The Ice Dragon

I was a little shocked, I didn't think that George RR Martin did anything in less than 150 pages. it's an interesting story, but it doesn't really seem to fit with any of his other works. All in all, a good purchase I'd say.

Martin is a meandering writer at best. This tale is one of his few that takes a direct path, at least for the first half. However, like a jay that has spotted the glint of shiny object, he veers into the weeds for the second half.

Cannot recommend this story at all.

I was excited to see a new book that I wasn't expecting from George R.R. Martin. I was very disappointed however that this barely even qualifies as a novella. It's really just a short story that you can read in less than an hour. To top it all off, they are charging $9.99 for it. "Disappointed" is an understatement.

The only reason I bought and read this book is because a lot of fan theories seem to be based on there being a 'cold pool' in the godswood at Winterfell, which they are attributing to the death of an ice dragon there at some time in the ancient history of the place. This story was written in 1980, long before GRRM even had a glimmer of an idea about ASOIAF. This story does not even seem to be placed in the same world as ASOIAF, as the seasons do not seem to operate in the same fashion: normally, every season lasts several of our years, and a really COLD winter, like the one during which Adara was born, have been known to last 10 years. So this story adds nothing to the Canon of ASOIAF. In fact, unlike the series books, it's not even very well-written. It would make more sense on a quasi-Pern world than in Westeros.

As much as I've been loving the Game of Thrones series, I wasn't thrilled with this child's story. My 10yr old and I listen to books all the time while driving and we like many different genres. This book I listened to first myself without my daughter so I could get an idea of any part I may need to fast forward since another reviewer had mentioned a graphic post-war scene. Yeah, I probably would've fast forwarded it just a bit at that part. But the protagonist wasn't likeable and in the end the story seemed rather pointless, and rather depressing, so I didn't bother listening to it again with my daughter. I know she definitely wouldn't have liked it.

I got this book for my 8 year-old daughter since she loves hearing all about Westeros and all the Game of Thrones characters from me. (Daenarys is her favorite.) I really, really wanted this book to be good and for it to be a good introduction to the fantasy genre for her. She loves horses and dragons and all that stuff but also digs a story with a good female hero/protagonist. This book has the first two but not the third. It just wasn't good. It was slow to develop any kind of goal for the story or conflict for the main character to resolve and boring while we waited. The narrative and the dialogue were clumsy and Adara just isn't a character one can identify with. Also I found myself having to change things as I read it aloud to her (parts about beating the children, graphic wounds on soldiers). She is not a sheltered child by any means and she loves gory stuff but the graphic parts didn't serve any purpose in the story. Several characters and the dragon came across as purposelessly mean. It just wasn't as good as I hoped, not even close to as good as ASOIAF. If you want to check it out for your 8-12 year old I say get it from the library, you don't need to buy it because it isn't the type of story kids would want to read more than once.

I hold Martin's Song of Ice and Frie series in high regard; the man is a talented writer. For adults.

The problem with this book is that it reads exactly like whay you'd expect a chlidren's book written by George R.R.Martin to read like. By this I mean violent imagery and the occasional immolation of soon-to-be-dearly-departed-uncles. (And as an uncle I object to this wanton anti-uncle setiment running rampant in children's literature!!!)

There seems to be no age group for this book. The story isn't that engrossing, and a kid I'd feel comfortable buying a book for containing this level of violence would most likely want something more substanial. Though for adults I strongly recommend Martin's other books over Mr. Pratchett, when it comes to books for kids about this age level I've gotta go with Pratchett's Wee Freemen over this.

Or, for slightly younger kids, The Persistent Gappers of Firth. Hell, eveybody loves the Gappers of Firth.

Hoped to find a G-rated Martin book for young readers. I found it still too dark for a young person to enjoy ( ex. Favorite family horse gets torched by dragon) not the intricate well developed plot is hoped for either.

This was probably the shortest "novel" I have read in such a long time, it was more like an essay. Considering that, there didn't seem much point to the story, there was no explanation to who the characters were in relation to their kingdom, lands or why there was a war going on in the first place. I was very disappointed after finishing this. I would advise saving your money for a more thorough story.

Definitely was not worth the$10 I paid for it. It took approximately two hours to read. If even that long. The story, though well written,went by way too quickly. Would rather have spent only $5, yet I still think I would have been disappointed.

I love Mr. Martins books, and so looked forward to reading this book. Loved the illustrations. I finished this book in 30 minutes, and kept scrolling to see if there was a "real" book after this. Extremely disappointed

I thought there would b so much more to this had i paid the full paper back price i wouldve been a fool its like reading 1chapter from a nirmal book ok mayb 2 its like something u read to ure kids at bedtime

I am 42, so take that into account. Once again George Martin hooks you in the beginning and then leaves you disappointed with where the story ends up. This book is approximately 100 pages. But most of the pages are only partial pages with illustrations. It took me about half an hour to read the book and I was quite disappointed with the abrupt ending. Dont waste your time on this.

Although some reviewers seem to have enjoyed it, I was hugely disappointed by this book. It is a flimsy thing, crudely printed on poor-quality paper. The story is too graphic for younger children, but too banal for more thoughtful readers. The illustrations, like the two-page spread which is repeated at the beginning of every chapter, serve mainly to pad the meager text; I found them lacking in imagination and poorly rendered. Overall, an unfortunate waste of my time and money.

I have yet to read "A Song of Ice and Fire," and I'm wary to do so after hearing about some of its grim themes and the author's "kill 'em all" attitude (which may be exaggerated to some degree, but still...). However, I've found that I do enjoy his writing regardless, and admire his craft with words. I'd read his short story "The Ice Dragon" once before, but finding it in the format of a children's book was both intriguing and a little startling. I decided to give it a re-read... and enjoyed it just as much in this format, with its charming illustrations, as I did as a short story, though it does seem a few things have been altered between the short story and the children's book (unless my memory is faulty).

