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  • The Ice Dragon by George R. R. Martin
  • Kate Quealy-Gainer
Martin, George R. R. The Ice Dragon; illus. by Luis Royo. Tor Teen, 2014 121p Trade ed. ISBN 978-0-7653-7877-4 $14.99 E-book ed. ISBN 978-0-7653-7924-5 $9.99     R Gr. 5-8

According to Adara’s family, the winter’s cold seeped into her mother’s womb on the night Adara was born, leaving Adara a chilly, emotionless child and killing her mother. It’s true that in her seven years Adara has neither cried nor smiled much, and most of her affection is saved for the winter creatures—the ice lizards, the snow birds—that arrive with the first snowfall and keep her company while her family keeps their distance. When a rare ice dragon appears, Adara is able to tame and ride the beast herself, an unimaginable feat for even one of the king’s experienced dragon riders, much less a girl. War, however, soon threatens Adara’s small village, and she and her dragon must defend family and friends, ultimately paying a steep price. While set in the same world as Martin’s adult Games of Thrones series, this tale, previously published as a short story, has a rhythmic, direct tone that echoes an oral narrative, giving the endeavor a folkloric feel and softening some of the more heartbreaking elements. Adara is a distant but nonetheless appealing heroine, and her struggles with fitting in lend her story a specific entry point for younger readers. Blue-inked text is set on creamy white paper, while Royo’s intricate illustrations—also in blue ink and wash—perfectly evoke the mood of the plot events, from the icy calm of a winter’s night to the frigid tension of the wait for battle. A bittersweet ending provides contentment for both Adara and readers, making this a harrowing but ultimately rewarding and unusual addition to the genre.

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