The Ice Whisperers

by Helenka Stachera

When Bela's mother dies, she is summoned to deepest Siberia to stay with an uncle she's never met. Exploring his strange scientific workshop, she uncovers a secret she was never meant to find - a doorway that opens an to icy land, frozen in time and full of legends come to life. But this frozen land is in danger, and it's up to Bela to find a way to save it. To succeed, she must join forces with the a long-lost sister she never knew she had, born 40,000 years before . . .

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

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[Gavin Hetherington · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this for Polarthon 2022! Check out my spoiler-free reading vlog if you want to see my thoughts on The Ice Whisperers: https://youtu.be/g4v0iV_ydUk

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a dark, magical, & atmospheric read! Absolutely LOVED this! When Bela's mother dies, she is summoned to deepest Siberia to stay with an uncle she's never met. Exploring his strange scientific workshop, she uncovers a secret she was never meant to find - a doorway that opens to an icy land, frozen in time and full of legends come to life. But this frozen land is in danger, & it's up to Bela to find a way to save it. To succeed, she must join forces with the impossible: a long-lost sister she never knew she had, born 40,000 years before . . . This is such an icy setting, but the story at its core about family & sisters is so heartwarming. I thought this was going to be a lighthearted magical story so to speak, but it was so much darker, more dangerous, & just MORE than I ever could of imagined. I flew through this. Such a unique & imaginative idea for a story. Beautiful writing that is so vivid as well. SO ATMOSPHERIC! Perfect winter read for sure. The ability Bela & her mothers people have is so intriguing, & I loved that. The way the different flavors were to go with different things was brilliant. Such an creative, imaginative, immersive, gripping, darkly beautiful story. Great messages on belonging, family, womens worth/rights(a little at certain parts), jealousy, & more. Highly recommend(can be graphic violence kind of at parts, so definitely upper MG though). Can’t wait for more from this author. STUNNING cover front & back & FULL of just as stunning illustrations throughout by the amazing Marco Guadalupi as well!💜

[Amanda Almén · Rating 4 out of 5]

Högg tag i The Ice Whisperers direkt när jag fick syn på omslaget på biblioteket - framsidan var verkligen lockande! Osäkerheten kom dock krypande när jag läste att målgruppen var barn mellan 6-9 år: kanske skulle jag vara för gammal för att kunna läsa den? Men, jag har ändå sett flera bokstagrammare som på senare tid hyllat middle grade böcker - många vars anseende jag litar på - och valde att ge den en chans. Och vad glad jag är att jag vågade! The Ice Whisperers var en vacker blandning av äventyr, systerskap och historia som passade mig perfekt.

Jag läser arkeologi-kurser vid sidan av jobb och föräldraledighet vilket är intressant och spännande. Därför var det extra kul när den handlade om, och till viss del utspelade sig, för 40 000 år sedan, i en tid då mammutar och sabeltandade tigrar still roamed the earth. Även om det människosläkte som Ren-ya och folkstammen The Last tillhör aldrig har existerat (åtminstone inte om man ska tro min arkeologilärare), så var mycket i boken historiskt förankrat. Detta utan att bli undervisande eller på något sätt tråkigt, ska sägas!

Boken höll ett bra tempo men jag tyckte den tappade lite i mitten. Som mest intressant var det när den utspelade sig i 1910-talet: de långa partierna i den isiga andevärlden blev ibland lite långdragna. Jag har också svårt att se hur titeln - The Ice Whisperers - riktigt gav sig till känna i boken. Det var vid ett tillfälle som det nämndes att isen viskade, i övrigt berördes det inte. Kan det ha haft större betydelse i berättelsens vagga (Stachera nämner i efterordet att hon arbetat med boken i över tio år) och kommit bort längs vägen?

Det är iallafall en rörande och isande kall berättelse med historisk charm och ett värmande budskap som får mig att vilja utforska fler middle grade-titlar.

[cecereads23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this book while looking at netgalley and the premise hit me as something that seemed unique and one that made me want to know more.

The family relationships in this is sewn seemlessly and you feel every moment of belonging that the characters are looking for.

I will be recommending this to people who like frozen and Frostheart because this is a great middle grade polar fantasy that we often are looking for in the world, and it does it very very well. I cannot wait to read more from this author who was new to me, but now I really want to read more.

