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Ulysses Grove #1
Frozen: The Author's Cut
Deep in the Alaskan wilderness, a mummified body is discovered in the ice, the victim of a bizarre ritualistic killing that happened nearly six thousand years ago. For journalist Maura County, this story is her ticket to the big time -- if she can get the help of the FBI's top profiler.
Special Agent Ulysses Grove is the best of the best -- a born manhunter. He's also a man on the edge, haunted by both personal tragedy and a recent spate of horrific, unsolved homicides. Now, in a remote lab, he's about to make a shocking discovery. Everything about the prehistoric murderer -- signature, M.O., the tiniest of details -- matches up to the serial killer who has eluded Grove for months.
As past and present collide, County and Grove are plunged into a nightmare journey that will take them into the darkest reaches of the human heart as they try to stop a cycle of evil as eternal and powerful as time itself...
Special Agent Ulysses Grove is the best of the best -- a born manhunter. He's also a man on the edge, haunted by both personal tragedy and a recent spate of horrific, unsolved homicides. Now, in a remote lab, he's about to make a shocking discovery. Everything about the prehistoric murderer -- signature, M.O., the tiniest of details -- matches up to the serial killer who has eluded Grove for months.
As past and present collide, County and Grove are plunged into a nightmare journey that will take them into the darkest reaches of the human heart as they try to stop a cycle of evil as eternal and powerful as time itself...
242 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
13 people are currently reading
272 people want to read
About the author
Jay Bonansinga
110 books387 followersThe national best-selling author of ten acclaimed books – both fiction and non-fiction -- Jay Bonansinga has been called “one of the most imaginative writers of thrillers” by the Chicago Tribune.
Jay is the holder of a master's degree in film from Columbia College Chicago, and currently resides in Evanston, Illinois, with his wife and two sons. He is also a visiting professor at Northwestern University in their Creative Writing for the Media program.
Jay is the holder of a master's degree in film from Columbia College Chicago, and currently resides in Evanston, Illinois, with his wife and two sons. He is also a visiting professor at Northwestern University in their Creative Writing for the Media program.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
November 29, 2021
My thanks to Burns and Lea books. Fact is that if you're a zom/poc fan and haven't heard from this author, then truthfully I cannot say you've missed much. It's just a fact. IMHO. I ain't about to shovel pyrite up your arse, and tell ya' it's gold. This author has a name I think because of "maybe, the walking dead." I know I've heard of him. Why, when? Seriously I haven't a freaking clue. I will say that 10 years ago, I may have enjoyed this. Seriously, I don't even mean nor intend to knock this author down, but right now, it's kind of lame. I adore zombies. I do. They are messed up. That's the best thing ever! Give me every fricking thing you can throw at me. I will believe it. Toss zombies into it, and I know I'm safe..... Unless..dum,.dum, dum...the wormwood has passed overhead! Eek! And stuff!
August 17, 2018
2.75 stars
es la primera vez en bastante tiempo que me toca leer un libro en thriller que no me logra convencer del todo, pero así ha ocurrido... y para mi sorpresa, el rating también lo veo muy bajo...
el problema viene desde la sinopsis, una cierta incoherencia en el planteamiento. una momia hallada en alaska de un asesinato cometido hace 6000 años, hasta ahí parece ir todo bien, pero cómo dices después que un asesinato del mismo calibre ocurre desde hace meses?
Esto me hizo pensar que el libro iba a tener un cierto aspecto sobrenatural, y no me equivoqué... pero no me terminó de convencer. además el libro se tornaba repetitivo con lo de las momias, para llegar al final creo que más que policiaco o intriga, esto tenía un tinte más terrorífico. Lo recomiendo si quieres probar qué tal es, pero si te gusta una buena novela de thriller o policiaca, creo que no te convencerá mucho ese elemento sobrenatural.
es la primera vez en bastante tiempo que me toca leer un libro en thriller que no me logra convencer del todo, pero así ha ocurrido... y para mi sorpresa, el rating también lo veo muy bajo...
el problema viene desde la sinopsis, una cierta incoherencia en el planteamiento. una momia hallada en alaska de un asesinato cometido hace 6000 años, hasta ahí parece ir todo bien, pero cómo dices después que un asesinato del mismo calibre ocurre desde hace meses?
Esto me hizo pensar que el libro iba a tener un cierto aspecto sobrenatural, y no me equivoqué... pero no me terminó de convencer. además el libro se tornaba repetitivo con lo de las momias, para llegar al final creo que más que policiaco o intriga, esto tenía un tinte más terrorífico. Lo recomiendo si quieres probar qué tal es, pero si te gusta una buena novela de thriller o policiaca, creo que no te convencerá mucho ese elemento sobrenatural.
March 5, 2024
Parecía que non, pero finalmente leva unha puntuación boa. Como thriller paranormal pareceme un libro bastante bo, non é previsíbel e as personaxes son bastante interesantes. Non quero dicir nada concreto sobre o tema que trata, pero malia o manido que está... O autor salva bastante ben os papeles.
Como punto negativo, as protagonistas femeninas están subordinadas ás masculinas e carecen de trama propia. E penso que unha delas e fundamental na historia do protagonista. E no tocante á cuestión cultural e étnica... Vexo boa intención, pero non me gusta moito como se tratou o tema.
Un 3'5 sobre 5
Como punto negativo, as protagonistas femeninas están subordinadas ás masculinas e carecen de trama propia. E penso que unha delas e fundamental na historia do protagonista. E no tocante á cuestión cultural e étnica... Vexo boa intención, pero non me gusta moito como se tratou o tema.
Un 3'5 sobre 5
February 20, 2012
"Frozen is an entertaining and quite exciting thriller written on a interesting topic.
The ending is quite farfetched but it takes a while before the reader realizes that the plot is superntural.
But its still entertaining, even ifyou dont believe one word of what is happening.
The author uses a few times "had I but known", which was often used in older English crime stories.
Nowadays authors try to keep hidden.
The ending is quite farfetched but it takes a while before the reader realizes that the plot is superntural.
But its still entertaining, even ifyou dont believe one word of what is happening.
The author uses a few times "had I but known", which was often used in older English crime stories.
Nowadays authors try to keep hidden.
April 17, 2019
There's a concept in forensics known as the "evidence clock." The clock starts the moment a murder is committed, at which time the hard evidence starts to degrade. Prints mingle, DNA washes away, blood dries and flakes and vanishes. Even psychological evidence atrophies over time. Body positioning is changed as uniformed officers move things. It's an unavoidable aspect to crime scene processing . . . and nobody knows this better than the FBI profilers.
