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Book of the Ice #2
The Girl and the Mountain
Second novel in the chilling and epic new fantasy series from the bestselling and critically-acclaimed author of PRINCE OF THORNS and RED SISTER.
'If you like dark you will love Mark Lawrence. And when the light breaks through and it all makes sense, the contrast is gorgeous' ROBIN HOBB
On Abeth there is only the ice. And the Black Rock.
For generations the priests of the Black Rock have reached out from their mountain to steer the ice tribes’ fate. With their Hidden God, their magic and their iron, the priests’ rule has never been challenged.
But nobody has ever escaped the Pit of the Missing before.
Yaz has lost her friends and found her enemies. She has a mountain to climb and even if she can break the Hidden God’s power her dream of a green world lies impossibly far to the south across a vast emptiness of ice. Before the journey can even start she has to find out what happened to the ones she loves and save those that can be saved.
Abeth holds its secrets close, but the stars shine brighter for Yaz and she means to unlock the truth.
To touch the sky, be prepared to climb
'If you like dark you will love Mark Lawrence. And when the light breaks through and it all makes sense, the contrast is gorgeous' ROBIN HOBB
On Abeth there is only the ice. And the Black Rock.
For generations the priests of the Black Rock have reached out from their mountain to steer the ice tribes’ fate. With their Hidden God, their magic and their iron, the priests’ rule has never been challenged.
But nobody has ever escaped the Pit of the Missing before.
Yaz has lost her friends and found her enemies. She has a mountain to climb and even if she can break the Hidden God’s power her dream of a green world lies impossibly far to the south across a vast emptiness of ice. Before the journey can even start she has to find out what happened to the ones she loves and save those that can be saved.
Abeth holds its secrets close, but the stars shine brighter for Yaz and she means to unlock the truth.
To touch the sky, be prepared to climb
448 pages, Hardcover
First published April 13, 2021
460 people are currently reading
9370 people want to read
About the author
Mark Lawrence
99 books55.9k followersMy books vary a LOT - so
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[My new book The Book That Broke The World is out now!]
Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/marklawrencea...
Blog here: http://mark---lawrence.blogspot.co.uk/
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Mark Lawrence is married with four children, one of whom is severely disabled. Before becoming a fulltime writer in 2015 day job was as a research scientist focused on various rather intractable problems in the field of artificial intelligence. He has held secret level clearance with both US and UK governments. At one point he was qualified to say 'this isn't rocket science ... oh wait, it actually is'.
Mark used to have a list of hobbies back when he did science by day. Now his time is really just divided between writing and caring for his disabled daughter. There are occasional forays into computer games too.
[My new book The Book That Broke The World is out now!]
Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/marklawrencea...
Blog here: http://mark---lawrence.blogspot.co.uk/
I'm on Youtube now! *excitement!*
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIrB...
Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/MarkLawrence...
https://www.instagram.com/mark___lawr...
Threads
https://www.threads.net/@mark___lawrence
Blue Sky
https://bsky.app/profile/marklawrence...
Three-emails-a-year newsletter here:
http://eepurl.com/cimnK1 #Prizes #FreeContent
I'm even on Tumblr!
https://www.tumblr.com/blog/marklawre...
Pintrest!
https://uk.pinterest.com/princeofthor...
Plus I have free stuff on Wattpad!
https://www.wattpad.com/user/MarkLawr...
Mark Lawrence is married with four children, one of whom is severely disabled. Before becoming a fulltime writer in 2015 day job was as a research scientist focused on various rather intractable problems in the field of artificial intelligence. He has held secret level clearance with both US and UK governments. At one point he was qualified to say 'this isn't rocket science ... oh wait, it actually is'.
Mark used to have a list of hobbies back when he did science by day. Now his time is really just divided between writing and caring for his disabled daughter. There are occasional forays into computer games too.
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January 2, 2025In this book the overlap with The Book of the Ancestor trilogy becomes clear.
Paperback out today (31st March 2022).
This trilogy has touches from all my other work. You don't need to have read my other trilogies to enjoy it, but by book 3 you might want to have given them a try if you want to pick up on all the nods.
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
...
Paperback out today (31st March 2022).
This trilogy has touches from all my other work. You don't need to have read my other trilogies to enjoy it, but by book 3 you might want to have given them a try if you want to pick up on all the nods.
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
...
August 31, 2024
The Girl and the Mountain is next-level icepunk fantasy. Everything is starting to come together in The Girl and the Mountain through a brilliant combination of fantasy, sci-fi, and Greek mythology, as Mark Lawrence continues to defy the dreaded sophomore slump.
My favorite part is the convergence of the story with The Book of the Ancestor, so be sure to read that trilogy first. Here we get the back story of one of my favorite characters from The Book of the Ancestor, and the relation between the two trilogies becomes clear. From the moment I saw the name "Nina" on the page, I knew I was in for something special.
Connections abound to Mark Lawrence's other trilogies as well, including Impossible Times, The Broken Empire, and The Red Queen's War. This trilogy is where it all comes together and we get to see the larger view of Mark Lawrence's universe.
The Girl and the Mountain is Mark Lawrence in peak form, and it gets even better with the third book of the trilogy, The Girl and the Moon, released earlier this year.
My favorite part is the convergence of the story with The Book of the Ancestor, so be sure to read that trilogy first. Here we get the back story of one of my favorite characters from The Book of the Ancestor, and the relation between the two trilogies becomes clear. From the moment I saw the name "Nina" on the page, I knew I was in for something special.
Connections abound to Mark Lawrence's other trilogies as well, including Impossible Times, The Broken Empire, and The Red Queen's War. This trilogy is where it all comes together and we get to see the larger view of Mark Lawrence's universe.
The Girl and the Mountain is Mark Lawrence in peak form, and it gets even better with the third book of the trilogy, The Girl and the Moon, released earlier this year.
June 18, 2021
4.25⭐️
Man I love this freaking world so much.
There’s just a few things that don’t make sense to me- not sure if they’re conveniences, plot holes, or just lack of understanding on my part.
That cliffhanger though….
Man I love this freaking world so much.
There’s just a few things that don’t make sense to me- not sure if they’re conveniences, plot holes, or just lack of understanding on my part.
That cliffhanger though….
June 11, 2021
I received a review copy of The Girl and the Mountain from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Mark Lawrence and Ace Books.
The Girl and the Mountain continues the action after the enormous cliffhanger that ended The Girl and the Stars. What could possibly occur next has often plagued my thoughts for almost a year and a half. To be truthful, apart from the knockout of a finale, my memories of the previous novel are hazy which is why I applaud Lawrence for including a The Story So Far section. When I was caught up and was content that I didn't need a reread of the first book, I was excited to continue with The Book of the Ice, and was hopeful that I'd enjoy it as much as I did The Girl and the Stars.
