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Ember and the Ice Dragons
Ember St. George is a dragon. At least she was before her adoptive father—a powerful but accident-prone Magician—turned her into a human girl to save her life.
Unfortunately, Ember’s growing tendency to burst into flames at certain temperatures—not to mention her invisible wings—is making it too dangerous for her to stay in London. The solution: ship Ember off to her aunt’s research station in frigid Antarctica.
Though eccentric Aunt Myra takes getting used to, Ember quickly feels at home in a land of ice storms, mischievous penguins, and twenty-four-hour nights. She even finds herself making friends with a girl genius called Nisha and a mysterious orphan named Moss.
Then she discovers that Antarctica is home to the Winterglass Hunt, a yearly tradition in which rare ice dragons are hunted for their jeweled scales. Furious, Ember decides to join the hunt to sabotage it from the inside.
But being an undercover dragon isn’t easy—especially among dragon hunters. Can a twelve-year-old fire dragon survive the dangers that come her way in the Antarctic wilderness and protect the ice dragons from extinction?
Unfortunately, Ember’s growing tendency to burst into flames at certain temperatures—not to mention her invisible wings—is making it too dangerous for her to stay in London. The solution: ship Ember off to her aunt’s research station in frigid Antarctica.
Though eccentric Aunt Myra takes getting used to, Ember quickly feels at home in a land of ice storms, mischievous penguins, and twenty-four-hour nights. She even finds herself making friends with a girl genius called Nisha and a mysterious orphan named Moss.
Then she discovers that Antarctica is home to the Winterglass Hunt, a yearly tradition in which rare ice dragons are hunted for their jeweled scales. Furious, Ember decides to join the hunt to sabotage it from the inside.
But being an undercover dragon isn’t easy—especially among dragon hunters. Can a twelve-year-old fire dragon survive the dangers that come her way in the Antarctic wilderness and protect the ice dragons from extinction?
384 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2019
114 people are currently reading
9295 people want to read
About the author
Heather Fawcett
23 books10k followersHello! Welcome to my page.
I'm the author of books for adults and children, including Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, Even the Darkest Stars, Ember and the Ice Dragons, The School Between Winter and Fairyland, and more.
I'm only occasionally on Goodreads, so if you want a more reliable way to get in contact with me, I'd recommend using social media (I'm on Instagram and Facebook) or the contact form on my website.
Review policy: I only review books that I love, which is why you'll only see 4 and 5 star reviews here. Because readers often ask me about my favourite books and authors, I'm aiming to use this page as a place to collect all of my recommendations.
Also, I am NOT the author of More Than a Mom: Living a Full And Balanced Life When Your Child Has Special Needs. I've asked Goodreads to remove it from my page several times but it keeps getting re-added. If you have questions about this title, please direct them to the other Heather Fawcett!
I'm the author of books for adults and children, including Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries, Even the Darkest Stars, Ember and the Ice Dragons, The School Between Winter and Fairyland, and more.
I'm only occasionally on Goodreads, so if you want a more reliable way to get in contact with me, I'd recommend using social media (I'm on Instagram and Facebook) or the contact form on my website.
Review policy: I only review books that I love, which is why you'll only see 4 and 5 star reviews here. Because readers often ask me about my favourite books and authors, I'm aiming to use this page as a place to collect all of my recommendations.
Also, I am NOT the author of More Than a Mom: Living a Full And Balanced Life When Your Child Has Special Needs. I've asked Goodreads to remove it from my page several times but it keeps getting re-added. If you have questions about this title, please direct them to the other Heather Fawcett!
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February 3, 2021
7.71 on CAWPILE
September 12, 2024
A middle grade book to melt your heart by the author of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries!❄️🐉
For fans of Northern Lights (The Golden Compass) by Phillip Pullman.
As a baby, a fire dragon is discovered in Wales by a brilliant but error-prone Magician near the bodies of her slain parents. To save her, he turns her into a human girl called Ember.
When she is older, to learn to control her magic, she goes to Antarctica to stay with her aunt. There, she gets involved in foiling a group of aristocrats’ annual hunt of the region's ice dragons.
This warm-hearted middle grade book would be perfect for Winter! Most of the story takes places in frosty Antarctica with cute, loyal penguins; an insistent hungry cat, magical door knob; and dragons who like riddles!🐾
Suitable for all ages, the themes and messages are all endearing.
Trying to fit in, noticing the different kinds of loneliness, learning to trust friends…❤️
“Anger was easy: anger was like fire, which burned hot but eventually went out. Disappointment, on the other hand, had a cold, lingering quality that made her wish she could sink into the carpet and live there like a dust mite.”
P.s. the audiobook does Welsh accents!
Bookstagram
For fans of Northern Lights (The Golden Compass) by Phillip Pullman.
As a baby, a fire dragon is discovered in Wales by a brilliant but error-prone Magician near the bodies of her slain parents. To save her, he turns her into a human girl called Ember.
When she is older, to learn to control her magic, she goes to Antarctica to stay with her aunt. There, she gets involved in foiling a group of aristocrats’ annual hunt of the region's ice dragons.
This warm-hearted middle grade book would be perfect for Winter! Most of the story takes places in frosty Antarctica with cute, loyal penguins; an insistent hungry cat, magical door knob; and dragons who like riddles!🐾
Suitable for all ages, the themes and messages are all endearing.
Trying to fit in, noticing the different kinds of loneliness, learning to trust friends…❤️
“Anger was easy: anger was like fire, which burned hot but eventually went out. Disappointment, on the other hand, had a cold, lingering quality that made her wish she could sink into the carpet and live there like a dust mite.”
P.s. the audiobook does Welsh accents!
Bookstagram
September 27, 2019
Check out more reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...
The Buzz
I loved Heather Fawcett's debut, Even the Darkest Stars, so I was jazzed to see her take on a middle grade where dragons take center stage.
Ember and the Ice Dragons is a title so full of dragons how could I not immediately stop and take a look, especially paired with such a gorgeous cover and an exciting author!! The cover is so suited for the story, has great colors and is even more gorgeous when you look at the audiobook cover and can see the entire ice dragon!!
The Premise
Ember St. George is a dragon. But a dragon that is turned into a girl!! This really intrigued me. I was excited to get into this dragon filled world... how could I not be with such a sensational title as... Ember and the Ice Dragons.
I think one of the most exciting things about the book that I wasn't really thinking about when I read the premise is that its set in Antarctica. This could be a initial downer for some readers... but NOT the way that Fawcett uses all the little details of this stark region. Details like penguins given the magic touch, ice dragon hunters, a glacier city, loyal sled dogs, scientist research!!
What I really enjoyed though was Ember's journey as a dragon turned little girl. There's an unhappy reason she hares off to Antarctica and leaves her adopted dad who she is her entire world. Along the way she learns her fears can be overcome, makes her first friends, and goes undercover to make a difference. Plus she goes head to head with a Prince that seems really dark and grey... but may not be as evil as he seems. Ember and the Ice Dragons came together in such fun and unexpected ways.
My Experience
Honestly I wasn't too sure about Ember and the Ice Dragons once I got started. I don't particularly enjoy Antarctica. A couple of the kids seemed like bullies and I wasn't interested. There seemed to be a big struggle with authority. It was starting to feel like a thousand other books I'd read before.
There were hints though that I was judging Ember and the Ice Dragons too quickly. First we learn right off she has a talking cat! Yes, she talks and its too funny the things she says. When she gets to Antarctica she loses a cobblestone to a penguin! This ends up being a delightful outcome... She fears other children! For good reason since her wings are only invisible, but still! What a fear to overcome. And so relatable.
As you can see Heather Fawcett really impressed me how she took some rather stereotypical elements at first glance and made them remarkable!! They were so fun and unexpected. And we weren't lead into typical situations. Like the bully thing was just a blip. I loved this!! Especially for middle grade readers who need relatable tropes that they understand... but then things don't turn out anyway like you expect. It's so fun. Even adults can appreciate the creativity.
I especially loved how morally grey the prince was. Nowadays children are so smart and savvy. Yet their morals haven't had time to develop and they do some pretty messed up things. The same with this prince! We normally have such black and white villains and in Ember and the Ice Dragons we get an unexpectedly grey treat.
Ember and the Ice Dragons is a totally fun dragon romp about friendship, family and coming into your own as a person... or a dragon!! Just because this is middle grade doesn't mean it won't ignite your imagination either. The creativity is unexpected and makes this a great read for any age.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Authenticity
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Writing Style
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Plot & Pacing
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ World Building
A+ Cover & Title grade
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. It has not influenced my opinions.
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. Read my special perspective under the typewriter on my reviews...
Please like this review if you enjoyed it! *bow* *bow* It helps me out a ton!!
September 28, 2019
One thing that always keeps me coming back to middle grade fantasy is the ability for authors to take stereotypical and cliche situations and really mold them into something imaginative and refreshing. Heather Fawcett executes this beautifully in Ember and the Ice Dragons.
The story of Ember St. George’s origins is unlike that of most twelve year olds her age. Im fact, Ember isn’t even human. Her adoptive father Lionel, the renounced Stormancer (a powerful wielder of magic), transformed Ember into a baby girl to save her life following the slaughter of her dragon parents. Problem is that the spell didn’t really go to plan, so now Ember spontaneously combusts when sunlight touches her and she tends to torch everything within range. In order to save her father’s career, she decides that she should go to Antartica to live with her Aunt Myra since they currently have 24 hour nights.