◆ Ulysses: The best profiler in FBI history, self-proclaimed "Beefcake" (extremely handsome, TOO HANDSOME to be taken seriously...he sure isn't humble), and The Chosen One. I really felt like he was a total "Sue", written to be this extremely special person and everyone bends over backwards for him, even when he's an asshole. I was uncomfortable with how he was so self-loathing over his black features and his black heritage (African / Jamaican). Overall he seemed an okay character, if you can get past the whole Sue-ness.
◆ Maura: Editor at Discover Magazine and total quirky blonde who reaches out to Ulysses to come profile the 6,000 year old murder victim mummy discovered up in the Alaskan mountains. She was inserted into the story to move the plot along: a link between Ulysses and the Sun City serial killer, a love interest (which for me didn't pan out in the slightest, it really shouldn't have happened). Her life is put in danger which 'helps' Ulysses move past the loss of his wife years ago. I just really didn't appreciate how her character was used as a means of personal growth for the male MC. I also think it's really icky when a man refers to a love interest as "kid" or "kiddo", I cringe every time.
I loved the premise, and the book cover. The writing itself was quite annoying at times with repeated phrasings and the like (a personal pet peeve). At around 30% of the way into the book we collectively discover who the serial killer is, and from then on out the story centers on way too much police work in hunting the killer down. Except it was pretty boring. For me that killed the mystery, so to speak. I really wanted to like the paranormal aspects of the plot, and while I appreciate the uniqueness, it didn't come together in an interesting way for me.
I wasn't given much incentive to care about the MCs backstory, and the supporting characters didn't catch my interest either. The attempts at romance were stilted and awkward, and like I said earlier I really didn't appreciate the use of inserting a female character into the plot to move along a male characters internal woes in such a brusque manner, it's rude. Women are people, not just the object of the state of a man's mental health and successes in life.
There were several instances in the book where things didn't add up, so the scenes felt 'closed off' from reality. The ending itself was pretty cool, yet partly silly how all of a sudden Ulysses has all these epiphanies and everything spontaneously falls into place. The fact that he only felt comfortable with his black culture at the end of the book, after seeing that it made him special (because of a paranormal reason, not because he naturally grew to love his roots), didn't sit well with me. You don't need a paranormal reason to feel special in your own skin, and the narrative leaning otherwise is unnecessary.
Regarding being interested in this book because the author worked with Robert Kirkman on Return to Woodbury...well...TWD and Frozen are not comparable in the slightest.
eARC provided by Burns & Lea Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The quotes provided were taken from an eARC and are subject to change upon publication.
Content Warnings for past loss of a loved one (ovarian cancer), abandonment, internalized racism, prejudices (Jewish related), mental health insensitivity, brief mention of sexual assault, kidnapping, violence, drugs, and a bear attack. ♡
May 7, 2019
Frozen is an interesting book though at the beginning I found some difficulties as I felt that I was put in the middle of a situation with Grove, the main character. This was rectified that once I finish reading the book, I realised that this was series which explains my feelings at the beginning.
Bonansinga has an interesting character in Grove and proves to be the fascinating inspiration that carries the story forward. The mystery unfolds in an interesting way but at times sometimes the mystical gets lost within the science.
He has done his research in the pathology and crime labs which really make the story shine. The exposition for the crimes and the investigation is very high calibre. This is where the novel really comes into its own. The human relationships sometimes take a backseat but again this may have to do more with this being the middle of a series and there may be a lot of juxtaposition with character that may have come from previous instalments. Saying this, this does not take away from the overall enjoyment of the novel.
The mystery and suspense work very well and following along with Groves as he tries to catch a serial killer work very well. When the story turns to something beyond the realms of this world, then the story slowly loses some of the grit and grime that was before. Personally, it felt a bit rushed and felt like an afterthought. This did not spoil the overall enjoyment because Bonansinga has a great main character in Groves but it did make me waver slightly.
Overall, this is a quick fun read and does keep you on tenterhooks. This is an author’s cut and as I had not read the original cut, the slight problems I found could be in this edit of the book. I do recommend the book and think that if you like your crime fiction with colourful characters that take a slight turn off the beaten track that you really can’t go wrong but a tighter control of the mystical side would be the perfect win.
Bonansinga has an interesting character in Grove and proves to be the fascinating inspiration that carries the story forward. The mystery unfolds in an interesting way but at times sometimes the mystical gets lost within the science.
He has done his research in the pathology and crime labs which really make the story shine. The exposition for the crimes and the investigation is very high calibre. This is where the novel really comes into its own. The human relationships sometimes take a backseat but again this may have to do more with this being the middle of a series and there may be a lot of juxtaposition with character that may have come from previous instalments. Saying this, this does not take away from the overall enjoyment of the novel.
The mystery and suspense work very well and following along with Groves as he tries to catch a serial killer work very well. When the story turns to something beyond the realms of this world, then the story slowly loses some of the grit and grime that was before. Personally, it felt a bit rushed and felt like an afterthought. This did not spoil the overall enjoyment because Bonansinga has a great main character in Groves but it did make me waver slightly.
Overall, this is a quick fun read and does keep you on tenterhooks. This is an author’s cut and as I had not read the original cut, the slight problems I found could be in this edit of the book. I do recommend the book and think that if you like your crime fiction with colourful characters that take a slight turn off the beaten track that you really can’t go wrong but a tighter control of the mystical side would be the perfect win.
December 2, 2024
2.5 estrellas
Una historia morada thriller policiaco, mitad novela de horror que es totalmente irrelevante y decepcionante.
Una historia morada thriller policiaco, mitad novela de horror que es totalmente irrelevante y decepcionante.
June 19, 2019
I received a copy of Frozen: The Author’s Cut from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. So, thank you NetGalley and Burns and Lea Books for my copy.
FBI Profiler Ulysses Grove was once the FBI’s top closer. He has a unique knack for catching killers: he can ‘see’ into their mind, and he knows what they are going to do next. But, this ability to track killers is weakening, and he is tormented by his failure to catch the Sun City serial killer, who has just claimed his sixth victim.
When Grove’s boss receives a message from science journalist Maura County, asking for some assistance on her story about a strange ice mummy excavated in Alaska, it gives him the perfect opportunity to give Grove some well earned rest. However, this story turns out to be a lot more than anticipated. Grove and County soon find evidence that the Ice Man was also killed by the Sun City killer – six thousand years ago.
