Touch of Frost: Mythos Academy, Book 1

Gr 9 Up—Three months after her mother was killed by a drunk driver, 17-year-old Gwen Frost begins attending the elite Mythos Academy. According to Gwen, the students are descendants of powerful warriors and are warriors in their own right (Valkyries, Amazons, Vikings, Spartans, to name a few) possessing deadly skills, strength, weapons, and magical powers. Gwen feels completely out of place and is known as "that Gypsy girl." The only gift she possesses is her psychometry—the ability to feel and experience the emotions and history of any person who has ever touched or held an object she touches. The murder of Jasmine, the richest and most popular student at Mythos, gets the story going when Gwen decides to find out who killed her. Gwen begins a friendship with a former adversary, a Valkyrie named Daphne, and also develops a growing attraction to the deadly and very handsome Spartan warrior, Logan. Throughout the story, Gwen learns a great deal more about herself. This mythological, magical tale of gods, goddesses, warriors, good and evil, and mortal danger also includes a good measure of the usual teenage issues such as making new friends, rivalries, romance, and betrayal. Tara Sands's well-paced narration adds to the sense of time, place, magic, and action of Estep's story (K-Teen, 2011). She perfectly portrays Gwen as a strong, funny, likeable young woman, and the teen's experiences and humorous commentary will keep listeners eagerly awaiting the next title in the series.—Mary Oluonye, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH