Icefall

Matthew J. Kirby, author of THE CLOCKWORK THREE, deftly weaves a brand-new tale with chilling cleverness and subtle suspense that will leave readers racing breathlessly to the end.

Trapped in a hidden fortress tucked between towering mountains and a frozen sea, Solveig, along with her brother the crown prince, their older sister, and an army of restless warriors, anxiously awaits news of her father's victory at battle. But as winter stretches on, and the unending ice refuses to break, terrible acts of treachery soon make it clear that a traitor lurks in their midst. A malevolent air begins to seep through the fortress walls, as a smothering claustrophobia slowly turns these prisoners of winter against one another.

"A well-crafted story rich with emotion and intrigue. A thoroughly engaging read!" - Brandon Mull, bestselling author of the Fablehaven and Beyonders series

"Clear, lively, exciting, and unstoppable as the torrent of meltwater from a glacier, ICEFALL confirms Matthew Kirby as one of our finest new writers for young adults.  Readers of any age may be enthralled by the bitter Nordic winter setting and the story of a girl who needs a lot of courage to discover who she is." - Ursula K. Le Guin, acclaimed author of the Earthsea Cycle

“Against an authentic backdrop of ancient Norse life and lore, Kirby brings alive characters who are true to their time and culture…. I liked the brooding atmosphere of the natural world in this book.  It is a beautiful place and beautifully described, but it is indifferent to the fate of the people caught in its grip.” - Nancy Farmer, Newbery Award-winning author of Sea of Trolls