Rating: 4.75🌈
I rarely read YA books anymore these days as the age time isn’t that great an interest for me now. But this book has multiple factors going for it that make it a must read.
The authors (a must) R.J. Scott and V. L. Locey, have collaborated again on a hockey series, a subject they are both knowledgeable and passionate about. Additionally, the Chesterfield Coyotes have familiar characters, starting with Soren Madden-Rowe, adopted son of Jared and Ten Madden-Rowe of the Harrisburg Railers NHL team and series ( if you know , you know ). So already the readers have a firm understanding of one half of the main characters involved, their backgrounds, and the supporting cast.
We have a private school, a school hockey team, with the adoptive son of favorite married hockey player and coach from another popular series, and woven into a great storyline, several serious issues, along with a complicated relationship that turns into a romance.
Felix is a character who is not easy to understand at first, there’s so many barriers written into him. Which, I think, makes him more realistic as the facts of his life are revealed. His anger and resentment , a main personality trait, become heartbreaking.
I often find it so hard for authors to write a potentially alienating character yet be able to let the reader see what’s the underlying issue behind the behavior. Yet it happens here with Felix.
A big aspect of this story includes a character, Tyler, who’s bullied by Felix, as well as others in the school. The next story is his. Tyler is on the Coyotes as well. The fact that Tyler is out, wears makeup and hair dye, makes him a target and up for discussion on bullying.
Elements threaded through the story here include bullying , parental abandonment (through divorce), extreme emotional stress over dysfunctional family parenting/relationships, and coming out. Most of that centered in and reflecting out of the character of Felix.
Soren, his brother Milo, sister Lottie, Ten and Jared, even Ryker briefly, everyone on the Madden-Rowe side that we’ve come to love through several series, are present here. Soren, growing up, trying to decide his path, content within his new, loving family, is a joy to read. I loved reconnecting with him and Milo again.
Off The Ice (Chesterfield Coyotes Book 1) by R.J. Scott and V. L. Locey is such a layered, believable coming of age YA story. While it doesn’t hurt to not have read the connecting series, knowing the characters that surround Soren gives this an extra layer and happy emotional boost when reading it.
If I had a tiny bit of grumbling, it was that the coming out scenes was a minor aspect here not a big deal. But maybe that’s a really good idea. That coming out shouldn’t be a problem anymore, that it should be more acceptable and less a fear laden situation.
Either way, that’s my view of the thread and wishful thinking as well.
I’m looking forward to Tyler’s novel and highly recommending this one to all readers, if they love YA novels or whether they , like me, have relegated YA books to the bottom of the list to read next. Shoot this back to the top!
Chesterfield Coyotes:
✓ Off The Ice #1
◦ On Thin Ice #2 – TBD
Buy Link:
Off The Ice: Young Adult Gay Romance (Chesterford Coyotes Book 1)
Description:
A coming-of-age love story with high school, hockey rivalry, friendship, family, and coming out.
Soren’s life changes in an instant when he and his younger brother are adopted by hockey royalty. Making sense of his new life is hard enough, but when he’s enrolled in a private school it means facing a whole new set of problems. Navigating friendship, family, and hockey is one thing, but being attracted to the boy who vexes him is a whole new thing..
Felix has a reputation to protect. He’s the kid who seems to have everything but looks can be deceiving. Spinning lies about his perfect life, he’s created a fantasy world that even he has started to believe. Only, it’s not long before everything crumbles, all of his pretty lies are revealed, and only his closest rival sees through his pain and stands by him.
Fighting is easy, friendship is hard, but love is everything.
Edward Peach is a fourteen-year-old wizard who receives a letter that he has been accepted into the prestigious Prymoutekhny Wizards Academy for Boys, in the faraway land of Aradia. His parents are overjoyed, but he feels reluctant to leave his family, friends, and his comfy cottage in the English coastal village of Manley. As term begins, Edward adjusts to life in his new school, dealing with bullies, strict teachers, and challenging wizardry classes. He is almost ready to give up when he falls in love with a charismatic, privileged boy-and talented wizard-named Mr. Andreas. Prymoutekhny is a school that has still not opened up to same-sex attraction, so he must keep his feelings secret. Soon, Edward and the impressive boy realize their deep attraction for each other. This causes immediate controversy in the school, as they are the first two boys from feuding houses to come together-especially in a school where house rivalry can end in murder.He is then put to the ultimate test as he must risk being with the boy he loves even at the cost of his own life!
“Y’know, if I was a sexy type of undead, like a vampire or something, I’m sure I’d have some kind of supernatural power to bring any guy I liked under my charismatic control. Best I can hope for is to not decompose over someone’s shoes. How romantic.”And you thought it was hard coming out as gay… Jay was a perfectly normal teenager, like any other awkward, antisocial, gay teenager. Until he was bitten by a mysterious zombie boy. Now, Jay has far more on his mind than he can handle. Not only is he struggling to keep his troubled family together and deal with his unfulfilled love for the hottest guy in school, he also needs to keep in check his urge to devour human flesh. All the while making sure his decomposition doesn’t show. As if he wasn’t already enough of an outsider…
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 