Once in Antartica, life for Ember is vastly different than her London life. She has to go to school for one thing…and of course there’s a set of catty bullies (twins at that). She tries to maintain her isolation, but Nisha and Moss are determined to be her friends. Ember learns that the royal family in Antartica hold an annual hunt called the Winterglass Hunt that is a sport of slaughtering the remaining ice dragons. When Ember learns of this horrific sport that is headed by the arrogant and obnoxious Prince Gideon (who is also her age), she decides that she’s going to enter to sabotage the entire thing. What she doesn’t expect is that Nisha and Moss refuse to allow Ember to do this alone. This newly formed group of friends must find a way to save the remaining dragons and prove that they are not the vicious creatures that humans believe them to be.
I loved Ember and her determination to protect her father, her dragon kin, as well as her new found friends. She’s fiercely loyal and refuses to back down regardless how dangerous situations that she is presented with are. Now let’s talk about Puff. Puff is Ember’s talking cat. Yes, he literally talks but not in full sentences. Instead, he yells one word demands over and over until he ultimately get what he wants. I swear I was dying of laughter in some scenes because if my cat could talk, she would do the exact same thing: Eat! Eat! Eat! Now! Now! Now!
I loved the adventure that the trio must embark on in order to not only save the dragons but also to save humanity from itself. One thing that I always admire about powerful middle grade reads is that it’s usually the children that have to remind the adults of what a compassionate human being looks like.
Overall, if you’re looking for a heartfelt story packed with adventure, magic, and friendship then you need to read this book. I can’t recommend this one enough!
Thank you to Heather Fawcett for providing an ARC through a giveaway win. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
The story of Ember St. George’s origins is unlike that of most twelve year olds her age. Im fact, Ember isn’t even human. Her adoptive father Lionel, the renounced Stormancer (a powerful wielder of magic), transformed Ember into a baby girl to save her life following the slaughter of her dragon parents. Problem is that the spell didn’t really go to plan, so now Ember spontaneously combusts when sunlight touches her and she tends to torch everything within range. In order to save her father’s career, she decides that she should go to Antartica to live with her Aunt Myra since they currently have 24 hour nights.
Once in Antartica, life for Ember is vastly different than her London life. She has to go to school for one thing…and of course there’s a set of catty bullies (twins at that). She tries to maintain her isolation, but Nisha and Moss are determined to be her friends. Ember learns that the royal family in Antartica hold an annual hunt called the Winterglass Hunt that is a sport of slaughtering the remaining ice dragons. When Ember learns of this horrific sport that is headed by the arrogant and obnoxious Prince Gideon (who is also her age), she decides that she’s going to enter to sabotage the entire thing. What she doesn’t expect is that Nisha and Moss refuse to allow Ember to do this alone. This newly formed group of friends must find a way to save the remaining dragons and prove that they are not the vicious creatures that humans believe them to be.
I loved Ember and her determination to protect her father, her dragon kin, as well as her new found friends. She’s fiercely loyal and refuses to back down regardless how dangerous situations that she is presented with are. Now let’s talk about Puff. Puff is Ember’s talking cat. Yes, he literally talks but not in full sentences. Instead, he yells one word demands over and over until he ultimately get what he wants. I swear I was dying of laughter in some scenes because if my cat could talk, she would do the exact same thing: Eat! Eat! Eat! Now! Now! Now!
I loved the adventure that the trio must embark on in order to not only save the dragons but also to save humanity from itself. One thing that I always admire about powerful middle grade reads is that it’s usually the children that have to remind the adults of what a compassionate human being looks like.
Overall, if you’re looking for a heartfelt story packed with adventure, magic, and friendship then you need to read this book. I can’t recommend this one enough!
Thank you to Heather Fawcett for providing an ARC through a giveaway win. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
February 24, 2020
"Fire dragons have given rise to many legendary stories. Among these is the belief that these solitary beasts passed their lives in the clouds that gather on mountaintops, and would immediately perish upon contact with the earth."
5 stars.
This was an absolutely phenomenal middel-grade and that's why I gave it five stars. Yes it does not compare to Strange the Dreamer, but this is a middle-grade and we need to rate is as such. Firstly I absolutely loved the characters in this book. They were so well written and truly kids, but also incredibly adventureous kids and that was amazing to read.
That said I enjoyed the plot, though I expected lots of things, but nonetheless it was amazingly written and I loved every minute of it. I do have to say I wish there was more, I truly am praying for a second book, but Heather actually told me on twitter that it's a stand-alone, at least for now, so I will definitely keep hoping! That said I can definitely recommend this one if you want a fun middle-grade in a wintery setting!
August 10, 2023
3 stars
An endearing book full of magic and adventure! I loved the relationships featured in the book, both familial, platonic and between rivalries. Ember learns to rely on her support system of friends and family, and realises that not everything needs to be done alone. The fantastical elements integrated into the novel were charming, as well as effective for examining real issues.
