Cry of the Icemark

By Stuart Hill
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Noelle

Thirrin Freer Strong-in-the-Arm Lindenshield, Wildcat of the North, is turning 14 years old and has become the official heir to the throne of the Icemark. This proud young warrior princess makes a new friend in Oskan, a Witch's son, who has some undeveloped magical powers. Then news comes that the southern Empire, headed by the formidable general Scipio Bellorum, is headed to attack the Icemark and conquer it. Thirrin's father makes a desperate stand against the army, which succeeds in stalling them until the snows of winter prevent the Empire from renewing their advances. But the King falls in the battle, and Thirrin becomes Queen. Thirrin realizes to beat the Empire's gigantic army, she is going to need all the allies she can get. Thirrin and Oskan travel into the far North to try and gain vampires, wolf-folk, giant Snow Leopards and more strange creatures as allies. But even if she is successful, will they be able to come together and fight in time to beat the Empire? For those who like a fantasy that is short on character development but long on plot containing battle scenes and creatures of myth and fancy, this could be the sort of story you would like!