Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice, #1)” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

The Girl and the Stars

(Book of the Ice #1)

Mark Lawrence (Goodreads Author)

4.22 · Rating details · 50 ratings · 52 reviews

In the ice, east of the Black Rock, there is a hole into which broken children are thrown.

On Abeth the vastness of the ice holds no room for individuals. Survival together is barely possible. No one survives alone.

To resist the cold, to endure the months of night when even the air itself begins to freeze, requires a special breed. Variation is dangerous, difference is ...more

Get A Copy

Hardcover, 480 pages

Expected publication: April 30th 2020 by HarperVoyager

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about The Girl and the Stars, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

Can't Wait Books of 2020

774 books — 1,678 voters

April 2020 Book Releases

55 books — 98 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 4.22 ·

Rating details

· 50 ratings · 52 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of The Girl and the Stars (Book of the Ice, #1)

Aug 08, 2019 Mark Lawrence added it · (Review from the author)

STOP PRESS: The UK cover is revealed on Fantasy-Faction http://fantasy-faction.com/2019/cover...

Copies now available on UK netgalley.

The US cover has been released! https://thatthornguy.com/2019/11/27/t...

The ARCs have landed chez Lawrence!

You might think you want an ARC of The Girl And The Stars more than Ruby does. But you'd be wrong!

Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #Prizes #ExtraContent

.

flag 256 likes · Like · see review

Oct 06, 2019 Chaima ✨ شيماء marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-releases, fantasy, adult, fiction

I see it.

I like it.

I want it.

I internally scream because it hasn't been released yet.

(Also, this is Mark Lawrence so you know you're in for a RIDE!)

flag 166 likes · Like · see review

Dec 10, 2019 James Alexander rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, freecopy

I received an uncorrected proof copy of The Girl and the Stars. I would like to thank Mark Lawrence and Harper Voyager for the opportunity.

This tale is set in the same world as The Book of the Ancestor, yet in a completely different environment. We follow Yaz, a sixteen-year-old member of the ice tribe the Ithca. To progress from being a child and ascending to adulthood the younger members of all the tribes have to be judged by regulator Kazik. All the clans converse at the Pit of the Missing I received an uncorrected proof copy of The Girl and the Stars. I would like to thank Mark Lawrence and Harper Voyager for the opportunity.

This tale is set in the same world as The Book of the Ancestor, yet in a completely different environment. We follow Yaz, a sixteen-year-old member of the ice tribe the Ithca. To progress from being a child and ascending to adulthood the younger members of all the tribes have to be judged by regulator Kazik. All the clans converse at the Pit of the Missing where the judgement will take place. Any individuals who show weakness, strangeness or unaccustomed 'qualities' are deemed to be unable to survive on the ice. They are the Broken.

"In the ice, east of the Black Rock, there is a hole into which broken children are thrown"

Our protagonist Yaz fears the worst. She truly believes she is destined for the harrowing darkness and the unknown horrors of the pit. If she survives the fall. Yaz suffers from fatigue on long treks far faster than her comrades. She can keep up with them as every few days she can touch 'The River' which is essentially 'The Path' which readers of the previous trilogy will be familiar with. This helps her gain extra strength, resistance and power. The regulator can supposedly see into individuals hearts and souls so will surely see Yaz 's secret and she will be eternally banished.

Yaz ends up in the pit as does her twelve-year-old brother Zeen. They don't fall together and most of the narrative is the protagonist trying to rescue her brother. Initially she is alone in the penetrating darkness - it is claustrophobic and builds up extreme tension as she tries to survive and navigate this alien environment. This constructed atmosphere underground was reminiscent of segments featured in Graham Austin-King's Faithless, Jules Vernes' Journey to the Centre of the Earth. It also hads elements that are similar to those showcased in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - especially with some of the monstrosities that lurk in the darkness known as Hunters.

Fortunately, Yaz doesn't spend her whole time walking around alone in the gloom. When a demon-infested flesh-eating gerant (giant) attacks her she is saved by other members of the Broken. It transpires that there are many such as her who have had to brave the drop and there is actually a sort of civilisation beneath all that she has ever known on the surface.

In similar fashion to Lawrence's work that I have read so far, we only follow one point of view perspective. Yaz is excellent lead character. She is extremely powerful but doesn't really know how, why or if she should use these talents. In addition, the ensemble of supporting players feature some of the finest that Lawrence has ever crafted. Examples include the former demon-tainted Thurin, the thousand-year-old mysterious but insightful and insanely strong Erris, and the seemingly shy but capable shadow-weaving assassin Maya.

This novel, as previously mentioned, is set in Abeth, the same world as Book of the Ancestor. Apart from the excellent writing, unique magics, and that the characters are crafted brilliantly, what is presented here is quite different. You can read this without knowledge from the previous trilogy, however; I believe your enjoyment will be heightened by at least 20-per cent if you had. As far as I can acknowledge, none of the characters crossover here. This led me to ask Mark when this was set in relation to the former trilogy. He replied essentially saying I'd have to carry on with the series to find out which makes it intently exciting to find out. Will Nona meet Yaz like Jalan met Jorg? Exciting times are ahead in this series for sure. Luckily Mark is one of the most proactive top-tier fantasy authors currently writing so hopefully, I will not have to wait that long to find out. The finale has an intense and shocking cliffhanger too and I can't wait to see how the narrative continues in Book of the Ice's next instalment.

Lawrence had already constructed a unique and astonishing world with Abeth. In The Girl and the Stars, we are introduced to new Gods, terminology, factions, and emotions. It features but is not limited to monsters, twists, darkness, civil-war, betrayal, possessions, true friendships, and sibling love are just a few of the themes presented here.

This is a exceptional, haunting, claustrophobic take on fantasy that presents some of Lawrence's finest storytelling. It's an incredible and emotional adventure. I have no idea what comes next and I can't wait to find out. Lawrence goes from strength to strength with every release. ...more

flag 120 likes · Like · see review

Feb 13, 2020 Melanie marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, fantasy, adult, read-in-2020

flag 95 likes · Like · see review

Jun 07, 2019 Emily (Books with Emily Fox) marked it as to-read

Shelves: 2020-releases

OMG this is obviously being added to my never-ending TBR!

flag 82 likes · Like · see review

Aug 04, 2019 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin marked it as to-read

What the hell! I want a print arc of this damn book!!!

Mel ...more

flag 50 likes · Like · see review

May 06, 2019 Eon ♒Windrunner♒ marked it as to-read

Oh hell yes!

The Girl and the Stars

Prologue

Many babies have killed, but it is very rare that the victim is not their mother.

When the father handed his infant to the priestess to speak its fortune the child stopped screaming and in its place she began to howl, filling the silence left behind.

Omens are difficult and open to interpretation but if the oracle that touches your new-born dies moments later, frothing at the mouth, it is hard even with a mother’s love to think it a good sign.

In such cases ...more

flag 38 likes · Like · see review

Aug 30, 2019 Adam rated it it was amazing

Abeth, a frozen ice planet. Many years ago, a home to Nona and the sisters of the Sweet Mercy convent. Now home to nothing but wandering ice tribes, struggling to survive in the harshest conditions imaginable.

To survive is to sacrifice. Outliers must be culled. Whether you are weak and lag behind, or if you’re too big or strong and eat more than the average share, then you can no longer exist within the tribe. You are thrown away, torn from your home and family forever. Yaz, our teenage Abeth, a frozen ice planet. Many years ago, a home to Nona and the sisters of the Sweet Mercy convent. Now home to nothing but wandering ice tribes, struggling to survive in the harshest conditions imaginable.

To survive is to sacrifice. Outliers must be culled. Whether you are weak and lag behind, or if you’re too big or strong and eat more than the average share, then you can no longer exist within the tribe. You are thrown away, torn from your home and family forever. Yaz, our teenage protagonist, finds herself in this position at the onset of the story, and we follow her journey down the rabbit hole into an unforgiving world of danger, mystery, magic, science fiction, politics, horror, and so much more.

To go into any more detail will spoil some of the fun, but I will mention that the story was impossible to categorize, as it created a genre all to its own. What to call it is up to you. Icepunk? Sure, why not. It’s not news that Lawrence continues to get better with every book. This is something we’ve known for years. But this is a different kind of story than what we’re used to from him. It has a drive to it, a pulse, a gearshift that kicks higher and higher.

Long-shrouded mysteries that were first hinted at in The Broken Empire and carried over through The Red Queen’s War and The Book of the Ancestor were finally being cracked open wide here, revealing that Lawrence has been low-key creating a shared universe of his work all along. What else could be in store for the future of the Yaz-mere? We can already access two different series in two different eras. Perhaps there’s a third era of time in which we can further expand on the lore of a mysterious race or two? But I’m getting way ahead of myself. This book is having that effect on me. It’s provoking wild theories and getting me very, very excited for what’s to come. It’s that kind of book.

Every chapter kept getting better and better. There were many questions I had during The Book of the Ancestor series that were addressed here. New abilities, new environments, new threats, new characters to love and hate, themes and questions carried over from Nona’s story, a ton of new mysteries to solve... it was plain to see how carefully the scenes were constructed, and it all flowed wonderfully. Almost every chapter had something breath-catching in it.

The Girl and the Stars is more than the start of a new series. It’s the culmination of some of the best ideas of Lawrence’s previous works while promising that amazing things are still to come. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next Icepunk book in the Yaz-mere.

ARC via HarperCollinsUK

The Girl and the Stars with be released on April 30, 2020. Pre-order it here.

9.5 / 10 ...more

flag 33 likes · Like · see review

May 04, 2019 Mitriel rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

If Mark Lawrence was a new author The Girl and the Stars would be the SFF debut of the year.

I blogged about the book here (no spoilers):

https://thatthornguy.com/2019/05/03/a...

flag 24 likes · Like · see review

Feb 19, 2020 Hamad marked it as to-read · review of another edition

I see (Read, currently reading and to-read) when I am adding this but where is my (Want to read this so bad) option \_(ツ)_/ ...more

flag 21 likes · Like · see review

Jan 06, 2020 Gritnay rated it it was amazing

Who needs sleep when there is this brilliant ARC waiting to be read and experienced!
Thank you again, Agnes, for hosting that giveaway that made me so fortunate to receive this book!

The book is as Lawrenesque as Nona‘s story ever was. I loved that trilogy, so it’s no surprise that I already love Yaz‘s as well!
All those characters have found their way easily into my heart with each new trait revealed about them, each hardship they live through and mostly overcome, each inner and outer turmoil ...more

flag 17 likes · Like · see review

Jan 01, 2020 T.O. Munro rated it it was amazing

I finished 2019 as I started it, with a Mark Lawrence ARC. This one starts another stunning trilogy, full of brilliant poetic prose.

In The Girl and the Stars, Lawrence gives us another tale set on the ice-bound world of Abeth, a planet barely warmed by a dying star in the endgame of the universe’s inevitable submission to the rise of entropy. Like Nona before her, Yaz is an adolescent under duress, tested almost to destruction by a harsh environment and harsher company. Nona lived in the thin ...more

flag 15 likes · Like · see review

Aug 20, 2019 Niki Groves rated it it was amazing

Excellent! Unexpected storyline, had me exclaiming out loud, really liked the characters, just enough description to get the idea - I didn't want it to end.

flag 15 likes · Like · see review

Aug 17, 2019 sofia (sam willows) marked it as to-read · review of another edition

if i dont read this soon i might actually, physically Die ...more

flag 14 likes · Like · see review

Feb 18, 2020 Mark rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Well Mark show us once again that he’s still on top of his game at writing wonderful characters, great worlds and well everything else and it comes to books.

Set in the same world as the wonderful book of the ancestor series, this time we are taken north to the land of snow and ice, complete with buried cities of the Missing.

Highly recommended to all on here.

flag 16 likes · Like · see review

Nov 21, 2019 ThatBookGal rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I was so excited to receive an ARC of this book. Mark Lawrence’s ‘The Broken Empire’ trilogy, really stuck with me for being dark and not afraid to pack a punch. I was expecting big things from this book, and it did not disappoint, not even one little bit.

Never before has a book made me feel quite so claustrophobic, life under the ice had me shuddering, and I had to take a break after the first 50 pages, just to catch my breath. That is the beauty of Lawrence’s writing. I could picture every ...more

flag 11 likes · Like · see review

Jan 03, 2020 Mara YA Mood Reader marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-new-releases

I didn’t even read the synopsis. I just saw Mark Lawrence and slapped the appropriate button

flag 12 likes · Like · see review

Nov 28, 2019 Anna marked it as unreleased · review of another edition

[11/28] The cover looks STUNNING.

flag 10 likes · Like · see review

Jan 28, 2020 Meghan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: library

This book was received as an ARC from Berkley Publishing Group - Ace in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was so astonished when I finished this book that my heart has never been so full and I have never been so inspired. A lot of the young readers hopefully will be inspired by this book that they feel they can do anything. Yaz is a young girl growing up in the east of Black Rock and the spot what they call the Pit of the ...more

flag 10 likes · Like · see review

Dec 21, 2019 Jane Kelsey rated it it was amazing

Another epic novel from Mark..wow. the characters, the world building the magic system... incredible..loved it..full review to follow
**********

flag 10 likes · Like · see review

Feb 18, 2020 Mark rated it it was amazing

An ARC from net gallery.

Well Mark show us once again that he’s still on top of his game at writing wonderful characters, great worlds and well everything else and it comes to books.

Set in the same world as the wonderful book of the ancestor series, this time we are taken north to the land of snow and ice, complete with buried cities of the Missing.

Highly recommended to all on here.

flag 21 likes · Like · see review

Feb 04, 2020 Reece Dinn rated it it was amazing

A fantastic new series set in the same world as the Book of the Ancestor but doesn't require having read that series to read it.
What I loved most about this was how the cold confines of the world beneath the ice was realised. It is a stunning achievement and I heartily recommend all to read it. Fantasy at it's best.

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Jun 12, 2019 Jem marked it as to-read

Shelves: order-immediately

I. WILL. READ. ANYTHING. THIS. MAN. WRITES. AND THAT'S THAT.

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Apr 10, 2019 Caidyn (SEMI-HIATUS; BW Reviews; he/him/his) marked it as to-read

Shelves: wish-list, fantasy

AND NO ONE TOLD ME ABOUT THIS????

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Aug 15, 2019 Kerry A rated it it was amazing

Hmm, there better be a sequel soon because I'm totally invested in this story. It's harsh, it's gripping, no-one can be trusted and nothing is as it seems at first glance. This brilliant new book has an awesome main female lead in Yaz. I'm giving this one full marks for the world he has created under the ice. I'm lucky to have had an advance copy. This is intense!

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Feb 09, 2020 Paul Sparks rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Mark Lawrence is outstanding at building a world and inhabiting it with characters you invest in fully, that make you care and want to see develop and progress and that you don’t want to see in danger (not too often anyway) he has done it again with this superlative tale

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

May 08, 2019 Megan ❀ marked it as tbr-unreleased · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

*screams all the way until April 30th, 2020*

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Nov 30, 2019 Ray marked it as to-read

Shelves: cannot-wait

Hold on one second. Abeth? The same world as The Book of The Ancestor Trilogy?
Do we get more Nona?
And Ara?
I NEED THIS SO BAD!

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Feb 17, 2020 Dawn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley

Oh my giddy aunt... I feel a like a tornado just swept through my mind! My heart is trying to thump out of my body! "The Girl and the Stars" is outstandingly well-crafted... a tormenting, twisting journey, and so, so, so good. There are characters I love (special mention for "Maya"), characters I hated, and characters I wanted to pick up and shake until their heads wobbled. This is my first Mark Lawrence book, and though I've heard nothing but good things about his writing I'm hugely impressed! ...more

flag 14 likes · Like · see review