Okay, i understand that the author thought Frightened is that good and that it now stays 1round on a failed save. I just looked up the spells that apply Frightened and realized, that there is only a few of them (although Level 1 Wrathful Smite does it just as easily).
I personally don't think...
I am sorry but i don't understand your interpretation Hemlock.
I now read the Spell as:
Cast the Spell: Save for Frightened.
Failure: Target acts but is Frightened.
At the end of target's turn: Save for Damage.
Meaning now the Spell is even weaker, because the target might have died to the...