An endearing book full of magic and adventure! I loved the relationships featured in the book, both familial, platonic and between rivalries. Ember learns to rely on her support system of friends and family, and realises that not everything needs to be done alone. The fantastical elements integrated into the novel were charming, as well as effective for examining real issues.
January 25, 2023
Schon nach den ersten Seiten war ich mittendrin und folge den sympathischen Charakteren durchs viktorianische London und alsbald in die eisige Kälte der Antarktika. Die Atmosphäre ist grossartig, man spürt den Zauber und die Kälte richtig beim Lesen. Das Mysterium um Ember ist jetzt nicht wahnsinnig komplex, aber der schöne Schreibstil sorgt dafür, dass man irgendwie selbst im gemütlichen Zimmer an der Universität sitzt und der Geschichte lauscht, während draußen der Wind faucht. Sehr zu empfehlen, wenn man Lust auf ein magisches Abenteuer mit Drachen, Schnee und widerspenstigen Türknäufen hat.
February 7, 2020
This is such a wonderful story. I think my favorite middle grade books are the books about little girls that love science with a touch (or in this case a slightly bigger touch) of magic thrown in there. This book was just so much fun to read! I really loved Ember as a leading character as well as Nisha and Moss as side characters, they were all just so fabulous and felt so real. I also may also have found a new love for penguins . I also really liked the growth all these characters go through. More than that this book felt very atmospheric and the writing style was really well suited to the story. I can't wait to read more by her. I loved the environmentalist themes in this book.
I really hope there will be a whole bunch more books in this series because I would love to see more of Ember, and I want to know more about all the awesome kinds of dragons that this amazing world has to offer! I want to know more about Moss and I want to see what Gideon is going to do now (I can see that he will probably/hopefully have a lot more growth for the better in the next books).
CAWPILE rating
Character 9
Atmosphere 8
Writing 9
Plot 9
Intrigue 9
Logic 7
Enjoyment 9
I really hope there will be a whole bunch more books in this series because I would love to see more of Ember, and I want to know more about all the awesome kinds of dragons that this amazing world has to offer! I want to know more about Moss and I want to see what Gideon is going to do now (I can see that he will probably/hopefully have a lot more growth for the better in the next books).
CAWPILE rating
Character 9
Atmosphere 8
Writing 9
Plot 9
Intrigue 9
Logic 7
Enjoyment 9
November 21, 2021
Mijn zoon zeurt voortdurend om het vervolg van "Brief voor de koning" van Tonke Dragt, maar helaas is hij niet de enige die dat boek wil lezen, dus moest ik in de bibliotheek in mijn haast snel naar een ander boek grijpen. Dit stond in de buurt van de "D", en zag er iets voor mijn kinderen uit. Het gaat namelijk over draken en zoals iedereen weet: je kan nooit misdoen met draken.
Laat ons zeggen dat dit boek daadwerkelijk over draken gaat, en nog meer: over een draak die in mens is veranderd. Het is goed geschreven, het bevat behoorlijk wat fantasie, met af en toe eens wat plotholes maar geen kind dat zich daaraan stoort. Het unieke is ook dat de voornaamste antagonist (prins Gideon) helemaal niet duidelijk goed of kwaad is: het wisselt echt af (al neigt hij uiteindelijk wel naar "kwaad"). Zelfs mijn dochter zei het luidop: "je weet nooit of hij goed of slecht is, echt raar!"
Goeie last-minute keuze dus.
(3,5 sterren)
Laat ons zeggen dat dit boek daadwerkelijk over draken gaat, en nog meer: over een draak die in mens is veranderd. Het is goed geschreven, het bevat behoorlijk wat fantasie, met af en toe eens wat plotholes maar geen kind dat zich daaraan stoort. Het unieke is ook dat de voornaamste antagonist (prins Gideon) helemaal niet duidelijk goed of kwaad is: het wisselt echt af (al neigt hij uiteindelijk wel naar "kwaad"). Zelfs mijn dochter zei het luidop: "je weet nooit of hij goed of slecht is, echt raar!"
Goeie last-minute keuze dus.
(3,5 sterren)
July 28, 2023
4.25☆ and I really enjoyed this!!
Read
February 7, 2020This book was so AMAZING! I still can't believe the secret about Moss, it's extremely EPIC! It's the best fantasy book I have read in a while, and if you like fantasy/mystery this is the perfect book for you.
July 26, 2021
This was such a fun read! I really enjoyed the character development as well as the growth in the the various friendship and family relationships. I loved all the adventure and of course the animals and dragons!
I will say that there were too many plot conveniences for my liking. The magic system in particular could've been a lot clearer; instead, what magic was or wasn't possible seemed to be mainly based on what the plot needed at the time.
That being said, overall this was a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining read from start to finish!