[˗ˏˋ lia ˎˊ˗ · Rating 2 out of 5]

oh man that was disappointing

→ 2 stars

[MrsD271015 D · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful tale of finding who you are and where you belong. The acceptance of others regardless of appearance, race or culture and the general good of humanity to over come evil.

I started this book with anticipation- I am not normally a fan of fantasy/other worlds but there was something about the description that sparked my interest. I was not disappointed- I very quickly found my self absorbed in the lives of Bella and Ren- ya. Desperate to have 5 minutes peace where I could pick up and read on.

The descriptions in the book build such vivid images - there were a few parts I found a little bit graphic for my own Squimishness however I didn’t find them off putting or a reason not to enjoy the book.

I don’t want to spoil the story for others by giving anything away- there were many twists that I did not see coming and I think everyone should be able to experience the same magic that I did when reading.

I felt a very strong message about acceptance of other cultures and races throughout the book. This is a message which I feel is so very important now.

I would recommend this book for age 11+.

[ghostly_bookish · Rating 3 out of 5]

CAWPILE- 5.86
Polarthon 2022 Team Explorers- Prompt Icy Magic

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75

What a lovely read! I picked this book up at my local library as the beautiful cover really caught my attention. After reading the synopsis I was intrigued. It didn't have many reviews (as it was only published in 2021) but I decided to give it a go anyways. What a great idea that was!

The book touches on the topics of belonging, loneliness, family and courage. I expected something a bit different but I most certainly wasn't disappointed. It is charming, intriguing and sometimes a bit thrilling even. And the plot twist!

At times I was quite surprised that it's a children's book. If it was for me, I would say the min. age to read it would be 13/14, not younger.

All in all, I highly recommend The Ice Whisperers to anyone who likes a cosy but thrilling story - perfect for the cold winter days (and nights :).

[Zoe MacIver · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars 🌟

[Jelke · Rating 3 out of 5]

CAWPILE rating: 5.64

[Hannah (Sakurahan or ForeverBooks18) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve just finished reading “The Ice Whisperers” by Helenka Stachera, which I really enjoyed. It’s set in two timelines, a modern one, Poland 1910, and one a long time ago 40,000 years before. Poland only has a minimal amount of chapters devoted to it, though. It had surprising elements that I didn’t expect. I thought it would be more simple than it was, baring in mind it’s aimed at a younger end of YA or middle grade audience. I didn’t mind this, however, as it made the story more exciting. There was no romance in the story, either. This I expected, baring in mind the audience its aimed at again, but it didn’t make it any less riveting to read. If I hadn’t been making notes for this review, I would have finished it within a few days, I’m sure!

The setting of “The Ice Whisperers” is mainly in the Spirit World. This was fun to read about. There are animal gods, as well as tribes people in this spirit world. The spirit world is set 40,000 years before the present day in this book, which is the 1900’s.

I read this for Polarthon, a readathon based around polar fantasy books hosted by Jadeyraereads on YouTube. I read “The Ice Whisperers” for the prompt: An Adventure. I completed a lot more books for this readathon last year but due to being busy I couldn’t take part in the same way this year.

Reading Rivalry - I read this for A Book With AESOP - A story with a moral - The most prominent morals in “The Ice Whisperers” are Treat others the way you want to be treated as well as having courage.

Popsugar Reading Challenge 2022 - A book about a secret - There are lots of secrets revealed in “The Ice Whisperers” that our main characters don’t know about - The main one being that they’re sisters! Why is that kept a secret? You’ll have to read to find out!

Jade and Gavin read "The Ice Whisperers" for Middle Grade Monthly so I'm excited to watch their video on Youtube about it to see their thoughts on it.

“The Ice Whisperers” follows a young girl called Bela. We see how she’s abused at first by her extended family. Her Aunt Olga is the main character that treats her badly at first. She’s only in the first few chapters, however.

Guns, fighting, and betrayal all make an appearance at some point in “The Ice Whisperers,” but there are heartwarming moments too.

“It was all Bela could do to stay hidden and quiet. How dare her aunt sell her off as if she was one of her possessions?
“But Olga had no such misgivings. “Well, that’s settled then,” she said. “After all, she can’t stay here, especially after that incident on the roof. I dread to think how many people saw her.” Olga picked up a pen. “Where do I sign?” This happens Bela is seen on the roof of her posh house where she lives in Kraków, in Poland with her posh, snobby and mean Aunt Olga. Bela’s mother is seen as mad. She died after Bela was born, so she’s never a character we actually see in the book. She’s just referred to. How did she die? You’ll need to read to find out for yourself.

