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Frozen
For a year and a half, Olivia Martin has tried to forget Erik Gulbrandr, the glacial man who'd scorched her mouth with a single kiss. But when Olivia finds herself snowbound with Erik on the winter solstice, she discovers that the man who set her body aflame is cursed by abominable needs -- and a desire that might destroy them both...
FROZEN is a 52,000-word paranormal romance and includes explicit love scenes.
FROZEN is a 52,000-word paranormal romance and includes explicit love scenes.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 28, 2014
70 people are currently reading
903 people want to read
About the author
Meljean Brook
51 books2,574 followersBook info: I am the author of the Iron Seas steampunk romance series. I've written a guide to the world (including a map) on my website.
I also write a paranormal romance series, the Guardians. That series guide is also on my website, including a "The Story So Far" feature, which allows you to catch up on all of the books that previously released in the series if you start after the first installment.
Goodreads info: I am slowly, slowly adding to my shelves and reviews. It's unlikely that I will join many book discussions (especially of my own work) simply because I don't want to stifle reader conversation.
Bio: Meljean was raised in the middle of the woods, and hid under her blankets at night with fairy tales, comic books, and romances. She left the forest and went on a misguided tour through the world of accounting before focusing on her first loves, reading and writing–and she realized that monsters, superheroes, and happily-ever-afters are easily found between the covers, as well as under them, so she set out to make her own.
Meljean lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and daughter.
I also write a paranormal romance series, the Guardians. That series guide is also on my website, including a "The Story So Far" feature, which allows you to catch up on all of the books that previously released in the series if you start after the first installment.
Goodreads info: I am slowly, slowly adding to my shelves and reviews. It's unlikely that I will join many book discussions (especially of my own work) simply because I don't want to stifle reader conversation.
Bio: Meljean was raised in the middle of the woods, and hid under her blankets at night with fairy tales, comic books, and romances. She left the forest and went on a misguided tour through the world of accounting before focusing on her first loves, reading and writing–and she realized that monsters, superheroes, and happily-ever-afters are easily found between the covers, as well as under them, so she set out to make her own.
Meljean lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews
March 3, 2015
I haven’t read any books from Meljean Brook. Frozen is a pnr-novella with a hint of Norse mythology. I guess I am testing the waters to see if I like her writing style. And it is safe to say I will pick up her full-length novels in Iron Seas series soon;)
What are you, Erik?
A man. Mostly.
Oh well. Eric is a frost giant.
The story centered on the curse by the witch of Ironwood. The novella had likable MCs and creative premise. However, the plot fell flat on the curse which turned out to be meaningless in the end. That being said, it was a fun quick read.
What are you, Erik?
A man. Mostly.
Oh well. Eric is a frost giant.
The story centered on the curse by the witch of Ironwood. The novella had likable MCs and creative premise. However, the plot fell flat on the curse which turned out to be meaningless in the end. That being said, it was a fun quick read.
October 24, 2014
3.5 not letting you go stars
FROZEN isn't a book I can go into details about, but it isn't anything like the Disney version. A tormented jackass and a strong-willed independent woman go head to head in this tale, until all the secrets have been revealed. This is a different kind of paranormal read for me, so I had nothing to base it off of, I just went with the flow and not only did I like it but I enjoyed it as well.
Thank God, the jackassness was just a front because Erik just being Erik, it was hard not to fall for him. He was just trying to do the right thing, scared of hurting the one he loved. The battle of the wills, the banter, the sexual tension and the story made it an truly enjoyable read. Kept me glued wondering where it was all headed and what was to come next. This is a stand alone read so it can be enjoyed without fear of a cliffhanger.
FROZEN isn't a book I can go into details about, but it isn't anything like the Disney version. A tormented jackass and a strong-willed independent woman go head to head in this tale, until all the secrets have been revealed. This is a different kind of paranormal read for me, so I had nothing to base it off of, I just went with the flow and not only did I like it but I enjoyed it as well.
Thank God, the jackassness was just a front because Erik just being Erik, it was hard not to fall for him. He was just trying to do the right thing, scared of hurting the one he loved. The battle of the wills, the banter, the sexual tension and the story made it an truly enjoyable read. Kept me glued wondering where it was all headed and what was to come next. This is a stand alone read so it can be enjoyed without fear of a cliffhanger.
August 13, 2019
I loved this novella. I've never read a romance involving a frost giant, and Brook made it so sexy. She always knows how to build rich characters and still find some unusual angle for them. I'm so glad I read this one.
November 5, 2019
3.5 stars. Strong for a novella, but needed more exploration and growth between the characters. Somewhat repetitive. Might try the steampunk books.
May 15, 2016
A Beauty and the beast plot using a family curse (based on Norse mythology) where H turns into a huge Frost Giant every winter solstice (Christmas) once he meets his one and tries to forcibly take her. This has lead to deadly consequences for other women in the H's family's past so H tries to stay away from h but this Christmas it all comes to a head.
There were plot holes, plus the h talked too much and at times it was like the h was chasing the H who was doing his best to run away, but still H was kind and protective and it was clear he was desperately obsessed with h and the one and only climactic sex scene was hot.
3.75 stars!
There were plot holes, plus the h talked too much and at times it was like the h was chasing the H who was doing his best to run away, but still H was kind and protective and it was clear he was desperately obsessed with h and the one and only climactic sex scene was hot.
3.75 stars!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2014
I would have never guessed that this was written by Meljean Brook. I didn't like all the miscommunication (or lack thereof) and the endless circular wangsty talking. Plus, I'd rather read Loki fanfic.
