Aspen Frost has fallen from grace. Once among the upper echelons of popularity at Magik Prep Academy, a terrifying event at a party leaves a nasty rumor in its wake and thrusts her into social isolation. Cole Raiden is an unusual hybrid of phoenix and fire-drake. And out of control. When a disastrous accident leaves him devastated and unable to control his inner flames, Magik Prep Academy is his last hope to regain any chance of a normal life. Ostracized because of his genes and his touch that reduces everything to ash, Cole seeks refuge in his loneliness. But when bullies find them both, Aspen and Cole reach for the same piece of magic, then find themselves plummeting through time, landing at the beginnings of Magik Prep Academy. War is on the horizon. If Aspen and Cole can't find a way back home, they'll be caught in a fight that could decimate their future. Cole and Aspen must learn to trust each other, and trust themselves, if they have any hope of reaching their own time again.
AJ Skelly (also writing as April J. Skelly) is an author, reader, and lover of all things fantasy, medieval, and fairy-tale-romance. And werewolves. She has a serious soft spot for them. As an avid life-long reader and a former high school English teacher, she's always been fascinated with the written word. She lives with her husband, children, and many imaginary friends who often find their way into her stories. They all drink copious amounts of tea together and stay up reading far later than they should.
I am disappointed. This is marketed as a “clean ya fantasy” and I’m wondering where in the world does a potential rape scene fit into a “clean” read.
And that’s not all. There’s also peer shaming, crude language, and so much focus on physical attributes and touching.
The peer shaming is from high schoolers who believe the almost rapist side of the story and how Aspen was “nervous her first time.” So nervous that she “froze her legs shut” and now has the nickname of “Ice Queen.”
There’s no resolution there.. did that actually happen? Did she freeze her legs shut because she was defending herself? (She is an ice fairy after all.)
Aspens feels such shame and embarrassment that she says she’s tired of being a “virgin slut.”
If that wasn’t bad enough, we find out that Aspen and Cole can touch. Her being an ice fairy and him being a mixture of fire types, he can’t typically touch anyone or anything. He has a lot of shame and guilt about killing people, his parents, etc., because of his fire abilities.
So, since they can touch being fire and ice, that is all he can think about. Aspen gives sly, flirtatious looks and they’re touching. All the time.
So, again, I ask… how is this marketed as a “clean ya fantasy?!”
I was interested in this book for a while, but just saw about an attempted rape scene and a mention of male private parts on Screen It First and will not be reading it now.
I know this book doesn’t come out for a few more months but I have to gush a minute…
…because…this may be…the BEST AJ Skelly book to date! I know! I gushed so much about her Wolves of Rock Falls, but I think this may top it. The message of how differences can unite, loving past the outward appearance, seeing the struggles of someone else and reaching out? There’s such beauty in that.
Throw in a little time travel, kissing scenes to die for, and of course—a shifter. 😏 What’s not to love?
Five out of five 14 & up!
Content: kissing, one described death scene, and an almost rape scene but handled with tact and nothing happens.
Spellbinding and filled with adventure, Of Flame & Frost hits all the right notes for a fantasy boarding school romance with Skelly's trademark clean but sizzling chemistry, colorful and vivid magic, and fearfully fantastical creatures. I didn't want to leave the enchanting world of Magik Prep even as I turned pages way too fast! You will not want to put this delightful story down!
This was a fun YA read. If you’re as tired as I am of YA not being appropriate for the intended audience, then look no further. The romance was sweet but not even close to spicy. It felt like I was reading/listening to a story about teenagers. I enjoyed the mythical creatures all living together, even though I haven’t read any of the short stories.
I listened to the audiobook, and the only qualm is I wish there had been two narrators, one for the male POV and one for the female POV. Either way, the narrator did a fantastic job.
Maybe adorable isn't the right word for a story with fire breathers and ice fairies, but I don't care. Opposites attract, and fire & ice work together to create magic. This was a great story with just the right amount of drama, romance, adventure, and Happily-Ever-After.
This story is filled with adventure and humor and romance. I loved all the twist and turns and the mystery unfolding throughout the story. Magik Prep is a school I wish I went to. I love the boarding school premise and seeing the history behind it. The characters where strong and had purpose. AJ deals with some tough topics like assault and bullying with grace and tact drawing attention to these real life issues without making you feel uncomfortable. The romance is sweet and clean. The adventure and action will have you at the edge of your seat wondering how it will unfold. This is a great story and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and recommend for older teens and adults.
I listened to Of Flame and Frost on audiobook because I’ve so little time for physical books anymore! It was such an enjoyable magical fantasy romance! I loved the imagery of ice and fire coming together to help each other. I think Aspen and Cole were such a sweet couple who helped to heal each other’s damage. The time travel aspect was a lot of fun, as were the rules of the magic at play. In the end, I give this book 4 stars!
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys clean YA romance, magical fantasy, what I would describe as cozy academia, and jaded youth overcoming pain.
Looking for a magical academy, sizzling sweet romance, and a bit of time travel? Look no further!
I sooo enjoyed this fun story about fire and ice, time travel, and making magic out of threads! There was action, adventure, a touch of mystery, and oh such lovely romance! AJ has the perfect way of making your insides melt but keeping everything clean which I love.
I listened to an audiobook and absolutely adored it!
Highly recommend to fans of any kind of YA and NA fantasy!
This was a fun read! I really enjoyed learning about the magic (magik) system and would have enjoyed more of that. It's not quite enemies to lover trope, but it's in that category, I'd say, along with time travel if that makes a difference to you.
I'd definitely read another novel in this series and if you've read it or interested in seeing if you'd want to read it, the author has 3 short stories in the universe on her webpage.
This book was a ton of fun! It had a lot of Harry Potter vibes at the Academy. The two main characters are interesting and intriguing. And it had the coolest magic system. Not to mention frost fairies, dragons, and phoenixes! (Oh my!) A lot of humor and awkward moments, as well as chemistry and romance.
Such a fun adventure! I didn't think I would like it as much as I did, because I was a little burnt out on high school romances. But it was a definite 5 star read for me! It started out with some teenage angst, but quickly turned into an exciting adventure story. Looking forward to rearing more in this world!
Author AJ Skelly has created the wonderfully imaginative world of Magik Prep Academy where magical creatures of all kinds are welcomed and encouraged to be themselves. I wasn't sure that two such opposite main characters would work well together, but they sizzled! This is a well-written fantasy story with all the perks of romance, drama, suspense, friendship, time-travel, magical creatures, some life lessons and a bonus fun, satisfying twist near the end. I thoroughly enjoyed Of Flame and Frost!
Ready to travel to a land with Frost fairies, a fire drake, and a multitude of other fantastical beings? You definitely want to grab a copy of Of Flame and Frost. Join Aspen and Cole at their school, Magik Prep Academy, for a time-traveling adventure, filled with scandalously short skirts, nefarious plots, and swoony romance. You won't regret it!
It’s so hard to write a review for this book without spoilers, I mean there’s so many amazing things in this book that I want to talk about but I am going to do my best to be spoiler free! First the characters in this book are just fun I love aspen and Cole so much they are just so much of the reasons I love this book. I love the complexity of the magic system in place for this book as well the author has a gift for world building and this book is a shining example of this. I can’t wait the next book in this series. 5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I loved the chemistry between Aspen and Cole is pretty undeniable from their first encounter. I love how opposites attract and how they build each other up in this clean YA fantasy.
*I received an ARC for my honest review and I have shared my thoughts and highly recommend this be added to any TBR.*
Fun modern-day fantasy that turns into a time-travel fiasco, leaving frost fairy Aspen and fire drake/phoenix hybrid Cole to face a battle that could change everything if they mess things up.
I'm definitely going to be reading some more of the related short stories. Who has a recommended reading order list?
This is such a good book! Of Flame and Frost deals with some pretty heavy yet common topics for teens, namely bullying and self-confidence. The characters are lifelike and relatable, the setting is absolutely stunning, and the story left me longing for more! This one is going on my shelf as a "must read again" favorite. 🔥❄️🐉💜
Of Flame and Frost is a book perfect for fans of academia-set romantasy stories. Like in other works by AJ Skelly, including her Wolves of Rock Falls series and recent murder-mystery, the romance is sweet with lots of swoony moments.
Based on the description, I knew that there was a rumor impacting Aspen. However, when first reading the beginning, I was taken aback at the indecent liberties a character was taking with Aspen. The ending of the chapter is ambiguous leaving the reader unsure if a r*pe occurred. I share this because, personally, it threw me and made me uncomfortable. So, I put the book to the side. But after recently reading a short story Skelly has set in the same world, I went back to this book and I'm so GLAD I did! I will share that Aspen was able to stop the assa*lt, but I will omit details to spare spoilers.Skelly does a fantastic job balancing the hard, scary truth of what young women endure from entitled misogynists at any age, even in college and high school.
Further, she depicts navigating life while facing hardships such as rumors and gossip, social dynamics, and bullying in a real and relatable manner. I think many can find encouragement in Aspen's story as she is able to reclaim her power through living her life despite her hurt, by continuing to move forward even when it's hard.
Aspen is a great character, but the fire to her frost, Cole is, too! There's excellent character growth within this portal/time travel fantasy on both sides. Additionally, the magic system and story world are intriguing.
I wish there was a bit more at the book's end with Aspen and Cole. They are definitely two characters that will have readers rooting for them throughout.
I will be completely honest. The first scene of this book made me so nervous. It’s a slightly triggering event, but I should have known to trust in AJ Skelly! That scene was handled well and then I LOVED the rest of the book.
Two teens with magical abilities both find themselves as outsiders in their magical school. But when they fall through time they learn to not only trust each other but see how their abilities can create something amazing.
This book has so many great aspects. I love a great magical academy setting and the variety of powers and beings found there was so interesting (I can’t wait to check out some of the short stories). The tension and then blossoming deep friendship between Aspen and Cole was very well done. The pending war and the magical battle scenes were well thought out and fun to read.
I love AJ Skelly’s first series and was so happy to love this new world she’s created too.
This was my first magic academy book outside of the Harry Potter series and I enjoyed it! Of course, I shouldn't be surprised, since it was written by A.J. Skelly, as she is a good author. The only concern I have to report is content. There is quite a bit of kissing, making out, and sexual tension. There is also a would be rape that may trigger some but turns out not to be as bad as I thought it would be. Cole and Aspen were super adorable and I like how they opened up to one another and grew as characters. An enjoyable standalone by a good author.
Easy, clean, young adult book with ✨️ Magic ✨️ Academia Setting ✨️ Time Travel ✨️ Sworn off Relationships ✨️ Opposites Attract ✨️ Forced Proximity ✨️ Better Together
I loved the progression of Aspen and Cole throughout the story. The plot was a bit predictable but still enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this book to others.
Thank you for the ARC copy of this book. This review is my honest opinion.
The Story: After a rumor, Aspen’s reputation is ruined. Once one of the most popular at Magik Prep Academy and now all by herself. Cole Raiden, a hybrid of phoenix and fire-drake, has no control of his flames and is a danger to anyone and anything around him. Magik Prep Academy is the last place giving him a chance to learn control. When both of them get bullied, they try to use magic trying to hide. Using the same piece of magic they accidentally travel through time, landing at the beginnings of Magik Prep Academy and at the beginnings of a war they learned about in school. Unsure if they can make it back to their own time or should prepare for battle.
My Review: Imagine one school for all magic beings, doesn’t that sound amazing? Good news! It exists now and it’s called Magik Prep Academy! Where the two characters are introduced separately they come together in the story and develop themselves during. They learn how to trust, cooperate and even more but that’s a secret. It’s written from the perspectives of the main characters (Cole & Aspen). This gives the reader an insight in the thoughts and feelings of these characters which makes you a part of their story. Even though the story became a little predictable nearing the end of the book, I love the originality of this world where there are different magical beings that live in the same world and can be together and the combination of time traveling.
Author AJ Skelly is known for her clean young adult fantasy books. They all read easily and once you start you cannot stop until you read the ending.
Haven’t gotten enough of Magic Prep Academy? Even though Of Flame & Frost is a stand-alone, AJ also released some short stories that are linked to the Academy and there should be another full book coming out next year!
I’ve always been a fan of Skelly’s works. So I was ecstatic for the chance to review her new title! And I loved every second of it!
Aspen Frost was once among the upper echelons of popularity at Magik Prep Academy. But, a nasty rumor turns her friends away from her and thrusts her into social isolation.
Cole Raiden is an unusual hybrid of phoenix and fire-drake. His magic gets out of control leading to a disastrous accident. Ostracized because of his genes and his touch that reduces everything to ash, Magik Prep Academy is his last hope to regain any chance of a normal life.
When bullies find them both, Aspen and Cole reach for the same piece of magic, then find themselves plummeting through time, landing at the beginnings of Magic Prep Academy.
They end up at a time right before a war begins at the Academy. If Aspen and Cole can’t find a way back home, they’ll be caught in a fight that could decimate their future. Cole and Aspen must learn to trust each other, and trust themselves, if they have any hope of reaching their own time again.
Aspen and Cole were thrust into an unfamiliar environment which was very different from their usual one. They had to work together and find a way out of this mess together. I enjoyed their differences and similarities and how it helped them learn about each other and get closer.
The magic system was a little confusing at the beginning but it was slowly explained as the story progressed. The explanation given for the different pieces of magic they had floating around their world was beautiful and was one of my favourite points in the story.
This was a wonderful slow burn romance with heart warming characters, a colourful and vivid magic system and time travel. I enjoyed every moment of this spellbinding read.
I wish I could give it 3.9 stars because this one ALMOST snared four stars from me! Overall I had a lot of fun either way it and thought it was a super cool story with an interesting concept. The exceptional amount of kissing involved didn’t hurt either ;)
So we’ll start with the good parts: Both of the MCs were super relatable and easy to root for. I found both of their backstories and their respective tragedies within very believable to where they were at the beginning of the story. Time travel is a hit or a miss for me, but I also liked the way it factored in to this book. Mostly in the fact that somehow, everything made sense! I also loved the inclusion of Aspen’s great something grandfather - it was a nice familial touch to the story itself.
The overall thing that kept me from rating it higher was there were so many things that I felt got cursory attention where they should have been more fleshed out. I thought starting the book with the inciting incident in Aspen’s life was a bit jarring, and that perhaps it would have landed better if we simply knew something had happened to make her fall from grace, as it were. There were a few bits of worldbuilding that left me scrambling to pick up the pieces because they were never explained. And I felt as though a lot of the side characters were supposed to have more depth to them, but they felt flat to me - especially in the present day time period.
Overall, however, I enjoyed this story. I would recommend it with the above caveats in mind, but I’d recommend it.
What did I think of this? Well... It's a MUST read. The swoon level is through the roof (BUT IT'S a CLEAN READ PARENTS) and the magic is sooo cool and it's an amazing plot. LOVE.
Aspen Frost has fallen from grace. Once among the upper echelons of popularity at Magik Prep Academy, a terrifying event at a party leaves a nasty rumor in its wake and thrusts her into social isolation.
Cole Raiden is an unusual hybrid of phoenix and fire-drake. And out of control. When a disastrous accident leaves him devastated and unable to control his inner flames, Magik Prep Academy is his last hope to regain any chance of a normal life. Ostracized because of his genes and his touch that reduces everything to ash, Cole seeks refuge in his loneliness.
But when bullies find them both, Aspen and Cole reach for the same piece of magic, then find themselves plummeting through time, landing at the beginnings of Magik Prep Academy.
War is on the horizon. If Aspen and Cole can’t find a way back home, they’ll be caught in a fight that could decimate their future. Cole and Aspen must learn to trust each other, and trust themselves, if they have any hope of reaching their own time again.