If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me about whether or not they should read Iced…I’d have a good $25. I get it, no one REALLY wanted to read a story about Dani, but if you were desperate to be back in the dark streets of Dublin as I was, you would settle. Despite many of my reservations about reading a story from the POV of a 14-year-old in this world of lusty fae, the story wasn’t bad. I mean, could it have been better with lots more Barrons? Absolutely. Do you want to throttle Dani every time she calls herself the Mega? Undoubtedly. Do some interactions make you feel slightly squicky? For sure. And yet, there are some great adventures, moments, and new, terrifying Unseelie Fae within the pages.
Still not into reading it? Fine, twist my arm, I’ll give you the highlights.
The Love Quadrangle Is Back
Ryodan sees Dani’s potential and has a weird thing for her. Christian Mackeltar is becoming an Unseelie prince and has a weird thing for Dani. Dani’s weird friend Dancer has a thing for her. Basically, the KMM takes the interests that pursue Mac over the course of 5 books, into one story with one 14 year old (think Barrons, V’lane and Christian for Mac.)
Squicked a bit? Yeah, me too. The only thing that makes sense for Dani is the fellow teenager, Dancer, but you know that the normal folk don’t last long in these stories.
Ryodan has Dani in a precarious situation
Wanting to control Dani, Ryodan takes a fellow sidhe-seer and forces Dani to sign a work contract (with some sort of mystical writing that is quite convenient Barrons and his men) that could possibly have dire consequences in later novels. The more controlling Ryodan becomes the less sexy he seems to be…perhaps a miscalculation on the author’s part.
Trouble in the Mirrors
Christian and Dani enter the mirrors to search for the Unseelie king’s library for some reason that I cannot recall (I’ve only read this once when it came out..sue me), so let’s say he’s searching for the golden ticket to Willy Wonka’s factory. So, while Christian is searching, Dani accidentally releases the most disgusting, foul, and haunting Unseelie to cross the page…
This monstrosity is let out of her cage and follows the pair back into Dublin where she swiftly kills Barrons and Ryodan (don’t feel too bad, they do come back to life after a while…not that Dani and Christian know that fact yet).
“-I’m going to kill the kid. – Barrons says faintly.
Ryodan makes a burbling sound like a bloody laugh. -Get in line”
After the team comes together to defeat the Ice monster that has been freezing and in turn blowing up sections of the city (EVEN a room froze in Chester’s, which is really why Ryodan got involved), the Crimson Hag reappears only to skewered Christian and take him away to torture forever.
It’s been a hard-knock life for Dani
Iced provides a bit more insight into Dani’s “upbringing.” She had a terrible mother who would lock her in cages and leave her for hours and sometimes days. She later was “rescued” by Rowena who exploited Dani’s powers for her own gain. Lets just say that Mac’s sister wasn’t the only one that Dani helped kill under Rowena’s rule. This kid had a messed up life. Could these factor’s have led to Dani’s power’s occasionally blinking out?
Cruce is the stuff of nightmares
More so, Cruce (or not V’lane) may be locked under the Abbey, but he is visiting the dreams of the Sidhe-Seer leaders and taking full advantage. It’s only a matter of time before something bad happens as a power struggle begins to emerge.
Big Battle goes down at the Abbey
There’s a creature/thing/fae that’s been freezing places and people – destroying them – all around Dublin. Events come to a head at the Abbey were the Sidhe-Seer, Ryodan’s men, Christian and Dani come together to attempt to defeat it. Many Sidhe-Seer are killed, Mac and Barrons are no where to be found.
Burned
Mac. Barrons. Mac and Barrons. We get actual time with Mac and Barrons in burned. We also get more alternating POVs, so we’ll just have to grin and bear it for more time with Mac and Barrons.
If it so tickles you, join us tonight for an amazing chat (HANGOUTLANDER) about our book boyfriends – JAMMF vs. JZB (as if Barrons would ever let someone call them a “boyfriend.”
Are you going to feign sickness today to get to spend hours in the world of the Fever Series? Did you read Iced? Are you prepared for more JZB? Hit me up on the twitters, love to hear your reactions!
