Frost Moon's more alternative culture than urban fantasy. Within 284 pages, author Anthony Francis stuffs in BDSM, Magic: The Gathering, anime (e.g. Gothic Lolita and calling attacks, which is lame), Goth, tattooing-- everything except the WHAM-BAM-POW brawls I associate with UF.

In her own words, Dakota Frost's no "bounty hunter" or "detective, or anything that." She's handed her arse, but mostly she chats alternative culture. Who cares about a serial killer? Dakota doesn't do investigations either.

Look, readers complain about invincible, tree-swinging superheroes and Joe Schmo protagonists solving triple homicides, but shadowing Tammy Tattoo or the BDSM twins is no substitute, especially since Francis takes an instructive tone. Every character imparts wisdom or lectures about subcultures or magic minutiae. (Don't anticipate a few lines, folks. Secondary characters, while fun, are the novel.)

Readers to be absorbed. They cannot sink into the scene if the author intrudes to demonstrate that BDSM culture is harmless or lesbian kisses or whatever his pet subculture-cause of the moment. I have causes too, but let's pace ourselves, ADHD. This is not a very special episode of Blossom.

Specific, concrete, and image-evoking nouns and action verbs always trump vague summary, even more so entire visualized scenes Clarence and Rary punching into karate instructor Darren Briggs' mitted hands rather than "Two students practiced karate." I can understand Francis' love for detail. When I started Moon, his punchy style immediately drew a smile from me.

Moon's dialogue shines. Barring the last third, the characters' lines are natural, organic, and unique. No Generic Villainous Speech, Lovey-Dovey Scene or Heroic Speech in the thing.

He builds in depth -as mentioned- fantastical magic that seamlessly blends with a modern Atlanta that he clearly knows well, specifically Little Five Points, where alternative culture doesn't blink at a moving dragon tattoo or a cat-girl. Far from borrowing paranormal tropes two decades old or pop culture expectations even older, he fashions a new, believable paranormal tradition. I also d the author's insight, where leaked into the narrative, e.g. police witch hunts and men in black helicopters. ;) The best parts were without explanation. Even the plotting and pacing was smooth.

Francis simply needs to be more selective. If the cast had been smaller, their parts edited, or some subculture (or lessons) omitted, we would have had breathing room to enjoy the rest. Francis has potential if he exercises restraint, no pun intended. I think I'll wait for friends to vet Blood Rock, Skindancer #2.

Warning: Graphic torture/violence, two scenes.urban-fantasy28 s AH2,005 384



Dakota Frost is a magical tattoo artist based in Atlanta. Dakota is an imposing figure: She is very tall with a multicolored Mohawk that she calls a deathhawk. Dakota is a walking advertisement for her tattooing skills. She is covered from head to toe with her own magical tattoos. Dakota must be very attractive. Almost everyone she meets is enthralled by her. I wasn’t really sure what “team” Dakota played for. There was talk of an ex-girlfriend, but Dakota was also attracted to the men around her.

The story is set in an area of Atlanta called Little Five Points. This area has a carnival- atmosphere and the Edgeworlders gather there. Little Five Points is home to the magical inhabitants of Atlanta. There are all sorts of urban fantasy creatures: vampires, weres, witches, and the .

I did some of the secondary characters, notably Phil, Dakota’s Man-In-Black. There were lots of Secret Agent Man jokes made and it added comic relief. I did wonder what kind of federal agent would drive a Prius, I usually envisioned them in those large Suburbans.

There were a lot of things that I did about this book. The world building was interesting. The magical aspects were intriguing. The author went into a lot of detail describing the magical tattoo process and how they were inked and transferred. There were some very cool tattoos, notably a working wristwatch tattoo and a fluttering butterfly tattoo. I also d how Dakota used her tattoos and magic to fight. I enjoyed the scenes at the werehouse, a wild and gritty place where the weres could gather without putting humans in danger. I loved the hierarchy of the weres and the odd assortment of were creatures – the werebears, werestag, and a very bouncy weretiger.

A few things did hinder my enjoyment of this book. I felt that there was a lot of violence, which I guess, was pretty realistic for this kind of world. It was just a little much for me. I also found that while I don’t mind reading about BSDM or fetishes, one mention would have been enough for me. Some of the characters’ kinks were a little disturbing. There were also a lot of characters to keep track of.

I think I’ll keep an eye out for the next book in the series. I’d to see what happens in Dakota’s world.

*ARC provided free of charge from Netgalley


arc-netgalley necromancer vampires ...more14 s ? Irena ?1,652 221

2.5

I am conflicted.
On the one hand, I loved the premise of Frost Moon. Dakota Frost is a magical tattooist who gets entangled in a serial killer case. She also has to deal with politics in both supernatural and human community. Next, I loved the idea of a bi protagonist. Nothing about Dakota's sexual orientation is in your face. You just get titbits of information through whatever is happening in her life. Nobody is apologizing or explaining it here and I found it refreshing.

