I admit it, I'm shallow...I was first drawn to this book by its absolutely gorgeous cover. Then, I just loved the title; it's perfect, perfect, perfect for this historical short story revolving around a brief period in 1814 when the Thames froze over.

Now that I've read it, I'm enamoured of Erastes writing style and attention to detail. ( )

This is essentially professional slash fiction, set in London in 1814 during a winter so cold that the Thames freezes, allowing traders to set up stalls on the ice—hence the book's title. The book is readable—the research seems thorough, and the prose is quite good. However, the characterisation is by numbers and stereotypical, with much made of the love interests' physical difference (blond and androgynous versus older, taller, dark complexion), and I didn't find the romance believable or the sex that exciting. Still, good enough that I'd probably read more of Erastes' work. ( )

So, it is 1814 and Gideon Frost is almost down to his last sou. While publishing has been reasonably lurative in the past, bad times have beset fair Gideon and he is reduced to the occasional dabble in prositution to make ends meet. But, hark our erstwhile hero, Mr Joshua Redfern, arrives on the scene to rescue sweet Gideon and perhaps divest him of his breeches.I like historical novels. I do! I love the detail and manners and honor these gents have. The balls (of the dancing kind) and the silly social niceties and rigmarole one went through back then. It appeals much and the sex seems naughtier and somehow more illicit than in a contemporary.Gideon and Joshua provided me with several entertaining hours reading. Despite his job on the side Gideon has managed to retain an innocence about him that was rather sweet, but not sickeningly so. Joshua just wants someone to love, but has been burnt in the past and is hesitant to put his heart at risk again. Made for some lovely angst.One thing I was most impressed with was my own vocabulary. Smarter than the average bear thank goodness, ’cause man, this author does not hold back! Macavity the Mystery Cat came in right handy! The physical descriptions of the fair and London were also vivid and provided depth to the world building. This is all good and marvy in my books as often historical in m/m can leave little to be desired and miss the mark in believability. The sex, while not a boink fest, was definitely merow and the end was a lovely happy for now, which I appreciate far more than wrapping it up in a bow.All in all a delightful, angsty read with a vivid historical London backdrop. Well worth a look.http://sharrow.wordpress.com/2009/08/18/frost-fair-by-erastes/ ( )

A terrific little novella with great historical detail and a touching M/M romance. Looking forward to reading all of this author's works. ( )

Erastes' third novel (second released but third written) may be short (about 40,000 words) but is certainly not lacking in content. Though I had never heard of them, the Frost Fairs on the Thames River were real-life events that occurred whenever the Thames River froze over, which was usually once every 10 to 20 years. 1814, this story’s setting, was the very last time the river froze. Frost Fair is the story of a struggling printer, Gideon Frost, who sets up business on the ice during the fair. Gideon is so far in debt that every so often he has to resort to prostitution in order to make ends meet. When an older, rich businessman, Joshua Redfern, commissions an engraving from him, Gideon is love-struck with the kind and timid man, but holds out little hope that he’d ever be so lucky as to be his lover. Redfern’s best friend, Finbar Thouless, figuring out that Redfern is indeed taken with pretty, young Gideon, then finds out about Gideon's occasional side-job, and having a taste for pretty boys himself, tries to blackmail Gideon into servicing him. Thouless is a wonderfully drawn villain; endowed with charm and charisma while at the same time being despicably vile. He is just as interesting as the main characters, if not more. The way he pulls the strings to manipulate the other characters is sheer genius. The settings are lovingly detailed–the cold, slippery, slimy streets of London; the battered storefronts; the ragged clothing of the poor working-class citizens, contrasted to the plush, elegant styles in the homes of Redfern and Thouless. It's all a feast for the senses and on top of that a well-paced story that moves right along and really has you hanging on in anticipation of the outcome. Needless to say, I'm a fan of Miss Erastes, and in my opinion, her stories just keep getting better ( )