This discovery plunges them both into a nightmare of paranormal evil as they struggle to stop a force as eternal and powerful as time itself.
When initially reading the synopsis for this book, I was so intrigued that I had to see how this story played out in full. However, I didn’t enjoy this reading experience as much as I thought I would. Don’t get me wrong, the story is okay, but quite predictable, and a little boring at times.
By half way through, you already know the identity of the killer, and that for me was where the book went downhill. All of the mystery of the story was gone, and it definitely got less exciting from that point. The idea of a serial killer who has been at large for six thousand years is so unique, and in theory a brilliant plot, but for some reason, this just didn’t seem to work.
I felt completely disconnected from the characters, and didn’t really care for their back stories. Parts of the story didn’t even seem to make sense, and other parts just weren’t necessary.
Overall, I was pretty disappointed, but the story wasn’t terrible, so I give it a 2/5 rating.
FBI Profiler Ulysses Grove was once the FBI’s top closer. He has a unique knack for catching killers: he can ‘see’ into their mind, and he knows what they are going to do next. But, this ability to track killers is weakening, and he is tormented by his failure to catch the Sun City serial killer, who has just claimed his sixth victim.
When Grove’s boss receives a message from science journalist Maura County, asking for some assistance on her story about a strange ice mummy excavated in Alaska, it gives him the perfect opportunity to give Grove some well earned rest. However, this story turns out to be a lot more than anticipated. Grove and County soon find evidence that the Ice Man was also killed by the Sun City killer – six thousand years ago.
This discovery plunges them both into a nightmare of paranormal evil as they struggle to stop a force as eternal and powerful as time itself.
When initially reading the synopsis for this book, I was so intrigued that I had to see how this story played out in full. However, I didn’t enjoy this reading experience as much as I thought I would. Don’t get me wrong, the story is okay, but quite predictable, and a little boring at times.
By half way through, you already know the identity of the killer, and that for me was where the book went downhill. All of the mystery of the story was gone, and it definitely got less exciting from that point. The idea of a serial killer who has been at large for six thousand years is so unique, and in theory a brilliant plot, but for some reason, this just didn’t seem to work.
I felt completely disconnected from the characters, and didn’t really care for their back stories. Parts of the story didn’t even seem to make sense, and other parts just weren’t necessary.
Overall, I was pretty disappointed, but the story wasn’t terrible, so I give it a 2/5 rating.
September 6, 2014
Ulysses Grove is an FBI profiler - one of the best, but he's been chasing one killer for too long. The department thinks he's burned out. He's wondering himself. After he collapses at a crime scene, his bureau chief assigns him to a PR task for a break. Discover Magazine has asked for a profiler to give a modern slant to a possible 6,000 year old murder victim. As soon as Grove sees the "Ice Man" he knows he's found the answer to the case that's been driving him crazy.
Grove is a good character - intelligent, honorable, determined. He's good as a man and he's a well-written, well-realized character. Too many book heroes nowadays are the kind who believe the end justifies the means. They take whatever barely legal or even possibly illegal shortcut to their killer that they can. That's been irritating me lately and that was not the case here.
Grove's not perfect, in part, because he's a perfectionist. He has issues, but most of them he's willing to work on.
I liked the basic plot of the book. I might have liked it better if there were a little less magic/spirituality in it. Truthfully, in most books I like that, but it didn't work for me here.
And, while the author created some wonderful characters and a truly interesting plot, I just didn't always like the style of the writing. Every so often something would just jar me from the story and it was often the way something was described rather than the way it fit in the plot. That's a totally subjective view, but it was my experience.
Grove is a good character - intelligent, honorable, determined. He's good as a man and he's a well-written, well-realized character. Too many book heroes nowadays are the kind who believe the end justifies the means. They take whatever barely legal or even possibly illegal shortcut to their killer that they can. That's been irritating me lately and that was not the case here.
Grove's not perfect, in part, because he's a perfectionist. He has issues, but most of them he's willing to work on.
I liked the basic plot of the book. I might have liked it better if there were a little less magic/spirituality in it. Truthfully, in most books I like that, but it didn't work for me here.
And, while the author created some wonderful characters and a truly interesting plot, I just didn't always like the style of the writing. Every so often something would just jar me from the story and it was often the way something was described rather than the way it fit in the plot. That's a totally subjective view, but it was my experience.
June 18, 2008
Needs a fact-checker. The author doesn't appear aware of time zones, or how long it takes to fly from Anchorage to Las Vegas (NOT a "commuter flight.") Tacoma is not spelled with a K, nor is Vancouver, WA so small a town that crime scene techs would have to be driven in from Olympia (2 hours away). A character is described as driving his first stolen car when several chapters earlier he was driving a stolen car. There are so many of these minor yet easily fixable errors it seriously detracts from the story. It feels like a rush job, formulaic, "let's write a best-seller!" Other than that, the story is an ordinary thriller. It's Dean Koontz-ish, complete with fantastical horror elements, but not as good as even Koontz's worst novels.
December 8, 2019
You can find this review and all of my others over at www.readbookrepeat.wordpress.com
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Burns & Lee Books, and the author via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating of 2.5
As Special Agent Ulysses Grove is investigating the recent spat of horrific murders, he is sent to investigate an odd discovery. His boss, worried about Grove burning out, sends him on a run of the mill profile for an ancient mummy that has been unearth in the Alaskan wilderness. What Grove discovers is that the six thousand year old mummy was murdered in the same way as the more recent Sun City murders he's been investigating. Thrown into a nightmare, Grove must work even harder to capture the Sun City Killer before he strikes again, and he MUST figure out the connection to the mummy that has been unearthed, how can they have the same M.O? Maybe, just maybe, there's more at work here than meets the eye...
The premise of this story was super interesting. I love a good crime/murder/killing novel, so this one jumped out at me, especially because of the mummy aspect thrown in. Having a six thousand year old corpse that is showing signs of being murdered in the same way as the current killings, just sold it for me. I sort of had an inkling that there would be a supernatural aspect to this story due to the relation between the mummy and the current victims, as no one can live for six thousand years; but I wasn't entirely thinking about that until I happened across another review that actually said there was a supernatural element to it. This doesn't bother me, I'm a massive fan of supernatural and paranormal stories so it sorta just made it even more appealing if I'm honest.
