"Got to read The Land of Frost thanks to NetGalley and Azala Press! This book is a wild ride. Maeve's out for revenge after her wedding day goes horribly wrong, and she ends up training in a fae prison. The action is super fast, and I loved the magic. Some parts were a little quick for me, and I had a few questions, but Maeve's character development was awesome. Definitely looking forward to the next one! If you like your Romantasy fast and furious, check this out."

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this romantasy ARC! The Land of Frost follows Princess Maeve after the overthrowing of her kingdom and she is left alone, nearly for dead. She escapes to an infamous prison to train for her revenge.

Pros:
+ Interesting intersection of magic types
+ Events kept me interested
+ Interesting setting, world-building

Cons:
-Disliked the MMC
-Some of the relationships felt rushed. I couldn’t see how they bonded so quickly. This is especially true for the FMC and MMC relationship. I found their progression confusing.
-The twist at the end was predictable from the very beginning

4/5 stars 🌟

Ok so I really enjoyed this book, and I was pleasantly surprised with the story! I found the work building to be intriguing and it was written well. Right from the start, we are thrown in action; there was never a dull moment throughout this book. I loved the FMC’s character development, from being naive and clueless, to growing some awareness about the dark world that she was shielded from. The MMC, a fire wielded, was also really enjoyable to read about, I found his character to be one of the most interesting.

This was a VERY fast paced book, which I appreciate, however in this case I wished the story was a bit longer and more fleshed out, in terms of the plot and the plot twists.

Overall, this book had me captivated, and I would definitely recommend!

The Land of Frost by Whitney Welsh Gibbs
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Release Date: March 18, 2025

Thank you to NetGalley and Azala Press for the opportunity to read this eARC. The Land of Frost is a fast-paced Romantasy. The story follows the FMC, Maeve, as she journeys to a prison to train with the warden, a faerie, to avenge her family who were killed on her wedding day.

The action kicks off on page one and then barely slows down until the last page. Although I enjoyed the magic and world building throughout the book, I still have so many questions about what happened. Some parts of the story moved very quickly and I would have liked a little more explanation for a few things. I think the second book in the series holds a lot of potential and I am looking forward to reading it.

I also really appreciated that the main character has flaws, recognizes them in herself, and works on them throughout the story. If you are a fan of magic, FMCs learning about themselves and changing, and fast-paced romantic fantasy then you should definitely give The Land of Frost a try!

The Land of Frost by Whitney Welsh Gibbs is a book I requested because of the blurb. I saw it and thought it sounded interesting and I have to tell you...from the second I picked it up, I couldn't put it down (or at least I didn't want to) and I was immediately drawn into this world and this story. The only thing I really want to know right now is how long do I have to wait for the next book to come out because I'm going to need it in my hands real soon.

Maeve is our fmc and we actually gradually learn about her as the story progresses because her story doesn't truly come out until we're well into the book. See, she's a princess and what we do learn immediately is that on her wedding day, a coup breaks out and her father, mother, brother and fiance are all killed. Add to that, Maeve's family has some pretty strong magic. Maeve herself has a healing magic that no one has and when she is captured, Maeve is stripped of her magic, beaten and left for dead right alongside her family. But when she comes to, Maeve realizes she's been rescued by two people (Dedra and Tiernan) who knew her family and she vows not to waste the opportunity to get revenge on the usurpers who stole everything from her. When she's strong enough, she pushes to go on a drop to the Borderlands with Tiernan, and finds that this will change the next phase of her plan.

As I mentioned earlier, I thought that the world that Gibbs has built is well done. It is pretty detailed in terms of magic and fae and the different weather systems and you know the rules based on the outline provided. There are a lot of characters in this book and a lot of different magic and lands mentioned so just be prepared.

When Maeve and Tiernan run into a fae named Galgalesh who also happens to be the Warden of Bascogar, the prison for the worst criminals in the kingdom, things start to move. Tiernan talks him into taking Maeve with him back to the prison so that he can train her both in magic and fighting. It's here where we start to learn more about the link between Galgalesh and "The Leader" and how Tiernan fits into that story. As well as a bit more about magic and how even though Maeve was stripped of her original magic, she will be able to wield magic again. But everyday at the prison is dangerous for Maeve. She's living under a fake identity and there is danger around every corner...or at least right next door because the man in the prison cell - Eoghan Kael, a fiery Tinemallacht warrior, hates her and wants her gone.

Eoghan is definitely a mystery for the first few chapters he is around but like Maeve, his story comes out as we go. We learn about why he is at the prison, his connection to Galgalesh and "The Leader" and what that has to do with the coup and Maeve. Since the majority of the book is at the prison a lot happens here...relationships and friendships change over the course of the months that Maeve is hiding away and she is learning more about herself and the outside world than she ever did living locked away in the castle.

