Review: ICE by Sarah Beth Durst

ICE by Sarah Beth Durst

Pub. Date: October 2009

320pp

Age Range: Young Adult

When Cassie was a little girl, her grandmother told her a fairy tale about her mother, who made a deal with the Polar Bear King and was swept away to the ends of the earth. Now that Cassie is older, she knows the story was a nice way of saying her mother had died. Cassie lives with her father at an Arctic research station, is determined to become a scientist, and has no time for make-believe.

Then, on her eighteenth birthday, Cassie comes face-to-face with a polar bear who speaks to her. He tells her that her mother is alive, imprisoned at the ends of the earth. And he can bring her back — if Cassie will agree to be his bride.

That is the beginning of Cassie's own real-life fairy tale, one that sends her on an unbelievable journey across the brutal Arctic, through the Canadian boreal forest, and on the back of the North Wind to the land east of the sun and west of the moon. Before it is over, the world she knows will be swept away, and everything she holds dear will be taken from her — until she discovers the true meaning of love and family in the magical realm of Ice.

An enchanting tale of sacrifice where love knows no bounds...

This is the first novel I’ve read by Durst and I’m thrilled to say it won’t be the last. ICE snagged me in the first few pages and I ended up reading this book in one sitting. I did not want this fairy tale to end, it was that good! Cassie grew up hearing a fairy tale about her mother being swept away to the ends of the earth after making a deal with a polar bear and when she comes face-to face with said polar bear, Cassie’s world is about to be changed forever and all she has to do is agree to be his bride. I loved the setting of ICE and it just made the story more magical.

Cassie is one strong cookie! She’s the type of heroine I love to read about. When you hear quotes about traveling to the ends of earth for love, well Cassie finds out exactly what it means to sacrifice for love. The journey she embarks on is dangerously long and has unexpected turns as she tries to accomplish the impossible. Durst created some amazing characters and even the different places that Cassie had to travel were unique and so enjoyable to be immersed into.

Durst wove a beautiful and magical story with great characters and a perfect setting which readers will be sure to love. So get ready for an astonishing journey that reaches to the ends of the earth that will have you begging for more. Of course I would love if there was a follow up, I believe Durst could work more magic with these characters. I look forward to reading more of Durst’s books.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars