Ice by Sarah Beth Durst

Ice by Sarah Beth Durst
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Publication Date: 6th Oct. 2009
Buy it from: Book Depository (free shipping worldwide!)
Gold star (4/5 stars)

Synopsis: 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.

Review: Stupid me when to read a spoiler in a review of Ice (I was warned though.) and spoiled the book for myself. I shall do y’all a favour and not post any spoilers in the review.

I truly enjoyed the novel despite knowing half of it. Sarah Beth Durst is an amazing storyteller, she created this wonderful new world that is described so vividly that you would glance up from the book and expect to see ice all over and polar bears roaming around.

Cassie is a realistic and likable character; she struggles to accept the fact that her mother made a bargain with the Polar Bear King and Cassie has to be his bride. Cassie is definitely another heroine we should all love. As Taylor Swift would say, she is fearless. Her strong determination is admirable and I suppose the determination is partly due to her stubborness. Half on the book is spent embarking on a journey to save someone. I thought it was very well written.

Durst has written a romance like no other. It isn’t a love at first sight romance, instead, it takes place over a period of time. Durst was successful in showing Cassie slowing falling for Bear. Their love is sweet and passionate and not overly cliché. There are some unrealistic scenes which I overlooked as this is a fairytale retelling. Anything can happen in fairytales. I understood Bear’s reasons for his actions. If you were in his position I am sure you would have done exactly what he did. The other characters were mostly likable. The Uncles were hilarious.

The cover is perfect for the book, but I found the girl’s face a little too pale but who cares? Bella is pale too. Ice is an ideal read this December. Have a cup of steaming hot chocolate and curl up in your couch with Ice. You will be captivated by it within minutes.

“ICE is a beautiful and shivery tale of sacrifice and love. Highly recommended, and just in time for the winter season.” — Becca Fitzpatrick, author of Hush, Hush