Trapped
in a hidden fortress tucked between towering mountains and a frozen sea,
Solveig, along with her brother the crown prince, their older sister, and an
army of restless warriors, anxiously awaits news of her father's victory at
battle. But as winter stretches on, and the unending ice refuses to break,
terrible acts of treachery soon make it clear that a traitor lurks in their
midst. A malevolent air begins to seep through the fortress walls, and a
smothering claustrophobia slowly turns these prisoners of winter against one
another. Those charged
with protecting the king's children are all suspect, and the siblings must
choose their allies wisely. But who can be trusted so far from their father's
watchful eye? Can Solveig and her siblings survive the long winter months and
expose the traitor before he succeeds in destroying a kingdom? (Goodreads)
Reviewed by Pica, avid
bookworm
Icefall was surprisingly
good, although I don't see why it was a surprise. Kirby's debut novel, The
Clockwork Three, was excellent, and in many ways, I enjoyed Icefall even more.
Opening the first few pages, I was a little apprehensive, but I needn't have
worried.
The first thing that should
be noted is the wonderful historical context and incorporation of the culture,
myths, and history of the Nordic culture central to the story. It's always a
treat to read about a culture so steeped in myths and traditions. From the
forbidding mountains and glaciers surrounding Solveig and her family to the
actions and mindsets of the characters down to the smallest details of their
lifestyle were perfectly in tune with the time and created a wonderful picture
all together.
As wonderful as the setting
was, Kirby's characters seemed to leap off the pages, and they were the real
strength of the story. I felt as if I knew personally each of the characters,
and was surprised to find out I didn't know some at all. All of the characters
were so full and fleshed out, and they each seemed like real people. Even when
the traitor was revealed, I couldn't dislike them - I almost wanted to keep
rooting for them.
Not only was the plot
wonderful, with a great mystery, Solveig's journey was delightful to read
about. From the little girl unsure of who she is and where she belongs, she
transforms into a wonderfully strong protagonist making her way in the world.
Especially poignant to me was the scene toward the end of the book where she
must hide her identity and she chooses, rather than to hide in a new name, to
reveal both her true identity and her true strength.
Kirby weaves his story with
so many layers that even days later I was still realizing new things about the
story. There are so many things I could mention: the discussion about
the power of stories, about identity, about community, about loyalty, all
wrapped into a wonderful, historical mystery and coming-of-age story. As
soon as I finished, I was ready to leap back in again. The entire book felt
almost magical, although no magic was happening between the pages. This is a
book rich for discussion, recommendation, and many, many rereads.
The more I reflect on it, the
more I think Icefall will take its place among my favorite books. Highly
recommended.
Market: Middle Grade,
Language: "None
Sensuality: None
Violence: Mild
Mature
Themes: war, betrayal, death, coming-of-age
Book formats:
5 comments:
Sounds exciting!
Icefall is one of my new favorites, too. I loved it! Thanks for a great review.
This sounds really terrific! I loved THE CLOCKWORK THREE, so I'll definitely be giving ICEFALL a try, especially now that winter feels truly over. I don't think I could've read a book about snow and ice last month!
This looks great! I've already got it on hold at my library -- thanks.
Yes! Yes! I loved this book! I want to reread it sometime. Also, I loved The Clockwork Three. They are both awesome books.
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