Bela is sent to Siberia, where her father lives. Her scientist uncle is there in Wilder House, a dominating old house. Is her uncle good or evil? She uncovers a secret wintry world at Wilder House, in which she finds a sister, in the spirit world, Ren-ya born 40,000 years before her! How is that possible? You’ll need to read and find out for yourself.

“The seam of the flavour that came to her had some of the musk of her people, but it was mixed with something else, something she’d tasted before. The sharp, willow sap flavour of the white-eye.”

This is just after Bela and Ren-ya meet. Ren-ya isn’t sure what to make of Bela at first. They don’t get on to begin with. Can they in the end learn to tolerate and maybe even love each other? What tasks will they need to take on if they’re going to get on?

Ren-ya and Bela can both taste experiences. They know when they can trust someone and when they can’t. She had a heightened sense of taste and lived in a world full of an endless variety of vivid flavours. While other people looked and listened to each other, Bela tasted what people were thinking and feeling.” This is about Bela. We learn early on that she has a heightened sense of taste. This power is useful when Bela and Ren-ya need to work out if someone is lying or truthful at different times in the story.

Bela needs to find her father who’s in spirit world, she thinks. This is the main plot of “The Ice Whisperers,” I’d say, Bela finding her father. Is he in the Spirit World, set years before the current world that Bela is from? And what perils will Bela have to overcome to find him? You’ll need to read to find out. Also there’s a necklace that causes a lot of strain and stress for the characters. An evil one wants it, but will they get it in the end? You’ll have to read to find out!

Overall, this was a great middle grade. I thought the characters were really fleshed out. They were the best part of “The Ice Whisperers,” for me. I could certainly tell who the villains were but I think that in middle grade fiction you’re meant to be able to tell who the evil characters are. The sisterly bond that grew between Bela and Ren-ya was special too. It didn’t just happen like that, it took time to build as it realistically would. Some of the situations were a little unbelievable, though even for a fantasy middle grade, however so that’s why I’m giving it 4 stars! There are a few events that happen that I haven’t mentioned in this review but I think it’s best to go in more or less blind. That way you’ll be surprised.

Stand by for my next review, coming soon!

[CadyReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

My last read of the year. I picked this one up on eBook because it came under the Christmas category...apart from it being set in a cold climate this one is not festive haha. This is probably the darkest children's/middle-grade book I have read in a long time.
I did like how it was about the sisters being born like 40,000 years apart, and how it contained the cool culture/mythology of the Last and the Spirit World. Kinda like Avatar. The cover is also gorgeous.
It was hard for me to get into this because of the darkness. The Last have black instead of white eyes which is demonic, but also...their mother gets drained for blood, the uncle leaves their dad to freeze to death and he becomes a possessed lion man with multiple personality disorder, there's murder, creepy creatures that threaten to eat Bela (and apparently did a little!) and people getting stampeded. Every time I would be like "okay we are back to the regularly scheduled child-friendly programming" there would be more horror. If this was a movie I think it would have a much older audience than it does here.
Another thing that struck me was the blatant misogyny which was poorly written. Sure, this takes place in Poland like a hundred years ago, but that Bela rocks up to the mansion and without any reason to the doctor is like "oh yes your mother had the female hysteria because their brains are smaller and that's why they're not successful"....TF? At the end when Bela and Eva are showing her father's findings to the public (which tbh I don't think counts as continuing his work rather than just showing what he'd already discovered?) the announcer is like "this is unprecedented science, but it was discovered by women! how crazy!" I don't know if this is the right way to tell middle-schoolers that women are strong and deserving of equality. It came across as way too obvious when I think the every day micro-aggressions would be a much more realistic and villainous way to convey these problems. Someone could say that stuff now but they would be severely judged, but that doesn't mean misogyny isn't a problem, you know? I don't think writing like this would be effective for a contemporary audience.
It was pretty cool how the Last could taste the air/emotions/scents. Reminded me of the Book Eaters tasting books lol.
Why is it always the West Wing people can't go into haha? Also Ren-ya was like "oh no how could I have trusted Malor and then he betrayed me, I'm so dumb" um, wasn't he like the person who trained you/the person you trusted the most? Maybe you're being a bit hard on yourself for no reason?
Ren-ya being stuck as a child for eternity while they slept was interesting too. What I don't understand is why there was only one totem? I thought everyone needed one in their mouth to be able to come back to their body? Isn't that why it was significant that Victor left her dad in the ice?
But anyways she destroyed it and will see her fam in the afterlife I guess?
Overall this was a wintery survival story where two sisters learn to get along while doing some dark, myth type stuff.

