Frost Moon

By Anthony Francis

In an alternate Atlanta where magic is practiced openly, where witches sip coffee at local cafes, shapeshifters party at urban clubs, vampires rule the southern night like gangsters, and mysterious creatures command dark caverns beneath the city, Dakota Frost's talents are coveted by all. She's the best magical tattooist in the southeast, a Skindancer, able to bring her amazing tats to life.

When a serial killer begins stalking Atlanta's tattooed elite, the police and the Feds seek Dakota's help. Can she find the killer on the dark fringe of the city's Edgeworld? Among its powerful outcasts and tortured loners, what kind of enemies and allies will she attract? Will they see her as an invader, as a seducer, as an unexpected champion . . . or as delicious prey?

• Language: English
• Publisher: BelleBooks
• Release date: Mar 1, 2010
• ISBN: 9781935661078

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Copyright

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), events or locations is entirely coincidental.

Bell Bridge Books

PO BOX 300921

Memphis, TN 38130

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-935661-07-8

Print ISBN: 978-0-9843256-8-9

Bell Bridge Books is an Imprint of BelleBooks, Inc.

Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Francis

Blood Rock (excerpt) copyright © 2011 by Anthony Francis

Printed and bound in the United States of America.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.

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Cover design: Debra Dixon

Interior design: Hank Smith

Photo/Art credits:

Woman © Stanislav Perov | Dreamstime.com

Landscape © Michel Mota Da Cruz | Dreamstime.com

Dragon © Jaguarwoman Designs

:Emfc:01:

Dedication

To Isaac, who inspired me to write

To Richard, who taught me to think

To Sandi, who reminds me to dream

1. Dakota Frost

I FIRST STARTED wearing a Mohawk to repel low-lifes—barflies, vampires, Republicans, and so on—but when I found my true profession my hairstyle turned into an ad. People’s eyes are drawn by it—no longer a true Mohawk, but a big, unruly deathhawk—a stripe of feathered black, purple and white streaks climbing down the center of my head—but their gazes linger on the tattoos, which start as tribal vines in the shaved spaces on either side of the ’hawk, and then cascade down my throat to my shoulders, flowering into roses and jewels and butterflies.

Their colors are so vivid, their details so sharp many people mistake them for body paint, or assume that they can’t have been done in the States. Yes, they’re real; no, they’re not Japanese—they’re all, with a few exceptions, done by my own hand, right here in Atlanta at the Rogue Unicorn in Little Five Points. Drop by—I’ll ink you. Ask for Dakota Frost.

To attract the more . . . perceptive . . . eye, I started wearing a sleeveless, ankle-length leather coat-vest that shows off the intricate designs on my arms, and a cutoff top and low-rider jeans that show off a tribal yin-yang symbol on my midriff. Tying it all together is the black tail of something big, curling up the left side of my neck, looping around the yin-yang, and arcing through the leaves on my right shoulder. Most people think it’s the tail of a dragon, and they wouldn’t be wrong; in case anyone misses the point, I even have the design sewn into the back of a few of my vests.

Those who live on the edge might notice a little more detail: magical runes woven into the tribal designs, working charms woven into the flowers, and, if you look real close at the tail of the dragon, the slow movement of a symbolic familiar. Yes, it did move; and yes, that’s real magic. Drop by the Rogue Unicorn—you’re still asking for the one-and-only Dakota Frost, the best magical tattooist in the Southeast.

The downside to being a walking ad, of course, is that some of the folks you want to attract start to see you as a scary low-life. We all know that vampires can turn out to be quite decent folk, but so can clean-cut young Republicans looking for their first tattoo to impress their tree-hugger girlfriends. As for barflies, well, they’re still barflies; but unfortunately I find the more tats I show the greater the chance that the cops will throw me into the back of the van, too, if a bar fight breaks out.

So I couldn’t help being nervous as two officers marched me into City Hall East.

City Hall East is in the old Sears building on Ponce de Leon, a great brick fortress squeezed between the empty parking lot that used to serve the Masquerade dance club and the full one that serves the Borders bookstore. Once it buzzed with activity, but now, in 2006, it’s like a tomb, soon to be demolished and turned into yet another mixed-use development as part of the new Belt Line project. Even the snack shop has closed. This is the last year of the grand old building’s spooky incarnation as a kind of lonely government outpost. All that’s left here are a few Atlanta Police Department offices, more offices for the Feds, and some for permits and land planning.

And lots of police officers, more than I expected for that time of night, most of them scowling. Lots of them, muttering: Look at her? What’s she in for? Is she a stripper? If she’s under arrest, why isn’t she cuffed? The two officers escorting me—one black, one white, both wearing identical buzz cuts—had no answers, for them, or for me. Just: The police need to see you, Miss Frost. No, you’re not under arrest, but it is urgent. Please come with us.

Our footsteps echoed hollowly as we walked through a canyon of white tile and glass walls towards the metal detectors. There had briefly been a gallery and shops on this floor, but now empty offices surrounded us like cages, only a few showing signs of life.

We paused before the metal detectors, where a fat female officer sat, right hand pumping on her mouse in what could only be Minesweeper. Anything to declare, Miss Frost? she asked.

Frost? Beyond the barrier, a sharply dressed, Kojak-bald black plainclothes officer perked up at the sound of my name: Andre Rand, my dad’s best friend. Dakota Frost?

No, I’ve nothing to declare, I said, trying to ignore him as he stalked briskly towards me. The woman waved me in, and I swept through the metal detector just in time for him to corner me. I sighed, folded my arms, and stared down at the black man. He was tall, but I was taller. Wonderful. He’d known I was coming—and probably engineered this whole thing.

Dakota, he said, voice forced cheeriness, sparkling eyes genuine. He was twice my age—I’d bounced on his knee when he and my father had been partners—but he was still a fashion plate, if you go in for the whole GQ look. Your dad will be glad to hear you’re doing well—

Hey, Rand, I said, smiling, shaking my head—half at his infectious grin and half at whatever he was planning. Let’s get this over with. Where is he, and when did he get in? You know, I do have a cell phone. He could call me. There’s no need for the goon squad—

Rand’s face fell. I—your dad’s not here, Dakota. We needed to see you.

We? I asked.

Rand’s face went stony, blank. Homicide, Dakota. Homicide needs to see you.

We got in the elevator and Rand punched the sixth floor, motioning to me to join him in the back. The officers—big men, almost my height—stepped in front of me, making me feel even more like a prisoner . . . or perhaps someone being guarded? But the guard theory evaporated when a sandy-haired older man slipped past the officers and joined us in the back of the elevator, leering at me and nodding to Rand.

Hey, you old cockroach, he said. After a moment his eyes slid to me, my tattooed arms, and my bare midriff, then forward to the officers. Forgot to pay your fees? he leered.

What the fuck? I asked.

Miss Frost isn’t here for floor five, Jack, Rand said. She’s working with me.

Well lucky you, the man said, slapping his shoulder. He caught my pissed-off, puzzled look and shrugged, with the conspiratorial leer suppressed but still trying to peek out. Floor five is where you get your stripper license.

And fuck you too, I said.

We don’t license for that, Rand said, deadpan.

