Description
Seventeen-year-old Smitha’s wealth, status, and beauty make her the envy of her town—until she rejects a strange man’s marriage proposal and disastrous consequences follow. Smitha becomes cursed, and frost begins to encompass everything she touches. Banished to the hills, hunted by villagers, and chilled to the very core of her soul, she finds companionship with Death, who longs to coax her into his isolated world. But Smitha’s desire for life proves stronger than despair, and a newfound purpose gives her hope. Will regrets over the past and an unexpected desire for a man she cannot touch be enough to warm Smitha’s heart, or will Death forever still it?
Though this book was harder for me to read than Charlie’s Paper Magician books, I found it tremendously stirring. Harder, because the story is complex — cold and painful — with warmth stealing in so gradually that I didn’t feel its presence until it also became hopeful and bright. A real treasure that I know I’ll read again and again.