On the other hand, I never got to or get to know the characters. Not even Dakota. They all sounded bad actors in a cheesy film.
The dialogue was off too many times. For example, in a matter of two or three pages the same character says 'anything for you' to Dakota. It was just too close not to interrupt the flow of the story. Then you see something ''He was the savior of my ass' and you have to wonder if it's a joke. I don't think she was joking. Overall, I didn't the way these characters speak.
Then you have grinning. Dakota does that a lot and not once does it seem natural.

To sum up, all I can say is that there are a lot of elements that make me interested in Dakota Frost's world, so I'll probably read the next book. I am just not in a hurry.magic mystery paranormal ...more11 s Maja (The Nocturnal Library)1,017 1,905

Rating this book was a real challenge for me. There was literally nothing wrong with it, and yet I couldn't bring myself to give 4 or 5 stars. It's a real page turner, it has tattoos in it I have a thing for tattoos - I look a damn easter egg, it didn't have inconsistencies, the characters were all very interesting, there are some pretty good moments and it certainly is different from every other UF I've ever read.

So when there's nothing objectively wrong with a novel, the only thing that remains to be said is whether I d it or not. But that's a tough one too. I'm not the biggest fan of dark urban fantasy. Anything darker than Kate Daniels or Fever is probably more than I can take. And Anthony Francis writes really dark UF.


On the other (funnier) side, I just couldn't stop thinking about Sonya Tayeh. Dakota looks just her. Well, except for the moving dragon tattoo. And yes, I've seen every single episode of So you think you can dance. I love it.


To be perfectly honest, the 3 star rating is really gnawing at my conscience. This is the first time I've disd a book fully aware that the problem is just me. Objectively this book deserves more. It's simply a matter of taste. And as we all know: De gustibus non est disputandum.



dark-urban-fantasy glistening-fangs reviewed-in-201111 s Carmel (Rabid Reads)706 389

Original review posted at Rabid Reads: http://www.rabidreads.com/2011/05/review-frost-moon-by-anthony-francis.html

The synopsis for this book is very deceiving. It lead me to believe that Dakota would be a typical ass-kicking Urban Fantasy heroine but nothing could be further from the truth. Don't get me wrong, I still d her as a character but in the grand scheme of things she's a victim not a champion. The plot of Frost Moon is complex and well thought out. The main villain remains skillfully hidden until the very end. Anthony Francis also incorporates many so-called taboo subjects that make this book into a diverse and refreshing read.

Dakota projects an outward tough girl appearance but in reality she gets her butt handed to her on a silver plate more often than not. She really only has two things going for her: her intelligence and her skills as a magical tattoo artist. I loved Francis' stunning descriptions. When he describes Dakota's dragon tattoo I could almost see it flying right out of my eReader. Also, I really enjoyed the fact that the lead character is bisexual. Don't worry, there's next-to-no R rated action in this book other than a few kisses and lots of sexual innuendo. But, it was nice to read a story that incorporates alternative lifestyles without blowing things out of proportion.

The plot development is what made this novel an amazing read in my books. Everything follows a logical order and as readers we get to follow the bread crumbs right along with Dakota. I was impressed not only by the amount of distinct side characters but by the way they each play a crucial role somewhere along the way. When the main villain is finally revealed I was dumbfounded! All of the dots connect beautifully but I never saw what was right in front of my face until the big reveal at the end. I have to give Anthony Francis props for his story weaving skills!

There's not much going on in the love/lust department of this book and it's definitely more Dark Fantasy than the tamer category it was filed into. But, even though this novel didn't contain any of the elements that I was expecting it was a surprising yet pleasant read. I adored Cinnamon! She's this feisty, young, orphaned weretiger whom I just couldn't get enough of. I was happy that Francis tied up the loose ends in her side story as well even though it wasn't important to the overall book. The author's impeccable attention to detail shines through again!

I would advise against reading this novel if you're looking to fulfill your Urban Fantasy fix based on the synopsis. However, if you're open-minded and are trying to broaden your fictional horizons; Frost Moon is a great choice. The ending left me thinking that Dakota might become less of a victim and more of a fighter in the next installment. Here's hoping! Either way, the one thing that I do know for sure is that I want more Dakota Frost!8 s Kim70

This book approaches the paranormal world from a different angle. The main character is Dakota Frost. She is a tattoo artist of magical tattoos. Magical tattoos are done by very few people and even fewer people do them as well as Dakota. We are 2 days away from a full moon and she has to complete a magical tattoo on a warewolf before that moon rises. Its a very interesting story and I really enjoyed reading it. I'm looking forward to continuing the series.8 s Cyna219 263

Man, this was one of those books that threw me for a total loop - fifty or so pages into it, I was so thoroughly put off by this book that I wanted to quit. In fact, I did quit for a little while there to read Holly Black's much better White Cat, but that's a rant for another time.

