Melissa de la Cruz

Michael Anthony Johnston

More than a century after a catastrophic disaster wiped out most of humanity and covered much of the earth with ice, sixteen-year-old Nat yields to the voice in her head urging her to embark on a dangerous journey across a poisoned sea to the mythical land, the Blue.

Frozen

Monicap

I really liked this book. I liked the writing, I liked the characters, I liked the plot, I liked the world-building.

But ONE THING got on my nerves.

Towards the end, you know, something happens. And apparently Nat, our main character, was expecting something else to happen. And neither what she was expecting to happen or what actually happen was really explained. 

Well, I mean, they sorta were. But the explanation was: Magic. That was literally the whole explanation. Magic made it happen.

How? Why? It worked before, but this was a TOTALLY different situation and Magic was not a adequate explanation for me, it just wasn't. 

Maybe Magic as an explanation would have flown back in the 90's when YA was just starting out (I know The Vampires Diaries books were the hot chizz back then) but NOT ANYMORE. Your magic must have RULES and LIMITATIONS and it MUST. MAKE. SENSE.

But in this situation, it didn't, it simply didn't and it annoyed me. Took this book from five star down to a four.

BUT I AM TOTALLY READING THE NEXT ONE.

Briar's Reviews

I am thoroughly obsessed with this series. When I first discovered Melissa de la Cruz, I read her Blue Blood series and did not enjoy the writing style at all. I found that series to be slow and boring, so I was reluctant to read this book. But when I got this book as an advanced reader's copy from a book store nearby, I decided I would read it and retry Melissa de la Cruz. And, it was the best decision I've ever made regarding books!

I am obsessed and cannot wait for the next book in this series. This book will leave you begging for more and hanging on to every chapter. I couldn't pry my hands off of the story revolving around Nat and Wes. The two of them are a quirky pair with their strange friends trying to find a far off land by boat. The story moves at a perfect pace and you discover different plot twists in perfect timing. There is barely anything wrong with this book except for the fact that the next book wasn't out when I finished it! 

I would suggest this book to anyone who likes YA fiction, a story that keeps you wanting to read or anyone looking for a good mix of action, adventure, romance and thrills. 

And on top of it all, I couldn't tell what would happen in the end! I love books where you don't know exactly what is going to happen and you can't guess the ending.

I loved this book! Five out of five stars! Melissa de la Cruz has redeemed herself in my eyes with this amazing book!!!!

I read this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy so some of the book may have been changed, but it was still a magnificent book!

ashley hopkins

Jenn Acocks

I couldn't put it down and when I had no choice to put it down to something I needed to get done I couldn't wait to pick it back up and start reading it again! It was definitely worth my time to read! ❤️

Katerina Thorson

Mellisa De La Cruz has created an original world with a dystopian mix, which is what drew me in. I am always on the look out for new dystopian series and when I was given the chance to read this one, I really enjoyed.....I mean like it was fricken good!!! A world where it is covered in ice. I loved that it was packed with both sci-fi and fantasy, it was definitely a new experience.

Natasha Kestal, a young blackjack dealer, with a very dangerous secret. I loved this character she was strong and very brave. She dreams and hopes of a far off land that has been untouched by the destruction man and earth. Which come's to pass when hearing of a land called "the Blue." Wanting desperately to go there she hires Ryan Wesson and his gang of misfits. But the real question who is most in danger? 

I love that Natasha is strong and brave, as a majority of you know I love my heroine's strong willed. She also is one of the "marked." A dangerous thing to be in a dangerous world. She keeps her head down and does not let herself be seen or known. This was another thing that I loved about her, she does not prance around saying: "hey look guys I am marked!" I have read quite a few books that do that!
 
The setting takes place in Earth....or what is left anyways. After nature turning against it and mankind giving a hand in earth's destruction. Earth is covered in ice....a permanent ice age. The Earth is not what we would picture. Like in all dystopian books there is wealth and bad politics. I loved how Melissa twisted earth, I always love new types of dystopian. Anything that is different and it's own thing I will enjoy.

The character's were amazingly written. I definitely loved Ryan. He was loyal to a fault, strong, and very smart. I enjoyed his team as well. Character's and their personalities are what I look close at when I am reading any book. I look for how well the character's are developed and I looked to see if they were described to the point where I could physically picture them. Which they were, all the character's that were introduced I felt were well developed and I could definitely picture them! One thing that threw me off was the ages. I honestly thought a lot of the character's were older than what they actually were. Yet, it was not until I connected the dots when I understood why they all acted older.

I enjoyed the first book in the Heart of Dread series. It was well written, the character's where well developed, and I will definitely suggest this book to people that ask me what to read next. Like my sister!! She asks me all the time what to read next, got to love siblings. One last note to you this book will not leave you without a message or a saying!! So pick up this book you will love it....if not well fine than be that way ;)

xx Kat xx
The Realm of Books