I’m just saying, girl, you could do the job if you wanted.

Which one? one of the officers said, and the other one chuckled.

"Floor five is also where you get your license to do magical tattoos, I snapped, which always sounds funny until you wake up with a working asshole tattooed on your forehead."

Suddenly the cab got quiet. The two officers stiffened up, and Rand jammed his hands into his pockets and leaned against the back wall of the cab. He was trying to look pissed, but he looked so hot he came off more as a brooding GQ model.

But the sandy-haired Jack was staring at the officers, suddenly serious. Cut the boys a little slack, he warned me. Things are crazy. You don’t want to go to jail tonight, do you?

Kind of feels like it, I said.

"Nobody’s going to jail tonight, unless it’s you, Jack," Rand said.

Already been, Jack replied, not the least bit perturbed. Second time this week—

Oh, no, Rand said. Don’t tell me your boys messed up bookings—

Nope, Jack said, grinning, "one of your boys tripped a power cord. Again."

Jeezus, I said, abruptly hot under the collar. One of the only college jobs I’d enjoyed had been lab tech, and I couldn’t stand people who fucked up my computers. You should set up a webcam to find out who’s doing it.

Jack blinked at me. Then smiled and said, Not a bad idea, for a girl.

And just when I was starting to warm up to him. Blow me, you old cockroach.

The doors opened, and Jack just grinned. Not a bad idea either. Jack strolled out to the right and began beeping a door’s keypad, and we followed.

Once again our footsteps echoed hollowly down a long, narrow corridor. On the left were conference rooms and APD offices, but on the right was a long wall of tinted glass with a Fed-smelling seal engraved on it. Behind one window I saw a figure standing; as I drew closer I saw dark sunglasses and a devilish goatee. Sunglasses, at night. Come on.

We paused before another keycoded door, and I became acutely aware that the man behind the glass was checking me out, staring at me, sipping his government coffee. Finally, I looked over and saw a trim form inside a crisp black suit. He was looking straight back at me, raising his cup towards me in salute, his smile not a leer but . . . appreciation?

Jack opened the door with a beep beep beep, strolled in and disappeared into a warren of ratty old cubicles. We followed him through, and the door closed behind us. I looked back at the big, knobbly lock. I was sure you could get out without the code, but . . . it still slowly swung shut with a solid click, and I felt trapped.

In moments I was in a plain white evidence room, looking down on a salt-and-pepper haired, Greek-looking officer improbably named Vincent Balducci, seated at a large table in front of a large manila folder. There was a side door to the right, and a huge mirror dominated the rest of the wall. If you squinted you could just see the blinking light of a camera, or maybe a video recorder, and I felt the invisible presence of a dark figure somewhere behind the glass. Maybe I was imagining it, but, come on, I’ve seen this movie before.

Taller than I expected, Miss Frost, Balducci said, not moving to greet me as I sat down. My long leather vestcoat shhhed against the tile as I settled into the chair, but after that, the only noise was the hum of the air conditioning.

Rand was seated at the edge of the table, naturally, easily, like an Armani model dressed on a police officer’s salary, but losing none of the class. Finally he seemed to lose patience with Balducci and said, Show her.

This is pointless, Balducci said. She can’t tell us anything that—

Chickening out? Abruptly Rand flipped the manila folder open and turned it towards me, then stood and stared at the glass. What can you tell us about this?

Curious, I stared at the picture: it was a bad photocopy of a circular design, some kind of braided wreath with a chain and a snake eating its own tail. Big black blotches covered the upper quarter of the design, but after a moment I puzzled out what I was looking at. This is flash, I said. At Balducci’s puzzled look, I explained: A tattoo design, or a part of one.

Balducci nodded dismissively. Told you, he said to Rand.

And? Rand asked.

And . . . you need to tone the contrast down on your copier? I said. It was half blotted out . . . but then I realized it wasn’t a photocopy, but some kind of printout of an image, posterized to the point that it was almost illegible, with large-brush black blotches of a digital pen redacting some of the details. But it still had that distinctive natural look that meant it had started life as a photograph, not a drawing.

This isn’t flash, I said. It’s an actual tattoo.

"Told you," Rand said.

As my eyes studied it I became suspicious. The reproduction was terrible, but something about the wreath and chain had the flavor of a magical glyph. What if it was magical? These mundanes would have no way of knowing. But how could I tell from this printout? "Do you have a better picture? No—a different picture?"

Balducci sighed, and slipped another piece of paper out of the folder. A similar shot, similarly degraded, but . . . I put the two next to each other and planted my hands on the table, staring down upon them. After a moment I saw it: the head of a snake in the design was three links past the belt of the chain in one, and five in the next. It was moving.

This is magical, I said. This tattoo is moving. It’s a magical mark.

"Told you," Rand said triumphantly.

Holy— Balducci breathed. I looked up, and saw him not looking at the flash, but at my hands. "Hers are doing it too. I swear the fucking butterfly flapped."

"What, did you think they only moved after?" Rand asked.

What do you mean, after? I asked. No one said anything, and my stomach suddenly clenched up. "What do you mean, after? You don’t mean, like, after death—"

I can’t discuss the details of an ongoing investigation, Balducci said.

Why did we bring her here if not to discuss it? Rand said.

"It was your idea, Balducci said. She’s your old partner’s daughter—"

The side door opened.

The dark-suited Fed I had seen in the hall walked out. His crisp goatee and short wavy hair made him look more like an evil Johnny Depp than a laid-back agent Mulder. One hand was in his pocket, the other still holding the cup of coffee. In his dextrous fingers, the Styrofoam cup looked like alabaster.

Show her, he said, with unassuming authority. Or quit wasting our time.

Balducci looked up, at a loss. You’ve got ‘it,’ he said.

The Fed just looked at me, mouth quirking into a smile, at which point Balducci touched his head in a senior moment gesture, then hit the intercom. Rogers, he said. You got ‘it’? Yeah. Bring ‘it.’

After a moment, a tall, drawn man stepped out of a back door I hadn’t noticed, gingerly holding a large, white plastic envelope with the same Fed logo on it. The cadaverous man paused in the white light of the doorway for a moment, eyes twitching as he saw me—not unfriendly, but . . . in pity? Then I noticed a long plastic tray in the man’s other hand, and saw the padded envelope bulging with something.

I suddenly didn’t want to see ‘it.’

The Fed touched his left ear for a moment, then turned to go. Aren’t you going to stay? I asked nervously. I wasn’t quite sure why I was asking him for reassurance, but there it was.

He paused. I’ve seen ‘it,’ he said, and stepped into the blackness.

The tray clattered against the table, shockingly close to my hands, and Balducci and I both leaned back a little. The evidence technician, if that’s what cadaver man was, put on a pair of blue gloves before opening the envelope and withdrawing a smaller, plastic-wrapped object. Even though it is wrapped, he said, putting it in the tray, it would help if you do not touch ‘it.’

My skin grew cold.

‘IT’ WAS A RIPPED piece of human skin pinned to a stained wood board.

2. God’s Finest Canvas

I STARED IN horror at the scrap of human skin, stretched across the board like so much canvas. The braided wreath curved across the flesh, marred by a few small cuts that had been blacked out on the print copy. On most sides the skin curved over the board, but at the upper left, the skin was torn away, revealing both the bloodstained wood and a set of torn holes in the skin that indicated it had been stapled underneath, like a leather seat cushion.

