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Icefall

4.03 of 5 stars 4.03 · rating details · 1,546 ratings · 399 reviews

Matthew J. Kirby, author of The Clockwork Three, deftly weaves a brand-new tale with chilling cleverness and subtle suspense that will leave readers racing breathlessly to the end.

Trapped in a hidden fortress tucked between towering mountains and a frozen sea, Solveig, along with her brother the crown prince, their older sister, and an army of restless warriors, anxiously...more

Paperback, School Market Edition, 321 pages

Published September 2011 by Scolastic Press

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Mar 20, 2012 Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"And how I fear that day, for I know that when I look into my betrayer’s face, I will see someone I thought I knew. And I will still love them."

A Nordic king has gone to war. To protect his three children while he is away, he has sent them, with a small household, to a remote steading. Later, just before the fjord freezes over and shuts the steading in for the winter, he sends reinforcements: a force of berserkers who exist uneasily alongside the others who dwell there.

Our heroine is Solveig, th...more "And how I fear that day, for I know that when I look into my betrayer’s face, I will see someone I thought I knew. And I will still love them."

A Nordic king has gone to war. To protect his three children while he is away, he has sent them, with a small household, to a remote steading. Later, just before the fjord freezes over and shuts the steading in for the winter, he sends reinforcements: a force of berserkers who exist uneasily alongside the others who dwell there.

Our heroine is Solveig, the middle child of the king. Her beautiful older sister Asa will bring a great alliance when she marries. Her younger brother Harald will be a warrior and become king one day. Solveig, plain and seemingly unremarkable, feels overlooked by her father. She is, however, a talented storyteller, and the king’s skald, Alric, takes her under his wing and begins teaching her the art. This training provides much thought-provoking debate on the power of stories and the role of a skald, and as Icefall progresses, Solveig wonders if she will need to challenge Alric’s teachings in order to be true to herself.

For Solveig, and everyone else at the steading, is in mortal danger. The group is now shut in by the ice, and a traitor lurks in their midst. Matthew J. Kirby perfectly creates an unbearable tension. Murder and sabotage stalk the hall. Everyone suspects everyone else, even their own loved ones. Food is scarce, and the only thing that alleviates the food insecurity is when people die, leaving more for the others — food that is now salted with guilt. And as terrifying as the winter is, Solveig has had a nightmare that seems to predict even worse disaster when the spring thaw comes. Intertwined with the main narrative are flashbacks in which Solveig tells anecdotes from her past, reminiscences that tell us more about the characters — the suspects — and why they are so dear to her heart.

The characters are well-drawn. Solveig has a fantastic coming-of-age journey, beginning as an insecure girl and becoming a heroine worthy of legend. I also can’t go without mentioning Hake, captain of the berserkers: gruff and dangerous, but with layers upon layers of depth beneath the surface. Every major character is complex. Even characters who do despicable things are portrayed in three dimensions and have realistic motives for what they do, and realistic weaknesses. They may be the villains of Solveig’s story, but they see themselves as the heroes of their own — an idea that Alric touches upon in his teaching.

All of this great storytelling and characterization is enhanced even more by beautiful writing. Kirby has a great ear for metaphor: "All of the sky looks like a burnt log in the morning hearth, cold, spent, and ashen." There’s a good rhythm to the prose, too, making it feel like a story Solveig is telling us by the fire.

I very nearly missed out on Icefall twice. I received an ARC last year, but was swamped and knew my co-reviewer Bill (see his review)was a Kirby fan and passed it along to him, and then after reading his stellar review, selfishly wished I’d held on to it! Then, recently, I checked it out from the library, but kept not getting around to it, until I got an overdue notice and decided to hurry up and read it before I took it back. I’m so very, very glad I did. Don’t make my mistake, people — don’t put off reading this book. Icefall is stunningly good.(less)

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Apr 21, 2012 Valerie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

More people need to read this. Really it’s such a great book. The writing was unique in a way that I liked. It wasn’t overly flourished, using big words and lenghty sentences to convey a message and yet it added to the story’s magic. When people scoff about YA and middle grade books I think of these kinds of books. They are worth reading even though it’s written for a younger audience. I just don’t know how authors can do it.

In this book we have Solveig who is the second daughter of the king but...more More people need to read this. Really it’s such a great book. The writing was unique in a way that I liked. It wasn’t overly flourished, using big words and lenghty sentences to convey a message and yet it added to the story’s magic. When people scoff about YA and middle grade books I think of these kinds of books. They are worth reading even though it’s written for a younger audience. I just don’t know how authors can do it.

In this book we have Solveig who is the second daughter of the king but because she isn’t pretty enough to be of use with marriage like her sister, she feels inadequate. The setting is in a fortress that is surrounded by mountains and they are trapped for the winter. There is a war going on outside these mountains and they were sent there for protection but they soon discover that it’s anything but safe. There is a traitor in their midst.

I would say who my favorite characters are and why but I might give something away. So I’ll just say my favorite characters are Solveig and her little brother, who is also the heir to the throne, Herald. He is easy going and has a playfulness that still belongs to young boys. Herald has an effortless way with people, but he is still young and wants so much to prove himself. And Solveig, Solveig, Solvieg, who doesn’t love an underestimated underdog? She has to discover her self-worth during this winter. She has to be stronger than ever now and realize her talents.

The Berserkers are big thug looking guys that at first sight seem barbaric but Solvieg has a way of seeing the best in people. I grew to care about them as Solveig does and she grows to love everyone in the fortress even though she knows one of them has betray her, those she loves, and her poeple. Everyone is a suspect (only Solveig and Herald you are sure about) and when they are revealed Solveig is more sad than angry because it doesn’t matter, she still loves them. I was left guessing right up until the reveal, but that isn’t a surprise I’m not usually one of those reader who figures out the twist and tries to look for clues.

With self-discovery, betrayal, twists, treachery, love, Nordic myths, forgiveness, and even a little action there is a lot to look forward to in this book. Please try it if you are at all interested in fairy tales. (less)

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Jul 24, 2011 Claire rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: 5th and up

Recommended to Claire by: Roz

Shelves: 10-to-12-year-old-readers, 7th-grade-shelf, 8th-grade-and-up, a-7th-and-8th-grade-middle-school-t, adults-reading-ya-lit, high-school-fairs

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Set in the frozen north, the King’s children along with a very small band of servants have escaped a war with Gunnlaug that started with a spurned marriage proposal. They are hidden away in a fjord waiting (hopefully) out of harm’s way.

Kirby makes a large bow to the oral tradition of story telling as he relates The king's children's desperate fight for survival against cold, hunger and treachery. Asa is the oldest daughter, she possesses an ethereal and arresting beauty--the kind that l...more

4 likes · like · see review

Apr 01, 2012 Clare Cannon rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: 9-14 years+

Shelves: 08-12yrs

What a great story about a kingdom at war and the struggle to overcome treachery from within, attack from without, and the chains of doubt which hinder strength of character.

Solveig, second daughter of the king, is the centre of this amazing story about what it takes to be great, and yet this is not exclusively a girl's book. There is action and fighting and honour and treachery enough to easily hold a boy's attention as well. And her journey is inspiring for boys and girls alike. A few of the gems of wisdom which she learns: the hardest decisions have to be made more than once in life, but they get easier each time, you should remember and be true to your first answer; in bravery and strength there is a kind of beauty that will never fade; a woman's beauty is hollow if accompanied by selfishness - which leads to treachery; and honour and goodness are compatible with anger and character flaws if these are purified by the effort to keep a right intention and to rectify mistakes when necessary.

It also has a great message about the power of stories to help people not only understand life, but to love the effort it takes to live well. Stories help people to see the purpose of suffering and the rebirth and new hope that can follow from it. When Solveig's teacher tells her that a story shouldn't take a side, that it should adapt to whoever is listening and tell them what they want to hear, Solveig proves her courage and strength of character by telling the truth, showing that such a story has the power to impact people's lives - and change the world. Such a story will move mountains, and will have an eternal power that lasts even after the story ends.

Life and character development are interwoven through the story-telling theme, and there is also the hint of a noble love that grows between those whose lives are built upon what is good and honourable, and it is so beautiful because it encompasses the good of all around them, compared to the selfish and shallow love that leads others to be absorbed in themselves and forsake everyone else around them.

