Book: The Ice Bound Land
Author: JohnFlanagan
Rating: 7-8
Recommended Age: 11+
In the third book of the series Will and Evanlyn are being taken to Skandia as captives of Erak, a fearsome but fair Skanadian wolfship captain after being captured destroying a key element of the evil Moragarth's invasion plans in the second book and thus causing him defeat. The two of them are the only profit Erak got in the ill-fortuned venture with Morgarath and intends to sell them as slaves.
Meanwhile Halt has sworn to rescue him but he isn't given permission as he's needed to help track down Morgarath's remaining lieutenants. Frustrated at the number of fake bandits pretending to be the feared men in order to rob people he comes up with a desperate plan to release him from duty.
He goes into a bar and starts drinking heavily, then he makes some "unpleasant" remarks about the king. This get him arrested for treason. Punishment for which is death or banishment. As one of the Kings closest advisers Halt who has saved the Kingdom on many occasions has created a awkward problem but one which the King soon solves: He is banished form the kingdom! but for only a period of one year.
And so Halt is free to go and save Will from his soon to be life of slavery . And he does not leave unaccompanied, With his and Will's horse and more surprising Will's friend Horace , a young but natural swords man he sets off to travel to Skandia to rescue his apprentice.
This book on details mainly on Halt and Horace travel through Galica. A country with a weak king and run by warlords who claim and seize power through strength and fear rather than loyalty. A country where on almost every Bridge there will be a knight waiting to rob you. it's a huge nuisance to Halt but not for long. He sits back and Marvells at Horace's skill as he neatly dispatches each opponent they come across. and continue there journey.
By this point Will and Evanlyn are on the last leg of their journey to Hallasholm, the main city where the Skandian ruler lives. Here they are taken in as slaves. Evanlyn is set to work in the main house with the kitchen staff but Will is sent to work in the yard. Merciless outdoor work in the cold winter. Yard slaves generally don't live long and get addicted to a dug called warmweed which keeps them warm but numb and senseless. This seem thing happens to Will and before long he has lost all recollection of the past and personality and only loos forward to his next dose of the drug.
Back with Halt and Horace and they have been taken to the castle of Deparieux the local warlord, whose cruelty shows no bounds, he constantly flogs his staff and puts them in cages. He isn't sacred of Horace and his reputation and seems more interested in Halt and his mysterious abilities.
They have no choice but to wait until he relaxes convinced they are no danger or useless to him then leave or deal with him.
Meanwhile Erak see's what has become of Will and meets Evanlyn to try and help her and him escape. working together they lay a false trail and manage to get Will and Evanlyn herself to relative safety in the mountains. There's a hunter cabin and dry rations that should last them. now all Evanlyn needs to do is slowly ween Will off his addiction and pray he recovers.
And Halt and Horace finally find a way to deal with Deparieux.
Will Will Recover?
Will Halt and horace ever survive and find them?
and what will become of Will and Evanlyn ever see home again?
Read this great book to find out.
This was yet another great book in the series and the adventure and suspense is always changing but somehow always is right. It's a great book in what looks like a great series and I would say buy it.
Hope you found this review helpful,
The Devonian Book Reviewer
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