This is the ninth of Lawrence's novels that I have read, and if my memory serves me correctly, it is the first time he has written multiple point-of-view perspectives. Yaz is still the titular Girl and the main protagonist. She's influential, likeable and extremely powerful as she can wield the power of the stars and touch the river that runs through all things. The two other point of view characters readers will be familiar with from the first novel and they both care deeply for Yaz in their own unique ways. For the first 50% of The Girl and the Mountain, the three protagonists are all having adventures in or around the Mountain, which is known as the Black Rock, where the priests who keep order on the Ice reside. The three storylines come to a head in spectacular fashion at about the 50% mark with an expertly composed climax and set up for what comes next. This was deftly written so that The Girl and the Mountain has a halfway mark that many other authors would thrive to achieve at the end of a novel or even a series.
I won't go into the exact details of what happens either before or after the 50% point yet, much like its predecessor, The Girl and the Mountain is a finely crafted mix of dark fantasy and science fiction with mysterious advanced technology, made by the previous occupants of this dystopian, dying planet. We find out further information about the Missing, the Gods worshipped on the Ice, and the many players behind the scenes, and what their goals are and could mean for Abeth. The harsh elements and realities on the Ice almost felt like a character or a villain in itself, to be respected and feared equally.
"Starvation is a much swifter process when you’re cold, but nobody dies truly thin on the ice. Starvation simply opens a gate for the wind to come through. It’s the wind that wields the knife."
Lawrence's writing often plays at the heartstrings, with the words, patterns, and emotions overtaking and overwhelming the reader like the winds on the Ice. I read a lot of fantasy, however, quite often when reading Lawrence, I have to put the book down, take a breath, reflect, and then continue, nodding to myself that this author really knows how to tell a great story.
There is a lot to really enjoy in The Girl and the Mountain including many fine characters who we get to know far better in this entry, some intense and thrilling action segments, interesting and unique world history and technology with some neat crosses over with (potentially) our world as well as the world of The Book of the Ancestor. There are a few Easter Eggs for fans of Nona's story and we're given an idea of when this series takes place in relation to the previous trilogy. The Girl and the Mountain even includes a loyal, mechanical dog-like companion named Zox!
If I had to be extremely critical, 5-10% of the second half of this novel dragged and seems a bit repetitive, but, when analysing, I can't really see this as a negative because I don't know how Lawrence could have filled the pages differently to get from the already-mentioned, excellent halfway point, to the almost as fulfilling and well-worked conclusion. If the cliffhanger ending of the first novel "knocked you for six" then you'll be curious to discover that The Girl and the Mountain also has a monster cliffhanger, just when things seem to be looking positive too.
With any other author, having to wait for the next novel on such a cliffhanger playing on your mind might be unbearable, but with Lawrence and his work rate, I'm certain the follow-up will be released next year. Book of the Ice is an excellent and artful merger of fantasy and science fiction by an author who knows how to make us care about his characters, many of whom may not make it to the final page. Even those who do make it that far, their safety is not assured and danger always seems to be lurking close, which is one of the reasons why I will pick up the as yet untitled 3rd book in the series as soon as I can.
Additional note: I listened to about a third of The Girl and the Stars by Audiobook. Helen Duff gives a fine performance and I particularly liked her Scouse-sounding accent for Yaz.
The Girl and the Mountain continues the action after the enormous cliffhanger that ended The Girl and the Stars. What could possibly occur next has often plagued my thoughts for almost a year and a half. To be truthful, apart from the knockout of a finale, my memories of the previous novel are hazy which is why I applaud Lawrence for including a The Story So Far section. When I was caught up and was content that I didn't need a reread of the first book, I was excited to continue with The Book of the Ice, and was hopeful that I'd enjoy it as much as I did The Girl and the Stars.
This is the ninth of Lawrence's novels that I have read, and if my memory serves me correctly, it is the first time he has written multiple point-of-view perspectives. Yaz is still the titular Girl and the main protagonist. She's influential, likeable and extremely powerful as she can wield the power of the stars and touch the river that runs through all things. The two other point of view characters readers will be familiar with from the first novel and they both care deeply for Yaz in their own unique ways. For the first 50% of The Girl and the Mountain, the three protagonists are all having adventures in or around the Mountain, which is known as the Black Rock, where the priests who keep order on the Ice reside. The three storylines come to a head in spectacular fashion at about the 50% mark with an expertly composed climax and set up for what comes next. This was deftly written so that The Girl and the Mountain has a halfway mark that many other authors would thrive to achieve at the end of a novel or even a series.
I won't go into the exact details of what happens either before or after the 50% point yet, much like its predecessor, The Girl and the Mountain is a finely crafted mix of dark fantasy and science fiction with mysterious advanced technology, made by the previous occupants of this dystopian, dying planet. We find out further information about the Missing, the Gods worshipped on the Ice, and the many players behind the scenes, and what their goals are and could mean for Abeth. The harsh elements and realities on the Ice almost felt like a character or a villain in itself, to be respected and feared equally.
"Starvation is a much swifter process when you’re cold, but nobody dies truly thin on the ice. Starvation simply opens a gate for the wind to come through. It’s the wind that wields the knife."
Lawrence's writing often plays at the heartstrings, with the words, patterns, and emotions overtaking and overwhelming the reader like the winds on the Ice. I read a lot of fantasy, however, quite often when reading Lawrence, I have to put the book down, take a breath, reflect, and then continue, nodding to myself that this author really knows how to tell a great story.
There is a lot to really enjoy in The Girl and the Mountain including many fine characters who we get to know far better in this entry, some intense and thrilling action segments, interesting and unique world history and technology with some neat crosses over with (potentially) our world as well as the world of The Book of the Ancestor. There are a few Easter Eggs for fans of Nona's story and we're given an idea of when this series takes place in relation to the previous trilogy. The Girl and the Mountain even includes a loyal, mechanical dog-like companion named Zox!
If I had to be extremely critical, 5-10% of the second half of this novel dragged and seems a bit repetitive, but, when analysing, I can't really see this as a negative because I don't know how Lawrence could have filled the pages differently to get from the already-mentioned, excellent halfway point, to the almost as fulfilling and well-worked conclusion. If the cliffhanger ending of the first novel "knocked you for six" then you'll be curious to discover that The Girl and the Mountain also has a monster cliffhanger, just when things seem to be looking positive too.
With any other author, having to wait for the next novel on such a cliffhanger playing on your mind might be unbearable, but with Lawrence and his work rate, I'm certain the follow-up will be released next year. Book of the Ice is an excellent and artful merger of fantasy and science fiction by an author who knows how to make us care about his characters, many of whom may not make it to the final page. Even those who do make it that far, their safety is not assured and danger always seems to be lurking close, which is one of the reasons why I will pick up the as yet untitled 3rd book in the series as soon as I can.
Additional note: I listened to about a third of The Girl and the Stars by Audiobook. Helen Duff gives a fine performance and I particularly liked her Scouse-sounding accent for Yaz.
March 13, 2021
I originally gave this five stars after the immediate post-book glow, but after sitting on it for a while, I'm bumping it down to four. The reading experience alone is fun and exciting and certainly a page turner, but I don't think it works quite as well as a book on its own. There is a big shift in the story at exactly the halfway point, and it really divides the whole trilogy in half -- it makes me think that this entire trilogy would work better as a duology. While there are great cliffhangers at the ends of books one and two, it still feels like a more natural ending would be if The Girl and the Ice were extended an extra 50%, and the The Girl and the Mountain should pick up there and run through the end of book three. While there was some good character development, exciting scenes and mysteries solved, the book didn't feel like it started and ended in the right spots and gave off a feeling of being carved out instead of existing on its own merits.
