Midnight Frost

By Jennifer Estep

Warrior-in-training Gwent Frost is out to find an antidote to save her friend’s life in the New York Times bestselling author’s YA urban fantasy novel.

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kensington Books
• Release date: Aug 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9780758281517

Jennifer Estep

Jennifer Estep is a New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author who prowls the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.Jennifer is the author of the Section 47, Galactic Bonds, Elemental Assassin, Crown of Shards, Gargoyle Queen, and other fantasy series. She has written more than forty books, along with numerous novellas and stories.In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys hanging out with friends and family, doing yoga, and reading fantasy and romance books. She also watches way too much TV and loves all things related to superheroes.For more information on Jennifer and her books, visit her website at or follow her online on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Amazon, BookBub, and Goodreads. You can also sign up for her newsletter: https://www.jenniferestep.com/contact-jennifer/newsletter/Happy reading, everyone! ?

Book preview

Chapter 1

I was trapped.

I paced from one side of the room to the other, pivoted on my sneaker heel, and hurried back the other way. A few steps later, I reached the opposite wall, so I turned and repeated the process. Back and forth, and back and forth, I stalked, my mind drifting from one thing to the next.

My friends at Mythos Academy. My search for artifacts. What Agrona, Vivian, and the rest of the Reapers of Chaos were plotting next. Where Logan was.

My heart twinged at the thought of Logan, and my foot caught in the bottom part of a net that was draped over the back of my desk chair. I stumbled forward, barely managing to catch myself before I slammed face-first onto my bed.

I staggered back up onto my feet and glared at the net. Oh sure, it looked all innocent hanging there, like a patch of light gray seaweed had sprouted out of the back of my chair. Supposedly, it had belonged to Ran, the Norse goddess of storms. Truth be told, it wasn’t all that impressive, as far as artifacts went. The seaweed was gnarled, knotted, and seemed so thin, threadbare, and brittle that it would probably crumble to dust if you so much as breathed on it. But I’d learned the hard way that looks were often deceiving, especially in the mythological world. Still, I supposed I should be grateful I hadn’t crushed the net by tromping all over it.

I’d had the net for a couple of days now, ever since I’d found it at the Crius Coliseum, and I still didn’t know what was so special about it. I hadn’t even gotten any big vibes off the net with my psychometry magic, which let me know, see, and feel an object’s history.

But finding powerful mythological artifacts and keeping them safe from Reapers was the latest mission that Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, had given to me. Most folks knew me as Gwen Frost, that weird Oracle girl who touched stuff and saw things, but I was also Nike’s Champion, the girl picked by the goddess to help carry out her wishes here in the mortal realm.

Me, a Champion. I still couldn’t believe it sometimes. But Nike was very, very real, just like the rest of the mythological world, with all its gods, goddesses, magic, creatures, artifacts, and warrior whiz kids.

More and more thoughts crowded into my mind, but I pushed them aside. Instead, I slid the chair even closer to the desk so I wouldn’t trip over the net again and resumed my pacing. Back and forth, and back and forth, from one side of my prison to the other . . .

Will you stop all that bloody stomping around? a voice with a cool English accent growled a few minutes later. "You are making it impossible for me to get in my mid-afternoon, pre-killing-Reaper nap."

I looked at the wall, where a sword in a black leather scabbard was hanging next to my posters of Wonder Woman, Karma Girl, and The Killers. A purplish eye on the hilt was open wide and glaring at me, while the rest of the sword’s features—a nose, an ear, and a mouth—were turned down into a petulant pout.

Really, Gwen, Vic, my talking sword, chastised me again. Some of us are trying to sleep. Isn’t that right, fuzzball?

An agreeing bark sounded from a basket in the corner. Nyx, the Fenrir wolf pup I was taking care of, was as cute as she could be with her dark gray fur and purplish eyes, but she had an annoying habit of going along with just about whatever Vic said.

Fine, I grumbled and plopped down on my bed. I’ll stop pacing.

Okay, okay, so I wasn’t really trapped. But my dorm room sure felt like a prison these days, especially since there was almost always a Protectorate guard stationed outside. I pushed aside a curtain and stared out one of the picture windows. Aiko, a thin, petite, twentysomething Ninja, was leaning against a tree on the lawn below, just like she had been ever since I’d come back to my room an hour ago. Aiko shifted on her feet, causing the folds of her gray robe to billow out around her slender figure and giving me a brief glimpse of the short sword and silver throwing stars hooked to her belt.

I sighed and let the curtain fall back into place. Aiko was outside to protect me from any Reapers who might try to kill me, something that had happened more than once within the walled confines of Mythos Academy.

Still, I didn’t like being watched all the time, even if it was for my own good. It made me feel weak and helpless and just . . . trapped.

Suddenly, the room felt unbearably hot and stuffy, and I couldn’t draw enough air down into my lungs. Even though my room was on the large side compared to some of the others at the academy, the ceiling seemed to swoop down and the walls seemed to creep closer the longer I stared at them, like they were all slowly sliding toward me, getting ready to surge forward and crush me in their cold, indifferent embrace.

I shivered and dropped my gaze to the floor, but even it seemed to ripple, as though it was trying to rise up to meet the ceiling. I sighed. My magic was acting up and making me see things that weren’t really there. I stared at the floor, determined to control my psychometry, but once again, the boards rose and fell like the ocean waves I’d seen when I’d touched Ran’s net.

I bolted off my bed. I need some air, I said. I’ll be back soon.

Vic and Nyx didn’t say anything as I stalked over to the door, opened it, and peered out into the hallway. I expected to see a guy with hazel eyes, dark brown hair, and tan skin leaning against the wall, but Alexei Sokolov, my friend and the Russian Bogatyr warrior who served as my guard, wasn’t waiting to walk me across campus. That was a little strange, since Alexei took his assignment super seriously, but I wasn’t about to overlook my good luck.

I stepped outside, shut the door behind me, and hurried away from my room as fast as I could.

