Ice Kissed by Amanda Hocking | Blog Tour: Book Review

Hello and welcome to today's blog tour stop for St. Martin's ICE KISSED by Amanda Hocking. I'm so thrilled to post my review for today's NEW RELEASE of book two in The Kanin Chronicles. 

By: Amanda Hocking
Published by: St. Martin's Griffin
Released on: May 5th, 2015 - TODAY
Series: Kanin Chronicles #2
Source: ebook for review from publisher, in exchange for my honest review
Rating: 4 Stars - I Enjoyed It
Purchase from: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | IndieBound
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In the majestic halls of a crystal palace lies a secret that could destroy an entire kingdomŠ

Bryn Aven refuses to give up on her dream of serving the kingdom she loves. It's a dream that brings her to a whole new realmŠthe glittering palace of the Skojare.

The Skojare people need protection from the same brutal enemy that's been threatening the Kanin, and Bryn is there to help. Being half Skojare herself, it's also a chance for her to learn more about her lost heritage. Her boss Ridley Dresden is overseeing the mission, but as their undeniable attraction heats up, their relationship is about to reach a whole new level--one neither of them is prepared for.

As they delve deeper into the Skojare world, they begin to unravel a long-hidden secret. The dark truth about her own beloved Kanin kingdom is about to come to light, and it'll change her place in it foreverŠand threaten everyone she loves.

Just as action packed, and fast packed as Frost Fire, Ice Kissed picks up right where Amanda Hocking left fans hanging in the first book of the Kanin Chronicles. It didn't take long for me to jump right back into Bryn's Trylle world. This time around, things are much more complicated, twisted, and dangerous. Not everything is as it seems. I loved that Hocking makes it a bit harder for fans to figure out what exactly is going on, and who's doing what. There are plenty of complicated secrets being kept.

This time around, Bryn spends a great deal of time with the Skojare people. I really enjoyed getting to learn more about their history, especially since it's part of her heritage, as her mom is from here. I have to say, there's a lot things going on here, and while I was able to figure out a few things, Hocking does a great job at keeping some things complex. There's a lot of things happening within this story, and just as Bryn gets close to figuring out who's behind all the trouble, the table turns, and she finds herself on the run. 

I've also enjoyed Bryn's character, but there were a few times I did get a little frustrated with her in this book. I love her circle of friends, and the relationship she has with them, and her family. I have to say, this time around Ridley and Bryn together really annoyed me. The reason being is that they need to hurry up and figure out what it is they both want. Okay, there's more to it, but for the sake of spoilers, I'll leave it at that. Can I just say, there's scene between the two of them that, well I'll just say it, was awkward. At least I felt it was. When you read it, you'll know the scene I'm talking about. Maybe I feel that way because I started losing interest in the two of them together, because how back and forth they both were for much of the book. 

One of the things I love about Hocking's writing is her world building, and the lore she has created within Bryn's world. It's fascinating, and it's part of what makes this series so addicting. I love how she's crafted Bryn's world, and tied the various characters together. There's a lot of history between the different realms, and I'm anxious to learn more about them. I've realized that I really need to go read Hocking's other series. I've got her books sitting on my shelves, but dived right into this series before I read them. 

Along with Bryn and Ridley's relationship, I have to say I felt there were a few things that took away from me really liking this book. Yes it was fast paced, and I read it in one sitting. Yes, I liked the book, however, I felt that there times where the story stalled, or dragged, though only briefly.  For example, readers are already made aware of at the beginning of the book that Black and Dalig are still being on the run, but through out the book it's mentioned repeatedly that they're on the run. Sometimes I think when things are overly emphasized, it takes away from the story more than it should, which was the case for me. Over all I did enjoy Ice Kissed. Out of the two, Frost Fire is still my favorite. I liked the direction this story takes, but I felt there was more with Frost Fire that hooked me. 

The last part of the book was where things really took off for me. I love it when an author keeps me on my toes, which Hocking does.  A lot of things going on behind the scenes, that make it hard to pin point what exactly is happening, and which characters are behind it. I love the twists, and the impossibility of figuring out if Dalig and Black are really to blame or other characters that Bryn is close to. There are some newer characters who play bigger roles in this book, and I've got my suspicions about them. While Hocking does wrap up a few things, this book ends on one heck of a cliff hanger. Holy white rabbit, that was an awesome place to end the book. Now I need the next book! Whether you've read Amanda's other series or not, I totally recommend picking up this series!

On a side note, I LOVE this cover!

About the Author 

AMANDA HOCKING is The New York Times bestselling author of the Trylle trilogy and a lifelong Minnesotan. After selling over a million copies of her books, primarily in eBook format, she became the exemplar of self-publishing success in the digital age. Visit her at http://www.worldofamandahocking.com