That being said, let's move onto the good stuff, and there's a lot of it! I jotted down some themed that popped up along the way:
- Choices matter, and Yaz learns the hard way
- Heavy lies the crown
- Pages and pages of putting you right there in the ice made me physically cold at times. Nicely done.
- Dogs are good, except when they are murder machines.
- Counterpoint: there are never enough murder machines.
- I finally learned how to pronounce Seus (it’s not SAY-us) at that's oddly pertinent.
- Smaller cast, bigger hearts, even bigger hurts. One thing Lawrence has improved on with each series is knowing how to rip your heart out.
- Trying to label this story (icepunk tech fantasy?) is like installing a Taproot flash drive: hard to pin down. Hey-o
- There’s a moment of beauty when a something clicks into place and it both opens and closes some wonderful doors. In my experience it’s a rare achievement, and it’s poignant, and just go read it already.
- Erris is Janet from The Good Place (not a robot).
- Fans of Mark’s previous books will especially love this one.
- Except for the stupid cliffhanger that’s so stupid and definitely not an incredibly frustrating tease to end a book AGAIN nope not at all.
Lawrence has been low-key building a universe where all of his books intertwine, from his 1980's set Impossible Times trilogy to the post-apocalyptic Broken Empire and Red Queen's War trilogies and now the two Abeth-set series. He claims to be winging it all with no set over-arching plan in mind. I call shenannigans. With each new series he pulls the net tighter, building upon each of his previous books, injecting them with more meaning and purpose. I'm confident that The Book of the Ice will fall into this category with whatever he has planned next. But in the meantime, if you like what Lawrence has produced so far - a mix of magic, science, brutal battles with nature, and eon-spanning mysteries -- then The Girl and the Mountain is just what the good Doctor Taproot ordered.
That being said, let's move onto the good stuff, and there's a lot of it! I jotted down some themed that popped up along the way:
- Choices matter, and Yaz learns the hard way
- Heavy lies the crown
- Pages and pages of putting you right there in the ice made me physically cold at times. Nicely done.
- Dogs are good, except when they are murder machines.
- Counterpoint: there are never enough murder machines.
- I finally learned how to pronounce Seus (it’s not SAY-us) at that's oddly pertinent.
- Smaller cast, bigger hearts, even bigger hurts. One thing Lawrence has improved on with each series is knowing how to rip your heart out.
- Trying to label this story (icepunk tech fantasy?) is like installing a Taproot flash drive: hard to pin down. Hey-o
- There’s a moment of beauty when a something clicks into place and it both opens and closes some wonderful doors. In my experience it’s a rare achievement, and it’s poignant, and just go read it already.
- Erris is Janet from The Good Place (not a robot).
- Fans of Mark’s previous books will especially love this one.
- Except for the stupid cliffhanger that’s so stupid and definitely not an incredibly frustrating tease to end a book AGAIN nope not at all.
Lawrence has been low-key building a universe where all of his books intertwine, from his 1980's set Impossible Times trilogy to the post-apocalyptic Broken Empire and Red Queen's War trilogies and now the two Abeth-set series. He claims to be winging it all with no set over-arching plan in mind. I call shenannigans. With each new series he pulls the net tighter, building upon each of his previous books, injecting them with more meaning and purpose. I'm confident that The Book of the Ice will fall into this category with whatever he has planned next. But in the meantime, if you like what Lawrence has produced so far - a mix of magic, science, brutal battles with nature, and eon-spanning mysteries -- then The Girl and the Mountain is just what the good Doctor Taproot ordered.
Read
April 6, 2022I have learnt that Mark Lawrence will not let me down, and The Girl and the Mountain reminded me of that/ I have read seven books of his so far, all of which receive a 5-star rating from me. There is always wonderful prose, compelling characters and a very engaging plot.
The Girl and the Mountain is the second book in the Book of the Ice trilogy, the finale of which is set to be published in just a matter of weeks, and a cannot wait to read the conclusion! Afterwards, I will be diving into the backlog and finally start Prince of Thorns, which has somehow eluded my hands until now.
Full Review to Come
The Girl and the Mountain is the second book in the Book of the Ice trilogy, the finale of which is set to be published in just a matter of weeks, and a cannot wait to read the conclusion! Afterwards, I will be diving into the backlog and finally start Prince of Thorns, which has somehow eluded my hands until now.
Full Review to Come
Want to read
April 27, 2020Since this is set in the same world building as Red Sister I need a crossover with Zole or Nona, please. Please.
June 23, 2021
This is not only a solid continuation of the first book, but a full-on expansion to the dark fantasy/SF mix that we had begun with. The ice planet was, after all, a colony world.
What we didn't have much on was how or why. We also didn't have anything on how long or why it became so dystopian. Fortunately, we get a lot of goodies in this novel, not shirking the big cool powers or adventure.
Multiple characters, tons of neat stuff in the mountain, and plenty of reveals to keep us all going. I'm reminded very pleasurably of some of Mr. Lawrences's early work and the combined pleasure of his worldbuilding, overlapping and blending, is turning this into something rather awesome.
I can't wait for more!
What we didn't have much on was how or why. We also didn't have anything on how long or why it became so dystopian. Fortunately, we get a lot of goodies in this novel, not shirking the big cool powers or adventure.
Multiple characters, tons of neat stuff in the mountain, and plenty of reveals to keep us all going. I'm reminded very pleasurably of some of Mr. Lawrences's early work and the combined pleasure of his worldbuilding, overlapping and blending, is turning this into something rather awesome.
I can't wait for more!
April 13, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley publishing for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Mark Lawrence, you wily minx, you've tricked me. You somehow got that one big character introduction over on me (I blame my failing memory and how many books I read in between releases for yours). Then you made me think I could read this trilogy, having only read the Ancestor trilogy so far, when clearly you have your own little universe of interconnected books going on and I was completely unaware. My plan for this year was to read this ARC and then pick up the Impossible Times trilogy and save the other two series you've written (Red Queen and Broken Empire) for next year... I need stuff to fill in between releases but don't want to binge them all so fast and be out of them. But you messed with my brain, Mark. You've made me want to read them all this year and dig in for connections.
If you've not read Mark Lawrence, give him a shot, but don't start with this one. This one is second in a new trilogy, and book three won't come out until next year. I started with Red Sister. It's not a bad place to start. I'm pretty sure you can start with any of his trilogies you like. But be warned, you'll want to read them all.
When it comes to the nitty gritty of this book, The Girl and the Mountain, I do have one complaint amidst all the glowing praise. There's a point in the book, around halfway, that this book feels like it ends and another starts, and that second book starts with a part that drags a bit. Yes, that's a semi-intended pun that you'll understand when you read it. Some action still occurs, but that was the hardest part of the book for me. That's why I gave the book the rating I did (4.5 stars, rounded up since I can't do half stars).
I love the characters in this world. The magic system is freaking cool. And this book delves even deeper (another intended pun) into the history and mythology of the world they live in and the planet they live on.
