Ashley McLeo

A Kingdom of Frost and Malice by Ashley McLeo is the first book in the Winter Court series. This is a romantic fantasy about Fae, human and vampires in a world of political scheming, court intrigue and a dying kingdom. This is truly a romantic epic fantasy and it has everything you need. Tropes include touch her and die vibes, fake dating, found family and found powers. Please check the content warnings before reading. This book is not nearly as dark as some books I read but there are some themes that might be upsetting to some.

The Lovely: The plot and tension in this story were excellent with twists and turns at every corner. Everyone had secrets and no one was what they seemed. Something was always happening and someone was always up to something. This did end on a cliffhanger (on numerous fronts) and there are so many different aspects of the story for the author to explore in future books.

Also Lovely: I found the characters engaging and appreciated that they were implemented individuals. The FMC is trying to play catch up in a world she belongs in but doesn’t know. The MMC seems perfect and caring, but maybe too perfect?

The Mundane: The world building is extensive given the story is set in three primary locales, and there is a fair amount of kingdom history to learn. I would have liked to see more about the physical locale in Avaldenn to better picture the environment and the castle.

Rating: 5/5 Stars 1/5 Flames

Recommendation: This book took me on an unexpected wild ride. Rarely do I become so immersed in a story so quickly, but I was 5% of the way in and knew I would be staying up late to read this book. The last 25% of this book did me in and it will be an excruciatingly exciting wait for book 2. If you like fantasy romance with an epic or high fantasy setting with a large heap of court intrigue, I think you will love this book.… (more)