These two are stuck in an ‘enemies to lovers’ romance and yes, they challenge one another with equal parts sarcasm and talent.

This has just scratched the surface of some pretty spectacular banter between the main character, Asterin and her love interest, Quinlan. ‘You are such a pissy, long-lashed drama queen.” It made for better battle scenes and less daunting description. It was definitely strange and weird but I must admit, by the time I finished I was eternally grateful for that writing decision. It had been awhile since I had last read a fantasy novel, YA or otherwise, and I found it very strange to hear that some characters had named their weapons. You could read an entire series and not learn as much about its characters than I did in here. I learned so much about all of her characters just because she wrote them so well and it has me craving for its sequel even more. It was bloody brilliant! It’s kind of like watching TV with the commentary on because it satiates your hunger to know more. The plot is weaved around the characters instead of the other way around which allowed Ma to incorporate vivid backstories that directly explained each character’s personality and motives. Right away, I noticed Ma’s ability to flesh out her characters and she literally brought them to life with her words. This is not your typical fantasy novel either. It showcases the potential locked inside everyone and how you can break the binds that chain you in society. There’s absolutely no exaggeration when I tell you that this book has magic gracing every single page and what’s even better is how it’s magic that is always evolving and changing. It had an arrogant and independent princess, a witty prince with indigo flames, and an entire plot shrouded in magic and scandal. Coco Ma’s debut novel Shadow Frost has everything you could hope for in a new YA fantasy series.

Shadow frost by coco ma