Adara is a farmer's daughter, born on the coldest day of the year and said to be a child of winter -- she's pale and strange, loves the cold, and is able to handle and play with the ice lizards that come out during the winter without harming them. And her best friend is the ice dragon, a creature who brings merciless cold with its arrival but that allows Adara to ride on its back. When the war wracking the kingdom comes perilously close to her family's farm, her uncle, a dragon rider, urges the family to evacuate... but Adara doesn't want to leave the only home she's ever known, and flees. But the enemy's dragon riders threaten her family, and as much as Adara loves her home and her ice dragon, she can't bear to lose her family... and it may be up to a child of winter and the white dragon she loves to save all she holds dear.

Martin is a skilled writer, and he proves adept at writing a children's tale as well as adult-geared fantasy. His story has a mythic, fairy-tale theme to it, befitting a story of this nature, and while he doesn't shy away from the terrors of war or the fear a father feels for his family's safety, he's not gratuitous in detail either. And Adara is a fascinating character, aloof and icy yet possessed of great loyalty and love regardless. Other characters aren't as fleshed out, but given that this is a short book I'm willing to forgive this, and we still get enough snippets of their characters to sympathize with them.

I'm told that opinions are mixed as to whether this book fits into the "Song of Ice and Fire" series. As I haven't read that series, I have no thoughts on that matter... but I can safely say that one can enjoy this book without having read "Ice and Fire" at all, and it stands well on its own even if it's connected to Martin's most famous series.

A vivid and delightful fantasy for younger readers, "The Ice Dragon" is a short but magical read, good for both kids and adults. And it proves that not everything written by Martin is full of doom and gloom or has a high body count...

The Ice Dragon was originally published in 1980 as a short story and later reworked into a short novella for younger readers. Does it tie into Martin’s magnum opus, A Song of Ice and Fire (better known to some by the title of the first book and HBO series, A Game of Thrones)? That depends on who you ask. The book jacket says yes, in an obvious attempt to boost sales. Martin says no, and that ASoIaF wasn’t even a thing yet when this was written. If you read it, you can easily tell that this is at best tangentially connected to Martin’s more famous work–there are thematic connections, but it bears little resemblance to any of the recorded history of Westeros and Essos, nor to most of the mythology mentioned therein. Could it take place in the pre-history of Valyria? Sure. It could describe the early days of that empire, forgotten by the time of ASoIaF, but there is little to suggest that beyond the thematic connections and, obviously, the dragons. Even the titular ice dragon is different from what audiences reportedly saw last season on the show. So officially, it’s not a part of the ASoIaF canon, but if you want to make it part of your headcanon, go ahead. Be my guest.

Adara is a winter child, born during the deepest freeze anyone can remember, and is always happiest when the land is in winter’s icy grip. She’s a cold child, both physically and emotionally, able to handle the small ice lizards that come during the winter without melting them as her playmates are wont to accidentally do. But what no one else knows is that Adara also has a dragon. Not the smallish, green fire dragons that the Empire’s men ride into battle, no–those terrify young Adara. Adara’s dragon is the legendary ice dragon feared by her entire village. It’s been seen in the sky each year since she was four, and each year the winter comes earlier, freezes harder, and lasts longer. Adara loves her dragon, loves riding it through the sky, the frigid wind in her face. But now it is summer, and her dragon is nowhere to be seen. Now it is summer, and the war in the north is not going well for the Empire. Imperial Dragonriders have been retreating in the face of their enemies, but Adara’s father refuses to leave their farm….until enemy Dragonriders show up and capture Adara’s family. Now only Adara is left to defend her home….but how can she do that in the middle of summer?

This is a quick read, and surprisingly nuanced for a children’s book. Martin weaves a complex tale of love and sacrifice that is fit for children, yet appeals to adults as well. And to top it off, Luis Royo’s artwork is superb. Most of it is uncolored line art, but even that is beautiful. See below for the full version of the cover art. This feels like the kind of story Old Nan would tell to the young Stark children at Winterfell, yet as I mentioned above the history described therein is not consistent with Westeros. Maybe early Valyria, if they ever faced an enemy that also rode dragons…

CONTENT: No profanity or sexual content whatsoever. Some violence, not gory, but neither is it sugarcoated. When dragons battle, people burn.

What a rip off. I "searched" for book six in the Game of Thrones series, and this came up. It had just been released, and at the Kindle price of $9.99, I assumed I had found it! It is a SHORT STORY that has nothing to do with the Game of Thrones, and I read it in 45 minutes. That how short it is. I feel totally ripped off. The story was just OK, not what I would expect from RR Martin.

Story:
Adara is a girl who's living in the North, a country in Westeros, with her father and siblings. Adara's noted for being a bit of an odd girl, such as she loves the winters. She would spend the time counting down to her birthday as that's during wintertime. Most do not enjoy the winters in the North, but Adara loves it. Each year Adara is visited by an ice dragon, a rare species of dragon that few ever see, and tales say it is a foul creature of death. However Adara manages to befriend the strange animal and flies around on it. That itself is a great accomplishment as ice dragons are held to be unridable. One day fierce invaders come to Adara's home and it's up to her and her ice dragon to stop them.
For a while now I've been encouraged to delve into George R. R. Martin's world of Westeros, and I was surprised to see there are books written by him that take place outside of his main series. Even though this book may be shorter and more geared to juvenile readers, I still found it a good place to enter Westeros. Most dragons are stereotyped to be fire breathers, but it made a nice change to see a dragon that could breath cold instead. Adara herself is a very interesting character. Winters can be fierce from what I read in the North, but the cold never bothers her. Sorry. Couldn't resist putting that joke in. I have read The World of Ice and Fire, and I spent some time wondering when this tale fits in chronologically with the history of Westeros. For reasons that I won't divulge so to not give any spoilers I'll say I think it happens in The Dance of the Dragons, which was the name of an old war. Anyway, I can see this book forming the basis of an animated film adaptation someday. Probably won't happen, but if you're looking for a fantasy book to read during the winter I would recommend this book.
Caution:
A woman dies from childbirth. Men are mentioned as swearing, but the words are not listed. Some battle scenes, but nothing graphic. A kid accidentally snaps an ice lizard in two.
Lessons:
The greatest form of love is to give your life for another. We should be willing to get out and explore.