I will say that there were too many plot conveniences for my liking. The magic system in particular could've been a lot clearer; instead, what magic was or wasn't possible seemed to be mainly based on what the plot needed at the time.
That being said, overall this was a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining read from start to finish!
May 13, 2020
Allereerst, de cover! <3 De glimmende gekleurde details zijn zo mooi! Dit boek kreeg sowieso al 5 sterren voor de cover. En dan het verhaal. Ember lijkt een normaal meisje, maar dat is ze niet. Ze is stiekem een vuurdraak en daarom heeft ze eigenlijk nooit op school gezeten. Dat betekent dat ze weinig te maken heeft gehad met andere kinderen en dat heeft zo zijn gevolgen later in het boek.
Het verhaal komt wat traag op gang vond ik, je leert wel op deze manier alle personages goed kennen. Het was mij ook niet meteen duidelijk wanneer dit verhaal zich afspeelde. Ik wist dat het een fantasy was, maar er zijn ook personages die echt hebben geleefd. In het dankwoord werd het uitgelegd, maar had deze uitleg misschien eerder gewild.
Maar als het verhaal eenmaal goed op gang is en de drakenjacht naar de ijsdraken begonnen is, is het verhaal heel spannend! Ember gaat samen met twee vrienden mee met de ijsdrakenjacht, maar niet om op de draken te jagen natuurlijk! Ember probeert op haar manier de draken te redden. Of dit helemaal lukt, moet je zelf lezen ;)
Zoals ik al eerder zei, is Ember niet gewend om met kinderen om te gaan. Op Antarctica komt ze wel in een klasje terecht en moet ze huiswerk doen. Daar heeft ze dus echt geen zin in. Het lukt haar wel om vrienden te maken, maar ook dat gaat niet zonder slag of stoot. De problemen waar Ember tegenaan loopt zullen wel herkenbaar zijn voor meer kinderen, ook als ze wel naar school gaan. Het boek is voor kinderen van 10 jaar en ouder.
Op de cover staat: voor de fans van Nevermoor en Bovenwereld. Deze heb ik beide niet gelezen, maar als jij dat wel hebt gedaan, dan kun jij wat met deze informatie. Geen idee of dit het begin is van een nieuwe serie, maar het einde kan beide kanten op, dat het 1 boek is of het begin van een serie.
Het verhaal komt wat traag op gang vond ik, je leert wel op deze manier alle personages goed kennen. Het was mij ook niet meteen duidelijk wanneer dit verhaal zich afspeelde. Ik wist dat het een fantasy was, maar er zijn ook personages die echt hebben geleefd. In het dankwoord werd het uitgelegd, maar had deze uitleg misschien eerder gewild.
Maar als het verhaal eenmaal goed op gang is en de drakenjacht naar de ijsdraken begonnen is, is het verhaal heel spannend! Ember gaat samen met twee vrienden mee met de ijsdrakenjacht, maar niet om op de draken te jagen natuurlijk! Ember probeert op haar manier de draken te redden. Of dit helemaal lukt, moet je zelf lezen ;)
Zoals ik al eerder zei, is Ember niet gewend om met kinderen om te gaan. Op Antarctica komt ze wel in een klasje terecht en moet ze huiswerk doen. Daar heeft ze dus echt geen zin in. Het lukt haar wel om vrienden te maken, maar ook dat gaat niet zonder slag of stoot. De problemen waar Ember tegenaan loopt zullen wel herkenbaar zijn voor meer kinderen, ook als ze wel naar school gaan. Het boek is voor kinderen van 10 jaar en ouder.
Op de cover staat: voor de fans van Nevermoor en Bovenwereld. Deze heb ik beide niet gelezen, maar als jij dat wel hebt gedaan, dan kun jij wat met deze informatie. Geen idee of dit het begin is van een nieuwe serie, maar het einde kan beide kanten op, dat het 1 boek is of het begin van een serie.
December 22, 2020
Ember is the last of the fire dragons. Or so she thinks. Her adopted Stormancer father found her as a baby and though fire dragons have a fierce personality, he couldn't bear to kill her. Instead he put a spell on her so she appears as a normal human child (with invisible wings that didn't fully cooperate with the spell). Though she can easily fool most people that she's a normal human, she doesn't like to get too close just in case. Also, she has a tendency to burst into flame, especially during the summer. And this summer, she is having a horrible time controlling her flames. Worried that she's going to burn her father to a crisp by accident, Ember gets her scientist Aunt Myra in Antarctica to invite her to stay for the summer. Ember arrives in Antarctica along with a whole crowd of dragon hunters eager to join Prince Gideon's hunt for ice dragons. Ember can't stand the idea of dragons being killed, so she and two other kids from the research station come up with a plan to join the hunt and sabotage it in as many little ways they can think of that won't get them caught. But can three kids really stop greedy adults from their prey?
I have never read another fiction book set in Antarctica, and I loved it. It allowed for a perfect trifecta of my favorite animals. There's dragons (my favorite fantasy creatures), penguins (my favorite wild animals), and a memorable cat (my favorite domestic animal). The fact that the penguins get ahold of a magical artifact and are then able to shoot lightning was hilarious, and I loved it. The cat was magicked as well, snuck to Antarctica through a magical crack from England, and was able to speak, but chose to speak in one word commands, which seems so cat; don't use any more energy than necessary, and of course everyone must obey. The side characters are unusual for how multifaceted they are. Very few are flat, and even the bad guys are complex. And all of them are quite memorable. From Ember's Aunt who is a crazy scientist but also a renowned thief, to her two friends, Moss with a mysterious past, and Nisha who acts like she's got it all together but who just lost her twin sister, to Prince Ember who acts tough but every once in a while shows bits of kindness and has a less than stellar family. It took me a little while to get into this story, but once I did, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a fun fantasy adventure in a unique setting and with a memorable cast of characters. And I loved how merciful Ember was. Though she makes some questionable choices about sneaking off, in the way she relates to people who have been unkind to her and doing the right thing even if it is hard, she's a great role model. Highly recommended to fantasy fans.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. There are some perilous situations, but most make it out ok. It is suggested that some people don't survive one situation. The killing of dragons is related. There's an accident with a bow and arrow that results in some injuries, none fatal and only minimally described. There's a mystery creature that eats some creatures and threatens others.
I have never read another fiction book set in Antarctica, and I loved it. It allowed for a perfect trifecta of my favorite animals. There's dragons (my favorite fantasy creatures), penguins (my favorite wild animals), and a memorable cat (my favorite domestic animal). The fact that the penguins get ahold of a magical artifact and are then able to shoot lightning was hilarious, and I loved it. The cat was magicked as well, snuck to Antarctica through a magical crack from England, and was able to speak, but chose to speak in one word commands, which seems so cat; don't use any more energy than necessary, and of course everyone must obey. The side characters are unusual for how multifaceted they are. Very few are flat, and even the bad guys are complex. And all of them are quite memorable. From Ember's Aunt who is a crazy scientist but also a renowned thief, to her two friends, Moss with a mysterious past, and Nisha who acts like she's got it all together but who just lost her twin sister, to Prince Ember who acts tough but every once in a while shows bits of kindness and has a less than stellar family. It took me a little while to get into this story, but once I did, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a fun fantasy adventure in a unique setting and with a memorable cast of characters. And I loved how merciful Ember was. Though she makes some questionable choices about sneaking off, in the way she relates to people who have been unkind to her and doing the right thing even if it is hard, she's a great role model. Highly recommended to fantasy fans.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. There are some perilous situations, but most make it out ok. It is suggested that some people don't survive one situation. The killing of dragons is related. There's an accident with a bow and arrow that results in some injuries, none fatal and only minimally described. There's a mystery creature that eats some creatures and threatens others.
August 9, 2023
So on the plus side: pretty amazing worldbuilding, an interesting Age of Exploration world in which Queen Victoria colonized Antarctica, there are also dragons, and science and magic vie for influence. Also a truly enchanting talking cat named Puff who Fawcett gets exactly right. "Now" "Mine" "Warm" is exactly what a talking cat would say and would want to say. Reading the first 30%, I really thought I was loving this book.
Unfortunately the negatives are quite negative and they mainly take the form of one Prince Gideon, an entitled sadistic twit with daddy issues and dark brooding looks. Like, I understand that I am an adult reading a middle grade novel, but that's in part some of my objection as to why this character is in there. He's an almost textbook Bad New Boyfriend taken to a cartoonish level and the narrative seems to want Ember to like him. Like I get that broody bad bfs are all the rage, but I still kind of balk at Gideon repeatedly threatening to kill, enslave, torture, and imprison Ember and then the minute there might be a twinkle of a tear in his eye or the quiver of regret in his voice (no meaningful action ever though), both Ember and the author fall all over themselves to say "It's not his fault!!! He has a bad daddy!! He doesn't MEAN he ACTUALLY wants to kill me!! Look, he's nice to his dogs!!!" The ability to turn a blind eye to toxic masculinity like this literally gets women murdered every day and it's honestly terrifying that it is in a children's book being celebrated. At the end of the story all is forgiven, and like the fact that he has straight up murdered a being he now knows is sentient is something he has not apologized for or nor has he made meaningful amends to the family of this being. He's said he won't try to murder more of them but that he hasn't forgiven THEM for kidnapping him. And Ember's like "Aw, that silly old Gideon, what a grump!" It was honestly kind of sickening.