Anyway, by the time I dragged myself back to Frost Moon and gave it another ten or so pages to redeem itself, a subplot that was actually interesting wandered through the heroine's door, and I thought to myself, "Yeah, I can stick around for this." It was at that point I found myself willingly reading Frost Moon rather than hauling my brain through it at gun point. Perhaps un-coincidently, this was also around the time that our author decided he'd spent enough time proving his characters to be suitably "alternative" and "edgy", and began to focus on shit that was actually relevant to the plot.

But let's go back a few ticks there, because while there did eventually come a point at which I enjoyed reading Frost Moon, it took quite a while to get there, and there was some seriously deterrent shit along the way. Frost Moon is the tale of Dakota, a magical tattoo artist who lives in a world where vampires, shapeshifters, and witches are out and proud to the public. They form the "Edgeworld", a sort of supernatural alternative culture of which Dakota is - somewhat - a member. At the start of the book, Dakota is recruited by her father's former (police) partner to consult on a murder involving magical tattoos. Which is where the trouble begins.

Within the first oh, I don't know, two chapters or so, Francis does two things - several times - that irritate the shit out of me. He objectifies his heroine, and he has her objectify every good-looking individual she meets. It's a consistent, constant thing in the first quarter or so of the book that some guy is appreciating Dakota's tits or leering at some other part of her body, or hitting on her, or just, y'know, suggesting she get a job as a stripper. At one point her vampire ex puts a collar on her and demands she masturbate in front of her. Creepy. And if that's not happening, then Dakota is making sexual innuendos or thinking every other guy she meets a sexy beast or calling some chick's tits lickable or appreciating a shapeshifter whose head is literally that of a deer, or licking random girls' faces.

It's hard to explain exactly why this bothered me (well, not that deer thing, that's just weird) - it's not I'm the puritanical type, swooning and crying (in a southern accent) "Oh my stars, this book has sex and this woman has a libido and tattoos, she's a filthy harlot who must be locked away!" but Christ, for a while there it was being stuck inside Kim Cattral's or Captain John Hart's head.

Then the party really starts, as we're quickly introduced to our cast, which includes a beastly, homeless werewolf, a Gothic Lolita computer hacker, a seedy vampire gang, an illiterate teenaged catgirl, an FBI investigator/Man in Black, and a Christian lesbian bondage-enthusiast vampire Queen, I shit you not (and I'm not gonna lie, that scene, with the ball gags and the mouthless leather masks and the human dogs, seriously creeped me out).

What it comes down to is that it feels Francis is trying way too hard to prove that his world is very pointedly other. And it's difficult to criticize, because I understand why; this book was written for the people that it's about - for the members of the subcultures that get demonized or stereotyped or just plain excluded from other urban fantasy series. Once we actually get in to the book, Francis actually does a decent job of portraying the various "abnormal" sub-culture representatives as people - totally non-scary, normal, relatively down-to-earth people. Hell, the eventual villain of the story is probably the most upstanding, so-called "respectable" character in the book.

My problem is that the characterization - especially of Dakota - for the first few chapters of the books go so far in the "other" direction that it makes getting to the good stuff that much more difficult. I didn't initially enjoy being in Dakota's head, so I didn't want to continue. It's obviously a very subjective issue, but it's also a big factor in determining whether or not you'll enjoy Frost Moon.

Story-wise...Frost Moon is a mess. The plot is all over the place, and there are fifty million things distracting Dakota from the cover conflict at any given time...

Read more at You're Killing.Us.This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.Show full review7 s LadyTechie782 48

I really enjoyed this book. I thought the concept of the magic and tattoos was exciting. I really look forward to seeing more in the story!7 s Cherie898 46

Paranormal, Alternative, Kiss Ass Story!

Dakota Frost is a Skindancer, a magical tattooist who can bring her own tattoos to life using magic. She can also tattoo magically onto others for looks, protection or many other magical reasons. She is one of the best, and as such she is challenged by a stage magician, whose mission is to prove he is just as good as any other magician by attempting to copy their work in a magical dual of sorts.

Before this can go ahead, she is contacted by a special branch of the police who are after information on magical tattoos. The reason? They have found a box that is covered in skin which is magically tattooed, and has been cut from a yet unknown victim.

Dakota then starts to warn her clients and try to help the police with their investigation, leading to very dark times for Dakota. The whole adventure is thrilling, suspenseful and filled with the most wonderfully alternative characters such as Dakota’s ex-girlfriend, who just happens to be a bondage-loving lesbian Vampire Queen, Cinnamon, a wannabe offsider type who is also a were-cat, Philip, the Special Forces guys and possible love interest, plus many other vamps, weres and magical beings.

As the first book in a series, I believe the author has done a fantastic job. I was drawn to the character of Dakota and into her world. The book was always interesting, sassy and had enough dark and light to keep me interested until the end, ensuring that I will be back when the next book is released.

I can’t really compare it to any other books of the genre I have read, as it had so many original ideas, especially the tattooing. I loved that part of the book.

Overall, the writing style, characters, and story line is one that appealed to my taste, and I will certainly be recommending it to the people I know who read books similar to myself.

