Frozen - Softcover

Rose, Elle A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1909902144 ISBN 13: 9781909902145

Publisher: Rowanvale Books, 2014

Synopsis

Elle A. Rose’s new book began life as a short story for a Halloween anthology published by her writing group. Having developed the story into a full length novel, Elle has now produced a full-length YA fantasy novel for her readers to enjoy. Frozen follows teenager Verick Cedar, who survives in a world ravaged by alien species the Xecerptavode. With the land ravaged, the water drained and all comforts a thing of the past, the humans are forced to venture out on Halloween, when the Xecerptavode are briefly frozen. Sixteen year old Verick must go ‘Trick or Treating’ for the first time, navigating the unforgiving environment and gathering supplies for his family in his one brief window of opportunity. Elle A. Rose deftly explores reactions to deprivation, disaster, and grief, and in doing so raises questions about the nature of humanity. As the fight for survival places ever-increasing pressure on Verick’s friends and family, ripples of anger and betrayal threaten to immobilise their society for good. Frozen will appeal to adult and young adult readers of sci-fi and fantasy, and Verick’s fear, desperation and, ultimately, courage and compassion will grip readers to the final pages.

About this title

Product Description:

Frozen follows teenager Verick Cedar, who survives in a world ravaged by alien species the Xecerptavode. With the land ravaged, the water drained and all comforts a thing of the past, the humans are forced to venture out on Halloween, when the Xecerptavode are briefly frozen. Sixteen year old Verick must go 'Trick or Treating' for the first time, navigating the unforgiving environment and gathering supplies for his family in his one brief window of opportunity. Elle A. Rose deftly explores reactions to deprivation, disaster, and grief, and in doing so raises questions about the nature of humanity. As the fight for survival places ever-increasing pressure on Verick's friends and family, ripples of anger and betrayal threaten to immobilise their society for good. Frozen will appeal to adult and young adult readers of sci-fi and fantasy, and Verick's fear, desperation and, ultimately, courage and compassion will grip readers to the final pages.

Review:

Elle A Rose s latest novel, Frozen, is sure to secure a rightful position in the top favourite books list of young adults, and slightly older adults, alike. The novel is intriguing from the start, grabbing the reader s imagination in a fierce grip and preventing them from having any inclination to put the book down until they have reached the final page. Set in the distant future, Frozen charts the coming of age of a sixteen year old boy, Verick Cedar, and his survival in a stark, unforgiving land. This land is Earth, but not as we know it: brutal aliens called Xecerptavodes have invaded the planet during a period called The Great Takeover; draining it of its resources and causing its entire surface to fuse into one large mass. All surviving humans were forced to live in villages, called slums, constructed by their bare hands using mud and the remaining materials that did not perish during The Great Takeover. The land is hot and bare and farming takes place underground. Verick and his family and friends are part of a generation that have learned to live with this situation; a close-knit society has been formed and there are rules to abide by and traditions to honour. However, despite their resilience, the villagers still have dangers to face. Frozen considers the largest of those, the Trick or Treat, which takes place on one night every year. Based on the familiar holiday/festival that we recognise as Halloween, the Trick or Treat harks back to its ancient roots, when spirits roamed the above ground for one night only; some good, but some evil. In the novel, during this fateful night, ancestors of the families rise again to protect them from the Xecerptavodes; freezing them in stasis for one night only, allowing men and women from each family to venture into the Xecerptavode villages to scavenge as many resources as they can. However, the spirits of the ancestors are not the only ones to rise, and the brave hunters must face a number of threats, including the vengeful ghosts of deceased Xerceptavodes... Frozen opens as Verick is preparing for his first Halloween Trick or Treat, at the age of sixteen. Rose s clever, accessible prose delves into the mind of the teenage boy, breaking through the barriers of strength and bravery that he presents to his family and friends. We are allowed access to his inner thoughts, and experience his emotions of fear, self-doubt and confusion along with him; creating a powerful bond between reader and narrator. Verick is a deep and complex character and his situation is both intriguing and sympathetic. As he struggles to train for Halloween, a shadow that looms over him, he also attempts to protect his family and maintain close relationships with friends as well as coming to terms with his feelings as some of these friendships begin to take on romantic overtures. The reader follows Verick on his journey of self-discovery; and it soon becomes clear that his coming of age does not simply relate to battling ferocious aliens. Frozen is a clever, complex novel, with a concept that is as fresh and gripping as its counterparts in the genre of young adult sci-fi fiction. Elle A. Rose skilfully weaves her narrative, considering a range of elements and ideas, all the while keeping the reader entirely focussed on the events taking place in the dystopian society of this future Earth. Rose balances vivid battles with detailed descriptions of daily life in the slums, and her consideration of how human life and society would function in such a situation is fascinating and deeply thought-provoking. The novel does have a tendency to seem rushed in parts, with some crucial information relating to the setting feeling as though it has been dropped in at random moments, but overall this is a tight, compact but expansive novel, and an excellent read. --Nia Liversuch

The vivid narration of Elle A. Rose s Frozen brings her alien-invaded dystopia down to earth in a novel ideal for those who enjoy the science fiction genre. Verick Cedar, our sixteen-year-old protagonist, guides us through what remains of mankind as he fights for his family s survival. For another year, at least. Set long after The Great Takeover when Verick s ancestors lost their home, Verick begins to question the society that he and his loved ones work tirelessly to maintain. As a result, he delivers a matter-of-fact and well-paced perspective that is easy to read and yet intimates an underlying sense of pressure, as though something could cut his story short at any moment. The storyline is rich with characters as generations of humans strive together for the continuation of their race. From the novel s opening pages, the elders clearly have a strict grip over the young, with a fascinating fusion of superstition and tradition upholding order. Although, the tightly-knit tribal atmosphere of this remaining collective often results in friction, creating unexpected twists to keep readers on the edge. An abundance of conflicting emotions and agendas sparks a series of romantic, humorous, and often unfortunate occurrences. Readers will laugh at our hormonal hero s personal struggles, which lead audiences to wonder if the invading alien genus is half as much trouble for Verick as the teenage girls in his life. However, these personal difficulties are set against an impending backdrop. The mysterious Xecerptavode species that drove humanity to the brink of extinction hangs above the story like a predator waiting to strike. The sympathy invoked through our connection with Verick and his friends leads us to deliberate whether surviving will be enough anymore. Will the humans continue to live in fear or will they at last retaliate against their oppressors? Rose s realistic writing style combined with the fantastical creatures and climate creates an inventive flair that is enjoyable to read and will entice you into an unfamiliar and unnerving new world. --Ann-Marie Richardson

About this edition

• Publisher: Rowanvale Books
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1909902144
• ISBN 13: 9781909902145
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 222