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Cover of Of Ice and Villains

Of Ice and Villains

by Veronica Lancet

🌶️🌶️mild·House of Cryos #1
3.9 on Goodreads (1,250)

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Ending

reveal ending

Why Read This?The one-sentence sell. What do you get for showing up to this book, even when it's hard?

A neurotic serial killer with OCD hires his intended victim as a maid and slowly unravels. The MMC-only POV is brilliantly written, the humor is pitch-black, and the mythology involving gods and demons is genuinely surprising.

Synopsis

He's a neurotic serial killer. She's his sweet, innocent maid. Or...is she? Marlowe Spencer-Astor is a killer in crisis. It’s been one hundred seventy-four days since his last murder, and not even therapy—forced upon him by his overbearing mother—can reignite his bloodlust. But then he stumbles upon Minnie. She's filthy, half-starved and homeless. She's the one. The perfect victim. His missing muse. There’s just one problem— he can’t seem to kill her. Instead, Marlowe hires her as his maid, convincing himself that he’s merely biding his time, perfecting his plan. But the longer she stays, the stranger things become. Time stands still. Technology glitches. Every man who lays eyes on her is instantly bewitched—including Marlowe himself. He tells himself he hates her, that she triggers every neurosis he has. But the truth is far more disturbing: he wants to protect her, take care of her and kill anyone who dares covet what’s his. By the time Marlowe realizes that Minnie is far more than she seems, he becomes embroiled in an ancient war between gods and demons. And when the most powerful god in the universe sets his sights on his Minnie, Marlowe is faced with an impossible choice: walk away and survive… or fight for the woman he was never supposed to want. Even if it means damning himself for eternity... of Ice and Villains is a dark fantasy romance featuring a DARK AND OBSESSIVE HERO. Please only read if you're comfortable with this. It's the first book in the House of Cryos trilogy and was previously known as Mayhem and Minnie.

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

A curator's note goes here with flavor that could spoil the plot.

trope onetrope twotrope threetrope four

Book Details

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Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.

3.86 ★ (1.3k)

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

574 pages

PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.

2024

Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?

Dark Romance

PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.

M/F

POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).

First Person

Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.

Slow Burn

CliffhangerEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.

reveal ending

AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

Yes

FormatHow fancy is the audio? Standard = one narrator. Full cast = theater kids went off. GraphicAudio = a MoViE iN yOuR mInD.

Single Narrator (male)

NarratorThe voice in your ears.

Mark Royse

Narrator Count

Single

Narration Style

Single

TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
captive romancedark romanceforced proximityvillain gets the girlfated matesstalker romancesoulmate/destined bondmonster romance
RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

darkintensemysteriousbroodingunhingedchaoticthrilling

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

darkedgyatmosphericsharp

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

fast

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

heavy

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

medium

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

morally complexforbidden desire

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?

innocent / shelteredsurvivor

MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.

villain MMCanti-heroferal/unhingedmorally gray MMC

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

mutual piningenemies to loversslow burnfated matesobsessive love interestonly one who understands them

Spice Details 🌶️

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🌶️
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Spice Level 2

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

slow burn with late spicetension / anticipation focus

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

possessive/protectivetensionanticipationmine declarationsgrowling / possessive soundsscent kink

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

possessivemarkingobsessive/stalker kinkrough/aggressive intimacybondage/restraintfear playknife play
Browse more books by spice level →
This stuff might hit different. No shame in needing to know what's coming. (13)▼
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attempted sexual assaultdeathkidnappingmurdertraumaviolencetorturegorebloodcaptivitydubious consentstalkingwar
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World & Setting

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World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.

urban fantasymythological

Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.

big city / metropolismanor house / estate

Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.

gods/deitiesdemonsmonsters

RepresentationIdentity representation in the book. LGBTQ+, race/ethnicity, disability, neurodivergence, body type, age and more.

neurodivergent MC

Reading Context

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.

the angst deliveredobsessedaddictive readferal brain activated

Best Time of YearSeasonal mood rings for books. Summer romance reads different than winter gothic.

winter

When & Where to ReadContext matters. Some books are Beach Trip energy, others are 3am Bedtime spiral-reads. Trust.

at nightcozy evening

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Quick Facts

Spice LevelThe heat scale. 0=wholesome, 1=kisses, 2=fade-to-black, 3=tasteful spice, 4=explicit, 5=you need a cold shower. Know thyself.🌶️🌶️mild
PagesHow long the commitment is.574
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.2024
GoodreadsThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.3.86 ★ (1.3k)
EndingEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.reveal ending

SeriesThe series this book belongs to and where it falls in the reading order.

House of Cryos #1
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