Unfortunately the negatives are quite negative and they mainly take the form of one Prince Gideon, an entitled sadistic twit with daddy issues and dark brooding looks. Like, I understand that I am an adult reading a middle grade novel, but that's in part some of my objection as to why this character is in there. He's an almost textbook Bad New Boyfriend taken to a cartoonish level and the narrative seems to want Ember to like him. Like I get that broody bad bfs are all the rage, but I still kind of balk at Gideon repeatedly threatening to kill, enslave, torture, and imprison Ember and then the minute there might be a twinkle of a tear in his eye or the quiver of regret in his voice (no meaningful action ever though), both Ember and the author fall all over themselves to say "It's not his fault!!! He has a bad daddy!! He doesn't MEAN he ACTUALLY wants to kill me!! Look, he's nice to his dogs!!!" The ability to turn a blind eye to toxic masculinity like this literally gets women murdered every day and it's honestly terrifying that it is in a children's book being celebrated. At the end of the story all is forgiven, and like the fact that he has straight up murdered a being he now knows is sentient is something he has not apologized for or nor has he made meaningful amends to the family of this being. He's said he won't try to murder more of them but that he hasn't forgiven THEM for kidnapping him. And Ember's like "Aw, that silly old Gideon, what a grump!" It was honestly kind of sickening.
August 8, 2023
There was a lot to like in this book. Ember, the science and book-loving dragon who lives as a human girl, was a great protagonist. Her father and aunt were also dynamic characters. Nisha and Moss balanced out Ember well as supporting friends. The first half of the book introduces the characters and the world and was an enjoyable read, and the penguins and the talking cat were great. Problems started to crop up in the second half. The villains of the story were transparently evil, which was a bit of a disappointment. The fun exploratory tone of the first half becomes much more action-oriented in the second half, which while not bad, wasn't as compelling. Additionally, Moss' true identity was extremely obvious from the very beginning, so it's reveal at the end didn't have much weight to it. There were a lot of great things in this book: the protagonist characters were compelling, there was an interesting magic system, and the moral conflict between dragons and humans. There were all these great parts of a story, but I can't help but feel that the way they were put together in the second half was awkward.
January 10, 2024
“Anger was easy: anger was like fire, which burned hot but eventually went out. Disappointment, on the other hand, had a cold, lingering quality that made her wish she could sink into the carpet and live there like a dust mite.”
I had the opportunity to follow Ember's adventures with my neighbor's kids, for our annual buddy read. This book was so fun, so picturesque? I loved each and every character, their dialogue, how their stories intertwine.I wanted so much more world building, but this story is so endearing that it pained me (us) to say goodbye to the characters. My favorites were Moss and Lionel St. George, he was so much fun to read, a book focusing on his life as a stormancer would be everything to me.
Overall, a great read, perfect for winter.
December 20, 2023
delightful!! my only complaint is that i wanted more of it - both in terms of development of certain plot points and relationships, and in terms of length. a super fun and charming time, all around.
December 9, 2025
Ember and the Ice Dragons by Heather Fawcett is a wonderfully enchanting adventure that feels fresh and timeless. The story begins with an irresistible premise: Ember St. George used to be a dragon, but her well meaning and slightly hapless adoptive father, a powerful Magician, transformed her into a human girl in order to save her life. Unfortunately, Ember still has a habit of catching fire at inconvenient temperatures, and her invisible wings are becoming harder to hide. When London becomes too dangerous for her unusual condition, she is packed off to her aunt’s research station in the icy wilds of Antarctica.
Fawcett’s storytelling shines with charm and a delightful sense of wonder. I especially loved the Antarctic setting. It creates a perfect winter atmosphere and makes the book a cozy and magical read for any age. The worldbuilding is vivid, and the story offers a refreshing twist on dragon lore that kept me engaged throughout.
The audiobook narration by Fiona Hardingham is absolutely fantastic. Her character voices bring Ember’s world to life in a way that feels warm and dynamic, which made the listening experience even more enjoyable.
Having read the Emily Wilde series, I recognized Heather Fawcett’s distinctive voice and elegant writing style right away. It is full of whimsy, intelligence, and heart, and it carries beautifully into this story.
Overall, Ember and the Ice Dragons is a delightful, atmospheric tale filled with magic, winter sparkle, and unforgettable charm. A wonderful pick for anyone craving an imaginative escape.
Fawcett’s storytelling shines with charm and a delightful sense of wonder. I especially loved the Antarctic setting. It creates a perfect winter atmosphere and makes the book a cozy and magical read for any age. The worldbuilding is vivid, and the story offers a refreshing twist on dragon lore that kept me engaged throughout.
The audiobook narration by Fiona Hardingham is absolutely fantastic. Her character voices bring Ember’s world to life in a way that feels warm and dynamic, which made the listening experience even more enjoyable.
Having read the Emily Wilde series, I recognized Heather Fawcett’s distinctive voice and elegant writing style right away. It is full of whimsy, intelligence, and heart, and it carries beautifully into this story.
