The book by the British Fantasy authoress J.V. Jones takes us to the cold and harsh wilderness where many barbaric clans fights each other over what little mother nature has brought them. The clans; never on too peaceful terms are engulfed into a clan cruel and merciless clan war incited by ruthless and scheming city dwellers. Unknown to most  more is at stake; as it usually is; and two strangers sets out to halt a greater danger which is threatening the entire region; if not the entire world. Aided by a mysterious ranger; and hunted by clansmen, mysterious and deadly swordsmen, sorcerers, and so forth. J.V. Jones writes well, and the setting and plot is interesting, and harsh if not too "new" nor too "complicated",.

Worth a read; and if my memory of her previous book "The barbed coil" serves me right there will be much more, and better books to come.

It's been a while. The Cavern of Black Ice (the book before this one) was one of the best books I had read in a long time. The end of that book was a present to all of the readers who had already read J.V Jones Book of Words trilogy. I was full of happy, Happy, Joy, Joy feelings when I finished the book. There was even an excerpt from the next book in the series (this one!). Like all good little readers I was stuck with the dreaded "I just finished a great book that is only the first Book in the new series What am I going to read now" syndrome.

To make a long story short I was thirsty for more. More Raif, More Vaylo(love him), More Angus, More Ash, Even More Marifice. I was like an addict looking for his fix. Well... Years later I got it. I was browsing the book store. Looking in the fantasy Aisle. Lo and Behold! There it was... THE FORTRESS OF GREY ICE!! I had no idea it was going to be out yet. I snatched me a copy like some sick fiend, paid the price, and went home with my bounty. 2 days later I finished. Wow!

This is one brutal book. I loved every minute of it. I'm not going to go into a detailed account of what happens in this book or the last. I wont even give a Synopsis. The joy of reading is not listening to other people's opinions and making up your own mind about a book. What I will say is that this is a great read.

Some advice... please read the Book of Words trilogy(Baker's Boy is the first). This will increase your enjoyment of A Cavern Of Black Ice and A Fortress of Grey Ice. Enjoy.

The world contained in this book opens with an explosion of life, which seems a harsh reality at first. The characters grow so strong that you realize how much more is at play. It grips all of your senses leaving you totally at the mercy of the book and the author. I think J.V. Jones did an excellent job; there is no measure of the book that let me down. It opens up and delivers the characters to you in a way that is unique. The path of the book is great, taking and leaving you immersed in plots. There is no slow point in this book; it takes you up on highs and then the lows with the scheming and plotting of the characters. The end is just enough to satisfy yet leavs you needing more.