[Tracy Lander · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story starts immediately gripping your attention as Bela awakes to find herself standing on top of the roof of the house. She remembers a black and white bird tapping at the window and a woman at the foot of her bed. Was it real? How did she get on the roof?
Bela lives in Krakow in 1910, she is 13. She lives with her Great-aunt Olga, who clearly doesn't like her, but why? Her Mum is deranged according to Olga, and lives with her Uncle in a forest in Siberia. Three days after the incident on the roof Bela is told of her mother's death, which Olga says is a blessing. She also learns that her Uncle wants her to go and live with him, Olga can't wait to get rid of her, she is an embarrassment, with her weird manners, sleep walking and the marks on her hand. Olga makes it clear her mother was an illiterate tribeswoman and wasn't a suitable match for her father, a scientist.
Bela has one picture of her parents, taken before her birth but even on here her mother is a blur as she turned away when the photo was taken. She didn't remember either of her parents. Her father had died on an expedition and her mother had sent her to live with her Great-aunt while she was still a baby. On the train to Siberia, Bela has a nightmare. She sees the same woman from the dream in her bedroom, and follows her shouting, when the woman turns she has the most extraordinary eyes, but then disappears.
If Bela thinks Wilder house and her uncle will be better than her Great-aunt she immediately thinks differently when she arrives.
Her father's study hasn't been touched and she gets to learn something about him there. Eva, his secretary who now works for her uncle, shows her his last journal, about finding the body of a woman in the ice. The woman is brought back to Wilder House. She has a special talisman connecting her with her tribe. It is the necklace her Uncle wears around his neck. Bela knows she has to get it.
Here begins Bela's new adventure to a world from years ago where she meets another child, Ren-ya, who has the same marks on her hand - her sister. Bela and Ren-ya, despite the differences brought about by thousands of years apart, have to try to work together to overcome the "white-eyes" that want to dominate and rule the tribespeople known as The Last. How will her mother's prophecy come true? How will The Last continue to live?
This book is full of adventure, the action starts immediately and continues throughout. Bela and Ren-ya are believable and likable characters who want answers and retribution for the death of their mother.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hebera watched as Ren-ya hugged and clasped palms with them. 'She can be difficult, yes?'
Bela shrugged. 'I don't suppose I'm any easier.'

I've always liked stories that are set in prehistory, and The Ice Whisperers (love the title!) is no exception. The descriptions of the world, its nature, the wildlife, the way of living, are fantastically vivid at times. You can almost see the mammoths in front of your mind's eye. The author clearly has done her research regarding shamanism, mythology, the general beliefs and life in that time period.

The idea itself is fantastic to, although in times like these perhaps slightly unsettling as well, with all the Siberian permafrost that is going up in smoke (sometimes even literally), because of which all kinds of archeological findings are made. (To be clear, the story starts in 1910, so that's not really the case in the book.)

I don't think the story itself is very exciting, but then again, this is a children's novel, and there is still a lot going on. You definitely notice that there's a climax coming at the end of the book, and the way everything is resolved and comes together is very nicely done - a good wrap-up!

The characters are also great, and slowly you'll notice how Bela and Ren-ya grow towards each other and take over some elements; especially Bela, who is essentially still a frightened child at the start of everything, goes through some major developments. Most other characters aren't present enough for you to form a good enough picture of them, but they all feel nice enough (except the bad guys, of course). Some of them also have a few surprises in store.

I flew through this book - 360 pages in just a little over three hours - because it's very fluently and easily written, and still a children's novel too, of course, which means not too many lines on a single page. Don't expect to lose yourself for days on end in this one, this is just one of those books that grab you with them for a couple of hours and make you travel back in time - which, let's be honest, is something we all want and can do with from time to time.

7.7/10

[Finbar Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an enchanting and atmospheric journey, beautifully told, that captures the magic of connection across time and the elements. The story follows two sisters, Bela and Ren-ya, separated by thousands of years but brought together by the icy wilderness of Siberia. As Bela struggles to find her place in a world that feels increasingly strange, she is drawn into the mystery of her ancestor, Ren-ya, who fought to survive in the frozen landscape of the past.