January 24, 2018
This is my first experience with this author, and after reading this, I'm not so sure I would read another book by her. The premise was interesting enough, but didn't fully deliver on the potential that I could see within it. The curse's parameters were both squicky and uncomfortable for me, and at the same time they also felt like an excuse. I couldn't really connect with the characters, because we don't get a lot of backstory about them and the fact that they were constantly dancing around information about themselves, which made for a lot of miscommunication. I was constantly bemoaning the wasted potential! I'd give this a 2.5 star rating, if I could, but it is not a 3 star caliber book!
November 19, 2019
3 1/2
Really cute, nice world, great heroine (and plot with its twists). A woe-is-me hero that caused really unnecessary pain for lack of any idea of what clear communication is. And this is my only nit. It was crystal clear to me than a minimum amount of talking would have avoided all the drama :). And that was a nasty bee in my bonnet. :)
Really cute, nice world, great heroine (and plot with its twists). A woe-is-me hero that caused really unnecessary pain for lack of any idea of what clear communication is. And this is my only nit. It was crystal clear to me than a minimum amount of talking would have avoided all the drama :). And that was a nasty bee in my bonnet. :)
August 6, 2016
just a teaser which Im very much hoping turns into a series! :D Frost Giants, Shifter Sons of Loki, threats of Ragnarrok...everything but Thor. oh hell yay, I want more.
December 12, 2022
2022 Winter Bingo (#SnowInLoveBingo❄️): Reread
Reread on December 6, 2022: Ignore what I said below because 2019 me wasn’t enlightened enough to appreciate this angsty, kinda problematic mess.
First read on October 31, 2019: Eh. The conflict and fights seemed repetitive. I was annoyed at Erik and wanted him to grovel more. Didn’t work for me. Read via KU. [Original rating: 3 stars]
Reread on December 6, 2022: Ignore what I said below because 2019 me wasn’t enlightened enough to appreciate this angsty, kinda problematic mess.
First read on October 31, 2019: Eh. The conflict and fights seemed repetitive. I was annoyed at Erik and wanted him to grovel more. Didn’t work for me. Read via KU. [Original rating: 3 stars]
November 2, 2019
Spoilers ahoy, friends. Actually, you know what, let me just say this--this story was bonkers-sauce, backwards-pants crazy and left me with many questions and an unsettled feeling. And now I'm going to put everything else in hide-the-spoiler tags. If you're a coworker, older relative, or anyone else who doesn't want to know what kind of weird rabbit holes I sometimes fall down, maybe just walk away now so we can continue to look each other in the eye.
May 1, 2017
Reread 4/29/2017 (was missing Meljean and decided to do a reread)
4.5 stars - I really like it.
Erik has frozen Olivia out since their one passionate kiss. Despite the cracks in her heart from his icy civility, Erik still stars in her hottest fantasies. When Olivia is sent on an errand to Erik's doorstep, she expects his usual cool response but instead receives a much worse greeting. And when she is unable to make the hasty retreat that his reaction inspires, and is instead forced by circumstances to remain with Erik, Olivia will discover the reason for the walls of ice he's built between them and just what is going to happen to her when they fall.
First off I have to say that I love the real back cover blurb for Frozen to the bottom of my 'pun-ish' heart.
Frozen, which is the long awaited by me standalone story that Brook finally finished by offering it in installments on her blog, is a bit different from her other paranormal romances (and her steampunk ones too) in that the worldbuilding is minimal with just a dab of Norse myth and a curse as the foundation, and also different in that the story is told from the heroine's first person POV - not knowing what the hero is feeling is key to the story because it gives a different spin on the old mate bond trope.
I loved both of the leads. The cursed Erik, as he struggles to control the curse, is noble and the glimpses into his anguish for what it will make him do, and how it will cost him the normal things that he wants, make him vulnerable and appealing even as he can only see himself as a monster. And the leading lady, Olivia, is resourceful and smart, trying to find a better outcome to what seems like a no win scenario for Erik and trying to fight her fear by arming herself with knowledge so she can figure out the real parameters of the curse.
And I liked that even though the time frame of the story is short, the combination of the pair's backstory and that - while they are both essentially under seige by Erik's enemies and waiting for the curse to strike - there are enough normal moments and touches of humor that we get a glimpse of what the true dynamic of their relationship could be. If I had a nit with the story it would be that both characters' decisions about the other's feelings are a cause of some of their problems, but it is a short story and, hey, they do need more than just a measly old thousands of years old curse, a couple of homicidal enemies, and that pesky old mate bond standing in the way of their HEA.
So the bottom line is that I really liked Frozen both of the times I read it - first when anxiously waiting for the next installment to appear on Brook's blog and this second time when I finally had the whole thing in my greedy little hands - and for a story that had the potential to go someplace dark, the ending is really sweet.
4.5 stars - I really like it.
Erik has frozen Olivia out since their one passionate kiss. Despite the cracks in her heart from his icy civility, Erik still stars in her hottest fantasies. When Olivia is sent on an errand to Erik's doorstep, she expects his usual cool response but instead receives a much worse greeting. And when she is unable to make the hasty retreat that his reaction inspires, and is instead forced by circumstances to remain with Erik, Olivia will discover the reason for the walls of ice he's built between them and just what is going to happen to her when they fall.
First off I have to say that I love the real back cover blurb for Frozen to the bottom of my 'pun-ish' heart.
