The Flame in the Frost (Northern Kingdoms #1) — Olivia Boothe

Author: Olivia Boothe

Genre: Fantasy Romance; Epic Fantasy; Political Fantasy; Shapeshifters; Retelling

Pages: 582

Format: eBook (ARC)

Rating: ★★★★☆✦ (4.75/5)

Where to Find

Whether you prefer reading digitally, adding a beautiful hardcover to your shelves, or purchasing directly from the author, here are all the available options.

📱 Kindle: https://amzn.to/4cbPyjK

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📚 Hardcover: https://amzn.to/3RLWtsZ

🛒 Buscalibre: https://bit.ly/3S6VnZ1

✨ Purchase Directly from the Author: https://www.oliviaboothe.com/

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Quick Stats

Category	Rating
⭐ Overall	★★★★☆✦
✍️ Writing Style	★★★★★
👥 Characters	★★★★★
🌍 Worldbuilding	★★★★★
💜 Emotional Impact	★★★★★
⏳ Pacing	★★★★☆
💕 Romance	★★★★★
🌶️ Spice	★★★☆☆
✨ Originality	★★★★☆
🔄 Would I reread?	Absolutely.

Plot Summary (No Spoilers)

I don't know if I finished this book...

...or if this book finished me.

The Flame in the Frost follows Sylvi, a determined young woman whose dream is to become Captain of the Royal Guard, just like her father. But when long-buried secrets about her identity begin to surface, everything she thought she knew about herself—and her future—starts to unravel.

Alongside Jack, her childhood friend and the prince of the Northern Kingdoms, she finds herself caught between duty, prophecy, forbidden magic, and a love that was never meant to exist.

With political intrigue, ancient legends, shapeshifters, and a romance built on years of friendship, Olivia Boothe delivers an epic fantasy that perfectly balances emotional depth with immersive worldbuilding.

Writing Style

One of the first things that stood out to me was Olivia Boothe's writing.

It's descriptive without becoming overwhelming, allowing the world to feel vivid while keeping the story moving naturally. Every kingdom feels distinct, every court has its own personality, and the mythology unfolds at a pace that never feels like an information dump.

One detail I especially appreciated was the glossary at the end of the book.

Fantasy worlds with extensive lore can sometimes feel intimidating, but having a glossary available made it incredibly easy to immerse myself without constantly wondering whether I had forgotten an important term.

It never interrupted the reading experience—instead, it enhanced it.

The dialogue also deserves a special mention.

Every interaction between the characters feels authentic, especially between Jack and Sylvi. Their conversations carry years of friendship beneath the surface, making even the smallest exchanges meaningful long before either of them admits what they're really feeling.

Pacing

This is very much a slow-burn fantasy.

And I don't just mean the romance.

The story itself takes its time introducing the kingdoms, politics, mythology, and characters before diving fully into the larger conflict.

Personally, I enjoyed that approach.

It gave me time to become attached to the characters and understand the world before everything started changing.

That being said, the middle portion occasionally felt a little slower than I usually prefer. There were moments where I wished certain plot points had moved forward just a bit faster.

Still, I never felt bored.

Every chapter added another layer to the world, another piece of political intrigue, or another moment between Jack and Sylvi that made me even more emotionally invested.

And once the final stretch begins...

Good luck putting the book down.

Characters

This is where the novel truly shines.

Every major character feels like they belong in this world, with clear motivations, personal struggles, and relationships that evolve naturally throughout the story.

Sylvi

Sylvi quickly became one of my favorite fantasy heroines.

She's capable, determined, and fiercely independent without ever feeling invincible.

What I loved most was watching her journey unfold after discovering that her life wasn't what she believed it to be.

Her identity crisis never overshadows who she is at her core.

Even as everything around her changes, she remains the same courageous person determined to protect the people she loves.

That consistency made her incredibly easy to root for.

Jack

And then...

There's Jack.

I genuinely wasn't expecting him to steal my heart the way he did.

Watching him constantly choose between his responsibilities as prince and the woman he loves was heartbreaking.

He's loyal.

Protective.

Patient.

Selfless, almost to a fault.

Every sacrifice he makes feels believable because they all stem from the same place: love.

By the end of the novel, I wasn't just invested in his relationship with Sylvi.

I was invested in him.

I wanted him to be happy.

And Olivia Boothe made sure that wasn't easy.

Worldbuilding

If there's one thing that completely won me over, it was the worldbuilding.

The Northern Kingdoms feel alive.

Each kingdom has its own identity, traditions, politics, and history. Nothing feels generic or thrown together just to move the story forward. Every location has a purpose, and every court brings something unique to the narrative.

One of my favorite details was how naturally the lore is introduced.

Rather than overwhelming the reader with pages of exposition, Olivia Boothe lets you discover the world alongside the characters. Every new piece of history, every legend, and every political conflict adds another layer to the story.

The glossary at the end deserves another mention because it's genuinely one of the best additions I've seen in a fantasy novel. Instead of interrupting the reading experience, it makes returning to certain terms incredibly easy without breaking your immersion.

It's the kind of world that makes you want to keep exploring long after you've finished the last page.

Emotional Impact

This book completely destroyed me.

