"… Not every Beast is a prince charming at heart and not every Beauty is a maiden just waiting for love…
Calia Thorn has lived her entire life in a small town sheltered by the Cold King’s mountain. Working day and night to care for her younger siblings, complete her unending chores and please her selfish, lazy mother has left her with few dreams for her own future.
But then even those meager hopes are taken from her when the Cold King comes down from his mountain to demand a new servant. Ungraceful, unladylike, undesired and unwanted by even her own family, Calia is chosen to be sent to the palace.
The Cold King has lived for three hundred years under a curse imposed by his own father. With no hope of ever breaking it, he settles for keeping his heart frozen against any pain— or hope.
When his new servant arrives, she challenges him in ways no one ever has and sparks fly. But not every Beast is a prince charming at heart and not every beauty is a maiden just waiting for love.
Sometimes happily ever after isn’t so easy…"
Whoa! Now this is a huge eye opener. I guess I did get what I wanted: death and a little more action. A much better retelling of Beauty and the Beast, than the Beauty and the Beast I read a few months ago. I definitely will recommended The Cold King to readers around...er...some inappropriate scenes...ah, yes! I recommended this book to readers around thirteen or older. Older than thirteen for sure, no one younger than that age should read The Cold King.
The Cold King is full of twist and turns. Reading the plot is like being on an hour long rollercoaster. It truly is a rollercoaster, readers. You think it's going to end, but NOOO it's not the end, yet. The conflict is great! I'm totally into and invested in The Cold King, a Young Adult novel.
I love this retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It's so perfect and breathtaking. There are no plot holes, no loose endings, and no odd characters, who mysteriously appears only in time of great need. Of course, there are some differences. For example, in the tale, Beauty's father is alive and a merchant. In the Cold King, Beauty's father is dead. Calia's background story is very much like Cinderella's pitiful one. Unlike Cinderella, Calia's mother is the one tormenting her, not a evil stepmother--a wicked mother.
The Cold King isn't cursed by a hateful witch. No, no. The Cold King is cursed by his own father three hundred years ago. (Harsh isn't it?) Reader's sympathy will grow until the Cold King's past is finally revealed. Then...it's up to Calia's (and reader's) decision whether or not hate him or love him. Know this: He did some pretty bad things when he was much, much younger. Like three hundred years younger.
I only have one request for the author, Amber Jaeger. Please, please, please, and more please have more scenes of POV of His Royal Irritating Iciness Valanka, The Cold King. I really want to see him closely, in his view and thoughts.
There isn't much chemistry between Valanka and Calia. Hell, a piece of velcro and it's pair has more chemistry than them. I don't really know how to explain it, but the chemistry just felt too...cold. (No Joke. And please don't laugh, I'm being serious.)
Characters:
Valanka, the Cold King, is a good king. Cold, yes, but a good king. He wears scary and creepy mask that covers his face, hiding his...well, I'm not going to reveal the dirty secrets. Underneath all those layers of coldness, iciness, and armor, he's a good soul. He's scarred by his past, both literally and figuratively. He's lost, but controls what little he has. He's the beast of this cold, cold, and beautiful tale.
Calia Thorn or Little Thorn is the Beauty in this story. I like her better than many other characters. She's clever and loyal to those who don't deserved her loyalty. (I hate her mother very much.) Calia is somewhat innocent in The Cold King, yet that trait starts to fade as we travel along with her horrible experiences, missteps, dreadful past, and emotional thoughts.
Rating: Four out of Five
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