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Ice Magic, Fire Magic
In the sentient land of Veridia, Fila dreams of a simple using her women’s magic of creation to help the Toiler people of the countryside. But when Veridia loses its Servant, the human conduit linking Veridia and its peoples, it chooses her daughter—Fila—as its new Servant.
Mourning her mother and her lost dreams and doubting her worthiness, Fila sets out for the capital to be invested. On her journey, assassins attack, sent by a usurper with corrupted magic. Fila escapes with the help of two unlikely Celatu, a secretive scholar who has renounced his male magic of destruction, and Shadow, an ancient evil spirit who is eager to help Fila . . . for a price.
When those she trusts most betray her, Fila must draw on her own resources to reach the capital to fight the usurper to attain her destiny as Servant . . . a destiny she doesn’t even want.
Mourning her mother and her lost dreams and doubting her worthiness, Fila sets out for the capital to be invested. On her journey, assassins attack, sent by a usurper with corrupted magic. Fila escapes with the help of two unlikely Celatu, a secretive scholar who has renounced his male magic of destruction, and Shadow, an ancient evil spirit who is eager to help Fila . . . for a price.
When those she trusts most betray her, Fila must draw on her own resources to reach the capital to fight the usurper to attain her destiny as Servant . . . a destiny she doesn’t even want.
- GenresFantasy
368 pages, ebook
First published August 28, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 8, 2016
I won Ice Magic, Fire Magic by Shauna Roberts in a Goodreads Firstreads Giveaway.
I was surprised by my reaction to Ice Magic, Fire Magic. The more I read the book, the more I liked it.! When I first received it, I thought it was going to be a story aimed at women. Wrong! It is a complex story of political intrigue, action, magic, and romance.
I suppose the argument could be made that it is a book for women (I dislike the moniker "Chick-Lit"). The story does focus more on the female characters than the male, but given the plot, it makes sense. Magic has been clearly divided between male and female, and of course the female magic is the nurturing variety where male magic is destructive. But the book does a good job of pointing out the necessity of both types of magic, in fact, the female "ruler"(not really the right word, but you'll have to read the book to understand) needs a male "Consort" in order to be complete. It's not a "women are good, men suck" book.
As I said, the more time I spent with Ice Magic, Fire Magic, the more I got pulled into the story. I'm not sure if the book really did start slow, or the fact that I was ill when I began to read it was the cause, but it did take me a while to get into the story. There were plenty of twists and turns which I didn't expect in a "magic" story. There is a hard edge to the story that both surprised me and pleased me. Although suitable for younger readers to be sure, I really felt Shauna Roberts wrote this story for mature readers. It is not a warm and fuzzy fairy tale, it is a story of hard choices and heartbreaking consequences.
If you like your Fantasy stories to be more adult oriented (not because of sexual content) rather than watered down pablum, Ice Magic, Fire Magic by Shauna Roberts fills the bill. Enjoy!
Mike
I was surprised by my reaction to Ice Magic, Fire Magic. The more I read the book, the more I liked it.! When I first received it, I thought it was going to be a story aimed at women. Wrong! It is a complex story of political intrigue, action, magic, and romance.
I suppose the argument could be made that it is a book for women (I dislike the moniker "Chick-Lit"). The story does focus more on the female characters than the male, but given the plot, it makes sense. Magic has been clearly divided between male and female, and of course the female magic is the nurturing variety where male magic is destructive. But the book does a good job of pointing out the necessity of both types of magic, in fact, the female "ruler"(not really the right word, but you'll have to read the book to understand) needs a male "Consort" in order to be complete. It's not a "women are good, men suck" book.
As I said, the more time I spent with Ice Magic, Fire Magic, the more I got pulled into the story. I'm not sure if the book really did start slow, or the fact that I was ill when I began to read it was the cause, but it did take me a while to get into the story. There were plenty of twists and turns which I didn't expect in a "magic" story. There is a hard edge to the story that both surprised me and pleased me. Although suitable for younger readers to be sure, I really felt Shauna Roberts wrote this story for mature readers. It is not a warm and fuzzy fairy tale, it is a story of hard choices and heartbreaking consequences.
If you like your Fantasy stories to be more adult oriented (not because of sexual content) rather than watered down pablum, Ice Magic, Fire Magic by Shauna Roberts fills the bill. Enjoy!
Mike
August 7, 2016
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review
Shauna Roberts has created a terrific action packed book in Ice Magic, Fire Magic. It tells the story of an unexpected Servant's battle with her brother to claim her seat of power. Fila, the daughter of the former Servant, never expected the Land of Viridia to choose her as the new Servant after her mother dies. As she tries to make her way to The Seat of Enchantment, she has to escape assassins and magical creatures sent out by her brother to kill her and anyone who is not loyal to him. With the help of her rescuer Til, as well as some Toilers, who are those who work the land and serve the Guardians, as well as magical instructions from five female Guardians that instruct her in magic, she slowly makes her way towards the Seat. However, on the way she experiences betrayal, grief, and hardship. Her best friend and cousin Kassia is one of those who hurt her deeply, because Kassia is in love with Fila's brother and always expected to be the next Servant.
This book was impossible for me to put down. Every time I thought the action was slowing down, and that I would be able to take a break, it started speeding up again and I couldn't resist just one more chapter! I had never read any of Shauna Roberts's work before, but I am excited to have found this book, and look forward to reading more. I've rarely read YA Fantasy written as well and as tightly as this.
Shauna Roberts has created a terrific action packed book in Ice Magic, Fire Magic. It tells the story of an unexpected Servant's battle with her brother to claim her seat of power. Fila, the daughter of the former Servant, never expected the Land of Viridia to choose her as the new Servant after her mother dies. As she tries to make her way to The Seat of Enchantment, she has to escape assassins and magical creatures sent out by her brother to kill her and anyone who is not loyal to him. With the help of her rescuer Til, as well as some Toilers, who are those who work the land and serve the Guardians, as well as magical instructions from five female Guardians that instruct her in magic, she slowly makes her way towards the Seat. However, on the way she experiences betrayal, grief, and hardship. Her best friend and cousin Kassia is one of those who hurt her deeply, because Kassia is in love with Fila's brother and always expected to be the next Servant.
This book was impossible for me to put down. Every time I thought the action was slowing down, and that I would be able to take a break, it started speeding up again and I couldn't resist just one more chapter! I had never read any of Shauna Roberts's work before, but I am excited to have found this book, and look forward to reading more. I've rarely read YA Fantasy written as well and as tightly as this.
October 30, 2016
WOW this is a epic adventure of fantasy for sure. We have all sorts of magical creatures and characters in this novel. The story building creates a beautiful world of fantasy indeed with great developed characters. The Land of Viridia is one you won't forget anytime soon. This novel has everything in it truly. I can honestly say you couldn't put this novel down. While this is YA Fantasy it's great for any age truly and while it does have a light feel compared to other fantasy novels I would say Shauna nailed this novel and created a great world. While it does mention more of the female characters it's needed in this novel to make it work so I see no problem with that.
Tons of magic in this novel of all types plus some mystical creatures creates a epic fantasy novel to me. Highly recommend to those who love fantasy. You truly won't want to leave this world that was created.
Tons of magic in this novel of all types plus some mystical creatures creates a epic fantasy novel to me. Highly recommend to those who love fantasy. You truly won't want to leave this world that was created.
November 3, 2015
A well written fantasy cozy with an interesting magic system (though it does make me wonder what happens when folks try magic outside their gender... I'd love to see follow up short stories that explore that, I feel that wherever there is a highly gendered society there are cultural outlets for those that do not conform :). I enjoyed the romance, the land and the all the characters.
February 6, 2018
I don't usually write reviews. But, as a fantasy genre fan, I feel like it is my duty to all fantasy genre fans to say, "Go read this book!" I first heard about this book from a friend who read it as a judge for a writing contest. She was blown away by the unique storytelling and magic system. I absolutely love unique magic systems (that's why I have a whole Goodreads shelf dedicated to unique magic systems). Recently, I've been reading books by Jeff Wheeler - books with magic from water or magic that tattoos the magic-users' flesh - and "Ice Magic, Fire Magic" blew me away with the storytelling and creative magic system. I'll wrap up my review with a story of my own. I love books that connect me to the characters, but I rarely cry while reading books. Until last night, the last time I cried while reading a book was when a certain old, wizard mentor in the Harry Potter series died. Without spoiling anything, I found myself unexpectedly sobbing in the second half of this book following some ferocious knitting to save a life. My investment in the characters and the story caught me off-guard and speaks to both the strength of the story and the skill of the author.