Highly recommended - but again, don't start with this book. :)
Mark Lawrence, you wily minx, you've tricked me. You somehow got that one big character introduction over on me (I blame my failing memory and how many books I read in between releases for yours). Then you made me think I could read this trilogy, having only read the Ancestor trilogy so far, when clearly you have your own little universe of interconnected books going on and I was completely unaware. My plan for this year was to read this ARC and then pick up the Impossible Times trilogy and save the other two series you've written (Red Queen and Broken Empire) for next year... I need stuff to fill in between releases but don't want to binge them all so fast and be out of them. But you messed with my brain, Mark. You've made me want to read them all this year and dig in for connections.
If you've not read Mark Lawrence, give him a shot, but don't start with this one. This one is second in a new trilogy, and book three won't come out until next year. I started with Red Sister. It's not a bad place to start. I'm pretty sure you can start with any of his trilogies you like. But be warned, you'll want to read them all.
When it comes to the nitty gritty of this book, The Girl and the Mountain, I do have one complaint amidst all the glowing praise. There's a point in the book, around halfway, that this book feels like it ends and another starts, and that second book starts with a part that drags a bit. Yes, that's a semi-intended pun that you'll understand when you read it. Some action still occurs, but that was the hardest part of the book for me. That's why I gave the book the rating I did (4.5 stars, rounded up since I can't do half stars).
I love the characters in this world. The magic system is freaking cool. And this book delves even deeper (another intended pun) into the history and mythology of the world they live in and the planet they live on.
Highly recommended - but again, don't start with this book. :)
July 11, 2022
There were aspects that I loved (especially the sf-ish parts), but also some that bothered me (ya feel, i was sometimes almost bored), so I'll just go with the middle 3*
February 14, 2023
Okay my world just exploded.
The reveal at the end of this book is insane and I have so many thoughts.
I love how much this one expands the world. And although I think the characters aren't as strong as all of Lawrence's other books. What he does with the world and also just his writing skill in this is insane. I can't wait to continue.
I also wish I hadn't waited as long as I did between book one and book two. So here is your sign to pick these up now.
The reveal at the end of this book is insane and I have so many thoughts.
I love how much this one expands the world. And although I think the characters aren't as strong as all of Lawrence's other books. What he does with the world and also just his writing skill in this is insane. I can't wait to continue.
I also wish I hadn't waited as long as I did between book one and book two. So here is your sign to pick these up now.
March 13, 2021
The Girl And The Mountain brings much excitement, danger and adventure, revealing more about the sinister politics of the Black Rock and how its plot ties into the story of The Book of the Ancestor. And while reading the first trilogy isn’t necessary for this book to be enjoyable, I would say it definitely makes it more satisfying and moving. I said this before, but I say it again, discovering how the two trilogies connect in this instalment is a wonderful reading experience, a testament to Mark’s fantastic writing skills, and I would advise everyone against spoiling it for other readers. Let them find it out for themselves.
I hope you will all love The Girl And The Mountain as much as I have.
I hope you will all love The Girl And The Mountain as much as I have.
May 22, 2021
I finished this a few minutes ago, so my opinions on this, and how much I loved it may have to do with the fact that I loved the second half of this way more than the first (not that the first part is bad or anything. Also means that I really really really loved the last half since I'm giving this 5 stars, which I don't do that often), and then the last chapters even more.
I did struggle a bit through the first half. It's been a few months since I read the first book, and it took me a while to get back into the story, even though Lawrence had written the things worth remembering from The Girl and the Stars, in the beginning of this sequel (which is something he does in his sequels, and it's super helpful).
So, after I'd gotten through that first half, it got easier to read. The setting changed, there were fewer characters to keep track of, and the story was much easier to follow. I also liked the story more, in the the first half I didn't really care much about what happened.
I loved how the characters were written. There are so many emotions in them, which, for me, is important if I am to really love a character.
Another reason I loved the last part more, is that I've read Book of the Ancestor (which I loved). It's not necessary to have read Book of the Ancestor before this though.
Can't wait to see how this all ends. Until the last book comes out, I might need to reread Book of the Ancestor.
Btw this is the fifth book by Lawrence that I'm giving 5 stars to (the others being Prince of Thorns and all books from Book of the Ancestor).
~ Received eARC from Netgalley ~
I did struggle a bit through the first half. It's been a few months since I read the first book, and it took me a while to get back into the story, even though Lawrence had written the things worth remembering from The Girl and the Stars, in the beginning of this sequel (which is something he does in his sequels, and it's super helpful).
So, after I'd gotten through that first half, it got easier to read. The setting changed, there were fewer characters to keep track of, and the story was much easier to follow. I also liked the story more, in the the first half I didn't really care much about what happened.
I loved how the characters were written. There are so many emotions in them, which, for me, is important if I am to really love a character.
Another reason I loved the last part more, is that I've read Book of the Ancestor (which I loved). It's not necessary to have read Book of the Ancestor before this though.
Can't wait to see how this all ends. Until the last book comes out, I might need to reread Book of the Ancestor.
Btw this is the fifth book by Lawrence that I'm giving 5 stars to (the others being Prince of Thorns and all books from Book of the Ancestor).
~ Received eARC from Netgalley ~
January 23, 2022
My review of The Girl and the Mountain is now live on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/D4eL-cMaL0g
The written text is on the Fantasy Hive, and now, also on here:
Published by: ACE
Genre: fantasy/science-fantasy
Pages: 368
Format: hardback
Purchase/Review Copy
The Girl and the Mountain’s release somehow slipped past me. I was aware of it in the back of my head, saw some lovely reviews singing its praises, but university demanded its pound of blood and I had to make Yaz wait a while. Then, first thing after I submitted my thesis, I went to my local bookstore and purchased the living hell out of the second Book of the Ice (bought along with a copy of Shadow of the Gods, yay). I read it in three sittings, this 370-page book, across six hours or so. Like its predecessor, The Girl and the Mountain flows like silk between your fingers, the flow of its first part drawing you deeper and deeper into the eponymous mountain our girl Yaz has to climb and conquer. This first half is different from The Girl and the Stars in several ways, the first and most obvious of which has to do with the author’s use of multiple points of view. While the first book in the series was only ever told from Yaz’s point of view, the second gives us a peep into the minds of two of the other main characters, water-bending Thurin and Ichta warrior and star quarterback Quell.
The mysteries within the mountain make for excellent fun. Manipulation, misdirection, and a sense of danger dominate the first hundred and eighty pages or so, keeping true to the tone of the previous novel and its cliffhanger ending.
Then comes the second part, which sees a long-awaited journey begin, during which the pacing changes considerably. Some have made issue of this, called the novel uneven because of the way it switches gears, but I would argue that “it is a feature, not a bug”. The slower, more deliberate pacing of a journey that is at first monotonous is a welcome and necessary change; it establishes tone, allows for the reader to connect to the characters’ plight in this very different environment they are faced with.
The character work continues to be the strongest point of a strong series. The bond between Yaz and her friends is now The world is brutal and characters I hoped would get to survive…didn’t. The swiftness with which they were dispatched left me reeling and reading over the words on the page again—it’s a good book that has you invest into characters so deeply as to ache with loss once they’re no longer there.
