Fire and Ice

Spirit Animals #4

by Shannon Hale

The adventure continues in this fourth book of the epic multiplatform fantasy series.

Cracks In The Ice

Strange things are happening at the frozen edge of the world. Conor, Abeke, Meilin, and Rollan have crisscrossed Erdas in their quest to stop the ruthless Conquerors. Only the four of them, supported by the gifts of their legendary spirit animals, have the power to defeat an evil takeover.

While chasing down a lead in the cold north, the heroes arrive at a quiet village where not everything is as it seems. Rooting the truth out of this deceptively beautiful place won't be easy - and the team is already out of time. The Conquerors are right behind them.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Adventure, Fiction, Young Adult, Audiobook, Childrens

185 pages, Hardcover

First published June 24, 2014

About the author

Shannon Hale is the New York Times best-selling author of six young adult novels: the Newbery Honor book Princess Academy, multiple award winner Book of a Thousand Days, and the highly acclaimed Books of Bayern series. She has written three books for adults, including the upcoming Midnight in Austenland (Jan. 2012), companion book to Austenland. She co-wrote the hit graphic novel Rapunzel's Revenge and its sequel Calamity Jack with husband Dean Hale. They live near Salt Lake City, Utah with their four small children, and their pet, a small, plastic pig.

Reviews

[- The Polybrary - · Rating 4 out of 5]

~*Check out all my reviews over on The Bent Bookworm!*~

I'm very happy to report that this book was an improvement on the last one in this series (#3)! There was more banter, more feeling, and less confusion overall.

The four kids are STILL having issues trusting each other, and the adults continue to be conveniently swept out of commission by some event or other - which of course forces the four into making BIG DECISIONS. I really like that the series allows the kids to not only make decisions, but forces them to be responsible for them and doesn't really sugar-coat the consequences of foolish ones. In this episode, they are off to the land of frozen tundra in search of the polar bear Great Beast. Again, the cultures they meet bear strong resemblance to ones in actual places in the world, but have different names.

Fire and Ice takes a bit of a darker turn than the previous installments of Spirit Animals. The threat to the kids' families and homes is getting closer, and there are some rather bloody battles and heart-rending scenes, particularly where Rollan is concerned (my poor little street kid just can't catch a freaking break). Still, I think this book will rekindle interest in the rest of the series. I really wasn't sure after Book 3 but I'm going to continue reading!

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[Kasia (kasikowykurz) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bardzo przyjemna, choć ewidentnie jestem na nią za stara :)

[Hazel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think these books are great for ages 8-10, but this book was a bit more 11-14. I mean, it wasn’t too violent, but between this one and the others before, there is a difference. :)

[Tiffiny · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 11-yr-son read this one and couldn't stop talking about how big Suka was. = )

[Karter]

It was super good I would recomend it if you like mythical beast books.

[Made by Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Matthew L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our heroes are on a journey to find suka the polar bear and claim her talisman. They travel through the harsh land of Arctic, an icy waste land where even the strongest can die. They struggle but find suka frozen in ice and when waking her she is enraged. They calm her and she dose give them the christal polar bear. They then leave and are attacked by the Conquorors. In the end they suffer major losses in that battle. I love that they gave more in depth story to Rollan in particular. They Truely built on his character. I could feel his pain as his supposedly dead mother who is discovered to be alive is controlled by the bile and almost kills him in the end. I could feel the moment as his life was slipping away. I didn't like that this book was more slow paced but the end is easily the best yet. This book takes a darker turn on the series with some very serious elements. Those who like books full of emotion will love this. I always compare this book to Ferals and now they are even more simalar in an aspect of them being about people who can control animals and them both being fairly dark series to read. Truly Spirit Animals Fire and Ice is the best installment to the series yet. Read this series or you are just hurting yourself.

[Reading Rediscovered · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book continues with the adventures of Conor, Rollan, Meilin, and Abeke looking for the various talismans of the Great Beasts in order to save Erdas from the Conquerors and the Devourer.
This time, the adventure takes them north to Arctica where they are looking for Suka, the great polar bear. The run into a community that continues to live because they drink from an enchanted pond. They discover walruses (or as Rollan calls them, ugly dogs). They find the ice palace where Suka has been locked in ice.
On their way out of the ice palace, they come across the Conquerors again. Rollan's mom is with them, even though he thought she was dead, and places doubt in Rollan's mind that the Conqueror's are doing this on their own - as they always seem to find the Greencloaks just after finding the talisman.
I'm interested to see how the rest of the series plays out & if Erdas is indeed saved!

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My star rating:

Plot: 4/5
Pacing: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
World: 4.5/5
Romance: N/A

Enjoyment level: 4/5 stars

I love this children's series. This one was a tad more.... darker than the others, but still a highly enjoyable read. Have the next one on reserve at the library!

[writtenbyshana · Rating 2 out of 5]

خب همین دیگه
بعد هزارسال برگشتم سرش
و هنوز به نظرم می تونه قوی تر باشه
ولی احساس میکنم داره ارزشش بیشتر میشه برای خوندن👩🏻‍🦯

[NICOLE SCRIBNER · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Greencloaks set out on another journey for another talisman. However, the Conquerors aren't that far behind. It almost seems as though one of their own is working in cahoots with one of the Devourer's followers. It just doesn't seem fair. There are more conquerors than there are Greencloaks. Although there is a fire raging in Meilin's heart after the loss of her father, 5 to several is just a disadvantage. Someone is bound to get hurt or killed. However, they did acquire a new member (not new, but new to Meilin, Abeke, Conor, and Rollan)- Maya. Maya's spirit animal is a salamander. Although it seems useless, it brings warmth, and fire. Now is as good a time as any to bring on the fire, when they are headed to Arctica in search of the Crystal Polar Bear talisman.

On their journey, it seems as though no one wants them to find this talisman for their own ulterior motives. For instance, the first place they stopped was Samis, where they met a woman named Pia who they "thought" was helpful in giving them a compass when they distracted the Conquerors for a short period of time. Then after a cumbersome journey, where Abeke almost lost her toes to frostbite, they met the Ardu people in Arctica. They too were, nice until the mention of- Suka. Everyone appeared unfriendly at the mention of looking for Suka- here and back in Samis.

Yes, the Greencloaks, made it far ahead of the Conqueror's and got a head start. However, their journey was full of adventure. Rollan was faced with a difficult choice. Why did they leave Samis earlier than intended? Who is Aidana? What happens on their journey across the snowy desert? Where is Suka hidden? Is it beyond their reach? Is the battle over after they have obtained the talisman, and they are headed back to Greenhaven, or are they to face more danger? What lies ahead?

If you read the last three books, and you enjoyed them, although they are juvenile, or you are the right age (in my opinion 3rd to 5th grade, but I'm a mom of two), which to me is any age from 1 to 99, then my opinion is read this book next. Furthermore, when you are done, scholastic has a game that you can play. There is a code at the end of the book. Help the Greencloaks in their battle against the Conquerors and pick your OWN spirit animal! ENJOY! Happy Reading!

[tashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️5
five freaking stars baby. this book is just yes yes yes. period. this was definitely i wanna say my favorite book in the entire series. because it focused a lot on rollan? (possibly) did i love every second of it? (yes very much) this book hits it all. ✅ reilin content, yes and YES ahhh reilin is just iconic. ✅ rollan exploring his mommy issues, yes. because i’ve read the whole series while writing this review i know how said mommy issues are resolved but that’s a problem for another day. ✅ more sassy spirit animal moments, these are the moments i live for. ✅ tarik in his singing era??? yes please. we want more of this type of content yall. ✅ more badass fighting montages ofc (our queen meilin slays everyday). ✅ shane. period. that’s all imma say (again i’m biased bc i’ve read both series already) ✅ finally more reilin content! okay okay i think y’all get the point but Aahh i love those cuties everyday of the week. if you get bored of the plot at least keep reading just to get more of this ✨amazing✨ content i beg of you!! ahh the banter, the chemistry, THE ROPE SCENE (abeke i love you), AND CHAPTER 2??? like what more can i ask for in life.

[Kino · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seriously? A pyromancer? It was handled well though, but it still is an odd fit. Some of the great beasts command supernatural powers (more than usual, as expected) but a fire salamander that makes its partner produce fire even though it is just an ordinary beast? That is just stretching it. By the way if you read this and think that this is some sort of spoiler, don't worry about it. It is not exactly a spoiler since you get this info pretty early into the book. Just a few pages if I remember correctly. Still enjoyable, but that's how things go with different authors writing one series.

[Trigger Warning Database]

Trigger & Content Warnings

Grandparent with alcoholism mentioned
Physical injury & illness including frostbite
Death of a father recounted
Death from a fall
Knife, sword and arrow violence
Fire
Animal attack
Animal death & hunting (seal)

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book of this series yet! Read in a day. Lots of action:)

[Rachael · Rating 2 out of 5]

These series is like, "how many good authors can we convince to write mediocre books?"

[ash · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't enjoy it as much as the others. Shannon Hale lowered my liking of Spirit Animals. : (

[Ian G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book!1

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Apparently my 10 year old was a fan.)

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love evry book in the series, I think the characters are very well described

[AWD · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the end it was creepy.

[Emily Traasdahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book but it kind of let me down in the end.

[Rosalie 🐱 · Rating 4 out of 5]

[3,75]

[Lśniący · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ocena: 8/10 - ebook

[Victoria G · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best one so far, I'm honestly tempted to go and check out all of Shannon Hale's books now because wow 🔥

This one was brutal, I made the huge mistake at starting it at night and ended up reading it instead of sleeping 😂😂😂 It was so action packed and picturesque at the same time.

Also the drama??? The Rollan story line killed me, he's my fave of the bunch and the way his story progresses was so intense!

Also the Bile origins which were basically revealed here was such a nice twist!

I hated the ending though 🙈 I love my lil beans and I wish all the best for them so every time things turn out not so well I'm rioting! The poor kids are going through it, and don't deserve added hardships (though I fully realize that it's necessary for the plot development lol)

I'd have loved these series when I was a kid, but I love them surprisingly much now even though I'm about 20 years older than the target audience 😂I'm already at book 5, these books are so good!

[Sarah Couture · Rating 4 out of 5]

Je trouve ça mignon les petites romances qui s'installent tranquillement entre les personnages. On voit que certains personnages tiennent davantage à d'autres. J'aime aussi que malgré le fait que chaque personnage soit présent dans l'histoire et évolue, chaque roman est vraiment axé sur l'évolution d'un personnage précis.

[Niepytana · Rating 4 out of 5]

To jest chyba do tej pory mój ulubiony tom, chociaż jednocześnie nie najlepszy. Uwielbiam relacje między bohaterami, które zaczęły się w nim nawiązywać, a sama akcja była dość niespodziewana, chociaż znów trochę chaotyczna. Zaczynam zauważać już pewną schematyczność w tej serii i mam nadzieję, że się jeszcze zaskoczę. Takie mocne 4 gwiazdki

[Cienna · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent addition to the already great series. I'm always a fan of cold environments. The battles in this book were exceptionally well done. Rollan had a fantastic character plot. Kind of came out of left field but still great. Also the polar bear was the BEST spirit so far. I love her.

[Gaspard Raynaud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Les 4 élus à la recherche d’une cité de glace !