A powerful story - a journey - that has the depth to make it a legend. www.GoodReadingGuide.com (less)

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Aug 31, 2011 Pam Vlieg rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

There is something ever so magical about middle grade fantasy. Rarely does it ever fail to pull me in and immerse me in prolific language and prodigious landscapes.

Icefall by Kirby was by far one of the best Norse MG fantasies I have ever read. The setting was brutal, the characters gruff and believable, I was able to sink into icy oblivion in the middle of the summer. Kirby’s story telling skills are incredibly verbose while not overwhelming the younger reader. I feel Kirby did an astounding jo...more

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Jan 01, 2012 Joshua rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-13-read

Wellwritten but slow moving. I revisited it based on the reviews but I don't see it having wide appeal... Its very nicely done, but i think its a tough sell to middle school readers, unless they are already into viking talles... The cover promises Thor, but the insides are more Hamlet... Politcal intrigues, historical fiction...l however i will read a little more... I do like the norse tales interwoven and the main character grows on me...

I worry that it will turn into a typical lineage story li...more

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May 06, 2013 Amy M rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Solveig is one of three children of a king who is at war. To protect his them, the king sends Solveig, her older sister Asa, and her younger brother Harald, the crown prince, to hide in a small steading (or farm) sheltered between icy mountains near the sea. With a small group of caretakers and just a few soliders for protection, Solveig and her siblings must survive the coming winter until the king sends word that he has won the war. As winter falls upon them, an ever-hardening wall of glacial...more Solveig is one of three children of a king who is at war. To protect his them, the king sends Solveig, her older sister Asa, and her younger brother Harald, the crown prince, to hide in a small steading (or farm) sheltered between icy mountains near the sea. With a small group of caretakers and just a few soliders for protection, Solveig and her siblings must survive the coming winter until the king sends word that he has won the war. As winter falls upon them, an ever-hardening wall of glacial ice slowly blocks off the entrance to the steading. Before the entrance freezes over completely, a group of beserkers, fierce and frightening warriors feared even amongst their own people, arrives as protection sent by the king.

Just as the steading settles into a precarious rhythm of relative peace, an act of treason endangers everyone in the steading. Solveig, the second child and plainest daughter of the king, quickly realizes that not only are she and her siblings in danger from the traitor, but the claustraphobic conditions in the steading also threaten to turn friends into enemies, family into strangers. Will Solveig and her friends and family make it through the winter alive? Can she discover the traitor among them before the traitor causes greater damage?

This is one of the best books I have read in a very long time! If you have followed my book reviews for a while, you will know that I typically read a lot of fantasy and science fiction. Well, this book is not fantasy or science fiction, but I really, really enjoyed it.

This book is more than a story about a group of people surviving a winter. Solveig is a wonderful character who learns a lot about herself, her friends, and her family throughout the book. At first, Solveig is quiet and does not think very highly of herself. She is described as plain to look at, not nearly as beautiful as her older sister, Asa. Solveig does not think she has any real talents, and neither, apparently, does her father. Her younger brother Harrald is meant to be king, and Asa will marry someone of noble birth and bring more wealth and pride to the family. But Solveig? What does she have to give?

One very interesting character in the book is Alric, the skald. A skald is a storyteller, someone who knows all the Norse legends and is able to weave tales meant to inspire, to entertain, and to help. Solveig learns that she has the gift of storytelling, but she is convinced that as the daughter of the king, and a seemingly useless one at that, she may not be allowed to become a skald. Solveig turns out to be one of the strongest and bravest characters in the book. She is someone I can admire for her honesty, her kindness, and her desire to help others. She learns to face her fears and stand up for what she believes in. I also loved the character of Hake, the fearsome leader of the berserkers, and even Muunin, Solveig’s raven. Readers will wonder until near the end of the book who the traitor really is.

