Frost Moon [Kindle Edition]

Anthony Francis (Author)

Book Description

In an alternate Atlanta where magic is practiced openly, where witches sip coffee at local cafes, shapeshifters party at urban clubs, vampires rule the southern night like gangsters, and mysterious creatures command dark caverns beneath the city, Dakota Frost's talents are coveted by all. She's the best magical tattooist in the southeast, a Skindancer, able to bring her amazing tats to life. When a serial killer begins stalking Atlanta's tattooed elite, the police and the Feds seek Dakota's help. Can she find the killer on the dark fringe of the city's Edgeworld? Among its powerful outcasts and tortured loners, what kind of enemies and allies will she attract? Will they see her as an invader, as a seducer, as an unexpected champion ... or as delicious prey?

Product Details

• File Size: 582 KB
• Print Length: 284 pages
• Publisher: BelleBooks - A (March 11, 2010)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B003BX08JQ
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #151,315 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Welcome to the rip-tide life of Dakota Frost! March 7, 2010

By Le'

Format:Paperback

"Frost Moon" grabs you by the neck and throws you head first into the rip-tide life of Dakota Frost, magical tattoo artist and skindancer. This dark urban fantasy by Anthony Francis challenges you from the start to keep up or drown, tangled in the hidden roots you can feel lurking just under the surface.

Dakota is part of the Edgeworld--an alternate-world subculture that is populated by weres, vampires, witches, magicians, and the occasional agent of a secret government law enforcement agency--set in Atlanta, Georgia. As a magical tattooist, Dakota inks powerful designs into her own skin and that of her clients. Whether for protection or control, these magical tattoos can take on a life of their own.

In "Frost Moon", Dakota is recruited by law enforcement to consult on evidence from a serial killer who is murdering Edgeworlders for the very same kind of tattoos that Dakota creates. And there are only days left until the next murder is expected to occur. The story launches from there. Much of the plot is invested in Dakota's process of tracking down people to consult on new magical tattoo designs and the dangers she encounters along the way. And oh, what trouble she gets into with the numerous supporting characters that are tossed into the mix, seemingly at random.

The biggest criticism I have for this book is that time is unbelievably condensed, with too much happening in too short of a time frame. At times, the plot feels excessively full with too much going on while still being delivered in a rather brusque tone. Francis struggles with the balance between too much information/action and not enough, a hazard of creating his own world for this series, though he manages to pull most of it together at the end.

Overall, a good read. I look forward to seeing what is in store for Dakota Frost in the next book of Francis's Skindancer series.

Note: This review is of the "Early Reviewers" edition of this book via LibraryThing. (*** 1/2 )

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Great Premise, Mediocre Execution September 14, 2010

By Jennifaire

Format:Paperback

This book sounded great when I read the synopsis... so great in fact that I jumped through a few hoops to acquire the book. I love the ideas that Mr. Francis explores, they are original and have a lot of potential to go big places. Now here are the BUTs:

The author seems to have fallen into that cliche category of "male author who has no earthly idea how to write a female lead character with any believability." Dakota is a male fantasy; she is 6'2" tall, beautiful, has big boobs, is witty, has a sexy profession, has connections to the BDSM scene, and the love of her life happens to be a -- wait for it -- stunningly gorgeous redheaded vampire queen. Did I mention she's bisexual rather than outright lesbian? That means all of the male characters whose paths she crosses throughout the book are all attracted to her and presumably have a shot at dating her. Also, Dakota needs character flaws in order to grow throughout the trilogy the author seems to have planned for her, and so far I can't find any other than the obvious big one (her reactions after her attack). And even here, her recovery is too quick, too perfect. She even demonstrates her innate mothering skills and ends up with an instant family at the end of the book. I found myself unable to relate to her or sympathize with her at all. Maybe this is how men feel when they read romance novels?

My suggestion for Anthony Francis is to get a better critique circle.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read, but a bit slow June 5, 2010

By Vienna VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I think the author has created a very promising "Edgeworld" for a continued fantasy series. I quite enjoyed the idea of skin-dancing and magical tattoos, and loved the uber-Liberal Dakota (the first line is the best!), but I never got to a part in the book where I was waiting with great anticipation to see what happened next. I found it a bit slow and filled with somewhat irrelevant details (honestly, the whole bit about Savannah didn't pan out at all, as her protection proved all but worthless) but I was interested in seeing how it ended.

The author ties things up fairly well, and didn't surprise me (I knew who the bad guy was, so no Scooby-Doo ending here), and I found the characters of Dakota and Cinnamon both likable. The only other complaint that I had is the notion that a 6'2" woman covered in tattoos and a purple Mohawk is turning heads from Feds to wolves to karate teachers, but I guess she just has a universal appeal that I didn't quite see. It's not at the top of my list, but I'd recommend it to those who like urban fantasy.

More About the Author

Dr. Anthony G. Francis, Jr. is a science fiction writer and computer scientist who started writing urban fantasy because he likes it. The Dakota Frost series combines Anthony's love of hard science, fantastic magic, alternative culture, and strong, feisty women.

Even though the siren call of computing eventually pulled him out to the San Francisco Bay Area, he still chose to set the Dakota Frost series in Atlanta, Georgia, where he spent nearly half his life and which he has learned to love like no other place on Earth.

When not making computers smarter or writing science fiction and fantasy, Anthony blogs about his life, his writing and his research at The Library of Dresan. He also writes an occasionally updated webcomic, f@nu fiku. He currently lives in San Jose with his wife and cats.