I will admit that I have never read one of George R. R. Martin's novels. I do have A Game of Thrones on my bookshelf, but have yet to start it. So, it's probably a little weird that I picked this short story to be the first work I read by him. I was intrigued by the artwork, so figured I'd give it a try.

I'm glad I did read this one. It's a beautiful little children's/YA story about a young girl, with a special affinity for winter, who befriends a rare Ice Dragon. The illustrations were my favorite part. They were so lovely-- especially the close-ups of the Ice Dragon. The story itself was good, as well. It was well-written and held my interest. It wasn't particularly mind blowing or great, but it was worth the read. It is also intelligent, for being written towards a young audience. This is a nice short story with fantastic artwork, so I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy (no matter what age you are).

4/5 stars.

This short book tells the story of a little girl touched by the cold named Adara. Living with the fact that her mother died giving birth to her Adara has never smiled or cried and only finds comfort in the long cold winters that cover the land in ice. She is different in a way that she has a colder body temp than all the other people in her town and she is never really bothered by the cold even when it's bitter. Then one day fate seems to shine on here the day that an ice dragon lands right in front of her allowing her to touch it's icy skin. A friendship was created that day which will be tested a few years later when army forces with dragon riders threatens to take over the only place her family calls home. Adara hopes that with the help of her ice dragon friend that all will be saved but Adara learns that you must give in order to keep the ones you love safe from harm.

Thoughts: This was a gorgeous book with a heartfelt story inside complete with beautiful art work done by the famous artist Luis Royo. The story is filled with dragons and dragon riders along and instills hope in whoever reads it. This would be a lovely book for a younger audience ages 10 and up and just gives you a slight glimpse into the fantastic world created by a fantastic author. A lovely book to add to any lover of fantasies collection.

This is an epic children's fantasy. Beautifully written and illustrated, this is George's debut book in children's literature. I'm amazed at all George R. R. Martin gave me in only 120 pages. It only took page one to hook me, and by the end of the first chapter I was in love. This is definitely a book fans of Martin's, children's literature, and fantasy will love.

The story follows that of a young girl, Adara, who was born in winter. Being a child of winter made her come across as different than children born during the other seasons. Not one to show much emotion or to receive much affection, she finds relief in the winter. The only time she never feels alone. Being born during the cold season gave Adara a special ability to connect with the feared and rare Ice Dragon. She loves spending time with the feared creature. When her family is threatened she and her beloved Ice Dragon will made a courageous, and very surprising sacrifice to save them.

I loved this story. I love the illustrations that accompany it. They are gorgeous. The cover art on both the inside covers of the book are my favorite. This edition of the book also includes a poster found on the inside of the cover jacket. Check out more of The Ice Dragon illustrations here.

The Ice Dragon is an old story, re-released as an early teen story - not even young adult, really. But a little darker than a children's book. The slipcover indicates that the story takes place in the same universe as The Song of Ice and Fire, but it really doesn't feel like it. But that's ok. It's a good story anyway, and the perception that they are possibly "forcing" it into that universe somehow cheapens it.

But the story on its own doesn't need association with a pre-existing universe. We're all familiar with the concepts of dragons, kings and wars. So let us just have that. I guarantee if you don't read the slipcover, you won't even care if the stories are related. Read this not for the purported association; read this for its touching story of rejection, innocence, heroism and just plain growing up.

This new edition is peppered with lovely line-art illustrations that add to the storytelling without getting in the way, and providing a nice background to the brief prose.

My son is 10 and HATES to read. I mean, hates it more than anything. It's been his biggest struggle in life. About 4 months ago he stumbled upon Dork Diaries (the one about a girl), and loved them. He read them all, though with less enthusiasm as he progressed. I thought he had finally found a passion for reading. Not so much. Everything I've picked out at the library since then has been a failure. He reads a few chapters and has no desire to go back. This book, he tells me, "is the GREATEST book ever! so much better than Dork Diaries". He loves the Lord of The Rings, Hobbit, all that jazz, so I had picked the book based on the cover, and couldn't even see the author's name as it was mostly covered by library stickers. It was a fantastic find. My only disappointment is that it is a quick book, and there are no other GRRMartin books I can let him read :(. If any of you know of any similar books, PLEASE, PLEASE comment on my review!

p.s. I cannot vouch for the content of the book, I am rating it strictly on it's ability to interest my child in reading!!

p.p.s. Majority of the low ratings are from people who seem to have missed the fact that the book is targeted to FIFTH GRADERS

This book was one that I found at my local library a few days ago. It is a short, but enjoyable read! If you like Game of Thrones on HBO or George R.R. Martin's other books, then you will surely enjoy this book thoroughly. It is about a little girl who was born on the coldest night. She played in the cold long after the other children had to go indoors to warm themselves. The cold could not hurt her, so she built ice castles until it was time to go home for the evening. The ice dragon came by to see the little girl every year. One day she got brave enough to ride him, and then a war broke out in the north. The fire breathing dragons came to destroy the south, but the ice dragon faced them bravely. There is an epic dragon battle at the end of the book, and that is all I am going to say. I highly recommend this book if you are going on a quick plane trip or road trip.

4/5 stars!

The Ice Dragon tells the story of Adara, a child of winter, her only friend, an dragon made of ice, and a war that would change her life forever

This book is an illustrated chapter book, I'd place in the 10-15 year old age group. It's a touching story and one that will make the reader really think.

I loved the story. It's endearing, and heartfelt. They say ice dragons can't be tamed, but Adara hadn't tamed hers; she'd simply been its friend.

The illustrations are amazing, which isn't surprising since Luis Royo is a god among artists. Each illustration was a perfect companion for the part of the story it depicted.

The story itself is beautifully written, told as mostly narration, which gives it that fairy-tale quality. This is definitely a story to tell on those cold winter nights when it seems there's nothing on the air but cold and dread.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves fairy-tales, stories told my fire light, and lovers of dragons.

I give this book 5 of 5 paws.

My full review can be found on my blog, Reader Rayna, as well as Goodreads.

The story heralds a war and a sacrifice of a dragon protecting one who’s heart is frozen until dire circumstances and her family’s safety thaw her heart and she sets to fight back. Though she is only seven years old when this happens, I felt that the sacrifice she wanted to make was sweet and brave of her.

I also felt that this story missed something. I wished that she and the dragon had escaped to colder lands to be together, but at the same time I feel that the story was trying to accomplish at telling the tale of how important family is and how much love you should have for one another.

The art was beautiful, though, and I thought it captured the mood of the book really well.

With only 121 pages and lots of illustrations, this short story is a very fast read. This is the only thing that I’ve ever read by George R. R. Martin and I found it to be a fairly fast paced story with lots of dragons, 2 things I enjoy. While there is some violence in this book, I think it could be enjoyed by a very large age range of readers. It’s a middle grade book about a young girl, so there are no sex scenes. Luis Royo did an amazing job with the illustrations for this version of the book and I would recommend it to readers and art fans alike.

Having grown up with volumes of beautifully illustrated children's classics, I'm a sucker for well-illustrated children's books. These days they are sadly rare, with poor art quality that fail to stir the imagination. "The Ice Dragon" is a fine exception, a good story for children with art that is soul-stirring and amazing. This goes in my collection with classics like "The Painted Fan" (Marilyn Singer/illustrations Wenhai Ma) , "Unicorn and the Lake" (Marianna Mayer/illustrations the great Michael Hague), and "Weaving of A Dream" (Marilee Heyer). This story, btw, shows up in at least two adult-fic dragon anthologies, but it's much better with the illustrations by Luis Royo!

“The Ice Dragon” is wonderfully written children’s story by master fantasy author George R.R. Martin, he of Game of Thrones fame. This short novella follows Adara who always longs for winter because of her affinity to the cold and ice as well as her big friend, the titular ice dragon. But then Adara’s idyllic life comes to an end when the war her nation is involved in arrives in her town. However, Adara and her big friend save her father and siblings allowing them to escape but not without consequences.

This well-written and beautifully illustrated novella is perfect for young readers and is ideal for parents and children to read together.

This is a very short book, it took me about 30 minutes to read. I love GRRM's style and this story is full of his his storytelling skills. I'm hoping to read it with my 6 year old granddaughter. She's a big Game of Thrones fan and actually tries to read the books. The book is scary and might frighten some young readers. I think it's important to emphasize that this fantasy and didn't actually happen. It will be fun to see how she perceives the girl who loves the cold.

For readers familiar with the wonder that is George R R Martin (which is approximately two thirds of the world’s population), it should come as no surprise that this book is an utter delight. Adara is a child born in the dead of winter, and according to some, she has ice in her veins instead of blood. Her own father calls her personality “cold”, as she has, or displays, no true warmth to another human being.

And this is true, up to a point. Sweet, young, naive, but beautiful Adara knows love. It comes in the form of an ice dragon, which she first befriends on her fourth birthday. Since then, the two souls (one human, the other a dragon) have been inseparable. The problem is, the rest of Adara’s family hates and fears the Ice Dragon. Adara’s uncle, Hall wants the family to move away from the farm, as he knows a vicious war is coming. Adara’s father is a lover of tradition, so he has no intention of giving away everything his heart and soul holds dear. And of course Adara’s does not want to move, either, for fear of losing touch with her soul mate.

The book is a treat to read. Some sections of text approach the quality of a timeless fairy tale. For example, taken from page 31 of the hardcover release:

’When the ice dragon beat its wings, the cold winds blew and the snow swirled and scurried and the world seemed to shrink and shiver. Sometimes when a door flew open in the cold of winter, driven by a sudden gust of wind, the householder would run to bolt it and say, “An ice dragon flies nearby.”’

And speaking of the book itself; it too is a joy to behold. The illustrated hard cover version comes with a slightly padded cover and the sketches are some of the most stunning you will see anywhere. The image taken from the cover alone is worth the cost of admission and throughout the book are imaginings that span full two pages and which are truly breathtaking.

Back to the story: the world can not remain a fairy tale for ever. There is an ongoing war in the book’s universe, and this time it features dragons as the weapons of choice instead of nuclear powered missiles, or hand guns, or even (dare I say it) religion.

So we can safely assume that young Adara’s friend has a role to play in the upcoming events. I recommend those interested in finding out precisely what, pick up this wonderfully crafted novella from the genre’s grand master to see how it all turns out.

Hugely recommended from me.

BFN Greggorio!

I bought this book from a local Big W as it was short and looked quite interesting from the cover. (Yes, I know. 'Don't judge a book by it's cover'. But this one matched up well.) That it was written by Mr George R.R. Martin was also a plus for me.

Later on I found out that it was classed as a children's book. It could be read by anyone older too though as it's written very well. Even though it is essentially classed as a children's book it still includes dragons, a lot of death and the idea of 'Winter is Coming' from the Song of Ice and Fire universe.

While reading this book I spent more time looking at the illustrations than I did reading the words. The illustrations were amazing and very detailed.

This illustrated book tells a fairy tale from the world of Westeros. It's cool to think that this is a story heard by our favorite characters in Game of Thrones. The art matches the tone of the story, feeling cold itself. The ink being shades of blue helps with that.

I give this book a 4/5. It's a nice gift for diehard Game of Thrones fans, but it doesn't add too much or is a necessary buy.

Born in the coldest freeze that anyone can remember, Adara is winter's child. Pale, beautiful, and achingly cold, she stands apart from her fair-weather father and summer siblings and connects only to the ice dragon, a creature as beautiful and cold as she. Her path seems certain until the moment that an impossible human cry reaches Adara's ears. Will she choose nature or nurture as her destination?