Without another nod to Balducci, Rand took over, channeling Joe Friday.

Do you know what this is?

It’s a tattoo, I said, unable to take my eyes off it.

Do you know what it means?

It’s a . . . magical ward.

To protect against evil spirits?

No, it’s . . . like a capacitor. It collects, or deflects, magical power, I said. Which depends on the intent of the wearer.

Do you know who inked this?

I’d have to look closer at the design to tell that. I really didn’t want to do that. I looked up at Rand, eyes pleading. His face had gone cold, a bit stony; not unfriendly, but all cop. I leaned forward, looked through the clear plastic bag, at the wreath, the inking. The board exposed through the rip was smoothly polished and finely worked, despite the bloodstains. Suddenly I knew.

Yes, I know the artist, I said. Not, I mean, personally. It’s Richard Sumner.

Do you know where he is?

Buried in Cincinnati, I said. Sumner was famous, but he died in . . . 2005, I think?

Hell, Balducci said. "That rules out a suspect—"

Do you know who this was inked on? Rand asked.

No, I said, closing my eyes at last. That piece of skin had come from a living human person. I’d really been trying not to think of that. My mind cast around for anything else. "Sumner did thousands of people. You could email the Lancing Dragon in Cincinnati, though. Sumner took extensive pictures. They’re stored there."

Rand smiled. We’ll do that. His smile faded. Do you know of anyone who had a grudge against Sumner, or against any of his subjects?

No, I said. "I mean, I don’t know anyone who has a grudge against anyone—"

Really? Rand said. What about against other tattoo artists? Especially magical ones?

According to our newsletter, I said sarcastically, ‘there are over two hundred licensed magical tattoo artists in the United States,’ so it’s a pretty big list—

Could we get a copy of that newsletter? Rand asked.

I thought about it for a moment. Yes.

Is there anything you would like to add? Rand said.

Yes, I said, nodding at the skin-covered board. "I would like to add a what the fuck is that thing? "

Tell her about the box, Balducci said.

What about the box? I said, eyes drawn back to the thing on the table.

We had a witness, cadaver man said. He didn’t live long enough to tell us much, but he mentioned . . . a box. A box covered in scraps of tattooed skin—

Don’t tell me more about the box, I said, getting up. "Oh, God, it’s a fucking lid—"

Dakota, Rand said, motioning to cadaver man. You don’t need to stay any longer, Dakota, though our friend the Fed there may have more questions for you later—

Why did you bring me here? I said, watching cadaver man slip . . . it . . . back into its opaque envelope. Is this some kind of cruel joke, some kind of arrangement with my dad to get me to come home—

Dakota, Rand said. "I didn’t lie. We did need to see you, and not just for your expertise—"

Rand, Balducci warned. She’s just a civilian. And just a kid—

She’s got to know, Rand said, staring up at me with the same sad eyes I remembered looking up to as a child. Dakota, this just fell in our lap, but our ‘friends’ tell us they have had a dozen killings over the past five years where magical tattoos were taken, almost always on or near the full moon, moving from state to state each time. This last one was in Birmingham, and our ‘friends’ tell us all the signs point to an attack here in Georgia . . . soon.

And the full moon is next weekend, I said. Just after Halloween.

So you see, Dakota, I needed to talk to you, Rand said. We don’t think you’re a specific target but . . . Kotie, stay safe. Your Dad and I are very worried about you.

My childhood nickname rang in my ears as I watched cadaver man carry ‘it’ back through the door of white light.

That makes three of us, I said.

I said my goodbyes to Rand and then got the hell out, escorted by the black-and white twin officers who’d picked me up. Tweedle-White and Tweedle-Black turned out to be Horscht and Gibbs, old buddies of Rand’s, who were doing him a favor by scooping me.

Gibbs was a sexy beast, like a younger version of Rand himself, but after staying for the show with the lid, Horscht turned from stony Aryan Nazi to protective den mother. After some arguing, they agreed to take me back to Mary’s to pick up my Vespa. But as we started to pull out of City Hall East’s garage the colorful lights across the street gave me a better idea.

Wait, I said. Drop me at the Borders.

Are you sure? Horscht said. It’s a long way to East Atlanta.

It’s . . . nine fifty-five, I said. I can take care of myself in a brightly lit commercial fortress, and call on a fare-slave to cab me back to Mary’s for my Vespa. I never leave before midnight, anyway.

But after seeing that—

The full moon is like, ten days away, I said, with false bravado. I’m not worried.

The lady can take care of herself, Gibbs said, smiling. Anything else we can do?

Sure thing, I said. Next time you give me a ride, I want to do it in cuffs.

Horscht was befuddled, but Gibbs whistled low. Sure thing, girl.

But if she hasn’t done anything wrong—

Damn, Horscht, you never got a Sunday morning call? Gibbs said, punching my raised fist gently. I’ll explain it to you later. You’re all right, girl. Later.

I started sniffing around the bookstore for something on Richard Sumners. It was hopeless—I hate bookstores and this one was a brightly lit warren. I ferreted around their computer kiosk for a minute, browsing for any of the books I knew: The Craft of Ink—no. Flash, Ink, Flash—out of print. Anything by Richard Sumners—yes! One, titled Richard Sumners, three in store, shelved improbably in Art & Architecture | Photography | Photography Monographs, where I had absolutely no luck. Finally I collared a pimply-faced teen manning the Customer Service kiosk, whose end-of-day funk brightened considerably as soon as he saw my breasts.

"Oh, yes, that, he said, staring straight at the bulge in my top. In fairness, my breasts were about level with his head, and he seemed scared to make eye contact. Right over here."

In Bargain Books: Richard Sumners by TASCHEN – $7.99. Right between Sicily in Pictures and More Amazing Kittens! I wanted to pop a blood vessel, but just stood there, seeing Sumners’s life work end up in a bargain rack. Finally I picked it up, thick little brick, thumbing its thin but curiously heavy pages.

At least it’s selling, I said.

Anything else? he asked, eyeing my breasts again.

You got an almanac for 2005? I asked, but he shook his head.

As I turned to go, finally his eyes darted upward. "That, he said, is one cool-ass shirt."

I looked down. Edgar Allen Poe stared upside-down at me between the lapels of my coat-vest. I’d sewn glitter and sequins onto the shirt to jazz it up, and his sparkling eyes had ridden up over the ridge of my breasts. Thanks, I said, but by that point the kid had fled.

I grabbed a maple mocha and camped out in the café. There in the ghetto library, as we affectionately called it, I started flipping through this glossy tombstone to Richard Sumners’s work, looking for clues to who might have worn the tattoo.

Richard’s magical inking began before I was born, back in the 60’s, but the wreathed snake had a modern flair to its design. I started to see some of the distinctive elements that made up the tattoo crop up in THE EARLY NINETIES section, but it wasn’t until EVE OF THE MILLENNIUM that I hit paydirt.

