The Ice Dragon

Picking up the book, I saw a bold sticker in black and silver titled: "Written by George R R Martin". Now, we all know who he is and what he's made: he's made some of the goriest, immoral and epic books known in the fantasy genre, and that is the series which is Game of Thrones . We all know it, whether we like it or not. With a sticker like that - also in the font used in the Game of Thrones title - you imagine another gory, immoral and epic story. I was shocked to see it had pretty pictures of dragons and very.. repetitive sentences. By the end of the book, I had learnt Adara was a winter child.

Let me introduce you into the story of the Ice Dragon: we have a girl named Adara who was born in the winter, and was different - a "special snowflake", in cold words. Now, she lives on a farm with her father and brother, and they're happy, warm people. Adara, however, is different. Adara plays with the ice lizards, and, throughout the story, even an ice dragon - hence the title. She also has a cousin who is a 'dragon-rider', a soldier in the nation's army, which is currently being fought by another army of another nation. Sadly, we don't get any names here, and we can't say it's a nation or House in Game of Thrones - the author said himself that the book is not in the same universe.

George R R Martin does write in an engaging way, and it wasn't too bad to my expectations. Although a children's book, it's still something worth reading. Now, as I don't read many children's books nowadays, I can't really compare it, and I don't exactly want to compare it to a more complex and adult book - they're two different genres along with styles of writing.

See, the book had a decent story, and I have to admit - the illustrations were pretty good. It was too short for me, but it's a children's book. It does what it's purpose is, and I'm sure I can find some moral story behind it. 

Now, I would, however, like a more emotional ending. It was a brash kill to the powerful build up of the connection between Adara and the Ice Dragon, and I was disappointed. It did hit me in the heart, but it was a fast, blunt hit. Although, that's the only bad thing I could find, and I have to admit the epilogue was quite nice, especially after that ultimatum.

I can't exactly rate it, and I wouldn't want to. It's everything a children's book needs to be, but personally, I wouldn't read it again. I don't want to tarnish a children's book with a perspective from someone out of their age range. In the end, the book did give me a warm feeling inside.

by Simon Singh-Mohr