy genre is a classy, intelligent, imaginative romp. And the glue holding this fabulous book together is Dakota Frost and a legion of very believable, if fantastical, secondary and ancillary characters.

I was unsure of the story and the world at first. It started off a little slow for me, and Dakota struck me as a little too brash - all huge tattooed Mohawk tough chick with a little too much ego and not enough depth. For that reason, the first part of the story took some time to get through. It wasn't bad, never bad...just slow. There was decent world building and a solid introduction to Dakota and some of the other characters, and one layer of the complex and dangerous plot started off almost from page one and unfolded in true Old Southern fashion...at its own smooth, steady, but sometimes confusing pace.

I'm not sure, really, at what point Frost Moon really started to gel for me, but after a few chapters, I started to realize that behind that brash exterior, Dakota was a woman of heart and substance. She was sometimes a little too quick to judge. Sometimes a little too mouthy. Sometimes put herself into untenable situations without thinking things through. And yet ultimately sympathetic for her acknowledgment of her faults and peccadilloes and the slow development of her character. I ended up very much liking and respecting her, and maybe even recognizing aspects of her personality. I was particularly impressed with some of the choices she made and paths she took based on what happens to her. I think her character remained believable and sympathetic within the realm of the mythos and reality both.

While I definitely consider Frost Moon to be stronger in the character-driven aspects than the plot-driven, the plot was well written and deliciously muddy. So much happens in such a short span of time, but I wasn't bothered by that particular aspect. For me it intensified the inherent threats and ratcheted up the danger to cloying, choking force. I'm a little annoyed, actually, at how quickly I ended up feeling so attached to some of these characters and their pathos, because parts of this book left me feeling far more than was comfortable with given the conclusion of some of the action. The ending was a pleasant surprise for being a very unpleasant but truly surprising conclusion. This is truly and brilliantly a dark urban fantasy in all respects.

~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another. (less)

like · see review

Oct 03, 2010 Sharon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Sharon by: sharon.passmore@yahoo.co.uk

Shelves: paranormal-fantasy

This is Anthony Francis first urban fantasy novel. He's no newbie though his other talent are writing Sci-fi & drawing cartoons.
Set in an Atlanta that supernaturals roam freely & powers are currency, Dakota is an edge worlder, police are looked at with suspicion, weres, witches & other supernaturals have their own codes & morals which allow them to work side by side in an uneasy working realtionship.

Our protagonist Dakota Frost is 6ft 2, sports a wild purple & black mohawk...more This is Anthony Francis first urban fantasy novel. He's no newbie though his other talent are writing Sci-fi & drawing cartoons.
Set in an Atlanta that supernaturals roam freely & powers are currency, Dakota is an edge worlder, police are looked at with suspicion, weres, witches & other supernaturals have their own codes & morals which allow them to work side by side in an uneasy working realtionship.

Our protagonist Dakota Frost is 6ft 2, sports a wild purple & black mohawk over long hair, and she's the best magical tatooist in the south east. Dakota is a walking advertisemnet for her talents & her tatoo's are more than two dimensional but can writhe & move if you look long enough.
She's asked for help from her uncle who works in Atlanta homicide, some sicko is skinning people for their magical tatoos' & she has till the new moon before the next victim.

On top of this there's a dangerous tatoo requested which she has to check out with one of her best friends, half blind witch geomancer, which leads her dealing with weres celebrating Halloween, with no choice but to ask for protection fron a supernatural set, a very upset vicious vampire, and getting into very painful dangerous territory.
Dakota grows through the book & comes to a few realisations, the supporting characters are individual & muti-facted, AF leads you to where you didn't think it would lead, theres lots of twists & turns & with a few characters and assumptions you have made are turned on their head. A dark gritty climax was in store where I was left squirming in my seat, but enjoyable all the same.

I think this is a great beginning to a new urban fantasy, I give it 4.5 stars, only because there's a little confusing lull in the middle, bit it gets back on track, very quickly.
This is a true urban fantasy with subtle romantic threads through, but a strong thread that will lead you to the next book if you want, or you just read it alone.

I will definately be ordering the next book 'Blood Rock' as his writing is refreshing & he does not follow the well worn formula for urban fantasy but brings something new to the table. There's two trilogies planned & a YA for one of the supporting characters, looking forward to it. (less)

like · see review

Jun 02, 2010 Monique rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Urban Fantasy sub-genre gets yet another entry with one more "kick-ass heroine with feet of clay." Keeping in mind the current trend toward shorter novels, I can easily forgive the rather condensed feel of the narrative. The pop culture references definitely keep this in the "beach read" category, though. You're probably not going to re-read this one, folks. There's lots of description, but not much substance backing up the beautiful prose. Francis does give a respectful treatment of several...more

like · see review

Apr 25, 2010 Leeanna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-own

Dakota Frost #1: Frost Moon, by Anthony Francis

WOW! "Frost Moon" is THE urban fantasy novel I've been waiting for. I hesitate on writing this review, because I just can't put into words my love for this book. But I'll try.

Dakota is a skindancer, a tattooist who can imbue magic powers into her ink. She lives in an edgeworld Atlanta that welcomes werewolves, vampires, witches and more; Dakota herself is a magician thanks to her tattoos. The "Edgeworld" is the world the author has created, a sort o...more Dakota Frost #1: Frost Moon, by Anthony Francis

WOW! "Frost Moon" is THE urban fantasy novel I've been waiting for. I hesitate on writing this review, because I just can't put into words my love for this book. But I'll try.

Dakota is a skindancer, a tattooist who can imbue magic powers into her ink. She lives in an edgeworld Atlanta that welcomes werewolves, vampires, witches and more; Dakota herself is a magician thanks to her tattoos. The "Edgeworld" is the world the author has created, a sort of border or barrier where normal and magic meet.

Bluntly put, Dakota is one kick-ass chick. She's sarcastic and tough, yet compassionate and loyal, and sometimes even vulnerable. I was honestly a little surprised to find out the author was male - Dakota is a such believable female main character. I loved her instantly. In fact the beginning of "Frost Moon" reminds me a bit of Jacqueline Carey's novels, in that Dakota introduces herself to the reader, in a "this is me, here I am, love me or hate me" approach. Throughout the course of "Frost Moon," she befriends a were-cat orphan, feels sorry for a were-wolf, falls for an FBI/DEI agent, deals with her ex-girlfriend, and more. But Dakota's characterization doesn't falter in any of those situations, and the reader's image of her stays constant from the start of the book.

The plot of "Frost Moon" is best left a secret - you'll want to discover all the twists and turns of the plot yourself as you navigate through Dakota's world. But to tantalize you: the Department of Extraordinary Investigations is hunting a serial killer who takes the tattooed skin of his victims. The DEI originally calls Dakota in as a consultant, due to her expertise in magical tattooing. But she's quickly in the thick of things as events move at warp-speed around her. The ending shocked me, because I'd never been able to guess just who the killer was - I liked the unpredictability.

Dakota is an amazing character. But so is literally every other single supporting character Francis created. I wanted to know more about every single person introduced, from Spleen the Rat to Cinnamon, to Lady Saffron, and on and on. Each character has some hook that grabs at the reader; the cast of "Frost Moon" will stick with me for quite a while.

I enjoy the author's style; sometimes he is a little heavy-handed with descriptions, but personally I like that. I like having lots of information about a new world, and Dakota's world is one of the fresher urban fantasy ones I've read in a while. Some of his prose is beautiful, especially when painting images of tattoos; I *wish* it were possible to get something like what he's invented! Glittering, moving, magical tattoos? Pretttty.

I do have a complaint or two with "Frost Moon," but they're such minor issues that they didn't detract at all from my enjoyment of the book. One is that the timing is very condensed, very fast, but then that also fits into the plot. The other is the deluge of pop culture references, which could make references to the Matrix and X-Files outdated in a few years, but the references slow down after the first part of the novel. But like I said, just a few minor issues. Nothing big or super distracting.

Overall, as I think is obvious by how much I've written, I was blown away by this book. There was just the perfect mix of mystery, urban fantasy, wit, sarcasm, technology talk, stick-in-your-mind characters, interesting plot, and the slightest hint of romance.

Disclaimer: I did receive an ebook copy of "Frost Moon" to review through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program. But on my next Amazon order I'll be picking up a physical copy of "Frost Moon" as an early birthday present; I can't wait to get the book in my hands and read it again, so I can revisit Dakota's world.

Book two, "Blood Rock," is due later this year I believe. I can't wait!

5/5. (less)

like · see review

title link	preview: Frost Moon
avg rating	preview: Frost Moon Goodreads rating: 3.73 (927 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7629854-frost-moon?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348385987l/7629854.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7629854-frost-moon?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Frost Moon by Anthony Francis[/url]

Frost Moon (Skindancer #1)

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (4)

Videos About This Book

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Anthony Francis

Books by Anthony Francis

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Frost Moon