A Fortress of Grey Ice: Book Two of Sword of Shadows

by J.V. Jones

Book Overview

"Wonderful . . . J. V. Jones is a striking writer." So says Robert Jordan, the author of The Wheel of Time epic fantasy series. And Jones lives up to that praise in the highly charged epic adventure of Ash March and Raif Sevrance, two outcasts whose fate are entwined by ancient prophecies and need, in the cold, dark world that threatens to be torn asunder by a war to end all wars. Isolated by their birthrights, they are but two who fight the dreaded...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0765306336
• ISBN13: 9780765306333
• Release Date: August 2003
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Length: 672 Pages
• Weight: 2.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 2.0" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Book II...the quality of the story and the writing continues

Even better then the first book! J.V Jones' 2nd book in the 'Sword of Shadows' series is simply a great fantasy/adventure read. The story continues where book I left off and follows sequentially Raif, Ash and Effie; their stories take some interesting twists and turns throughout the course of this book. The terrain is the same basic bleak winter tundra (although spring appears to be coming) of the first book. One of the many strong points of this novel is the deliberate pacing of this story and its telling. Then add to this a great basic story, plus an author's with the ability to weave a good tale, and you end up with a memorable fantasy work. And although different in various ways, this work, at times, conjures up memories of the writing quality and techniques found in George R.R. Martin's 'Iced and Fire' series and Joe Abercrombie's 'The First Law' trilogy. (see P.S. below) The only niggling complaint would be that the map (and in fairness, the one provided is fairly good) could have provided a little more detail; details that give some names or markings as to where our protagonist were located during some of their journeys. I realize this is probably a 'personal' concern, but I've always liked to have a sense of position and of distance/proximity to other geographic locales when reading fantasy/adventure; it just makes the prolonged treks easier to visualize in my mind. Conclusion: A 2nd book in this series that is of the highest order; a great story, superbly told. 5 Stars. Ray Nicholson P.S. I defy anyone not be moved to the point of being emotionally distraught by chapter 5 in this book. A subjective opinion...certainly; but read this one chapter and see how it affects you.

Great Series...... pretty great anyways...

Love the series and have even re-read the first 2 books while waiting for the sequel... Waiting 2 years now! I would highly recommend Sword of Shadows to pretty much anyone looking for depth of character, great story lines and some of the best descriptive writing around. I would highly recommend you find another few writers too if you want to pass the time waiting for the sequel. Sword from Red Ice has been advertised for like 3 years and you still can't get it.... a word to the publisher, you aren't the only game in town. If you want loyalty, don't make us wait a decade....

Excellent second book

After reading Jone's first book I couldn't wait for the second to come out, and I wasn't dissapointed. Jones retains all the mystery and sensetivity in her characters that she showed us in her first book. Even with several characters her story flows together well. Jones spins the story of the clans going to war and now Raif is abandoned by Ash and travels in search of acceptance from a people he has been cast out by. Ash is being led to the Sull's mysterious land and has been invited to become Sull. Between these two characters alone I was so enthralled that I wouldn't put the book down until I had finished it.Her book is at a perfect pace, not too slow or too fast, but a pace that lets you think about whats going on and at the same time throwing in some interesting action scenes.Along with all of her other characters, Jones has definetly written a winner that is on par or even better than her first in this series.

The Stage Is Set

A Fortress of Grey Ice is the second novel in the Sword of Shadows series, following A Cavern of Black Ice. In the previous volume, Raif and Asarhia are captured by Bludd warriors. The Dog Lord sends Ash back to her foster father, but Raif is thrown into a cell. On the way back to Spire Vanis, her escorts decide to rape Ash, but she panics and uses some of her power to kill her attackers. Raif is freed from captivity by his brother Drey and a band of Hailsmen. Later he rejoins Ash and they continue their journey northward, but cold, storm and wolves catch them and Ash collapses. Raif is standing over a dead wolf when two Sull, Mal Naysayer and Ark Veinsplitter, find them and then help them reach the Cavern, where Ash finally discharges her power into the black ice. Unfortunately, her prior use of the power has created a hairline crack in the Blindwall.In this novel, Raif and Ash have been taken to the land of the Ice Trappers. There they are parted, with Ash continuing on with the Sull. The Listener of the Ice Trappers treats Raif as a guest and gifts him with an arrow named Divining Rod and the sword of a Forsworn knight. Although not certain of his proper course, Raif finally decides to head for the Rift and the territory of the Maimed Men.Meanwhile, a very large man escapes from a diamond mine and travels north, following a call from his master and gaining a small dog as a companion. The Dog Lord frees Angus Lok from his cell, but fails to listen to his warnings. Marafice One Eye gathers an army and the surlord of Spire Vanis decides where to use it. Mace Blackhail conspires against the clan he leads and surrounds himself with Scarpemen. Robbie Dhoone sets out to become a King.Raif learns a song and finds in it a prophecy about himself. Ash begins the transformation into a Sull. The Unmade are walking the land and the Taken are beginning to stir.This novel is an exciting read, but probably is a little too long. As with Jordan's Wheel of Time series, this reader was sometimes overwhelmed by the numerous plotlines and lost track of the action. Maybe it would have been an even better read if it was somewhat shorter.Highly recommended for Jones fans and anyone else who enjoys epic fantasy with great characterization.

STUNNING!

J.V. Jones delivers another amazing manuscript with A Fortress of Grey Ice. I have been a fan since her first book, The Baker's Boy came out 8 years ago, and she has only continued to improve with astonishing ease. With her new novel she advances the overall story of the series in some surprising, but delightful ways. The only real problem was that for the last hundred pages I had to force myself to read, not because it was terrible, but because it was so good, and I knew once I finished I would be overcome with depression at the thought that I would most likely have to wait another three years for the next book!