I just finished listening to The Frost Eaters audiobook and can't wait to listen to the next one. In all honesty, I already read the Kindle version of the book but now I'm listening to the audio version just to catch all of the trilogy based clues I missed during my first reading.
The story centers around a teenage girl and her struggle to foster friendship, explore love, and face a reality she never expected as she's forced to make quickly mature and begin making decisions for the safety of herself and others.
Throughout the book I made certain assumptions about how the intertwined lives of the characters would progress. The author kept me guessing, but I was rooting for them all the way. It's a feel good story with action, adventure, suspense, magic, and romance. I was hooked from the first chapter and eager to know if what I expected to happen would or would not happen.
This story takes place on a world other than Earth, but the story is an interesting view of how a future world could be with the addition of magic and loss of advanced technology. One of the phrases used often is, "By the stone!" and it's perfect based on the storyline. Units of measure and money are different, but easy enough to understand. The character names and descriptions are also easy to follow.
Between some chapters, you'll find two additional story lines, Memoirs and In the Dark. Each contributes to the main story line in different ways, but I won't post any spoilers here. Throughout the book, the author provides explanations of how and whys in different ways, though occasionally unnecessarily. One of the subtle ones is the relationship between the fuel that's eaten and the magic that results. A more direct one would be explaining how this thing still exists but maybe shouldn't.
Though I'm not usually a fan of authors that record their voices for audiobooks, Carol Beth Anderson is an exception. She gives character to the voices, but more importantly, she delivers the reading with just the right cadence and energy.
This book is worth a read and my only disappointment is that it's a trilogy, though I was super excited to see the prequel released. As a fan of Piers Anthony with the Xanth series, I hope this author finds ways to incorporate more characters and stories into additional Magic Eater books.
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Family, friendship, love, status. Which will matter most?
The Frost Eater is filled with action, suspense, and love. Anderson created a world with new words and magic that spark your imagination. I instantly connected to the characters, even though Nora can be a bit annoying and Krey a bit brooding. Their friendship builds just like the storyline, timid and untrusting at first and strong and loyal at the end. There are twists and surprises in the story that keep you reading. The story ends in a climatic cliffhanger that leaves the reader eagerly waiting for the next in the series.If you like this book, be sure to read her Sun Blessed Trilogy. They both have magical characters building friendships while fighting injustice.
Top reviews from other countries
BigDumbYak
Delightful Fantasy meets Post Apocalyptic? Yes please!
Reviewed in Canada on October 29, 2020
J.P. de La Fontaine
The Impressive First Book in the Magic Eaters Trilogy
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 16, 2020
J.P. de La Fontaine
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 16, 2020
I received a (complimentary) Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) from the author before the launch of the book on Amazon. Although I received a complimentary copy of the book I am, nonetheless, leaving an honest review of my impressions of it. That said, I decided to pre-purchase the book in any case as I enjoyed it so much - a process I will repeat for the remaining two books in the trilogy.
The author’s mastery of the English language and writing ability was notably evident throughout and I much enjoyed the attention to detail that was demonstrated, both being maintained without weakening to the last page. I much appreciated the author’s inclusion of a map of the Kingdom of Cellerin and a glossary of characters and places, inclusive of phonetic pronunciation. Being an ARC copy of the book, the author kindly provided a FAQ section for ARC readers that was most instructional and lighthearted in spirit! Although the ARC FAQs information will be missing from the final version, its inclusion demonstrates the thoughtful and professional nature of the author in meeting the requirements of participants and readers at various stages of the book’s pre-launch life.
While reading The Frost Eater I quickly discerned that the author had, without doubt, formed an intimate working relationship with the chapter and verse of her creation - and of the characters that she had so sensitively crafted. In addition to the examples I have already given, the author commences each chapter with The First Generation: A Memoir by Liri Abrios, the ancestor of Nora (the primary female protagonist in the story). The inclusion of the memoir notes was a stroke of genius, and helped significantly in aiding a fuller comprehension of the earlier history of Nora’s world; the memoir notes were sufficiently numerous to form a small booklet of information in their own right, had the author wished!
The author has (in my mind) skillfully captured the essence of what a book intended for the young adult market should contain. Indeed, I believe that adults of all ages will heartily enjoy reading The Frost Eater and the other books in the trilogy. The characters were believable. The world in which they lived was believable. The plot was robust and skilfully managed. There were (numerous) moments of levity. There was sadness and heartache. At times I was genuinely taken off guard. Flora and fauna were fascinating. The magic was compelling. And, concerning the teens in the story, rampant hormones were evident throughout, showing little evidence of ever abating! Finally, I admired the life lessons that the author deftly included throughout her book intended for the benefit of all, but notably for the appreciation and absorption of the young reader!
The cherry on the cake for me was a stunning cover design that many will unquestionably be envious of - and rightly so! Bravo to the author for such a fine example of masterful storytelling!
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Riv Rains
Dragons? Check. Magic? Check. High stakes and romance? Check, check.
Reviewed in Australia on March 2, 2022
Riv Rains
Reviewed in Australia on March 2, 2022
Picking something up for your (actual) young adult readers? You won’t go wrong with this one! Capturing the true essence of the genre, you’ll find sunshine layered right alongside the tales of growth and struggle. Think heartache, family disputes, discrimination, sexual orientation, war, pain, addiction, sacrifice, even torture. That might seem like a handful, yet with Anderson at the wheel, the reader never feels set upon by any of it. Such an inviting, flowing tale, it’ll take you by the hand in adolescent whispers and deliver adventure.
“She’d been born into an invisible cage, and these days, its bars were squeezing her tighter than ever.”
– Nora, The Frost Eater
You can’t go wrong with Nora. Our princess MC is flawed and human in the most accessible ways. What happens to her certainly isn’t normal, but the way she crashes, rises, wavers, and fights for what’s right, certainly is. We all have some of this character in our history. Be it her love of fancy clothes, or thinking of a boy’s shoulders during a critical battle. Nora knows what we are really like.
“He almost believed if he breathed in deeply enough, he’d hear the hushed voices of ancient people who’d huddled over these tomes.”
– Krey, The Stone Eater
Krey, my favourite from the start! Although points of view increase throughout the series, dipping in and out of Krey’s was the highlight for me. Strong willed, clever, intelligent, emotional, with just a touch of arrogance as his big red bow. I always wiggled a little deeper into my cushions when his mind was in the driving seat. This character is flawed—absolutely—but he makes it beautiful. His tragedies are stunning and bold, yet so very real to sit with. In Krey, Anderson has truly captured a sometimes misguided, passionate heart, ready to save the world.
“I don’t know exactly what’ll happen today, but I know this: we’re all going to see things we can’t explain.”
– Zeisha, The Vine Eater
It doesn’t seem to matter which type of soul you are, you’ll be found in these books. All walks of life, all corners of society. I won’t spoil them, but so many characters are heartwarming and ready to play their roles in simple, recognizable perfection. Anderson’s themes give teens a place to rest. To explore the ‘what should we do?’ of situations—hopefully—far beyond their own years. Beneath it all, we explore that the most savage betrayals can be dealt by the ones you hold dearest. Values shine within these words. Some which smack you right across the knuckles, others that we simply nod along with as right. Yes, that’s right. Do that!
I couldn’t help but enjoy every stage of this series and urge you to do the same. Young adults would devour the easy to digest flow, while the rest of us older kids try to think through our options and beat the characters to the punch. Regardless of age, we’re taken on a whirlwind adventure that never truly knows when to quit twisting! In the end, we’re as relieved as the characters are! Tears may be shed, memories made, contentment reached. Ah, to be young and save the world with dragons!
“Nora-human, imagine it. Two dragons, grown into young adults, huddled in a room too small for them. They could not help but touch at every moment. Each learned the deep strength of the other. It was a small step from knowledge to admiration. Do you not think at some point, they would tire of fighting?”
– Osmius, The Vine Eater
As for Anderson, her complexity and skill seems to grow with each instalment, and I cannot wait to see what adventure she crafts for us next!
So, perhaps upwards and onward to the dragon’s back, and simply…*whoosh*?
Riv ♡
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