Reviews

Cry of the Icemark (The Icemark Chronicles #1) by Stuart Hill

huitthuitt's review against another edition

4.0

I randomly picked this off the shelf in my middle school library based off the cover, and this started my obsession with the Fantasy genre. I love this book so much that I purchased it to have for myself.

It has everything: Badass heroine, magic, battles, political intrigue, and a hint of romance.

I know it is part of a series but I think this book ends on such a good conclusion that you don't really need to continue reading if you don't want to. I never read the other two in the series and I'm fine with that.

ithaca's review against another edition

4.0

Thirrin is the young heir to the Icemark, a small kingdom threatened by enemies to the north and south. When the massive, undefeated southern empire finally makes its move, she is forced to grow up very quickly and take on the role of queen with confidence and strength. Her struggle to be worthy of leading a country and capable of leading an army to war is well done. That everyone respects her ideas and authority even though she is barely fourteen years old speaks volumes about her abilities (although she is still sometimes childish and that comes through in her relationship with the young wizard Oskan). Thirrin is so fierce and dauntless in defending her country and making allies out of enemies that it is awe-inspiring when she finally decimates the nearly endless armies of the empire.

shirokitty4's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This book focuses mostly around different battles for a princess to save her kingdom

houxli's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Thirrin's temper, and how she tempers it, was the central point for me. That is the coming-of-age element here more than anything. She struggles between speaking her feelings, holding herself with dignity and what that may look like, and playing the diplomatic game in order to get what she wants. That's not politicking, that's a clear picture of the thought process on how to behave, and I appreciate how she considered it all.

mkeesler's review against another edition

adventurous tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

lisimerk's review against another edition

5.0

This was a good book!

cgrizer's review against another edition

4.0

Dougla

foreverday's review against another edition

4.0

A very enjoyable read, and one that left me excited to get back to whenever I put it down. I think I would've enjoyed if even more if I was just a bit younger.

marykirk's review against another edition

5.0

I love this book. It is one of my favorites because of the characters are realistic, the creatures are very cool, and the battles are engaging. The characters make it for me. Thirrin is firey and determined. She cares for her kingdom more than she does herself. She is faced with a ridiculous challenge, along with dealing with the emotional grief of her father's death. Oskan is a Witch's Son who doesn't know who or what he is in the beginning, but as he stumbles to keep up with Thirrin, he falls into what he is and what he is meant to be.
I find it very fun to compare the cultures of the Icemark and the Polypontian with those of the Norweigan Vikings and the Roman Empire.

miathebooknerd's review against another edition

adventurous funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0