Fire and Ice

The Aldurian Chronicles Book 1

Young Adult - Sci-Fi
Kindle Edition
Reviewed on 05/02/2018
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Jessica Victoria Fisette is the author of The Soul Reaper series, Fragments, and The Aldurian Chronicles. Her hobbies include discovering the benefits of natural medicine, wine tasting, and trying new recipes in the kitchen. She likes to unwind by typing out a scene or two in her latest obsession or indulging in a good book. Having been passionate about writing since she was a little girl, she is constantly coming up with new ideas for future stories and creating unique, strongwilled—albeit flawed—characters to overcome the difficult obstacles she places before them. Having spent all her life in rural Southeast Texas, she appreciates the tranquility of country living and hopes to implement such a love for nature into her beautiful, ever-so-curious little girl.

    Book Review

Reviewed by K.J. Simmill for Readers' Favorite

Allie didn't believe the things that had been whispered about Phoenix after her accident. She alone still looked for him, she had faith that he was neither responsible for the fire, nor dead. Of course, having driven off a bridge, and lost her memories of that night didn't help her case much. But a gnawing fear told her there was more to the situation than she thought, more than she remembered. How right she had been, and how lucky she was to trust her instincts when a sudden visit by official looking figures at her school didn't sit right with her. She had run, run as if her life depended on it, and it had. She and Phoenix had touched upon a world of magic, a skill they thought was unique to them, but there were more out there like her. Yet at the same time, in the eyes of some, there was no one like her. She was just what was needed. A long-lost piece of a play for power, and she didn't even know how to defend herself.

Fire and Ice follows Allie's story. It is easy to initially believe that you have started this book at number two, a clever ploy by the author, Jessica V Fisette, to allow plot discovery by the protagonist. As this book is written solely in the first person perspective, we only know and learn what they themselves do, so a gap in memory leading a reader to think they have missed something is, in fact, exactly how Allie's feels, and in time, throughout the journey, more is discovered until most things fall into place. This is an ideal young adult/new adult read, reminding me in some places of an L.J. Smith novel, whilst not being in any way derivative. You'll cringe at Allie's decisions, but realise that, at her age, rash and impulsive thinking came more naturally in dangerous scenarios than trust and asking questions. A journey of discovery, uncovering the truth about her past, and fighting to reclaim her present before anything more is stripped from her.

Jack Magnus

Fire and Ice: The Aldurian Chronicles, Book 1 is an urban fantasy/coming of age novel for young and new adults written by Jessica V Fisette. She would see Phoenix in her dreams, and it was all so very real. Allie could feel the warmth of his breath, see the concern and love in his silver-irised eyes. She actually felt him, could touch him, but then, as always, something dragged her back to consciousness and the stark unyielding reality that he was gone. Phoenix was so much a part of who she was; she would never be able to wrap her mind around the reality of him being gone forever. The ruby and sapphire ring he had given her still made her smile, and it helped her maintain a belief, against all doubt, that he was still out there somewhere, that he had survived that night. Allie couldn’t bring herself to believe that he had actually caused the fire in the firehouse where he was a volunteer, and she didn’t understand what happened that night when she drove off Asher Creek Bridge. For now, however, she was home with her family, under the strict supervision of her mom and dad, who were not at all sure they could trust her anymore.

Jessica V Fisette’s urban fantasy/coming of age novel for young and new adults, Fire and Ice: The Aldurian Chronicles, Book 1, is an engrossing and well-written story about a young woman whose tragic loss of her soul mate is compounded by her inability to recall what happened that night. Allie has so many mysteries to solve as she tries to understand who she is and why her life is so suddenly imperiled. Fisette’s plot is intricate and cunning, and her characters are well-defined and credible. Her story blends elements of science fiction, fantasy, coming of age, and action and adventure genres, and it does so quite well. Fire and Ice: The Aldurian Chronicles, Book 1 is most highly recommended.

Cheryl E. Rodriguez

Jessica V. Fisette pens a young adult thriller in Fire and Ice. Allie wakes after having another dream of Phoenix; it seemed so real, not like a dream at all. Where is he? After the fire, he just vanished. Of course, everyone blames him for the burning of the fire station, but Allie knows different. She looks lovingly at the ruby and sapphire ring. It reminds her of the secret gifts she and Phoenix share – the power of fire and ice. Reluctantly Allie goes to school, but she would rather be out looking for Phoenix. A strange and eerie storm approaches. Held within its fury is a familiar, yet foreboding presence. Suddenly, Allie finds herself running for her life. She loses control and unleashes her power. “Maybe whatever happened in her past had something to do with what was happening now.” If only she could remember what happened the night of the fire, and who the stranger was with the glistening eyes?

