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Bloodline of Yule Trilogy #2
Snowbound
Book 2 of the award-winning YA trilogy that started with Snowed. Charity Jones leads her friends on an armed, high-tech expedition to the Arctic coordinates she’s seen in her dreams. Their mission: to kill Krampus and save Aidan. But when Charity discovers Aidan’s shocking fate, she makes a mistake that starts the countdown to apocalypse. Can Charity and her team stop the clock? Or will humanity pay the ultimate price?
258 pages, Paperback
Published September 8, 2018
41 people want to read
About the author
Maria Alexander
34 books129 followersMaria Alexander is an award-winning author of YA and adult fiction. Her debut novel, MR. WICKER, won the 2014 Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel. Her debut YA novel, SNOWED, both won the 2016 Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel and was nominated for the 2017 Anthony Award for Best Children's/Young Adult Novel.
When she’s not stabbing people with her foil, she’s being outrageously spooky or writing Doctor Who filk. She lives in Los Angeles with two ungrateful cats, a Jewish Christmas caroler, and a purse called Trog.
When she’s not stabbing people with her foil, she’s being outrageously spooky or writing Doctor Who filk. She lives in Los Angeles with two ungrateful cats, a Jewish Christmas caroler, and a purse called Trog.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 8, 2018
I’m one of the eager readers who have patiently been waiting for the sequel to Snowed by Maria Alexander to come out, and lo and behold, it has! This book, Snowbound, continues the adventures of Charity and Aidan. To say Charity ended things on a tumultuous note would be an understatement. Things are even more suspenseful this time around.
One of the things I enjoyed was the alternating points of view, which I felt worked effectively in this book. There was also a great sense of immediacy to the prose. From a characterization point of view, Charity’s evil brother, Charles, had his role to play in this sequel, more sinister than last time, and I feel like that effectively ratcheted the conflict up. Aidan’s despair and desperation also came across emphatically, and it wasn’t difficult to sympathize with what he was going through.
Another thing I enjoyed was that the mythology was even richer in this book, incorporating legends from both the Inuktitut people and also from Viking mythology. Overall, the stakes were very well defined and I felt the author sustained suspense throughout the novel brilliantly. As well, I enjoyed several aspects of the magic system.
All the things I wanted to see more of from the first book, like Aidan’s home world, are even more expanded here and it’s wonderful. As the novel goes on, it gets better and more interesting. As well, I liked how the author made good use of poetry, which also tied into the plot cleverly. This tome ends on a cliffhanger, which was a good sign in some ways because hopefully it means that Charity and Aidan’s adventures will continue. I highly recommend this YA horror novel, which is a great sequel to the award-winning first book and a wonderful new offering from one of my favourite authors.
One of the things I enjoyed was the alternating points of view, which I felt worked effectively in this book. There was also a great sense of immediacy to the prose. From a characterization point of view, Charity’s evil brother, Charles, had his role to play in this sequel, more sinister than last time, and I feel like that effectively ratcheted the conflict up. Aidan’s despair and desperation also came across emphatically, and it wasn’t difficult to sympathize with what he was going through.
Another thing I enjoyed was that the mythology was even richer in this book, incorporating legends from both the Inuktitut people and also from Viking mythology. Overall, the stakes were very well defined and I felt the author sustained suspense throughout the novel brilliantly. As well, I enjoyed several aspects of the magic system.
All the things I wanted to see more of from the first book, like Aidan’s home world, are even more expanded here and it’s wonderful. As the novel goes on, it gets better and more interesting. As well, I liked how the author made good use of poetry, which also tied into the plot cleverly. This tome ends on a cliffhanger, which was a good sign in some ways because hopefully it means that Charity and Aidan’s adventures will continue. I highly recommend this YA horror novel, which is a great sequel to the award-winning first book and a wonderful new offering from one of my favourite authors.
July 23, 2018
Disclaimer: I consider myself friends with the author; I received an electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I finished reading this book at the height of summer in my very warm home office. But I didn't even think of turning on the ceiling fan, because Alexander brought the freezing cold of the Arctic to cool me off instead. This sequel started with a bang and instantly hooked me, even if the beginning didn't follow the path I expected. But it was the best sort of unexpected, with twists and turns that led to an epic ending.
This novel reads much more like an epic urban fantasy adventure novel than a traditional "young adult" book. The main characters are still in their late teens, but events have given them goals and focus.
Alexander has obviously done her research, which helps in bringing this book to life. This applies to both the physical details of traveling (mostly) safely in the Arctic and further exploration into a believable mythology for her Santa Claus/Krampus character and his world near the North Pole.
Readers of the first book should be very excited for this one, but new readers should go back to Snowed first for the full story. Both books are delicious holiday treats, no matter what time of year you're reading them!
I finished reading this book at the height of summer in my very warm home office. But I didn't even think of turning on the ceiling fan, because Alexander brought the freezing cold of the Arctic to cool me off instead. This sequel started with a bang and instantly hooked me, even if the beginning didn't follow the path I expected. But it was the best sort of unexpected, with twists and turns that led to an epic ending.
This novel reads much more like an epic urban fantasy adventure novel than a traditional "young adult" book. The main characters are still in their late teens, but events have given them goals and focus.
Alexander has obviously done her research, which helps in bringing this book to life. This applies to both the physical details of traveling (mostly) safely in the Arctic and further exploration into a believable mythology for her Santa Claus/Krampus character and his world near the North Pole.
Readers of the first book should be very excited for this one, but new readers should go back to Snowed first for the full story. Both books are delicious holiday treats, no matter what time of year you're reading them!
March 29, 2024
2,5. No me gustó tanto como la primera parte. No sé si los pequeños vicios de la escritura se han agravado con la secuela o es sólo que no recuerdo bien la primera parte. Los diálogos me resultaron un poco ortopédicos; en los agradecimientos Alexander menciona que tuvo beta readers adolescentes, pero por desgracia las referencias humorísticas y la jerga se quedaron petrificadas hace diez años y ya no funcionan. Normalmente el intercalado de prosa elegante con expresiones informales me gusta, pero en este caso no fluían con naturalidad. Además, el personajes de Charles me resultó un villano exagerado y poco creíble (pero no quiero decir más, porque conociendo la vida de Alexander es capaz de haberlo basado en alguien que conoció).
No lo odié, tiene partes entretenidas y pienso leer la tercera parte, pero no me corre ninguna prisa.
No lo odié, tiene partes entretenidas y pienso leer la tercera parte, pero no me corre ninguna prisa.
January 25, 2019
I had loved the first book of this trilogy (check out the review here!) and i am happy to say that the second one didn’t disappoint me. I like these books mostly for their story setting and some how i end up reading them during the winter Christmas-y time, which is probably the best time to read these books.
I feel the characters in this book developed even more and the story line became more suspenseful and developed with a great pace.
I liked how the author used alternative POVs in order to develop the story. It gave the story more depth and helped me in understanding the story better. The character of Charity is really close to my heart and i feel more connected to her in this book. Needless to say, I am eagerly waiting for the third book!
I feel the characters in this book developed even more and the story line became more suspenseful and developed with a great pace.
I liked how the author used alternative POVs in order to develop the story. It gave the story more depth and helped me in understanding the story better. The character of Charity is really close to my heart and i feel more connected to her in this book. Needless to say, I am eagerly waiting for the third book!
May 6, 2019
DISCLAIMER: I know the author personally.
A very different book than the first in the trilogy, Snowed. Many of the familiar characters are back, including our heroine, young genius cum skeptic Charity Jones, who must travel to the icy Arctic with her friends to try to rescue Aidan from his cruel father. The danger is greater and the stakes are higher. There is also a great deal more mythology in this one, contrasting sharply with Charity's bedrock reliance on science and reality. Charity remains one of my all-time favorite YA characters ever, but she is not the only star of this novel. To say more would spoil it.
A very different book than the first in the trilogy, Snowed. Many of the familiar characters are back, including our heroine, young genius cum skeptic Charity Jones, who must travel to the icy Arctic with her friends to try to rescue Aidan from his cruel father. The danger is greater and the stakes are higher. There is also a great deal more mythology in this one, contrasting sharply with Charity's bedrock reliance on science and reality. Charity remains one of my all-time favorite YA characters ever, but she is not the only star of this novel. To say more would spoil it.
December 27, 2020
Not your granny’s Father Christmas
Taking place several months after the events of the first book, the narrative is split between Aidan (son of Santa) and Charity.
Wow! The imagination and world building is so cool! I love the fortress and it’s inhabitants and powers. The magic system makes total sense. The whole set up reads like ancient mythology brought to life.
The changes in Charity and her friends were unexpected but made sense.
I can’t wait to read book three!
Taking place several months after the events of the first book, the narrative is split between Aidan (son of Santa) and Charity.
Wow! The imagination and world building is so cool! I love the fortress and it’s inhabitants and powers. The magic system makes total sense. The whole set up reads like ancient mythology brought to life.
The changes in Charity and her friends were unexpected but made sense.
I can’t wait to read book three!
November 30, 2020
Book 2 of The Bloodline of the Yule continues where Snowed, Book 1 ended, and as before we have this exciting mix of mythology and Christmas beliefs. The Eastern European beliefs in Krampus are the key component to this horror/ romance, and only by going on to the third volume will all questions be answered.
December 16, 2018
Usually when I write about the second book in a series, I'm quick to say, "it can stand alone." But that is not the case here. You really have no idea what's happening unless you've first read Snowed, (Bram Stoker Winner for Superior Achievement in a YA novel and Anthony Award nominee). Both books have wonderful cover art by Daniele Serra.
Snowed cover
The good thing about that is that Snowed is Totally Awesome. You want a great heroine? You've got Charity Jones, 16, biracial, skeptic, engineering genius (I love the names she gives her robots and drones!) You want a handsome, mysterious, troubled hero? You've got Aidan, whose mysterious vibe matches Charity's energy in every way. Together they have to solve a mystery: who, or what, brutally murdered the school bully who had Charity in his crosshairs? I was so taken up by this book that I read it in almost one sitting, staying up well into the wee hours to keep reading. The combination of Gothic, suspense, and California suburban sunshine was delicious. The characters, including Charity's brother Charles, an even worse bully than the murdered one, were well-rounded and interesting.
Snowed cover
The good thing about that is that Snowed is Totally Awesome. You want a great heroine? You've got Charity Jones, 16, biracial, skeptic, engineering genius (I love the names she gives her robots and drones!) You want a handsome, mysterious, troubled hero? You've got Aidan, whose mysterious vibe matches Charity's energy in every way. Together they have to solve a mystery: who, or what, brutally murdered the school bully who had Charity in his crosshairs? I was so taken up by this book that I read it in almost one sitting, staying up well into the wee hours to keep reading. The combination of Gothic, suspense, and California suburban sunshine was delicious. The characters, including Charity's brother Charles, an even worse bully than the murdered one, were well-rounded and interesting.
June 30, 2020
I just- this moment- finished the trilogy and I loved it!!! There were times I hated it (book 3) but I really enjoyed the books and tales. Maria wove a great tale with myth and folklore but her visually appealing writing hooked me in!
December 21, 2020
This is a super fun series for holiday reading, can't wait to get to the finale.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews