The Cry of the Icemark

April 4, 2005
British bookseller Hill's debut novel is a sprawling military fantasy that benefits from a likable heroine and will appeal most to readers who enjoy getting swept up in a good, lengthy yarn. Icemark is about to be invaded by General Scipio Bellorum and his armies of the Polypontus Empire, a kingdom that "had so far brought enlightenment to over fifty countries and provinces, crushing the irrational beliefs of their populations whether they wanted it or not." Thirrin, the 13-year-old daughter of the king of Icemark, has a near-death scrape with a werewolf, but when the creature spares her life, she comes to trust him and brings about an uneasy truce between the soldiers of Icemark and the Wolf-folk. When her father dies in battle, Thirrin ascends to leadership and musters allies for the upcoming fight against Bellorum—including the Vampire King and Queen to their north, who were not long ago their sworn enemies. Hill's swift-moving narrative is heavy on war room and battlefield scenes, which will delight fans of military struggle, but may wear on more casual fantasy readers. The third-person narrative draws upon a mish-mash of mythologies: in addition to werewolves and vampires (and even references to Valhalla), animated trees, ghosts and leopard people figure into the plot. However, Hill braids these elements smoothly, and his winning heroine will lead readers through this 500+ page epic. Ages 12-up.

It's challenging enough to narrate a story rife with battle scenes and multifarious characters, but when the characters range from Romanesque legionnaires to wizards, werewolves, vampires, snow leopards, and trees, the challenge intensifies. Heather O'Neill is especially terrific voicing the alternating self-doubt and confidence of young Thirrin, who is thrust, at age 14, into the role of warrior queen after her father's death in battle. Her small Norse nation is threatened by the Polipontus Empire, which denies all things mythological and underestimates the queen and her allies. Romance, clashing swords, and roaring warriors are conveyed with tension and such grandeur that listeners will be hoping for a sequel, which Hill has promised. D.P.D. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine