Touch of Frost

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy -- a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest.

But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why - especially since I should have been the one who died . . .

"Touch of Frost is an intriguing start to an exciting new series!" --Award-winning author Jeri Smith-Ready

". . .surviving high school means staying alive!" -- New York Times bestselling author Kerrelyn Sparks

Reviews provided by Syndetics

School Library Journal Review

Gr 9 Up-Three months after her mother was killed by a drunk driver, 17-year-old Gwen Frost begins attending the elite Mythos Academy. According to Gwen, the students are descendants of powerful warriors and are warriors in their own right (Valkyries, Amazons, Vikings, Spartans, to name a few) possessing deadly skills, strength, weapons, and magical powers. Gwen feels completely out of place and is known as "that Gypsy girl." The only gift she possesses is her psychometry-the ability to feel and experience the emotions and history of any person who has ever touched or held an object she touches. The murder of Jasmine, the richest and most popular student at Mythos, gets the story going when Gwen decides to find out who killed her. Gwen begins a friendship with a former adversary, a Valkyrie named Daphne, and also develops a growing attraction to the deadly and very handsome Spartan warrior, Logan. Throughout the story, Gwen learns a great deal more about herself. This mythological, magical tale of gods, goddesses, warriors, good and evil, and mortal danger also includes a good measure of the usual teenage issues such as making new friends, rivalries, romance, and betrayal. Tara Sands's well-paced narration adds to the sense of time, place, magic, and action of Estep's story (K-Teen, 2011). She perfectly portrays Gwen as a strong, funny, likeable young woman, and the teen's experiences and humorous commentary will keep listeners eagerly awaiting the next title in the series.-Mary Oluonye, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Kirkus Book Review

In this series opener, Estep adapts Greek and Norse mythology to encompass contemporary teenage warriors training to duke out ancient rivalries. Gwen Frost's psychometry leaves her little in common with magically gifted Valkyrie, Spartan and Amazon students at Mythos Academy. When she survives a crime that renders a classmate dead in a pool of blood, she resolves to uncover the murderer, whom administrators readily conclude is an enemy serving an evil god seeking world domination. On a hunt for clues, Gwen demonstrates an aptitude for breaking and entering, blackmail and espionage, and leverages her gift of touch to descry secrets. Despite ingenious worldbuilding, Estep follows many common conventions: Gwen's mother has recently died, and Gwen is the poor girl among rich kids at a new school where she hides in corners. Her blanching at nude statues or using overly childish aphorisms feels incongruous, given Gwen's casual attitude about the sex lives and illicit party habits of her peers; however, Gwen earns teen cred when she befriends a popular girl and asks out her crush. Fortune wildly favors her in some close calls with undecipherable foes, and, again following a popular paradigm, Gwen conveniently learns of her unique legacy at the very moment when she bravely steps into the big shoes her predecessors have left her. Fast-paced, edgy and imaginative enough.(Urban fantasy. 12 up)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.