Ice Dance by Vik Azeem
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hassan is a Pakistani-American who has recently lost his job and is on the verge of being evicted from his apartment. This is something that he has not yet told his parents because they would not understand. Hassan is also unmarried, which is a no-no in his mother’s eyes because in their culture Hassan must be married with children to be considered successful. Hassan is feeling conflicted about pursuing his own dreams while also being true to his culture and making his parents happy. He is on several dating apps but has yet to find the right woman. Then while out at the bar he meets Yasmine, and he is instantly enthralled with her.

Yasmine, however, has secrets that she has been keeping about who she really is and where she comes from. She is forced to tell Hassan when her secret life puts his life in danger. As hard as it is to believe, Yasmine tells Hassan that she is from another realm and that new King of her realm will stop at nothing to take her back to their realm. With both of their lives in danger this New Year’s Eve might be their last.

This book was action packed from start to finish. The characters were magnificent, and the storyline was intriguing. It was hard not to feel how conflicted Hassan was about how his life was turning out. He obviously wanted to make his parents happy but at what cost to his own happiness? Yasmine was smart, courageous, and fierce. No matter what deadly enemy came her way she managed to never give up and fought courageously to protect those around her. Kassia was as smart as a whip and an interesting piece to the storyline that added an extra element. Vincent was clearly evil to the core and sought power at all costs. Then there’s Jack the Troll and the blue giant called The Tall One who are unique in their own ways. This book was full of action, suspense, magic, secret portals and every so often a sprinkle of witty wise cracks from a green troll. A must read for anyone who enjoys action, humor, and magic all rolled into one.

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