The Frozen Christmas and the Wishing Star: Book 2 – Book Review
by HYEI LEE
See my review of book one in this series here.
The universe is expanded, the mythology is deepened, and the emotional stakes are raised without sacrificing the lighthearted charm that made the previous book so enjoyable. Hyei Lee returns with a sequel that does just what a good sequel should do. Compared to its predecessor, The Frozen Christmas and the Wishing Star 2 is bigger, bolder, and daringly more chaotic—in all the best ways.
In contrast to Book 1, which presented readers with a fanciful, magical, mischievous, and slightly mysterious version of Santa’s Village, Book 2 reveals something deeper beneath the snow-covered exterior. Here, Christmas is more than simply a holiday; it’s a delicate, antiquated system driven by family, tradition, and choice. And that system crumbles spectacularly this year.
It’s dramatic yet never depressing. Scenes of sheer, unadulterated amusement, such as hilariously sideways sleigh races, snowmen that really shouldn’t be in charge of anything, and reindeer disguises so absurd you can almost hear the snorting chuckles behind them, are used by Lee to counterbalance the tension.
Lumir, the obstinate and devoted elf whose persistence serves as the book’s emotional core, runs through it all. He is simply courageous, resourceful, and unwavering when everyone else fails; he is neither ostentatious nor selected by prophesy. The story gains unexpected emotional weight from his subdued resistance.
The novel really picks up steam when three Earthly kids, Emma, Lucas, and Mia, unintentionally fall into this whirling North Pole. While older readers will value their ingenious problem-solving and the humor that follows them like a trail of snowflakes, younger readers will find a clear point of entry in their perplexity, amazement, and bravery.
Lee skillfully weaves these threads together to create a narrative that is both incredibly inventive and surprisingly grounded. By the time you get to the last few pages, it’s obvious that this series is about reimagining Christmas rather than just protecting it.
Final Thoughts
The universe created in Book 1 is expanded and the stakes are raised in significant ways in The Frozen Christmas and the Wishing Star 2, a fascinating, tumultuous, and heartwarming adventure. It is the perfect book to remind readers of the importance of holiday stories because it is warm, witty, and incredibly entertaining.
If Book 1 opened the door to Santa’s Village… Book 2 blows it wide open and lets in a gust of enchanted, snow-swirling wind.
It’s another 5 stars from me! This series is wonderful.