August 4, 2017
Ice Magic, Fire Magic sucked me right in with a unique magical system, and kept surprising me with reversals and twists. Some of it was predictable, but even then the manner of the foretold events unfolding was unusual.
Fila, the protagonist, has one of the most unique character flaws I’ve ever seen. The intrigue was a little heavy-handed but that was needed to break through to the special character-traits of Fila’s kind, who are born incapable of violence or suspicion. Only hard lessons would crack that hard shell, unless she gave in to something tempting her that would leave Fila no longer herself while turning her into someone strong enough to handle an unwanted future. The romance was vitally necessary to the plot; the supporting characters breathed (although I had trouble picturing one of the races, the Toilers).
This novel was good enough to earn a space on my shelf as a book I will read over and over again, as a comfort read. FYI, the other comfort reads on my shelf are Bujold, McCaffrey, Jim Butcher, Tolkien, C.S. Lewis. Ilona Andrews, and C.J. Cherryh.
Fila, the protagonist, has one of the most unique character flaws I’ve ever seen. The intrigue was a little heavy-handed but that was needed to break through to the special character-traits of Fila’s kind, who are born incapable of violence or suspicion. Only hard lessons would crack that hard shell, unless she gave in to something tempting her that would leave Fila no longer herself while turning her into someone strong enough to handle an unwanted future. The romance was vitally necessary to the plot; the supporting characters breathed (although I had trouble picturing one of the races, the Toilers).
This novel was good enough to earn a space on my shelf as a book I will read over and over again, as a comfort read. FYI, the other comfort reads on my shelf are Bujold, McCaffrey, Jim Butcher, Tolkien, C.S. Lewis. Ilona Andrews, and C.J. Cherryh.
January 26, 2023
nice story. good young adult novel
April 15, 2016
I received a free copy of this book from GoodReads for review.
This is a really good book. The only comparison I can come up with is the Darkover books by Marion Zimmer Bradley though the fantasy element is stronger in Dr Roberts' book Ice Magic, Fire Magic. It's probably the strong characterizations of the women in this book that brings Bradley to mind. In any case, this is a very interesting and unusual addition to the fantasy genre. I certainly hope that Dr Roberts continues to write fantasy books since she's very talented.
The story revolves around 2 pairs of siblings, cousins of one another, and the havoc they cause growing up. There's magic involved--each gender going about it very differently--and horses, swords, puppies, knitting, and all sorts of other fun stuff. And love, and sacrifice, and unbridled ambition and murder too. It's very exciting and innovative as well. Did I mention dragons and hounds from Hell? It's all in there!
This is a really good book. The only comparison I can come up with is the Darkover books by Marion Zimmer Bradley though the fantasy element is stronger in Dr Roberts' book Ice Magic, Fire Magic. It's probably the strong characterizations of the women in this book that brings Bradley to mind. In any case, this is a very interesting and unusual addition to the fantasy genre. I certainly hope that Dr Roberts continues to write fantasy books since she's very talented.
The story revolves around 2 pairs of siblings, cousins of one another, and the havoc they cause growing up. There's magic involved--each gender going about it very differently--and horses, swords, puppies, knitting, and all sorts of other fun stuff. And love, and sacrifice, and unbridled ambition and murder too. It's very exciting and innovative as well. Did I mention dragons and hounds from Hell? It's all in there!
November 30, 2016
A trip to Shauna's world of magic.
If you enjoy magic and fantasy you'll love Ice Magic, fire magic. In the land of Verida we meet Fila and follow her on her dangerous journey to the capital it's an interesting read and I can understand why this book was a finalist in the Holt Medallion contest. (2016)
If you enjoy magic and fantasy you'll love Ice Magic, fire magic. In the land of Verida we meet Fila and follow her on her dangerous journey to the capital it's an interesting read and I can understand why this book was a finalist in the Holt Medallion contest. (2016)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews