A review by sfletcher26
The Anvil of Ice by Michael Scott Rohan

5.0

It's been about 15 years or so since I last read Michael Scott Rohan's Winter of the World Series of which this is the first book. I remember it being one of the best fantasy series I had ever read and I have read a great number over the years. Memory though can be a deceptive thing. Not this time though as it is as good as I remember it.
The Anvil Of Ice is in many respects a simple coming of age, good versus evil story. It's full of the usual tropes of this genre; the put upon and down trodden foundling, the power that lies hidden within him, his misuse and loss of that power and his redemption and understanding of what and who he is. This though is not a criticism, it is what it is and it is good at what it is, in fact its damn good at what it is. What raises it up a notch is the world into which the story is placed. Rohan's world is rich, multilayered and believable. The tying of magic to art of Smithcraft is inspired as is the power and force of the incroaching Ice (remember this was written well before GofT so was a new concept at the time).
The Winter of the World Series really should be better known and really deserves a reissuing from its publishers.