| Author: George R.R. Martin | |
| Rating: 7.5 | Reviewer: Paul |
| Genre: Fantasy | Publisher:Tor |
| Pages: 112 | Orig Pub Date: October, 2006 |
| Binding: Hardcover | Cover Illus.: Yvonne Gilbert |
Not enough to satisfy those ASOIAF appetites, but will provide those looking for an engaging adventure with an adequate meal.
Settle down, fanboys and fangirls! I'm sure you're all anxious to get your greedy, dirt-caked, little hands on A Dance with Dragons, but alas, you must bite your tongue and go outside or play some old videogames or read other books. Oh, the horror!
The Ice Dragon is the story of a little girl named Adara and the hardships she experiences for being what others call a "winter child." As a little girl, Adara witnessed the flight of the ice dragon, a legendary creature of the land, and saw in its wake a world of frost and harsh cold. She loved that world, and she loved the ice dragon. Instantly, she felt a connection. Others mocked her for her strangeness and even her family seemed at unease in her presence. By the time she was four years old, Adara had touched the ice dragon, proving that it could not hurt her like it could others. Soon she was riding on its back, soaring over her father's fields. But then soldiers mounted atop fiery dragons came down from the North and attacked the peaceful land of commoners. Is Adara and her ice dragon really their only hope?
All right, that was the standard synopsis blurb. Just stock dribble. Now, first things first—this is not a new story from Martin, but one he crafted some time ago in the 1980s. Probably before I was even born. Weird. It's been updated into the form of a children's book complete with gorgeous illustrations by Yvonne Gilbert. It is marketed as a children's book for a good reason; it's a children's book. Shall I write it again and put it in bold and italics?
It's a children's book.
Those fans of Martin's dark, unrelenting style to both his characters and settings will not find that here so much. The violence is minimal, even during the epic skyward battles laden with dragons. Very little blood and mayhem. Still, Martin is able to set moods and emotions in his characters that ring true. The artwork is beautiful, with a sketchy style that is more elegant than gritty with details. The lines are loose and the style is consistent throughout. It adds to the subdued themes of The Ice Dragon—courage, sacrifice, and love.
It is claimed to take part in the same fictional universe of ASOIAF, but I couldn't find much evidence of this. There was some mention of a nameless kingdom, the soldiers wearing green and white uniforms, and, of course, the existence of dragons. Other than that, this story could very well have taken place in Middle-earth or the Forgotten Realms (::shudders::). My assumption is that the story was written during the developmental stages of ASOIAF and when it came to some marketing sneakiness, this was the best bet to get eyes reading.
The Ice Dragon is a quick story to enjoy, one that, while a bit predictable, is still fun to read. The relationship between Adara and her dragon is one seen in many other books, but here it's actually believable. Maybe because the ice dragon doesn't talk and say things about destiny. Yeah, that's probably it. Martin has a way with words and I can see many young readers enjoying this book and moving on to his more adult works.
Now, George, get back to A Dance with Dragons. Thanks!
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