Oskan Witch’s Son, her companion and adviser
Redrought Strong-in-the-Arm Lindenshield, Thirrin’s father and King of the Icemark
Maggiore Totus, Thirrin’s personal tutor and historian
Tharaman-Thar, King of the Snow Leopards
Grishmack Blood-drinker, King of the Wolf-folk
Elemnestra and Olememnon, Thirrin’s aunt and uncle
The Vampire King and Queen
The Oak King and the Holly King, brothers and rulers of the Wild Wood
General Scipio Bellorum, leader of the Polypontian Empire’s
army
Coming from parents who were both warriors, Thirrin possesses remarkable combat skills and can give most soldiers a run for their money when it comes to diligence, speed, and accuracy in a battle situation. Luckily, she has never had to deal with any full-scale battles and most of her training has been more of a leisure activity than an immediate necessity. She is adventurous and jumps at any opportunity to explore the world around her. It is on one such adventure that she meets Oskan Witch’s Son, when he heals one of her servants who has been injured in a bear attack. Thirrin and Oskan become intimate friends, and Oskan is later called upon to be her royal adviser.
Thirrin is barely fourteen years old when her father is killed in a battle against the Polypontians and she is thrust into the role of Queen of the Icemark. Although Thirrin is deeply saddened by the loss of her loving father, she bravely faces her new life as leader of her country, and forces herself to grow up quickly, as the future of her people depends on her being able to defeat the ruthless army that is led by the undefeated Scipio Bellorum. Unfortunately, the Icemark’s army was brought down in the same battle as Thirrin’s father, and going up against the Empire would be a futile gesture without first securing alliances. So, relying on the frigid Icemark winter snows to temporarily hold off the enemy, Thirrin desperately goes about the task of securing alliances and preparing for the impending war that will be coming along with the change of seasons.
Using her charisma and strategic reasoning, Thirrin is able befriend some of the most unlikely people (some of them she wouldn’t have believed even existed if she hadn’t seen them with her own eyes), convincing them to join her in taking arms against the tyrannical Empire. But time is wearing thin, and necessity has forced her to put her faith in some of the least trustworthy allies. As an tenacious leader, Thirrin proudly instils faith in her people that they can not only defend themselves against the Polypontians, an army that grossly outnumbers hers even with her new allies, although there are times when she doubts this herself.
The characters are well developed, with many dimensions, none of them fitting too comfortably into worn-out stereotypes. The most admirable character is, of course, Thirrin Lindenshield. She is a righteous leader who is willing to fight alongside her subjects, and to lay down her life for their sake if need be. She is a vicious fighter and a great warrior. At the same time however, she is also an exuberant adolescent girl, brimming with the charming vibrancy and innocence of youth. Her relationships with other characters are genuine and heart warming, and her ability to earn the respect of people decades older than her is admirable. I highly recommend this book for fantasy readers in grade six and up.
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Braveheart (1995)
Troy (2004)
Homer’s Iliad
Shakespeare’s King Henry V
“Dulce Et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen
“The Charge of the Light Brigade” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
“A Foreign Ruler” by Walter Savage Landor
“The Owl” by Edward Thomas