“Nerdection Must Read”
Winter is at its peak, and there are few things as appealing in this cold as a steaming mug of coffee and lounging on your sofa with a cozy adventure book in hand. Heir to the Ice Flame is one such book that will take you into another magical world with its lyrical words and fantastic characters.
What’s it about? Stay with us to read the no-spoiler plot of Heir to the Ice Flame.
Spoiler-free plot of Heir to the Ice Flame:
Nina, a 17-year-old girl, is Scardia’s fugitive princess and the rightful heir to its throne. She has been on the run since the day invaders took over her country and killed her parents. Now working as a maid in a shabby inn in a town, she fears capture from the Trackers. The Usurper king knows she’s alive, for the ice flame still burns brighter, indicating that the heir to the throne is not dead. Yet.
Now that she will be eighteen soon, danger comes anew, and she must escape to the East to seek refuge. Accompanied by a slightly naive guard Keely, a haughty budgerigar, and a loyal horse, Dolce, Nina embarks on a quest to find help retrieving her throne.
In this fantasy adventure book, Heir to the Ice Flame, Nina will escape capture from the vicious Usurper, meet magical fey creatures, and learn what it takes to become the fearless queen of Scardia.
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My Take on Heir to the Ice Flame
Heir to the Ice Flame is a magical fantasy adventure book with remarkable characters and an intriguing plot. Only a few pages into the book and I was completely glued to it – only my paltry mortal needs kept me away. Moreover, filled to the brim with adventure, fairy tales, and a reluctant romance, Heir to the Ice Flame is a magical saga of ancient mythical beings, elven magic, and what it’s like to be a chosen one.
Legends tell of the magical fire that will only burn during the reign of the rightful ruler. It’s said that when a king or queen is crowned, the flame burns bright, and dies when they do. Its embers remain until their successor is crowned, and then the fire will burn again with new life.
The legend of the Ice Flame
Our protagonist, Nina, is a kind-hearted princess who has been escaping her foes since she was seven. Seven! What a truly young age to shoulder the world’s burden. I love how Rose Harvey weaves Nina’s story into a relatable tale, and how realistic her struggles are.
Then there are the other characters, each one I loved more than the other: Keely, the guard with bad grammar; Lisette, the budgerigar with a magical surprise up her feathers; Erik, a smart child who hates to take a bath; and of course, our charming ship captain, Markus.
Heir to the Ice Flame also features an adorable ‘found-family’ trope. It’s fun and heart-warming to read how Nina relates to people’s struggles, helps them out, and even takes a young boy as her sibling. Her relationship with Erik as her little adopted brother is something to be sold over a thousand times.
‘It’s wisest if you don’t make wishes,’ I interrupted firmly, as my grip tightened involuntarily. ‘Wishes are dangerous; they can make your deepest desires come true in the strangest circumstances or they can tear your world apart. It’s best to not tempt fate by speaking those desires aloud.
Nina, to Erik
And do I sense a love triangle among Nina, Keely, and Markus? I sure think so. I’m excited to see who finally gets our red-haired princess at the end!
The pacing was a little slow, and the multiple storylines sometimes stray from the main plot. However, quite frankly, this didn’t bother me in the least due to Harvey’s excellent writing skills that keep you engaged, and because I loved all the characters, even Nina’s grumpy neighbour with monocles.
Some spoilers:
I may be a little dazed at how Markus called Nina off in their goodbye scene. Ah – broke my heart, as sure as it did Nina’s. I just hope everyone gets their happy ending in the sequel.
**Spoilers End**
I recommend Heir to the Ice Flame for fans of Sarah J Maas (spice-free version!), Marissa Meyer, and anybody who loves to devour a good fantasy adventure book.
Trigger Warnings in Heir to the Ice Flame
- Spice level: low.
- No language concerns or cursing
- No explicit content or violence, except one intimate scene.
- Suitable for young adults, say 14+.
About The Author Of Heir to the Ice Flame
Rose Harvey A booklover from an early age, Rose began writing stories from the age of seven and this passion continued into a life-long dream of becoming a writer. When she is not reading a new book, jotting down ideas in a notebook or pottering around in her veggie garden under her cats’ supervision, she can be found either on the stage in her other passion – amateur theatre – or teaching English and French to high school students.
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