Icefall by Matthew Kirby

Review by:  Anna, Sonoma Valley Branch

Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby is a dramatic, keeps-you-guessing novel. During the time of the Vikings (I believe), Solveig, her brave younger brother, and her gorgeous older sister get sent with a small caravan to an ice fortress to wait while their father, a king, rages a battle in their homeland. At some point, people start to believe that there is a traitor among them, and that they’re waiting for an ambush in their so-called sanctuary. The fact that her brother will inherit the crown and beauty of her sister has always shadowed Solveig. It is during this time of suspicion and deciding where her allies lie that Solveig finds her voice and steps out of the shadows.

I really liked this book, even though it’s hard to find a book that I don’t like. There aren’t that many books about Vikings so I thought that it was an interesting storyline. It’s a common loser-turned-hero story, only better. I would recommend this to pretty much anyone. Girls would probably like it more because it’s from Solveig’s point of view but I think that boys would like any book with Vikings in it.