The character of Ulysses Grove was well written, he's a man facing life after losing his wife, trying to do his job the best that he can in order to stop other people from dying. I did find that the character was suffering a little bit from the "chosen one" thing though. He's good looking, fit, gets stared at at all hours of the day by passers by, he's the toppity top in his field, there's no one better. Yes, he's going through some stuff, but it didn't detract from his 'perfect' character. I like a character with a bit of flaw, it makes them more human and they come across more real to me. This wasn't a deal breaker, it was just something that I noticed, and if you're one of the those people that absolutely hate the 'perfect character' thing, then maybe this book isn't for you. The supporting characters were well written, however, I didn't entirely see the point of Maura County. Yes she was the journalist that was working on the mummy case, and yes it was from her insistence that Grove made the trip to profile the mummy, but she just felt more like a pawn to help move the story along than a character all of her own. There just didn't seem to be much of a point to her being there. And Okuda was an interesting character, yet he sorta just fell off the map near the end which was a little disappointing. There was a lot of allusion to things that Okuda was doing, and was involved in, but once again, I didn't see the point in it? I feel like attempts to make the characters deeper and more dimensional sort of fell flat in that it just made me question why these things were even included in the final edition of the story at all.
The story itself, as said above, had a super interesting premise. I mean come on, a modern day serial killer with the same M.O as the murderer of a mummy from 6000 years ago? What's not to love!! ....Unfortunately, the execution. I felt that the idea was fantastic, but the execution was lacking. The pacing of the story fell incredibly flat and I felt like it took me way too long to get through this book. It's taken me about a week, which is not normal. I turn over books in a matter of days. There was no drive that kept moving the story forward, and I found myself getting frustrated at certain points because it felt like we were stagnant and that nothing was happening. There were some questions answered in the ending, but for the most part, I just felt like the story came out rather messy, there was a few loose ends that I still wanted answers for, and other stuff just seemed to wrap up a bit too quickly.
All in all, this wasn't a terrible book by any means, it just didn't work too well for me. I felt like the pacing needed work and maybe another round or two of editing to get the flow of the narrative working better for the story itself. I also felt there needed to be a bit of work done on the characters and their roles in the story as some of them just didn't feel like they needed to be there.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Burns & Lee Books, and the author via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating of 2.5
As Special Agent Ulysses Grove is investigating the recent spat of horrific murders, he is sent to investigate an odd discovery. His boss, worried about Grove burning out, sends him on a run of the mill profile for an ancient mummy that has been unearth in the Alaskan wilderness. What Grove discovers is that the six thousand year old mummy was murdered in the same way as the more recent Sun City murders he's been investigating. Thrown into a nightmare, Grove must work even harder to capture the Sun City Killer before he strikes again, and he MUST figure out the connection to the mummy that has been unearthed, how can they have the same M.O? Maybe, just maybe, there's more at work here than meets the eye...
The premise of this story was super interesting. I love a good crime/murder/killing novel, so this one jumped out at me, especially because of the mummy aspect thrown in. Having a six thousand year old corpse that is showing signs of being murdered in the same way as the current killings, just sold it for me. I sort of had an inkling that there would be a supernatural aspect to this story due to the relation between the mummy and the current victims, as no one can live for six thousand years; but I wasn't entirely thinking about that until I happened across another review that actually said there was a supernatural element to it. This doesn't bother me, I'm a massive fan of supernatural and paranormal stories so it sorta just made it even more appealing if I'm honest.
The character of Ulysses Grove was well written, he's a man facing life after losing his wife, trying to do his job the best that he can in order to stop other people from dying. I did find that the character was suffering a little bit from the "chosen one" thing though. He's good looking, fit, gets stared at at all hours of the day by passers by, he's the toppity top in his field, there's no one better. Yes, he's going through some stuff, but it didn't detract from his 'perfect' character. I like a character with a bit of flaw, it makes them more human and they come across more real to me. This wasn't a deal breaker, it was just something that I noticed, and if you're one of the those people that absolutely hate the 'perfect character' thing, then maybe this book isn't for you. The supporting characters were well written, however, I didn't entirely see the point of Maura County. Yes she was the journalist that was working on the mummy case, and yes it was from her insistence that Grove made the trip to profile the mummy, but she just felt more like a pawn to help move the story along than a character all of her own. There just didn't seem to be much of a point to her being there. And Okuda was an interesting character, yet he sorta just fell off the map near the end which was a little disappointing. There was a lot of allusion to things that Okuda was doing, and was involved in, but once again, I didn't see the point in it? I feel like attempts to make the characters deeper and more dimensional sort of fell flat in that it just made me question why these things were even included in the final edition of the story at all.
The story itself, as said above, had a super interesting premise. I mean come on, a modern day serial killer with the same M.O as the murderer of a mummy from 6000 years ago? What's not to love!! ....Unfortunately, the execution. I felt that the idea was fantastic, but the execution was lacking. The pacing of the story fell incredibly flat and I felt like it took me way too long to get through this book. It's taken me about a week, which is not normal. I turn over books in a matter of days. There was no drive that kept moving the story forward, and I found myself getting frustrated at certain points because it felt like we were stagnant and that nothing was happening. There were some questions answered in the ending, but for the most part, I just felt like the story came out rather messy, there was a few loose ends that I still wanted answers for, and other stuff just seemed to wrap up a bit too quickly.
All in all, this wasn't a terrible book by any means, it just didn't work too well for me. I felt like the pacing needed work and maybe another round or two of editing to get the flow of the narrative working better for the story itself. I also felt there needed to be a bit of work done on the characters and their roles in the story as some of them just didn't feel like they needed to be there.
April 18, 2019
Frozen (The Author’s Cut) by Jay Bonansinga goes one step beyond the conventions of the everyday tale of FBI versus a serial killer.
Readers join FBI profiler Ulysses Grove as he agonizes over his inability to solve a case. The Sun City Killer has taken six lives, and Ulysses is at a dead end. He cannot sleep. The stress is affecting him physically. He suffers from fainting spells. And beneath it all lies the long-time stress of a strained relationship with his mother and the pain of losing a beloved wife only a few years ago. Ulysses is a complicated and highly likable protagonist–smart, honorable, elegant, and loyal. Most important, he demonstrates great respect for humanity as shown when he attempts to revive a dying victim. Readers will care about him and become loyal followers. Although Frozen is an extension of a series, readers can enjoy this story without having read any of the earlier novels.
