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Cold Snap
Not yet published
Expected 17 Mar 26The highly anticipated sequel to FROST BITE!
WORMS GONE WILD! It’s 1998, and the town of Demise, North Dakota, is recovering from the Meteor Murders, hundreds of deaths caused by alien worms but blamed on a mass poisoning by a doomsday cult. While nineteen-year-old Realene’s heroic actions saved the lives of many, she wants nothing more than to hide from the world and mourn the ones she couldn’t save. When a second half of the meteor is found north of the border where her best friend Nate is on a spring break trip, she’ll have to face her fears and venture into Canada to find him. The only thing standing in her way are rampant alien worms, a covert military op, and the cold snap of the century.
WORMS GONE WILD! It’s 1998, and the town of Demise, North Dakota, is recovering from the Meteor Murders, hundreds of deaths caused by alien worms but blamed on a mass poisoning by a doomsday cult. While nineteen-year-old Realene’s heroic actions saved the lives of many, she wants nothing more than to hide from the world and mourn the ones she couldn’t save. When a second half of the meteor is found north of the border where her best friend Nate is on a spring break trip, she’ll have to face her fears and venture into Canada to find him. The only thing standing in her way are rampant alien worms, a covert military op, and the cold snap of the century.
270 pages, Paperback
Expected publication March 17, 2026
51 people want to read
About the author
Angela Sylvaine
48 books102 followersAngela Sylvaine is a self-proclaimed cheerful goth who writes horror fiction and poetry. Her debut novel, Frost Bite, and her debut collection, The Dead Spot: Stories of Lost Girls, are available from Dark Matter INK. Her short fiction and poetry have appeared in/on over forty anthologies, magazines, and podcasts, including Southwest Review, Apex Magazine, and The NoSleep Podcast. She lives in the shadow if the Rocky Mountains with her sweetheart and three creepy cats. You can find her online angelasylvaine.com.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Mounties, rabid beavers, and something called a "ground squirrel": O Angela 🇨🇦
Our second visit into Realene's chaotic life picks up shortly after the events of Frost Bite—we see the residents of Demise getting their chance to grief, but it is short lived before Realene is thrust back into action.
The worms are back, and they've got their sights set on America's polite neighbour to the north.
I won't give away any plot details, but suffice it to say that I was tickled at joining Realene in Winnipeg, the city where I was born and lived for two years before my diapered butt was taken out west to BC. The Canadian references stole my heart—Much Music, Ketchup Chips, a lower drinking age—but much of it felt anachronistic (a couple misplaced eh's, Mounties being a common thing, and a born and bred Canadian saying "I paid a guy a couple toonies" being particular standouts). I was scratching my head about it before recognizing it was anachronistic by design.
Cold Snap is extra. It is in your face with bright neon windbreakers and all the nostalgic joy of the nineties. Where is the fun in representing the great white north to a boring T?
There's a lot of fun in this novel. Silvaine channels T. Kingfisher with her humor and her pacing. Like the residents of Demise, you only get brief moments to mourn each loss, to navigate each plot twist before you're indelicately yanked to the next thrilling point.
It's going to be very interesting to see where Angela Sylvaine takes this series. There's clearly more where Frost Bite and Cold Snap came from...
Our second visit into Realene's chaotic life picks up shortly after the events of Frost Bite—we see the residents of Demise getting their chance to grief, but it is short lived before Realene is thrust back into action.
The worms are back, and they've got their sights set on America's polite neighbour to the north.
I won't give away any plot details, but suffice it to say that I was tickled at joining Realene in Winnipeg, the city where I was born and lived for two years before my diapered butt was taken out west to BC. The Canadian references stole my heart—Much Music, Ketchup Chips, a lower drinking age—but much of it felt anachronistic (a couple misplaced eh's, Mounties being a common thing, and a born and bred Canadian saying "I paid a guy a couple toonies" being particular standouts). I was scratching my head about it before recognizing it was anachronistic by design.
Cold Snap is extra. It is in your face with bright neon windbreakers and all the nostalgic joy of the nineties. Where is the fun in representing the great white north to a boring T?
There's a lot of fun in this novel. Silvaine channels T. Kingfisher with her humor and her pacing. Like the residents of Demise, you only get brief moments to mourn each loss, to navigate each plot twist before you're indelicately yanked to the next thrilling point.