Frozen, which is the long awaited by me standalone story that Brook finally finished by offering it in installments on her blog, is a bit different from her other paranormal romances (and her steampunk ones too) in that the worldbuilding is minimal with just a dab of Norse myth and a curse as the foundation, and also different in that the story is told from the heroine's first person POV - not knowing what the hero is feeling is key to the story because it gives a different spin on the old mate bond trope.
I loved both of the leads. The cursed Erik, as he struggles to control the curse, is noble and the glimpses into his anguish for what it will make him do, and how it will cost him the normal things that he wants, make him vulnerable and appealing even as he can only see himself as a monster. And the leading lady, Olivia, is resourceful and smart, trying to find a better outcome to what seems like a no win scenario for Erik and trying to fight her fear by arming herself with knowledge so she can figure out the real parameters of the curse.
And I liked that even though the time frame of the story is short, the combination of the pair's backstory and that - while they are both essentially under seige by Erik's enemies and waiting for the curse to strike - there are enough normal moments and touches of humor that we get a glimpse of what the true dynamic of their relationship could be. If I had a nit with the story it would be that both characters' decisions about the other's feelings are a cause of some of their problems, but it is a short story and, hey, they do need more than just a measly old thousands of years old curse, a couple of homicidal enemies, and that pesky old mate bond standing in the way of their HEA.
So the bottom line is that I really liked Frozen both of the times I read it - first when anxiously waiting for the next installment to appear on Brook's blog and this second time when I finally had the whole thing in my greedy little hands - and for a story that had the potential to go someplace dark, the ending is really sweet.
May 6, 2016
I really liked this concept for a book and I can only think of one other author who has had a similar idea for a character so I'm a happy bunny! Such a treat to get away from vampires and the usual shifters and if you are looking for a unique book idea then allow me to introduce Meljean Brook.
This has a contemporary feel and is far removed from the previous steampunk stories I have read by this author. It features Olivia, an engineer working in construction who just happened to make the mistake of falling hard for Erik, the bosses son. Oh it clearly wasn't one sided as they shared a kiss that could melt an iceberg but since then Erik has done nothing but give Olivia the cold shoulder ! So imagine her horror when she is persuaded to go to his home delivering documents only to discover that Erik is in a bad way. Is he ill? Clearly something is very wrong but Eriks frosty reaction hides a secret thats about to rock Olivia's world.
What a completely different story . I thought the idea of mixing Norse mythology with a slow burn romance worked really well. Erik is under a curse and unfortunately kissing Olivia triggered it. His aloof behaviour has been his way of trying to be noble and protect Olivia but he's really trying just to protect her from himself! His fear and anguish is a visceral thing as he sees himself as a monster which is just so sad.
Now luckily Olivia is a practical sort, resourceful and full of surprises . I thought to hold the job she does and be accepted showed her strong work ethic but her almost pragmatic acceptance of Eriks curse whilst virtually under siege had me cheering for her. Yes my heart might have melted for Erik but it was Olivia's courage that really brought this story to life.
I notice that some reviews feel this is short but frankly i felt the length about right. I enjoyed the rather unusual villains who in so many ways are as manipulated by the curse as Erik is and thought the author played a blinder with the ending. The romance that Erik fought against finally has a resolution but it was the quiet moments between the couple, the almost normal scenes when the walls came tumbling down that held me enthralled .
So this is perhaps not typical of the authors usual work but it worked very well as a standalone .
This has a contemporary feel and is far removed from the previous steampunk stories I have read by this author. It features Olivia, an engineer working in construction who just happened to make the mistake of falling hard for Erik, the bosses son. Oh it clearly wasn't one sided as they shared a kiss that could melt an iceberg but since then Erik has done nothing but give Olivia the cold shoulder ! So imagine her horror when she is persuaded to go to his home delivering documents only to discover that Erik is in a bad way. Is he ill? Clearly something is very wrong but Eriks frosty reaction hides a secret thats about to rock Olivia's world.
What a completely different story . I thought the idea of mixing Norse mythology with a slow burn romance worked really well. Erik is under a curse and unfortunately kissing Olivia triggered it. His aloof behaviour has been his way of trying to be noble and protect Olivia but he's really trying just to protect her from himself! His fear and anguish is a visceral thing as he sees himself as a monster which is just so sad.
Now luckily Olivia is a practical sort, resourceful and full of surprises . I thought to hold the job she does and be accepted showed her strong work ethic but her almost pragmatic acceptance of Eriks curse whilst virtually under siege had me cheering for her. Yes my heart might have melted for Erik but it was Olivia's courage that really brought this story to life.
I notice that some reviews feel this is short but frankly i felt the length about right. I enjoyed the rather unusual villains who in so many ways are as manipulated by the curse as Erik is and thought the author played a blinder with the ending. The romance that Erik fought against finally has a resolution but it was the quiet moments between the couple, the almost normal scenes when the walls came tumbling down that held me enthralled .
So this is perhaps not typical of the authors usual work but it worked very well as a standalone .
October 6, 2014
About a 3 -3.5 star read for me.
While the story is something new in the paranormal romance world, something about the story just didn't click for me right away. We have Eric the brooding hero, contending with a horrible family curse which turns him into an ice man and makes him want to hunt down and attack a woman on every winter solstice. Our heroine Olivia is tasked with bringing some documents for Eric to sign. Little does she know that Eric's father had ulterior motives. Then there's the wolves who hold a grudge against his family. They want to kill Eric and will stop at nothing. The story takes place in an isolated mansion surrounded by snow.
I liked that the story was loosely based upon Nordic mythology of Loki, Fenrir, and Odin. This is a mythology that I am not familiar with and it added an interesting perspective to the story. With regards to the romance - it was a very slow buildup, most of which was Eric getting all angsty that he should not be anywhere near Olivia. Olivia had way too much confidence in their love - not really worrying that she would be hurt.