Grove finally gets a tip that seems like a long shot, but he will do anything to catch the Sun City Killer. Urged on by a science journalist, Grove heads to Alaska to examine a recently-discovered, tattooed, frozen body over six thousand years old. Experts note that it is posed in a gesture of summoning. Along with Grove, readers will doubt the possibly of a connection between an ancient mummy, his tattoos, and the Sun City Killer.
The serial killer is a fascinating character. This successful, well-respected business man is intense, relentless, unpredictable, and demonic. His determination and strength seem unnatural. His victims seem randomly chosen. The unlikely killer is at once disturbing and sympathetic–the wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time. To stop him, Grove must find an explanation for the killing spree and discover his inexplicable motivation.
Bonansinga is a masterful writer. His prose is clean and smooth. There are no wasted words or superfluous dialogue tags, so readers will fly through the text without interruption. Show prevails over tell, thus drawing readers closer into the action. The backstory is never dumped on the reader, since its elements are strategically positioned throughout the story to tantalize the reader and prepare him for the unexpected conclusion.
The action takes place in interesting locations across the country. The author takes readers along for the ride via lush and evocative descriptions. The supporting characters are well-drawn and work together seamlessly, even the less likable.
The plot is fast paced and never bores. However, at times one might want the pace to slow down in order to luxuriate in the hints of romance and the unforeseeable, unfolding outcome. Realistic enforcement procedure creates an aura of authority.
“To paraphrase the Bard, there’s far more in heaven and earth than you’ve ever dreamed, Agent Grove” (Father Carrigan).
One astounding plot twist that makes this mystery unique requires a willing suspension of disbelief that would make Coleridge proud—the inclusion of the metaphysical.
At a time when science and its uncompromising sensibilities rule, Bonansinga’s readers are compelled to accept the possibility of subtle supernatural elements. Those who may hesitate to accept such content might do well to examine books such as Field Guide to the Spirit World by Susan Martinez, Ph.D. and Self Deliverance by K.A. Schneider. Both books could serve to urge readers to rethink long-held convictions.
Frozen is a novel that is recommended for readers of mystery, crime, and the supernatural. The only downside of the novel is the fact that it ends too soon.
Rougeskireads
Readers join FBI profiler Ulysses Grove as he agonizes over his inability to solve a case. The Sun City Killer has taken six lives, and Ulysses is at a dead end. He cannot sleep. The stress is affecting him physically. He suffers from fainting spells. And beneath it all lies the long-time stress of a strained relationship with his mother and the pain of losing a beloved wife only a few years ago. Ulysses is a complicated and highly likable protagonist–smart, honorable, elegant, and loyal. Most important, he demonstrates great respect for humanity as shown when he attempts to revive a dying victim. Readers will care about him and become loyal followers. Although Frozen is an extension of a series, readers can enjoy this story without having read any of the earlier novels.
Grove finally gets a tip that seems like a long shot, but he will do anything to catch the Sun City Killer. Urged on by a science journalist, Grove heads to Alaska to examine a recently-discovered, tattooed, frozen body over six thousand years old. Experts note that it is posed in a gesture of summoning. Along with Grove, readers will doubt the possibly of a connection between an ancient mummy, his tattoos, and the Sun City Killer.
The serial killer is a fascinating character. This successful, well-respected business man is intense, relentless, unpredictable, and demonic. His determination and strength seem unnatural. His victims seem randomly chosen. The unlikely killer is at once disturbing and sympathetic–the wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time. To stop him, Grove must find an explanation for the killing spree and discover his inexplicable motivation.
Bonansinga is a masterful writer. His prose is clean and smooth. There are no wasted words or superfluous dialogue tags, so readers will fly through the text without interruption. Show prevails over tell, thus drawing readers closer into the action. The backstory is never dumped on the reader, since its elements are strategically positioned throughout the story to tantalize the reader and prepare him for the unexpected conclusion.
The action takes place in interesting locations across the country. The author takes readers along for the ride via lush and evocative descriptions. The supporting characters are well-drawn and work together seamlessly, even the less likable.
The plot is fast paced and never bores. However, at times one might want the pace to slow down in order to luxuriate in the hints of romance and the unforeseeable, unfolding outcome. Realistic enforcement procedure creates an aura of authority.
“To paraphrase the Bard, there’s far more in heaven and earth than you’ve ever dreamed, Agent Grove” (Father Carrigan).
One astounding plot twist that makes this mystery unique requires a willing suspension of disbelief that would make Coleridge proud—the inclusion of the metaphysical.
At a time when science and its uncompromising sensibilities rule, Bonansinga’s readers are compelled to accept the possibility of subtle supernatural elements. Those who may hesitate to accept such content might do well to examine books such as Field Guide to the Spirit World by Susan Martinez, Ph.D. and Self Deliverance by K.A. Schneider. Both books could serve to urge readers to rethink long-held convictions.
Frozen is a novel that is recommended for readers of mystery, crime, and the supernatural. The only downside of the novel is the fact that it ends too soon.
Rougeskireads
May 6, 2019
Enter the paranormal world of FBI profiler: Ulysses Grove. Grove throughout his childhood has experienced crazy spells ... visions .. not hallucinations. He has used these visions and dream images like a mathematician uses equations. As a wizard uses runes. His ability to make cerebral leaps is legendary amongst the bureau. He finds himself to be embroiled and frustrated in an ongoing series of homicides involving the Sun City serial killer. The victims are dispatched with a sharp weapon (spear; sword; or arrow) to the back of the neck in the high cervical region and then posed post-mortem in identical fashion ... with one arm and hand raised in a "summoning" fashion. Despite the murder count climbing to seven .. they have no identifiable motive. The usual psycho-social need or fetish in the crime is not present. His superiors sense his frustration and "burn-out" and divert him from the investigation by sending him away on a PR mission to help provide a profile involving an archeological find and possible murder. The "Mount Cairn Ice Man" was found in the Alaskan Lake Clark National Park ... uncovered was a Neolithic male from the Copper Age and carbon-dated to approximately 6,000 years ago. The preserved Mummy appears to have been murdered or sacrificed.
Ulysses, even after a cursory review, realizes that this Neolithic male was murdered with an identical signature of the Sun City serial killer. The implications are myriad and at the same time, unfathomable.
Bonansinga provides a lyrical narrative that in a cinematic fashion reveals the escalating bloodshed and mayhem. The suspense is sequentially ratcheted up with the reader inadvertently turning pages faster and faster at a breakneck rate. The reader is easily able to suspend his belief system and accept the twisted paranormal events.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an Uncorrected Proof of this definitive Author's Cut of this novel in exchange for an honest review. I now have another writer to add to my Must Read List.