Re-read April 2017 so that I can remember the story and red book 2. I didn't read my review here before I re-read, and I had seriously almost forgotten everything so I enjoyed it all new again.6 s Wendy Darling1,821 34.2k

This is somewhere between 2 and 3 stars for me.

What I d:

* Dakota Frost is a really cool chick.
* The descriptions of magical tattoos that come to life are stunning.
* The author surprised me a couple of times with minor character elements.
* I d the descriptions of the scraps of tattooed evidence coming into her hands.

What I didn't care for as much:

* The plot meanders and didn't really hold my interest.
* The violent parts are pretty violent. I don't have a problem with violence per se, but somehow it just seemed there was a little too much of it for a book this.
* There's one part that is aggressively sexual, but the scene is pretty randomly inserted (almost for the sake of it?) and it's not backed up by actual sex or any kind of relationship.
* Dakota thinks at least 3 guys are hot, and there is interaction with one of her exes, but she never really connects with any of them.
* I would to have seen her kick more ass! She gets pretty bruised up in this book, and it would have been nice to see her get some of her own back.

Overall, this was a really original premise and I really d the main character and the descriptions of the magical tattoos a lot. The story arc just wasn't that appealing to me and didn't live up to its unique protagonist, and there's very little real connection between the characters. Others may this one more than I did, however.

An advance copy was provided by the publisher for this review.adult pnr-urban-fantasy read-20115 s Katy1,293 295

Please note: I first read and reviewed this in January 2012. I'm updating the formatting and adding the disclosure that I received an e-galley from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My Synopsis: Dakota Frost is a tattoo artist – more importantly, she is the best magical tattoo artist in the Southeast, working in the Little Five Points area of Atlanta at a shop called The Rogue Unicorn. As the story opens, she is being taken into the Atlanta Police department, called in to consult by her father’s best friend, Andre Rand. Apparently someone has been killing people who have magical tattoos – even worse, whoever is doing this is stripping tattoos off of the still-living victim, first. To complicate matters, Dakota has also been contacted about doing a tattoo for a werewolf, who is seeking control of his beast, and when she goes to the local werehouse to consult with a magical tattooer named The Marquis, she returns home with a new … friend. A young weretiger has attached herself to Dakota – Cinnamon is what is called a foundling, a werekin whose mother kept the beast shape throughout her pregnancy, and as a result the youngster is unable to pass as human. Cinnamon has tiger ears, a tail, and fur on her hands at all times. Is Dakota next on the killer’s radar? Can she help solve the mystery of the flayed tattoos in time to potentially save herself or perhaps some of her clients? Will she be able to help Wulf control his beast?

My Thoughts: I loved this first book in the Skindancer series! A Skindancer is one who has magical tattoos and is able to control and use them for magical purposes, in case you are wondering, and Dakota is a fine Skindancer. One thing I particularly loved about this book is that, while Dakota is strong-minded and fairly tough, she is also vulnerable and willing to work with others to protect herself if necessary – she’s not one of those “I have to do everyone on my own” types that make me nuts. The characters that Mr. Francis has created are unique, interesting and multi-faceted, and the plot flows smoothly. This book is a page-turner and one I highly – HIGHLY – recommend for fans of urban fantasy and magical reality. Definitely pick it up!ebook net-galley4 s Mandi2,314 725

Why I read: It was offered for review.Favorite Quote: "We're all one big happy vampire family, respecting each other's beliefs, and even managing to pretend Doug's whing-whang isn't hanging out." Dakota Frost stands out amongst a crowd in her hometown of Atlanta. She is not only six feet two with an uber-cool “deathhawk” but she is also covered in tattoos – magical tattoos. She is the best magical tattoo artist in the Southeast, working at the Rogue Unicorn in Little Five points, part of the Edgeworld, that embraces magic and otherworldly creatures. She has inked every tattoo on herself, except for those on her inking hand. Her abilities allow her to make the tattoos come to life, being able to use them however the wearer of the tattoo intends. However, because she stands out, she is also a potential target. There is a serial killer on the loose, one who is skinning off these magical tattoos and then killing the victims on nights with a full moon. The feds have a horrifying piece of evidence which they show Dakota to both warn her that she could be in danger, and to gather any information she has about this art. The piece they show her is a lid from a box with someone’s skin stretched across it, showing off a certain magical tattoo. With twelve killings over a number of years, and each one getting closer to Atlanta, the feds warn Dakota to be on alert. Meanwhile, Dakota is asked to ink “Wulf” a shifter who is desperate to get a tattoo to have better control over his shifting in a few days when the full moon occurs. Dakota takes her work very seriously, and refuses to put a magical tattoo on someone until she is sure it is safe and not going to do Wulf or herself harm. As she starts to gather information about this tattoo, and the closer it becomes to the full moon, danger escalates, and no one is safe. Frost Moon introduces us to Dakota Frost, and I have to say I her – a lot. She is confident, but not cocky. Sarcastic, but not a bitch. She has an ex-girlfriend, yet charmingly flirts with every cute guy she sees. She takes her job very seriously, but has a wonderful sense of humor. She is not invincible, and she knows this. She gets beaten, she gets broken – she doesn’t give up, but she doesn’t have that invincible attitude and that makes her a very realistic heroine in my opinion. She is kind of a loner, but makes friends easily. During the investigation she works with “secret agent man” Philip Davidson. He works for the Department of Extraordinary Investigations and flies around in secret black helicopters. His appearance reminds Dakota of an “evil Johnny Depp.” They come to respect each other, and have a very subtle romance – just a hint throughout the book. They are quite the pair – Dakota with her wild appearance, and Philip in his very strict black suit, but the relationship and sexual tension works really well. Throughout the book we meet many interesting characters, all advancing the plot to finally discover who the serial killer is (which totally stunned me at the end). The world Anthony Francis writes is filled with humans, vampires, shifters, and people with magical abilities and he does an amazing job laying the foundation. The book keeps a steady pace and intermingled with the world building and action are some very witty lines. There is also great attention to detail and subtle lines here and there that really sparked my interest in this book and makes for a great read. Frost Moon is a wonderful book, and Anthony Francis is a great addition to the Urban Fantasy genre. Rating: 4.5/5 3 s chucklesthescot2,975 126

