Frostfire: Book One of the Dark Inbetween
Written by Sam Thorne and Lauren Ivey
As regular readers of these reviews are no doubt sick of hearing, I review a lot of fantasy titles. One subset, however, that I’ve reviewed precious little of, is dark fantasy. Frostfire, the first book in Sam Thorne and Lauren Ivey’s Dark Inbetween series, is a rare exception. Mind you, this exception is not by design; I haven’t been asked to review many similar books, and this is one of the few that grabbed my attention on an ARC website. If you like your fantasy dark, dealing with demons instead of elves, it presents a tale loaded with darkness and protagonists loaded with love.
Regardless of the genre, trigger warnings are often applicable to books. But thanks to its designation of a dark fantasy, instead of an epic fantasy (which also fits the bill) or high fantasy, readers can expect Frostfire to include some disturbing themes, imagery and violence; dark fantasy is no mere marketing term. However, while I aim to avoid spoiling the books I review as much as possible, I need to add another warning to this list: a grisly rape scene. I haven’t seen this mentioned within the book’s listing—which is a shame; I’m of the school of thought that prominent trigger warnings are a must—so if this subject matter is likely to get to you, consider yourself forewarned. If you’re on the fence about it, it does work well in the context of the book, and is deftly handled. It doesn’t feel the least bit exploitative, or as though included for shock value, nor does it feel like it was added to make this dark fantasy darker.
Also deftly handled are the LGBTQI+ aspects of the novel. As the authors themselves note, Thorne is a nonbinary asexual and Ivey is bisexual, and they are passionate about telling stories about diverse characters. For all of Frostfire’s fantastical elements, its violence and its demons, at its centre is a gay romance between Kyran and Barrett. This romance is treated exactly as it should be, like any other romance with a cisgender heterosexual couple. While a major component of the book, it doesn’t feel like a forced decision, nor does it make any overt points about inclusion. The romance feels honest and earned, and most importantly, as it remembers these characters are human, it’s told with humanity.
These characters—Kyran and Barrett—form Frostfire’s heart. While the story being told fits within the epic fantasy mould and has a suitably large scope, the book focuses on these characters. Both are beautifully fleshed out, with their own wants and desires, as well as the baggage they bring to each other’s lives. They are both likeable characters, and they both feel realistic. While the book is less successful in certain areas (including dialogue, which I’ll move onto shortly), the heart of these characters comes through beautifully. Unfortunately, the dialogue doesn’t live up to the wonderful protagonists. For the most part, it feels flat, and the characters largely sound very similar to one another. An exception to this is an “Islesman,” hailing from the book’s Northern Isles. Giving characters a regional dialect is always tricky and runs the risk of cliche. Unfortunately, the authors fall into this trap, with the character sounding like a Scottish stereotype, similar to Groundskeeper Willie from The Simpsons.
I’m always fascinated when I read a book written by multiple authors, and wonder about their collaborative approach and how they divide their duties. While I don’t know how Thorne and Ivey went about co-writing Frostfire, the prose presents two different styles, making it seem like different chapters are written by different authors. Some chapters are written in an almost casual style, approachable, but feeling as though it’s written for a young adult audience, which belies the book’s dark subject matter. The other chapters have a more matter-of-fact feel to them, without a great amount of character. While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the authors writing their own chapters (if this is the case), I feel like the editing should have picked up on these styles, and worked to blend them together.
The prose’s style, combined with dialogue-heavy sections, results in a book that feels quicker than its page count would suggest. At 352 pages in paperback (312 in hardcover, or an estimated 354 pages on your favourite eReader), Frostfire is not a short book, but it is one that readers can finish in less time than many of a similar size. The novel is a slow burn, and is paced accordingly. While the pacing is gradual, at points, it feels a little too slow. Regardless, the story still manages to entertain, particularly thanks to its characters.
At its core, Frostfire tells an entertaining story. However, as the book’s pacing slows, the plot becomes repetitive. There are scenes within that feel redundant, essentially repeating events that had been seen earlier. Similar to the inconsistent prose, some further editing could have removed these excess scenes, or added more to differentiate them. However, as much as the plot can stall at points, the fantastical elements shine. The world feels distinct from others of its ilk, and the demons are a pulse-pounding threat, complicated by their intelligence. This is a great world, ripe for exploration in further books.
And further books, there will be: the authors are working on the second book of The Dark Inbetween, Witchfire. While Frostfire is the beginning of this series, and plants seeds for further exploration, it stands well enough alone that it can be enjoyed on its own merits. While it doesn’t bring finality, it brings enough closure to feel as though you’ve read an entire story, instead of the first act, or even a prologue.
Frostfire is the first entry in a promising series. While it suffers from inconsistent prose and flat dialogue, and the plot sometimes feels like it’s repeating itself, Thorne and Ivey have crafted a dark fantasy world that begs to be explored further. Underpinning this are two fantastic characters embarking on a wonderful romance.
Favourite Passage
He tried to resist, but eventually he gave into the mounting exhaustion and slept. It was far from restful, haunted by eyeless sockets and grasping, choking hands, and he woke slumped onto his side, clutching his arms. After resting a while longer, he made himself get up again, testing his leg gingerly. It would hold no weight; he was reduced to hopping slowly on his one good leg along the wall. But anything was better than simply sitting and waiting.
Frostfire: Book One of the Dark Inbetween, Chapter Eighteen
Frostfire: Book One of the Dark Inbetween was provided by StoryOrigin for the purpose of an honest review.
Frostfire is available in paperback, hardcover and eBook from retailers, including—but not limited to—Amazon.
You can follow Sam Thorne and Lauren Ivey online, via:
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Frostfire: Book One of The Dark Inbetween
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