Frozen

Gr 8 Up—The frozen future of New Vegas is the setting of the first title in the "Heart of Dread" series, a world where the sea is filled with "trashbergs," and the citizens of the Remaining States of America gamble to win fresh water. Teenage blackjack dealer Natalie Kestral is one of the Marked. As a minority with special powers, the Marked are feared and so Nat keeps her magic secret until a persistent voice in her head convinces her to embark on a journey to find the mysterious land known as the Blue. Pedestrian prose describes the daily dangers of treacherous crew and foul-smelling zombies, who are ultimately outsmarted by a magical multitude: smallmen (literally child-sized men), sylphs ("beings of luminous beauty and awesome power"), and the last drakon, protector of the Blue. Mixing elements of fantasy (magical creatures) and science fiction (environmental dystopia), the fast-moving plot will keep listeners engaged. Audio actors Phoebe Strole and Dan Bittner alternate narration, which adds interest to the awkward romance between Nat and Wes, the mercenary ship's captain. In the end, they separate, each returning to their own responsibilities, but will surely reunite in a later book in the series. YA readers who crave "fire and pain, rage and ruin, wrath and revenge" will feast on Frozen (Putnam, 2013).—Toby Rajput, National Louis University, Chicago