At first I thought I had it: a man covering his eye with a tattooed hand bearing a mark nearly identical to the one on the lid. But it was too small, and I remembered Sumner didn’t design his own flash: he had graphomancers do that for him, just like I did, which meant he ended up reusing the same design. Sure enough, there were three other people with similar tattoos, ending with a full-page shot of a young woman with the mark just above her breasts.

The tat was close—really close: the same size, on a flat piece of skin, sans belly button or the curve of a shoulder that would have shown up as a wrinkle on the lid. I stared at her – she had sharp, punkish hair like I did, and a sexy, come-hither smile. Automatically, I checked out the curves of her breasts, pressed beneath one delicate hand—they were full and luscious and looked quite lickable. Then my eyes drifted up to the tat, and I felt queasy. Had I just seen this woman in the flesh—flesh torn from her chest and stapled to a board like a seat cushion?

There was no way to know. I’d give the book to Rand at the first opportunity and hope he could find out. But then I started thinking: Sumners was tattooed himself, and some of those tats had to be marks of great magical power.

I flipped to the bio, trying to find out a clue about how he died, but it was no help. It had been printed in 2003, and the most interesting piece of information was that Sumners had ‘recently had his hands insured with Lloyd’s of London for over a million dollars.’ Useless.

I’d originally gotten the book to try to find out who had worn that tattoo. But now here was a new question: did Sumners die near a full moon?

AND THEN A creepy voice breathed in my ear: Give me some skin, Dakota.

3. Enter the Rat

JEEZ! I CRIED, recoiling from the foul-smelling breath behind the voice, splattering my mocha across the table. Spleen, don’t do that!

Life had cursed Diego Spleen Spillane to look like a rat—long, pointed nose, thick, scattered, grey-brown hair, and one yellowed, fake eye. Generally he played above type. Today he was full of himself, and apparently couldn’t resist working it.

Come on, he said, curling his head around my shoulder, breath foul. Be a sport.

And then I saw his hand hovering over the table, held out for five. Garlic, I snapped, grabbing his hand

Reviews for Frost Moon

[lyrrael · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

If you're a fan of urban fantasy, murder mysteries and tough broads, this may be the book for you. I have to say that I really did enjoy it -- it sucked me right in in a way that a lot of urban fantasy really doesn't, and I ended up reading it in an evening.

There was a lot of suspension of disbelief involved, though; every man looked like he was out of GQ and wanted the leading character, and every woman was mind-blowingly beautiful (and usually also wanted the leading character). People waltzed in just at the right (or wrong) time, and in ways that were totally unlikely (a series of friends who walk into a trap? really?).

This is not to say that Frost Moon was a bad book. Hardly -- it was fun and creative, an awful lot like cotton candy -- melts in your mouth fast, doesn't have an awful lot of substance, but is pretty darned yummy.

Kudos to the author for including the victimization complex that happens after an attack. That was a bit of psychological realism that I often wonder at the lack of in many books.

Finally, this book is eerily similar to Amazon Ink, by Lori Devoti. Same basic premise, same leading character, different magic system. Try this book or ..well, anything involving Anita Blake.. if you're looking for a similar tough-girl approach to the magical world.

[jasonbrownpdx · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Magical tattoos, christian vampires, were-creatures, and men in black. magicians, lesbians, men in dog suits, blood, gore, blind witches, karate and unanswered questions.

when i first got this as an e-book advance release from the publisher, i dipped into it and was not impressed. a month later i came back to it ans had a completely different reaction.

second chance was much better. the characters became tangible and the story more fluid.

it is a single serving book, awesome and definitely one i would refer others too, but i would never read it again. this is not a slight against the book as it is directly in line with a lot of books i read. i can state that i am anxious to read the next book in the series as it is released.

The plot of the skindancer trilogy revolves around dakota frost, estranged daughter of a police officer. she works in a tattoo parlor and inks 3 dimensional mana infused tats on people. dragons that squirm and writhe, butterflies that can leave the body and flit about a room.

a friend of her father brings her into the police station one morning and requests her assistance on a case. he has the lid of a wooden box covered with human skin inked with magical imagery. he also has a string of murders unanswered for.

Dakota traverses the dark underground of an alternate atlanta georgia, putting her fist in the personal space of a number of people. her wit is quick and sharp.

the cast of characters was interesting and varied, the text was interesting, and story fast paced. the only real drawback was that there wasnt much substance to the book. it was like watching an action film. you get a kick, you are on the edge of your seat to see what happens, but in the end, it is not much more than genre-candy.

i can see the trilogy gaining more substance as it progresses, but the author will be walking a very fine line if he can manage it. even if it stays candy, i like candy, so who cares. fast efficient and enjoyable fiction is always welcome in my home.

Worth reading, but don't analyze it, just enjoy it.

[caitria_m · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I practically grew up reading about witches and vampires and this book really appeals to me. However, there are some parts of it just makes me want to turn off my computer and not read it any more. I might be a little bit emotional while reading this book but I strongly do NOT recommend this book for YOUNG readers. Unless you are the matured kind. I do NOT agree with the sexuality of the main character (although it might touch a little bit of a personal thing here). Other than the sexuality of the main character, the book was not bad, just the first few chapters was (the pacing was a little slow and the description is a little too detailed). But believe me the rest of the book was quite pleasant. The plot of the story was well played and the character (although I have some personal issue with her) was well build and the story as a whole is fresh. And very much make Twilight seems like a kiddie book.One thing though that makes this book be a little on my bad side is because I read it as an e-book. I never liked e-books as I just could not stand being in front of the computers for hours and just read. I guess the book will be much better as a physical book for me. This is just my initial review. I usually re read a book and comes up with a totally different outcome as of my state of mind and emotion at the time. But for this time I am on the fence for this book as I will give it a 3/5

[krau0098 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have had this book forever to read and just finally got around to listening to it on audiobook. This is the first of three books (so far) in the Skindancer series. It was a well done urban fantasy that I enjoyed.As mentioned above I listened to this on audiobook and it was very well done. The narrator does an excellent job with character voices and conveys emotion well. It’s definitely one I would recommend listening to if you like audiobooks.Dakota Frost is a magical tattoo artist and a Skindancer. She gets called into a case as a consultant to consult on a series of serial murders involving magical tattoos. Right around the same time a werewolf commissions her to make him a special binding tattoo to help contain his were side. The two separate events start to converge and Dakota begins to find she may have bitten off more than she can handle.This was a well done urban fantasy. I really loved the magical tattoo system here, it is very unique. I also loved the idea behind Skindancers. Dakota is still just starting to understand her power as a Skindancer. Still I loved what we have seen so far. Dakota can do some pretty unique things as a Skindancer, but she is not invincible and has to work with her limitations too.As with many urban fantasies there are werewolves, shapeshifters, and vampires. Dakota also gets involved with taking care of a young Beastkin, this reminded me a bit of the Beastkin in the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews. The description throughout this book was very well done. The imagery behind the Skindancing scenes made them easy to picture and were very magical to read about. Some of these scenes really come alive for the reader.Outside of the awesome tattoo magic, there wasn't a ton here to set this book apart from other urban fantasies out there, but I did enjoy it and thought it was a fun read. The story stops at a good place and doesn’t leave you with any major cliffhangers.Overall I thought this was a solid urban fantasy and a fun read. I will definitely be checking out the second book in the series. I would recommend to those who love urban fantasy, especially to those who are interested in unique magic systems.

[mlleehreen · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

FROST MOON was way too weird for me. I was cool with protagonist Dakota Frost’s big Mohawk, and her tattoos, and her bisexuality. But the uber-Christian vampire ex-girlfriend who accuses Dakota’s tattoos of being the work of Satan while tarted up in a French maid’s uniform? The “elegant gothic Lolita” and the guy in “cheekchiller” chaps who roleplayed as a dog for the whole book? Toss in a few random vampires with names like Transomnia and Calaphase, and I’d had enough.

I’m guessing that Anthony Francis is going for the Laurell K Hamilton crowd here, because in FROST MOON all of his characters are always in costume, they all have stage names, and relationship drama masquerades as plot.

Speaking of plot: FROST MOON has about a dozen. Francis kickstarts the book with a hunt for a serial killer who’s targeting people with magic tattoos, like the ones that Dakota makes. Then we get a sub-plot with a lone werewolf who wants a special tattoo to control his beast. We get a third sub-plot when a sleight-of-hand magician who tries to debunk supernatural events challenges Dakota to a sort of duel. Add in Dakota’s reconciliation with her ex-girlfriend, her relationship with the organized weres (including a young stray named, of course, “Cinnamon”), and a half-crazed vampire out to revenge an insult to his pride, and what you’ve got is…a mess, actually.

At first, none of these plots seem to have anything to do with one another. By the end, they intersect too neatly. In the meanwhile, it seems like Francis forgets about one story in order to pursue another. Halfway through the novel I found myself wondering if anyone was ever going to go look for that serial killer.

Personally, I think it’s a bad sign when a half-dozen people in the novel accuse Dakota, the protagonist, of looking like a stripper or a prostitute. I want to clutch my pearls and buy her a sweater. I roll my eyes when Dakota insults someone for looking like they shop at Hot Topic in one sentence and then admits to shopping there herself in the next. Because I’m not in the target demographic and FROST MOON was written for a different audience.

[fireweaver_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

3.5 stars, a very promising start to a new series.

dakota frost is a tattoo artist that has a gift for binding magic into her clients' skin along with the ink. it's not a common trade in this version of our world, and her dad's former partner on the atlanta police force thinks that she may be able to help them find a killer who's collecting magical tattoos by flaying his victims.

love it like i do, but UF is a crowded genre, and i really appreciate ideas that don't rehash what we've all read many times over. the civilian asset to the police bit is a well-trodden angle, but the magic in ink idea felt rather fresh. dakota isn't a super vampire-slaying badass (and in fact, gets her ass soundly kicked when she's confronted by something supernaturally deadly), but she does wear enough midriff-baring leather that the cover is fully accurate. dakota's a rather colorfully drawn character (all pun fully intended) herself, but wow does she have a lot of interesting friends in the atlanta fetish culture - at times, this book feels like an almost painfully matter-of-fact tour into the normalcy of BDSM relationships, the kind where you have a pet grad student dressed as a dog chained to your throne. on one hand, it's really nice to have nobody demonized or slut-shamed for just doin' their own crazy thang, but it is all a bit much.

huge bonus points for the lack of an ill-timed romance, since nothing is so foolish as a quick roll in the hay when you're trying to outrun a murderer. extra bonus for the price - who doesn't love a free book? i've snapped up plenty of kindle freebies that had interesting-sounding premises, and generally i assume that the lack of editing & the profusion of typos in indie/free books is me getting what i pay for. it's nicely refreshing for this to not be the case - 'frost moon' is polished, and nary a typo to be found.

[jwitt33 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When I read the synopsis for this book, I just knew I had to read it! Magical tattoos? I'm there! What I got was so much more than I was expecting!The MC, Dakota Frost, is bad ass, 6'2", not including the height her mohawk adds, and covered in tats - how could I not love her? She dresses to show off her "assets" and barges into danger without thinking twice if her friends need her help. She owns a tattoo parlor in the Little Five Points area of Atlanta and is best known for her "magical tattoos", tats that actually move, including butterflies that rise up off of your skin and fly around! I love it! She also hangs out with a very eclectic group: vampires, werewolves, magicians, and a blind witch (one of my favorite characters). She's called in by the cops to help find a serial killer who is removing the magical tats from people's skin while they're still alive. She's also helping the DEI (Department of Extraordinary Investigations), which includes a very special man in black. The world building is awesome in this book! When Dakota starts asking around and goes beneath the city to question the Edgeworlders who hang there, I could feel the menacing atmosphere. The pace was quick but not so quick that you didn't have time to get to know the secondary characters. One of my other favorites was a stray weretiger named Cinnamon who attached herself to Dakota! She was so cute and energetic, and she brought out the protective mama bear side of Dakota that seemed to round out her personality. All in all, I loved this book and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I highly recommend it to fans of paranormal/fantasy with awesome kick ass heroines:D

[elf23_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Frost moon was a wild ride through the urban subcultures of werewolves, vampires, and magic.I found this book both engaging and very original.It was an excellent read.

[jbronderblogs_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Dakota is a magical tattoo artist, the best in the southeast. We start the story with her being asked to come to the police station to help out on an odd case. There she learns that at least twelve people with magical tattoos have been killed on a full moon. Then she is approached by a friend about tattooing a werewolf. The tattoo looks like a controlling charm but it has Nazi symbols in it. Dakota never inks a tattoo unless it has been checked by a witch. Thankfully her best friend, Jinx, is a powerful witch.But because the tattoo is about a were creature, Dakota has to go to the Edgeworld to get it checked by a local tattooer. The Edgeworld is on the fringes of normal humans and the paranormal creatures, usually where they can go and be safe. Dakota stumbles into trouble when a vampire challenges her and she fights to prove herself worthy of the Edgeworlders.At the same time, special agent Philip of the DEA is trying to catch the killer. He has a feeling that the target is going. When Dakota is attacked a couple times, it starts to look that way. But if that was not enough, the Mysterious Mirabilus has come to issue a challenge to Dakota. He is a magician that is famous for proving how many supposed magicians do their tricks. If he can duplicate the trick, the person looses. If he cannot, then the person wins a large sum of money. Of course Dakota is going to accept, he has been one of her role models. But first she has to survive the tattoo killer.I really liked this book. I was instantly sucked in and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. This has great concept and story is wonderful. Dakota is a lot stronger than she thought she was physically and magically. I had no idea who the killer was until the end and then there was enough of a teaser to make me want to read the next book to find out what happens next. Those that like paranormal fantasies will love this book. Now I can’t wait to get my hands on Blood Rock. This is one book that you won’t want to miss.I received this book through the NetGalley program in exchange for a review.