I really d the sound of the plot. Although I have no personal interest in tattoos, I d the idea of making magical tattoos and thought it made add something different to the urban fantasy story. It turned out to be fairly interesting especially when compared to other elements of the book.

The plot was my issue in several ways. Right from the start I was not enjoying it. This book did not feel the urban fantasy that it advertised itself to be. I was getting the feeling that the author had decided to take the word 'fantasy' to mean he was to include every single female fantasy that he might have which is why we were being bombarded by the stuff. I felt as if I was reading bondage style erotica instead of urban fantasy and had I known about this content, I would not have bought it in the first place. It just doesn't interest me. Neither does the fact that everyone who meets Dakota wants to jump her bones. This is such a boring and over-used plot device and it gets on my nerves.

Dakota having the ex-girlfriend didn't bother me as I don't care what race, religion or sexuality my MCs are, as long as they are well written and interesting, and we get a good plot. But that did not happen. Dakota herself was ok as a MC, but it was the introduction of the domination and all that stuff that I have no interest in reading about. Lady Saffron and all her ideas for fun were not what I was expecting-there was NOTHING in the blurb to suggest the paths that this book wandered down and that pisses me off. The author, in my opinion, should be clear on the subject matter in his books to let people make an informed choice about whether to read it or not. I felt pretty cheated by this omission, if I'm honest.

The plot also has a lot of things that are just not interesting and don't add to the plot. Another reviewer commented that nobody really seemed interested in looking for this serial killer and I agreed with that. Perhaps the author forgot about it for a while in the erotica frenzy or something.

The sexual content and comments seemed there to shock the reader or to be sexually contraversial in some way. For me, it was just ten shades of boring dross that made me want to make the book into a functional lampshade or something. It would have been great to get through a whole chapter without people leering at Dakota, making offensive comments and suggestions about what she should do to herself or have people indulging in crude, lewd crap all around her. And Dakota herself behaves just as badly so all liking for her rapidly went out the window. Lets just say her brain morphs into the slutty version of Anita Blake very quickly, and leave it that.

So if Christian lesbians behaving badly is not your scene, avoid this book. Actually, if you don't weird erotica, avoid this book. I certainly won't waste money on this guy's books again.

fiction uf-pnr3 s Vasya381 25

I can't say that I was in the grip of this book from the beginning till the very end, because that was not the case. I had a hard time getting into the book, and reading negative of it even before I started reading is very bad for the book at hand. I think I was just majorly pissed off that there's no romance in the book, but well, all worked out just well in the end.

Dakota was a character by my heart. Tall, that has not a hair on her tongue, brave, bold - I mean, wow. Even though she has no power as such, the way she presents herself in the book makes her the most powerful person in the world. So what if there are those that make her knees shake a little, it is perfectly normal to be aware of the competition (and be totally prepared to go down because you've got shit up your sleeve). And given that I that side of her, at its highest, I also got to see her at her lowest, and she didn't betray her character because of it. There were none of the reactions that I considered were unnatural to Dakota, because she can cope and assimilate - and that's one hell of a characteristic in my book.

The fact that she's playing for the same as well as the other team would have dampened the whole impression of the book for e, because, as much as I can accept homosexuality, I can't really put myself into their shoes (I don't read homosexual romances because of this) but it didn't bother me one bit because it all just felt so natural. Yeah, she has a history with Savannah, but their relationship isn't overly described (and by that I mean the sex) so it was very much her coming to terms with an old boyfriend (except he's a girl) and saying your final goodbye as a BOY(GIRL)friend.

Now Phil on the other hand, is just short and I can't begin to imagine him as the perfect candidate for her. I mean, a tall woman and a short man - no, no. I've had my share of short boyfriends, but that's real world, I them tall and handsome and manly in my books. I cheered for Wulf big time, so I don
t know what Anthony Francis was thinking at the end of this book, but well, I just guess I'll have to read the next book and find out if he ruined the whole experience of this book by the next one or enhanced it.

I also laughed a lot in the end. The thing with Cinnamon and Mom - I mean, it was sweet and pretty touching, but also so much fun. Their roles were completely opposite the ones they had in the book, but they fir so well in them, I really don't know how Francis did it, but it definitely worked.

This review was based on a digital ARC received via NetGalley. fantasy-paranormal favourites3 s Jen (In the Closet With a Bibliophile)204 36

This book for me was a little bit better than okay. (I'd go with 2.5 stars) I think I was frustrated with the narrator. She wasn't very believable to me and not even because she was a 6'2" bisexual magical tattooist with a deathhawk. I thought all of that gave her a distinct personality. However, her speech and actions just didn't fit. One minute she'd be telling someone to f-off and the next she'd be crying over something that seemed ludicrous.

I don't know, I felt she was way too manly and I really don't think it fit her (when I say manly, I really mean the way she thought). The author being a man, I think he did not have the best insight into the female mind (even if she was a bisexual).

Plus, it took me little bit to figure out she was a bisexual which was frustrating because he doesn't come out and say it until later. The sexual orientation of a character shouldn't confuse the reader, it's kind of an important attribute in the character development section. Also, I couldn't get a feel in my mind for the rest of her body and how she looked (except for the tattoos covering her body) and that also bothered me.

Lastly, I thought that her male love interest was ridiculous because he was this short guy who, albeit manly, was in the end, still short. Most girls, bisexual or not, would prefer someone taller. If you are going out with a female, that's different (for reasons unexplainable), but men are men. I don't know, I was just frustrated all around.

But, there were some redeeming qualities. the scene where she finally does a magical tattoo. I believe that was my very favorite scene in the whole book. Or the part where we get to see her skindance and watch what the magical tattoos can actually do.

I think though, overall, this book was lacking development in the characters and background. We know that the narrator refuses to talk to her father, but we don't know much else ( why???). We don't know much about her past at all except she has an ex-girlfriend who comes into the story later. All the missing background and development made her a kind of flat character for me who in the end I just didn't get.

(this book was given to me courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book)3 s Lore126 3,253 Want to read

Major Freebie Alert! *salute*

Also posted on my blog! Check it out at Strangemore!

You can currently download the Urban Fantasy book, Frost Moon, for FREE on Amazon. GET IT HERE!

Here's the official description from Amazon:
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 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? FROST MOON is Book One of the SKINDANCER fantasy series by debut author Anthony Francis. Filled with unforgettable characters, spine-tingling action, kinky rebellion and edgy love, FROST MOON is classic storytelling at its best, and Dakota Frost is an irresistible new star of fantasy fiction. Anthony Francis is a computer scientist who works at the 'Search Engine That Starts With A G'. By day he studies human and other minds to design intelligent machines and emotional robots; by night he writes fiction and draws comic books. He received his Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence from Georgia Tech. He lives in San Jose with his wife and cats but his heart will always belong in Atlanta.

This probably will not last long, so if you're interested, get Frost Moon while you can!


free-or-cheap-download genre-urban-fantasy3 s Mrs. Badass566 225

Dakota Frost is the best damn magical tattooist in the Southeast... Her words.

Author Anthony Francis crafted an interesting novel in Frost Moon. At first I was really enjoying this novel. After a while, however it got a little stale. There were a lot of storylines that I didn't feel really added to the overall ARC. I mean, they tied in eventually, but it seemed some of them were used purely to add something. I know, I think that was the point, and perhaps I'm being overly critical.
Suffice it to say I found it sometimes a little too much.

However, I how Anthony Francis made his character bi-sexual. You don't see that very often in any genre. But, because there is always a but, I found myself irritated with the amount of "suitors" or rather, potential suitors. I found it odd that all of the characters we met would be instantly attracted to Dakota. I'm not being judgmental when I say that a lot of people are scared off, and aren't attracted too...full body tattoo's and a mohawk. Would I want to be friends with her? Probably, but jump her bones? Nah. I found it unrealistic.

I thought the magical tattoo aspect was fantastic. I was fascinated and I want one! I want a magical tattoo! :stamps foot: Dakota do me, do me! Wait. That could be taken many different ways by our heroine :grins:

The villain turned out to be not who I expected, and generally I that, but for some reason I was put off by who the villain(s) turned out to be. For reasons I cannot say.

Overall, I found I d the concept of Frost Moon, but it needed a bit more polish in my unprofessional opinion, and some more editing would have been good as well.

I am interested in reading the next novel, to see how Dakota traipses on.
kindle maybe-reads netgalley3 s Dianne1,688 135

I started this book when it first came out and never seemed to get beyond one-third of the way through. I really don't know why. Perhaps I wasn't as open-minded last year as I am this year. I'm not very into same-sex relationships unless I'm reading erotica and I think because I didn't give the book a fair shake that is what turned me off.