Paranormal romance fans should enjoy this book.
Thank you to the author for a review copy of this book.
While the story is something new in the paranormal romance world, something about the story just didn't click for me right away. We have Eric the brooding hero, contending with a horrible family curse which turns him into an ice man and makes him want to hunt down and attack a woman on every winter solstice. Our heroine Olivia is tasked with bringing some documents for Eric to sign. Little does she know that Eric's father had ulterior motives. Then there's the wolves who hold a grudge against his family. They want to kill Eric and will stop at nothing. The story takes place in an isolated mansion surrounded by snow.
I liked that the story was loosely based upon Nordic mythology of Loki, Fenrir, and Odin. This is a mythology that I am not familiar with and it added an interesting perspective to the story. With regards to the romance - it was a very slow buildup, most of which was Eric getting all angsty that he should not be anywhere near Olivia. Olivia had way too much confidence in their love - not really worrying that she would be hurt.
Paranormal romance fans should enjoy this book.
Thank you to the author for a review copy of this book.
September 15, 2014
Nice story, even nicer being a freebie; a fantasy tale about a woman discovering a curse, and a really 'cool' guy with major secrets. I got into the story late, and held off reading it till the end of the installments. I had planned to either print it out or buy the finished story for 99 cents when it was put up for sale.
As it turned out, I did neither. I glanced over the story, got interested, and started reading. It really wasn't that long; took a little over an hour to read. The only real complaint I had was that there was a lot of exposition to the story, but I'm sure a good editing will tighten the story up...and who am I to complain about a free read?
As it turned out, I did neither. I glanced over the story, got interested, and started reading. It really wasn't that long; took a little over an hour to read. The only real complaint I had was that there was a lot of exposition to the story, but I'm sure a good editing will tighten the story up...and who am I to complain about a free read?
March 1, 2015
This short paranormal romance sounded right up my alley: two characters snowed into a cabin while battling hell-hounds and a curse! But it didn’t make much use of these delicious elements, other than the curse. Instead, it focused on the consent issues inherent in the old sex pollen trope. (Outside forces compel the characters to have sex.) Unfortunately, that didn’t work either, due to a combination of bringing up the issues without actually delving into them, plus a truly astounding amount of “What we have here is a failure to communicate.”
Olivia once shared a sizzling kiss with her co-worker Erik. He then shoved her away and proceeded to freeze her out for the next six months. Then she has to bring some documents to his woodsy cabin in the dead of winter. Next thing she knows, her car is wrecked, Erik has revealed himself to be part frost giant, and they’re both snowed in with a lot of poorly explained supernatural baddies banging down the door.
But it gets worse! Erik is under a curse, the nature of which he won’t explain except to repeatedly, and I do mean repeatedly, demand that she shoot him in the head before he hurts her. After a lot of repetitive arguing, he finally tells her that the curse means he will be compelled to have sex with her in his part frost giant form, which is extremely well-hung.
She’s totally fine with this, since he’s now acting nicer, she’s had a crush on him all along, and she thinks he and his giant frost dick are super-hot. She does attempt to explain this, but gives up due to getting convinced that the reason he’s so dead-set against having sex with her is that he doesn’t want to have sex with her. Meanwhile, Erik is convinced that she doesn’t want to have sex with him, so any curse-driven sex they have will be rape. The “you need to kill me” argument repeats about five more times.
Some plot happens! They have sex! It’s a bit exhausting and rough but otherwise delightful! (His ice junk isn’t that big. It sounded a bit bigger than Liam Neeson’s.) Regarding consensuality, Olivia enthusiastically consents. Due to the curse, Erik doesn’t have a choice, but he would like to have sex with her under better circumstances and the reason he doesn’t want to have sex is that he can’t bring himself to believe that Olivia is actually consenting.
But due to Olivia again not being quite as direct as she probably could have been (by which I mean that she didn’t repeatedly bellow into his ear “YES I WANT TO HAVE SEX WITH YOU I AM CONSENTING I AM CONSENTING THIS IS TOTALLY CONSENSUAL I LOVE FROST COCK YES I SAID YES I WILL YES”) and Erik again leaping to the worst possible conclusion, he decides that the curse-driven sex was rape and she hates him. She decides that he hates her and hated having sex with her. Then they finally manage to have an actual conversation and clear all that up. The end!
A very smooth, conversational, easy-reading style doesn’t save this paranormal romance from the Scylla of Stupid Decisions and the Charybdis of Communication Failures. Olivia was interesting but underdeveloped; Erik had very little characterization at all. As for exploring consent within the sex pollen trope, it probably it needed to be either much darker or to dig into the issues much more. “Murder/suicide or mildly rough but awesome sex that both parties would like to have with each other anyway” is right up there with “Cake or death” in terms of non-dilemmas.
The purpose of the sex pollen trope is typically guilt-free enjoyment of dubcon fantasies. You get all the trappings— “I know I shouldn’t but I just can’t help myself,” roughness, neediness, sex with someone who’s otherwise unavailable, swept away by passion, animal urges, spontaneity— without anyone being a rapist.
I have seen sex pollen fanfic that does explore consent issues, but it tends to go very dark. Typically, the characters really didn’t want to have sex and feel terrible afterward, or even if they did want to, they think the circumstances made it rape and feel terrible afterward. Neither scenario makes for a happily-ever-after without a whole lot of post-climax work.
Meljean Brook is a writer people keep reccing to me on the strength of good/unusual worldbuilding, lots of action, interesting characters, and cracktasticness. I will definitely try some of her other books! I think this was a bad one to start with. Other reviewers who didn’t like it mention that it’s very atypical of her usual style.
Olivia once shared a sizzling kiss with her co-worker Erik. He then shoved her away and proceeded to freeze her out for the next six months. Then she has to bring some documents to his woodsy cabin in the dead of winter. Next thing she knows, her car is wrecked, Erik has revealed himself to be part frost giant, and they’re both snowed in with a lot of poorly explained supernatural baddies banging down the door.
But it gets worse! Erik is under a curse, the nature of which he won’t explain except to repeatedly, and I do mean repeatedly, demand that she shoot him in the head before he hurts her. After a lot of repetitive arguing, he finally tells her that the curse means he will be compelled to have sex with her in his part frost giant form, which is extremely well-hung.
She’s totally fine with this, since he’s now acting nicer, she’s had a crush on him all along, and she thinks he and his giant frost dick are super-hot. She does attempt to explain this, but gives up due to getting convinced that the reason he’s so dead-set against having sex with her is that he doesn’t want to have sex with her. Meanwhile, Erik is convinced that she doesn’t want to have sex with him, so any curse-driven sex they have will be rape. The “you need to kill me” argument repeats about five more times.
Some plot happens! They have sex! It’s a bit exhausting and rough but otherwise delightful! (His ice junk isn’t that big. It sounded a bit bigger than Liam Neeson’s.) Regarding consensuality, Olivia enthusiastically consents. Due to the curse, Erik doesn’t have a choice, but he would like to have sex with her under better circumstances and the reason he doesn’t want to have sex is that he can’t bring himself to believe that Olivia is actually consenting.
But due to Olivia again not being quite as direct as she probably could have been (by which I mean that she didn’t repeatedly bellow into his ear “YES I WANT TO HAVE SEX WITH YOU I AM CONSENTING I AM CONSENTING THIS IS TOTALLY CONSENSUAL I LOVE FROST COCK YES I SAID YES I WILL YES”) and Erik again leaping to the worst possible conclusion, he decides that the curse-driven sex was rape and she hates him. She decides that he hates her and hated having sex with her. Then they finally manage to have an actual conversation and clear all that up. The end!
A very smooth, conversational, easy-reading style doesn’t save this paranormal romance from the Scylla of Stupid Decisions and the Charybdis of Communication Failures. Olivia was interesting but underdeveloped; Erik had very little characterization at all. As for exploring consent within the sex pollen trope, it probably it needed to be either much darker or to dig into the issues much more. “Murder/suicide or mildly rough but awesome sex that both parties would like to have with each other anyway” is right up there with “Cake or death” in terms of non-dilemmas.
The purpose of the sex pollen trope is typically guilt-free enjoyment of dubcon fantasies. You get all the trappings— “I know I shouldn’t but I just can’t help myself,” roughness, neediness, sex with someone who’s otherwise unavailable, swept away by passion, animal urges, spontaneity— without anyone being a rapist.
I have seen sex pollen fanfic that does explore consent issues, but it tends to go very dark. Typically, the characters really didn’t want to have sex and feel terrible afterward, or even if they did want to, they think the circumstances made it rape and feel terrible afterward. Neither scenario makes for a happily-ever-after without a whole lot of post-climax work.
Meljean Brook is a writer people keep reccing to me on the strength of good/unusual worldbuilding, lots of action, interesting characters, and cracktasticness. I will definitely try some of her other books! I think this was a bad one to start with. Other reviewers who didn’t like it mention that it’s very atypical of her usual style.
September 29, 2016
1.5 out of 5 stars
I'm a huge Meljean fangurl, but this...this did not work for me. It manages both to take the subject matter too seriously and not seriously enough. Besides having a really predictable and silly story that I've seen a million times in other PNR (interesting mythology aside),the whole story hinges on the crux that these characters will. not. talk. to. each. other. It was obvious to me by chapter 4, but this dragged on for another 5 chapters of angst and self-pity. If Eric would just freaking tell the main character (can't even remember her name) what the hell was going on, this book would be 6 chapters shorter. I was getting so bored reading their chapter-long conversations where nothing of importance was actually said.
What really bothered me though was
And I'm sorry, I cannot take a seriously at all. I laughed when "the big reveal" occurred.
Of course I will continue to buy whatever Meljean puts out and I like that she's exploring slightly taboo topics, but I hope she puts a bit more thought into her next work.
I'm a huge Meljean fangurl, but this...this did not work for me. It manages both to take the subject matter too seriously and not seriously enough. Besides having a really predictable and silly story that I've seen a million times in other PNR (interesting mythology aside),the whole story hinges on the crux that these characters will. not. talk. to. each. other. It was obvious to me by chapter 4, but this dragged on for another 5 chapters of angst and self-pity. If Eric would just freaking tell the main character (can't even remember her name) what the hell was going on, this book would be 6 chapters shorter. I was getting so bored reading their chapter-long conversations where nothing of importance was actually said.
What really bothered me though was
And I'm sorry, I cannot take a seriously at all. I laughed when "the big reveal" occurred.
Of course I will continue to buy whatever Meljean puts out and I like that she's exploring slightly taboo topics, but I hope she puts a bit more thought into her next work.
Want to read
November 5, 20157 April 2015: $0.00 FREE on Kindle
25 December 2014: $0.00 FREE on Kindle
22 September 2014: $0.99 on Kindle
25 December 2014: $0.00 FREE on Kindle
22 September 2014: $0.99 on Kindle
December 22, 2020
2.5 stars
Read this because one of my mutuals recommended it for the holidays. It's aite. Romance is okay. The action/adventure parts are actually kinda fun. The whole "shoot me" thing was a little exhausting, and this book relied on quite a few misunderstandings to propel the plot forward.
I don't understand the logistics of a frost giant who's got an icy touch everywhere except his manhood, which is apparently super hot while the rest of him is ice cold. But I mean, if homegirl is into it, then great. If prevents ice burns, then good for her.
I guess I'm mainly giving this 2.5 stars for being willing to Go There with the sexytimes.
Read this because one of my mutuals recommended it for the holidays. It's aite. Romance is okay. The action/adventure parts are actually kinda fun. The whole "shoot me" thing was a little exhausting, and this book relied on quite a few misunderstandings to propel the plot forward.
I don't understand the logistics of a frost giant who's got an icy touch everywhere except his manhood, which is apparently super hot while the rest of him is ice cold. But I mean, if homegirl is into it, then great. If prevents ice burns, then good for her.
I guess I'm mainly giving this 2.5 stars for being willing to Go There with the sexytimes.
February 14, 2022
Oh man, I wanted more LOL.
November 27, 2014
4 stars
Meljean Brook is once a hit and miss author for me. I struggled when reading her Guardian series and The Iron Duke is the first steampunk novel I read that sadly failed to make me interested. I then think that maybe Brook's books is not for me. But, I still follow her blog and FB page, because I love her humor. When there was review request for her short story, Frozen, I decide to sign up. I never hear anything back, until late August ago she emailed me the e-ARC version.
Been busy, I just have a chance to read Frozen today. And no..this is not a R-Rated version of the Disney's Frozen, and the heroine, Olivia not singing "Let It Go". Even the "Let It Go" part can be applied to the hero, Erik. Frozen is about misunderstanding between h/H with "I think he do not desire me"-and-"I'm afraid that I will hurt her"-tug and pull war between our MCs. Sprinkle with a curse that will make Erik, a frost giant, do something, something horrible to Olivia. Will not say what because it will become spoiler. But Brook have some nice warning on her site that those aspect will be a trigger for some readers. As for me? I find it okay, tho. The reason behind Erik's demeanor to Olivia is understable and like I said, misunderstanding. With big M.
Talk about frost giant, we have Norse myth here. Don't worry, the world building is pretty simple. The story told from 1st POV, that's the first from Brook's work and I find myself enjoy Olivia's voice. Just wish that I can get through what inside Erik's mind and feeling since he seems so tortured. There's some plotholes, but it's not make this one less enjoyable. For a novella, the story wrapped up nicely and I hope that someday she can make Frozen as full length novel.
And...pheeeeeewww...this is the wow-hot-hot-hooooot book by Brook I'd read. Very..titillating, and make my nose almost bleed. Just metaphor, tho, hehe :p. I also close my room door so I can read the sex scene without disruption, lol. This book is not erotica, mind you. But the sex scene between Olivia and Eric is the most erotic sex scene I'd read this year in which I will re-read it again and again. *rubbing hand gleefully*
I think, maybe I'll try to resume my Brook's reading. Read this short story restore my faith to her, and if I have time, I'll continue reading her Guardian and Iron Seas series again.
e-ARC provided by author in exchange for honest review
Meljean Brook is once a hit and miss author for me. I struggled when reading her Guardian series and The Iron Duke is the first steampunk novel I read that sadly failed to make me interested. I then think that maybe Brook's books is not for me. But, I still follow her blog and FB page, because I love her humor. When there was review request for her short story, Frozen, I decide to sign up. I never hear anything back, until late August ago she emailed me the e-ARC version.
Been busy, I just have a chance to read Frozen today. And no..this is not a R-Rated version of the Disney's Frozen, and the heroine, Olivia not singing "Let It Go". Even the "Let It Go" part can be applied to the hero, Erik. Frozen is about misunderstanding between h/H with "I think he do not desire me"-and-"I'm afraid that I will hurt her"-tug and pull war between our MCs. Sprinkle with a curse that will make Erik, a frost giant, do something, something horrible to Olivia. Will not say what because it will become spoiler. But Brook have some nice warning on her site that those aspect will be a trigger for some readers. As for me? I find it okay, tho. The reason behind Erik's demeanor to Olivia is understable and like I said, misunderstanding. With big M.
Talk about frost giant, we have Norse myth here. Don't worry, the world building is pretty simple. The story told from 1st POV, that's the first from Brook's work and I find myself enjoy Olivia's voice. Just wish that I can get through what inside Erik's mind and feeling since he seems so tortured. There's some plotholes, but it's not make this one less enjoyable. For a novella, the story wrapped up nicely and I hope that someday she can make Frozen as full length novel.
And...pheeeeeewww...this is the wow-hot-hot-hooooot book by Brook I'd read. Very..titillating, and make my nose almost bleed. Just metaphor, tho, hehe :p. I also close my room door so I can read the sex scene without disruption, lol. This book is not erotica, mind you. But the sex scene between Olivia and Eric is the most erotic sex scene I'd read this year in which I will re-read it again and again. *rubbing hand gleefully*
I think, maybe I'll try to resume my Brook's reading. Read this short story restore my faith to her, and if I have time, I'll continue reading her Guardian and Iron Seas series again.
e-ARC provided by author in exchange for honest review
January 8, 2021
I really liked Frozen and the concept behind it. I read the story very quickly and it was really entertaining to watch Eric and Olivia fight their attraction to each other while trying to stay alive. While I enjoyed seeing the romantic tension spike between them, it was also my one point of contention. How is it two very intelligent people can't figure out the easiest way to solve the dilemma they're facing is so simple? I can understand that it's one of the biggest problems most couples face, but it didn't seem like it should've been a problem with them.
