Frozen

by Melissa de la Cruz, Michael Johnston Narrated by Phoebe Strole, Dan Bittner

Overview

From New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston comes this remarkable first book in a spellbinding new series about the dawn of a new kind of magic.

Welcome to New Vegas, a city once covered in bling, now blanketed in ice. Like much of the destroyed planet, the place knows only one temperature-freezing. But some things never change. The diamond in the ice desert is still a 24-hour hedonistic playground and nothing keeps the crowds away from the casino floors, never mind the rumors about sinister sorcery in its shadows.
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At the heart of this city is Natasha Kestal, a young blackjack dealer looking for a way out. Like many, she's heard of a mythical land simply called “the Blue.” They say it's a paradise, where the sun still shines and the waters are turquoise. More importantly, it's a place where Nat won't be persecuted, even if her darkest secret comes to light.
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But passage to the Blue is treacherous, if not impossible, and her only shot is to bet on a ragtag crew of mercenaries led by a cocky runner named Ryan Wesson to take her there. Danger and deceit await on every corner, even as Nat and Wes find themselves inexorably drawn to each other. But can true love survive the lies? Fiery hearts collide in this fantastic tale of the evil men do and the awesome power within us all.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly - Audio

01/27/2014
This first installment in de la Cruz and Johnston’s new postapocalyptic series is set in a futuristic Las Vegas covered with ice and follows 16-year-old blackjack dealer Nat Kestal, who wants to escape the cold for a mythical land of sunshine known as “the Blue.” But to escape from Vegas, she’ll need the help of a Ryan Wesson, a resourceful mercenary with a ragtag crew that can operate below the radar of the corrupt and militaristic government. Narrator Strole ably portrays Nat, conveying her emotions and balancing the character’s hard edge with her sassy and self-confident nature. Bittner also showcases a mix of emotion and attitude in his rendition of Wesson. Both readers provide skillful narration and lend unique voices to the book’s many characters. Ages 12–up. A Putnam hardcover. (Sept.)

School Library Journal - Audio

02/01/2014
Gr 8 Up—The frozen future of New Vegas is the setting of the first title in the "Heart of Dread" series, a world where the sea is filled with "trashbergs," and the citizens of the Remaining States of America gamble to win fresh water. Teenage blackjack dealer Natalie Kestral is one of the Marked. As a minority with special powers, the Marked are feared and so Nat keeps her magic secret until a persistent voice in her head convinces her to embark on a journey to find the mysterious land known as the Blue. Pedestrian prose describes the daily dangers of treacherous crew and foul-smelling zombies, who are ultimately outsmarted by a magical multitude: smallmen (literally child-sized men), sylphs ("beings of luminous beauty and awesome power"), and the last drakon, protector of the Blue. Mixing elements of fantasy (magical creatures) and science fiction (environmental dystopia), the fast-moving plot will keep listeners engaged. Audio actors Phoebe Strole and Dan Bittner alternate narration, which adds interest to the awkward romance between Nat and Wes, the mercenary ship's captain. In the end, they separate, each returning to their own responsibilities, but will surely reunite in a later book in the series. YA readers who crave "fire and pain, rage and ruin, wrath and revenge" will feast on Frozen (Putnam, 2013).—Toby Rajput, National Louis University, Chicago

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169123487
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	09/17/2013
Series:	Heart of Dread Series , #1
Edition description:	Unabridged

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