Hardcover, 112 pages
English language
Published Oct. 3, 2006 by Starscape.
Leaving in its wake desolate cold and frozen land, the legendary ice dragon has never been tamed until it meets Adara, a winter child who looks to the creature to help save her world from destruction.
I loved this little short story and now I want to know if we will see the appearance of ice dragons in the bigger Songs of Ice and Fire series.
First, this is a beautiful book. The illustrations alone are worth getting it. The story - more a short story than a book, really, is a nice bonus. An unorthodox children's book, in this day and age. There is some of Martin's trademark brutal violence (no sex, though), but we mainly see its results, rather than the actual violence taking place, and also one of his strong young female characters that are still so very rare in fantasy writing. It is a story about family and friendship, and above all a story about sacrifice, that does not shy away from the consequences of one's actions. The world Martin describes, like his ice dragon, is beautiful and cold and brutal, and could very well serve as a wonderful topic for discussion with a 9 or 10 year old, if you're so inclined. That it is such a wonderful read for adults …
First, this is a beautiful book. The illustrations alone are worth getting it. The story - more a short story than a book, really, is a nice bonus. An unorthodox children's book, in this day and age. There is some of Martin's trademark brutal violence (no sex, though), but we mainly see its results, rather than the actual violence taking place, and also one of his strong young female characters that are still so very rare in fantasy writing. It is a story about family and friendship, and above all a story about sacrifice, that does not shy away from the consequences of one's actions. The world Martin describes, like his ice dragon, is beautiful and cold and brutal, and could very well serve as a wonderful topic for discussion with a 9 or 10 year old, if you're so inclined. That it is such a wonderful read for adults as well (and did I mention beautiful?) makes it the kind of book you would enjoy buying for your child, to get them introduced to the world of fantasy.