Beautiful illustrations by Luis Royo demonstrate the breadth of the artist's talent.

I came to George RR Martin pretty late actually, which is fine. Books live on eternally; you don't need to 'discover' an author right at the beginning of their careers. But, like most people, I picked up The Ice Dragon because of my love for his A Game of Thrones work.

Albeit a nice, little story, The Ice Dragon is somewhat a polar opposite of his adult fantasy. I expected some little mentions or nods to the Westeros world. The King's road is all we get here.

Marketed for children and young-adults, The Ice Dragon follows young Adara, who first glimpses a rare Ice Dragon at four years old - and subsequently carries on the years narrating the ever growing friendship between girl and beast. Until an enemy from the North attacks.

This little story has some deep, dark themes, subtly told, which may pass right over young readers' heads. It was OK, I guess. But I wanted more - more detail, more fantasy, more of a story. Adara's sad little tale is neither that sad, nor original. You could easily replace the author's name with another and the story wouldn't change.

Loved the book. I found it in a book store and picked one up for each of my grandchildren. I did read it through to be certain it was appropriate (as a Game of Thrones fan). Not too detailed, good read, but won't take them so long they don't get through it. Short chapters, which is wonderful for that age. Has a story line that will draw the reader in.

This is a short novelette written by George R.R. Martin in 1980; it was originally published as part of a collection of short works.

The book is only 107 pages long, and much of its 'length' can be attributed to the larger than normal print and its many illustrations. However, don't let the shortness preclude you from enjoying a good story. Also, the fact that its main protagonists are a child and an 'ice' dragon does not mean that this is a children's story; far from it. The tale has a seriousness to it; a 'tone' of youthful maturity combined with an underlying, subtle sadness. I would consider the scope of this work would be intended for the young adult/adult audience.

And finally, in this story one can see the hints of the talent Martin has on full display in the "Ice and Fire" series; a group of books which has enthralled most fantasy fans over the past decade with its 'no one is safe, everyone is at risk, situations'.

A satisfying short story that is high on quality. 5 Stars.

I purchased two copies to give to my dragon-crazed nephews (7 and 9) for Christmas, but after reading the story myself, I have decided to return the books instead.

(Spoilers)
My decision to return this book is mainly due to the numerous deaths depicted in the story and the tragic ending, which I felt would be more appropriate for a slightly older reader (12+). Your own opinion of what age this book is appropriate for might differ, but I know that my nephews would NOT enjoy reading about the death of uncle Hal and all of the dragons in the story, so back to the store it goes! Granted, I'm familiar enough with Martin's work that I should have known better (he seems to love killing off characters), but I had altered my expectations since this was marketed as a children's novel.

The book is a quick read and has some lovely artwork. There's a young (~6yo) female hero with a unique ability to withstand the cold, but who doesn't seem to relate to and/or show any emotion towards her family. Her only real friend is an ice dragon that can only visit her during winter, but no one else likes the dragon and at one point they're even trying to think of a way to destroy it. There are hints of a battle raging in the nearby area, and the little girl gets to fly around on the dragon. Sadly, with such a short book, it's difficult to become attached to any of the characters (except for the dragon, but that's because he *is* a dragon, which automatically makes him awesome). In the end, the ice dragon battles some evil men who ride on normal dragons and then has to pay the ultimate price by melting into a puddle of water. Unfortunately, no one ever believes that they were saved by the ice dragon (except for the little girl) so there really isn't any reason for the people to change their hostile attitude towards the creatures (which, in my opinion, is the greatest tragedy of this book).

If you are a huge George RR Martin fan, then you will probably enjoy the overall plot and artwork, but might wish that there was more to the story. Unfortunately, this book seems to hover in an odd category, where the story is basic enough for an elementary child to understand, but has content more appropriate for 12+ years (but by that age, kids are already craving deeper stories).

I'll start by saying that I love George R.R. Martin's work. A Song of Ice and Fire is my favorite series for adults. But this book, The Ice Dragon ... I don't know what it wants to be. I'm not sure Martin knows, either. It might be appropriate for a teenage or upper middle grade audience, but (at least the edition I read) is clearly aimed at younger children. And it's definitely NOT a book for younger kids; that much I will say without reservation.

It's a simple story, often poetic, full of lovely imagery that's really quite beautiful. But -- and there's a huge but -- the language of death here is inappropriate for a children's book. I don't oppose the SUBJECT of death in kids' lit, but I do oppose the graphic way it's presented here.

An example:

"She saw a man with his head split open by an axe, and many men covered with caked blood and filth, men who moaned low in their throats as they walked. She smelled men with bodies that were horribly greenish and puffed up ... Most of all Adara saw the burned men. There were dozens of them in every column that passed, men whose skin was black and seared and falling off, who had lost an arm or a leg or half of a face to the hot breath of a dragon."

I mean, my god. Could you imagine reading that to your young child? George R.R. Martin is a great writer, but here it seems he was unable to rein in his most gruesome tendencies for a younger audience. Recommended for teens and above only.

A fantastic story- but save your money and buy his anthologies "Dreamsongs", both 1 & 2. The Ice Dragon is in the first, and there are dozens of other stories you'll recognize as well as his own forwards to them all.

How interesting that Martin's short story, written in 1980, bears minor resemblances to his grand work of today.

While reading this, I had an image of Farmer Giles of Ham, by Tolkien, and wondered if a smart publisher would dig that up and sell it as a children's story. I would personally be very interested to see how well that book would do in today's environment. The Tolkien family, I'm sure, could always use the extra money. (That, of course, was a joke.)

This is a lovely story, and, as another reviewer pointed out, exactly what you would expect from Martin after toning down one of his short stories or novellas for younger readers.

In a world that seems mostly inhabited by "fire" dragons, the "ice" dragon in this story stands out starkly (pun intended for readers of ASoIaF). It appears to be a creature unsuited for its distinctive qualities, only capable of appearing and thriving in winter, and making land barren wherever it lands. Even its very distant cousins, the ice lizards, find themselves uniquely suited for ice and snow, any hint of warmth that touches them is like poison.

