The Cry Of The Icemark

The Cry of the Icemark

The Cry of the Icemark Cover
Author	Stuart Hill
Cover artist	Kinuko Craft/Gary Blyth & Carol Lawson
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Series	The Icemark Chronicles
Genre	Fantasy novel
Publisher	The Chicken House
Publication date	Original: January 3, 2005 Scholastic Audio Books; Unabridged edition: June 1, 2006 Scholastic Paperbacks: April 1, 2009
Media type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages	472 pp
ISBN
OCLC	57705113
LC Class	PZ7.H55738 Cry 2005b
Followed by	Blade of Fire

Original: January 3, 2005

Scholastic Audio Books; Unabridged edition: June 1, 2006

Scholastic Paperbacks:

The Cry of the Icemark is the first book in the Icemark Chronicles by English author Stuart Hill. The plot revolves around thirteen-year-old princess Thirrin Freer Strong-in-the-Arm Lindenshield, as she must fight to save her small home, the Icemark, from the invading Polypontian Empire.

The novel won the inaugural Waterstones Children's Book Prize in 2005. It also won the 2006 Highlands Children's Book award for Long Novels in 2006. Fox has bought the rights to the movie. However, no release dates or production information exist.

The Polypontian Empire has conquered much of the known world in recent years, much thanks to its fearsome general, Scipio Bellorum. Bellorum has finally decided to invade his small neighbor to the north, the Icemark. After King Redrought sacrifices his entire army to stop the invasion, Thirrin, his daughter, is left alone to save the nation.

Thirrin, having just made an alliance with the werewolves by saving their king, must now seek out more allies, as the Icemark and the werewolves alone cannot defeat the Empire. Although they have the support of their vassal, the Hypolitan, more are needed. Thirrin, with the aid of a young warlock, Oskan Witch's Son, must attempt to win over the Vampire King and Queen. They know this will be difficult because of the centuries of distrust and hatred between the two races. Because the Empire hates all that is unscientific and irrational, the Vampires know that if the Icemark falls, the Empire will wipe out the Vampires next. With this in mind, the Vampires reluctantly agree to send aid.

On the advice of King Grishmak of the werewolves, Thirrin and Oskan travel to the Hub of the World, to try to ally themselves with the Snow Leopards, led by Tharaman-Thar, who live there. The leopards are as tall as warhorses at the shoulder, Tharaman-Thar even bigger, and are fearsome fighters. With the threat of the Empire again winning the argument, the Snow Leopards choose to fight with Thirrin.

The combined forces of the Icemark, the Snow Leopards and the Hypolitan clash with Bellorum's forces. The werewolves have not yet arrived, as a muster of their nation takes several months. The Vampires have also not arrived, as they are stubborn, and are not reliable. While the allies fight brilliantly, the Empire's sheer numbers begin to turn the tide. After bursts of immeasurable determination, the allies manage to continuously withstand the Empire. Scipio Bellorum calls out the Allied cavalry. With immense skill and tactics, the Allies manage to continuously bring down the Empire's numbers. Bellorum, supposedly fearing the end, calls out Thirrin for single battle. Thirrin only just dodges Bellorum's killing blow, and manages to cut off his hand. The Empire's army intervene, breaking the rules of the duel. The Allies join in to protect the young queen. Bellorum is taken to safety, where he prepares for the final conquest.