For Gwen Frost, school is anything but normal. She goes to Mythos Academy, a school for those descended from ancient warriors like Spartans, Valkyries, and Amazons. Here they learn how to control and use their magic. Gwen has the unique ability of psychometry. She can feel an object's history by touching it. Unfortunately, this ability has gotten her into trouble on more than one occasion, or maybe that has something to do with being Nike's champion. Trouble seems to follow Gwen no matter where she goes. Homecoming: Reaper attack. Winter Carnival: Reaper attack. Winter break: Reaper attack. Winter band concert: Reaper attack. Why should Valentine's Day Dance be any different?

But the Reaper's have bigger plans this time. They want to restore Loki, the evil Norse god of chaos, to full health, and what they need is being relocated to Mythos Academy. Only Gwen can find out what it is the Reaper's want, and she's the only one who can stop them. Gwen has a feeling this will be a fight to the death...probably hers.

KILLER FROST by Jennifer Estep is the sixth and final book in the Mythos Academy series. With cheeky humor, non-stop action, and the emotional drama of high school, KILLER FROST has a little bit of everything for teen readers. There are many aspects I like about KILLER FROST. The characters are diverse and each has an important role to play in the final battle with Loki. They're fun, likable, and add humor to the story. Ms. Estep provides fantastic details to draw each scene vividly; I especially love her descriptions of the desserts, which made me crave cookies and s'mores, but the action sequences are just as well-written. They flow seamlessly and quickly so you never lose track of what is going on.

There are two minor elements of KILLER FROST which gave me pause. First, a major plot element is that magical artifacts are being taken to Mythos Academy in order to protect them and lure the Reaper's into a trap. This is a Hogwart's approach to educating magical children. The safest place in all magical realms is surely not high schools. That's not to say I don't love the setting. Mythos Academy is amazing and beautifully described, but it isn't logical to take the one artifact Loki needs to the school where minors reside.

The other element deals with Gwen's confrontation with Loki. I don't want to give away the climax, but I was a little disappointed that Gwen's path follows the traditional female heroine character arc. It's traditional for a reason, but I'd love to see more young adult urban fantasies mixing up the roles males and female characters fall into. These two minor details didn't ruin my enjoyment of Gwen's story. She remains a strong-willed female character, and it is fun reading KILLER FROST.

KILLER FROST by Jennifer Estep is, without a doubt, a fun urban fantasy with a strong (physically and emotionally) female lead who can face down Loki, still worry about the Valentine's Day Dance, and work through a rough patch with her mega-cute boyfriend. You can read KILLER FROST without reading the previous books in the Mythos Academy series, but Gwen is a wonderful character you'll want to follow from the very first book to the exciting conclusion!

Book Summary

I've battled the Reapers of Chaos before—and survived. But this time I have a Bad, Bad Feeling it's going to be a fight to the death. . .most likely mine.

Yeah, I've got my psychometry magic, my talking sword, Vic, and even the most dangerous Spartan on campus at my side in Logan freaking Quinn, but I'm no match for Loki, the evil Norse god of chaos. I may be Nike's Champion, but at heart, I'm still just Gwen Frost, that weird Gypsy girl everyone at school loves to gossip about.

Then someone I love is put in more danger than ever before, and something inside me snaps. This time, Loki and his Reapers are going down for good . . . or I am.