|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
Frequently Bought Together
Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought
by Stuart Hill
|
by Stuart Hill
|
Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book Four: Battle of the Labyrinth, The by Rick Riordan |
by John Flanagan
|
by Cornelia Funke
|
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Product Description
From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8–This epic fantasy has at its center a spunky 13-year-old warrior princess. When her father dies in a heroic battle with a gigantic invading army, Thirrin becomes queen of her small but hardy country, the Icemark. Having already made allies of the werewolves and found a friend and advisor in a young warlock, Oskan, she sets off with him to forge new alliances. They journey to the land of the Vampire King and Queen and persuade them to join the alliance, and then go on to the dangerous talking snow leopards, the leader of whom becomes a most valuable friend. The final third of the book deals with the extended siege of the capital city and the bloody battles in and around it, leading to the eventual defeat of the invaders. Characters tend to be two-dimensional and conflicts within and between them do little to influence the plot. Thirrin's shyness in personal encounters, for example, quickly disappears. Oskan goes through experiences that should be transformative, especially in a young person, but he shows no evidence of inner change throughout the book. In general, the writing tends to be explanatory rather than descriptive, and this leads to a flatness in what should be an exciting story. Nancy Farmer's The Sea of Trolls (S & S, 2004) tackles a similar northern setting with far more realism and suspense. While lovers of Christopher Paolini's Eragon (Knopf, 2003) may take to this novel, and its courageous female protagonist is laudable, in the presently crowded field of fantasies, it will struggle to stand out.–Sue Giffard, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, New York City
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Booklist
Gr. 8-11. Fourteen-year-old Thirrin Freer Strong-in-the-Arm Lindenshield, Wild Cat of the North, shoulders burdens as heavy as her name is long. She inherits the throne of Icemark just as the ruthless, as-yet-undefeated Polypontian Empire mobilizes for an invasion. Although Icemark's scrappy peoples resemble Vikings, and the Polypontians recall the conquering Romans, realism dissipates as Thirrin forges alliances with werewolves, vampires, and giant, talking snow leopards reminiscent of Philip Pullman's armored bears. The influences of Tolkien are likewise evident, particularly in the emphasis on the strategic maneuverings of underdogs, as well as the epic grandeur (not to mention grisliness) of battle, over character development. But for readers whose imaginations are stirred by clashes of pike and saber and lusty cries of "Blood! Blast! And Fire!" this extravagant first novel--especially its more swiftly paced latter half--offers ample rewards. For others, it is Hill's affection for his characters, especially the warrior-queen "who could make peace between night and day, between dark and light," that will prove infectious. Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
Thirrin Freer Strong-in-the-Arm Lindenshield carried her names with ease. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt
Thirrin Freer Strong-in-the-Arm Lindenshield carried her names with ease. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Most helpful customer reviews
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Children's Books > Literature > Action & Adventure
- Books > Children's Books > Literature > Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror > Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
- Books > Kids & Family Store > Teens
- Books > Teens > Literature & Fiction > Adventure & Thrillers
- Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy
- Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Your Recent History
(What's this?)|
After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. |