What makes "The Ice Whisperers" so powerful is its deep exploration of belonging, identity, and the bonds that stretch across generations. Stachera weaves a tale that feels both vast and intimate, as the harsh, unforgiving cold mirrors the internal struggles of her characters. The novel is not just about survival against the elements, but also about understanding where we come from and the strength we draw from our ancestors' stories.

Like ice itself, this story is crystal-clear yet full of hidden depths—both haunting and beautiful. It's an adventure, a mystery, a reflection on life and heritage, and a gripping tale that will stay with you long after the last page.

[Jemima Pett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still haven’t quite decided whether I enjoyed this book. Maybe the feeling of The Woman in White that followed me as I read the first part unsettled me. In a fairly predictable opening, Bela arrives at the uncle’s house to find everything far from rosy. The servants or assistants behave in a strange way towards her. But as a spunky girl heroine should, she overcomes her fears and starts exploring. By now we’ve learnt enough about her father’s disappearance to suspect what’s happening. Sure enough, Bela manages to get herself back in time to meet her half-sister. I don’t think that’s a spoiler as it’s in the blurb.

The story about how they turn from mutual dislike to sisterhood is reasonably believable, since they tackle many difficult tasks together, with some assistance from spirit world people and birds. It’s well-written, and the story should have peaks of excitement enough to keep a younger reader turning the pages. It didn’t do it for me, though, and whenever I put it down it took me ages to remember to pick it up again. And it was easy to do so–no difficulty remembering the plot, or who was who. Am I expecting too much?

I’ve given it a generous four stars on Goodreads, because I think it deserves more than three, for the world-building and characterisation alone. But there are plenty of four star books I’d prefer.

[Rebecca R · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Bela's mother dies she is summoned back to her Uncle's house in Siberia where she learns that she has been lied to about her parents' deaths. She escapes into a mysterious spirit world and discovers a family that she never knew she had, including a half-sister called Ren-ya. But can she save them and their world from the destructive influence of her Uncle? And will Ren-ya ever accept her as family?

This is a fascinating, if sometimes bewildering concept, involving time travel, cryogenics, a mystical spirit world and an alternative prehistoric civilisation. But at its heart it's a story about finding family, despite the barrier of 40,000 years, and about the bond between sisters. (Although the Frozen-style cover of this book is slightly misleading, this is a lot darker than the Disney tale!)

I thoroughly enjoyed this atmospheric, emotive and imaginative tale. Perfect cosy reading for winter!

[BooksForTopics · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ice Whisperers is set in beautiful, mysterious, icy Siberia. The book is perfect for children who love fantasy novels; Ren-ya’s land is filled with ancient creatures and references to myths from long ago. The theme of friendship and the intense bond that sisters have draws comparisons with Frozen too.

This would be a fantastic story to share with a lower key stage two class and would fit well with topics that deal with frozen landscapes as well as prehistory. There are themes of ecology to draw upon and it would be a great novel to use in order to commence a geographical study of this landscape that contrasts so starkly with our own.

Many thanks to the publisher for sending us an early copy for review. This book is featured on our Autumn 2021 Ones to Watch selection: https://www.booksfortopics.com/post/o...

[Fab · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Ice Whisperers by Helenka Stachera is a middle grade fantasy that takes readers back to the Ice Age. The framing narrative is set in pre-revolutionary Russia, and the story then transports readers and characters into a dream-world close to the Ice Age. It centres Bela, who was raised as something of an orphan by extended relatives and never truly felt like she belonged, as she discovers that there is more to her parentage as she ever suspected. There is a lot to this story that is sweet, and I can see many young readers enjoying Bela’s adventures. But it is also not one that stands out enough in terms of writing and characters for me to recommend this over some of the other middle grades I’ve been reading. I think this is an author to watch, even if this particular book isn’t quite a standout success yet.

[D Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The Ice Whisperers’ successfully brings together fear, mystery, friendship, betrayal and so many other elements as the main character takes a journey from Poland in 1910 to the ancient spiritual world. Stachera’s writing evokes the atmosphere and surroundings perfectly and the two sisters are equally frustrating and yet likeable.
This will definitely appeal to those children and young teenagers who like their reading to be a little fantastical and yet also, somehow, quite believable. This would be a lovely book to read with a child at bedtime or as a group reader in school.
Thank you to Puffin Books (Penguin Random House Children’s) and NetGalley for this free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Alice magical library · Rating 5 out of 5]

