Review: ICED

The year is 1 AWC—After the Wall Crash. The Fae are free and hunting us. It’s a war zone out there, and no two days are alike. I’m Dani O’Malley, the chaos-filled streets of Dublin are my home, and there’s no place I’d rather be.

Dani “Mega” O’Malley plays by her own set of rules—and in a world overrun by Dark Fae, her biggest rule is: Do what it takes to survive. Possessing rare talents and the all-powerful Sword of Light, Dani is more than equipped for the task. In fact, she’s one of the rare humans who can defend themselves against the Unseelie. But now, amid the pandemonium, her greatest gifts have turned into serious liabilities.

Dani’s ex–best friend, MacKayla Lane, wants her dead, the terrifying Unseelie princes have put a price on her head, and Inspector Jayne, the head of the police force, is after her sword and will stop at nothing to get it. What’s more, people are being mysteriously frozen to death all over the city, encased on the spot in sub-zero, icy tableaux.

When Dublin’s most seductive nightclub gets blanketed in hoarfrost, Dani finds herself at the mercy of Ryodan, the club’s ruthless, immortal owner. He needs her quick wit and exceptional skill to figure out what’s freezing Fae and humans dead in their tracks—and Ryodan will do anything to ensure her compliance.

Dodging bullets, fangs, and fists, Dani must strike treacherous bargains and make desperate alliances to save her beloved Dublin—before everything and everyone in it gets iced.

Title: ICED (Fever ~ Book 6)
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Publication Date: October 30 2012
Publisher: Delacorte Press
ISBN: 0385344406
Length: 495 Pages
Add it to your TBR Pile: Goodreads
Buy It: Amazon US / Amazon UK

Source: Purchased (Kindle Edition)
Cover Love: Dani looks fierce and I am loving the ice!
Point of View: 1st person, following Dani mostly, however there are some chapters from Christian and Kat's POV also.

My Rating: 5 Stars

As Dani would say... "Dude! This was feckin amazing!!"

When I finished Shadowfever and I saw the words 'The End' I was distraught.  Then I clicked my Kindle over one last page and was ecstatic.  These two little words gave me hope.  Gave me hope that this was not going to be the last I saw of my favorite characters.  Gave me hope that I had something new to look forward and countdown to.  What were those two little words?

'For Now...'

That was it.  It was The End, For Now...  Let us rejoice!

I would like to start out by saying that if you haven't read the first five books in the Fever series I strongly suggest you do so before reading ICED.  There is so much world building and character building in Fever and I fear you may be a bit lost if they were not read first.  However, if you have not read them but want to keep reading this review just please know that there may be spoilers to events that took place in the previous books.  You have been warned...

So here we are, the first of the five new planned books in the Fever series is upon us.  There will be a total of three from Dani's point of view, ICED being the first.  Then we will be back to Mac's point of view with number nine and ten.  I have to admit when I first saw that the next three would be from Dani's point of view I was a little nervous.  Dani was such a 'loud' voice in the previous books but I understand why as a side character she had to be written this way.  She is no wallflower but around characters such as Mac and Barrons you need to be loud to be noticed.  So I was curious to see if Moning would write her just as loud.  The answer to that is yes and no.  Dani is her same big headed, Mega, superhero wannabe but from within her own head she is not a loud.  If that makes sense...

With my opening statement of this being awesome I am sure you have already guessed I absolutely loved ICED.  It was so great to be back in the Fever world.  I am going to do my best not to be an over excited fangirl during this review but I can make no promises because it was just that good and I just love these characters so much!

If you know and love the Fever series you will no doubt love this book.  This made me an uber fan of Dani's, I mean I already liked her but now I love her.  She is amazing and talk about kick ass!  Dude, I would not want to be an Unseelie facing down the the end of her sword.  Not in a million years.

We have the same cast of characters coming along for the ride.  Those that are hoping that Mac and Barrons play a huge part, sadly they don't but I wasn't too disappointed.  However, with that said on page one when I read Barrons' name I did have to fan my face a little and I literately had to use my fingers to pull my smile down.  But this was more due to the fact that I am in love with Barrons.  Yes you heard it here first, I love the man.  He is by far my #1 fictional male character and probably always will be. So even though we hardly get to see him in ICED, even randomly seeing his name on the page was enough because I knew I was in the 'world' where he exists.

However... Ryodan has quickly moved up into my #2 spot.  Hot darn is this man smokin'!  Moning has never had any trouble writing about hot men and he is no doubt one of her best.  We didn't get to see much of him in the previous books so having him around more was a pleasure.  His interactions with Dani makes for some great moments and the way they speak and deal with each other is pure entertainment.  Let me just say that Ryodan is a very patient man... he may think he is the top dog around Dublin but Dani sure knows how to put him in his place and does so many times.  Of course he gets his back just as many times but if it were Barrons who was dealing with her I have a feeling she would already be dead.

I know there was a lot of talk worrying about Dani only being 14 in this novel and seeing as how Moning does not shy away from sexual themes people were worried about it being pervy or weird with her being so young.  She has already publicly said many times that Dani does not have sex in this book so I am giving nothing away from saying it again here.  There are sexual scenes in ICED but none that include Dani.  It is obvious that Ryodan is fascinated by Dani, we knew that from the earlier books.  But I am still not convinced his feelings for her are of a sexual nature.  There are moments when I think yes I can see the attraction and it could be sexual in the future but then I wonder if it is just more of an admiration for her and him wanting to keep her safe.  All I know that whatever 'it' is, it makes for some great reading.

Dani also has two other admirers.  We finally get to know Dancer and of course Christian is in the mix.  Again if you have read the earlier books then you know what has happened to Christian and you know what he is turning into to, an Unseelie Prince.  This is not a good thing.  The transformation is taking place throughout ICED and it is torture to watch it unfold.  Christian is so sweet and kind hearted and he is turning into a monster.  I also like Dancer, he is super smart and takes good care of Dani.  It is quite obvious that he has feelings for her and would do anything to keep her safe.

Once again Moning has blown me away with the world she has created.  She really is one of the best writers that I have ever had the pleasure of reading.  Her way with words draw you into the world with her characters.  I find her books so hard to put down and this is the the main reason why I took the day off work on the day ICED was released.  I knew I wanted to just sit at home and read it as I would not have been able to concentrate at work knowing it was just there waiting for me to delve into.

We all know how KMM's novels end and ICED was no exception.  What an ending!!  UGH!! How can it end there when currently the expected publication for Burned just says 2013.  We can all hope and pray that it will be earlier in the year but sadly I am sure it will be toward the end.  *sigh*  Let the countdown begin!

“I figure the folks that are the most interesting get to go to heaven. I mean, if I was God, that’s who I’d want there with me ... I’d rather be a superhero in hell than an angel in heaven. What the feck would I do all day if I wasn’t kicking demon ass?”

“There are only two things to worry about in life: either you’re free or you’re not.  If you’re free, there’s nothing to worry about.  If you’re not, you kick the shit out of everything around you until you are.”  

“You’ll never be just anything. A tsunami can never be ‘just’ a wave.”

“Get off my chin.”

“I like that about you. Waves are banal. Tsunamis reshape the Earth. Under the right circumstances, even entire civilizations.”

I blink.

“You’re going to be one hell of a woman one day, Dani.”

MORE QUOTES FROM ICED