I love the Norse mythology that Matthew J. Kirby weaves into the story and the memories that Solveig shares at the beginning of chapters. While most of the book reads at a steady pace, the last few chapters were very exciting. I couldn’t read them fast enough! And I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the cover of the book does have meaning. This is the first book I have read by this author, and it definitely won’t be my last!

http://www.arlingtonlibrary.org/libra...(less)

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Apr 13, 2013 Claire rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 8th-grade-and-up, 7th-grade-shelf, 9-to-11-year-old-readers, a-7th-and-8th-grade-middle-school-t, adults-reading-ya-lit, book-fairs-spring-2013, fantasy, fourth-grade-shelf, great-read-aloud-titles-for-all-age, guys-read, high-school-fairs, strong-girls-women

Set in the frozen north, the King’s children along with a very small band of servants have escaped a war with Gunnlaug that started with a spurned marriage proposal. They are hidden away in a fjord waiting (hopefully) out of harm’s way.

Kirby makes a large bow to the oral tradition of story telling as he relates The king's children's desperate fight for survival against cold, hunger and treachery. Asa is the oldest daughter, she possesses an ethereal and arresting beauty--the kind that launches s...more

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Apr 07, 2013 Spiderboy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The author steps up to the plate, swings, and it's a H O M E R U N. Sometimes you have to be in the right mood for a book and sometimes the book puts you in the right mood. I don't know which it was for this book. Might have been a little of both. But this one knocked my panties off. And I wasn't even wearing panties, b/c I'm a guy. That's how good it was.

Cover; come. on. that cover is too cool.

Premise: Bloody trapped in ice. Get out of here, I seriosly haven't seen that before.

story: yes yes...more

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Dec 12, 2012 andrea rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I Loved this book! It starts out very slow and quiet but it builds and builds until your heart is racing and palms are sweating. My only criticism is that towards the end, Solveig starts describing too many things using new compound words, like lie-smile, prayer-roar, doom-rise, sigh-drips. They're a little annoying (except for a trio of -smile words that capture your heart!) but mostly just distracting. Otherwise, what a good good book - the characters' personalities just grow and deepen as the...more

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Nov 29, 2012 Riley rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is not one of my favorite books. It's not one of those books that I'm going to talk about to people, or speak about enthusiastically if they ask me what I've read recently. I'll probably wonder why this is in my list of five star books when I've given lower ratings to books I've liked more than this one.

But it was a solid good book that had a little extra to make it better than just good. The characters were believable, and the main character’s development throughout the story was bril...more

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Oct 06, 2012 Natalie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, norse

Every once in awhile, I'll find some obscure gem of a book that sticks in my soul. Often times, I think it's just the magic ability of a book to reach us at specific times. I loved this book. I was many predisposed to like it, because it's Norse, and I love all things Norse, but it was more than that. There was something so tender and real about Solveig. I found myself tearing up at her heartbreaks because it touched something deep in my heart.

Solveig and her siblings, Ana and Haldar, have been...more

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Aug 14, 2012 Elevetha Houre rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: meh-worthy, middle-grade, once-is-enough, political-fantasy-adventure, gorgeous-covers, 2012

It was okay but I didn't feel that it was worth it. I was bored most of the time. I didn't really like the characters. Even the idea was not that interesting. I only picked up the book because of the cover, the title and the fact that I'd read "The Clockwork Three" and thought it was okay, maybe this one would be better. Okay, so they are stuck in the icy glacier,\pass thing and waiting for the ice to melt and the ships to return. Meanwhile someone is sabotaging their steading. All righty then....more

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Aug 13, 2012 Hylary Locsin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Originally posted on my blog: http://libraryladyhylary.blogspot.com ! Check it out for more reviews!

The second daughter and middle child of her father, the king, Solveig has never been considered by herself, or anyone else, to be special. Her older sister, Asa, is beautiful and graceful and her younger brother, the crown prince, Harald, is spunky and determined to be a powerful warrior. Solveig is plain and shy, and doesn’t really know where she fits in with the rest of her family. After her fat...more Originally posted on my blog: http://libraryladyhylary.blogspot.com ! Check it out for more reviews!