[samantha71020 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Summary from Goodreads:"In an alternate Atlanta where magic is practiced openly, where witches sip coffee at local cafes, shapeshifters party at urban clubs, vampires rule the southern night like gangsters, and mysterious creatures command dark caverns beneath the city, Dakota Frost's talents are coveted by all. She's the best magical tattooist in the southeast, a Skindancer, able to bring her amazing tats to life. When a serial killer begins stalking Atlanta's tattooed elite, the police and the Feds seek Dakota's help. Can she find the killer on the dark fringe of the city's Edgeworld? Among its powerful outcasts and tortured loners, what kind of enemies and allies will she attract? Will they see her as an invader, as a seducer, as an unexpected champion ... or as delicious prey?"My Thoughts:Frost Moon was an interesting beginning to a dark and gritty urban fantasy series. Dakota lives in a world filled with magic and magical beings although it isn't acknowledged by all of society. She was one of the most unique characters that I have ever read about, and I really enjoyed her personality. I felt like we got a really good look at her character throughout the novel which helped me to connect to the story. The author wasn't afraid to take chances with the storyline which I really liked. I just never knew what to expect which kept me constantly on my toes as I was reading. My favorite thing about the book though was Dakota's ability to do magical tattoos. I loved the descriptions of the tattoos, the idea of how they could actually move, and everything else that went along with it. It was a unique concept and it really made the book more enjoyable for me. The book also had a variety of interesting characters that I hope to see in future books. My only complaint with this book was that at times it had so much going on that I would lose track of the mystery. Luckily enough though, the end of the book tied everything together very nicely which added to my enjoyment of the book that much more.All in all, this was a very enjoyable beginning to this urban fantasy series. It was darker than I expected and very unique which added to my enjoyment of the novel. I'm looking forward to continuing on with this series....I'm sure that Dakota will manage to get herself in lots more trouble :) Recommended!Bottom Line: An interesting beginning to an urban fantasy series with a main character that I can't wait to read more of!Disclosure: I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. My thanks!

[bookishdame · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Snappy, smart, snarky Dakota Frost, the skindancing tatoo artist of "Frost Moon" is a winner from the get-go in the first book of this series. I cannot wait to get my hands on the other novels as they flow off the press!Stepping off the pages during an alternate/futuristic, late 21st c. Atlanta, Dakota is caught up in a murder, and sadistic torture investigation having to do with someone acting like a serial tatoo killer. She may be a Skindancing magi-tat artist who has strange friends and is a card-carrying "Edgeworlder" but she's no torturer, and doesn't suffer those types easily. Dakota agrees to help the police and special agents find out who is. Amidst werewolves, vampires, witches, magical weavers of all sorts and some New World Order government forces, Dakota puts her life on the line to find out who has killed and maimed 12 people...all with skindancing/magical tatoos.Who'd have ever thought I'd be reading this genre? I took a chance on a wild-haired day, and I'm so glad I did. Highly enjoyable book that's way out of my ordinary scope...Great writing, great book!

[pither_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm a big urban fantasy fan, and the Dakota Frost series intrigued me from the start. Magical tattoos coming alive? Sounds awesome! I'm waiting for mine to move, but nothing yet.There was just the right amount of detail and description. You didn't feel bogged down in the mechanics of her tattooing business, but you were given enough to assuage curiosity and interest. I particularly liked the description of how the clock tattoo was done for the million dollar challenge.Dakota Frost herself was very well-written for. She's a great character, a strong female protagonist and a believable one. She's under no illusions that she's up against vampires, werewolves, and others, and her physical strength is no match for hers. I enjoyed seeing her balance the scales with intelligence, wit, and those bad ass tattoos.The rest of the characters felt a little flat for me. Jinx was one of the exceptions, and was a delight to read for. She seemed like some sort of delightful cross between Gaiman's characters of Death and Delirium. Cinnamon was another exception; great reading on her end, and I look forward to the YA series starring her! I would have liked to read more about Savannah and Dakota's relationship with her. That aspect was just glossed over, giving me the feeling that there was a previous book in the series I should have read to get the whole story. I didn't find out as much as I wanted, and in some ways it felt a little like a plot device rather than a character in her own right. Same goes for Special Agent Philip. I would have liked to see more, but he was trotted in when the action called for him, then a quick exit stage left. Dakota was fantastic, but I would have liked a stronger supporting cast.Overall the action was good and Dakota was great. Would definitely recommend to urban fantasy fans of Karen Marie Moning and Kelley Armstrong. Good for those who like a bit more grit than romance. I'm looking forward to reading the second in the series, Blood Rock.

[shelleyraec · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dakota Frost is a magical tattoo artist, the best in the SouthEast, with a mohawk that adds even more height to her 6ft2 heavily tattooed frame, a penchant for leather and an eye for a gorgeous man, or woman – she’s not particularly fussy. I love Dakota, she is feisty and confident and is a little different from the usual urban fantasy heroine. Dakota identifies her self as a Skindancer – her tattoo’s are more than just art, she has the ability to make her tattoos live, the vines that adorn her body can create an impenetrable barrier, the butterfly on her wrist can flap it’s wings and flutter around the room and the dragon that is wrapped sinuously around her entire body will save her life. Yet Dakota isn’t invincible, behind the bravado she is ill-equipped to defend herself and when she becomes the target of a serial killer we learn of her physical and emotional vulnerability.There are some quirky support characters including Dakota’s ex girlfriend who is a Christian vampire Queen, the blind graphomancer/witch and a rather unprofessional man in black. The most delightful is Cinnamon, a teenage were tiger stray who attaches herself to Dakota with fierce devotion. It will be interesting to see how these characters play out during the series.The plot of Frost Moon is fast paced and cleverly layered, there are several seemingly disparate threads that slowly weave together as the story unfolds. This is a gritty urban fantasy, there are some scenes and innuendo that are unpleasant though (with the exception of one which includes a ball gag and a cage) I didn’t feel they were gratuitous. However I didn’t think Dakota needed to salivate over everyone that crossed her path but I wrote that off as a misstep of a male author and was willing to overlook it.I thought the world building was creative though I could have done without the street by street tour of Atlanta, it probably has more significance for someone who knows the city but I didn’t find it relevant. There is plenty of interesting variety in the population though, vampires, weres of all descriptions, magicians, witches to name just a few. The Edgeworlders are part of the human world but very much on it’s fringes at the same time.Frost Moon is an interesting and imaginative urban fantasy series debut with attitude. It’s a little darker than most with some raw edges but I am looking forward to seeing in what direction the author takes the second installment. Luckily I have Blood Rock to directly follow up with.

[booksnyarn · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Paranormal readers will enjoy this book. Tattoo artist Dakota Frost works magic upon peoples' skins, literally. When the police bring her in to identify a tattoo from a murder victim, she gets pulled into a mystery that could leave her and her customers in the killer's hands.

