Review: Cold Spell by Jackson Pearce

Cold Spell (Fairytale Retellings #4)
Author: Jackson Pearce
Published: Nov. 5th, 2013
Publisher: Little, Brown
Pages: 336
Source: ARC

Kai and Ginny grew up together–best friends since they could toddle around their building’s rooftop rose garden. Now they’re seventeen, and their relationship has developed into something sweeter, complete with stolen kisses and plans to someday run away together.

But one night, Kai disappears with a mysterious stranger named Mora–a beautiful girl with a dark past and a heart of ice. Refusing to be cast aside, Ginny goes after them and is thrust into a world she never imagined, one filled with monsters and thieves and the idea that love is not enough.

If Ginny and Kai survive the journey, will she still be the girl he loved–and moreover, will she still be the girl who loved him?

I liked Cold Spell a lot, but not as much as Fathomless (the third novel.) Cold Spell was fairly average plot-wise. It was light on lore, and the clear cut goal didn't leave much room for unexpected plot twists. I thought it was very anticlimactic. Of course, I've never read the original Snow Queen so I can't compare it to that. 

For the people who have read the other books in this series, you'll be happy to know that there are references back to them! 

I liked all the supporting characters, but I didn't feel very empathetic for Ginny or Kai. I supported Ginny, but I didn't really sympathize for her. I wasn't upset with any of the choices she made but everything about her was a bit blah. I appreciated her development when she realized she could live without Kai, but she still didn't actually grow; she just realized she could live without him if she absolutely had to. It was a half effort, not a whole one. 

I liked Mora, but I thought her backstory was a little confusing for the average reader. I wish there had been more of her PoV, and more explanation of the Fenris. The lore that was there was very interesting, I just wish there had been more development of it!

I found this book to be fairly average. Pearce has a wonderful writing technique. If you read and enjoyed the other novels, you may be a little disappointed since it is the conclusion, but Cold Spell is charming nonetheless.