The second daughter and middle child of her father, the king, Solveig has never been considered by herself, or anyone else, to be special. Her older sister, Asa, is beautiful and graceful and her younger brother, the crown prince, Harald, is spunky and determined to be a powerful warrior. Solveig is plain and shy, and doesn’t really know where she fits in with the rest of her family. After her father declares war on a neighboring kingdom, Solveig, along with Asa and Harald, are sent away to spend the winter in an isolated fortress, safe from the perils of war. Along with the royal children come Per, one of the king’s most trusted warriors, and several of his men, servants Bera and her son Raudi, a good friend of Solveig’s, and Ole, a slave who was captured in battle years earlier but is now loyal to the king. The small group waits for the winter to come and the fjord to freeze over, blocking off any entrance by land or sea to their hidden fortress. Before the last ice forms, however, a ship full of berserkers, the king’s most ferocious warriors, lead by the gruff Captain Hake arrives to ensure the royal children are protected. The berserkers bring with them a skald named Alric, a man serves as the king’s chief storyteller. Solveig immediately bonds with Alric, who teaches her about the importance of stories and how they can shape the mind. As the winter trudges on, however, life in the frozen hall becomes increasingly claustrophobic. Used to the battlefield, the berserkers become restless, Solveig suspects that something is going on between Asa and Per, and several acts of sabotage threaten the lives of everyone in the fjord. Can Solveig uncover who the traitor is in their midst before it’s too late?

Full of interesting characters, a rich and detailed setting, and a tense but creative plot, Icefall is a fascinating psychological fantasy novel that readers of all ages who want something that makes them think will enjoy. One of the most impressive parts of the book is how impactful Kirby’s ability to create a feeling of claustrophobia is. As the winter gets darker and colder, the reader feels just as much apprehension as Solveig does about the possibility of a traitor living in the hall. All of the novel’s characters are exceptionally well developed, particularly the very likable Solveig, and the reader finds themselves truly wondering who can be trusted and if everyone will make it through the winter alive. Although these feelings of tension abound in the novel, Kirby does an excellent job of limiting the amount of violence in the plot. The story takes place in ancient Norse times, so there is, of course, reference to battles, swordplay, etc. But parents should not be concerned about the appropriateness of the novel for tweens: everything is PG and there is very little gore. Although the novel is appropriate for younger readers, adults should not shy away from picking the book up as well. There are many layers to the plot that adults can appreciate, and the novel is, in plain terms, simply a good book. Highly recommended to fans of fantasy, mystery and stories set in ancient times.

When I first started this book I honestly wasn’t sure I was going to like it. As it continued, however, I grew to absolutely love the story. Solveig is easily one of my all-time favorite female protagonists in any novel I’ve read in both the adult and young adult genres. The fact that she is so endearing really made me care about what happened in the story, and I found myself cheering her on as she grew more confident in herself and in her abilities as a storyteller. I would easily be able to recommend this book to tween and teen readers who want something that completely immerses them in a different world. I would also highly recommend it to adult readers as well! I’m looking forward to seeing what Matthew J. Kirby comes up with next!(less)

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Aug 12, 2012 Libby rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, young-adult-fiction, children-s-fiction

I didn’t have high expectations when I started this book (I teased Michael that you can't expect much from a Utah State graduate), but I was pleasantly surprised. It was one of the better crafted stories I have read in a while, with action as well as depth and meaning. Solveig is the middle daughter of a Nordic king and considers herself without value to her father. She and her older sister, and younger brother are sent to a freezing fortress at the base of a glacier to be kept safe during a war...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Mrs.Price: Your Virtual Librarian on YA Reads rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was not sure that I would like this novel since it is written by the author of The Clockwork Three which I thought was just OK. But to my surprise it is very good.

Here is a review from Voices of Young Adults Journal (VOYA). This reviewer says that Solveig's story is not compelling enough, however, I disagree. This is a good example of why we all need to try reading different books on our own and decide what we enjoy reading. Reviews help, but everyone has different opinions.

Solveig is the King...more

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Jul 29, 2012 Aria rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Review can also be found here.

Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby is truly a cleverly written book. It is full of emotion which is true as I’ve been brought to tears several times for Solvieg, the main character of the story. The story format is great too. No confusion whatsoever when the reader is reading about Solvieg’s memories!