Despite the fact that Aiko was outside my dorm, it was easy enough for me to go to the common kitchen that all the girls in Styx Hall shared, open one of the windows, and crawl outside. I slid from one tree to the next until I was out of sight of Aiko and the dorm before I stepped onto one of the ash-gray cobblestone paths that wound across campus.

It was late January, and the air was bitterly cold. The blustery gusts of wind kicked up the hard bits of snow that littered the ground, while the thick gray clouds cast the landscape in shifting shadows, even though it was only late afternoon. I stuffed my hands into my jacket pockets and tucked my chin down into the dark gray, snowflake-patterned scarf wrapped around my neck, trying to stay warm.

Since it was so cold, I was the only one walking across campus. I thought about heading up the hill to the main quad and going over to the Library of Antiquities, but it was sure to be full of kids studying. I didn’t feel like being gawked at, so I veered onto a path to my left. I wound up in the amphitheater.

The amphitheater was really two pieces put together—a stage at the bottom and then a series of long, flat shallow steps that climbed up the hill above it. The steps, which also served as seats, arced out and up into an enormous semicircle, until it almost seemed like each row was a pair of arms reaching around to hug the stage close.

The shadows seemed even deeper here, but the theater’s bone-white stone glimmered like a ghost in the wintry darkness. Sparks of soft lilac, silvery gray, and forest green were embedded in the stone, giving it a pale, opalescent sheen and making it seem as if a hundred thousand fireflies were slowly winking on and off. It was a beautiful sight, and some of the tension and worry drained out of my body. Plus, the amphitheater was empty, just like I’d hoped it would be. I wasn’t in the mood for any sort of company.

I walked over to the stage, which was surrounded by four columns, one at each corner. Stone chimeras crouched on round globes on the very tops of the columns, their heads turned to stare out at the steps, almost as if they were waiting for a crowd to gather for some show. I hesitated, a bit of unease bubbling up in my stomach, but when the chimeras didn’t turn and glare at me, I climbed up the steps, walked to the middle of the stage, and sat down on the edge. I let out a deep sigh.

Alone—I was finally alone.

I closed my eyes and breathed—in and out, in and out—just enjoying this moment of peace, quiet, and solitude—

Something skittered off to my left.

My eyes snapped open, and my hand dropped to my side, but I only came up with empty air. I’d left Vic in my room, so the sword wasn’t strapped to my waist as usual. I frowned. Why had I left him behind? That wasn’t like me. I usually took Vic everywhere I went, especially now, with the Reapers on the verge of declaring another Chaos War against the Pantheon.

The noise sounded again, like boots scuffling over stone. I turned my head to the left and realized there was someone else on stage with me—a boy about my own age with ink-black hair and a lean, muscled body.

Logan freaking Quinn.

The guy I loved.

The one who’d stabbed me in the chest—and left me behind.

He wore boots, jeans, and a black leather jacket over a light blue sweater that brought out the intense color of his icy eyes. He looked the same as I remembered, the same as I’d imagined him a hundred times since he’d left Mythos, since he’d left me.

Logan? I asked, my voice a hoarse, hopeful whisper. Logan!"

I scrambled to my feet. I opened my arms and started to run toward him when I realized that Logan was holding a sword—and that his eyes were now glowing that eerie Reaper red.

I stopped short. The last time Logan’s eyes had been that horrible color had been a few weeks ago during a Reaper ambush at the Aoide Auditorium. He’d attacked and almost killed me before I used my psychometry to undo the murderous magic the Reapers had done.

I thought I’d saved Logan from the Reapers, from Loki, but now, it looked like he was here to finish the job.

Oh, go on, Gwen, a mocking, sneering voice called out. Go say hello to your boyfriend. He’s oh so glad to see you.

I whirled around. A girl now sat in the middle of one of the auditorium steps. A black Reaper robe hid her clothes from sight, but she wasn’t wearing a mask so I could see her face. Frizzy auburn hair, amazing golden eyes, pretty features. Vivian Holler, Loki’s Champion, the Reaper girl who’d murdered my mom.

What are you doing here? I hissed.

Vivian grinned at me. Nothing much. Just watching Logan finally follow through with what he started. Isn’t that right, Logan?

I looked at the Spartan. He didn’t say anything, although his fingers slowly tightened around the hilt of the sword. After a moment, he started twirling the weapon in his hand, getting a feel for the sword, just like he’d done at the auditorium before he’d attacked me.

No, I whispered. No, no, no.

Oh yes, yes, yes, Gwen, another voice purred.

I looked back at the steps. A woman with golden hair and bright green eyes was now sitting beside Vivian, wearing the same sort of black robe that she did. Agrona Quinn, Logan’s traitorous stepmom and the head of the Reapers.

I frowned. How had Agrona and Vivian gotten here? And how had they managed to work their foul magic on Logan again? He was supposed to be with his dad, Linus, recovering from all of the terrible things that had happened at the auditorium. He was supposed to be safe.

What’s going on? I asked.

I backed away from Logan and eased toward the far side of the stage, hoping I could run down the steps before he caught me. Logan would cut me to ribbons with his sword, especially since I didn’t have Vic to defend myself with. But more than that, I didn’t want to fight Logan—not again.

Ah, ah, ah, Vivian called out. Stay right where you are, Gwen.

A soft click sounded. My head snapped back to the Reaper girl, who now had a crossbow trained on me. I froze. Where had she gotten that from?

Excellent, Agrona purred again.

She waved her left hand, causing a large, heart-shaped ruby to sparkle in a ring on her finger. Did Agrona still have some of the Apate jewels left? Was that how she was controlling Logan again? I thought that I’d smashed all of the jewels she was wearing at the auditorium, but she must have gotten her hands on some more of them.

Now, Agrona said. We can finally proceed. If it pleases you, my lord?

She and Vivian both turned and looked over their shoulders. I’d been so focused on the two of them that I hadn’t realized a third figure was sitting on the steps in the exact center of the amphitheater.

Instead of a robe, shadows wrapped around his body, curling, writhing, and wisping around him like smoke hovering over a fire. Slowly, the darkness began to spread out from him, unrolling like a carpet over the steps, smothering the soft, rainbow flashes of color in the stone and staining everything a horrible, unending black. All I could see of his features were his eyes—one a vivid blue, the other that burning Reaper red I hated more than anything else—but I shivered with fear all the same.

Because somehow, someway, Loki, the evil Norse god of chaos, was here at Mythos Academy.

My lord? Agrona asked again.

Proceed, Loki answered, his voice booming through the auditorium, louder than any clap of thunder. Kill the Frost girl—now.

With pleasure. This time, it was Logan who spoke. Only it wasn’t his voice—it was Loki’s.

I looked at him in horror, but Logan was already running toward me.

No, Logan, I said, holding my hands up and backing away from him. Don’t. Please don’t. Not again—

Logan surged forward and ran his sword through my chest.

Agonizing pain exploded like a bomb in my heart, and I screamed and screamed from the sharp, brutal force of it. Logan smiled, yanked his sword out of my chest, and stabbed me with it again.

And again, and again, and again . . .

I woke up screaming.

One second, I was on the amphitheater stage with Logan killing me, and Vivian, Agrona, and Loki all happily watching. The next, I was lying in bed in my dorm room, wrestling with the pillow I’d buried my face in.

I slapped the pillow off the bed, sat up, and gulped down breath after breath. My eyes darted around my room, but everything was the same. Bed, desk, bookcases, fridge, TV. Vic hanging on the wall, Nyx curled up in her basket in the corner, Ran’s seaweed net draped over the back of my chair.

Real—this was real. Everything else had been a dream. Just a dream.

Vic’s eye snapped open, and he regarded me with a sympathetic expression. Another nightmare?

I slid to the floor and leaned back against the side of the bed. Nyx hopped out of her basket and raced over to me. I scooped up the pup and cradled her in my arms. Nyx licked my cheek, and I felt her warm concern wash over me.

Gwen? Vic asked again. Another nightmare?

Something like that.

Did he stab you again this time?

Oh yeah.

My chest ached, as though Logan really had hurt me again, and I buried my face in Nyx’s fur until the sensation faded away, and I was reasonably sure I wasn’t going to cry.

How did it start? Vic asked. The nightmare?

Calmer now, I rewound the images in my mind. Thanks to my psychometry, I never forgot anything I heard, saw, or felt, not even my dreams. Sometimes it was a blessing, being able to recall a cherished memory, but with the nightmares I’d been having lately, it seemed more like a curse.

I was in here, pacing back and forth, and I felt like I needed to escape . . .

I told Vic the rest of it. When I finished, the sword frowned in thought, while Nyx licked my fingers, trying to let me know she was here for me too.

The weird thing was that I really had gone to the Crius Coliseum a few days earlier, and I really did have Ran’s net draped over my desk chair. In fact, I’d talked about the net and how useless it seemed with Alexei and Daphne Cruz, my best friend, when we’d had dinner in the dining hall earlier. We’d come back to my dorm room to hang out for a while, and after they’d left, I’d decided to lie down on my bed to rest for a few minutes before taking a shower and getting ready for bed. Instead, I’d fallen asleep, and the image of the net had somehow led to my recurring nightmare of Logan stabbing me in the chest.

Just like he’d done for real a few weeks ago.

Well, obviously, you still have some issues with the Spartan and what he did to you, Vic finally said. And who wouldn’t? Do you want to talk about it?

He’d been asking me that ever since I’d had the first nightmare a couple of weeks ago, but once again, I shook my head. I didn’t want to talk about it. I didn’t even want to think about it, even though my refusal to deal was probably causing some of my nightmares. After a moment, I sighed, suddenly tired—of Reapers, of fighting, and most especially of all the horrible memories that I could never, ever forget, not even when I went to sleep.

Gwen? Vic asked again.

I’m fine now, I said. It was just a dream. It wasn’t real.

This time.

Vic gave me a sympathetic look, which I ignored. The sword had been extra nice to me ever since Logan left. All of my friends had, which only reminded me all the more that he was gone.

Still, despite my words, the nightmare had shaken me, and once again, I felt that desperate need to escape, to go someplace where no one was watching me, to go someplace where no one would think to look for me or try to hurt me. I glanced at the clock on my nightstand. Just after eight. I still had some time before the dorms locked down for the night at ten.

I gave Nyx one more hug, carried her back over to her basket, and helped her settle down inside it. Then, I shrugged into my jacket and grabbed my gloves and scarf. I also plucked Vic off the wall and belted the sword and his scabbard around my waist. Unlike in my dream, I wasn’t going to be so stupid as to not take a weapon with me, even if my destination wasn’t that far away and campus was supposedly safer these days.

Where are we going? Vic asked.

You’ll see.

I opened the door and left my dorm room.

For real, this time.

Chapter 2

I’d told Alexei I was staying put in my room for the rest of the night, so he’d gone back to his own dorm instead of standing guard outside my door. Good. I didn’t want him to know where I was going. I didn’t want anyone to know. Seriously, it was that sad and pathetic.

I didn’t bother crawling out a window like I had in my dream. Instead, I walked down the steps and right out the front door of Styx Hall.

One thing that was the same in real life as in my nightmare was the weather. Because of the cold, snow, and blustering winds, campus was as deserted as I’d imagined it had been—except for the members of the Protectorate.

Men and women of all shapes, sizes, and ethnicities could be seen patrolling the academy grounds, standing guard under trees and peering into the shadows that had spread out over the landscape. After the Reaper attack at the band concert, security on campus had been seriously beefed up, and members of the Protectorate could be seen here twenty-four-seven now. I doubted it would help, though. Try as they might, the Protectorate couldn’t be everywhere at once. Sooner or later, the Reapers would strike here again, and all I could do was to wait for it to happen—and try to survive.

Another thing that was the same was Aiko, who was standing below my windows, just as she had in my dream. I waved at the Ninja, and she lifted her hand and waved back. I liked Aiko. She read comic books and graphic novels, just like I did.

