Last week saw the release of Karen Marie Moning's Iced, a continuation of her Fever world. Even prior to release, Moning fans were concerned because Iced's lead is a fourteen-year-old girl; did that mean Iced would be a young adult novel set in the Fever world? How would it be without Mac and Barrons?
Some of our H&H bloggers weigh in on what they thought after finally getting to read Iced; as a a reminder, here is its blurb (and let us know in the comments if you agree with any of the thoughts here):
Dani “Mega” O’Malley plays by her own set of rules—and in a world overrun by Dark Fae, her biggest rule is: Do what it takes to survive. Possessing rare talents and the all-powerful Sword of Light, Dani is more than equipped for the task. In fact, she’s one of the rare humans who can defend themselves against the Unseelie. But now, amid the pandemonium, her greatest gifts have turned into serious liabilities.
Dani’s ex–best friend, MacKayla Lane, wants her dead, the terrifying Unseelie princes have put a price on her head, and Inspector Jayne, the head of the police force, is after her sword and will stop at nothing to get it. What’s more, people are being mysteriously frozen to death all over the city, encased on the spot in sub-zero, icy tableaux.
When Dublin’s most seductive nightclub gets blanketed in hoarfrost, Dani finds herself at the mercy of Ryodan, the club’s ruthless, immortal owner. He needs her quick wit and exceptional skill to figure out what’s freezing Fae and humans dead in their tracks—and Ryodan will do anything to ensure her compliance.
Dodging bullets, fangs, and fists, Dani must strike treacherous bargains and make desperate alliances to save her beloved Dublin—before everything and everyone in it gets iced.
I was so, so worried that Dani “Mega” O'Malley would not be able to carry a book. She was cute when she was first introduced in the Fever series but as the series progressed, she wore out her welcome. Thank goodness we get a more maturer and bad asser (is that a word?) version of Dani and she totally ruled in Iced.
Dani was awesome! She's still snarky and a bit too much at times but I had to keep reminding myself that she's only 14 years old. She has matured a lot but not too much that you forget her age. She does some stupid things and refuses to listen but she's a teenager. And according to the Mega, grownups are stupid.
I know folks are worried about Dani's love interest being Ryodan and how can a man like him be interested in a 14-year-old girl and the thought of it is very icky. KMM handles it well without the ick factor. Ryodan comes off as a mentor and nothing more. But if a Dani and Ryodan HEA is in the future, I'm hoping KMM fast forwards at least 4 years so that Dani is legal!
I loved Iced. KMM totally pulled it off. I can't believe that I ever doubted her.
I haven’t finished Iced just yet, but three things are very clear to me. One, I love the men in this book. Love. I would read a whole book about Ryodan, Christian, Lor, Dancer and the like. I even like tastes of Cruce. (Yep, I said it.) Two, the plot is just as engaging as I expected. There are nice twists, we don’t always know what’s happening and the visuals are downright stunning. Three, I still really hate Dani O’Malley.
I know this book came with a “trust me” on the Dani tip. I know many of us didn’t enjoy Mac 1.0, but loved her as she grew into her character. However, I’m having a difficult time accepting an adult plot told from a 14-year-old who calls herself “Mega.” I get into the plot, and I’m reading and reading and wrapped up in it and then she gets on her “Mega” spiel and I’m yanked out. Much like in the latter Fever novels, Dani’s voice grates on me.
However, the plot and the boys—oh, the boys!—are so damn good that I can’t stop myself from reading this book. Thus far, it’s good enough to keep me engaged, but not a “screw dinner, sleep, and work for the sake of finishing this book” read for me. Which is a bummer, as the previous Fever books most certainly were ones I read cover-to-cover in single sittings.
Yeah. What Chelsea said. I never minded Dani in the previous Fever books, but unrelenting Dani, as much of her as there is in Iced, is not as much fun. That is, Moning does an excellent job capturing Dani's voice, but a self-absorbed superhero fourteen year-old isn't my favorite type of heroine. So Moning's success reduces my enjoyment of the book. I do love the men, and I like how off-kilter Moning has made the world—there's no stability at all anymore, and that uncertainty, that good people can go crazy, and you can't trust anyone or anything anymore—is incredible. I like Iced, and will definitely read more in the series, but I'm not enthralled as I was with the Fever series.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Iced. I was never huge fan of Dani. I always found her voice and antics juvenile and jarring in what was a serious adult series. In Iced, we see the same Dani, but she is presented in a different light. Yes, she’s only 14 yrs old physically, but in other aspects, she is dozens of years older. We learn more about her childhood and her life at the abbey. Her own fears and dreams, and the demands placed on her by Rowena. I like that she can handle Ryodan, but on her own level. KMM doesn’t attempt to age her in sexual manner in order to make a potential HEA between Dani and Ryodan (at end of this trilogy) more acceptable. We have to accept Dani’s age just like Ryodan and everyone else. Yet, KMM doesn’t let anyone forget that Dani IS dangerous. I also enjoyed getting to know Ryodan without Barrons competing against him in the background. I was so afraid we would be placed in the position of having to compare one to the other, yet KMM defines Ryodan on his own merits. Barrons was always predictable in a way. His emotions determined his actions. We knew he what he needed so we could anticipate his end game. With Ryodan, we don’t know what his end game is. He remains a mystery to us. We see him in unguarded moments that went far into helping me understand him and start to like him. Though, he pulls a couple of stunts...*cough* JO *cough* that made me want to slap him HARD for messing around like that. Plus side, though—Ryodan doesn’t wear underwear. ZOMG. He admits that they are too small and chafe.
Christian MacKeltar is also in here. YEAH!!! I adore the MacKeltars and KMM’s Highland series, so any mention of them excites me to no end. Christian is not quite right in here. His elevator doesn’t go to the top anymore. I figured something would happen after Mac feeds him Unseelie flesh to save his life but never thought THIS would happen. Regardless of seeing Christian in flashes of sanity and lucidity, I hope deep in my heart that a cure will be found for him or he will mutate into something he can live with. The jealousy he exhibits towards Ryodan is amusing and I look forward to seeing these two butt heads in the trilogy.
I will admit that I am one of the few that has problems with either Christian and Ryodan being Dani’s HEA. They are both too old for her. Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. Christian is just plain not right and with an 11-year age difference, it’s strange. Plus, the whole, “He’s bat-shit crazy,” doesn’t help. Ryodan is what, THOUSANDS of years old and finding out he’s stalked her since she was nine? Yeah...*cues the stalker music*
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed Iced. Dani and Ryodan work well together, Christian makes me laugh, we got to see more of Barrons, and getting to know Kat, Lor, and Circe makes for some fun times.
