Faeries and Frost

After enjoying Carly Spade’s other books set in Arcane Cove, I was excited to see what she would do with Jack Frost, and I have to say, I really enjoyed her interpretation of him! Forget the mischievous winter spirit we’re all familiar with. Carly gives us a powerful Winter King with a dangerous side, centuries of responsibility, and apparently very little experience when it comes to winning a woman’s heart. Add one fiercely independent winter faerie who isn’t particularly impressed by his royal authority, and you’ve got the makings of a wonderfully entertaining romance.

Jack, also known as King Jakzair, has spent centuries searching for his destined mate. When he finally discovers Sylvie living in Arcane Cove, he’s understandably eager to claim the future he’s been waiting so long for. Unfortunately, Sylvie has spent years building a life of her own, and she’s not about to abandon everything simply because some powerful Winter King announces they’re meant to be together. I appreciated that their fated-mate connection didn’t automatically mean Sylvie had to accept Jack’s expectations or surrender her independence.

Sylvie was one of my favorite parts of this story. She’s stubborn, capable, outspoken, and determined to make her own decisions. But beneath that confidence is someone who’s spent years hiding an important part of herself because of her past. Her reluctance to reveal her faerie nature, her fears about being accepted, and her gradual willingness to embrace her wings and magic gave her character an emotional depth I really enjoyed. I especially liked that finding her mate didn’t suddenly erase those insecurities. Her personal growth involved learning to accept herself, not simply finding a man who accepted her.

And then there’s Jack. He’s powerful, protective, occasionally arrogant, and accustomed to having his orders followed. He’s also surprisingly awkward when it comes to romance, which made him considerably more entertaining than I expected. For someone who’s spent centuries searching for his soulmate, you’d think he’d have put a little more thought into what to do once he actually found her! Watching him struggle to understand Sylvie, impress her, and occasionally make a complete fool of himself was hilarious.

What I particularly liked about Jack was that Carly didn’t strip away his darker nature simply because he was falling in love. He’s still a powerful supernatural ruler with dangerous instincts and responsibilities that extend well beyond his romantic relationship. I enjoy morally complicated characters, and I appreciated that Jack could be protective and tender toward Sylvie without becoming completely harmless.

Their contrasting personalities created some wonderful banter. Sylvie wasn’t afraid to challenge him, and Jack wasn’t accustomed to being challenged quite so often. I enjoyed their teasing, their disagreements, and the moments when Jack’s carefully maintained confidence seemed to disappear entirely around her. Their physical chemistry was also undeniable, and Carly certainly didn’t disappoint when it came to the spice!

However, while I enjoyed their romance, I did feel that some aspects of their emotional relationship could have developed more gradually. The fated-mate bond explains their immediate attraction and the powerful connection between them, but I would have liked more opportunities to watch them build trust and intimacy through shared experiences. There were moments when their relationship progressed before I felt we’d spent enough time exploring the emotions behind those changes.

That’s an important distinction for me because I don’t have a problem with characters experiencing an immediate supernatural connection. It’s part of what makes fated-mate romances so appealing! But knowing two people are destined for each other isn’t quite the same as watching them learn how to love one another. Jack and Sylvie had the personalities and emotional histories to make that journey especially meaningful, and I wanted a little more time experiencing it with them.

I did appreciate that neither character had to become someone completely different to make their relationship work. Sylvie remained independent and determined to have a say in her future, while Jack gradually learned that being her mate didn’t give him the right to make every decision for her. That willingness to adapt, particularly on Jack’s part, gave their relationship more substance than their physical attraction alone.

The humor was another highlight. I loved the interactions around Sylvie’s bakery, particularly when Tambie and the other residents of Arcane Cove got involved. There’s something entertaining about a town filled with supernatural creatures who still behave like nosy neighbors, meddling friends, and occasionally complete troublemakers. Those moments helped make Arcane Cove feel like an actual community rather than simply a backdrop for the romance.

And of course, we can’t forget Nanok and Fintan! Jack’s polar bear companion and Sylvie’s stag were wonderful additions. I enjoyed their personalities, their interactions with the main characters, and the extra bit of magic they brought to the story. I’m always happy when supernatural animal companions have enough personality to become memorable characters in their own right.

The winter setting was also beautiful. Between the snow-covered landscapes, winter-solstice portals, magical creatures, and Jack’s kingdom, Carly created an atmosphere that felt wonderfully suited to the story. I especially enjoyed the contrast between the familiar supernatural community of Arcane Cove and the mysterious world Jack ruled.

Unfortunately, this is also where one of my biggest criticisms comes in. I wanted considerably more worldbuilding. Jack’s kingdom was one of the most interesting aspects of the story, yet I felt we barely scratched the surface of what it could offer. I wanted to learn more about its inhabitants, customs, magical rules, and the responsibilities Jack carried as its ruler. His position as Winter King should have added another layer of complexity to both his character and his relationship with Sylvie, but I don’t think those possibilities were explored as thoroughly as they could have been.

I was also interested in the different magical abilities, particularly Sylvie’s developing connection to her own powers. Considering how much of her life she’d spent hiding her true nature, I would have enjoyed seeing more of her learning process. Discovering an ability is exciting, but watching a character struggle with it, make mistakes, and gradually become more confident can be just as rewarding. Those experiences would have added even more depth to Sylvie’s personal journey.

The pacing was another issue for me. The beginning established the characters and their connection well, and I enjoyed the time spent getting to know them. But as the story progressed, I felt the balance between the romance and the larger supernatural storyline became uneven. Certain relationship developments moved quickly, while important fantasy elements received relatively little attention before the story moved on.

The conflict involving the Snow Queen was probably the clearest example. I liked the idea behind her character and the danger she represented, but I wanted more time understanding her motivations and seeing the threat develop. A compelling antagonist doesn’t necessarily need to be sympathetic or redeemable, but I do want to understand what drives them and why their actions matter. In this case, I felt the conflict had the potential to become something much more substantial.

I also wanted the consequences of that conflict to carry more weight. The confrontation had interesting moments, but without stronger buildup, the resolution didn’t deliver quite the emotional payoff I was hoping for. I never felt the danger had been developed enough to create the level of tension the situation deserved. More time establishing the Snow Queen’s influence, her motivations, and what Jack and Sylvie stood to lose would have made the final conflict much more satisfying.

There were also a few moments when circumstances seemed to work out a little too conveniently. I don’t need every character to suffer endlessly or every problem to become unnecessarily complicated, but I do appreciate when important developments feel earned. A little more resistance, uncertainty, or lasting consequence would have strengthened the storyline without taking away from its romantic or entertaining qualities.

I think part of the problem is that Carly has created a world with enough mythology, magical history, and interesting characters to support a much longer novel. There’s so much potential in the Winter Kingdom alone, and I would have happily spent another hundred pages exploring it. The shorter length keeps the story moving, but I felt it occasionally came at the expense of the details that could have made the fantasy elements more immersive and the emotional developments more impactful.

Even with those criticisms, I genuinely enjoyed spending time with Jack and Sylvie. Their personalities complemented each other, the humor made me laugh, and I appreciated the underlying message about accepting yourself while learning to let someone else into your life. Sylvie’s journey was especially meaningful, and Jack’s gradual understanding that love requires more than simply finding your destined mate gave his character some welcome growth.

I also enjoyed returning to Arcane Cove and seeing familiar characters from Witches and Wine. Those connections are one of the things I appreciate about an interconnected series. Each couple gets their own story, but the recurring residents make the town feel like a place where everyone continues living their lives beyond the pages of their individual books.

WOULD I RECOMMEND FAERIES AND FROST?

Absolutely! If you enjoy paranormal romance with fated mates, fiercely independent heroines, protective and possessive supernatural love interests, winter magic, magical creatures, entertaining banter, and plenty of spice, I think you’ll have a wonderful time with this one.

I’d especially recommend it to readers who enjoy familiar mythical characters being reimagined in unexpected ways. Carly’s interpretation of Jack Frost was one of the biggest highlights for me, and the charming supernatural community of Arcane Cove added plenty of personality to the story.

Readers who prefer extensive fantasy worldbuilding, complex antagonists, and slower emotional development may find themselves wanting a little more depth, particularly when it comes to the Winter Kingdom and the supernatural conflict.

MY FINAL VERDICT:

Faeries and Frost gave me a wonderfully entertaining interpretation of Jack Frost, a fiercely independent heroine I genuinely liked, plenty of humor, some lovely emotional moments, and two magical companions who added even more charm to the story. Sylvie’s journey toward accepting herself was one of its strongest elements, and I enjoyed watching Jack discover that finding his mate was only the beginning of learning how to love her.

What would have made this a five-star read for me? More time exploring the Winter Kingdom and its magical lore, a more gradual development of Jack and Sylvie’s emotional connection, and stronger buildup surrounding the Snow Queen. I also wanted the supernatural conflict to carry greater consequences and deliver a more satisfying resolution.

The uneven pacing, limited development of certain fantasy elements, and somewhat convenient resolution of the larger conflict were noticeable weaknesses, but I want to be clear that none of those issues ruined the story or took away from how much I enjoyed reading it. I loved Jack and Sylvie, their chemistry, the humor, and the magical world Carly created. My criticisms come from wanting more of a story I was already enjoying, not from a lack of enjoyment. There were simply aspects I felt could have been developed further to make an entertaining story even more satisfying.

And Carly, if you ever decide to revisit Faeries and Frost and expand on some of these elements, I’d happily read it again! There’s so much potential within the Winter Kingdom, Jack and Sylvie’s relationship, and the supernatural conflict that I’d love to see explored further. I’d also be more than willing to reassess my rating if a revised or expanded edition addressed some of the areas I felt needed more development.

That’s why Faeries and Frost earns a solid four stars from me. It gave me memorable characters, a romance I genuinely enjoyed, plenty of laughs, and another wonderful visit to Arcane Cove. The areas I felt needed more attention kept it from earning that fifth star, but they certainly didn’t stop me from loving the experience or wanting to read more of Carly’s books.

Final Book Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) | Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (4/5)

NOTE: This review reflects the purchased Kindle eBook edition I read as of September 17, 2026, and may not reflect any revisions, corrections, or updates made thereafter