Review of Spirits of the Ice Forest

[Raluca_Mihaila]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Spirits of the Ice Forest" by Max Davine.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Long after Eirik the Red set foot on Northern America and named the region Vinland, his heirs are trying to hold on to the land and create another base for expansion. Thorvald and Freydis, his half-sister, are trying to build a new kingdom, but they did not consider the resistance of the indigenous population. Oonban, a respected chieftain from the local community, sets in motion a plan to get rid of “the Pales Ones” for good. His daughter, Demasduit, is a teenager that challenges her place as a woman in a patriarchal society. After killing a polar bear, she becomes a symbol for her people and their only hope for salvation. However, the love triangle between Demasduit, Madawaak, and Mooaumook complicates things. Are you curious to find out more? Read this fantastic adventure novel.

I loved the engaging writing style and the character development. Freydis and Demasduit portrayed two fascinating strong women, but Madawaak was my favorite protagonist. His transformation was amazing; the shy boy that could not run became the scariest creature from Vinland. The dire circumstances forced him to summon his inner demon and become the very thing he abhorred.

Spirits of the Ice Forest is educational about the life of the Vikings and the locals. You will learn a lot about their habits, society, or their prowess in battle. The dictionary that explained the expressions used by the Norsemen and the map of Vinland were very helpful. The book made me very curious about Vinland and the famous Leif Erikson. He actually discovered America 500 years before Columbus. Max Davine painted a vivid and realistic image of the clash of the different cultures. The Norsemen were big and fearless; they had shining weapons, and they enslaved people and animals. “The skraelingjar” used the tomahawk and listened to the spirits; they respected all the animals. Despite their differences, they all wanted the same things: sustenance and security.

I struggled a bit with the complicated names that took some time to get used to, especially when some were similar, like Thorfinn and Thorvald. Furthermore, there were many characters, and several of them appear only for several scenes. However, these minor dislikes did not diminish my excellent experience.

As a result, Spirits of the Ice Forest by Max Davine gets a full rating of four out of four stars. This historical fiction novel will appeal to people that love to read about the Vikings. The strong female characters will attract a different section of the audience. Readers that are looking for an adventure book with a touch of the supernatural will relish it. Romance is also present; the author shows us that love can bloom in any circumstance, even when you fight for your life. However, be aware that the book includes explicit violence against people and animals, rape, and gory details.

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Spirits of the Ice Forest
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[marta baglioni]

This is going straight to my shelf! I really like Vikings and North American tales, so the two together are a good point in favor. Thank you for the excellent review!

[Raluca_Mihaila]

This is going straight to my shelf! I really like Vikings and North American tales, so the two together are a good point in favor. Thank you for the excellent review!

I am so glad you are a fan! You will certainly enjoy the book . Thank you for commenting!

[MsH2k]

the love triangle between Demasduit, Madawaak, and Mooaumook complicates things

The names are what would complicate things for me!
This book sounds like it has something for everyone. Thank you for an engaging review.

[Naaya123]

I think the violence might be too much for me. I do enjoy reading books with strong female characters though. Might check this one out. Great review!

[Hhannahh]

This book has got a unique and interesting plot, and I like the sound of the characters' name. Historical fiction, plus adventure, spiced with some romance is definitely my thing.

[Raluca_Mihaila]

the love triangle between Demasduit, Madawaak, and Mooaumook complicates things

The names are what would complicate things for me!
This book sounds like it has something for everyone. Thank you for an engaging review.

Well, in my head I started calling them Thora-someting . That's why it got complicated when they had similar names. But it was worth every effort! Thank you for stopping by!

[Raluca_Mihaila]

I think the violence might be too much for me. I do enjoy reading books with strong female characters though. Might check this one out. Great review!

Actually, he violence is not excessive, especially consider that we are talking about Vikings. Also, there were almost no profanities, which was quite a feat. Give it a try!

[Prisallen]

This book certainly has a little bit of everything, historical fiction, romance, adventure, and inclusion of the supernatural. What is there not to like? It sounds fascinating! Great review!

[Raluca_Mihaila]

This book has got a unique and interesting plot, and I like the sound of the characters' name. Historical fiction, plus adventure, spiced with some romance is definitely my thing.

You will find everything there, so go ahead and enjoy it! Thank you for you comment!

[Raluca_Mihaila]

This book certainly has a little bit of everything, historical fiction, romance, adventure, and inclusion of the supernatural. What is there not to like? It sounds fascinating! Great review!

I am sure you would enjoy it, too! Thank you for visiting !

[markodim721]

The plot of the book is amazing. Thanks for reading recommendation.

[Raluca_Mihaila]

The plot of the book is amazing. Thanks for reading recommendation.

Thank you for visiting!

[Theana De lima Araujo]

Thanks for the review this sounds like a good read. I enjoy adventures and history. The Vikings vs Native Americans story intrigues me.

[Wesusa]

Excellent review! I think this book has quite a bit of potential. I'm glad it turned out so well, I well definitely peruse it in the future.