Overall, Ember and the Ice Dragons is a delightful, atmospheric tale filled with magic, winter sparkle, and unforgettable charm. A wonderful pick for anyone craving an imaginative escape.
May 3, 2025
I really liked the first few chapters where Ember interacts with her dad and with the magical world around them. But, as soon as she goes to her aunt, the books gets more random, chaotic, depressing and uninteresting.
The characters, even the protagonists, aren't very likable and I really disliked Gideon's awful personality getting accepted "because he has issues and is handsome". I could have definitely done without the "attraction" between Gideon and Ember.
When Ember finally interacts with some dragons, their entire way of life and magic system kind of gets skipped over to throw some riddles in there for some reason? Again, I could have done without.
At the end of the book, it feels like things haven't really been resolved or resolved very quickly off-screen. I kept waiting for Ember to do something and help the "prisoners" (trying to avoid spoilers here) escape, because that was very depressing and sad to read, but then she does nothing for so long! I know she's "just a child", but she's also a dragon and the hero of the story, so isn't she supposed to defy the adults and rescue everyone anyway?
It feels like the second half of the book had too many side quests and characters to really make the story work. I know it's a middle grade book, but still. I was expecting more, sadly. I was hoping it would be a light and fun read, but it wasn't for me.
The characters, even the protagonists, aren't very likable and I really disliked Gideon's awful personality getting accepted "because he has issues and is handsome". I could have definitely done without the "attraction" between Gideon and Ember.
When Ember finally interacts with some dragons, their entire way of life and magic system kind of gets skipped over to throw some riddles in there for some reason? Again, I could have done without.
At the end of the book, it feels like things haven't really been resolved or resolved very quickly off-screen. I kept waiting for Ember to do something and help the "prisoners" (trying to avoid spoilers here) escape, because that was very depressing and sad to read, but then she does nothing for so long! I know she's "just a child", but she's also a dragon and the hero of the story, so isn't she supposed to defy the adults and rescue everyone anyway?
It feels like the second half of the book had too many side quests and characters to really make the story work. I know it's a middle grade book, but still. I was expecting more, sadly. I was hoping it would be a light and fun read, but it wasn't for me.
March 1, 2025
Ember has a small problem that she sometimes bursts into flame when excited or exposed to sunlight. This is because she's really an enchanted dragon and the last of her kind now that fire dragons have been hunted to extinction. The only way to keep from burning down her beloved father's home seems to be moving to Antarctica. But Ember soon discovers the winter hunt, which will start a campaign against the only living dragon species still in existence, something Ember would give anything to stop.
Listen, there were a lot of slow moments in this book, but Heather Fawcett manages to keep even "character alone thinking" moments interesting and magical. Everything from an inter-dimensional doorknob to a talking cat and an entire race of misunderstood dragons contributes to the magical atmosphere. I love the characters most of all, but I wouldn't mind wandering around in Ember's Antarctica, especially if the penguins are still finding ways of mismanaging the magic.
Listen, there were a lot of slow moments in this book, but Heather Fawcett manages to keep even "character alone thinking" moments interesting and magical. Everything from an inter-dimensional doorknob to a talking cat and an entire race of misunderstood dragons contributes to the magical atmosphere. I love the characters most of all, but I wouldn't mind wandering around in Ember's Antarctica, especially if the penguins are still finding ways of mismanaging the magic.
January 29, 2025
Wait til the government finds out this book is advocating for the stop of abusing animals for human pleasure and Ember is a left-winged feminist & climate activist. Who knows, maybe this book about a twelve year old girlboss who defeats a grown man-child who has way too much power that he doesn’t know how to use might also get ban-🫢
Generally speaking, what I learned from this book: humans suck and penguins rule.
Generally speaking, what I learned from this book: humans suck and penguins rule.
November 25, 2020
Took me a while to read this but it’s not because it wasn’t good it’s just that I had a lot to read aside of this one. But after a while I came back to it and I couldn’t stop and oh did I enjoy it. I can’t believe this is a standalone.. can’t be right?! So many answers still unanswered.. oh well loved it
February 22, 2022
Très bon roman jeunesse pour les 12-13 ans ! Bien rythmé, Ambre et Nisha sont plutôt des jeunes filles au fort caractère et ça on aime ! En plus il y a des dragons dans le livre que demander de plus ?? Ça se passe en Antarctique et ça fait plaisir parce que c’est pas tous les jours qu’on voit ça !
March 1, 2023
trigger warning
Haven't been in the mood to write a review, sorry.
Haven't been in the mood to write a review, sorry.
June 14, 2023
4.25/5
August 11, 2021
Un middle grade hyper sympa, j'ai adoré ambre que j'ai trouvé toute mignonne, le folklore est génial. Une suite aurait été sympa mais ce tome fonctionne parfaitement.
February 14, 2025
Excellent winter vibes
May 19, 2021
It’s official! Heather Fawcett is an auto buy author now!
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