Icemark Chronicles #1: The Cry of the Icemark

I first read this book when I was 12 and then I made all my friends read it. I read it so much that the cover fell off. 10 years later, it's still one of my favorite books.

The book The Cry of the Icemark by Stuart Hill is a very adventurous book. It takes place in an imaginary small country called Icemark in the northern continent. The two main characters are Thirrin and Oskan. Thirrin is fourteen and her father is the King of Icemark, and Oskan is her best friend who is a warlock (a male witch). In the beginning of the book, Thirrin's father died in battle against the strongest empire in the world. I felt so bad for her because if my father died I would be crushed. She had to face the empire at such a young age, but handled things very well. After the first battle, the people of her country had to flee to safety. They go to her mother's home country (her mother also died). She traveled to the-land-of-the-ghosts in search of an alliance with the vampires. I could not believe her bravery to save her country. With the wolf-folks help, she gained the help of the vampires, but is not sure she can trust them, because they are the Icemark's enemies. Thirrin also gained alliance with giant snow leopards. I liked that she was brave enough to meet the snow leopards in defence of her country. Soon Thirrin and her strange but strong army went back to Icemark. There everyone prepared long and hard for the war. They had to be ready because General Scipio Bellorum was known for his sneaky attacks and his army of large numbers. I was so scared that I could not put the book down because I had to know what happened. Her full name is actually Queen Thirrin Freer Strong-in-the-Arm Lindenshield, Wildcat of the North. She definetly lived up to her name. This book is part of the Icemark Chronicles and is the first book in the series. The second book, which will be out in Spring of 2007, is called Blade of Fire. I can't wait for it. Also, The Cry of the Icemark is a great action book with lots of detail on the war. I was not too big on war, but after reading this book I really started to realize what goes on in wars and how sad is to see your people die. I loved this book because of how it explained all the details of how everything looked and explained the thoughts of the characters very well. If you love action and adventure this is your kind of book. Will Thirrin save her country and free her people, or will she fall to the empire and have her people enslaved? If you want to know the answers to these questions, then read The Cry of the Icemark! Allyson LA-6

Some of my friends told me about this book. With all the talk about a warrior queen, I thought it might be more for girls. I was so wrong. This is a fantastic war story and a moving personal one, too. The young queen has a warlock companion throughout the book who is one of the most unusual male characters I've come across. The villain is strong and the tribes that Thirin must bring into her army are werewolves, vampires and giant leopards. How cool is that? You've got to read this!

This is a wonderfully written epic adventure with something in it for kids of all ages - It's extremely visual and no surprise to me that 2oth Century Fox wants to make a movie out of it - Can't wait to see it!!

Books of this size are sometimes difficult to finish. This book just flew by -- and when I had finished, I was so sorry there wasn't more of it! I sure do hope that Stuart Hill is writing another one. I have to know what will happen in the future to Thirrin. I'm 15 years old and if you had told me that I would love this book, I probably would not have believed you. This is a fantastic story about a young princess who must go to war to defend her kingdom. She joins forces with the neighboring countries whose citizens are werewolves, vampires and snow leopards. What's amazing is that this author makes all of this feel incredibly real and believable. This is one fabulous book! Please read it.

I'm not going to write any spoilers... this book is too good to be spoiled. I absoulutely think- not think, know- that this book is one of the grandest books I've read. It is a classic fantasy that I think is in the same area of Lord of the Rings. It's simply phenomenal! 5 stars isn't enough!!