It's going to be very interesting to see where Angela Sylvaine takes this series. There's clearly more where Frost Bite and Cold Snap came from...
February 8, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and Angela Sylvaine for the eARC of this book!
4.5 rounded up. This book was exceptionally well-written and well-paced. It had everything you could want in a follow-up to the first one. This was a solid second book and based on the ending, I definitely think we will see more of Realene and Nate! 💖
I loved the side characters in this one too: each one unique and interesting. I hope we see even more of them in the next book. I can’t say too much about anything specific for fear of spoiling both the first book and this one.
If you like 90’s horror stories with a dash of mystery and intrigue, I highly recommend Frost Bite and Cold Snap!!
4.5 rounded up. This book was exceptionally well-written and well-paced. It had everything you could want in a follow-up to the first one. This was a solid second book and based on the ending, I definitely think we will see more of Realene and Nate! 💖
I loved the side characters in this one too: each one unique and interesting. I hope we see even more of them in the next book. I can’t say too much about anything specific for fear of spoiling both the first book and this one.
If you like 90’s horror stories with a dash of mystery and intrigue, I highly recommend Frost Bite and Cold Snap!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
She beat those wormy little bastards once; she would do it again.
When my social media "book club" recommended Angela Sylvaine's "Frost Bite" not quite two years ago, I'll admit to a little bit of skepticsm after reading some of the first reactions from the team. I mean, a book with young adult leanings that takes place in the lovely country-side that is North Dakota in winter? In an extremely small town named Demise (no, I don't think it is pronounced with a French accent)? What could possibly be thrilling about that, right? Silly me… this story only wound up being one of the most original books I read that year and, quite frankly, I for sure wanted more! And that time has finally come, true believers! Speakin' of believin' (don't stop!!), I'm glad to report this next one is just as exciting if not more so than its predecessor!
If he gets himself killed, I’m going to be really pissed.
Apropos all these shenanigans, I was very excited to receive an ARC (uncorrected) for the second book in what I hope is AT LEAST a trilogy, namely, the upcoming "Cold Snap" aka "Frost Bite #2"! And despite its title, unlike the first book - which featured what in common parlance is being called now the "Meteor Murders" (with blame having been placed on a mass poisoning by the local doomsday cult-like group because they're all boogerheads!) - this second chapter really doesn't lean on the weather as such a critical part of the plot. I mean, who could forget Nate and Realene slipping and sliding around and freezing various body parts off as they did what they could to save the local populace from the scourge of alien-infected viscious, um, prairie dogs last time? Yeah, you read that right… and if you haven't read that first book yet, get on it, eh?
We’re alive, and we’re not zombies. Probably the best we could’ve hoped for.
Speaking of "eh!", in fact this time we leave the cozy confines of North Dakota for a large part of the book and head north of the border to Winnipeg, Canada (man, we "Americans" are just doing everything we can to tick the Canadians off these days, huh?)! And yes, I'll confess, there is still a little bit of "this and this happened because of the wintry weather" going on although I wouldn't call it absolutely critical to the plot like last time. However, this second book gets a lot more brutal in many ways as the really bad things happening are almost exclusively caused by humans up to no good … and we're not even sure how long that's been going on and by whom it's been perpetrated! And, yes, on the other hand, we get to meet and greet a lot of really cool folks, too, in this edition (love live the Alien Alliance) so balance in The Force is maintained!
You should be proud of your actions in service to your country, even when there’s brutality involved.
Plus, if you are really set on seeing them and still looking for your biannual fill of prairie dogs, they're here again as well. Plus we get infected rabbits, deer, at least one beaver with a serious attitude problem and bison. I would have never suspected bison having so much aggression when it comes to buses but you don't want to miss that bit for sure. Personally, the fauna of Canada just strikes me as being about as dangerous as that found in Australia, except obviously the Canuck variety of same is better adapted for the cold. Which when I see pictures of wet koalas, makes me kind of glad. And do not ever offer me a book titled "Ice Spiders" no matter what, deal?
She threw herself forward, diving across the ice on her belly like a demented penguin.
ANYWAY… what really makes this book work so well and definitely differentiates it - in a good way! - from the first chapter is that Sylvaine does a terrific job with just about all the characters, good and bad. At first, yes, a lot of what we see are the locals dealing with their own grief from the previous events, but eventually this turns into highly charged emotion and tons of action. We find out as well that there is so much more happening than just a worm-filled meteorite causing problems. All of it really comes to a head as our multi-generational squad pulls together and finds a way to really give it to "the man". No more spoilers besides that, sorry!
He sounded like a super villain from some ridiculous movie.
There's not a lot I can say in terms of the nuts and bolts of the book (uncorrected as it 'twas)! But if you're familiar with Sylvaine's work, you definitely need this in your collection! And if you're not, well then, ask yourself if smooth-reading, quick-paced action, intrique, mystery, scyfy and even a good dose of horror are any of the qualities you look for in your books! Because this was a fun one and I'm glad to check off all of these! And if I can leave you with one last thought: those last few pages!!! Whoa nelly, things are coming up "soon"! Let's just hope we can put a "very" in front of that "soon" and see Book 3 in the very near future!
My thanks again to the author and Dark Matter INK for an advanced copy!
(NOTE: launch date of "Cold Snap" is scheduled for 17.March, 2026)!
When my social media "book club" recommended Angela Sylvaine's "Frost Bite" not quite two years ago, I'll admit to a little bit of skepticsm after reading some of the first reactions from the team. I mean, a book with young adult leanings that takes place in the lovely country-side that is North Dakota in winter? In an extremely small town named Demise (no, I don't think it is pronounced with a French accent)? What could possibly be thrilling about that, right? Silly me… this story only wound up being one of the most original books I read that year and, quite frankly, I for sure wanted more! And that time has finally come, true believers! Speakin' of believin' (don't stop!!), I'm glad to report this next one is just as exciting if not more so than its predecessor!
If he gets himself killed, I’m going to be really pissed.
Apropos all these shenanigans, I was very excited to receive an ARC (uncorrected) for the second book in what I hope is AT LEAST a trilogy, namely, the upcoming "Cold Snap" aka "Frost Bite #2"! And despite its title, unlike the first book - which featured what in common parlance is being called now the "Meteor Murders" (with blame having been placed on a mass poisoning by the local doomsday cult-like group because they're all boogerheads!) - this second chapter really doesn't lean on the weather as such a critical part of the plot. I mean, who could forget Nate and Realene slipping and sliding around and freezing various body parts off as they did what they could to save the local populace from the scourge of alien-infected viscious, um, prairie dogs last time? Yeah, you read that right… and if you haven't read that first book yet, get on it, eh?
We’re alive, and we’re not zombies. Probably the best we could’ve hoped for.
Speaking of "eh!", in fact this time we leave the cozy confines of North Dakota for a large part of the book and head north of the border to Winnipeg, Canada (man, we "Americans" are just doing everything we can to tick the Canadians off these days, huh?)! And yes, I'll confess, there is still a little bit of "this and this happened because of the wintry weather" going on although I wouldn't call it absolutely critical to the plot like last time. However, this second book gets a lot more brutal in many ways as the really bad things happening are almost exclusively caused by humans up to no good … and we're not even sure how long that's been going on and by whom it's been perpetrated! And, yes, on the other hand, we get to meet and greet a lot of really cool folks, too, in this edition (love live the Alien Alliance) so balance in The Force is maintained!
You should be proud of your actions in service to your country, even when there’s brutality involved.
Plus, if you are really set on seeing them and still looking for your biannual fill of prairie dogs, they're here again as well. Plus we get infected rabbits, deer, at least one beaver with a serious attitude problem and bison. I would have never suspected bison having so much aggression when it comes to buses but you don't want to miss that bit for sure. Personally, the fauna of Canada just strikes me as being about as dangerous as that found in Australia, except obviously the Canuck variety of same is better adapted for the cold. Which when I see pictures of wet koalas, makes me kind of glad. And do not ever offer me a book titled "Ice Spiders" no matter what, deal?
She threw herself forward, diving across the ice on her belly like a demented penguin.
