Thraxas and the Ice Dragon

Thraxas #9

by Martin Scott

Thraxas and Makri drift ashore in the distant land of Samsarina, in the company of Lisutaris, Head of the Sorcerers Guild. After a miserable voyage on a leaky fishing boat, Thraxas just wants to drink beer, but there are other matters to attend to. Turai has fallen to the enemy, and the armies of the West are gathering. Before war breaks out, there's the great sword-fighting tournament, which gives Thraxas the chance of almost unlimited gambling, if only he can persuade Makri to enter. Makri is surprised to find herself looking after a baby dragon, and even more surprised to discover that Thraxas has a romantic past, one which leads them into a murder investigation in an unfamiliar land, where hostile forces oppose them at every turn. This is the ninth book in the Thraxas series.

Genres: Fantasy, Humor, Fiction

211 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 27, 2013

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

A pen name of Martin Millar.

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Martin Scott's Thraxas series is one I consider light reading due to it's comedic tendency which makes it fun and easy to read. The idea of a PI in a fantasy type setting has been done before but rarely mixed with this much humor and human frailties. I mean a man focused on beer, gambling and food who will on occasion focus on other folks to poke his nose where it doesn't belong and discover the facts in a mystery or two. I find Scott's world interesting without being obnoxious as some fantasy get and it remains familiar enough to be enjoyable. His return to this series after so many years is a great thing and if you haven't started the series do so and be prepared to laugh.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only recently discovered that Martin Scott had returned to writing Thraxas stories. I've just finished binge-reading 4 volumes of them (vols. 9 - 12) and was relieved to discover that, apart from Scott taking a few initial chapters of Thraxas and the Ice Dragon to get back into the groove, the series continues to be highly enjoyable. It's a great mixture of high fantasy and detective noir with a comic edge to it. OK, it's not hugely deep, but the characters are well-designed and individual, the stories are good, and they're fun to read. Think overweight middle-aged and mediaeval Harry Dresden with lots of beer and laughs, and a beautiful but deadly part-Orc sidekick who is financing an education by serving the beer, while wearing a chain mail bikini, for tips. Her previous job was as a champion gladiator in the Orc pits.

[David Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Thraxas books are "number one chariot" in terms of sheer entertainment. Some years ago the series was interrupted due to a contract dispute. I was very happy to see this new book come out. And even happier to find it is just as fun as the earlier ones.

[Veselin Nikolov · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's not much interaction between Thraxas and the Ice Dragon. The story could be Makri and the Ice Dragon but the Dragon is more of a background character. It's about Lisutaris this time, which is great because she's a fantastic character. In this book, she's not intoxicated all the time.

Thraxas, Makri, and Lisutaris have to reestablish themselves in a foreign city starting from zero. Well, not quite zero, as they all have unique skills.

Their bond is incredible, and the level of trust is beyond belief. Martin Scott keeps all relationships strictly asexual but a hint of emotion is slipping through, perhaps a touch more than before.

[Rajit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another amusing Thraxas adventure, picking up shortly after the end of #8. I think this one shows more character development than the previous books in the series, although that's not necessarily saying that much. I definitely plan to read the next book

[CONNIE BALTHROP · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this Traxas, more than I did the others.

[Blaine Cash]

Started slow but ended great!

[Mjhancock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reeling after the fall of Turai to the Orcs, Thraxas, Makri, and Sorceress Lisutaris flee to nearby Orosis, to rally support for retaking the city. Things do not go smoothly. The book has three plots: Makri competes in a large scale fighting tournament; Lisutaris attempts to get declared head of the military effort; and Thraxas becomes embroiled in a case on the behalf of an old lover. The stakes are, to be honest, not particularly high--even Makri's tournament is, nominally, supposed to be nonfatal. But a bit of a breather after the devastation of the last book is perhaps not a bad idea. More importantly, the book acts as a bit of a palate cleanser after a long break. Thraxas Under Siege had some of Scott's more annoying tics, repetition of information, and "witty" banter over plot development. Granted, the plot here isn't any great shakes, but at least the repetition is gone. And it's nice to see Thraxas actually solve the case through his skills rather than wander around until the villain unmasks and explains their plan. (Yeah, really wasn't a fan of Thraxas Under Siege.) It's kind of annoying that the c-plot doesn't really have anything to do with the rest of the story, but at least it reminds us--and maybe even Thraxis--of the person he used to be. The various addictions of the main cast is getting a little annoying, as even self-destruction stops becoming funny after a while and becomes more "man, I wish Thraxas would take better care of himself." But I generally felt for Makri during the tournament, so there's still some mileage yet in his characters. I don't go into a Thraxas story expecting earth-shattering world-building, or labyrinthine detective fiction. Rather, I go into it expecting a breezy, entertaining story with characters I've grown fond of over a decade or more. And in that, the book doesn't disappoint.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thraxas and his comrades Makri and Lisutaris flee fallen Turai and find themselves in the feudal kingdom of Samsarina, where the West is starting to get itself organised to face the Orcs. There they get embroiled in tourneys, political shenanigans and attempted murders.

Scott had 7 years between this one and the last volume, and it shows in a slightly different style. There is a bit less comedy, a bit more 'relationship and character building, and anew set of secondary cast members.

It is the latter that is this book's weakness. The old series featured the city of Turai as almost a character in its own right. The court of Samsarina, in contrast, is a shallow place with limited scope. While this helped highlight the plight of the main cast as outsiders, it made the overall book a little claustrophobic at times.

Still, all in all, it is a welcome return for the Large Human and his friends.

Rated PG 13 for some violence and drug use. 3.5/5

[Tim Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have really missed Thraxas (and Makri) - and I'd never have known they were back if it were not for Goodreads and a review I saw there. It even made the kindle useful - despite my love for real books. As ever the book itself was fun, funny and fantastical. The characters are just very cool, the situations range from the sad to the absurd. Loved it.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the fall of the city state of Turai in the previous Thraxas novel it finds Thraxas, Makri an Lusitarius trying to find refuge in another state. Thraxas is on his usual great form an this is another great addition to the series. Very funny. I am not sure why the book was titled about the Ice Dragon. It was not a major part of the story really.

[Alexander Levin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's really great to read some more stories from Thraxas and Makri. Now I am waiting for the next...

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A consistently entertaining series. Several good laughs in this one.

[Michael Head · Rating 3 out of 5]

not as strong as earlier books

[Mats Berglund · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, best in the series between book 1 to 9 in my opinion.
Made me laugh.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite Thraxas!

Or second favorite. It's hard to say because they're all great. I love how the focus is mostly on Thraxas, Makri, and Lisutaris, less on the mystery.

[Dantegideon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly think this is one of the funniest books I’ve ever read. Possibly because I know Thraxas so well by now that the character-based humour exactly hits the mark. I love these books.

[David Scrimshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thraxas books are always fun. I hope they're around as long as I am.