Ulysses, even after a cursory review, realizes that this Neolithic male was murdered with an identical signature of the Sun City serial killer. The implications are myriad and at the same time, unfathomable.
Bonansinga provides a lyrical narrative that in a cinematic fashion reveals the escalating bloodshed and mayhem. The suspense is sequentially ratcheted up with the reader inadvertently turning pages faster and faster at a breakneck rate. The reader is easily able to suspend his belief system and accept the twisted paranormal events.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an Uncorrected Proof of this definitive Author's Cut of this novel in exchange for an honest review. I now have another writer to add to my Must Read List.
June 12, 2019
Firstly, thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and the author for a free ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Introducing Ulysses Grove, an FBI profiler with an uncanny ability to see things at crime scenes that nobody else can. He is able to piece together incidents by experiencing visions of the crimes. In Frozen, Ulysses is tasked with tracking down the Sun City killer, a murderer who poses his victims bodies post mortem in a strange manner, with their arm in the air, as if reaching for something. The problem is, the killer is proving to be very elusive, impossible to track down, and the bodies start piling up.
I love FBI profiler stories. There is something about the way these people can look at a crime and work out exactly what kind of person could commit those crimes that just fascinates me. Add a little bit of the paranormal, and you've hooked me in. It almost seems like cheating that Ulysses has his abilities, which he doesn't want to admit could be supernatural, but he uses them anyway.
I really enjoyed this book, and it turned out to be the page turner it promised. The plot was very well laid out, the twists around the culprit was interesting and the ensemble of peripheral characters were good. My only real criticism was that I didn't feel like Ulysses Grove 's background was explored enough. There were touches of information about his Kenyan/Jamaican heritage, a little bit about his poor relationship with his mother, but not enough to really fill him in as the mystery he turns out to be. I'm hoping that, as this is book 1 of a series, that the author fills that in a bit more.
Otherwise, a good entertaining read.
Introducing Ulysses Grove, an FBI profiler with an uncanny ability to see things at crime scenes that nobody else can. He is able to piece together incidents by experiencing visions of the crimes. In Frozen, Ulysses is tasked with tracking down the Sun City killer, a murderer who poses his victims bodies post mortem in a strange manner, with their arm in the air, as if reaching for something. The problem is, the killer is proving to be very elusive, impossible to track down, and the bodies start piling up.
I love FBI profiler stories. There is something about the way these people can look at a crime and work out exactly what kind of person could commit those crimes that just fascinates me. Add a little bit of the paranormal, and you've hooked me in. It almost seems like cheating that Ulysses has his abilities, which he doesn't want to admit could be supernatural, but he uses them anyway.
I really enjoyed this book, and it turned out to be the page turner it promised. The plot was very well laid out, the twists around the culprit was interesting and the ensemble of peripheral characters were good. My only real criticism was that I didn't feel like Ulysses Grove 's background was explored enough. There were touches of information about his Kenyan/Jamaican heritage, a little bit about his poor relationship with his mother, but not enough to really fill him in as the mystery he turns out to be. I'm hoping that, as this is book 1 of a series, that the author fills that in a bit more.
Otherwise, a good entertaining read.
May 8, 2019
Another fine example of not using the average score shown on the Goodreads book site. I thoroughly enjoyed this serial killer thriller with a twist. The plot was great, the pacing first rate, and the main characters well drawn. I'm nit picking here, but the only drawback was a need for the writer or editor to have a serious geography lesson. Otherwise, the genre melding book comes highly recommended.
Deep in the Alaskan wilderness, a mummified body is discovered in the ice, the victim of a bizarre ritualistic killing that happened nearly six thousand years ago. For journalist Maura County, this story is her ticket to the big time -- if she can get the help of the FBI's top profiler. Special Agent Ulysses Grove is the best of the best -- a born manhunter. He's also a man on the edge, haunted by both personal tragedy and a recent spate of horrific, unsolved homicides. Now, in a remote lab, he's about to make a shocking discovery. Everything about the prehistoric murderer -- signature, M.O., the tiniest of details -- matches up to the serial killer who has eluded Grove for months.
As past and present collide, County and Grove are plunged into a nightmare journey that will take them into the darkest reaches of the human heart as they try to stop a cycle of evil as eternal and powerful as time itself.
Deep in the Alaskan wilderness, a mummified body is discovered in the ice, the victim of a bizarre ritualistic killing that happened nearly six thousand years ago. For journalist Maura County, this story is her ticket to the big time -- if she can get the help of the FBI's top profiler. Special Agent Ulysses Grove is the best of the best -- a born manhunter. He's also a man on the edge, haunted by both personal tragedy and a recent spate of horrific, unsolved homicides. Now, in a remote lab, he's about to make a shocking discovery. Everything about the prehistoric murderer -- signature, M.O., the tiniest of details -- matches up to the serial killer who has eluded Grove for months.
As past and present collide, County and Grove are plunged into a nightmare journey that will take them into the darkest reaches of the human heart as they try to stop a cycle of evil as eternal and powerful as time itself.
June 11, 2019
Tom Grove is a paranormal FBI profiler working for the Behavioral Science Unit. With an extremely high success rate he is under pressure to solve a string of murders committed by a killer dubbed the Sun City Killer and having the same signature.
Maura is a magazine editor with a special interest in the recent discovery of a mummified body dating back to the middle century.
The connection they feel may never have the opportunity to grow into a relationship if one of them is forced to take the hand of evil.
What I thought was going to be similar to others I have read and enjoyed ended out in front eg by inclusion of the mummified body and possession.
Grove was my favourite character. A man open to new possibilities despite heartbreak in the past, having special skills and good looking without vanity. An appealing and somewhat complex fellow.
This is a serial killer story with an unexpected twist guaranteed to keep you interested, guessing and on the edge of your seat.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free digital copy of the uncorrected proof in return for an honest review.
Maura is a magazine editor with a special interest in the recent discovery of a mummified body dating back to the middle century.
The connection they feel may never have the opportunity to grow into a relationship if one of them is forced to take the hand of evil.
What I thought was going to be similar to others I have read and enjoyed ended out in front eg by inclusion of the mummified body and possession.
Grove was my favourite character. A man open to new possibilities despite heartbreak in the past, having special skills and good looking without vanity. An appealing and somewhat complex fellow.
This is a serial killer story with an unexpected twist guaranteed to keep you interested, guessing and on the edge of your seat.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free digital copy of the uncorrected proof in return for an honest review.