The ideas Lawrence is playing with as always share equal parts fantasy and science-fictional DNA. Mad artificial intelligences are playing Greek God dress-up, riffing on well-known myths, both to the benefit and detriment of our characters. Of the antagonists, the most interesting and complex is once more Theus, who was once Prometheus, the demon-like essence of one of the Missing still lingering and making appearances when you least expect him. After a contentious relationship with this remnant, I can’t wait to see how his storyline will resolve. To be fair, I’m a sucker for every one of the characters who are still with Yaz by the end of this novel – and with the tight spot they’re all in, I once again find myself applauding Lawrence and cursing his name for leaving off at a cliffhanger eerily familiar to past readers of his work.
I was also surprised to discover a link between the world of Abeth and another Lawrence series I read (and adored): Impossible Times. It’s a hell of a stretch in time and space and it left me at once flabbergasted and appreciative of this complex mosaic Lawrence is rendering into view. Far more tangible is the connection to the Book of the Ancestors trilogy, which I needed very little reason for finally picking up; The Girl and the Mountain has given me that reason—so that’s how I’ll kill a week or two of waiting until the third novel’s release.
You won’t be surprised at my recommending this one. It’s an engrossing sequel Lawrence has written, one that doesn’t suffer from the mid-series slump so many of us fear in every new trilogy. The world of Abeth is a spellbinding place, and a terrifying one—and I’ve grown very fond of it after two short novels; I have to wonder how those of you who have read The Book of the Ancestor feel about the ways in which this latest novel builds over and develops an overarching conflict—was it always hinted at, a plot thread (or several) left unresolved? I suspect I’ll soon find out for myself.
Pre-Review Nonsense:
Ugh! You got me twice in the same way, Mark! Goddammit!
Full Review coming soon on my YouTube channel and on the Fantasy Hive! And, after a fashion, on here, as well! So good, this one. So bloody good!
https://youtu.be/D4eL-cMaL0g
The written text is on the Fantasy Hive, and now, also on here:
Published by: ACE
Genre: fantasy/science-fantasy
Pages: 368
Format: hardback
Purchase/Review Copy
The Girl and the Mountain’s release somehow slipped past me. I was aware of it in the back of my head, saw some lovely reviews singing its praises, but university demanded its pound of blood and I had to make Yaz wait a while. Then, first thing after I submitted my thesis, I went to my local bookstore and purchased the living hell out of the second Book of the Ice (bought along with a copy of Shadow of the Gods, yay). I read it in three sittings, this 370-page book, across six hours or so. Like its predecessor, The Girl and the Mountain flows like silk between your fingers, the flow of its first part drawing you deeper and deeper into the eponymous mountain our girl Yaz has to climb and conquer. This first half is different from The Girl and the Stars in several ways, the first and most obvious of which has to do with the author’s use of multiple points of view. While the first book in the series was only ever told from Yaz’s point of view, the second gives us a peep into the minds of two of the other main characters, water-bending Thurin and Ichta warrior and star quarterback Quell.
The mysteries within the mountain make for excellent fun. Manipulation, misdirection, and a sense of danger dominate the first hundred and eighty pages or so, keeping true to the tone of the previous novel and its cliffhanger ending.
Then comes the second part, which sees a long-awaited journey begin, during which the pacing changes considerably. Some have made issue of this, called the novel uneven because of the way it switches gears, but I would argue that “it is a feature, not a bug”. The slower, more deliberate pacing of a journey that is at first monotonous is a welcome and necessary change; it establishes tone, allows for the reader to connect to the characters’ plight in this very different environment they are faced with.
The character work continues to be the strongest point of a strong series. The bond between Yaz and her friends is now The world is brutal and characters I hoped would get to survive…didn’t. The swiftness with which they were dispatched left me reeling and reading over the words on the page again—it’s a good book that has you invest into characters so deeply as to ache with loss once they’re no longer there.
The ideas Lawrence is playing with as always share equal parts fantasy and science-fictional DNA. Mad artificial intelligences are playing Greek God dress-up, riffing on well-known myths, both to the benefit and detriment of our characters. Of the antagonists, the most interesting and complex is once more Theus, who was once Prometheus, the demon-like essence of one of the Missing still lingering and making appearances when you least expect him. After a contentious relationship with this remnant, I can’t wait to see how his storyline will resolve. To be fair, I’m a sucker for every one of the characters who are still with Yaz by the end of this novel – and with the tight spot they’re all in, I once again find myself applauding Lawrence and cursing his name for leaving off at a cliffhanger eerily familiar to past readers of his work.
I was also surprised to discover a link between the world of Abeth and another Lawrence series I read (and adored): Impossible Times. It’s a hell of a stretch in time and space and it left me at once flabbergasted and appreciative of this complex mosaic Lawrence is rendering into view. Far more tangible is the connection to the Book of the Ancestors trilogy, which I needed very little reason for finally picking up; The Girl and the Mountain has given me that reason—so that’s how I’ll kill a week or two of waiting until the third novel’s release.
You won’t be surprised at my recommending this one. It’s an engrossing sequel Lawrence has written, one that doesn’t suffer from the mid-series slump so many of us fear in every new trilogy. The world of Abeth is a spellbinding place, and a terrifying one—and I’ve grown very fond of it after two short novels; I have to wonder how those of you who have read The Book of the Ancestor feel about the ways in which this latest novel builds over and develops an overarching conflict—was it always hinted at, a plot thread (or several) left unresolved? I suspect I’ll soon find out for myself.
Pre-Review Nonsense:
Ugh! You got me twice in the same way, Mark! Goddammit!
Full Review coming soon on my YouTube channel and on the Fantasy Hive! And, after a fashion, on here, as well! So good, this one. So bloody good!
May 17, 2021
Volume 2 of this Book of the Ice trilogy introduces us to one of the most fantastically ‘idea-rich’ worlds I’ve encountered in my fantasy fiction reading. It didn’t take long to get back into this complex story, especially thanks to the author’s usual practice of including an up-front summary of volume 1, with plot details and main characters.
Volume 1 described the barely possible survival of humans on the surface of the bitterly cold ice world, Abeth. And we’d also been introduced to the remnants of the earlier civilisations under the icy surface. A truly desolate, dying world. In this volume we still experience life on the surface and beneath it but we also get far more of the back story of the world and its earlier ages and peoples. What seem to have been random terrors and forces hostile to the remaining humans now appear part of a larger plan.
As with much of Mark Lawrence’s fantasy fiction most of the apparent magic and mystery has an underlying science fiction core, something I find satisfying as I’m not usually comfortable with magic systems or evil forces which ‘just are’ for the sake of constructing a fictional world. Here, apparently magical events are often linked to old advanced technology. There’s even some old Earth mythology adapted in a distorted manner by forces at work on Abeth. A very cleverly constructed world indeed.
