I like to think that I’m somewhere between “enthusiast” and “devotee” when it comes to the level of my love for the fantasy genre. I’m a great believer in detail, graphic imagery, dynamic characters, and multi-layered plots. I like long back stories and warring empires; I enjoy perilous journeys and inner struggles; I love losing myself in novel after novel like those made popular by King, Martin, Jordan, Eddings, and of course, The Man himself, Tolkien.
For me, The Cry of the Icemark is a tale of a young person written for young people. It’s great for those who want to ease into fantasy and are daunted by the task of taking on Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series or aren’t ready to delve into the detailed descriptions of Lord of the Rings. And for those who can’t wait for Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games to come out on film, Icemark can help ease your suffering.
The story revolves around Thirrin Freer Strong-in-the-Arm Linden shield (yeah, that’s one thing: Stuart Hill isn’t exactly shy in his naming), Princess of the Icemark, who inherits her jolly old father’s kingdom when he dies in battle during the invasion of the neighboring Polypontian Empire. To keep her country from conquest, Thirrin must ally herself with her ancestors’ old enemies: werewolves, the Vampire King and Queen, and Snow Leopards. The whole thing is part fantasy, part coming-of-age story, and part historical fiction—Hill seems to have been inspired heavily by Norse mythology and the history of the Roman empire.
All in all, as I said, not a bad read, and probably even more enjoyable for younger readers than for me. And this being Hill’s first book, I assume his writing—in terms of story flow, detail, and imagery—improves as the trilogy progresses.
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