Series Recap: Mythos Academy Series by Jennifer Estep

Reading Order (sort by release date):

First Frost (Book 0.5, Published on July 1, 2011)
Touch of Frost (Book 1, Published on August 1, 2011)
Halloween Frost (Book 1.5, Published on September 7, 2011)
Kiss of Frost (Book 2, Published on November 29, 2011)
Dark Frost (Book 3, Published on May 29, 2012)
Crimson Frost (Book 4, Published on December 24, 2012)
Spartan Frost (Book 4.5, Published on June 25, 2013)
Midnight Frost (Book 5, Published on July 30, 2013)
Killer Frost (Book 6, Published on February 25, 2014)

Click the titles to check out my reviews.

***

Synopsis Recap:

First Frost sets before Touch of Frost, with Gwen Frost in a normal school in the normal world. Being a girl with weird touch abilities, she's the one girl who can help folks finding their lost things. When she has a serious freak-out with her magic, she's being shipped off to the Mythos Academy, where people studying there are descendants of ancient warriors, and can seriously kick ass.

Touch of Frost is the start of Gwen's adventure. She's the weird Gypsy girl who can (still) help students in Mythos Academy find lost stuff. Life is weird as hell but okay. Until a girl named Jasmine Ashton dies mysteriously. Curious, she sets off to find the reason of her death, only to uncover a dark side of the mythological world and she's in the center of the mess. Personally.

Gwen is kind of in a mess in Kiss of Frost. She's head over heels with the guy who (apparently) doesn't give a damn about her. She's a target for the Reapers of Chaos. She doesn't know how to survive for the rest of the semester. And then there's a Reaper who is trying to kill her when (s)he [because that's spoiler!] gets the chance. Gwen has to fight or might just die by the Reaper's hands.

Dark Frost sets the stage for Crimson Frost. In order to stop the Reapers from freeing Loki from his prison, Gwen has to find the Helheim dagger that her mother hid. Only she has no idea how to find it because her touch magic doesn't allow one bit of information of the dagger to slip through. She has to find it before the Reapers do, or it might result in the worst thing she can think possible...

Crimson Frost is a storm. Just when she thinks she can have a peaceful moment with Logan, she's being accused of a crime she didn't intentionally commit. With Loki free, Gwen is put into more danger than ever before. She's a target for Loki's Champion. Her life is on the line. She has to figure out what the Reapers are up to before they destroy everything and everyone she loves.

Spartan Frost is set between Crimson Frost and Midnight Frost. This is Logan's point of view after the events of Crimson Frost. He's in a mess. He can't believe he did terrible things to the girl he loves. He's angry and ashamed and sickened. He has to be strong again if he wants to fight side by side with Gwen again. But with all the darkness still in his heart, it's anything but an easy task.

Midnight Frost is the calm before the final storm. Someone is trying to poison Gwen, only they get the wrong guy. In order to save him, Gwen and her friends set out to find an antidote. But the trip is anything but easy. The Reapers are waiting for them at the end of their journey to their destination. And then there's the past of Gwen's parents, which is nothing like she expected to be. And there's the key to killing Loki, only she doesn't know how to use it. Midnight Frost sets the perfect stage for Killer Frost.

The final installment, Killer Frost, is the final battle for Gwen and her friends. Gwen still has no idea how to kill Loki, which really sets her on edge. Her relationship with Logan is still barely salvageable. Then someone she loves is in danger, and she's forbidden to do reckless things in order to save him/her [again, spoiler]. Something in her finally snaps, and she's ready to throw herself into the battle -- whether she's truly ready for it or not. And there will be blood on the floor by the end of it.

***

Thoughts Recap:

(I'm not going to talk about First Frost and Halloween Frost and Spartan Frost here. I've read all of them, but I'm not going to talk about them)

Three words to describe the series: Interesting, exciting, humorous

Touch of Frost is a nice (if not a little weird) start of Gwen's adventure. Gwen herself is quite a nice character. Snarky, funny and curious. I really like how her curiosity brings her countless trouble in this book. Her discovery of a much darker side of the mythological world sets a great stage for Kiss of Frost. To be honest, this is one hell of a redemption for my hatred toward novels with academies as backgrounds (after what happened with VA and House of Night? No, just no. Until Mythos Academy).

Kiss of Frost is a fairly interesting book. There are a lot of scenes that brings some feels. But for some reason this book is not as good as the other five. Maybe because this book is not exactly necessary, even though it is quite a lot of fun. Nevertheless, it is a pretty nice book, but not really a book of necessity (in terms of plot development).

Dark Frost sets the stage for the last three books. There are a lot of mystery unsolved. Gwen is facing multiple problems. With a deadline. It's more exciting than the previous two books, because everything is kind of at stake, whether it's her safety, the world's safety, or her sort-of-romance with Logan. With the ending that will create chaos in the last three books, Dark Frost is certainly, pretty dark.

Crimson Frost, in my opinion, is the best book in the series besides Killer Frost. I have a strong feelings for the mistreated. In this case it's Gwen. To put it clearly, it means that Crimson Frost seriously brings out my strong feelings, which is relatively rare, because I normally can hold strong emotions at bay. It's pretty admirable the book brings out my unstable side. It ends with a bang too, which is unlike the other five books. Crimson Frost is an unforgettable storm in Mythos Academy series.

Midnight Frost is the calm before the final battle. Unlike Kiss of Frost, the book is necessary because it holds important information for the final defeat of Loki. It's still a good book, but I don't enjoy it as much as I do with Crimson Frost. I'm pretty calm reading this book and I know that things won't be that bad in Midnight Frost because there's still the mess in Killer Frost that can potentially wreck everything, even though I don't know if they'll seriously be fine logically. A nice story, but nowhere as exciting as Crimson Frost (and Killer Frost, of course).

Killer Frost is the last installment of the series. Everything can happen. Like Gwen, I'm on edge reading this book because I'm dying dying DYING to know what will actually happen when nothing seems certain. It's a torrent of action, heartache and pure awesomeness blend together. One of the nicest endings I've read since I started reading YA novels. Excellent novel. I think I really will miss Gwen and her friends, especially Gwen with her snarkiness.


Overall Rating: 8/10
Do I recommend this series?: If you have a thing for all kinds of mythological creatures in one single series, then totally. But I really suggest everyone give it a try.

TBR #10: February 2014

Another crazy month!

1. Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer

Synopsis:

Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard.

In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.

Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker—unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

Expected Publication: February 4, 2014

2. Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3) by Tahereh Mafi

Synopsis:

The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, called "a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love"

Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she'll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew-about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam-was wrong.

In Shatter Me, Tahereh Mafi created a captivating and original story that combined the best of dystopian and paranormal and was praised by Publishers Weekly as "a gripping read from an author who's not afraid to take risks." The sequel, Unravel Me, blew readers away with heart-racing twists and turns, and New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia said it was "dangerous, sexy, romantic, and intense." Now this final book brings the series to a shocking and climactic end.

Expected Publication: February 4, 2014

3. The Guard (The Selection #2.5) by Kiera Cass

Synopsis:

Before America Singer met Prince Maxon . . .
Before she entered the Selection . . .
She was in love with a boy named Aspen Leger.

Don't miss this digital original novella set in the captivating world of Kiera Cass's #1 New York Times bestselling Selection trilogy. This brand new 64-page story begins just after the group of Selected girls is narrowed down to the Elite and is told from Aspen's point of view. The Guard also features a teaser to The One, the thrilling conclusion to The Selection trilogy.

Expected Publication: February 4, 2014

4. Stolen (Taken #0.5) by Erin Bowman

Synopsis:

Before Gray Weathersby uncovered the truth about Claysoot and the Laicos Project, a girl named Bree came of age in the coastal settlement of Saltwater—and made her own surprising journey to the world beyond its borders. In Stolen, discover the story of Bree’s life before she was Snatched from her home, before she joined the rebellion, and before she met a boy named Gray…

Expected Publication: February 4, 2014

5. Alienated (Alienated #1) by Melissa Landers

Synopsis:

Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.

Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.

Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.

But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.

Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.

Expected Publication: February 4, 2014

Check out my review for Alienated here:

http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2014/01/alienated-review.html

6. Be With Me (Wait For You #2) by J. Lynn

Synopsis:

Teresa Hamilton is having a rough year—she’s in love with her big brother’s best friend, but he hasn’t spoken to her since they shared a truly amazing, mind-blowing, change-your-life kiss. She got out of a terrible relationship. And now an injury is threatening to end her dance career for good. It’s time for Plan B – college. And maybe a chance to convince Jase that what they have together is real.

Jase Winstead has a huge secret that he’s not telling anyone. Especially not his best friend’s incredibly beautiful sister. Even though he and Teresa shared the hottest kiss of his life, he knows that his responsibilities must take priority. He certainly doesn’t have time for a relationship. But it doesn’t help that all he can think about kissing the one girl who could ruin everything for him.

As they’re thrown together more and more, Jase and Tess can’t keep denying their feelings for each other. But a familiar danger looms and tragedy strikes. As the campus recovers, the star-crossed couple must decide what they’re willing to risk to be together, and what they’re willing to lose if they’re not…

Expected Publication: February 4, 2014

Check out my review for Be With Me here:

http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2014/01/be-with-me-arc-review.html

7. Three (Article 5 #3) by Kristen Simmons

Synopsis:

Kristen Simmons' fast-paced, gripping YA dystopian series continues in Three.

Ember Miller and Chase Jennings are ready to stop running. After weeks spent in hiding as two of the Bureau of Reformation’s most wanted criminals, they have finally arrived at the safe house, where they hope to live a safe and quiet existence.

And all that’s left is smoking ruins.

Devastated by the demolition of their last hope, Ember and Chase follow the only thing left to them—tracks leading away from the wreckage. The only sign that there may have been survivors.

With their high profile, they know they can’t stay out in the open for long. They take shelter in the wilderness and amidst the ruins of abandoned cities as they follow the tracks down the coast, eventually finding refugees from the destroyed safe house. Among them is someone from Chase’s past—someone he never thought he’d see again.

Banding together, they search for a place to hide, aiming for a settlement a few of them have heard about…a settlement that is rumored to house the nebulous organization known as Three. The very group that has provided Ember with a tiny ray of hope ever since she was first forced on the run.

Three is responsible for the huge network of underground safe houses and resistance groups across the country. And they may offer Ember her only chance at telling the world her story.

Expected Publication: February 11, 2014

8. Fates (Fates #1) by Lanie Bross

Synopsis:

What if your destiny was to kill the one you love?

One moment. One foolish desire. One mistake. And Corinthe lost everything.

She fell from her tranquil life in Pyralis Terra and found herself exiled to the human world. Her punishment? To make sure people’s fates unfold according to plan. Now, years later, Corinthe has one last assignment: kill Lucas Kaller. His death will be her ticket home.

But for the first time, Corinthe feels a tingle of doubt. It begins as a lump in her throat, then grows toward her heart, and suddenly she feels like she’s falling all over again—this time for a boy she knows she can never have. Because it is written: one of them must live, and one of them must die.

In a universe where every moment, every second, every fate has already been decided, where does love fit in?

Expected Publication: February 11, 2014

9. The Course of True Love [And First Dates] by Cassandra Clare

Synopsis:

Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood might fall in love—but first they have a first date.

When Magnus Bane, warlock, meets Alec Lightwood, Shadowhunter, sparks fly. And what happens on their first date lights a flame...

Expected Publication: February 18, 2014

10. White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Synopsis:

One kiss could be the last.

Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses.

Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever.

Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul.

But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne…it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

Expected Publication: February 25, 2014

11. Killer Frost (Mythos Academy #6) by Jennifer Estep

Synopsis:

I’ve battled the Reapers of Chaos before–and survived. But this time I have a Bad, Bad Feeling it’s going to be a fight to the death … most likely mine.

Yeah, I’ve got my psychometry magic, my talking sword, Vic–and even the most dangerous Spartan on campus at my side, in Logan freaking Quinn, but I’m no match for Loki, the evil Norse god of chaos. I may be Nike’s Champion, but at heart, I’m still just Gwen Frost, that weird Gypsy girl everyone at school loves to gossip about.

Then someone I love is put in more danger than ever before, and something inside me snaps. This time, Loki and his Reapers are going down for good … or I am.

Expected Publication: February 25, 2014

Check out my review for Killer Frost here:

http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2014/01/killer-frost-review.html

Killer Frost: Review

Synopsis:

I’ve battled the Reapers of Chaos before–and survived. But this time I have a Bad, Bad Feeling it’s going to be a fight to the death … most likely mine.

Yeah, I’ve got my psychometry magic, my talking sword, Vic–and even the most dangerous Spartan on campus at my side, in Logan freaking Quinn, but I’m no match for Loki, the evil Norse god of chaos. I may be Nike’s Champion, but at heart, I’m still just Gwen Frost, that weird Gypsy girl everyone at school loves to gossip about.

Then someone I love is put in more danger than ever before, and something inside me snaps. This time, Loki and his Reapers are going down for good … or I am.

***

Killer Frost is a very different book from the previous five, mainly because Gwen has changed A LOT. Sure, she's still the girl with a snarky undertone, still the Gypsy girl that everyone talks about, still trying to figure out a way to stay alive. But this time she's on edge. Ready to throw herself to the final battle because of what happened to that certain someone she loves, no matter how dangerous and reckless it is. It's not normal to see Gwen so enraged, but it certainly gives a sharp edge for the book. Hey, Killer Frost is supposed to be sharp. That's actually kind of perfect for the book.

Unlike Midnight Frost, this book doesn't bore me out even on the least bit. No, action is on a roll in Killer Frost. Countless fights, whether physical or mental, Gwen being reckless/brave/however you call it, are heart-stopping. Especially the final battle. I kind of see the outcome coming, but for some reason the outcome still surprises me to no ends. These fights, combined with Gwen's edginess, make it the best book in the series.

The romance, surprisingly, is not that big of a part of Killer Frost. Surprising, because for some reason I kind of expect one-on-one sections between Gwen and Logan, after that certain event in Crimson Frost. But there are not. There aren't many make-out or kissing scene either. I don't really know what I feel about that, but I don't feel annoyed that there aren't many Gwen/Logan scene. I suppose that's a good thing, because I'm really feeling crappy (sorry, but that's the only way I can put it) recently.

Killer Frost has a completely different tone from the previous five books, and it makes quite a good ending for Mythos Academy series. I always think that Mythos Academy is an exception to my disdain towards novels with an academy as the background. And this final installment proves it right. Again. 

Rating: 9/10

Top Ten Tuesday #6: Top Ten 2014 Releases I'm Dying to Read

Top Ten Tuesday is a bookish meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Today's question is my top ten choices of 2014 new releases that I'm dying to read.

1. City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6) by Cassandra Clare -- well who wouldn't be dying to read this?

2. Opposition (Lux #5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout -- apocalypse is ready to throw up in our world. As well as alien hotness.

3. Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer -- Cress! And Cinder! And Captain Thorne! 

4. The Forever Song (Blood of Eden #3) by Julie Kagawa -- the ending of The Eternity Cure kills me! I need this right now!!!

5. Untitled (Throne of Glass #3) by Sarah J. Maas -- Yep, another killer ending

6. Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3) by Tahereh Mafi -- I'm curious about how it will end. Everything seems so uncertain.

7. White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout -- I'm curious about how this series will turn out!

8. Wings (Black City #3) by Elizabeth Richards -- I want Ash and Natalie together is it too much to ask?

9. Evertrue (Everneath #3) by Brodi Ashton -- I really, really want to see the Everneath brought down by Nikki and Jack together

10. Killer Frost (Mythos Academy #6) by Jennifer Estep -- I like Gwen. That's all.

Top Ten Tuesday #4: Top Ten Sequels We Can't Wait To Get Our Hands On

Top Ten Tuesday is a bookish meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Today's question is top ten sequels that we can't wait for. And for me, there's a whole lot of them.

1. City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6) by Cassandra Clare - Who wouldn't want City of Heavenly Fire?

2. Opposition (Lux #5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout - I'm curious if it will turn out as good as Sentinel :)

3. Into The Still Blue (Under The Never Sky #3) by Veronica Rossi - Aria and Perry and Roar. There's no need to say anymore.

4. Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer - The whole series is awesome.

5. World After (Penryn & The End of Days #2) by Susan Ee - After the whole Chapter 59 revealed thing, it's on.

6. The Forever Song (Blood of Eden #3) by Julie Kagawa - I know this is going to break my heart, but still I really want it

7. Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3) by Tahereh Mafi - Although not my favorite series of all time, Shatter is pretty cool

8. Wings (Black City #3) by Elizabeth Richards - I need to know what will happen!

9. Killer Frost (Mythos Academy #6) by Jennifer Estep - I want to see Loki go down. For good.

10. Secret (Elemental #4) by Brigid Kemmerer - Nick!