Kindle Edition Amazon Amazon.com Amazon Category:  Fantasy ISBN-10:  9781471710292 Type: Fiction Pages: 381 Copyright: Feb 8, 2012 ISBN-13: 9781471710292 In a future where ignorance has destroyed the world that we know, humans are slaves and Mages - advanced beings with abilities beyond everyday reach - rule the land. Avalon is one such Mage. Barely eighteen years of age, she wields the gift of fire yet she is unable to control it. She leaves her family in the dead of night and heads to the city of Frost Arch, her future seemingly grim. Will Avalon be able to overcome the trials that befall her? Will she be able to save the ones she loves and stay strong within herself? Time will tell. In a future where ignorance has destroyed the world that we know, humans are slaves and Mages - advanced beings with abilities beyond everyday reach - rule the land. Avalon is one such Mage. Barely eighteen years of age, she wields the gift of fire yet she is unable to control it. She leaves her family in the dead of night and heads to the city of Frost Arch, her future seemingly grim. Will Avalon be able to overcome the trials that befall her? Will she be able to save the ones she loves and stay strong within herself? Time will tell. 'Frost Arch' is the first book in The Fire Mage Trilogy

Frost Arch: Wonderful and Compelling
Like many others, I found this book on its release date and was instantly interested in both its title and description. Now, I have to admit that I do not read a lot of fantasy fiction, having most of my time consumed with grading essays and reading novels with my students, but there was something about this book that caught me; and, I am glad it did.

Frost Arch is the first book written by Kate Bloomfield and she succeeds wonderfully in her work. The novel follows a young mage who struggles with both feelings of inadequacy and isolation in regards to her fellow mages. These feelings provide the impetus of her journey into Frost Arch where she succeeds in starting her life over while simultaneously meeting very interesting and colorful characters who help her on her way.

The novel reminds me a bit of the X-Men stories in that the powers that each mage receives can sometimes be more of a curse than a blessing; and thus, the novel ultimately centers around finding your own strength and living the life you were born to live as opposed to the life you think that you would want to live.

Although, I would say that this book might be intended to a teenage audience, the novel does have some surprisingly dark scenes that caught me by surprise and added a level of realism that I had not expected.

I look forward to the second book and urge anyone reading this review to read the novel and support this budding writer.

Exciting new trilogy
I have read a lot of fantasy, some good, some great, some not so great. This one is great! From the outset I was intrigued with Avalon, the fire Mage, and my heart went out to her plight, but I never dreamed that the story would pull me in as it did or offer so much excitement. She is an amazing heroine with equally amazing friends. I cannot wait to read the next installment, her future and that of her family is so uncertain; there is so much that the author could do to expand the story and I am sure Ms Bloomfield has the talent to make it happen.

a lot of fun
This was a great book

-Characters are a LOT of fun, well developed with interesting quirks
-The world is well developed, with tons of creativity and a set of rules all its own that is fun to learn and explore
-I cared about the plot and what happens
-magic is interesting
-well written

I had a lot of fun reading this, and I was completely absorbed by the story once it actually got started (right around the end of the first chapter). I very much look forward to reading the next book in this series.