March 29, 2019
Where to even begin this review, I literally could not put this book down, I found it intriguing FBI Agent Ulyssees Grove is on the hunt of the Sun City serial killer.... forced to take leave, he is sent on what he thinks if a wild goose chase to see the site and remains of a 6000 year old mummified body which had been discovered the year before. dubbed "the Ice Man". The first thing Grove notices is that the way the mummy died is the mirror image of the Sun City's serial killer's victims!!!! How can modern victims bear the same pose and same wounds as a 6000 year old mummy....
An interesting plot line with some supernatural elements to it, I had visions of the movie "Exorcism".... thoroughly enjoyed it, love serial killer books but never had one turn out like this one, its unique, will definitely be looking to read more by this author.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Burns & Lea for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
An interesting plot line with some supernatural elements to it, I had visions of the movie "Exorcism".... thoroughly enjoyed it, love serial killer books but never had one turn out like this one, its unique, will definitely be looking to read more by this author.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Burns & Lea for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 30, 2020
FBI profiler Ulysses Grove’s skills are not as good as they once were. At one point in his career he could “see” the killer and what his next steps were. Grove is trying to catch the Sun City serial killer. Before he kills again. He has already claimed the lives of six people. Ulysses is becoming more and more stressed and it is causing him not to focus on what is important. There is now a science journalist who also needs his help. Maura County needs Grove’s forensic expertise in order To help with a frozen mummy that was found over a yr ago. While Grove feels that he is forced to go with County when he looks at the mummy he sees something that catches his eyes. The mummy is over 6000 years old yet everything about how the mummy died leaves him to believe it was the Sun city killer. How could that be? This story begins to steer you into the paranormal realm and the author does a great job at keeping the readers entertained as well as focused on the characters.
February 5, 2023
I think this book was ridiculous because the way it's written, the descriptions and a lot of things are very poorly portrayed. And the ending was extremely vague and the book was so complex that I got very confused while reading it. I think it would be a better choice to read John Verdon's books instead of this one.
April 4, 2019
Curiosa mixtura de thriller policial y novela de horror, se desarrolla a buen ritmo y consigue emocionar sin causar demasiado impacto.
Es una buena lectura de vacaciones, aunque no es un libro genial.
Es una buena lectura de vacaciones, aunque no es un libro genial.
October 12, 2021
This is what first caught my eye - The Sun City Serial Killer just made his sixth kill. Who’s next?
Frozen: The Author's Cut is a great read that will have you on the edge of your seat. Don't read it at night. Highly recommend this book.
Frozen: The Author's Cut is a great read that will have you on the edge of your seat. Don't read it at night. Highly recommend this book.
March 24, 2025
I enjoyed this . Some elements of the plot where a little cliche, but I found the main character Ulysses, engaging enough to care about his fate. Good pacing and action kept the pages turning, and I look forward to starting the next book in the series, "Twisted".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2019
Turkish translation is not that good, but the supernatural turn was kind of surprising, the end is like a bit weak...all in all, it was interesting to read this piece.
May 15, 2019
Belki guzel bir hikayeydi ama gercekten cok kotu bir ceviri; devam edemedim, biraktim. Google Translate’le cevirip anlam butunlugu saglamaya calisarak bazi duzeltmeler yapilmis sanki. O kadar kotu.
December 5, 2020
interesting book ...and concept
January 2, 2025
Moi boa novela de misterio, personaxes moi únicos e trama entretida.
June 26, 2009
When I picked up this book at my local history and mystery bookstore (the lovely Centuries and Sleuths, in Forest Park, IL), I mentioned to the proprietor that the author’s name seemed familiar. Augie confirmed that it would be, as Jay Bonansinga also wrote The Sinking of the Eastland, a pretty dramatic historical account of a steamship that rolled over while full of passengers and sitting at the dock in Chicago. Hundreds drowned and drama ensued.
Now Bonansinga turns his flair for dramatic storytelling to crime fiction, and he does it pretty well. Frozen follows Ulysses Grove, a brilliant FBI profiler working on, of course, his most desperate case thus far. But he’s also on the edge of burnout, and when his boss sends him on a working vacation to examine a mummified Neolithic murder victim, he’s stunned to find the key to the whole mystery frozen in the ice.
I’m going to put a fairly hefty review here, but I would urge you not to read past the spoiler alert if you plan to read the book. A few initial thoughts:
* The biggest problem with this book stems from its main character, Ulysses Grove. He’s everything to every one, brilliant (if a bit brusque), dashingly handsome, a rising star, and so on. Of course, the only other option is to make a tragically flawed detective, which is an equally annoying prospect.
* The murders walk the fine line between grody and dainty, with good aplomb. No Dante-Club nausea here.
* The secondary character of Zorn puzzles me — at the beginning of the book, he’s in opposition to Grove, and seems like he’ll be a stab-you-in-the-back kind of schemer, but it’s as though Bonansinga decided, halfway through, to shift the guy’s nature. At the same time, Bonansinga invests a couple other secondary characters with a lot of development, only to leave them with nothing to do.
* The pacing and mystery work well, though this falls much more clearly under the umbrella of “thriller,” as the killer is revealed about halfway through the book, and we’ve been tracking him all along. Serial killer books are rarely mysteries in the classic sense, since the drawing-room aspect of the case is missing.
* Bonansinga uses a classic Dickensian move of revealing the import of the things being revealed. Stuff like “Analysts would later debate the ethics of Grove’s next actions, but no one could deny how important his findings would be.” It’s a cool move that I hope he continues in his other Grove stories.
Overall a solid read. If you don’t think you’re going to check it out, follow me beyond this spoiler alert.
SPOILER BELOW SPOILER BELOW
The most interesting element of the book is its surprise turn to the supernatural. I’m extremely pleased that the plot blurb on the back and the first third of the book are very cryptic about the demonic nature of the villain in the story. It’s an intriguing experience to read a police procedural that suddenly becomes a supernatural thriller — and then continues in both genres simultaneously. This surprise was a crucial element in how much I enjoyed the book.
Now Bonansinga turns his flair for dramatic storytelling to crime fiction, and he does it pretty well. Frozen follows Ulysses Grove, a brilliant FBI profiler working on, of course, his most desperate case thus far. But he’s also on the edge of burnout, and when his boss sends him on a working vacation to examine a mummified Neolithic murder victim, he’s stunned to find the key to the whole mystery frozen in the ice.