Adara, the seven-year-old main character of the story bears striking resemblances to both the dragon and the ice lizards. This isn't a straightforward story - there is a strong symbolic statement that runs quietly from the beginning of the story until the end.

It's truly a gorgeous tale from one of the most decorated writers in fantasy.

Wow, this little story is a fast read, but it is well worth the time and attention! The artwork is brilliant and goes along with the setting perfectly, and for fans of the Game of Thrones series, this story fits right into that world. It isn't necessarily a children's book because there is some violence, but I can see some younger readers really enjoying this book. This is a fantastic story that I recommend everyone read.

The illustrations in this book are very, very cool. Really beautiful. I wish George R.R. Martin had been writing kids books when I was growing up. On the flip side of it being a nice fairy tale, it's also somewhat timely. There are so many children growing up in war zones these days that you hope that at some point in the future they are able to find their smiles again.

This is one of Martin's better works. Originally written in 1980, it's really the first sign of his greatness. The prose flows in a way similar to his famous Ice & Fire series. I think, in technical respects, it's his best work apart from Ice/Fire, with a better flow than Fevre Dream - which is a very strong novel. But you have to understand, this book is designed for a younger audience. The "hero" is a 7 year old girl. That said, it's too gritty at times for children (there is a war, and Martin describes injuries with flair, including a soldier who had taken an axe to the head. Though there's not nearly as much graphic detail as in Ice/Fire). But I do think this book would be perfect for anyone over 12. Young teens will probably enjoy it the most, though even older adults will find something to love - namely, Martin's display of mastery over the written word. The plot is also a very touching one, after all is said and done. Finally, adults should be warned, this a very short book (less than 100pgs, with huge type, and beautiful pictures taking up significant space too). I read it in about 1-2 hours, including breaks. Overall, I highly recommend this for what it is - a book for young people.

When I purchased this book I did not notice how many pages it was. I would not have bought it at its price. I feel like the description should say really, really short story.

In this tale one character had some depth, but she does an about face and changes completely. I am a big fan of Westeros books, but feel cheated with this book, one that a child could have written.

I purchased this for my 9 year old and gave it a quick read. It's a cute little story. The writing is quite simplistic for an adult but should be easily understood by upper elementary students. I'm not in the habit of reading middle grade books, and I'm not sure what this is categorized as, but it seemed a little lacking. Overall...a decent way to kill 30-45 minutes.

This was the first GRRM book I've read. The story wasn't very compelling to me but the illustrations were gorgeous and had the capability to bring the story to life. I have no doubt that fans of GRRM's previous works will enjoy this as well but it unfortunately didn't draw me in as I had thought it might.

George R. R. Martin, The Ice Dragon (Starscape, 1980)

Martin's early kidlit story is an interesting introduction to the genre for young readers, and the recent popularity of his A Song of Ice and Fire series has brought it back into the public eye, with Starscape doing a recent reprint of it in book form. If you missed it the first time, and most of us did, this is a good chance to catch yourself up.

Adara has always been a quiet girl, something of an outcast in her village, and she feels as if there's no place for her there. She has always loved winter, and one year she learns why--she has a special bond with the Ice Dragon, a legendary creature that lives near the village. When war comes to the kingdom, can Adara and the Ice Dragon save the village from destruction?

It's a cute little story, perhaps overly simplistic (adult fiction authors do sometimes have a tendency to severely underestimate the comprehension abilities of the average child) but charming nonetheless. Well worth seeking out for fans of A Song of Ice and Fire. *** ½

The Ice Dragon is a great little story. It was written long before the seven kingdoms had even been contemplated by Mr. Martin. His skills were clearly honed even then... This is the tale of a young girl with ice water coursing through her veins. She has no love, except that which she has for the cold winter. For that is when the ice dragon comes. A creature so cold that no human can touch it without their warm flesh melting its icy scales. No one but young Adara. The ice dragon remained her only friend - the only one who would visit her. Until one day when the helms of the intruders crested the horizon.

Adara must chose between the cold life that she loves, and the warmth which is coupled with uncertainty.

Buy this book for your daughter, and then after she is done with it, read it for yourself.

Relic113

"Martin has stated on his LiveJournal blog that The Ice Dragon is not set in the same world as A Song of Ice and Fire's Westeros, commenting: "The world of Ice & Fire did not exist when I wrote The Ice Dragon".[3] Despite this, several press releases, book covers and commentaries have claimed that it is set in the same world.[4]"

TELL THAT TO VISERYION YOU MONSTER.

What a sweet, middle grade fantasy that focuses on family. The illustrations throughout are what make this story worth reading. Luis Royo did a beautiful job and captured George RR Martin's story in pictures.

Very good book for anyone who wants to discover beyond the world of ASOIAF; has many things that can create potential theories. Also, this book is very well written and feels very much like a George RR Martin book. (Bonus: the illustrations are very very cool). Another good thing about this book is that its not long at all so its perfect for young readers and for fans of ASOIAF who just want something extra (even if they do not have much time on their hands).

I really enjoyed the mostly-narrative telling of this short story, but would have liked the ending to be a little more developed. It seemed to just suddenly crash to a halt. Adara's change was interesting and I wanted the author to elaborate more on her new outlook after losing the "winter" from her spirit. Overall I like the story, and the serious tone was good and fitting. The description of the refugees from the war and the suffering that was present seemed realistic too. I will still glady read other books by Martin, as he seems a very skilled writer.

I found this gem of a book by chance and so glad that I did! A fascinating story of a child that was different than the rest. A child touched by Winter and with a love for the cold. The artwork is beautiful and captures the story wonderfully! I read this with my children. Figured it best since some things might leave them with questions. A great read all around!

I've had a paper version and an electronic version of this short story for a number of years now. I didn't realize until just now that Martin had it published as a children's book. George R. R. Martin is an imaginative and thoughtful writer. And while his books are a good read, his short stories are even better. "The Ice Dragon" is a beautiful story. I often wish he would write more about Adara and the Ice Dragons, but I realize that adding more to the story would not necessarily improve it. He left a lot to the imagination of his readers and it's probably better that way.

Please keep in mind that I have not read this version of "The Ice Dragon". The original was a great read.

The ice dragon was very well written, short
I usually don't like short fantasy because of the lack of time to c develop characters, but now problem here. I looked the story and would recommend it to my fantasy loving friends.

The target audience is children but it deals with themes that might be a touch darker than they are used to. That being said, it is a wonderful book filled with the same beautiful prose and magic with words you'd expect from GRRM, accompanied by the most beautiful illustrations.

I read this and am convinced that Adara grows up to be the Night's Queen. I have no concrete evidence for this nor any in depth research behind this, so my theory is not a spoiler...just speculation; their descriptions match which is why I think this.

I got this book on Sept. 26th, 2006, in Dubuque, Iowa. George Martin was on a book signing for the release of this book, and due to this, the bookstore he was at was selling it early.

Let's start this review off with the obvious. The Ice Dragon is not another book in A Song of Ice and Fire. It's set in a different world, with none of the same characters, and has none of the adult content that those books do. In fact, this book is exactly what Martin said it would be from when he announced that it was being published separately: a children's book. Also, Martin didn't take much time off ASOIAF at all to write this book - in fact, it's been published in an anthology work (Dragons of Light) in 1980. All that has been changed is an editing to remove some of the more graphic content, and illustrations have been done.

Nonetheless, even though this is a children's book that most people who are used to Martin's work will read in about half an hour, the book is quite good. The story is touching, and is not afraid to hide kids from the realities of what can happen in life. There is symbolism a-plenty within this book, and a lot of different concepts to think about, especially for a young reader.

Parents, if you are considering getting this book for your children, I'd just like to say this: make sure you read it with your child. They'll want you there to explain a lot of what happens in the book. Martin, as usual, doesn't pull any punches with the emotional impact of the character's fate, and while I appreciate him not trying to hide the world from kids, some of the concepts may be difficult for them to grasp or easily misinterpreted.

Furthermore, the artwork within the book is stunning. Yvonne Gilbert really outdid herself with the drawings - either they serve as a perfect visual representation of the scene or they continue to reinforce the idea behind the scene.

All in all, The Ice Dragon is an excellent book, and is one I will be keeping on my shelf for many years to come.

Even in a short space, the characters were developed, the plot was appropriately paced, and there was enough background to understand what was happening. I would have liked a bit more of a wrap up in the concluding section, but enjoyed it even without.

I give The Ice Dragon four stars because it's a very good book but it's also very serious. I just adore the fact that there are dragons but I don't think it has enough dialouge. I think it had alot of discription but for me it was too serious. I also didn't really like the fact thet there was an abundance of action rather than than dialogue. It upset me that the Ice Dragon died and I wish it could have more about what happened to him or any other Ice Dragons there could've been. I think it shoul've also talked more about Adara being at her normal state. I believe there was a massive dificiency on how far the story coul've gone on.Even though it was a short story I like the fact that it leaves you wondering about the charactors and events. I think it was a very exquisit book. If I had to recomended it. I'd only recomended it to people who enjoy serious fantasy books(but anyone can read it).

I really enjoyed it! A great short read, it took me a about an hour so it's great for a George rr Martin fan who is looking for a quick read. Also the artwork is AMAZING! My one problem is that it really does not fit into the a song of ice and fire canon.

Adara is a winter child. Her mother died at her birth. Her father remains aloof for she looks like her mother and Adara doesn't get the teaching and hugs of her brother and sister. Adara is cold hardly showing emotion and also with a blue tinge and cold skin. She loves winter and it's freezing winds and the Ice Dragons that no one have every tamed.

Adara's world it at war and she doesn't want to leave the North and the lose of her friend the Ice Dragon. When the war comes to Adara's farm there's choices to be made and while still a child, Adara must make choices that would daunt and adult but she makes her choices with her heart.

It's a lovely tale. Adara is an complex child and the tale will captivate adults as well as children. The book is illustrated.

My wife and I were excited to read an "enchanting tale of courage and sacrifice for young readers" from George R. R. Martin but were sorely let down by the book's resolution. Details, with spoilers, are below, but in short I'll just say that, despite a setup that had some enchantment, the book's ending is depressing and steals from the reader any sense of magic, wonder, or joy that one could, and should, have walked away with from a story billed as a "heartwarming story of a young girl and her dragon".

Unless you want to teach your child about suffering and disappointment, do not let them read this book.

EXPLANATION WITH SPOILERS: The main character is a strange girl in a country at war (both sides have dragon riders) who, amazingly, befriends a fearsome ice dragon. It's a good setup, and you start thinking that she'll use this magical kinship to save her family, ward off the enemy dragon riders, and then--in spite of formerly being an outsider--be praised as a hero. What actually happens in the book is that--while she does save her father and siblings--her uncle (a dragon rider) is burned alive in front of her, it's pretty clear--when you read between the lines--that her sister was raped by one or more of the three enemy dragon riders, and the ice dragon dies in the fight. To top it all off, when she tries to tell her surviving family that the ice dragon saved them THEY THINK SHE'S LYING. They live the rest of their lives convinced she made it all up and there was no ice dragon. What a horrifying resolution!!

As much as I enjoy the short stories and extras associated with A Song of Fire and Ice, I would much more enjoy reading the next book in the series. It seems that if George R. r. Martin spent the time on that instead of these little stories we would have the rest of the books in a timely manner.

That said, this was a decent story.

A great story with a sad ending. I wished the book would go on and on
forever. I liked it because it was a dragon story that ended good. So I
think anyone from 8 to 14 would like this book. Although it was sad I like
it as much as any book.

well, i boght this book excpecting to read a short and pretty childrns fiery tale.
i was wrong.
the book is about a war, about death and a broken family. adults probably won't like it, becuse it's simple.
this is a book that will be complicated for young readers, but perfect for intlegant one.

This author of adult-oriented fantasy fiction seeks to prove to his predominantly-male fans that he can write for their little daughters too. He fails.

Martin normally writes for adults. It might not be 100% clear to online shoppers that this volume, when one actually gets one's hands on it, is clearly presented as a kid's book. It contains perhaps 20 to 30 pages of normal text, stretched out to over 100 pages by child-friendly formatting and numerous (but mediocre) pictures. The cover art, picturing a little girl riding an ice dragon, defines the target audience. I understand a different version of this tale, not specifically intended for kids, appeared in the "Dragons of Light" fantasy anthology in the 1980s. I have not read that version. I review this version as a kids' book, since that is what it purports to be.

The main character is a little girl, but the story is, at best, inconsistent about presenting things from the little girl's perspective. It could hardly be otherwise, for this little girl has a heart of ice, never smiles or laughs, and cares nothing for her family. She only loves the winter, and the Ice Dragon that is its personification. She seems quite satisfied with her situation, so we view her from without, as adults might, as a bizarre child with a strange abnormality.

At one point, someone acuses the father of being to blame for the child's strange condition. He is cold to the child (he is told) because he blames her killing her mother in childbirth, and this has caused the child's emotional coldness. The father defends himself again this charge: He loves his little ice girl most of all, but she is cold towards him, and so he is merely reacting to her behavior. The real reason for the child's coldness is that she was touched in the womb by the Ice Dragon. And as far as we can tell from the story, the father is 100% correct. This seemingly endorses the idea that the child is responsible for the parent's behavior -- an odd reversal.

But in the course of defending the poor, falsely-accused father, the author puts forth, almost gratuitously, the idea that the child is to blame for her mother's death. He just lets this notion lie there, uncontradicted and unaddressed, for the remainder of the tale. Any idea that this notion could cause guilt and anguish to some child who has lost a mother seems not to have crossed the author's mind. As long as Daddy is held blameless, it seems, everything is fine. Nobody need worry about the Ice Child's feelings, because the Ice Child has none. Pity instead the poor widowed father whose little girl does not love him enough.

Meanwhile, the author draws a totally-inappropriate contrast between the abnormal ice-hearted little girl, and her normal older sister who flirts with all the boys. Uh -- what do you expect, Mr. Martin? She is only five! The hormones don't kick in for a few years yet.

SPOILERS will follow:

Meanwhile, battle looms on the horizon, and as defeated soldiers flee the Enemy we are treated to descriptions of gruesome battle wounds that leave little to the imagination. The old fashioned trick of hinting at horrors, and permitting children to imagine as much as they are prepared to handle, is not one we get from Mr. Martin.

But don't worry. When the enemy reaches the family homestead, and the little girl hears her Daddy scream, her heart will melt. She will sacrifice her beloved Ice Dragon to save Daddy from the foe, and be a normal little girl from then on. Turns out the little Ice Girl loves Daddy after all. So it's a happy ending -- especially for Daddy!

This book was not even close to what I expected. I thought that it would be a part of the "Game of Thrones". It turns out that book was written about and for a little girl. It felt as though it was rushed through on the writing and did not have much substance to it.

price is a rip off. this is a VERY short story that should be sold for $2-$3 as a Kindle single. almost $10 once the store adds tax, for a story that I read in less than 20 minutes. other than the scam price, its a pretty cool story - if you are a GRRM/GoT junkie. if not, I wouldn't bother with it.

this was enjoyable to read however I certainly hope i don't have to wait six years to read the conclusion. Apparently the powers that be don't think my review long enough. Fine then her are more words. I wish the book had more of tyrion daenerys and jon snow instead of less interesting characters.

It's a kids book. I bought it because I was addicted to the author's "Fire & Ice" series. I liked the illustrations a lot. They were not too detailed but descriptive; they added to the story. The story was about children, but with adult themes; like life, death, love, loss. I gave it to my grand nephew, but I read it first. I liked it.

The book is a short story which should not be offerred to buyers of Martin's novels. Since I have read his "Game of Throne" series, I was very disappointed in what I perceive to be a children's novel/short story.

this book is dribble..... you know why he takes 5-7 years to writea book? his flagship books? [the song of fire and ice].. ya know, his bread and butter. what made him rich in the first place? cause he cant stop writing other books that are very subpar and globetrotting signing books and kissing babies.. sit your butt down and Write George! that damn hbo show is already caught up with your writing... now us that love the books wont be able to enjoy the show or the books until you do some actual writing!

This book is simply not for children. If you are an adult, it is perhaps a 2-star book. I say this as a fan of the author's other works.

This book begins full of promise, with a very evocative magical start. Even at the start, however, it has some very dark concepts, which are hard to explain to a child. For example, the main character's mother died birthing her. It is hinted that she has a dark side within her, which led to her mother's death and may be slowly freezing the natural world around her. Her father is driven to drink and behaves poorly as a parent.

Right when we think the magical aspects of the story may save this, the book becomes very hurried, as if the author suddenly felt the need to wrap it all up. None of the interesting threads truly develop, the story instead focusing on war and suffering. Details are not spared and can be way too graphic and descriptive for a young reader. The girl makes a series of terrible choices which are hard to explain as a parent - decisions which if the reader thinks them through are costing others their lives!

The entire last half of the book is gloomy at best and downright depressing and scary for kids the rest of the time. Hopelessness and despair are common themes. Even when the main character finally decides to turn things around the battle is filled with sadness and the conclusion is far from positive. Supporting characters die and the solution to the problem between two warring armies is for the good guys to burn the 'bad guys' capital. The resolution is dissatisfying to most adults and very hard to explain to kids. If you do read this to your children, consider pre-reading it and making changes as you read to avoid the worst spots.

in my opinion George is just trying to cash in on game of thrones and pushing out junk like this instead of giving us the final book. probably waiting for HBO to catch up before he releases it. sellout.