Book Review - Cry of the Icemark
I LOVE books, so I've decided to start writing reviews for my favorites - particularly the unsung favorites which I think deserve more popularity than things like Twilight and Eragon. Here goes my first review!
‘Thirrin's fighting spirit still roared within her, though, and...she punched it hard on the nose. "Make it quick, wolfman, and make sure all the wounds are in front. I don't want anyone saying I died running away," she yelled, managing to keep the terror out of her voice.’
"It will have readers shivering with delight...From the moment that its 13-year-old heroine, Princess Thirrin, punches a werewolf on the nose you know you're in for a rollicking good read." – The Times
If you enjoy fantasy tales such as LotR, Redwall, and Narnia, Viking mythos, or paranormal creatures such as vampires, werewolves, and even a few trolls, this is the book for you.
Cry of the Icemark (and the entire trilogy) is one of my favorite books of all time. Set in a world parallel to ours, it is the tale of a tiny Viking-eqsue country facing invasion by the greatly feared Polypontian army (aka the Romans). Facing certain defeat, young Princess Thirrin Freer Strong-in-the-Arm Lindenshield must make alliances with the Icemark’s greatest enemies, as well as creatures of legend: werewolves, vampires, even giant talking snow leopards. GIANT TALKING SNOW LEOPARDS!
The author – a history/war buff – weaves a fascinating tale of coming-of-age during wartime. His narration is rich with details and character insight, drawing you into a world filled to the brim with emotion and intelligence, so it feels very well-researched and thought out. Each character is vibrant and relatable. It’s refreshing that even the villain has depth and brilliance – not just another boring, mindless bad guy.
I love how the author uses the rich language of the court, including the titles and customs of the various monarchies. Every battle scene is well-planned, and you can follow every strategy and movement as the armies clash. Another refreshing facet of the book is that the werewolves and vampires are classy and believable, not watered-down modern-day versions like so many paranormal books these days (*cough*Twilight*cough*).
Thirrin is a practical warrior queen, and I love that we can see how the weight of the crown affects her, as well as follow her growing friendship with Oskan, the young warlock who balances her fiery personality with his calm demeanor. From her father’s fluffy slippers to the melodramatic vampires, from Tharaman’s inner kitten to Thirrin’s fiery spirit, every aspect of the book feels real and draws you in. This book has HEART, is smart, and makes you want more the instant the last page turns. (And luckily there’s more!) Fiery Princess Thirrin, her father King Redrought, gentle Oskan the Warlock, King Grishmak of the werewolves, Tharaman-Thar of the snow leopards, royal tutor Maggiore Totus, ruthless Scipio Bellorum – All will make you want to return to the valiant kingdom of the Icemark again and again!
(For more info on the book, here's the Amazon page > LINK <)
