This book has been put aside by yours truly for a while now, and for once, I am grateful for the sheer boredom that propelled me to finally give this book a go. 
 Firstly - awesome cover! Love the mystery that the cover captures. How could anyone resist it? (My bad) 
 I can't say that this book has a out-of-this-world plot, or that the romance (oh yes, of course there's romance in here) is superb. But what I love about this book lies within the delivery of the story itself. I must say, Ellison is one talented story-teller. She has a way with words that draws you in and makes you pay attention (I wish all my teachers were like that). 
 Set in the land of Frost where perpetual winter (at least, through out the story) controls the land, the story focuses on Lia, and how she gets through her pathetic life with only strength as her lamp and even hearth. There is something eerie about a tale set in the harsh, bitter cold, how survival in such circumstances is almost impossible that it makes survival lonely and bitter itself. No spoilers here, but Lia's situation makes her potentially overwrought, delirious and what you may call paranoid, but I really would give her a pass, had I been in her shoes. She's bold, fearless, and is fiercely protective of her friends and family (not to mention pretty, too, if that's her on the cover Weeeeeee.............). And I think Gabe is just the right guy for her, think both are very lucky to have each other (view spoiler)[and very, very unlucky to have lost each other as well (hide spoiler)]. 
 On the whole, I loved this book. What pissed me off really much, though was the ending. I just put the second book, Thorns, on my to-read list. Oh, July, why can't you come any sooner?!!!