Book Review: Frozen by Melissa de la Cruz & Michael Johnston

Frozen
Heart of Dread #1
Authors: Melissa de la Cruz & Michael Johnston
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Dystopian
Released: September 17th 2013
Review Source: Putnam Juvenile

“As fearless as a futuristic Game of Thrones.”— MARGARET STOHL, New York Times bestselling co-author of the Beautiful Creatures trilogy

From New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston comes this remarkable first book in a spellbinding new series about the dawn of a new kind of magic.

Welcome to New Vegas, a city once covered in bling, now blanketed in ice. Like much of the destroyed planet, the place knows only one temperature—freezing. But some things never change. The diamond in the ice desert is still a 24-hour hedonistic playground and nothing keeps the crowds away from the casino floors, never mind the rumors about sinister sorcery in its shadows.

At the heart of this city is Natasha Kestal, a young blackjack dealer looking for a way out. Like many, she's heard of a mythical land simply called “the Blue.” They say it’s a paradise, where the sun still shines and the waters are turquoise. More importantly, it’s a place where Nat won’t be persecuted, even if her darkest secret comes to light.

But passage to the Blue is treacherous, if not impossible, and her only shot is to bet on a ragtag crew of mercenaries led by a cocky runner named Ryan Wesson there. Danger and deceit await on every corner, even as Nat and Wes find themselves inexorably drawn to each other. But can true love survive the lies? Fiery hearts collide in this fantastic tale of the evil men do and the awesome power within us all.

Everything in the world is frozen. I mean EVERYTHING. The conditions in which the people of New Vegas are living are horrific. Food source is scarce, the cold is unbearable, and if you have colored eyes well...good luck. In comes Natasha Kestal, she is tired of living in fear and wants to embark in a journey to a land where she can feel the sun on her skin and see perfect blue water. A land they call the Blue. So she hires Ryan Wesson to help her cross the toxic ocean into the Blue. Will her journey be everything she hoped for, or will Nat wishes she had stayed in New Vegas?

Nat is a girl that can take care of herself and Wes is an ex soldier that may or may not have his own agenda for helping Nat. I loved the banter between them. They don't back down from each other. It's adorable watching, I mean reading, their relationship as friends (or more) blossom.

Having never read one of Melissa De La Cruz's books, I didn't know what to expect from Frozen. Frozen was a fast paced read that I immensely enjoyed. The first page will have you hooked in a matter of seconds. What I liked about Frozen is that it's different from anything I've ever read. The only problem I found was that the book needed more of an explanation, or history lesson, on how certain people got their gifts. I also want to know why Ryan Wesson doesn't come find me too.

Magic has found a new place in the world so be prepared to pick up your copy of Frozen!