[reannon_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I will be upfront and say that I read this book because my department is hosting a book talk/signing with the author at the Georgia Tech Library on Sept. 1st. So if I didn't like the book I was going to pretend I did until the program is over.Happily, there is no need for pretense. Frost Moon is an excellent first novel centering on Dakota Frost, a tattoo artist who creates magical tattoos with herself as her best canvas. Her tattoos move, store and release magical energy, and can be transferred from herself to someone else. She works eith a graphomancer who can determine if a design for a magical tattoo is safe and effective.Dakota gets called in to help the police and a federal agent. They show her a tattoo that has been cut from a living body that was then murdered, in hopes she could recognize the artist. So far the killer has killed 12 in different cities, and Dakota and her customers are possible targets for the killer. Dakota is also having her graphomancer evaluate a Nazi design that a werewolf wants in hopes it will better control his beast.The plot is overall good though there were a few minor points that confused me. I've read a lot in the paranormal genre, enough to be oversaturated and pulling back from reading much more of it. There are only so many vampires and shspeshifters one can tolerate. Francis, however, has come up with a heroine whose unique talent drives the plot, rather like Sookie Stackhouse's telepathy in Charlaine Harris's series. Dakota is an excellent character, and since she is the narrator she is more fully realized than the other characters, of whom there are many, from the almost blind graphomancer Jinx to Dakota's ex-girlfriend Savannah, vampire queen, to federal agent Philip, and more. The author is particularly good at showing the vulnerabilities in even strong characters. Wulf the werewolf wants to be in better control so as to not hurt people or be so alone. Cinammon, the teenage weretiger, is all vulnerability and grows on both Dakota and the reader. Francis also uses the city of Atlanta very well, as events happen in lots of noted city landmarks. Buckhead is the ritzier part of town and becomes Lord Buckhead, a werestag who is the city's protector.Altogether a recommended first novel and first in a series. The second book should be out by September 2011.

[miss_twilight_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The first time I tried to read this, shortly after receiving an e-book copy for the Early Reviewers group, I just couldn't get past the first few chapters. Not sure why exactly, perhaps it was the format. I prefer to read electronic books on my iPhone or iPad but this one was saved as a pdf on my work desktop computer. (I work a graveyard shift in an IT department; I have a lot of downtime to knit, watch netflix, and read.)The second attempt was not only successful, but enjoyable; the further into the book, the better it got. Many things in the book felt ... familiar ... which made it easier to read. I like all of the different elements incorporated - magic, tattooing, mythology, vampires, werewolves, bdsm, and a few MTG jokes... (what can I say, I live pretty close to WoTC and have friends that work there.)Puppy play with someone named Doug made me giggle a little. And being a Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab perfume geek, I was tickled about the title of this book. BPAL releases a limited edition perfume each month ("A Little Lunacy") that bears a traditional full moon name for that month. Yes, I have some Frost Moon perfume. This would make a super fun graphic novel.I look forward to the next book in the series! And darn it, now I want more ink.

[coprime_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book. It was fun, and I appreciated having a different sort of heroine than the ones I often find in urban fantasy and paranormal romances. The tattoo magic was also different and intersting. The world-building was detailed, thought out, and fun to read about.

[smat92 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dakota Frost is the best tattoo artist in the city, her best work showcased on her own skin. But not only can she ink magical tattoos, she can make her creations come to life and make magic flow into them.But this ability can bring her a lot of trouble when a serial killer is looking for his next victim for the full moon. Then Dakota must work with Secret Agent Phillip Davidson to find the killer and prevent another death. Things get even more complicated when a rogue werewolf asks f...more Dakota Frost is the best tattoo artist in the city, her best work showcased on her own skin. But not only can she ink magical tattoos, she can make her creations come to life and make magic flow into them.But this ability can bring her a lot of trouble when a serial killer is looking for his next victim for the full moon. Then Dakota must work with Secret Agent Phillip Davidson to find the killer and prevent another death. Things get even more complicated when a rogue werewolf asks for her tattooing skills and she must risk her life by meddling with vampires and shifters to get her job done.Time's running out and if they can't figure out who the killer is by the full moon, Dakota will have to face him, whether she wants to or not.I was pleasently surprised by this book. Everything about it was very different and out of the ordinary. From the lead character (Dakota Frost, tall, fully tattoed, purple mowhawk with a feisty attitude) to the structured vampire community, you can tell the author not only used his creativity but also, did his homework.Well paced, with interesting characters and an unexpected ending, I'd definitely recommend this book and I'm looking forward to reading more from the author!

[allthesedarnbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is an enjoyable debut to a new paranormal series. The heroine, Dakota Frost, is maybe a little bit of a Mary Sue: tall, busty, has a mohawk, is covered in tattoos, she describes herself as intimidating yet is irresistible to every man and woman she meets apparently. The tattoos are totally the best part. Dakota is a tattoo artist, but not just your normal tattoo artist. Her tattoos are magic, and the intricacy of the magic that comes through in the body art is fascinating. The action scenes are exciting but the identity of the serial killer is somewhat predictable. I found quite a few similarities to Ilona Andrews' Kate Daniels books, more than just the Atlanta setting. But there are also some original elements, and Dakota's bisexuality is refreshing in the heteronormative world of fantasy heroines. In the end, a promising start to a new urban fantasy series and a quick summer read. Three and a half stars.

[bilja_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I expected a mystery book, I got a pretty dark book. The lingo is complicated and dark stories are not for me. I do not even like tattoos very much, in spite the fact they are so popular.Honestly: I quit. The book is not for me, I keep empathizing with young Dakota, but that's it

[toast.x2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Magical tattoos, christian vampires, were-creatures, and men in black. magicians, lesbians, men in dog suits, blood, gore, blind witches, karate and unanswered questions.

when i first got this as an e-book advance release from the publisher, i dipped into it and was not impressed. a month later i came back to it ans had a completely different reaction.

second chance was much better. the characters became tangible and the story more fluid.

it is a single serving book, awesome and definitely one i would refer others too, but i would never read it again. this is not a slight against the book as it is directly in line with a lot of books i read. i can state that i am anxious to read the next book in the series as it is released.

The plot of the skindancer trilogy revolves around dakota frost, estranged daughter of a police officer. she works in a tattoo parlor and inks 3 dimensional mana infused tats on people. dragons that squirm and writhe, butterflies that can leave the body and flit about a room.

a friend of her father brings her into the police station one morning and requests her assistance on a case. he has the lid of a wooden box covered with human skin inked with magical imagery. he also has a string of murders unanswered for.

Dakota traverses the dark underground of an alternate atlanta georgia, putting her fist in the personal space of a number of people. her wit is quick and sharp.

the cast of characters was interesting and varied, the text was interesting, and story fast paced. the only real drawback was that there wasnt much substance to the book. it was like watching an action film. you get a kick, you are on the edge of your seat to see what happens, but in the end, it is not much more than genre-candy.

i can see the trilogy gaining more substance as it progresses, but the author will be walking a very fine line if he can manage it. even if it stays candy, i like candy, so who cares. fast efficient and enjoyable fiction is always welcome in my home.

Worth reading, but don't analyze it, just enjoy it.

[lbassler_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When is book 2 being released? Haven't read many supernatural books with strong female leads written by men- I wasn't disappointed.

[bbricke · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fast paced, well written. Kept me reading til the very end.Loved the characters, action and the world itself.Definitely looking for more from this author.

