Fireborn: Phoenix and the Frost Palace (Fireborn, Book 2)

Fireborn: Phoenix and the Frost Palace (Fireborn, Book 2)

By Author / Illustrator

Aisling Fowler, Sophie Medvedeva

Genre

Fantasy

Age range(s)

9+

Publisher

HarperCollins Publishers

ISBN

9780008394226

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

12-10-2023

Synopsis

The next action-packed FIREBORN adventure!  HOPE GROWS FROM THE ASHES . . .  Twelve has chosen a Hunter name to reflect her elemental powers: Phoenix. When she and her friends learn that the witch-palace of Icegaard is in grave danger, they must battle frightening new monsters and find a way to defeat the evil force.  But as Phoenix tries to control her fiery powers, the faceless Croke begins to haunt her dreams and she will have to fight with everything she's got to save Icegaard and all of Ember.


'The best kind of children's fantasy story: thrilling and imaginative' B. B. Alston, author of Amari and the Night Brothers.  'The perfect balance of high adventure, breathless action and eerie wonder' Jonathan Stroud, author of the Bartimaeus trilogy.


The third book in the FIREBORN series, Starling and the Cavern of Light, is available to pre-order now!

Reviews

Beverley

It is three months since the destruction of the Hunting Lodge. Twelve is now a Hunter, and has taken the name Phoenix in honour of her elemental power. She can summon fire, although she is still learning how to fully control the magic within her, and is more than a little afraid of its effects. She is approached by Nara, a witch who is in desperate need of her help. The frozen palace of Icegaard, home to the witches, is in grave danger from the Shadowseam, an evil force which threatens to destroy it. Should this happen, the whole of the land of Ember could be destroyed. With her powers, Phoenix is their only hope. Together with her friends, Five, Six and Seven, Phoenix travels North to Icegaard, where they must face many new terrifying dark creatures before Phoenix can confront the Shadowseam - and her deadly enemies, Victory, Morgren and The Croke.


Following directly on from the first book in the series, Phoenix and the Frost Palace is a wonderful sequel, beautifully written and very exciting, and enhanced by atmospheric, delicate illustrations by Sophie Medvedeva. We are reunited with Five and Six; the boys provide much of the humour which lightens the story. Seven, the Seer who is really not cut out to be a Hunter, is a lovely character; she does not seek attention, but Phoenix knows that she is "the most thoughtful, the kindest of them all". Five has to overcome his mistrust of magic, and at first, he is extremely uncomfortable at Icegaard, where he finds himself surrounded by it.


The reader is taken to a frozen world of wonder, full of feasting trees and Icemothers - huge ice statues who defend the palace. We meet some truly scary monsters - wheevers, skryll, fathomghasts, glimmers and glintwings.


As in her first novel, the author uses clever devices to help the reader understand more of Phoenix's former life; we are allowed into her visions and are given an insight into her love for her little sister, who was killed by the Croke. The Magical Bestiary Phoenix has tried to memorise gives us wonderful images of the creatures she must face and the powers they have. We also follow the story of Dog, the Guardian of the Hunting Lodge, who has his own quest to follow at the start of the book, but who comes to Phoenix's aid when she most needs him. He is a wonderful creation, and as the tale unfolds, we see that he is changing and becoming more in touch with his emotions - but is this a good thing?


Fireborn: Phoenix and the Frost Palace is a fantastic adventure story, but at its heart it is a tale of friendship and loyalty. Each of the group puts their life on the line for their friends, and even when difficult decisions have to be made, they stand together and work for the greater good. At the end of the novel, Ember stands on the brink of war and Ms Fowler leaves the reader on a tremendous cliffhanger - I even found myself shouting "No!" at one point. I cannot wait for the third book in this series - I hope it isn't too long before we find out what happens next to Phoenix, Five, Six, Seven - and Dog.


512 pages / Reviewed by Beverley Somerset, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 11+

 

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