Heart of Ice by K.M. Shea

Synopsis:

Rakel, a princess by birth, has spent most of her life exiled on a barren mountain, despised because of her powerful snow magic. Though she longs to be accepted, she hides in her ice-castle and lives with the fear that her brother—the King—will one day order her execution.

Her empty life changes forever when an army of magic users—led by the enigmatic Colonel Farrin Graydim—invade her home country and plan to enslave its citizens. Swallowing her fear, Rakel joins forces with her jailers and uses her magic to save the people who scorned her.

If Rakel cannot defend her homeland, the country will be lost.

My Review: 4 Stars

When Rakel was just a toddler, her family discovered that she was a snow magic user. Scared and not sure what to do with the unknown, they lock her away in a tower. As she got older, they decided to exile her to a barren mountain. She's all alone expect for her attendant, Oskar, and rotating guards that change every 3-5 years. It's been over a decade and everyone is still afraid of her. It doesn't matter that she hasn't done anything to them, they still try to kill her. But all she wants is to be left in peace. 

When Oskar informs her that her kingdom is in trouble, she has a choice to make. Does she stay on her mountain and let the kingdom suffer for the way they have treated her? Or does she step up and protect them from the magic users who are trying to take over her kingdom? Her head is telling her to let them deal with it on their own. But her heart is telling her that she must help them no matter what they have done to her in the past. 

But the battle will not be easy. She will need to learn to trust others around her as well as trusting in herself and in her magic. It's definitely easier said than done. But with the help and love of her closest advisors and new friends, she starts to realize that she does have what it takes to protect what is hers. And protect it she will. 

While the majority of the books I read are clean romances with HEA, I was pleasantly surprised with Heart of Ice. The romance element really isn't there. But I found that I was okay with it. I was sucked in from the beginning and definitely enjoyed this break from reality. I was bummed that it ended in a cliffhanger though. I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series to see how everything ends. 

This is my first book by K.M. Shea and I really enjoyed it. I look forward to reading more books by her!