Well, based on a newsletter from Lori Handeland I decided to give it one more try and I'm really glad I did. The premise is edgy and unique. The characters are fully fleshed and very well drawn The magic is different than in other books. The sexual innuendoes are funny and this is at this point in time NOT a romance so we don't get any of that overriding heat between two or more of the characters. There are many characters that you may wonder just why they are there, but I suspect that it is the world and character building for future books. The main character Dakota, although a 6 foot tall tattooed Amazon, is really a pussycat and does rely on her friends to get her out of some jams. I think in future books she will be taking more responsibility for her actions and being less of a "girly-girl" about some things. I would to see her think before she leaps, even though it made for some of the more exciting parts of the book.

3 s Karen7 2

Dakota Frost is a tattooist who specializes in magical ink. She lives in Atlanta, in an area called Little Five Points that is home to edgeworlders. Edgeworlders are the shifters, vampires, magicians, etc that live on the fringes of society. Dakota is asked to help the Department of Extraordinary Investigations with a case involving tattoos & then is asked to ink a magical tattoo on a were. Chaos ensues from there.

I really enjoyed this book. The world is rich with interesting characters. My experience in the area of paranormal & urban fantasy is relatively limited, but many aspects of this world that Francis has created seem new & fresh. I especially loved the concept of the magical tattoos. The descriptions of Dakota's ink are beautiful. I want her dragon! Dakota's relationships play an important role in her journey & Francis does a great job of making them believable. I have a soft spot in my heart for Cinnamon, a weretiger that Dakota meets.

I hope that Francis continues this series. I will definitely buy every book.kindle-smut-club-selection2 s ?Rachael?991 1 follower

Awesome book! I love Dakota, Jinks, Cinammon and even Phillip! I must read the next and hope there is more to come! 3 s BookAddict ? La Crimson Femme6,815 1,382

Now this is a surprise. Puppy play in an urban fantasy book without written by a male author. I have to admit, other than a few male authors who write BDSM, I tend to avoid reading male authors because I just don't get their writing voice. It grates on me. Unless it's a truly gifted writer Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Michael Moorcock, or Orson Scott Card, I shy away from male sci/fantasy writers. Yes, I'm sexist and biases. So sue me. Honestly, I didn't think males even wrote urban fantasy, other than the husband half of the Ilona Andrews duo. To say I was skeptical of this book is an understatement. Th cover is absolutely fabulous, but is this all that I would find in this story? I really beautiful cover and no substance to back it?

Fortunately, I'm thrown into a magical world in Atlanta. It's a fabulous one with Fae, vampires, shifters, witches and MAGIC. What's even more fun? There is a bit of BDSM play thrown in. It was enjoyable too. Actually, I think Mr. Francis threw everything but the kitchen sink in here. Some may claim this is too much and he needed to focus on a tighter writing style. I personally enjoyed it. All the tangents pulling together is a richer world for me. I really d the secondary characters. I really loved the main character, Dakota. She is kick ass and has a history. I want to learn all about her and her friends. She's a bisexual switch who creates amazing magical tattoos. This is one of the most unique storyline I've read all year. The story is action packed and moves pretty quickly. While I guessed the evil bad guy pretty early on, the twist in the end caught me off guard. I that!

The characters are rich. No one in the book is purely good or evil. Well, except maybe one person. It's interesting to see how Mr. Francis creates a strong female lead only to have her broken a bit. It shows the humanity and that no one is fully able to protect themselves at all times. In addition, Dakota isn't one of those powerful female who are women haters. She has friends who are men and women. She's able to relate to them and keep solid friendships. It's nice to have a female lead who isn't carrying tons of baggage. She seems to have a little bit of Daddy issues, but it doesn't seem to be major. Dakota's Scooby Gang seems to be expanding even as she's lost a member. Her friends are eclectic and it's fun to see they have quite the history together. Mr. Francis doles out little bits of their shared history in a stingy manner. It just increases my desire to learn more.

Overall, I'd have to say this is a very enjoyable book to read. I'd recommend it to all Urban Fantasy lovers who also enjoy a little bit of kink. This is a book not to be missed.bdsm borrowed-kindle challenge-bdsm ...more2 s R.C.Author 2 books3 Read

I got this book off Apple's iBook store. It had an interesting premise, high ratings, and it was free. I got 5 chapters in before I decided to brave no more.

It is not that the book is poorly written--it's not--but there are some odd uses of the dash and ellipse that I found jarring. This grew frustrating because it seemed to occur with regularity; every time the story would get on a roll, a speed bump would pop up and cause an accident. There were a few places of questionable grammar that an editor should have corrected. There was also a lack of tension despite a few failed attempts. I felt that if this book had grabbed me in the first chapter, I would have finished it. The elements are there, but they aren't arranged in the right manner.