I’m going to put a fairly hefty review here, but I would urge you not to read past the spoiler alert if you plan to read the book. A few initial thoughts:
* The biggest problem with this book stems from its main character, Ulysses Grove. He’s everything to every one, brilliant (if a bit brusque), dashingly handsome, a rising star, and so on. Of course, the only other option is to make a tragically flawed detective, which is an equally annoying prospect.
* The murders walk the fine line between grody and dainty, with good aplomb. No Dante-Club nausea here.
* The secondary character of Zorn puzzles me — at the beginning of the book, he’s in opposition to Grove, and seems like he’ll be a stab-you-in-the-back kind of schemer, but it’s as though Bonansinga decided, halfway through, to shift the guy’s nature. At the same time, Bonansinga invests a couple other secondary characters with a lot of development, only to leave them with nothing to do.
* The pacing and mystery work well, though this falls much more clearly under the umbrella of “thriller,” as the killer is revealed about halfway through the book, and we’ve been tracking him all along. Serial killer books are rarely mysteries in the classic sense, since the drawing-room aspect of the case is missing.
* Bonansinga uses a classic Dickensian move of revealing the import of the things being revealed. Stuff like “Analysts would later debate the ethics of Grove’s next actions, but no one could deny how important his findings would be.” It’s a cool move that I hope he continues in his other Grove stories.
Overall a solid read. If you don’t think you’re going to check it out, follow me beyond this spoiler alert.
SPOILER BELOW SPOILER BELOW
The most interesting element of the book is its surprise turn to the supernatural. I’m extremely pleased that the plot blurb on the back and the first third of the book are very cryptic about the demonic nature of the villain in the story. It’s an intriguing experience to read a police procedural that suddenly becomes a supernatural thriller — and then continues in both genres simultaneously. This surprise was a crucial element in how much I enjoyed the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2019
Firstly, thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and the author for a free ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Introducing Ulysses Grove, an FBI profiler with an uncanny ability to see things at crime scenes that nobody else can. He is able to piece together incidents by experiencing visions of the crimes. In Frozen, Ulysses is tasked with tracking down the Sun City killer, a murderer who poses his victims bodies post mortem in a strange manner, with their arm in the air, as if reaching for something. The problem is, the killer is proving to be very elusive, impossible to track down, and the bodies start piling up.
I love FBI profiler stories. There is something about the way these people can look at a crime and work out exactly what kind of person could commit those crimes that just fascinates me. Add a little bit of the paranormal, and you've hooked me in. It almost seems like cheating that Ulysses has his abilities, which he doesn't want to admit could be supernatural, but he uses them anyway.
I really enjoyed this book, and it turned out to be the page turner it promised. The plot was very well laid out, the twists around the culprit was interesting and the ensemble of peripheral characters were good. My only real criticism was that I didn't feel like Ulysses Grove 's background was explored enough. There were touches of information about his Kenyan/Jamaican heritage, a little bit about his poor relationship with his mother, but not enough to really fill him in as the mystery he turns out to be. I'm hoping that, as this is book 1 of a series, that the author fills that in a bit more.
Otherwise, a good entertaining read.
Introducing Ulysses Grove, an FBI profiler with an uncanny ability to see things at crime scenes that nobody else can. He is able to piece together incidents by experiencing visions of the crimes. In Frozen, Ulysses is tasked with tracking down the Sun City killer, a murderer who poses his victims bodies post mortem in a strange manner, with their arm in the air, as if reaching for something. The problem is, the killer is proving to be very elusive, impossible to track down, and the bodies start piling up.
I love FBI profiler stories. There is something about the way these people can look at a crime and work out exactly what kind of person could commit those crimes that just fascinates me. Add a little bit of the paranormal, and you've hooked me in. It almost seems like cheating that Ulysses has his abilities, which he doesn't want to admit could be supernatural, but he uses them anyway.
I really enjoyed this book, and it turned out to be the page turner it promised. The plot was very well laid out, the twists around the culprit was interesting and the ensemble of peripheral characters were good. My only real criticism was that I didn't feel like Ulysses Grove 's background was explored enough. There were touches of information about his Kenyan/Jamaican heritage, a little bit about his poor relationship with his mother, but not enough to really fill him in as the mystery he turns out to be. I'm hoping that, as this is book 1 of a series, that the author fills that in a bit more.
Otherwise, a good entertaining read.
June 5, 2019
I was gifted a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review: 2.5/5 (rounded to 3)
Overall, I felt that the story premise was really interesting, and that was what really drew me into the book and made me request a copy to read in the first place. The beginning of the book starts out in the beginning of drama which puts the reader right into the thick of it at the start, which I appreciated. It sometimes felt like the expositional material that is eventually sprinkled in to give the characters a more detailed past was often a little jarring as the writing wasn't super smooth. The characters for the most part were fairly average. I was hoping to really be drawn into at least one of the main characters, but most of them were fairly two-dimensional.
The book itself is divided into four separate sections, and Sections 1 and 2 were pretty good. Nearing the end of section 2, the story stops making complete sense and it caused me to begin questioning if I was even reading the correct book when I revisited the story after a week break. There are even parts of the story that do not seem to really fit the narrative all that well, but maybe these will be cleaned up before the actual release of the book as this was an unedited draft that was sent, and hopefully they will catch the random spelling mistakes and awkward formatting too.
With this being the first book in a series, I was expecting there to be more depth overall to have readers wanting to continue with the series as the story progresses, however I do not for-see myself picking up the rest of series.
Overall, I felt that the story premise was really interesting, and that was what really drew me into the book and made me request a copy to read in the first place. The beginning of the book starts out in the beginning of drama which puts the reader right into the thick of it at the start, which I appreciated. It sometimes felt like the expositional material that is eventually sprinkled in to give the characters a more detailed past was often a little jarring as the writing wasn't super smooth. The characters for the most part were fairly average. I was hoping to really be drawn into at least one of the main characters, but most of them were fairly two-dimensional.
The book itself is divided into four separate sections, and Sections 1 and 2 were pretty good. Nearing the end of section 2, the story stops making complete sense and it caused me to begin questioning if I was even reading the correct book when I revisited the story after a week break. There are even parts of the story that do not seem to really fit the narrative all that well, but maybe these will be cleaned up before the actual release of the book as this was an unedited draft that was sent, and hopefully they will catch the random spelling mistakes and awkward formatting too.
With this being the first book in a series, I was expecting there to be more depth overall to have readers wanting to continue with the series as the story progresses, however I do not for-see myself picking up the rest of series.
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