Besides that, the characters are so real that it nearly scared me because I never thought that a person could bring the characters alive so…so…vividly. It’s like the character...more

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Jun 11, 2012 Mary rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adventure, high-school-books, middle-school-books, mythology

I loved this coming-of-age book, from the cold, historical Scandinavian setting, to the Norse mythical references and stories, to the strong female main character, Solveig, and the adults who see her potential (Alric and Hake). I love that it is a complete story in a single book with a strong ending so I am not waiting for a sequel to find out what happens. This is also a book from a female perspective that boys will likely enjoy almost equally. Solveig, her older - and vastly more beautiful - s...more

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May 04, 2012 Kathy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-may-2012

I had the ARC for awhile, but I started reading the book because Linda C. told me it had won the Edgar.

At first, I wondered how it could have even been in the running for the Edgar - it's historical fiction!, but as I continued reading, I understood: there is a mystery that needs to be solved.

Solveig, and her younger brother, Harald, and her older (and beautiful) sister Asa have been sent north to a hidden fjord, for safety, while their father wages war with Gunnlaug, a neighbor who wants to mar...more

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Apr 17, 2012 Sean Tay rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Why I decided to read this book:The first thing that drew my attention to this book was the beautifully illustrated cover.I immediately wanted to borrow it after I read the blurb.

This book completes the 'Book written in 2011 or 2012' slot of my bingo board of books(what an alliteration!).Matthew J. Kirby,the author,did well in writing this book.Several scenes were described with so much detail it instantly conjured up an image in my mind.

My favourite quote from this book is: 'I do not have Asa's...more

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Mar 19, 2012 Phoebe rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Lisa

Shelves: fantasy, juv, adventure, scandinavian, utah-author

Solveig and her brother and sister, royal children, are sent with some family servants to a distant holding as protection against the invader Gunnlaug. They worry about food as they watch the ice freeze over, locking them into wintry desolation. Then just when it is almost too late for any ships to arrive with provisions, their father's beserker crew arrives, with orders to protect and serve. Everyone must jostle along together and try to get along as the cold deepens and the food dwindles. Solv...more

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Feb 17, 2012 E.A. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

I saw this book on the shelf and remembered hearing some of my favorite authors talk about it. I picked up it thinking I would get around to it because I have more free time that I use to.

When I started this book I knew I was doomed. I was drawn into the world so fast and I really cared about the characters. I wanted to know what was going to happen to all the characters but Solveig, the main character, I really liked. Most of the time I get fed up with teenage, female protagonists because they...more

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Jan 21, 2012 Patricia O'Sullivan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Solveig’s father, a Norse king, has sent her and her siblings away to a remote fortress to protect them while he is at war with a rival king. During the long, Scandinavian winter, the three children, a handful of household staff, and two dozen warriors wait for the ice to melt so they can return home. To escape the dullness of the endless days indoors, Solveig befriends the official storyteller, the skald. The skald agrees to teach Solveig his craft, and Solveig learns that she has a natural gif...more

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Jan 20, 2012 Brooke rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: teen-reads

Sent into a frozen fjord to keep them safe from warring neighbor lords, Crown Prince Harald, his beautiful oldest sister Asa, and middle sister Solveig find themselves surrounded by Berserkers, Odin's wild warriors, for protection. When food begins to disappear and the soldiers find themselves poisoned, it is clear one of them is a traitor. They must keep peace among themselves to survive the frigid winter, but when the winter begins to thaw . . . .

I started this book three days ago and couldn'...more

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Jan 18, 2012 Rene Kirkpatrick rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What a great story! Matthew Kirby has written a Norse saga that absolutely captivated me. I don't read a lot of books for the middle grades (grades 3-6) but this is one of those to hand to any kid age 10 and up who wants a little action and mythology.

Solveig is sequestered in a winter castle waiting for her father the king to come and take the family home. She is holed up with her sister, a beautiful girl who will be bartered for marriage and lands, her brother, the young crown prince, a storyte...more

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Dec 29, 2011 Maureen E rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, mystery, middle-grade-and-younger

Opening: “The fjord is freezing over.”

