Shroud of Ice

by Sharon Krasny

I'm very excited to be able to say Shroud of Ice comes to books stores November 25, 2025.
After five years, the final part of the duology for Ötzi the Iceman's story ready for preordering at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Much has happened since the publication of Iceman Awakens, the prequel to Shroud of Ice. In order to capture the ending of his story, I travelled to Austria, hiked up his mountain during a storm, and went to meet him in repose in Bolzano, Italy. My purpose was to provide this amazing archeological find a story, a name, and a path to dignity.
Ötzi the Iceman has given us so much. Thanks to him, we moved the time line of when the Copper Era began back 1000 years. He taught us that we knew more medicine treatments earlier than previously believed. He challenged us to develop technology to identify five different hemoglobin on his coat, determine his severe hand wound happened approximately four days prior to his murder, and by identifying where on the mountain slopes the flora and mosses grow, we were able to track his last 30 hours. The amazing part of all of this is that Ötzi lived over 5000 years ago. He was frozen in a glacier and perfectly preserved with clues for us to follow. He has offered us his body and personal goods to better our society. All I hope to do is offer him a story to cover him with a name and the respect of an experience linking him to the human condition that we all experience. People are people. This is the premise on which my theory of what happen to the man Ötzi the Iceman and my lead character Gaspare. After all, not all who are dead are silent.

220 pages, Paperback

First published November 25, 2025

Reviews

[Sarah Oakey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review

Shroud of Ice By Sharon Krasny

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️5/5

Pub date 25/11/25

Oh my @skrasny9 !! You're quite the wordsmith!!

Have you ever heard of Otzi the Iceman?
Ötzi, is the natural mummy of a man who lived between 3350 and 3105 BC. Ötzi's remains were discovered on 19 September 1991, in the Ötztal Alps.

Five years ago Sharon Krasny released The first in a duology of books called The Iceman Awakens and now she back with its conclusion!! Shroud of Ice.

As revealed in the foreword and Author's note the efforts gone into researching Otzi by the author is beyond meticulous, even climbing the mountain to the site where he was found.

This is historical fiction at its finest!! Sharon breathes an imagined life into the Iceman (who she renamed Gaspare) using her phenomenal research and stunning lyrical prose which results in an exquisitely told adventure in which you will unquestionably lose yourself!

[Sharon Krasny]

Shroud of Ice earned first runner up in the General Fiction category of the Los Angeles Book Festival. Read about this and the other book titles that placed in this competition here: https://losangelesbookfestival.com/

[Susan Aylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!!
You feel like you have gone back in time 5000 years and are experiencing everything Gaspare does through his journey back to his family and home. It keeps you reading and wondering what will happen next right up to the end! An incredible amount of research was clearly done to paint the picture of this time and setting. I highly recommend Shroud of Ice.

[Jeanne D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time travel at its best! Though this saga happened thousands of years ago, the authors' meticulous research and hauntingly lyrical prose quickly enveloped me in their primitive world. The struggle of the miners, the treacherous mountain travel, the village council, the love and rivalry within Gasperes family, brilliantly brought his world alive. Age-old themes of power, betrayal and love bring the story of the Iceman to its conclusion. A must read.

[Lori Michalski · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Shroud of Ice" is a powerful story about a man named Gaspare (5000 years ago) who escapes slavery and tries to return to his village . You really feel his struggle and hope as he travels through mountains and rivers, facing danger and remembering the people he left behind.

What makes this book special is how real it feels. The author, Sharon Krasny, clearly did her homework—she studied the actual remains of Ötzi the Iceman and visited the places where he lived. Because of that, the details about ancient tools, medicine, and village life feel believable and vivid.

If you like stories that mix adventure, emotion, and history, this one’s worth reading. It made me think about how people lived long ago—and how some things, like love and courage, never change.

[Susan A. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Falsely accused of a heinous crime in Iceman Awakens, Gaspare, now a slave in a copper mine, has become hardened, but a spark of hope inspired by a fellow slave, the compassion he feels for a young slave boy, and a cluster of seven delicate blue flowers begin to restore him to the man he was. With the scantiest of stolen equipment and supplies, Gaspare and his friend escape and set out to find home. Along the way, we taste sweet water with them, feel the warmth of a recklessly lit fire, see the beauty of a summer day, and experience the terror of an arrow whizzing their way. But there's much more. Gaspare has doubts about his worth and place when he finally returns to his village, the village has doubts about him, and the brother who betrayed him is still there.

Krasny's style is poetic, blending words and gestures like a bird’s mating dance. Tribal language is used throughout. The wording sets the tone for each scene: beautiful, poetic descriptions of nature unspoiled by man and swift staccato chops when scene switches to a confrontation between characters. First person narrative makes the story immediate.

Krasny's research is impeccable! From the description of clothing to the life of slaves to daily village life to the landscape of the region to family relationships, medicine, and weaponry, she immerses us in a culture that existed over 5000 years ago--and it was a lot more advanced than I thought. I was so happy when one tiny detail from Iceman--Gaspare's mother's signature red embroidered cloth--reappeared just when her son needed it most.

