Ice by Sarah Beth Durst
My rating: 5 of 5 starsWow. This book, has been the most creative book I've ever read. More outside of the box, beyond compare. I've never read a fairytale so convincingly unique and attractive in all aspects.The writing was gorgeous, the characters so colorful, and intriguing the plot completely out of the books. Plus when you live like a I do surrounded by Ice for 4 months out of the year, I live in MN, some of Cassie's ideas touch close to home... Plus I call my man Bear. (But that's another note that you are not interested in knowing...)
Ice is the story of Cassie, the daughter of a research Arctic Scientist, that has lived her whole life, surrounded by gadget, research colleagues of her father's. Cassie's mother disappeared when she was too young to remember, she has no memories of her, only stories her grandma told her a fairy tales. An interesting story about the daughter of the wind being sent to ends of the earth, by the North wind (her father) when instead of marrying the Bear King, as promised by her father, she decided to take a human men instead. The wind's daughter promised the King Bear, the hand on her daughter as long as he kept them, her and her husband from harm and away from the Winds. The Bear King was successful for only a couple years, the North wind capture his daughter and took her to the ends of the earth, east of the sun and west of the moon, were he kept her captive in a Troll's castle.
Cassie always thought about the story, as a good way to explain her mother's death, but still every time her grandma told her the story before bed she would ask something... "So that's where Mom is?" and her grandma would answer "Yes, she is..."
Cassie's life changes the day, is about to turn 18, and get's to meet someone very special. Bear. Since that day, she learns to let her real life adventure unfold, and discover the true nature of who she really is... Pick up a copy of this great book by Sarah Beth Durst you won't regret any second of it. This book is a must read.View all my reviews >>
Design Notes: Nothing says Ice like the design of this book. It has little details like like the Soft strokes of the illustrations, the flakes, that merge in with it. The metal ink paper finish in this cover is breath taking, and the Special Ink on the words ICE make you want to touch it over and over again. The spine design, makes you want to pull the book out from the bookshelve and read it again, it's stands out from others. The only thing that through me off a bit was the back cover, but it had a reason to be that way... Cold dessert and plain.. just like the artic. =) Amazing book, great design by Debra Sfetsios for S&S. The beautiful illustration is by Cliff Neilsen.