Review – Midnight Frost (Mythos Academy #5) by Jennifer Estep

Midnight Frost cover image
Publisher: Kensington
Publish Date: Out now
How I got this book: ARC from the publisher via Netgalley

Here we go again …

Just when it seems life at Mythos Academy can’t get any more dangerous, the Reapers of Chaos manage to prove me wrong. It was just a typical night at the Library of Antiquities — until a Reaper tried to poison me. The good news is I’m still alive and kicking. The bad news is the Reaper poisoned someone else instead.

As Nike’s Champion, everyone expects me to lead the charge against the Reapers, even though I’m still hurting over what happened with Spartan warrior Logan Quinn. I’ve got to get my hands on the antidote fast — otherwise, an innocent person will die. But the only known cure is hidden in some creepy ruins — and the Reapers are sure to be waiting for me there …
This blurb came from Goodreads.

I have been a fan of Estep’s Mythos Academy stories since I found them back in early 2012. Several have been reviewed here on the blog, most recently her e-novella focusing on Logan, Spartan Frost. Given the traumatic events of the 4th installment, Crimson Frost, and what Logan saw during his self-imposed exile I was super excited to read Midnight Frost. Unfortunately a few aspects did give me the “here we go again,” feeling as they were a bit predictable, but Estep also included several twists I was not expecting that greatly enhanced the tension and moved things forward.

Gwen wass still not fitting into Mythos Academy. Granted she wass no longer called a Reaper by her fellow classmates but they switched to whispering and taking pictures ever since word got out about her status as Nike’s Champion and therefore the target of Reaper attacks. The support structure that she painfully built contains a gaping hole from Logan’s absence that was taking its toll on her emotional stability. She also had to deal with the attention of the Protectors who are there to guard both her and the other inhabitants of the school. But a few positive things have remained consistent; Grandma Frost’s love, Daphne’s friendship, the Fenrir puppy, Nickamedes’ snide remarks, and Vic. After an innocent person falls victim to the Reapers, Gwen decided regardless of the threat to her personal safety, she was going to do what she could to save the person.

After the initial Reaper attack, it appeared as if things were going to slow down until Gwen and her group reached the ruins and started searching for the antidote but my guess was sadly mistaken. Estep continued to build on the initial confrontation by adding some unexpected Reaper attacks and some emotional blows for Gwen. Despite the pain she suffered, I enjoyed watching Gwen see that she wasn’t the only “misfit” and that maybe her life wasn’t as bad as it seemed. To me that was an important lesson Gwen needed to learn in order to continue to grow as a character.

Without being too spoilery I will say that Estep included some things that I think readers who have a romantic streak will enjoy **wink** along with Vic’s trademark way of providing some tension release with his running commentary. He really made me start laughing in this particular scene.

The sword gave a loud, jaw-cracking yawn and opened his eye. Then, he started blinking rapidly and moving his mouth up and down and wiggling his jaw from side to side. “What are you doing?” I asked.

“What do you think I’m doing? I’m trying to pop my bloody ear,” Vic said. “The change in altitude is killing me, I tell you. Killing me!”

I wanted to point out that the sword was the one who killed things, not the other way around, but I kept quiet. Finally, a minute later, something squeaked deep inside the metal, and Vic’s face relaxed.

“There,” he said. “All better. Now, time to take care of the jet lag. Wake me when there are Reapers to kill.”

His purplish eye snapped shut. I thought about shaking him awake, so he’d be as cranky and sleep-deprived as I was, but I decided against it. I didn’t want to listen to him complain all the way to…wherever it was we were going next.

The more I see Vic the more I wonder about his particular past and how he got his personality.

Despite the mild predictability in a few sections, I think Gwen grew a lot in this particular installment. While she still had a few “why me” moments she stepped up a lot and started to take charge of herself and her circumstances. I loved seeing her actually fight and not just react while attempting to stay alive until someone else could rescue her. She also spoke up to other people instead of hiding in her room or slinking away to sulk. It was almost like her experiences over the past book had put her through the crucible and what emerged showed definite signs of why Gwen was chosen as Nike’s Champion. With Midnight Frost Estep has penned another entertaining read. I almost feel as if this installment is a pivotal transition story but I will have to wait for the next one to find out. And BTW I think I find the “stone” statues just as unnerving as Gwen does and I can’t wait to see what their secret is.

I give Midnight Frost a B/B-

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