The Face in the Frost
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A wizard flees pursuers in a feuding kingdom for a battle over a magical paperweight.
John Bellairs, the Edgar Award-nominated author known for The House with a Clock in Its Walls and the Lewis Barnavelt series, presents a tale blending horror and fairy tale fantasy. The story follows Prospero, a tall, skinny wizard living in the South Kingdom, a region of feuding duchies loyal to a single king. He teams up with his necromancer friend Roger Bacon, who seeks a mysterious book. Together they flee ominous pursuers after leaving their home. Their journey leads them to a grove where Prospero’s rival Melichus is falsely rumored to be buried. They also encounter an unwelcoming inn in the town of Five Dials. The plot centers on a dangerous battle originating from a magical glass paperweight. Ursula K. Le Guin describes Bellairs as a writer who understands wizardry, noting the work combines thriller elements with inventive fantasy. This narrative appeals to readers who enjoy dark humor and supernatural intrigue within a structured, quest-driven framework. It may not suit those seeking purely academic historical texts or light-hearted comedy without underlying menace.
Bellairs writes in the tradition of fantasy inspired by fairy tales, drawing on the legacy of The House with a Clock in Its Walls. Ursula K. Le Guin validates his approach to wizardry. The work sits within the Edgar Award-nominated author's broader catalog of supernatural fiction.
📝 Description: The Face in the Frost
💎 Our verdict on The Face in the Frost
📖 Why choose it
Why this book is worth reading
Readers who appreciate a blend of dark humor and supernatural intrigue will find this narrative compelling. It offers a structured, quest-driven framework that appeals to those enjoying inventive fantasy combined with thriller elements. The story is ideal for fans of wizardry tales who do not mind underlying menace beneath the surface. Those seeking purely academic historical texts or light-hearted comedy without threat should look elsewhere. This book provides a unique experience for those who value atmospheric storytelling and complex magical systems within a feuding kingdom setting.
⭐ Reader reviews
Reader rating
Bellairs successfully merges horror with fairy tale fantasy, creating a tense atmosphere around a magical paperweight that drives the plot. The narrative follows Prospero and Roger Bacon as they navigate feuding duchies and ominous pursuers. While the tone balances dark humor with supernatural intrigue, it maintains a serious edge suitable for horror aficionados. The work excels in its understanding of wizardry dynamics, as noted by critics. It is best suited for readers who enjoy quest-driven frameworks and do not require light-hearted comedy. Those preferring purely academic historical texts may find the fantasy elements distracting. Overall, it delivers a potent mix of thriller pacing and dark fantasy aesthetics.
📖 Read on the blog
📖 From the series “Prospero and Roger Bacon”
✍️ More books by this author John Bellairs
🏛 Books from this publisher Tantor Audio
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