ANYWAY… what really makes this book work so well and definitely differentiates it - in a good way! - from the first chapter is that Sylvaine does a terrific job with just about all the characters, good and bad. At first, yes, a lot of what we see are the locals dealing with their own grief from the previous events, but eventually this turns into highly charged emotion and tons of action. We find out as well that there is so much more happening than just a worm-filled meteorite causing problems. All of it really comes to a head as our multi-generational squad pulls together and finds a way to really give it to "the man". No more spoilers besides that, sorry!
He sounded like a super villain from some ridiculous movie.
There's not a lot I can say in terms of the nuts and bolts of the book (uncorrected as it 'twas)! But if you're familiar with Sylvaine's work, you definitely need this in your collection! And if you're not, well then, ask yourself if smooth-reading, quick-paced action, intrique, mystery, scyfy and even a good dose of horror are any of the qualities you look for in your books! Because this was a fun one and I'm glad to check off all of these! And if I can leave you with one last thought: those last few pages!!! Whoa nelly, things are coming up "soon"! Let's just hope we can put a "very" in front of that "soon" and see Book 3 in the very near future!
My thanks again to the author and Dark Matter INK for an advanced copy!
(NOTE: launch date of "Cold Snap" is scheduled for 17.March, 2026)!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Cold Snap blends creature feature chaos with emotional fallout, all wrapped in late 1990s paranoia and grief. It understands that surviving something horrific does not make you whole. It just leaves you living with what comes after.
Realene is a reluctant hero who saved lives during the Meteor Murders but lost too much in the process. She is not looking to be brave again. She wants to hide, to mourn, and to stop being the girl who lived. That emotional weight grounds the alien worm horror and makes the stakes feel deeply personal.
Yes, there are ravenous alien worms, a covert military presence, and mounting danger, but the heart of the story is grief, guilt, and the exhaustion of being forced back into survival mode. The cold snap mirrors Realene’s emotional numbness, tightening the tension with every page.
The pacing is sharp and propulsive, balancing pulp fun with real ache. This is sci fi horror that remembers the human cost of catastrophe.
If you like your horror weird, emotional, and a little feral, Cold Snap delivers. It is bleak, fast, and surprisingly tender.
Realene is a reluctant hero who saved lives during the Meteor Murders but lost too much in the process. She is not looking to be brave again. She wants to hide, to mourn, and to stop being the girl who lived. That emotional weight grounds the alien worm horror and makes the stakes feel deeply personal.
Yes, there are ravenous alien worms, a covert military presence, and mounting danger, but the heart of the story is grief, guilt, and the exhaustion of being forced back into survival mode. The cold snap mirrors Realene’s emotional numbness, tightening the tension with every page.
The pacing is sharp and propulsive, balancing pulp fun with real ache. This is sci fi horror that remembers the human cost of catastrophe.
If you like your horror weird, emotional, and a little feral, Cold Snap delivers. It is bleak, fast, and surprisingly tender.
Review of advance copy received from Author
They’re baaaaaaack!
Frost Bite is one of my all time favorite reads. The nostalgia, the comedy, the heart. It just had it all so when the author was looking for ARC readers for the sequel - I SPRINTED!
And I’m so glad I did! The same laughs and ridiculousness as the first read but this one had some pretty crazy twists and gut punches.
Somehow Sylvaine made me fall in love with the biffs all over again, and added even more to the roster.
Frost Bite is one of my all time favorite reads. The nostalgia, the comedy, the heart. It just had it all so when the author was looking for ARC readers for the sequel - I SPRINTED!
And I’m so glad I did! The same laughs and ridiculousness as the first read but this one had some pretty crazy twists and gut punches.
Somehow Sylvaine made me fall in love with the biffs all over again, and added even more to the roster.
Review of advance copy received from Author
EPIC Follow up to Frost Bite! Realene and Nate unintentionally spend their spring break vacation with "killer prairie dogs" round two. While this sequel dials down the infestation it ramps up the government involvement. Realene ends up with new faces and old faces alike which can make trusting people a little hard but she knows at the end of the day she can always rely on Nate. I can't express how much I enjoyed this sequel!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The spirit of ‘80s Amblin films and X-Files paranoia spread through these pages like a cold front. In this sequel, Sylvaine builds on the genre-bending thrills of Frost Bite with a wider scope, higher stakes, and new layered characters while maintaining the heart of the series. Readers will want to follow Realene and Nate to the ends of the earth.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews