One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is watching the cozy movies and television shorts that come with it. These programs and specials are usually packed full of holiday cheer, joy, and a message of giving. That’s why Disney’s “The Little Match Girl” will be burned into my memory forever. Sad, hopeless, and mainly monochromatic, this short film is the complete opposite of a typical Disney Christmas special; in short, it’s absolutely depressing. The Enchanted Frost is inspired, in part, by “The Little Match Girl.” As you’ve probably guessed, I was nervous to see how that particular tale could be retold with a happy ending. Are you curious, too? Keep reading to see my full review of The Enchanted Frost by Camille Peters.
After her fall from grace, Blanche’s life has been one of struggle and misery that eventually meets its expected end when she freezes to death in an abandoned alley. But before she fully succumbs, she is instead taken to the snowy realm of the winter king, ruled by a handsome yet enigmatic being whose duty is to claim her frozen soul, a responsibility he has performed since time began.
Frost has spent his eternal existence in his kingdom of ice, using his powers to maintain the delicate balance of the seasons, a forever that has remained unchanging…until his magic inexplicably fails to capture one of the souls his cold has claimed, trapping her between life and death. Despite her harsh past, Blanche is somehow different from the other mortals that he’s observed from a distance, and Frost finds himself drawn to her…especially when a mysterious connection from their past emerges.
As Frost and Blanche work together to help her move on, mortal and immortal beings find their worlds shifting the closer they become as hearts previously frozen soften with the warmth of their deepening feelings for one another. Yet this forbidden relationship sets off a series of events as Frost’s power over winter inexplicably begins to diminish, jeopardizing the balance of the world and the fate of all in it. Will this connection threaten to dethrone the King of Winter as well as interrupt the delicate cycle of seasons that Earth requires, or is love a powerful enough force to reweave the fabric of existence?
World, Characters, and Plot
Most of the story takes place in Frost’s ice castle. Although the scenery changes very little, I loved the description of the palace and the various rooms inside. I really could picture every hall and sculpture. The descriptions in The Enchanted Frost of the locations, characters, and feelings are all very detailed.
Having two POVs meant that the reader got to fully understand both of the characters (Frost and Blanche). Each had their own distinct voice, which added a lot to the story. I really liked the inner conflict that Frost struggled with regarding taking Blanche’s soul. The struggles the two had to learn to overcome together made for a complicated plot, which really helped the reader to grow invested in their characters.
I think the one thing I struggled with the most in this book was the amount of telling instead of showing throughout the entire story. The reader is told when a character feels something, told when a character’s perspective changes… I would have loved to see more actual conversations and action going on. Instead, there were many paragraphs of deep thoughts. This isn’t bad, but I think it might have been too much of a good thing in this case.
I loved that The Enchanted Frost explored the joys of being human. Oftentimes, I think fantasy books tend to romanticize the “immortal” characters while making the human life seem like a constant, hopeless struggle. This book really went into all the things that make being human so great; love, joy, and making the most of the time we have.
PAGED IN: Although there is no innuendo or profanity in this book, there are some darker themes and mentions of death throughout.
Conclusion
I thought The Enchanted Frost was a creative take on a story that is very difficult to retell. I would have loved some more character development and action, but I enjoyed the story. The messages throughout are really great and highlight deep themes of humanity, love, and acceptance. It’s a great tale for Christmastime!
Thank you to Camille Peters for the ARC copy. All opinions are my own. You can buy The Enchanted Frost here.
Marie