Interestingly, although this book is in fact historical fiction, I somehow kept expecting it to become a historical fantasy. I don’t want to say that Kirby didn’t research his subject, because I’m sure he did. But if I’m trying to put that feeling into words, that’s what I keep coming back to: it felt like the world wasn’t entirely tied to our own. This isn’t exactly a criticism, and in fact I think it might help lure in readers who are wary of historical fi...more Opening: “The fjord is freezing over.”

Interestingly, although this book is in fact historical fiction, I somehow kept expecting it to become a historical fantasy. I don’t want to say that Kirby didn’t research his subject, because I’m sure he did. But if I’m trying to put that feeling into words, that’s what I keep coming back to: it felt like the world wasn’t entirely tied to our own. This isn’t exactly a criticism, and in fact I think it might help lure in readers who are wary of historical fiction. But it did unsettle me for most of the book, because I was expecting something thatnever happened.

In fact, though the book is historical fiction, it is also a mystery and a coming of age story. It wavers between these three, though I think in the end the coming of age story is the strongest thread. Solveig and her journey are at the heart of this book. That thread was probably also the one that worked the best for me. She’s a nice narrator–caught in the middle between her beautiful older sister and her younger brother, the heir. She’s forced to find her voice, quite literally, in difficult circumstances.

For myself, I found her story nice. At the same time, I kept thinking about Sophie, and Hathin. Solveig belongs in their category of heroine, but I never felt as close to her as I did to either of the others. It’s hard to say why this is–she is, I think, younger than even Hathin. And I think that a kid who’s just discovering this kind of story would like her very much indeed. (It’s a sad truth that the more we read, the less we really love.)

Actually, my biggest problem was the fact that portions of the book severely tried my suspension of disbelief. I think that, because Kirby was trying to keep the mystery intact (it’s one of those classic house party sort of mysteries), several of the characterizations suffered. I’m all for secrets and tricky characters, but the arc has to work. In this case, there were too many abrupt revelations that left me wondering what happened to the nice character five pages before.

All in all, I had several difficulties with this book, but it was still a pleasant read and I would recommend it to a younger crowd.

Book source: public library
Book information: Scholastic, 2011; upper elementary and up(less)

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Dec 13, 2011 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved this book. Not at all what I thought it was going to be, but definitely worth the read. Sure, not a whole lot happened in the book, but it was the journey it took you on that was worth while. It was utterly believable and I loved the Norse myths that were told throughout the tale.
For instance, I was under the impression (perhaps based on the cover pic) that it was an adventure (as in, the main character goes on a quest), and that it had fantastical elements.

Nope.

Notice, I'm not saying t...more

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Nov 26, 2011 Jane rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The King, after refusing a marriage proposal for his beautiful eldest daughter, Asa, sends his three royal children to a remote fjord with a band of loyal servants and warriors to keep them safe while he goes to war. The children know it will be a long cruel winter before either the King or his enemy comes for them. Right before the fjord freezes, a band of beserkers, the King's personal guard, arrives to shore up the fjord's defenses. The story is told from Skolveig's perspective, the middle ch...more

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Nov 13, 2011 Skedatt rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: scifi-fantasy, young-adult

Just when I thought that all of the new YA books were meaningless drivel, out comes one to prove me wrong. What a welcome change.

A character-driven novel set in a nondescript fjord during the Viking age, it tells of the arrival of a young woman who learns to be more than what she thinks she can in very difficult circumstances.

It is based in stories--stories as ways for us to understand the world. Not just the usual explanations, like why we have the sun and moon, or echoes, or whatever, but th...more

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Nov 06, 2011 Kiirsi Hellewell rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this book on the recommendation of someone, and at first I was thinking, "What do people see in this book?"

But I did enjoy the last 100 pages or so. It's just that it was so slooooooow for most of it. Most of the book takes place during a freezing winter in a valley where three children of a Scandinavian king have been taken for safety during a war. The fjord and mountain pass are frozen, so there's no way the enemy can get to them, right?

Wrong. There is treachery in their midst, and one...more

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About Matthew J. Kirby

Matthew Kirby was born in Utah, and grew up in Maryland, California, and Hawaii. As an undergraduate he majored in history, and then went on to pursue an M.S. in school psychology. For ten months out of the year he works with students, and during the rest of the year he writes. He and his wife currently live in northern Utah.

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