It is also written in 1st person. I'm not opposed to that viewpoint at all. It can even enhance the story and provide useful insight when used properly. But there has to be a reason to use it. Walling off every other character and their thoughts, feelings, et cetera, has to be out weighed by the benefit of utilizing 1st person. I fail to see how this criteria has been met for this story. Strangely, there is a lack of insight that is generally inherent with 1st person. The main character, Dakota, has a strong personality that inexplicably ebbs and flows the tide; on one page it's fully of her snarky wit and then on the next it's not there at all. I felt that Dakota should have been allowed to fully take control of the narration but wasn't because of a tentative author who tried to censor her here and there.

All this was just too much to bear. It isn't a long book, but long enough that I can not justify finishing it.

could-not-finish2 s Dawn763 37

Dakota Frost is not your average tattooist but a magical one, this means her tattoos can move and she is the best in the Southeast. Her skills are so good she has been recruited by the police/feds to help track down a killer. What seems a quick question and answer session turns into so much more.

The world "Edgeworld" is also quite good, in this genre it seems difficult to find something so original. This alternate reality is fresh and well done, as a person who knows nothing about tattoos I how the authors went into detail about the process and weaved it into the storyline. It was very much appreciated the lack of an info dump which is frequently present in urban fantasy books I really d Dakota she is tall with a Mohawk and lots of fantastic tattoos. I also that she is vulnerable without seeming weak or overly aggressive. The supporting characters also added to this colorful world of werestags, graphomancer and vampires.

While I think the author is off to a great start, I admit for me there were a few bumps in the road. I think the first problem I had was the lack of suspense, I never felt anxious for something to happen but I never got there. The other thing which was distracting are random details that did not really go anywhere. For example if the protection did not work why wear the necklace. As this book is not romantic I am not sure what difference it made that she is bi-sexual. I am hoping in the next book some of these details are actually setting the stage for the series.

3 1/2 stars2011-books arc-review urban-fantasy2 s Rosalind M635 25

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to being able to dive into the next installment in the series. Not many books can legitimately squeeze bondage practitioners, debunkers, magical tattoo artists, weres, Bible verses, Gothic Lolitas, and vampires with a sense of humor into a single storyline. The one small stumbling block in all of this was that there were so many first and last names to remember (and I think usage occasionally flipped between the two) that I found myself occasionally getting confused between which background characters had which motivation. I'm interested to see where Dakota's willingness to further master her skills leads her and what she decides will be appropriate replacements for her empty canvas. (And, um, what happened to the One that got away!)

More Lord Buckhead, please!fantasy2 s Myriam41 7

I'm sorry, I just didn't the book at all.
Too many things are - wait for it - annoying. The overuse of "wait for it" being one of them, the exclamation points orgies occuring during random passages in the book being another big one.

The main character is not very coherent. She is into everybody and everybody is into her. Actually she seems to be into almost everything, including the gogo boots her ex-girlfriend's new BDSM/African/Vampire/Fetish gear wearing playtoy.

It is hard to hold the attention of a lazy eyed rat man, a Nazi werewolf/homeless schizo, a man in black IN a stealthy helicopter, a vampire/French maid and a simple martial arts teacher...Thank goodness the protagonist can handle it all.

I am being a bit negative but this is too fast, too furious which compromises the reader's experience at times.i-read-crap paranormal2 s Lyndi W.2,043 200 Read

Apparently I read this 4 years ago. I honestly don't remember it. But I can't finish it. I hung around until 41% and there's no way I can slog through another half. There is too much happening and not enough happening, if that's even possible. We've got serial killers and magical tats and werewolves and stray foundlings and sewer wolves and the FBI and magical duels and vampire sluts and BDSM and everyone - man, woman, child, werecreature, vampire, and other unknowns - has a boner for this Dakota chick, who just so happens to have no fucking clue what she's doing. I love the magical tattooing idea and the skindancing sounds spectacular. But it's not enough to keep me from wanting to delete this book from my Kindle and never thinking of it again.0-star-unranked2 s KK102 12

This book was great. It had magic that was interesting but also had its limitations, it had cool shifters, vampires, ex-lovers, new possible lovers and good action/mystery. I loved the darker, grittier feel. It was a stand out book to me, grabbing the next one immediately. paranormal urban-fantasy2 s Jeanny1,944 162

Meh. 2 stars
I d the idea but not the delivery. I found myself skipping pages & not entirely invested in well... any of it. ku-kindle-unlimited2 s Vintagebooklvr3,655 55

3 1/2 stars. Francis has created a rich subculture of magic and tattooing. Dakota isn't your typical MC, she's tall but doesn't have amazing physical powers or fighting skills; in fact she's willing to run away if she can. She's a pretty typical human being, except for some magical ability that isn't usually too useful in a fight.

The plot is good; the secondary characters are intriguing. I particularly love Dakota's relationship with the orphaned werewolf. Sometimes the dialog is a bit awkward. But overall, a good story.urban-fantasy1 Julie535 140

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