hoarfrostSomething different about this book is immediate from the first page — scenes from Griffin’s point of view! This made me nervous at first, but Hawk obviously has a great handle on his character. Switching between two first-person POVs is never difficult, because Griffin’s voice is so distinctive from Whyborne’s.

The need for scenes to be from Griffin’s perspective is not just a change of pace on the writer’s part. His viewpoint is necessary for the plot and conflicts to have the full impact on the reader.

And what an impact it is! Every time I think Hawk has reached the depths of horror they will reach in this series, they dig a little bit deeper by raising the stakes in this magical world. As things get creepier, they get more dramatic and over-arching. The Lovecraftian influence continues in the best possible way.

This book had interesting plot twists and fascinating monsters of both the otherworldly and human variety. Reading this book on a snowy day made it all the more intense. I can’t wait for more.

Rating: 5 (out of 5) stars. Cross-posted to Amazon and Goodreads.