Howl of the Ice

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Howl of the Ice by Christian Raymond is a thrilling adventure novel that tells the story of two 14-year-olds, Falc and Aiyanna, who find themselves trapped on a collapsing frozen lake in a mythic entity's uncanny hunting grounds. Falc, tracks his erratic grandpa to an ice fishing shanty town atop Lake Blackbird. Where he finds a quirky community of fisher people, including Aiyanna, a tobogganing daredevil from school. However, when new friends and family all vanish, Falc and Aiyanna must begin a desperate quest for survival by plunging after the community into a frigid labyrinth of mystifying ice fishing hole portals underpinned with lurking secrets.

I found Howl of the Ice to be an enjoyable read. The setting was particularly captivating as it reminded me of where I grew up and my memories of ice fishing. The book was well written with its fast pace making it relatively short yet digestible. The characters were quite likable too; I found myself relating to Falcs' grandfather's struggles, which added depth in character development. One standout feature that made this book unique was how fantasy elements were merged together in such an intriguing way that left me pondering about what exactly they symbolize beyond just that moment in time.

Overall, Howl of the Ice is an excellent read for those looking for an action-packed tale set in an icy landscape overflowing with interesting characters and magical creatures!

ARC Via NetGalley