Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby, is a fully engaging and suspenseful story of a young Scandinavian princess who finds her true self when all else fails.  Solveig is a likeable heroine: brave and compassionate but uncertain of her own worth; her story of self-discovery is woven around trials of hunger, betrayal and direct confrontation with the enemy, keeping it fast-paced and interesting throughout.  All the characters are well-rounded and likeable.  Kirby makes each one believable and human through Solveig’s own discoveries and love of the people around her–thus making the question of the traitor’s identity a nagging but satisfying puzzle. The Vikings are often portrayed as heartless invaders, but here we get a closer look at their love, loyalty, bravery, culture and strength. Kirby also opens the imagination to the lands of ice and snow with their tall mountains, groaning glaciers, and breathtaking fjords.  A complete tale of love, loss and everything in between, all wrapped into a seamless whole.

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Scholastic

Content Analysis:

Language/Profanity: None

Violence/Gore:  A character’s punishment is implied by resultant bruises and limp; a character is struck with a sword; a pet goat is butchered; brief description of brawls; men are poisoned and killed; battle fury is described and several characters are killed; a character is shot with arrows; minor descriptions of battle wounds; corpses from a flood are briefly described. 

Sex/Nudity: A character’s comment to a young woman is described as inappropriate; a character receives unwelcome attention and an arm around the shoulders and a caress on the cheek.

Mature Subject Matter:

Death, War.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

None