Fire and Ice is book one of Jessica V. Fisette’s Aldurian Chronicles. Fire and Ice is a fast-paced, heart-pounding science fiction action adventure. The central theme of self-discovery runs rampant from beginning to end. The young heroine is trapped within herself, confused, running for her life, trying to discover her true identity. She repeatedly asks herself, "Why am I different from everyone else?" The answer to her question is beyond surreal. If you love the X- Men, you will love Fire and Ice. Fisette writes with care and she doesn’t give away too much too soon. The mystery, science fiction, and suspense gradually unfold with every turn of the page. The descriptions are imaginative, captivating and defined, luring the reader into the scene. There are questions with bizarre answers, and surprising situations with mind-boggling and at times devastating outcomes. The plot action twists and turns, ascending to its apex, yet the denouement takes you right back to the beginning, hoping and wondering if “Fire and Ice” will be reunited.

Liz Konkel

Fire and Ice by Jessica V Fisette is the first book of The Aldurian Chronicles. Allie's parents haven't trusted her since the night of the accident. The same night her boyfriend disappeared and received the blame for the fire station burning down. Constantly monitored by her parents, she struggles to find any evidence of where Phoenix went, while being constantly haunted by memories. When suspicious federal agents show up at her school looking for her, she knows the only way to keep her family safe is to run away, but nowhere she goes is safe. When she's rescued by strangers, she quickly discovers a past too shocking to believe and an evil cult leader who will stop at nothing until he gets her, even destroying those closest to her.

Jessica V Fisette delivers a brilliant, action-packed adventure with surprises on every page. Allie has been living a secret life with mysterious abilities and romance. The story picks up after the incident that left the fire station burned down and her boyfriend has disappeared, beginning right in the middle of the action. Allie's main goal in the beginning is to find her boyfriend while also struggling with memories she had lost that are slowly making their way back, but when she's attacked by strangers pretending to be federal agents, her story quickly becomes one of survival. The stakes are high and the danger worsens literally with every step she takes. The allies she makes are very shady when she meets them, so it's unclear if they're friend or foe. When she finally sorts out who she can trust, things take a devastating turn. Allie doesn't have many calm moments to pause as something always seems to be crashing around her, but there are plenty of moments where Allie is able to reflect.

Fisette plays with structure by using memories of the past to unravel the mystery of this secret world and the characters. The memories Allie experiences are also what ties romance into the story, which is largely felt through her emotions. While there isn't a chance to meet Phoenix in person, her connection to him is strong enough emotionally so that you root for her to find him anyway. Fire and Ice is an unexpected delight with twists you won't see coming, action that will keep you on your toes, and an exciting world that quickly unfolds into chaos.

Melinda Hills

Allie has recently discovered there is something different about her and it took her boyfriend, Phoenix, to help her develop the powers she possesses. In Fire and Ice: The Aldurian Chronicles Book 1 by Jessica V Fisette, Allie finds herself the subject of some type of investigation, but the agents are not from the government. Phoenix has been missing for several months since a strange occurrence at the local fire house led to a car accident that nearly took Allie’s life. A stranger saved her, but now he is showing up more often and Allie has no idea what to think.

When Allie is confronted by unusual beings, another stranger steps in to save her. Alec escapes with Allie and takes her to a hideaway where he hopes to be able to train her to use her powers and take care of herself. As they work, Allie learns about her past, but still doesn’t have all the pieces to figure out what is really going on. In spite of many precautions, Allie becomes vulnerable to the evil forces trying to find her and realizes that she has to depend on herself first and foremost.

Jessica V Fisette has created an interesting backstory for Allie while gradually tying it to the present action in Fire and Ice: The Aldurian Chronicles Book 1. With lively dialogue, intense emotions, the insecurities of the teenage years and plenty of action, this sci-fi novel is a great read for YA (and older) enthusiasts. Some editing oversights cause minor bumps in the flow, but the plot drives forward with compelling characters and plenty of twists and turns to keep you engaged and turning the pages. This is a great start to what should be an exciting series.