Though we may never know how the real Otzi died, Krasny has written a superb "what-if" that combines historical fact and modern conjecture with a beautiful story of strength, resilience, sacrifice, jealousy, hate, and love. Along the way, we learn how people really lived in the Copper Age. We also learn we're not so very different from them. If you enjoy historical fiction about a time period mainly neglected by modern novelists, you will love this beautifully written conclusion to Gaspare's story that began in Iceman Awakens.

[Rseudy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely delightful book!
This is the book for anyone who enjoys historical fiction mixed with deep character drama. Sharon Krasny takes the compelling real-life mystery of Ötzi the Iceman (known here as Gaspare) and turns his Copper Age world into a breathtaking story of survival.

​It is a sequel, but it jumps right into the action, This time, Gaspare is stuck in the brutal copper mines, The real thrill of the story isn't just the physical escape, though, which is executed brilliantly and is incredibly tense, but the emotional battle Gaspare fights against his own shame and despair. His quest for freedom is quite moving—you truly feel the weight of the 30 years stolen from him.

​Eventually, Gaspare returns home to face his brother, Aroden, who had been the one to sell him into slavery. The story has all the rage, all the suffering, and that sweet taste of redemption you would expect in a story of such cruel betrayal.

​Sharon Krasny did an amazing job making this ancient world feel real. She tackles huge themes—like loyalty, survival, and what it truly means to be free—but the writing is so solid, it just flows. If you are looking for a powerful, haunting, and ultimately triumphant story, pick this one up. It honors its namesake and its readers.

[Kassidi]

I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and Brandylane Publishers, Inc., for granting me the opportunity to read Shroud of Ice by Sharon Krasny in exchange for my sincere review. Krasny's meticulous research on Otzi and her eloquent prose immerse readers directly into the life of Gaspare, who escapes and embarks on a journey to find his home. As a reader, one feels as though they are accompanying them on their quest for home. The work is poetry for the mind, engaging the reader continuously with this narrative. The story explores a hypothetical scenario concerning Otzi, as the true circumstances of Otzi's death remain unknown to this day. It masterfully blends historical facts with contemporary theories, presenting a compelling story of strength, resilience, sacrifice, jealousy, hatred, and love, which shows the human condition and how we are not far from our Copper-Stone Age brothers. It is a must-read for anyone who loves reading an adventure, historical fiction story.

[Amee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Avoiding spoilers but this is a must-read sequel to Iceman Awakens. The story of Gaspare comes full circle and is a compelling and fascinating read. World building at its finest. Krasny started this project with a real life event and, years of research later, she added a healthy dose of creativity and a thorough understanding of mankind to create a fictional but oh-so-realistic life story for the Iceman. Although scientific testing has provided us with many nuggets of information about who and what the iceman was, it takes a talented author to be able to reconstruct what science can’t - the human spirit, the array of emotions, the familial and community relationships and the resiliency of our ancestors. A very worthwhile read!

[Megan Beech · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is amazing historical fiction take based on the true mysterious story of Ouzi the Iceman! I've always been fascinated by his story and to read it in this story and format had me enticed before I even knew what was happening! It's filled with drama, mystery, adventure, and intrigue and I had a hard time putting it down once I got started. This is definitely be added to my "will read again" pile and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction, neolithic history, the story of man and mystery.

I would love to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and check out this ARC book in exchange for an honest review.

[Greg Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

A riveting blend of compelling narrative and well formed, three-dimensional characters that exhibit the faults, strengths and aspirations of our shared humanity. It doesn't matter that these characters lived thousands of years ago. We see them as fully formed, complex and engaging people who, int heir strivings, shine a light on who we are. This is a powerful piece of writing, and merits a close, thoughtful read.

[Vickie Estep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharon Krasny has written an impactful novel bringing the story of Otzi, the Ice Man, to life giving him a meaningful voice through the character of Gaspare. This is a well researched work of historical fiction depicting the life of a holy man living in the often treacherous world of the Copper Age. It is a story of perilous journeys, love lost and found, betrayal, and redemption. "Shroud of Ice" is the exciting sequel to Krasny’s "Iceman Awakens" bringing Gaspare’s story full circle.

[Carole Cesefske · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a literary masterpiece. Impeccable, flawless, research and exquisite imagery and prose comprise this fantastic read. The author pulls you in, holds you tight, and doesn't
let go until the final page. This author needs to be noticed and I highly recommend her expertise and imagination in the genre of historical fiction. Couldn't put this down. Don't miss Shroud of Ice.

[Avery Goodwiler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was looking forward to reading the second part of Gaspere's journey. I was not disappointed. It took you to a life lived 5000 years ago and made it real as of today. The imaginative description of even nature was picturesque. I was hesitant about ending because you are invested in the character. I felt closure and respect for his story. Would be a telling story put to cinema.

[Glen McGlothin · Rating 4 out of 5]

How sad to see such treasonous acts tear apart a family. I thoroughly enjoyed this take on one possible ending for one of humanity’s greatest “cold” cases. It weaves together bitter heartbreak and sadness with a profound sense of hope.

[Karrthick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghh

[S.K. Pendleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful conclusion to Gaspare's story, the fruit of dedicated research and dedication!

[Kristen Fort · Rating 5 out of 5]

The conclusion to Sharon Krasny's duology is just as good as her first. Appropriate read for the cold weather, as this is about Otzi, the Iceman, killed over 5,000 years ago.