The quality of this book was incredible. It’s about two sisters, Ren-ya and Bela, born Forty thousand years apart, the same age and born in two different worlds. Ren-ya is the oldest (in birth) and she was born in the spirit world. She and her people, the Last, have three spirits: Eagle, Raven and Crow. The Last villagers hunt for anything, only if they are a warrior. In the Spirit world, you have black eyes.
Bela is the youngest (in birth) and lives in the waking world (earth) and she has a mother and father, Alexander and Nagar Novak, who are dead. In the wakening world, people have white eyes. When Bela’s father was alive, he studied all of the objects that he discovered in the Spirit world. Ren-ya and Bela had the same mother, but not the same father.
Alice - aged 8

[M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

”We should be celebrating a great victory! We should be dancing on the bones of our enemies, but all you do is mope. You care too much for those white-eyes.”
“Of course I care. They’re people, human beings, just like you.”

This was a fun adventure, though some parts felt a bit too convenient plot wise.
I really liked the cold setting and the way the sisters slowly became friends. Being sisters did not mean they immediately loved each other, they had to work for it.
The book also touches on some interesting topics (like girls not being taken seriously in scientific research and animal deaths as necessary part of survival vs as experiment), yest I feel like those could have been explored more.

[Laura S · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book tells the story of two girls Ren-Ya and Bela. One from the spirit world and the other - the living. It see them go on great adventures to learn about their past and present, to understand each other and what they mean to each other. With most of the book set to the backdrop of icy tundras, mountains and caves with wolves, birds of prey, magic and folklore, this tale is exciting and intriguing. The two main characters grow together to solve the challenges they face in order to save the day.

I love the atmosphere of the story and beautiful illustrations. The story was really enchanting and endearing.

I received a proof e-copy from netgalley for an honest review

[Lucy Brittain · Rating 4 out of 5]

🧡This was just stunning, a little confusing at times but incredible all at the same time.

This is an icy magic where two worlds collide and Bela is the only one who can save it. In order to do that she has to face the impossible and joins forces with a long lost sister she never knew she had born 40,000 years before. Bela discovers the true story of her mother locked away because she is considered "deranged" and at the same time she discovers her uncle knows more about it than he wishes to.

absolutely wonderful for fans of the pinch of magic series this is a read that someone who loved that would love.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

My little one and I loved this one a lot. The icy Serbian setting was beautifully written. The story is fast paced and suspenseful and kept us excited to read some chapters together every night. It was super refreshing to read about Poland as its not something we often come across. The folklore woven throughout was a magical touch that worked well in the story.

This is a magical polar fantasy I will definitely be picking up a finished copy of when it releases and an author I will read again.

(The cover is also gorgeous ❤ )

*** Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy ***

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
A lovely little story about adventure, magic, sisterhood, and family; by the good and the bad.
Bela is a 13 year old girl, unloved, hidden and seen as a shame upon her family. One day, she is summoned to her uncles estate. She hopes to find out about her parents, who she never knew. This path leads her into an adventure she never even dreamed she would ever have and sister she never knew she had.
This book is perfect for children and I know I would have loved to have read this when I was young.

[Jayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was a fun and enjoyable middle grade read about two sisters and their search for their identities and their family connections.
It certainly all the elements - the icy setting in Siberia, ancient cultures, travel between worlds, two sisters who have to work together despite their antipathy towards each other to overcome evil. There were just sections of the story that dragged and then other sections seemed a trifle contrived.
Overall, an entertaining story and ultimately well worth the read.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the way this story of two sisters born thousands of years apart fit together so perfectly. There was plenty of action, enough mystery, some myth and magic, a bit of history and it was all done really cleverly making what was a quite complex plot flow seamlessly. The two sisters felt very real and the Siberian setting very atmospheric. A real girls can do anything type story as well which would make a great read aloud.

[Toni Karim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was gifted for my 4 children age 15,11,10 and 6 as my husband cut her husbands hair. I read it as a bedtime story for them all, we loved the book and couldn't stop reading it! It was full of excitement and adventure. I am also a ks2 teacher and will be reading this to my class in September. Cant wait to start Helenka other book Fin and the memory curse! Thank you Helenka 😊 love the karim family (lana barbers) x

[Elsi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took me a little while to read (mostly because I brought it to school for independent reading which we only had once a week or so). I LOVED the first bit, with Bela finding out what’s really happening at and read it super quickly, but found the book got slower after she enters the spirit world.
Overall, the concept is super interesting as is the plot and it was an interesting read