In the best possible way.

At first, I thought I was simply getting another fantasy romance with beautiful worldbuilding and a slow-burn relationship.

Then I realized I had become emotionally attached to Jack and Sylvi.

Every chapter made me root for them a little more.

Every sacrifice hurt.

Every interrupted kiss made me want to scream.

Every stolen moment felt earned.

And because the romance develops so slowly, every bit of progress feels incredibly rewarding.

By the time they finally stop fighting what they feel...

I was already far too emotionally invested.

Then Olivia shattered my heart with that ending.

I genuinely closed the book and just stared at the ceiling for a while.

Themes

• Duty versus love

• Friendship to lovers

• Forbidden romance

• Identity

• Self-discovery

• Sacrifice

• Political conflict

• Family expectations

• Fate versus choice

• Hope

What I Loved

✔ Jack completely stole my heart.

✔ Sylvi is one of my favorite fantasy heroines.

✔ Beautiful, immersive worldbuilding.

✔ Every kingdom feels unique and alive.

✔ The glossary is incredibly helpful.

✔ One of the best slow burns I've read in a long time.

✔ The yearning is absolutely incredible.

✔ Political intrigue without becoming confusing.

✔ Childhood friends done perfectly.

✔ That ending... even if it emotionally destroyed me.

What Didn't Quite Work for Me

Honestly...

Very little.

The only reason this wasn't a full five-star read for me comes down to the pacing through parts of the middle of the novel.

I loved the slow burn.

I loved spending time with the characters.

But there were a few moments where I wished the plot had moved forward just a little faster.

That said...

Once everything starts coming together, the emotional payoff makes those slower moments completely worth it.

It's one of those books where, looking back, I wouldn't actually want to remove anything.

You'll Love This Book If...

• You enjoy fantasy romance with rich worldbuilding.

• You love childhood friends-to-lovers stories.

• You're a sucker for forbidden romance.

• You enjoy political fantasy without it becoming overwhelming.

• You love shapeshifters and magical lore.

• You love slow burns where every intimate moment feels completely earned.

• You believe yearning is sometimes even better than kissing.

• You enjoy books that leave you desperate for the sequel.

Content Warnings

• Violence

• Death

• Blood

• War

• Political conflict

• Kidnapping

• Emotional manipulation

• Themes of destiny and loss of free will

SPOILER SECTION

⚠️ Stop reading here if you haven't finished the book.

Seriously.

This is your last warning.

...

...

...

I'm not joking.

...

...

...

Okay.

Let's talk about that ending.

Because I am STILL not over it.

I spent almost the entire book waiting for Jack and Sylvi to stop pretending they didn't love each other.

Every almost-kiss.

Every interrupted moment.

Every lingering glance.

Every stolen touch.

I loved every single second of it.

The slow burn was agonizing...

But in the best possible way.

And then, finally...

They stop running.

They accept what they've been feeling all along.

The mating bond.

The kiss.

The relief.

The smutty part... 👀

After 500+ pages of yearning... WE EARNED THAT.

I was finally celebrating because Jack and Sylvi had stopped running from what they felt.

I genuinely remember thinking,

"Finally... they get to be happy."

...

Olivia chose violence.

Because literally moments later...

Another man appears.

Not just any man.

The Alpha of the shapeshifters.

And basically announces,

"According to the prophecy... she's my mate."

Excuse me??

I had to reread that scene because I refused to believe what I was reading.

After EVERYTHING Jack and Sylvi had been through...

After every sacrifice.

After all that waiting.

Sylvi is taken away.

And then Jack...

Oh, Jack.

That final decision absolutely broke me.

He knows exactly what forbidden magic will do to him.

He knows those voices will slowly strip away his humanity.

He knows he may never come back the same person.

And he still chooses it.

Not for power.

Not for revenge.

Not for glory.

For her.

That's the moment Jack became one of my favorite fantasy love interests.

Not because he's perfect.

But because every decision he makes comes from love.

Even when it costs him everything.

And honestly...

That final chapter left me staring at the wall for several minutes.

I immediately wanted Book Two.

Not next month.

Not next year.

Immediately.

Final Thoughts

I don't know if I finished this book...

...or if this book finished me.

When I started The Flame in the Frost, I expected a fantasy romance inspired by Jack Frost.

What I found was so much more.

A beautifully crafted world.

Political intrigue that never became overwhelming.

Characters I genuinely cared about.

A romance that made me scream every time they were interrupted.

And one of the best examples of yearning I've ever read.

Was it a perfect book?

Not quite.

The pacing slowed down a little through parts of the middle, and that's the only reason it didn't become a full five-star read for me.

But honestly?

It came so incredibly close.

Because by the end, I wasn't thinking about the pacing anymore.

I was thinking about Jack.

About Sylvi.

About everything they sacrificed just to have a chance at being together.

And that final chapter...

Yeah.

I'm still recovering.

If you're looking for a fantasy romance with political intrigue, unforgettable characters, incredible worldbuilding, and a slow burn that will have you screaming at your book...

You need to read this one.

Just be prepared to immediately need Book Two afterward.

Final Rating: 4.75/5

"Now, if you'll excuse me... I'll be impatiently waiting for Book Two"