Ice Kissed

Gr 9 Up—Hocking's fantasy novel allows readers to get lost in the secret world of Kanin yet again. This sequel to Frostfire (St. Martin's, 2014) follows Bryn Aven as she confronts a threat to her beloved kingdom, a secretly corrupted Skojare, and a forbidden love. After watching Viktor Dalig and Konstantin Black escape in the previous volume, Bryn is sent to Skojare to help assist the king and queen, but the more she discovers, the less she realizes she knows. On top of those problems, Bryn is developing undeniable and forbidden feelings for her boss, Ridley. Fans of the author's previous "Trylle" series (St. Martin's) will be ecstatic about this release. Hocking creates a detailed and beautiful setting that easily sweeps teens away to a fantastical world. Bryn is a likable, motivated, and candid character. The ending will leave readers with unanswered questions, eager for Hocking's next installment. A detailed sexual encounter midway through the novel makes this appropriate for mature readers.