Alright! Last review for the week! I know that it’s amazing that we are getting three reviews a week! But is that so much of a bad thing? I hope not, at least. Since I am reading this book as a read along, you will probably get the next two books together and then the last two. In between, I will be giving you another series, probably. It might be surprising to you, but I read a LOT of series this month lol. And I mean, actually finished them. I am so happy about it! Anyway. This is the last review for July! See you in August!
Customary warning: This is a reminder that these are my personal opinions. My thoughts and feelings are not your thoughts and feelings. I may not always be the target audience for a book; sometimes I am. If I do not like a book, that doesn’t mean you’ll dislike it. If I love a book or simply like a book, you may hate it. Take everything I say with this knowledge. If it sounds interesting to you despite what I’ve said, then go ahead and read it. You’ll only know you like something if you read it yourself.
That being said… Spoilers ahead.
Frost Bite by Richelle Mead
Synopsis From The Book
Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose…
It’s winter break at St. Vladimir’s, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy’s crawling with Guardians—including Rose’s hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if handto- hand combat with her mom wasn’t bad enough, Rose’s tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason’s got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa’s head while she’s making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy’s not taking any risks…. This year, St. Vlad’s annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.
But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price…
Fantasy – Paranormal Romance | YA – PW |Character Death, Talk of Depression, Mental Torture | Friendship, Accepting Change, Family and Familial Ties
Initial Thoughts Before Reading:
Yup. So going on to book two, in a hurry to try to catch up with the read-a-long. They haven’t started 3, yet from what I understand. I hope at least. One was easy to read an a lot of fun, so I know that 2 will be too. The next few books are huge, so I’m not worried about catching up, tbh
Initial Thoughts After Reading:
WOOOO. This book had a character death in it? WOW I’m floored. I was NOT expecting this character to die. I actually am not sure I was expecting it, but how it happened and how it tore up Rose had me. I am so tired. Emotionally. I really can’t imagine how this story is going to go from here. But I am here for the ride.
Plot Overview:
The book picks up where the last left off. Rose is headed to an interview to continue her path as a Guardian. All Juniors have it, but a s Senior, she is late. She and Dimitri go to the house where her interviewer is supposed to be. When they arrive, they find the yard completely stark white and ice on the sidewalk. Dimitri tells Rose to wait in the car. Once he is inside, she does not and goes around the back. There she finds shattered glass and stumbles upon a chaotic death scene with so many dead. Dimitri calls others. An investigation team comes and they talk on what happened, and why it is so weird.
Rose returns to school, and the next day new Guardians are at the school to speak on their experiences, especially considering how bad the scene Rose saw was. One of these guardians in Rose’s mother. She and her mother get into a spat. Dimitri proves to Rose that the marks of Strigoi kills are not something to necessarily be proud over, after introducing her to Christian’s aunt. (His aunt is the one who saved him from his parents, years ago). Dimitri goes out shopping with Christian’s aunt which means that Rose needs a new teacher the next day: her mom, who punches Rose in the face giving her a black eye. Later, Rose falls into Lissa’s head and sees Lissa and Christian getting steamy. At her practice the next day with Dimitri, she and Dimitri kiss, but he breaks it up.
Rose and her fellow students go to a skii resort for Christmas break. Before leaving, Rose’s mother gives Rose a gift and reveals that Dimitri has an offer to go with Tasha, Christina’s aunt, and be her guardian. That Tasha likes Dimitri. Rose does not take this well. At the resort Rose and Mason hang out and Rose thinks she wants to try dating him. She also meets with a man named Adrian, who is charming in a different way. Another Strigoi attack that kills many, and causes a panic for the Morgoi. They debate on using their powers to fight. Adrian and Rose speak more. Rose gets perfumes from him and returns them, and sees Lissa talking with him. Christian and Lissa get into a fight about that, which results in Rose going to a party with Lissa. Lissa charms other Morgoi there and says that they should be trained in their powers, to fight, in universities.
Rose finds out that Mason, Mia, and Eddie have disappeared. She and Christian chase after them to Spokane, where they had gone hunting the Strigoi. They get captured as soon as they catch up with the three. They hare held for days as the Strigoi who captured them, try to get Mia or Christian to kill one of their friends. Christian helps free Rose with his fire, and Rose knocks out their guards. They try to escape but are intercepted by the two Strigoi there. Rose is able to distract them, and Mason helps Mia, Christian, and Eddie out into the sun. However Mason comes back and is killed.
Rose flies into a fury and Mia uses her powers from the sunlight to suffocate one Strigoi for long enough for Rose to decapitate the other. She then decapitates the one drowned and refuses to leave Mason’s body. Dimitri and other Guardians arrive and take her away. She cries to her mother, and seeks her comfort. Rose gets two marks for killing the Strigoi, but the memory haunts her. She realizes that her mother really did care for her father. Dimitri reveals that he could not go with Tasha because he likes (loves) Rose.
What I Liked:
Adrian; So we get this boy, and I was like. You can have my heart. Thanks. Mason was great, funny. Dimitri is brooding. Adrian? He’s entertaining and dark. He also cares for others. His ability to talk to others in their dreams is so interesting. I really hope we get more of him in the later books. Please let this be the case. He is so great.
Mason’s Death; Wow. This hit me. It was so fast. So sudden. I didn’t want it to happen. I didn’t expect it to happen. However it did happen and Rose collapsed. His death has major weight and impact, and it has torn me up in so many ways. I really did like Mason, but in order to see how dangerous the villain was, we did need to get a death that mattered. Otherwise the group of them leaving, as untrained guardians, really does not lean itself to making the Strigoi scary. I hated that it was Mason who died, but his death really has made the series all that much more powerful. The enemy is scarier, there is real sorrow (since I liked Mason), and Rose will be changed.
Janine, Rose’s Mother; I know that Rose really does not like her mother, because of how she grew up, but as a character Janine is very interesting. She did what she thought was best for Rose considering the circumstances of their culture. Either her daughter became a fighter or considered a “whore.” She made her daughter into a fighter, but putting her at a school. Janine also could not be seen as weak either. Their culture is very sexist in some ways, and so while I don’t agree with Janine’s decision, I understand why she did it.
What I Would Have Liked or Changed:
I really hope that in future books, Rose and Lissa talk more about Rose. Rose knows so much about Lissa, but she really isn’t letting Lissa in. They are supposed to be best friends, and as it is right now, it is one sided. Rose is doing everything, not that Lissa doesn’t want to. Rose just won’t let her. That’s not fair.
Rating: 4/5
Notable Quotes:
“Rose only hangs out with guys and psychopaths.”
“Well, since I’m both a psychopath and a guy, that would explain why we’re such good friends.” – pg 139
Marlena Marie 
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