Beyond that, this book was flawless. I really liked Eric and Olivia. I understood Eric's despair about what he was going to do. There's action and suspense galore. I was hanging on to the edge of my seat, reading every word. I stayed up late to finish and I don't regret it. I only wish the book had been longer with more detail about the curse and Olivia's mother and her abilities.
Meljean Brook is a master story teller. She has this way of pulling you into the tale she's weaving and making you fall in love with the characters. The stories are hard to put down and they incite the imagination and take you on journeys you won't soon forget.
Review updated 1/7/21- My second read was smoother than my first and my previous review still stands. I was less bothered by how long it took for Eric and Olivia to come to an understanding, after all everyone is afraid of being rejected and hurt.
Beyond that, this book was flawless. I really liked Eric and Olivia. I understood Eric's despair about what he was going to do. There's action and suspense galore. I was hanging on to the edge of my seat, reading every word. I stayed up late to finish and I don't regret it. I only wish the book had been longer with more detail about the curse and Olivia's mother and her abilities.
Meljean Brook is a master story teller. She has this way of pulling you into the tale she's weaving and making you fall in love with the characters. The stories are hard to put down and they incite the imagination and take you on journeys you won't soon forget.
Review updated 1/7/21- My second read was smoother than my first and my previous review still stands. I was less bothered by how long it took for Eric and Olivia to come to an understanding, after all everyone is afraid of being rejected and hurt.
April 30, 2016
I wasn't sure if I skills give this book 3 or 4 stars. It was a nice read and that's pretty all I can say. The first person narration is not something I am fond of, but it was well done here and I didn't miss the hero's part as I usually do with such narration.
A little rushed. But a good one for a few free hours.
A little rushed. But a good one for a few free hours.
September 24, 2014
There was so much that could have been done with this book to make it a 5 star read. But too much miscommunication and thinking about the miscommunication kept it at 3 for me. I loved the premise, though, and the great mythology and action scenes!
September 15, 2014
Last chapter is up (but only until Tuesday). Then it'll be for sale in about a week.
I really liked it. A very interesting perspective on the bonding trope.
I really liked it. A very interesting perspective on the bonding trope.
December 19, 2022
Hello, frost giant MMC. My friend Aarya said people needed an angst trash filter for this one and those were the magic words. She was right! Here’s the thing: is this a problematic premise? Yes. Did I love it anyway? Hell yes. However, I’m very aware of how it could be harmful to someone else. If intimate partner violence or rape are sensitive issues, I would tread very carefully or avoid this one altogether.
Erik is cursed to basically go into a mating rut frenzy on winter solstice and doesn’t want to hurt Olivia. He believes that he won’t be able to care whether she consents or experiences pleasure once he’s in frost giant mode. They had a really hot kiss a year and a half ago and then he said it was a mistake. But turns out he’s a liar: he realized he’d fixated on her and was trying to stay away so that the curse might not be fully activated. When she shows up at his house unannounced (because his vile dad sent her there) and then is trapped there due to her car being destroyed by his enemies, Erik does everything he can to maintain control of his frost giant. This includes asking Olivia to kill him so she’ll stay safe. She refuses because he hasn’t hurt her and she doesn’t believe he actually will.
So uh, yeah. That premise is a whole lot and it’ll either work for you or it won’t. I couldn’t get enough of their secret mutual pining. They have chemistry for days but Erik keeps fighting it because he doesn’t want to hurt her and doesn’t believe she actually wants him. Olivia has a keen intuition (perhaps latent powers inherited from her witch mom?) and she’s also very pragmatic. Her ability to problem solve their way through this dilemma, while keeping tabs on her feelings for Erik, was the stuff of wonders. It’s a slow but very hot burn. Just what I wanted this winter!
Characters: Olivia is a white construction project supervisor. Erik is a 35 year old white engineer and part frost giant. This is set in Denver, CO and Erik’s fortress home an hour outside the city.
Content notes: MMC asks FMC to kill him, threat of sexual assault/rape by MMC , brief sexual assault , MMC’s father sent FMC to him essentially to be raped , snake monster attack, murder, attempted murder, physical assault, past intentional broken bones , attempted self-harm (MMC unable to hurt or kill himself), vandalism, past attempted intimate partner violence , past death of grandmother (car accident), unsafe sex practices (condomless sex without discussion of pregnancy or STI prevention; she bought the wrong size condoms but also MMC doesn’t even think about condoms once he transforms; she’s on birth control and they discuss the next day once he’s back to normal), dubious consent, on page sex, mating rut frenzy, sensory play (MMC’s tongue is cold!), masturbation, STD stigma, gender essentialist language, ableist language, mentions of ancestors likely having raped in the past, mention of women who were injured or died by suicide after sex/rape with a frost giant (past)
Erik is cursed to basically go into a mating rut frenzy on winter solstice and doesn’t want to hurt Olivia. He believes that he won’t be able to care whether she consents or experiences pleasure once he’s in frost giant mode. They had a really hot kiss a year and a half ago and then he said it was a mistake. But turns out he’s a liar: he realized he’d fixated on her and was trying to stay away so that the curse might not be fully activated. When she shows up at his house unannounced (because his vile dad sent her there) and then is trapped there due to her car being destroyed by his enemies, Erik does everything he can to maintain control of his frost giant. This includes asking Olivia to kill him so she’ll stay safe. She refuses because he hasn’t hurt her and she doesn’t believe he actually will.