I stepped onto the path outside my dorm and hurried across campus. Aiko watched me go but didn’t follow, since her orders were to keep an eye on my dorm—not necessarily on me. That was Alexei’s job. I felt bad about not keeping my promise to him to stay inside, but I couldn’t sit in my room for the rest of the night. Not after the nightmare. So I headed toward Hephaestus Hall, one of the boys’ dorms.

All of the Mythos dorms required a student ID card in order to get inside, and your card only let you in to the dorm where you lived. But if you leaned on the front bell long enough, someone would eventually get fed up enough to buzz you inside without checking to make sure you really belonged there. We kids were totally lazy that way. I only had to hold down the bell for thirty seconds before the door clicked open.

Enough already! a male voice rumbled from deeper inside the dorm. We’re trying to watch the game!

I grinned, opened the door, and stepped through before the guy came to investigate. Judging from the alternating cheers and groans I heard coming from the common room, everyone in the dorm was watching the game, which made it easy for me to climb the steps to the fifth floor. I paused at the top of the stairs, wondering if someone might actually be in his room, studying, but everything was still and quiet. Since the coast was clear, I crept down the hallway until I reached the last door.

I stopped and cocked my head to the side, listening, but no sounds came from the other side. Then again, I hadn’t expected them to—I knew exactly how empty this particular room was. I reached into my messenger bag and drew out my wallet. It only took me a minute to slide my driver’s license in between the lock and the frame and pop open the door. I slid through to the other side and shut the door behind me.

The room was dark, so I hit the switch on the wall. Lights blazed on, revealing the same furniture that all of the kids had. A bed, a desk, some bookcases, a flat-screen TV mounted on one of the walls. The only thing that was different about the room was all the trophies he’d won. Dozens of little gold men holding swords, spears, and other weapons peeped out at me from the desk, the bookcases, and a shelf above the bed. There was even a life-sized trophy stuffed in the corner, a staff clutched in his hands like the man was about to step forward and bash me over the head with it. I shivered and looked away. Somehow, the fact that none of the trophies actually had distinct faces made them even creepier.

A loud sigh sounded, and I realized that Vic was awake. The sword had gone to sleep, as was his habit when he was in his scabbard. I pulled the sword free of the leather and held him up so that we were face-to-face. The sword glanced around the room.

Vic sighed again. Really? You’re going to come in here and mope again?

I’m not moping, I said in a defensive voice.

Really? Vic asked again, his voice made even more sarcastic by his biting English accent. "Because I think that sitting on the Spartan’s bed and staring at his things definitely qualifies as moping. Brooding, even. Especially when you’ve done it a dozen times since he left."

I looked out over Logan’s room. Maybe Vic was right. Maybe I was moping over the Spartan and the fact that he’d left Mythos—that he’d left me.

I’d first come in here two weeks ago hoping to find some clue as to where Logan had gone. He had asked me not to look for him, and I’d wanted to respect his wishes. Really, I had. I wasn’t planning to track him down and beg him to come back or anything crazy like that. But I figured that maybe my heart wouldn’t hurt quite as much if I at least knew where he was—and that he was okay. So I’d snuck into his room, determined to use my magic to flash on his things until I figured out where he’d gone with his dad, Linus. The first thing I had found had been a note propped up on his desk:

Seriously, goddess girl.

Stop looking for me.

Love,

Logan

I didn’t know whether to smile or grumble that he knew me so well.

After I found the note, I abandoned my plan to find out where Logan was. But I couldn’t keep myself from sneaking into his room, especially after the nightmares started. If I closed my eyes and touched his myth-history book or one of the trophies he’d won, I could feel, see, and hear the real Logan and not the Reaper-crazed murderer he’d turned into in my nightmares—the one who seemed to take such evil delight in stabbing me to death over and over again. By using my psychometry on one of his leather jackets or the swords he had lined up in the back of his closet, I could almost pretend he was still here with me, getting ready to meet me at the dining hall for lunch or come to the gym for early morning weapons training. It almost made me feel better about things.

Almost.

Well, if you’re determined to spend the rest of the night in here brooding, then I’m going back to sleep, Vic said. Wake me when there’s something to kill.

The sword snapped his eye shut. I sighed and slid him back into his scabbard. At least he wasn’t going to mouth off to me anymore. Or worse, stare at me with such pity in his eye.

I walked over and sat down on the bed, right next to a photo. I picked up the glossy paper, which showed me sitting on the steps outside the Library of Antiquities, my arms around Logan. He had the same black hair and blue eyes as in my dream, but the teasing, mischievous grin that stretched across his face was something that never appeared in my nightmares. It was a welcome sight, one

Reviews for Midnight Frost

[bookishthings · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5

I'm not sure if I wasn't in the right frame of mind to read this next installment, but it seems like it took me forever to get through it. Even though it took me a bit, I still enjoyed this book.

After the events that happened in Crimson Frost, the student body at Mythos Academy is still pretty shaken up, especially Gwen. She is constantly having nightmares, and is completely heart-broken. She spends a lot of the time feeling sorry for herself, but she bounces back in true Gwen fashion. She shows how strong and determined she can be regardless of the personal things she has to deal with. Logan isn't present in a lot of this book, but when he tries to be there for his friends. We also meet a new character who's pretty bad ass. I hope we get to see more of her in the future.


The story line starts out pretty slow. There are a few high points where there is a lot of action, but then it dies down. The pace picks up about 55% into the book. We learn some things about a few of the characters. I won't say who because it'd be a big spoiler.

Even though this is wasn't my favorite book in the series, but I'm glad I read it. After the events that take place in this book, I'm anxious to see what the Reapers have to throw at Gwen, and her friends, next.

[jeneaw-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the 5th in the Mythos Academy series, and another great installment with Gwen and her friends. When a reaper tries to poison Gwen, it doesn’t go according to plan. Someone else has taken the poison, and now Gwen is on a mission to save them. It isn’t going to be easy though, which is nothing new to Gwen.

Gwen is one of my favorite characters, not just in this series but overall. She has a bravery that I respect. With everything that has happened to her, and with the way kids and teachers have treated her, she just keeps on going. She is learning to control her power more and it comes in handy especially in the situations she finds herself in time. Vic, her sword always makes for some laughs with his snarkiness, and always wanting to fight someone. We are introduced to some new characters at the school in Colorado, but I don’t want to give to much away, but their parts were certainly important ones.

There is seldom a dull moment, with the reaper constantly after her, and Gwen’s friends and loved ones in danger. She is still having the nightmares of the reapers trying to kill her, and having to travel to the Mythos Academy in Colorado to find the cure for the poison that has left someone Gwen cares about, is a tough road to travel. Nike is still just as evasive as always with the answers that Gwen needs, but one thing about Gwen is she is smart enough to figure things out. There were some revelations about her family, her powers and more of her purpose has become clear. There enough action between the fighting the reapers, and the search for the cure that I wasn’t bored at all and I kept turning pages as fast as I could to know what happens, would they get what they needed in time and what could possible happen next to Gwen. She’s been through a lot and has everyone else with Loki being free again and the mythological creatures at almost every turn. And even more so, if Logan will come back and where their relationship stands. The ending was freaking awesome, setting up right where we need to be for the final installment.

Midnight Frost was exciting, and engrossing, filled with uncovered deceptions, family, and growing up. The pace was great and the actions was too. Estep has created a fascinating world of magic and mythology. I can’t wait for Killer Frost, which won’t be out until February 2014. But I know it will be worth the wait.

[ethel55_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

These kids really eat well. One of the continued story lines Estep has adhered to is how Gwen, raised in relatively normal circumstances, was so surprised at the gourmet food the Mythos Academy students (generally raised within very well-to-do mythological families) prefer. Gwen adjusts, except for missing Grandma Frost's wonderful baked goods. Even as Gwen and her friends travel to another Academy across the country to find a special plant needed for the antidote for another left behind in North Carolina, they find time to eat. I like that there is always some sense of normalcy in their fight against the Reapers. It seems the Reapers continue to get more bold as Gwen learns how to handle her craft better in each book.

[thehistorychic · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Read/Listened for Review (NetGalley/Brilliance)Overall Rating: 4.25Story Rating: 4.00Character Rating: 4.50Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the rating)First Thoughts when Finished: Oh how I hope that a certain someone is in books to come! She had spunk just like Gwen!Story Thoughts: I am a SUCKER for finding long lost, didn't know about them family. Especially when they have just as much reason to be sad, mad, and grumpy. Midnight Frost was a great adventure for Gwen and we got transported to a new location. In fact, we got to meet some new people and interact with Gryphons *sigh* (I really want a Gryphon--in the epic words of Warner Bros: I wanna hug him and squeeze him and call him George"). Actually, I really like where Midnight Frost is taking the story. Gwen is having to step up her game, protect her pack (and they protect her), and realize just how important those around her really are. On the romance front just don't get me started!Character Thoughts: Midnight Frost took us away from Mythos and introduced some new characters. New characters that I happen to really like and hope are in books to come. The core character is always Gwen and she shined! She showed humility, caring, daring, and patience. While Logan went back to a "maybe" I won't want to sock him character in this book for me; he did make an appearance and he did step up! Of course, Daphne kind of stole the show! She is the girl with all the great lines!Audio Thoughts: Narrated By Tara Sands / Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins I think Tara does a great job with the narration of the series. I think my only problem lies with Logan's voice and he isn't in this one much. Otherwise, she nailed Gwen! Her emotions, her quips, and her spunk! As always I suggest listening to a sample before committing to an audio book. Even those of us who listen to them don't always agree on narrators. (I added that in because lately I have been asked how to decide what audio book to listen too.)Final Thoughts: Why did I have to catch up? I mean now I have to wait *sigh*

[alwaysyaatheart · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Gwen Frost's story continues full force in the latest installment of the Mythos Academy Series, Midnight Frost, and Jennifer Estep delivers another action-packed story for fans of the series. Midnight Frost picks up shortly after Crimson Frost leaves off. If you read Crimson Frost, you know that there was a major, life-threatening thing that happened between Gwen Frost and the Spartan hottie Logan Quinn. Just when it seemed like things were coming together for them, the evil Loki and his Reapers have to go and mess things up. Logan has had to take some time away to deal with things, and if you read the novella Spartan Frost, you get to see what is going on with Logan and the things he is dealing with after the events that occurred in Crimson Frost. Poor Gwen just can't catch a break with those Reapers. They seem to be everywhere. Gwen and the Mythos Academy Crew, and how I love them, have been tracking down artifacts, some of which Gwen still isn't sure the significance of, but never fear, she soon finds out their importance. I think this group of friends becomes even more tight-knit in this installment as they work and spend more time together, and they are all badass warriors to. When tragedy strikes home threatening the life of someone Gwen holds dear, she and the gang are forced to visit the Denver Colorado branch of the academy in order to find a rare flower that holds the key to her loved one's survival, even though they know that the Reapers are setting them up. Unfortunately, it would seem that Logan is still MIA, unable to face Gwen and his friends just yet, still feeling terribly guilty for what happened between them. The plot thickens when the gang reaches Denver and we are introduced to a couple of new characters, one of which Gwen finds out she is very connected to. One cool thing in this novel is that there are a lot of Gryphons, and they have a big role in the story. Those old heifers Argona Quinn and Vivian Holler of course have to rare up their ugly heads, which I would love to pinch off, and cause trouble. Nike also makes an appearance, revealing some things to Gwen, and leaving even more unanswered. Even though they are not physically together for the majority of the book, the love is still there between Gwen and Logan, provided the necessary amount of romance that keeps you rooting and hoping that these two will finally be able to get together, and we do get to see Logan before the book ends...swoon. I think Gwen's character did a lot of maturing in this segment, and she also found out a lot of things about her family and her history that she was unaware of. Needless to say, as in all the installments, Jennifer Estep delivers another action-packed, suspenseful, and exciting story in Midnight Frost, which is true to form for her. The mythological world she has created in the Mythos Academy Series is not only enchanting, it's also loads of fun. The ending was really good. I was very happy, and that is all I can say without spoiling it for you. I look forward to seeing where Jennifer Estep takes these wonderful characters in the next installment.

