A Lamp Post Parcel Book Review

    A Soul as Cold as Frost

 Story Synopsis

A whimsical winter fantasy, perfect for readers looking for a cozy read with a bit of action, for the winter season.

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“Merry Christmas to all! And to all a good fright...

After an eccentric girl opens Helen's eyes to let her see the realm of Winter—a world with intersects tucked carefully into the cracks of our own, where monarchs have risen and fallen, it's forbidden to mention the name of The Dead King, and the currency is gold rings—Helen discovers things are far from ordinary in Winter. After trying to deny the existence of a disrupting train horn ringing in her ears for days, Helen receives a mysterious summons from a group who call themselves “The Crimson Court” to enter into The Quarrel of Sword and Bone—a traditional duel performed before one thousand witnesses that leaves only one survivor—and she’s forced to finally pay attention to the handsome boy who's been following her around with a warning on his tongue.

When the arrival of wicked villains propels Helen into the heart of Winter where there’s no going back, she finds herself being pursued by something else too – an ancient Truth that breathes living words of wisdom – the very wisdom forgotten by the Rime Folk when their disunity drove them to draw lines in the snow in an age of the past.

Helen must find a way out, or she’ll be dragged into the arena to face the crooked Queen head on before a crowd ready to watch her die.

The Winter Souls Series blends action and warm Christmas traditions, bringing the old forgotten tales of the season to life with new and grittier versions of famous characters out of old holiday legends, folklore, and myths; such as St. Nicholas, the Snow Queen, the Scrooge, and the Nutcracker.”

Likes:

The cozy snowy setting: When we first jump into the story, we meet Helen downtown, with all the cozy shops and bakeries lining the snowy sidewalks. We weren’t given all the answers to Helen and her background right away…instead, Helen is thrown into some peculiar situation. It makes the story interesting right away. I was intrigued as soon as I read Chapter 1.

The lyrical writing: The lyrical writing and scenes that described the winter atmosphere, and the food… it made it every bit more immersive, and I must say it was quite enjoyable:

“Liquid chocolate, melted onto my tongue, running into all the crevices and bursting into a rainbow of flavors. Dark chocolate beans with sweet spices, hence the sugary, orange, and creamy licorice.”
{Chapter 39, p. 371}

See what I mean?! Beautiful! 

Wholesome messages: There’s also some light Christian allegory sprinkled throughout:

“He spoke of a dazzling star that once burned across the skies of Winter; a sign to the Rime Folk that the Truth was near.”

“It’s better to fight alone in the daylight with Elowin at your side than to fight in the dark with a thousand soldiers at your side.”

“A word was etched into the pendant: SHAMMAH.
‘What’s shammah?’ I asked, my thumb running along the smooth surface. ‘It means you’re never alone. That the Truth stays with you.’”

“I realized he was telling me that the Truth stays with us, deep in our chests. Even when we turn our backs on it, it waits for us to come back.”

I appreciate that it is creatively woven into the story in a way that makes sense and isn’t random. I also appreciate that it’s not preachy. It’s not overly noticeable, but the themes are there. The way it’s depicted gives off C.S Lewis vibes, which I love! 

The pacing: This fantasy has a good mix of action (there are gnome battles with armour, bows, and - spoons? I guess you have to be resourceful sometimes!), fast-paced escape scenes, and balanced with cozy whimsicality.

Some of the scenes just make you want to snuggle up with a warm blanket, light a candle, and drink a hot cup of tea (or cocoa). IT’S PERFECT! There were many parts that had my interest held captive in its grip. I powered through this book!

The friendly banter: Oh, how I do love some good humor. Especially between siblings or friends. The banter between the FMC (female main character) and the MMC (male main character) is great. It’s the funny, friendly poking type of and humor, all playful jesting. 

    Dislikes: 

Passive character at times: I do like the FMC overall, but at times she seemed much too passive. Blurred spoiler below:

Summary