The Face in the Frost is a fantasy novel by John Bellairs. It follows the adventures of two wizards, Prospero and Roger Bacon, as they confront a mysterious evil which grows increasingly menacing as they progress. The evil seems to be related to a nigh-indecipherable book of spells which just went missing, and Prospero finds he must confront an old nemesis who has grown far more powerful than he could have guessed.
This book provides examples of:
- Anachronism Stew: The story apparently takes place in medieval Europe. It features Michael Scott and Roger Bacon, who both lived in the 13th century. At one point, though, Prospero watches part of a modern American football game on his magic mirror, and he and Roger Bacon often smoke tobacco, which did not arrive in Europe until after the discovery of the New World.
- Everything in Space Is a Galaxy: In a model universe created by one of the world's wizards, a whole "galaxy" goes supernova. A supernova is actually an exploding star.
- Magic Mirror: Prospero has a talking mirror given to sarcasm and, when Prospero isn't actively talking with it, tuneless humming and crabby remarks.
- Mood Whiplash: The book starts out apparently as a whimsical tale of a goofy, absent-minded wizard in a cluttered, wonder-filled house. By the middle it becomes a horror story where the entire world is apparently being warped by an evil sorceror.
- Tome of Eldritch Lore: The evil magic is largely driven by an evil book of magic which an old nemesis of Prospero's manages to get his hands on.
- Wizard Workshop: Prospero's living room holds the usual paraphernalia of a practicing wizard, including a talking mirror and the inevitable skull that Prospero put there to remind himself of death (although it usually reminded him that he needed to go to the dentist).