[eomalley_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jennifer Estep has another winner with her latest entry in the Mythos Academy series. When a friend of Gypsy girl Gwen Frost is poisoned in her place (there’s an accident for you!), Gwen heads out on a quest with her friends for the only known antidote. But with threats of Reaper attacks hanging over their heads – and missing their strongest fighter, Spartan Logan Quinn – can Gwen and her companions find the elusive plant they need before it’s too late? Or will the Reapers of Chaos finally claim victory over Nike’s champion and destroy everyone she loves?This time around the majority of the action happens away from the Cypress Mountain Mythos Academy, as Gwen and her crew (sans Logan, but with the addition of Coach Ajax ) head to the Colorado branch in their search for the antidote. While I did find myself missing Logan, there was enough going on to keep me racing through to see what was going to happen next. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop (AKA Reaper attacks) since everyone involved knew they were heading into a trap, but really had no other choice if they wanted to save their friend. Estep continues to bring her “A” game by setting a sprightly pace and providing plenty of action to keep the story rolling. She then throws in some new characters to REALLY make things interesting for Gwen, and gives them plenty of substance to make them interesting for me. :)At the Colorado branch of Mythos Academy, we meet culinary employee Rachel Maddox and her niece, Rory, who are under a dark cloud of suspicion when Gwen, Coach Ajax, Daphne, Carson, Oliver, and Alexei arrive. They have the knowledge Gwen needs, though, to track down a mythical flower that carries the only known cure for the poison used in the botched attack on Gwen. I thought the quiet, caring Rachel and bold, snarky Rory were wonderful additions to the story and – along with the change in scenery – helped keep things fresh. Midnight Frost is the fifth book in the series, which is when a sense of staleness can creep in and make readers think everything is dragging on too long. Fortunately, Estep seems to know this, and these new characters and setting help keep boredom at bay. I’m really hoping both of them make an appearance in the next (and currently final) book of the series, since Rory looks able to keep Gwen and the other Mythos Academy students on their toes.The last few entries in the Mythos Academy series have had kick-butt finales, and Midnight Frost follows in their footsteps. With a furious battle, an injury to a loved one, a betrayal, and some new mythical creatures adding flare, the final quarter of the book flies by and then ends on a quiet note that sets things up perfectly for a major confrontation in the last book. A couple of new questions are added to the list of those still needing answers, but all the key players appear to have settled in place for a final showdown with Loki and his Reapers. I can hardly wait to see how Estep finishes everything off!As always with the Mythos Academy series, I have a nitpick (or two). Firstly, there’s just not enough Logan. I am not a fan of the relationship waffling that has occurred between Gwen and her Spartan boyfriend, and having him out of the picture for a majority of this installment didn’t exactly thrill me. By the end, however, things did seem to be back on track with them so I’ll forgive Estep one more time for dragging out this relationship way too long – especially when it sparks scenes like the one that occurs when Logan finally re-enters the picture. (I’m not sure how much patience I’ll have if she doesn’t keep them on their current relationship path, though.) Secondly, Gwen continues to be a bit too blind to clues that are all around her, making me want to shake her until she sees what is right in front of her eyes. Sometimes it is too easy for me to connect the dots that Estep has laid out, which leads to some frustration with the characters. I prefer things a bit murkier, so I can be surprised by events instead of seeing them coming from a mile away.Other than the little negatives above, Midnight Frost provided me with some first-rate entertainment as I followed Gwen and company on their latest adventure to foil the plans of the evil god Loki and his band of merry Reapers of Chaos. New characters and a change of scene freshened the series up, while the sprightly pacing and carefully placed battles kept my interest engaged. It’s tough for a series to remain strong when it moves beyond a third or fourth book (and sometimes even that is a challenge), so I’m impressed by author Jennifer Estep’s ability to keep it entertaining and to provide strong endings for each installment. Midnight Frost is a bang-up entry that sets things up neatly for a final showdown when Killer Frost hits store shelves in early 2014.

[darkfaerietales_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.Quick & Dirty: Another great addition to the series, with a fully developed world and filled with developed characters as well as a well thought out plot.Opening Sentence: I was trapped.The Review:I was given the opportunity to read Jennifer Estep’s Midnight Frost. As the fifth book in the Mythos Academy series, I feel that there is a little pressure to deliver something for everyone. Most readers who follow a series through five books have developed a love for the characters, joining a fandom if you will, and fan-girling with the person right next to you over the first few pages. As for me? I’m right there with all of the fan girls. I was excited and couldn’t wait to read about Gwen and her daring adventures.For Gwen, life hasn’t been normal for a while now. But for all of the twists and turns that have come her way, she has made life as average as the next person in Mythos Academy. When Gwen thinks she can take a moment to breathe, she is proven wrong. Reapers have tried to poison her, only to poison someone dear to her. The cure is a rare plant halfway across the country. Could Gwen find the plant in time to cure the poison? Or will she be walking right into the Reapers’ trap?Gwen Frost is a flawed heroine who has the heart of gold. She is one of the most loyal heroines I know. There are so many things to adore about her, but let me showcase this – Gwen is a person who will persevere. She has limitless possibilities of bravado and fervor. I have enjoyed reading how her character has developed into a young and lost teenager into Nike’s champion.Estep has managed to surprise me with Midnight Frost, and in book five! The setting was different, location-wise, theme-wise, just everything. But Estep brought along the familiar elements. She introduced new characters that interacted with old ones, and it just seemed to fit. A few of my questions were answered, but then it revealed so many secrets waiting to be uncovered. This world is constantly evolving, making it enjoyable to read. Not once did I tire of the characters or what was going on.I thought Midnight Frost was much more enjoyable than the others. There is a fully developed world within Mythos Academy, one filled with developed characters as well as a well thought out plot. After the third book, Dark Frost, I felt drawn into this world that contained mythology and contemporary elements, married together into this harmonious place. But after reading Midnight Frost? It solidified my adoration for Estep and the series. Her words translated exquisitely onto the pages. Her characters have this depth and exclusive personalities, complimenting each other but standing out on their own. And her story solely draws me into this world that I believe to be real.I really urge you to read Midnight Frost. If you haven’t read any of the books in the Mythos Academy, then I highly suggest you do so. They’re great fantasy books filled with so much myth and folklore.Notable Scene:“Professor?” I asked.Metis stared down at Nickamedes, a troubled look on her face. “He’s stable –for now.”That sick feeling ballooned up in my stomach again, choking the hope I’d felt a moment ago. “For now? What does that mean?”She looked up at me, pain, weariness, and sorrow glinting in her green eyes. “It means that if we can’t figure out what kind of poison the Reapers used, then Nickamedes will die.”FTC Advisory: Jennifer Estep provided me with a copy of Midnight Frost. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[hrose2931 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well, of course the Reapers are waiting for her. They need to kill Nike's Champion. Yeah, so maybe it was the wrong time to read this one or something because Midnight Frost did not seem as engaging as the other books in the series. Having read numerous other reviews though, I seem to be in the minority, or rather, the only one, so I'm thinking the fault may lie in my mindset when I read it and not in the book itself. So I'll just do a mini review.I really missed Logan in this one. I mean he was there but the relationship between he and Gwen was very different. I missed the banter and the fun. I think I'm struggling with believing four kids can kill a train car full of Reapers all without getting hurt. It was a little over the top for me.Now what I loved was how Gwen found the exact thing they needed for the antidote. And I also loved visiting another Academy, meeting new students, and hiking to a ruins on the top of a mountain in WINTER! (in Colorado)! That was unbelievable. And the description of the ruins made it sound so beautiful, like paradise on the top of the mountain. But, of course, there is always the threat of a reaper attack. I also LOVED how Gwen got up in Logan's business about how he wasn't the only one that was hurt and afraid. I think Logan is a little bit selfish, a little bit woe is me. Yes, he went through something traumatic, but so did Gwen. She died! So, of the two, if she can go back to Mythos and wants to see him, he needs to get off the couch and be the Spartan we know he can be. Then of course, I loved the whole time with the Griffins. So I suppose it really was that I missed the banter with Logan. I hate to think that is the only thing that makes me read this series because I've read five books and one or two novellas. It's not all about the romance. Or is it?

[eyes92c · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

De-Frosting now! Awesome as always!Ok! So I ' m coming down from my latest Mythos Academy episode.Full of surprises as always. I just love the way Gwen rescues and sticks up for the weak and the besieged. This time we have Gryphons. Yeah!The question of Logan is of course at the forefront of mine and Gwen's mind.Gwen uncovers secrets about her family and her father in particular. She is having flashes of the battle from Crimson Frost, and flashes of goddess encounters.Nickodemeaus is poisoned unto death. Racing against time to find a healing plant, Gwen and her friends walk deliberately into a Reaper's trap set in a place within the high mountain of the Rockies outside of Denver, in the garden of the goddess Eir. Evil again shows up in the form of Vivian andIf there's one complaint I have is that I felt I'd finished before I'd started and once again I'm wanting more of the courage and determination, and wisdom, that is all such a part of this Gypsy Girl, Gwen.Left as usual wanting more!A NetGalley ARC

[bookswithbite · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Can I just take a moment and reflect on the awesomeness of Jennifer Estep? Her writing is without a doubt phenomenal. I loved this series so much, that the minute I got it in my hands, I read it that day within a few hours.Plot: DA BOMB BABY! Fast-paced, action packed with loads of excitement. I can express in words how much I adored this book. It has plenty of on the edge of your seat drama, never letting up on the reader.Love: FINALLY! My spartan, how I missed you!! Let me tell you that they moment you’ve been waiting for is here. There is so much hotness and love that I must fan myself.*fans self* GAH! There are moments where you get angry at their stupidity, moments where you swoon and moments where you down right fall in love all over again. But believe me when I say that you will be satisfied.Mythology: Ms. Estep keeps the reader fasten in their seats with lots of mythology and back round history. The reader learns more about Gwen past and what the future has to hold for her. I really enjoyed learning about other creatures, power trips and of course watching friend working together.Midnight Frost is an epic tale. Sweeping me off my feet, I can not wait to read the next book. Perfectly done, Midnight Frost is an delight!

[krau0098 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the fifth book in the Mythos Academy series. Last I heard Estep was contracted for six book in this series, the sixth book will be titled Killer Frost and is due out in Feb of 2014.In this book Gwen and friends must travel to Mythos Academy in Colorado to find the antidote to a poison that the Reapers attacked with. Of course they know it is a trap. They must travel through the Colorado Mythos school to get to the antidote location. This book has very much of a questing feel to it; the characters must basically journey to the antidote location while dodging traps, acquire the antidote and then journey back. It’s a very simple plot and very predictable. If it’s the “worst and most dangerous course to take” Gwen takes that path immediately...as I said that makes thing predictable.In this book Gwen is treated a lot better than in previous books, because of her actions in the last book she has risen to more of a celebrity type status. We learn more about Gwen’s dad in this book and the true story behind how he was killed. It adds a bit of depth to Gwen.Logan is absent for the majority of the story, so Logan fans will be disappointed. He is in the end of the story. I kind of resented his cowardice in leaving Gwen “for her own protection”. Whatever, like he is the one who should make all the decisions in the relationship...rather than actually getting Gwen’s input. This dropped him down a few notches as a character in my humble opinion.Sadly the best character in the book is Vic, Gwen’s sword. He is funny and witty and just a lot of fun to read about. I also really enjoyed the addition of Griffins to the story; it was fun to have a new mythological animal join the fray. Lastly Gwen gets to interact with another Goddess and that was intriguing.I am getting a bit frustrated of the repetitiveness of this series. Every book Gwen faces off with Vivian and Agora, and every book the baddies escape Gwen by a hair. This happens multiple times a book and I am beginning to think that our heroes will never get it together enough to actually face off and defeat Loki. I am honestly kind of hoping the sixth book is the last book in this series, I really loved this series in the beginning but the last few books have been a bit slow.As with previous books this book has a small story that is resolved, of course there is the larger story of finally defeating Loki that continues from book to book. The book is well written and easy to read.Overall this was an okay book in this series. I have loved previous books in this series and though that this was one of the weakest books in the series yet. All of our characters seem to have lost their backbones, the plot is repetitive and predictable and a bit tired feeling. I did enjoy the inclusion of some new mythological characters though and I enjoyed the background information on Gwen’s father. I will definitely read the next book in this series, but may not read much beyond that if the series remains as stagnant as it has been the last couple books. This series is recommended to those who love YA urban fantasy.

[stacyatufi · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It is no secret that I love anything Jennifer puts out. I dive right into every book of hers the moment it hits my inbox. Gwen has not had an easy time since her Moms death and the moment the world of Mythos Academy was revealed to her. She has been to the brink of death and back, she has made and lost friends. She is Nike's Champion and non of her struggles are going to end anytime soon. Luckily she has great allies to help her on her journey. MIDNIGHT FROST brings us outside the Mythos Academy walls. Gwen and her friends must find a rare flower that only grows in one spot, at one time so that they can save someone close to their hearts from the poison that was meant for Gwen. Book 5 had a bit of a different feel to it. There was plenty of action moments but not as much as earlier books. There is a lot of focus on Gwen and her role as Nike's Champion, her feelings, her family and friendships, etc. There is a lot of growth on Gwen's part and it is not all easy. Since it is not that big of a shock, Logan does come back which brings feelings out from both sides. As always I loved watching all the characters work together towards their common goal. Their protectiveness towards Gwen is always awesome to witness.As the series progresses I find myself wanting the next book more and more. I look forward to seeing what Gwen and her allies will accomplish next.

[cool_mia · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Received via Kensington BooksIn case you were wondering,something miraculous and extraordinary does happen at midnight..The whole description made me wish I were there and see everything unfold..But an alternate title could be Gryphon Frost because they were everywhere,from paintings to the real deal..AnywaySometimes you are waiting for a book for a very long time and in the end you get up disappointed..This is NOT the case...Midnight Frost is beyond amazing..It's probably the book to-date in the series..There is a family twist/revelation,a new romance blooming,some relationships still going strong..Beyond the incredible craftiness Jennifer Estep gives to her writing,what I loved mostly in this one is that we get to see everyone being strong for each other with selflessness and tremendous loyalty..Our characters have changed but yet they are the same person..Jennifer Estep has done an amazing job bringing real personalities with issues in a fantasy world where a teenager is supposed to kill a God when she can't even sleep throughout the whole night without having any dreams.. "I've got to say princess,You know how to make an entrance.."..Qwen and her creator most certainly do.

[payday1999-430350 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is another great book in the Mythos Academy series and I am not disappointed in how it played it. In this book the Reapers have not given up on trying to kill Gwen and once again the Library is the place where all the action is. Gwen and friends now have to race and find an antidote for a friend that has been poisoned. Along the way is some trials for them to face and we also learn some more about Gwen's past and her heritage.

[rabidreads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Reviewed by: Rabid ReadsIn Midnight Frost we see Gwen really starting to come into her own; all of her hard work and training is finally paying off. She can now slay Reapers with the best of ‘em and she’s also quickly becoming the Pantheon’s greatest defense in the looming Chaos War. The learning curve has been steep and unforgiving but Frost is finally proving herself worthy to be called Nike’s Champion. In this installment we learn more about Gwen’s dad’s side of the family, a new character named Rory is introduced and our favourite Spartan gets a much needed wake-up call. But, as much as I love these books, the further along in this series I get the more predictable the story seems to become. This will in no way cause me to quit the Mythos Academy novels but I do wish that Estep would stray from her go-to format of Gwen gets attacked by Reapers in the library, kills them, investigates and then wraps-up with a new mission from Nike.One of the things that I’m enjoying the most about this Young Adult series and that I don’t usually come across in my typical reads is the quirkiness factor. What I mean by this is that Estep’s able to get away with certain things that I’d otherwise normally roll my eyes at. Take Vic for example, I absolutely adore his snarky one-liners but if I’d come across a talking sword in one of my Urban Fantasy books I may have stopped reading then and there however, in this instance it totally works! Gwen has also become something of a celebrity on campus so the students invented an app to keep track of her whereabouts at the Academy; I thought the idea of a Frost tracker for my iPhone was one of the coolest things ever. Again, in adult fiction this would come across as creepy but in the Mythos world it’s super cute.I like how each installment features a different mythological creature; previously we learned about Black rocs, Fenrir Wolves and Nemean prowlers but this time around it’s Gryphons that are front-and-center. Gwen seems to have a knack for making allies out of enemies and once again it pays off. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Frost with her own little mythological army by the time the final battle rolls around. I really enjoyed comparing the North Carolina Mythos Academy to the one they visit in Colorado. At times it felt like they were two sides of the same coin; one evil and one good what with the two librarians and then of course, there’s Rory. I thought that Miss Forsetti was a great addition to this series’ lovable cast of characters and her nickname for Gwen is priceless!Logan continues to be well… Logan. He’s MIA for most of this novel because of what happened in Crimson Frost but Gwen does get the chance to voice her feelings where he is concerned and she’s not nice about it either. I loved watching her put Mythos‘ best fighter in his place; sometimes the truth hurts! Hopefully this will be the last of their relationship woes. Towards the end, Frost gains an important weapon in the war against Loki and I think things will really begin to heat up in Killer Frost. As far as I know, Jennifer Estep is contracted for six books so the next installment may very well be the last. Even though this wasn’t my favourite installment, Midnight Frost provided me with hours of great entertainment and really, that’s good enough for me!