ICED by Karen Marie Moning Book Review

Title: Iced 
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Series: Dani O’Malley #1 or Fever #6
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pub Date: October 30, 2012
Genre: Urban Fantasy, New Adult, Mature YA
Pages: 495
My Copy: Hardcover that I purchased

Book Synopsis:

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.

Book Review:

Dani O’ Malley is one character that you can’t forget no matter how hard you try. I really was nervous that I wouldn’t like Dani as the narrator, but Karen Marie Moning makes you like the main character. I mean Dani is very front and center and you get to see that this teenager still has a lot of growing up to do. I also love the smart ass remarks that came out of her mouth in this book.

There was a lot of things about this book that were interesting. It was interesting to see Dani’s view in the Fever universe. Also like the interactions that she has with those that she is close to. I especially found that Dani learns that she has to let go of some of her pre-conceived notions about love and sex. This book does have a lot of sexual innuendo, given that Dani is 14 years old and thought that this was a bit much given Christian and Ryodan’s interest in her.

Ryodan and Christian were so great as foils for one and each has a different reason for wanting Dani in a way that one could see as being very wrong, but this is the world of Fever, so I’m sure that there will be a reason for this later on in the books. Also love that Ryodan is the first person that doesn’t take Dani’s teenage angst. Ryodan and Dani have a very interesting relationship as it parallels the relationship between Mac and Barrons. Although Ryodan seems to have a little bit more of a caring attitude towards Dani…

Yet Christian was such an awesome character as well. I really like to see that he is also struggling with becoming something much more than human. His friendship with Dani becomes interesting as it conflicts with Ryodan’s plans for Dani. Dani also can be somewhat of a loose cannon and doesn’t care for rules or doesn’t listen all the time to adults and this leads to problems.

There was a mystery in this book and I thought it was so interesting. Dani also has friends Jo and Dancer. Dancer was such a great character as he is Dani’s age and I think you need someone your own age that you can bounce or vent stuff. Plus he has his own ideas and helps Dani with things and literally saves her life at one point in the book.  The mystery is interesting because no one really gets it. It frustrates her. Yet Dancer helps Dani figure it out, because certain things in the mortal world attract creatures from Faery.

Plus the development of other storylines was interesting. I’m curious to see where the Kat/Sean/Cruce aka Vlane storyline goes. It was a side plot that I didn’t really like, but it will probably play a major part in the later books. Kat is going to have her hands full with her romantic life and being head of the sidhe-seers. It will be interesting to see where things go for Kat. Will she resist or give in to Vlane’s seduction.

The other parts of this book were good. I mean there was plenty of action. I mean there was sex, but it was mostly with the older characters and Dani doesn’t really understand things, but I think as she gets older Dani might have more compassion. The mystery was compelling.  The creatures that come out of Faery are scary and do things that are hideous. Dani has abilities that come in handy.

Yet I think Dani realizes that she likes having freedom and doing things that she wants, even if it endangers others. I mean this is one place that I would like Dani to evolve. I think she needs to learn how to have concern for others and not be so carefree. At the ending we get to see some of this. I think this makes me think Dani might grow as a human being.

Also the cliffhanger of this book had me wanting more. I mean no one does a cliffhanger like Karen Marie Moning. This makes me wonder if  there will be a cliffhanger in the next book in this series. Yet I think that the appearance of that character is important to the next book. Although knowing the history between these two women is tense and might erupt into something explosive.

I really didn’t like Jayne as he was being a complete douche bag to Dani and didn’t see that this was a kid that wasn’t well. She is trying to help him with her sword of light and kill Fae. Yet he leaves her on the streets of Dublin like a piece of garbage. Jayne really pissed me off in this book a lot.

A solid book. I definitely want to read the next book in the series. Good characters. Looking forward to see where the author takes us next.

Rating: