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Summary and Reviews of The Cry of The Icemark by Stuart Hill

The Cry of The Icemark by Stuart Hill

The Cry of The Icemark

by Stuart Hill
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  • First Published:
  • Mar 1, 2005, 480 pages
  • Paperback:
  • Jun 2006, 496 pages
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About This Book

Book Summary

The Icemark is a kingdom in grave danger. Its king has been killed in battle. Its enemy lies in wait. And its fate rests on the shoulders of one girl.

The Icemark is a kingdom in grave danger.
Its king has been killed in battle.
Its enemy lies in wait.
And its fate rests on the shoulders of one girl.

A beautiful princess and an intrepid warrior, Thirrin Freer Strong-in-the-Arm Lindenshield is only 13. But she has been preparing for this moment her whole life. Now she must find a way to protect her tiny kingdom from the most terrible invasion it has ever known. To beat back the cunning general Scipio Bellorum and his conquering army, Thirrin will forge an extraordinary coalition of noble Snow Leopards, ancient Vampires, and ferocious Wolf-folk. She will find unexpected strength in her friendship with a young warlock. And she will rally her allies with her country's fierce battle cry, "Blood! Blast! And Fire!"

A coming-of-age tale and an epic adventure, this dazzling debut heralds the arrival of a heroine who dauntless in the face of impossible dangers and decidedly wild at heart.

Winner of the Ottakar's Children's Book Prize 2005.

Chapter One

Thirrin Freer Strong-in-the-Arm Lindenshield carried her names with ease. She was thirteen years old, tall for her age, and could ride her horse as well as the best of her father's soldiers. She was also heir to the throne of the Icemark. Her tutor might add that she was attentive when she wanted to be, clever when she bothered to try, and had her father's temper. Few compared her to her mother, who had died when Thirrin was born. But those who remembered the proud young woman of the fierce Hypolitan people said that Thirrin was her double.

The soldier riding guard over her didn't care about any of this. They'd been hunting in the forest since dawn and he was cold and tired, but Thirrin showed no signs of wanting to go home. They were following a set of tracks she insisted were werewolf prints, and the soldier was afraid she might be right. He'd already eased the spears in his scabbard and had been riding with his shield on his ...

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Reviews

BookBrowse Review

BookBrowse

What a great book! We read The Cry of the Icemark to our children (then 9 and 11) at our "morning reading parties" (half an hour before the start of the school day) and I can attest to the fact that there's nothing better for getting the day off to a good start than following Thirrin into battle!..continued

Full Review (402 words)

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(Reviewed by BookBrowse Review Team).

Media Reviews

The Bookseller
Hill opens up this new world to children with quite enviable talent; his ability to capture his reader's imagination is spectacular.

The Guardian - Philip Ardagh
... a supremely satisfying read which really deserves to be called a page-turner.

The Independent
... a first novel with a distinctive and seductive voice.

The Times
.. will have readers shivering with delight.

The Sunday Telegraph
.. the writing is as crisp and clear as the snowy landscape Hill depicts so beautifully.

Booklist
... for readers whose imaginations are stirred by clashes of pike and saber and lusty cries of "Blood! Blast! And Fire!" this extravagant first novel--especially its more swiftly paced latter half--offers ample rewards.

Publishers Weekly
Hill's debut novel is a sprawling military fantasy that benefits from a likable heroine and will appeal most to readers who enjoy getting swept up in a good, lengthy yarn. Ages 12+

Reader Reviews

Jessica Schmidt

The Cry of the Icemark Series
This series is great. We read it aloud. After a while, we can't find much like these so we are reading it again. Heard about the possibility of a movie being made. Oh boy, I wish they did a movie. It would just be awesome!
Da Chees3head

This book is great!
I would use emojis for this, but, I can't, I am on a computer. But, I love this book. So awesome, all for school too!
meggie

amazing book!!!!
The title of my review really sums up the book.
Jonathan

Awesome book
Stuart Hill's book, the Cry of the Icemark, is a amazingly written book about personal discovery and the fight that people have. Also The Cry of the Icemark is a great book that keeps you interested until the very last flip of the page. This book is ...   Read More

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Beyond the Book



Stuart Hill was born in Leicester, in the East Midlands of England, where he still lives today. He has worked as a teacher and an archaeologist, and now balances life as both a bookseller and a writer.

When asked why he started writing he says, "I couldn't read or write until I was seven and I can still remember that almost magical feeling when those strange angular symbols actually began to have a meaning. I'm not exaggerating, I remember that the letters literally suddenly started to ...

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Read-Alikes

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