Despite the complexity of the world building the story is still character led. Yaz, the core character, seems rather more sensible, almost someone you could imagine having a normal conversation with, than some of the author’s lead characters in earlier series; such as the emotional and difficult Nona in the preceding ‘Book of the Ancestor’ trilogy, and a world away from the author’s psychopathic Jorg in the Broken Empire series! Yaz has plenty of interesting supporting characters in this story, some of whom make it through the story, some don’t. Most of the important ones are ‘young adults’ but, in general, this didn’t seem a YA story to me at all. Virtually no common YA themes present at all, aside from maybe frustrated romantic feelings.
In summary, an excellent continuation of volume 1, with a plot that went in directions that I just couldn’t have predicted from the previous volume. A good thing. It nicely sets up a volume 3 that seems likely to affect the future of Abeth! So far, a stellar series by a favourite author.
5* for a fascinating plot and one of the richest fantasy (Sci-Fi?) worlds I’ve experienced.
Volume 1 described the barely possible survival of humans on the surface of the bitterly cold ice world, Abeth. And we’d also been introduced to the remnants of the earlier civilisations under the icy surface. A truly desolate, dying world. In this volume we still experience life on the surface and beneath it but we also get far more of the back story of the world and its earlier ages and peoples. What seem to have been random terrors and forces hostile to the remaining humans now appear part of a larger plan.
As with much of Mark Lawrence’s fantasy fiction most of the apparent magic and mystery has an underlying science fiction core, something I find satisfying as I’m not usually comfortable with magic systems or evil forces which ‘just are’ for the sake of constructing a fictional world. Here, apparently magical events are often linked to old advanced technology. There’s even some old Earth mythology adapted in a distorted manner by forces at work on Abeth. A very cleverly constructed world indeed.
Despite the complexity of the world building the story is still character led. Yaz, the core character, seems rather more sensible, almost someone you could imagine having a normal conversation with, than some of the author’s lead characters in earlier series; such as the emotional and difficult Nona in the preceding ‘Book of the Ancestor’ trilogy, and a world away from the author’s psychopathic Jorg in the Broken Empire series! Yaz has plenty of interesting supporting characters in this story, some of whom make it through the story, some don’t. Most of the important ones are ‘young adults’ but, in general, this didn’t seem a YA story to me at all. Virtually no common YA themes present at all, aside from maybe frustrated romantic feelings.
In summary, an excellent continuation of volume 1, with a plot that went in directions that I just couldn’t have predicted from the previous volume. A good thing. It nicely sets up a volume 3 that seems likely to affect the future of Abeth! So far, a stellar series by a favourite author.
5* for a fascinating plot and one of the richest fantasy (Sci-Fi?) worlds I’ve experienced.
May 12, 2022
Once again as in the first book of this trilogy, very average in my eyes. There was a bit of adventure in Yaz and her friends heading south from the Black Rock to go to the green belt, but the incomprehensible crap that went with their journey made it all just plain stupid.
Once again, meeting impossible barriers that were about to end them all, something or some god or some incomprensible being, would 'save' our heroes. By the end, I just did not care much, even though the book merged with the Book of the Ancestors mob, which might have saved it had it made any real sense at all. I mean, the baddies Seus and Haydies (I kid you not), gods out to destroy the world (and our intrepid travellers), was just too trite to even have any relevance.
Very hard, when I loved the Ancestor trilogy, to have now read two books from two different Mark Lawrence trilogies, that have left me cold. 3 stars only for the adventure and the wonderful companions, especially Zox.
Once again, meeting impossible barriers that were about to end them all, something or some god or some incomprensible being, would 'save' our heroes. By the end, I just did not care much, even though the book merged with the Book of the Ancestors mob, which might have saved it had it made any real sense at all. I mean, the baddies Seus and Haydies (I kid you not), gods out to destroy the world (and our intrepid travellers), was just too trite to even have any relevance.
Very hard, when I loved the Ancestor trilogy, to have now read two books from two different Mark Lawrence trilogies, that have left me cold. 3 stars only for the adventure and the wonderful companions, especially Zox.
April 6, 2021
This and more reviews at superstardrifter.com!~
This is the continuing story of Yaz of the Ictha. She is from the ice tribes, but ended up under the ice among the Broken. Now she’s back up on the ice, and it’s up to her and her friends to make it from the Black Rock, where the priests of Abeth all live, and travel south to the green lands that Yaz’ people think are only a myth.
This one starts nearly exactly where The Girl and the Stars left off, so those who are/were concerned about the cliffhanger that one left us with, don’t worry too much, it does get resolved here. I didn’t think it was too cliffhangery… or at least, I didn’t find the cliffhanger too much of an issue personally, but I know that some people don’t look on them too favorably. For me it depends on how much of the story it leaves hanging, so to speak. ^_^
This one follows a few characters’ POV, mostly Yaz and Thurin, but also Quell. I still really like Yaz as a character in this one. She’s strong and stands up for what she believes in, but still sometimes makes decisions that don’t work out for the best. I also really like Thurin, especially in this volume because he is brought from underground onto the ice on this journey that they must make to the green belt. As such, he is going through hardship that seems like a fairly normal day to the ice tribers, and he has to try and keep up while never actually experiencing living on the ice. This series has so many characters that I enjoy finding out more and more details about.
While the last one (and this one) have a bit of a connection to other works by Mark Lawrence, this volume also serves to connect the Book of the Ancestor series together with this series more definitively. I won’t tell you more than that, because it’s toeing the spoilery line. You’ll just have to read on, but I’ll say that I really like when series like this have a connection to other, different series that I liked. ^_^
All told, I liked this one a lot. It was very easy to pick up and read well into the night. I thought it was paced well, and so in just a few days I was done. The ending was, again, a little cliffhangery, but not in a way that left me angry that the next book in the series isn’t on my nightstand ready to go. It’s the sort of cliffhangery that’ll have me leaping at it when the next book comes along, is all.
Thanks to the author, as well as Ace via NetGalley for the review copy!
This is the continuing story of Yaz of the Ictha. She is from the ice tribes, but ended up under the ice among the Broken. Now she’s back up on the ice, and it’s up to her and her friends to make it from the Black Rock, where the priests of Abeth all live, and travel south to the green lands that Yaz’ people think are only a myth.
This one starts nearly exactly where The Girl and the Stars left off, so those who are/were concerned about the cliffhanger that one left us with, don’t worry too much, it does get resolved here. I didn’t think it was too cliffhangery… or at least, I didn’t find the cliffhanger too much of an issue personally, but I know that some people don’t look on them too favorably. For me it depends on how much of the story it leaves hanging, so to speak. ^_^
This one follows a few characters’ POV, mostly Yaz and Thurin, but also Quell. I still really like Yaz as a character in this one. She’s strong and stands up for what she believes in, but still sometimes makes decisions that don’t work out for the best. I also really like Thurin, especially in this volume because he is brought from underground onto the ice on this journey that they must make to the green belt. As such, he is going through hardship that seems like a fairly normal day to the ice tribers, and he has to try and keep up while never actually experiencing living on the ice. This series has so many characters that I enjoy finding out more and more details about.
While the last one (and this one) have a bit of a connection to other works by Mark Lawrence, this volume also serves to connect the Book of the Ancestor series together with this series more definitively. I won’t tell you more than that, because it’s toeing the spoilery line. You’ll just have to read on, but I’ll say that I really like when series like this have a connection to other, different series that I liked. ^_^
All told, I liked this one a lot. It was very easy to pick up and read well into the night. I thought it was paced well, and so in just a few days I was done. The ending was, again, a little cliffhangery, but not in a way that left me angry that the next book in the series isn’t on my nightstand ready to go. It’s the sort of cliffhangery that’ll have me leaping at it when the next book comes along, is all.
Thanks to the author, as well as Ace via NetGalley for the review copy!
April 13, 2021
This is the continuing story of Yaz of the Ictha that starts where The Girl and the Stars cliffhanger left off. It was very easy to pick up and read well into the night, makes it more satisfying and moving as the book reads on. Really hyped for the next book to keep meon my toes. Mark Lawrence keeps creating great books. #GirlAndTheMountain #NetGalley
April 8, 2021
*copy from Netgalley in exchange for a review*
The Girl and the Mountain is the sequel to Mark Lawrence’s superlative The Girl and The Stars. Long term readers will know that I have a deep affection for Mark’s work; I went in hoping I’d love this, and I went in with high expectations. And I can now say that those expectations have been met, and indeed surpassed. This is a great story.
The executive summary is thatLawrence has once again blended science-fiction and fantasy, then added a splash of humanity and shared experience, to create a delightful narrative melange, which is a long-winded way of saying it’s a damn good read, which will make you laugh, and cry, and you won’t be able to stop turning pages, and also it’s two in the morning, how did that happen, but you have to know what’s on the next page, and the next, and the next.
Yaz is a wonderful character. A woman struggling to define herself in an environment which is beyond harsh. Given abilities which would be wonders in other times, and other places, she has to endure their disadvantages instead. Speed and power are no use on the ice field, which rewards only focus and endurance. But Yaz, and indeed those she’s fallen in with, have is not what the ice demands. It’s the ability to shape fire and water. Or to move faster than thought. Or to slip between things, out of the eyes of people and into the realm of myth. If the ice doesn’t care for such things, if the environment brutalises difference, as az well knows, then what do she and her friends bring to the table? And the answer is that they bring their differences. Their perspective. An ability to do things outside a system which is winding down, step by step by step. They walk across the ice, powered by hope and by a desire to see something more, to be something more. That desire is likely to resonate with any reader, and it’s one with a power behind it, backed by a sharpness which engages with the difficulties of difference, but refuses to bow to them, and instead says, here are people, in all their diversity of thought and form and action, and they can, will, must do more than survive.
Of course, there’s a story here. Don’t get me wrong. Yaz is the heart of the story, and her journey into discovering who she is, and whether that is who or what she wants to be, and how she decides to live her life, in a world which seeks to deny that choice, is the iron core at the centre of the tale. Watching her grow, and watching her friends grow alongside her, is a joy. But there’s also a lot going on. I won’t spoil it, but there is, of course, the titular Mountain, the Black Rock, filled with the mysterious priests, the closest thing that the sweeping ice fields have to anb authority, and a cultural touchstone. And alongside those mysterious figures, are the shattered remnants of archaeotech that help define the setting - old cities, crushed under glaciers, holding long forgotten marvels which could shatter worlds, or rebuild them ,if any were able to reach them, and understand their needs. There are the abominations that are those who came before, trapped in the ice, devils singing out for bodies to possess and havoc to cause. And there are voices in the aether which might be more or less than gods and men. And all of them have an agenda, and all of them have a hand in the pot, where Yaz and her fellows are (metaphorically) gently boiling.
There’s betrayal here, and revelation. There’s relationships torn apart, rebuilt, and forged. There’s the promise of the green lands, and the certain and deadly monotony of the ice. There’s truths about humanity and how it feels about difference and survival, and there’s more to learn about the world of Abeth, and how it came to be quite how it is. There’s dark things beneath the world of men, and characters bringing light to it.
Which is all very fluffy. But I don’t want to spoil it. So stick with me here. Because again: Yaz is a beautifully drawn character, vivid and human, who steps right off the page and onto the nearest glacier. Her friends are as interesting, and as real (even the ones who may not be). And her enemies are vital and clever and compellingly vile. The world lives and breathes around them, from the starkly lit fluorescence tunnels of the underground labyrinths of mad cities, to the gentle creaking of the black ice in the face of an endless blizzard. And the story itself, filled with revelation and hard human truth alike, will take your hand and pull you out along the ice with it,and you’ll end up, as I did, turning pages deep into the night.
The really short version: this is a bloody good book, I couldn’t put it down, and I bet you won’t be able to put it down either. Go and get a copy right now.
The Girl and the Mountain is the sequel to Mark Lawrence’s superlative The Girl and The Stars. Long term readers will know that I have a deep affection for Mark’s work; I went in hoping I’d love this, and I went in with high expectations. And I can now say that those expectations have been met, and indeed surpassed. This is a great story.
The executive summary is thatLawrence has once again blended science-fiction and fantasy, then added a splash of humanity and shared experience, to create a delightful narrative melange, which is a long-winded way of saying it’s a damn good read, which will make you laugh, and cry, and you won’t be able to stop turning pages, and also it’s two in the morning, how did that happen, but you have to know what’s on the next page, and the next, and the next.
Yaz is a wonderful character. A woman struggling to define herself in an environment which is beyond harsh. Given abilities which would be wonders in other times, and other places, she has to endure their disadvantages instead. Speed and power are no use on the ice field, which rewards only focus and endurance. But Yaz, and indeed those she’s fallen in with, have is not what the ice demands. It’s the ability to shape fire and water. Or to move faster than thought. Or to slip between things, out of the eyes of people and into the realm of myth. If the ice doesn’t care for such things, if the environment brutalises difference, as az well knows, then what do she and her friends bring to the table? And the answer is that they bring their differences. Their perspective. An ability to do things outside a system which is winding down, step by step by step. They walk across the ice, powered by hope and by a desire to see something more, to be something more. That desire is likely to resonate with any reader, and it’s one with a power behind it, backed by a sharpness which engages with the difficulties of difference, but refuses to bow to them, and instead says, here are people, in all their diversity of thought and form and action, and they can, will, must do more than survive.
Of course, there’s a story here. Don’t get me wrong. Yaz is the heart of the story, and her journey into discovering who she is, and whether that is who or what she wants to be, and how she decides to live her life, in a world which seeks to deny that choice, is the iron core at the centre of the tale. Watching her grow, and watching her friends grow alongside her, is a joy. But there’s also a lot going on. I won’t spoil it, but there is, of course, the titular Mountain, the Black Rock, filled with the mysterious priests, the closest thing that the sweeping ice fields have to anb authority, and a cultural touchstone. And alongside those mysterious figures, are the shattered remnants of archaeotech that help define the setting - old cities, crushed under glaciers, holding long forgotten marvels which could shatter worlds, or rebuild them ,if any were able to reach them, and understand their needs. There are the abominations that are those who came before, trapped in the ice, devils singing out for bodies to possess and havoc to cause. And there are voices in the aether which might be more or less than gods and men. And all of them have an agenda, and all of them have a hand in the pot, where Yaz and her fellows are (metaphorically) gently boiling.
There’s betrayal here, and revelation. There’s relationships torn apart, rebuilt, and forged. There’s the promise of the green lands, and the certain and deadly monotony of the ice. There’s truths about humanity and how it feels about difference and survival, and there’s more to learn about the world of Abeth, and how it came to be quite how it is. There’s dark things beneath the world of men, and characters bringing light to it.
Which is all very fluffy. But I don’t want to spoil it. So stick with me here. Because again: Yaz is a beautifully drawn character, vivid and human, who steps right off the page and onto the nearest glacier. Her friends are as interesting, and as real (even the ones who may not be). And her enemies are vital and clever and compellingly vile. The world lives and breathes around them, from the starkly lit fluorescence tunnels of the underground labyrinths of mad cities, to the gentle creaking of the black ice in the face of an endless blizzard. And the story itself, filled with revelation and hard human truth alike, will take your hand and pull you out along the ice with it,and you’ll end up, as I did, turning pages deep into the night.
The really short version: this is a bloody good book, I couldn’t put it down, and I bet you won’t be able to put it down either. Go and get a copy right now.
September 24, 2021
I KNEW this would end in a terrible plot twist. I KNEW IT. and it still caught me COMPLETELY off guard. Wow. Book 3 asap pls.
May 6, 2021
Ahhhhhhhhhh oh my god!!! That near the ending made my heart happy!!! ❤😊
April 22, 2021
The Girl and the Mountain was an amazing read.
April 7, 2024
If you loved the first installment of this trilogy, you will love this one as it continues on the same vein; if you were mixed on the first, do not expect much difference. Rather than bringing each of these installments to some sort of conclusion, Lawrence tells this tale as one long story, seemingly arbitrarily ending one and beginning the next installment. We continue to follow Yaz and her trials and tribulations, but in The Girl and the Mountain, Lawrence weaves in some new characters and we follow their POV as well.
So, after Yaz and company managed their 'breakout' from the undercity, they now must master the Black Mountain, the abode of the high priests and their minions. Lawrence keeps the petal on the metal for this one as well, giving pretty much nonstop action, but like the previous installment, I found it a bit boring. How can action be boring? Well, we know Yaz will triumph over any situation, albeit sometimes bloodily, so that takes off the edge. Further, Lawrence continues to rely upon deus ex machina over and over when things get really hairy. This trope, plus the rather ham handed embedded love interests contribute to give this a very YA vibe.
Lawrence does give us lots of 'wows' here, however, as the magnificent world building of Abeth continues apace. If I did not love the universe here so much, I probably would have DNFed this one, but I am eager to see what happens when Yaz finally reaches the 'green'. Also, this is at times very atmospheric, especially the scenes on the ice. I am going to read the next and last installment, primarily because I already have it. I waited a few years for this series and I guess my disappointment shows here. 2 stumbling stars...
So, after Yaz and company managed their 'breakout' from the undercity, they now must master the Black Mountain, the abode of the high priests and their minions. Lawrence keeps the petal on the metal for this one as well, giving pretty much nonstop action, but like the previous installment, I found it a bit boring. How can action be boring? Well, we know Yaz will triumph over any situation, albeit sometimes bloodily, so that takes off the edge. Further, Lawrence continues to rely upon deus ex machina over and over when things get really hairy. This trope, plus the rather ham handed embedded love interests contribute to give this a very YA vibe.
Lawrence does give us lots of 'wows' here, however, as the magnificent world building of Abeth continues apace. If I did not love the universe here so much, I probably would have DNFed this one, but I am eager to see what happens when Yaz finally reaches the 'green'. Also, this is at times very atmospheric, especially the scenes on the ice. I am going to read the next and last installment, primarily because I already have it. I waited a few years for this series and I guess my disappointment shows here. 2 stumbling stars...
June 29, 2021
the Red Sister Trilogy is one of my top fav fantasy series ever, and I'm just a bit disappointed with this series. This installment continues to follow a lot of ya tropes book 1 did, even though its supposed to be adult fantasy. This book also has super middle book syndrome, where its only real purpose was to get to book 1 to book 3 as a bridge - literally nothing happened plot wise. A lot of new information was introduced and I'm interested to find out about how that shapes the lore in the world of Red Sister as a whole. That is about the only reason I'm going to continue with this series unfortunately :(
May 4, 2021
Starting a Mark Lawrence book is like visiting family after a hiatus. You are able to slip right back into the world and enjoy the interactions of all the characters you've missed since the last book and who have never been far from your mind.
The Girl and the Mountain is fascinating in that it was able to pack in so much in 365 pages that it felt like it should have been twice that. It almost feels like a trilogy on to itself.
Book one of this imaginary trilogy opens right into action picking up where you left off from The Girl and the Stars and gets right to the business of making sure you have answers to as what has transpired.
Book two is the proverbial 'out of the frying pan and into the fire', where the stakes continue to get ramped up and life grows even tougher for our crew, as though it were possible.
Book three has you immediately invested as it introduces threads of the familiar. You aren't able to put the book down as you need to see the stunning conclusion.
I finished this book in a little over a week, which is quick for me, and am now banished to purgatory for another year to await book three. The next book feels like it's promising a 200 mph ride that I can't wait to take.
The Girl and the Mountain is fascinating in that it was able to pack in so much in 365 pages that it felt like it should have been twice that. It almost feels like a trilogy on to itself.
Book one of this imaginary trilogy opens right into action picking up where you left off from The Girl and the Stars and gets right to the business of making sure you have answers to as what has transpired.
Book two is the proverbial 'out of the frying pan and into the fire', where the stakes continue to get ramped up and life grows even tougher for our crew, as though it were possible.
Book three has you immediately invested as it introduces threads of the familiar. You aren't able to put the book down as you need to see the stunning conclusion.
I finished this book in a little over a week, which is quick for me, and am now banished to purgatory for another year to await book three. The next book feels like it's promising a 200 mph ride that I can't wait to take.
August 3, 2021
Another fabulous creation!
Yet again Mark Lawrence produces an amazing tale!
The depth and clarity of his world building is astounding.
Bring on the next one!
Yet again Mark Lawrence produces an amazing tale!
The depth and clarity of his world building is astounding.
Bring on the next one!
June 26, 2021
Brilliant!
January 6, 2022
Very well written and paced book. I enjoyed reading the book from multiple perspectives, something that wasn't done in the first book. The ending...so clever.
June 30, 2022
After learning about what was in the ice in book 1, now we get to learn more about the overall structure of the Ice Tribes society. Learning along with Yaz about the history of Abeth was amazing. The ties to the Book of the Ancestor trilogy actually made me interested in re-reading it, since I loved that character so much during my first read that going back with this extra dimension of knowledge will make it richer.
Also, very interested in the throwbacks to what seems to be Mr. Lawrence's earlier works. I love it when books are all in a shared universe.
Also, very interested in the throwbacks to what seems to be Mr. Lawrence's earlier works. I love it when books are all in a shared universe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2022
Loved it, particularly it's links to the red sister series and excellent characters. Not a fan of a cliff hanger ending but cannot wait until the next instalment.
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