The Icebound Land is the third volume of the Ranger’s Apprentice series so I was at a slight disadvantage in not having read the previous two volumes and there are occasional moments where past events are referred to and I did not completely understand what was happening. However John Flanagan has written this volume in such a way that, apart from the occasional reference (which is explained briefly) it is a standalone novel.
The book has two main and separate threads. One charts the adventures of Will and Evanlyn following their capture by the Skandians. The other concerns events surrounding Halt and his protégé Horace as they travel in Gallica. The setting for the novel is a fantasy Europe. Both geography and history have been altered, but broadly speaking events seem to be around 750AD and based in England (Araluen), France (Gallica) and Skandia (Scandinavia). Halt is a Ranger, a wonderful blend of Robin Hood bowmanship, Knights of the Round Table and super policeman. Both Will and Horace are apprentice rangers. To say what Evanlyn is would be to give away part of the plot.
Flanagan writes well. The opening sea storm sequence grips the reader and a fantastic pace is maintained throughout. There is a serious moral intent at work in The Icebound Land and issues of fairness, loyalty, justice and tenacity are explored in a meaningful way within a fantasy setting. I would recommend the novel highly to any child (probably in the 12 plus age group) who enjoyed the earlier novels. I suspect that it is more of a boys’ read, although the Evanlyn character is significant and very strong and would be sympathetic to female readers.
I have only two caveats. On the content front, the novel engages for quite a sustained period with Will’s addiction to warmweed (a fantasy narcotic which appears to be heroin-like in its effects). A fair amount of the last section concerns Evanlyn’s attempts to wean Will from this drug. In many ways this sequence is excellent, dealing maturely and humanely with the attractions of drugs and the consequences. Some parents might think this not to be an appropriate theme for some or some younger children.
My other caveat is about the setting. Enough detail is given to indicate a setting in Western Europe in about 750AD and to the extent this is adhered to, it works well and is both interesting and coherent. However, the geography and history have been adapted. I did not think that the Baltic Sea was any the better for being a different shape and renamed the Stormwhite Sea. The occasional but persistent anachronisms rankled: Vikings did not drink tea, so why make them?
The Ranger’s Apprentice: The Icebound Land by John Flanagan is published by Corgi Yearling. To order a copy from Amazon, click the link below:
The Icebound Land (Ranger's Apprentice)