[bynks · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I practically grew up reading about witches and vampires and this book really appeals to me. However, there are some parts of it just makes me want to turn off my computer and not read it any more. I might be a little bit emotional while reading this book but I strongly do NOT recommend this book for YOUNG readers. Unless you are the matured kind. I do NOT agree with the sexuality of the main character (although it might touch a little bit of a personal thing here). Other than the sexuality of the main character, the book was not bad, just the first few chapters was (the pacing was a little slow and the description is a little too detailed). But believe me the rest of the book was quite pleasant. The plot of the story was well played and the character (although I have some personal issue with her) was well build and the story as a whole is fresh. And very much make Twilight seems like a kiddie book.One thing though that makes this book be a little on my bad side is because I read it as an e-book. I never liked e-books as I just could not stand being in front of the computers for hours and just read. I guess the book will be much better as a physical book for me. This is just my initial review. I usually re read a book and comes up with a totally different outcome as of my state of mind and emotion at the time. But for this time I am on the fence for this book as I will give it a 3/5

[lindseypro21 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Three-and-a-half stars. I found this book to be quite refreshing. I enjoyed the creativity used in the plots and the character, and found the treatment of the more occult side of things to be well-handled. A nice book all-around, but the format of an e-book did not suit it at all. Maybe that's just me, though--I never did get the hang of reading books on a computer that seem like they should be in paper format. Bleh. But the book remains a good one despite this.

[librarypatron · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I am not a fantasy reader but damn I liked this book! It grabbed you fast and held on till the end. Well done Anthony Francis! I will be reading your next book in the SkinDancer series, don`t take too long.

[mmyoung_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A pleasant surprise. Read under anything but the best of circumstances Frost Moon surprised me in a pleasant manner. On first brush it could be described as an anti-Twilight book. The female protagonist is neither a super-hero nor does she orbit around anyone else. More refreshing (and more unusual) the inhabitants of the our "edgewood" such as members of the bdsm culture are treated as varied individuals rather than stereotypes and cardboard culouts. The world in which the protagonist, Dakota Frost, lives is clearly both like ours and unlike ours. One does not need to know about this world exhaustively in order to follow and enjoy the story--at the same time that world is interesting enough that I want to read more stories set in it. The varied 'worlds' that intersect in the story; bdsm, vampires, weres and tattoo artists are presented in such a way that I am convinced that the author knows each well enough to set a story in that world alone.

[terriko_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm a big fan of well-written urban fantasy, so I requested this e-book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers. This is the first time I've actually read an entire novel as an ebook, and I wasn't sure I could do it, but Frost Moon made it easy. I wound up staying up all night finishing it when I thought for sure I'd be tired of reading on-screen after an hour.It's an engaging story, with an interesting and strong female lead, and a fascinating alternate world. It reminds me a bit of Patricia Briggs or Ilona Andrews, but I didn't feel like there was quite as much depth to the characters... maybe because this is the first book and I haven't had as much time to get to know them? Still, it's a quick-paced story with a world I'm looking forwards to getting to know better, and I'm really glad I got a copy!

[5aweek · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Dakota Frost #1: Frost Moon, by Anthony FrancisWOW! "Frost Moon" is THE urban fantasy novel I've been waiting for. I hesitate on writing this review, because I just can't put into words my love for this book. But I'll try.Dakota is a skindancer, a tattooist who can imbue magic powers into her ink. She lives in an edgeworld Atlanta that welcomes werewolves, vampires, witches and more; Dakota herself is a magician thanks to her tattoos. The "Edgeworld" is the world the author has created, a sort of border or barrier where normal and magic meet.Bluntly put, Dakota is one kick-ass chick. She's sarcastic and tough, yet compassionate and loyal, and sometimes even vulnerable. I was honestly a little surprised to find out the author was male - Dakota is a such believable female main character. I loved her instantly. In fact the beginning of "Frost Moon" reminds me a bit of Jacqueline Carey's novels, in that Dakota introduces herself to the reader, in a "this is me, here I am, love me or hate me" approach. Throughout the course of "Frost Moon," she befriends a were-cat orphan, feels sorry for a were-wolf, falls for an FBI/DEI agent, deals with her ex-girlfriend, and more. But Dakota's characterization doesn't falter in any of those situations, and the reader's image of her stays constant from the start of the book.The plot of "Frost Moon" is best left a secret - you'll want to discover all the twists and turns of the plot yourself as you navigate through Dakota's world. But to tantalize you: the Department of Extraordinary Investigations is hunting a serial killer who takes the tattooed skin of his victims. The DEI originally calls Dakota in as a consultant, due to her expertise in magical tattooing. But she's quickly in the thick of things as events move at warp-speed around her. The ending shocked me, because I'd never been able to guess just who the killer was - I liked the unpredictability. Dakota is an amazing character. But so is literally every other single supporting character Francis created. I wanted to know more about every single person introduced, from Spleen the Rat to Cinnamon, to Lady Saffron, and on and on. Each character has some hook that grabs at the reader; the cast of "Frost Moon" will stick with me for quite a while. I enjoy the author's style; sometimes he is a little heavy-handed with descriptions, but personally I like that. I like having lots of information about a new world, and Dakota's world is one of the fresher urban fantasy ones I've read in a while. Some of his prose is beautiful, especially when painting images of tattoos; I *wish* it were possible to get something like what he's invented! Glittering, moving, magical tattoos? Pretttty. I do have a complaint or two with "Frost Moon," but they're such minor issues that they didn't detract at all from my enjoyment of the book. One is that the timing is very condensed, very fast, but then that also fits into the plot. The other is the deluge of pop culture references, which could make references to the Matrix and X-Files outdated in a few years, but the references slow down after the first part of the novel. But like I said, just a few minor issues. Nothing big or super distracting. Overall, as I think is obvious by how much I've written, I was blown away by this book. There was just the perfect mix of mystery, urban fantasy, wit, sarcasm, technology talk, stick-in-your-mind characters, interesting plot, and the slightest hint of romance. Disclaimer: I did receive an ebook copy of "Frost Moon" to review through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program. But on my next Amazon order I'll be picking up a physical copy of "Frost Moon" as an early birthday present; I can't wait to get the book in my hands and read it again, so I can revisit Dakota's world. Book two, "Blood Rock," is due later this year I believe. I can't wait!5/5.

[macygma · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dakota Frost is a skindancer. A magical tattooist who, in her own right is pretty impressive with a black, purple and white Mohawk down to her fanny. If you look close enough, you will see that her tats are special – not only did she do them herself, but the move. Right off her skin sometimes. Called into the Police for a “visit” she discovers that someone is taking tattoos to cover a special box. By taking tattoos, they don’t mean copying the flash – this person is cutting the tattoos right of the wearer’s body! Into this come Wulf, a werewolf once a month who brings Dakota a Nazi tattoo to help control his changing. She can’t do the job without vetting that tattoo – she doesn’t want to make things worse for Wulf.Off to her ex-girlfriend, Savannah the vampire queen of Little Five Points to get protection to go into the local werehouse to ask questions about the tattoo. She arrives and is promptly attacked by a werewolf guard. From here, things go further south, with the added pressure of a challenge made by Christopher Valentine to Dakota: he wants her to prove she is a magic skindancer by tattooing a working watch on one of his assistant’s wrist. Piece of cake? Not exactly. This novel is excellently done – characters are written so that they appear in your mind’s eye and stay. Cinnamon is especially well done and I would really like to read more of her adventures in the “real world”. Does Wulf get this protection? What about someone to protect Dakota? A moving wristwatch that tells accurate time? These and more will leave you thinking at the end of Frost Moon.