So, I can't say much else because I can't give any spoilers away and admittedly I did guess the twist at the end...but I didn't care because I was that invested in the story and now I just want to know what happens next. Just know I loved this one and couldn't put it down...so you should go get it as soon as you can. There's plenty of danger, magic, betrayal, and yes...some romance to keep you turning the pages. As I said, I'm looking forward to the next installment of this series and will be recommending this book to anyone and everyone who asks me what to read next.

The Land of Frost is a fast-paced romantasy that's easy to read and enjoyable. It thoroughly surprised me!

I loved both the FMC and MMC, and their chemistry was HOT. They're both well written, with clear motivations and conflicts. I enjoyed that the FMC is not written to be perfect and has many flaws she recognises to have—it makes her very real. Also, the more I read about her family, the more I understand her motivations and needs.

The world where the story is set is very intriguing and I hope to see more of it in future books as I have many unresolved doubts about it (wink, wink)

However, there were a few things I think they could be improved. First, the pacing of the plot is sometimes abrupt. I would have liked to see more flow between the first 6 chapters especially, as many things happened in those, and it felt difficult to get hooked at first. Second, a couple of the plot twists felt a tad forced or a bit predictable. I had the same issue with one of the secondary characters and their motivations; they felt forced and twisted just for the sake of the plot.

Lastly, though the main character's chemistry was always there, I would have wished for their switch towards a romantic relationship to be more smooth, but that's just my personal preference :)

Overall, I enjoyed this read a lot and I feel it has the potential to become a very interesting and exciting series <3

My review is already available in Goodreads :)!

Oh this book..... where do I start?
The Land of Frost by Whitney Welsh Gibbs is such a good book. This author is a genious! I couldn't put it down for a second.

The Land of Frost follows our FMC, Maeve, after a coup kills her family and leaves her near dead. Now a princess on the run, Maeve ends up at a deadly prison in order to train so that she can exact her revenge upon the people that have taken everything from her.

I throughouly enjoyed this book and it got me out of a book slump after a certain big Romantasy release. The plot was paced well, engaging you and keeping wanting to read just one more page. There are turns and twists throughout which keep you glued to Maeve's journey. At the start of the book there is a glossary, as well as pronunciation guide, which I did refer back to throughout the book as it did take me a while to understand the different places throughout the story. The pronunciation guide was also helpful as a lot of the names and some words are based on Irish Gaelic.

Our FMC, Maeve, starts off young and naive, clueless to the real world around her. It's hard not to root for Maeve, as she comes against hurdle after hurdle and refuses to give in. We really see her fighting spirit develop and her gain a better understanding of herself. Our MMC, Eoghan, brings in an enemies to lovers storyline, my favourite trope, as well as a tension filled slow burn. He is a fire wielder, which adds something different to the setting.

This book had me hooked and ended on a cliff hanger. I can't wait for Book Two. Definitely read if you are a fan of Fourth Wing/ Throne of Glass.

The Land of Frost is a fast-paced fantasy that draws you in from the first page.

You explore the world through the eyes of Maeve who has been sheltered all her life and finds it turned upside down when a brutal coup is staged on her wedding day.

Maeve's quest for survival and revenge had me hooked, as did the tension that built between her and Eoghan.

It's clear that a lot of attention has been put into the world-building, and I'm hopeful that as the story progresses we'll get to explore even more!

Land of Frost cured my book hangover! A true Romantic Fantasy novel that immerses you right into the story and action, while world-building as you go. The book starts on Princess Maeve’s wedding day, when a coup to overthrow the crown results in her witnessing the deaths of her entire family before she herself is left to die, beaten by an angry mob. The story of her survival and thirst for revenge leads her to some unexpected places, including a magical prison, where she meets Eoghan… this story kept me captivated the whole time and built up to an ending that had my jaw on the floor! Can’t wait for the next book!!

The Land Of Frost hit that perfect sweet spot where Fantasy and Romance mix, but add in adventure, banter, betrayal, and oh shit moments. The action starts in chapter one, and the entire time I was reading, I just kept waiting for the NEXT shoe to drop! YES, MULTIPLE SHOES BEING DROPPED.

As a big fantasy reader, I really loved this book and the world building, but it isn’t so intense that someone new to the genre wouldn’t be able to keep up. It’s woven into the story perfectly!

One of the side characters is grumpy and sassy and my favorite 💁🏻‍♀️

Have I mentioned yet the broody, swoon worthy, fire daddy? 🔥😏 no? He might just be my new favorite book boyfriend (sorry shadow daddies- still love you though)

Overall, this story kept me captivated — I was laughing, crying, cursing at the author — and I loved every minute of it! It does end on a cliffhanger that will have you saying WTF, but I cannot wait for book two!!

Tropes:
• Touch her and die (honestly- don’t even look at her)
• Unique territories in the realm
• Unique magic system
• Political intrigue and conspiracy
• Forced Proximity
• Secret Identity
• Betrayal/Secrets
• Enemies to Lovers
• Found Family