test tab4

Throwback Thursday: Frost Arch

by Kate Bloomfield

Frost Arch

pamsthrowback

pamsfour

Title: Frost Arch
Author: Kate Bloomfield
Published by: Self Published
Book:  #1 of the Fire Mage Trilogy
Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy YA
Found: Received from the Author
Rating: 4 Voodoos

In a future where ignorance has destroyed the world that we know, humans are slaves and Mages – advanced beings with abilities beyond everyday reach – rule the land.
Avalon is one such Mage. Barely eighteen years of age, she wields the gift of fire yet she is unable to control it. She leaves her family in the dead of night and heads to the city of Frost Arch, her future seemingly grim. Will Avalon be able to overcome the trials that befall her? Will she be able to save the ones she loves and stay strong within herself?
Time will tell.

-Goodreads

I was browsing through my old reviews trying to find an interesting one to choose for this weeks Throwback and spotted this one. I read Fire Arch all the way back in September 2012 and remember thoroughly enjoying it. I have a copy of book 2 but I remember thinking, I’ll wait for number 3 before continuing this series. And as usual I forgot all about it and now years have past. If I can fit it in, hopefully, I will read the rest this year.

I took this opportunity to browse the other reviews on Goodreads just to see what other people thought and to my surprise there are quite a few low, 1 and 2 star, ratings! I remember there being issues with the editing, something about repetition and un-clear scene/time changes but overall I enjoyed it very much so I am a bit ‘befuddled’ as to these low ratings. I will probably re-read this just to get back into the story so I will let you know whether 3 years of reading Sci-fi and Fantasy have changed my views in anyway.  Till then, this was my original review:

I was given a copy of this book by Tt for the Read it and Reap programme.

I really enjoyed this one. It had some really amazing world building and the characters were all interesting. The story came across a bit predictable at times but I didn’t really mind this as it was so well put together that it just felt like reading one of your favourite books. I don’t know whether anyone else thought this but I found that the relationship between Avalon and Hawthorne (the giant fox griffin) reminded me a lot of Eragon and Saphira. Again not a problem for me but might be for some people. I think was I enjoyed the most of watching the characters change and evolve, some of my favourites were Jack and Raeven so I can’t wait to read the short stories about them.

The reason for the four stars rather than 5 is just that it was supposed to be a science fiction meets fantasy, but I felt that the science fiction (dystopian parts) weren’t really noticable, I think I was about 70% of the way through before the ‘apocalypse’ (of society as we know it) was mentioned again. I just don’t really think it was necessary to the story in the end.

But still, this is definitely one to check out and as her debut novel, I have high hopes for her following novels. I’ve already downloaded the second part to this series. :) Good Luck Kate Bloomfield!

If you’ve read this, let me know what you thought :)

pamsms4tune

spacer

Leave a Reply