So uh, yeah. That premise is a whole lot and it’ll either work for you or it won’t. I couldn’t get enough of their secret mutual pining. They have chemistry for days but Erik keeps fighting it because he doesn’t want to hurt her and doesn’t believe she actually wants him. Olivia has a keen intuition (perhaps latent powers inherited from her witch mom?) and she’s also very pragmatic. Her ability to problem solve their way through this dilemma, while keeping tabs on her feelings for Erik, was the stuff of wonders. It’s a slow but very hot burn. Just what I wanted this winter!
Characters: Olivia is a white construction project supervisor. Erik is a 35 year old white engineer and part frost giant. This is set in Denver, CO and Erik’s fortress home an hour outside the city.
Content notes: MMC asks FMC to kill him, threat of sexual assault/rape by MMC , brief sexual assault , MMC’s father sent FMC to him essentially to be raped , snake monster attack, murder, attempted murder, physical assault, past intentional broken bones , attempted self-harm (MMC unable to hurt or kill himself), vandalism, past attempted intimate partner violence , past death of grandmother (car accident), unsafe sex practices (condomless sex without discussion of pregnancy or STI prevention; she bought the wrong size condoms but also MMC doesn’t even think about condoms once he transforms; she’s on birth control and they discuss the next day once he’s back to normal), dubious consent, on page sex, mating rut frenzy, sensory play (MMC’s tongue is cold!), masturbation, STD stigma, gender essentialist language, ableist language, mentions of ancestors likely having raped in the past, mention of women who were injured or died by suicide after sex/rape with a frost giant (past)
April 3, 2018
http://bookslifewine.com/r-frozen/
I enjoyed Frozen quite a bit – just not as much as I was expecting. My expectations aside, Frozen was quite entertaining – thus my annoyance at hubby for consistently talking to me while I was trying to read, lol.
I think I was expecting a lot more sexytimes than I received from Frozen – although I was fine with the level of sexytime I did get.
What I *think* maybe the missing piece is that A) the MCs already know each other very well thus no need to do “getting to know you/push pull, etc” dialogue for the characters. They have a history so no history was created on page. So the lack of on-page relationship building along with a lack of sexytimes means Frozen focuses on the paranormal problems and the relationship seems mostly taken for a given.
I do think that the ending of Frozen was probably the most significant part for me. The heroine, Olivia, had a moment where she realizes that Erik (the hero) isn’t the only person who could make themselves emotionally vulnerable. So often when we [the reader] read Romances, they are from the woman’s POV and we “know” the heroine’s thoughts and feelings. We know she is in love or hurting or whatever…and thus Romances/the Romance genre trains [their readers] to expect the hero to make the “big gesture.” But the woman can – and should! – do that, too. As my husband has told me – men get scared and nervous, too.
All in all, a good novella that I really enjoyed.
I enjoyed Frozen quite a bit – just not as much as I was expecting. My expectations aside, Frozen was quite entertaining – thus my annoyance at hubby for consistently talking to me while I was trying to read, lol.
I think I was expecting a lot more sexytimes than I received from Frozen – although I was fine with the level of sexytime I did get.
What I *think* maybe the missing piece is that A) the MCs already know each other very well thus no need to do “getting to know you/push pull, etc” dialogue for the characters. They have a history so no history was created on page. So the lack of on-page relationship building along with a lack of sexytimes means Frozen focuses on the paranormal problems and the relationship seems mostly taken for a given.
I do think that the ending of Frozen was probably the most significant part for me. The heroine, Olivia, had a moment where she realizes that Erik (the hero) isn’t the only person who could make themselves emotionally vulnerable. So often when we [the reader] read Romances, they are from the woman’s POV and we “know” the heroine’s thoughts and feelings. We know she is in love or hurting or whatever…and thus Romances/the Romance genre trains [their readers] to expect the hero to make the “big gesture.” But the woman can – and should! – do that, too. As my husband has told me – men get scared and nervous, too.
All in all, a good novella that I really enjoyed.
December 20, 2020
3.5 out of 5 stars. I would say this book was good, as any book by this author would be. Was it epic? No. Was it bad? Of course not. It was a good read for this time of year with the angst I’ve come to expect from Meljean Brook.
I enjoyed that it’s a very different idea in the sense that it’s North Mythos. Frost Giants and Hounds. I even liked both of the main characters. It just seemed a bit slow in the middle, though the ending definitely made it worth it.
And of course, as always with this author, the sex was 5/5.
I enjoyed that it’s a very different idea in the sense that it’s North Mythos. Frost Giants and Hounds. I even liked both of the main characters. It just seemed a bit slow in the middle, though the ending definitely made it worth it.
And of course, as always with this author, the sex was 5/5.
June 10, 2022
Olivia and Erik had a connection at a previous job before he went glacial and ignored her. She (of course) never forgot him. It turns out, Erik is a frost giant who is cursed.
I thought the curse was a bit confusing. Anyway, the first time they get it on is under duress. They get along well, but they still don't really talk and make assumptions about how the other feels. With the curse thrown in, that make things a little worse since they were not "talking." They do eventually get things sorted.
I thought the curse was a bit confusing. Anyway, the first time they get it on is under duress. They get along well, but they still don't really talk and make assumptions about how the other feels. With the curse thrown in, that make things a little worse since they were not "talking." They do eventually get things sorted.
December 27, 2023
Buen romance de las montañas
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