Ice by Sarah Beth Durst

Book Synopsis: When Cassie was a little girl, her grandmother told her a fairy tale about her mother, who made a deal with the Polar Bear King and was swept away to the ends of the earth. Now that Cassie is older, she knows the story was a nice way of saying her mother had died. Cassie lives with her father at an Arctic research station, is determined to become a scientist, and has no time for make-believe. Then, on her eighteenth birthday, Cassie comes face-to-face with a polar bear who speaks to her. He tells her that her mother is alive, imprisoned at the ends of the earth. And he can bring her back -- if Cassie will agree to be his bride. That is the beginning of Cassie's own real-life fairy tale, one that sends her on an unbelievable journey across the brutal Arctic, through the Canadian boreal forest, and on the back of the North Wind to the land east of the sun and west of the moon. Before it is over, the world she knows will be swept away, and everything she holds dear will be taken from her -- until she discovers the true meaning of love and family in the magical realm of Ice. (Product Description)

I love fairy tales, and any story that starts with "Once upon a time" always makes my heart leap.This one of a beast and his beauty about knocked my socks off….no I take that back I was so cold reading through all the snow and ice I needed my toasty socks on. At one point late in the night I asked my hubby to build me a fire because just reading this adventure made me chilly. A Scandinavian telling of Beauty and the Beast is transformed to present day, giving us a girl who lives on an Arctic research station with her father and his assistants. Cassie kind of gives you the feel of Liv Tyler’s character in Armageddon- smart, beautiful, growing up in dads world being raised by all the guys…..the difference- Cassie’s mom never abandoned her, she was blown to the troll castle by her father the north wind……sounds far-fetched yes but this was a fabulous absolutely wonderful fantasy story.

So let’s jump in with a little but a Cassie: being a young scientist, living in the Arctic this gal is no princess. Cassie has been homeschooled all her life, and only knows how to live surrounded by the ice. She is far from being inclined to believe in magic, though when she was little her grandmother used to tell her a magical story about how her missing mother was the adopted daughter of the North Wind, stolen by trolls after having bargained Cassie away to a magical bear. Cassie thinks her father doesn't believe in fairy tales, either, but when she meets the Polar Bear King, her father freaks and wants to send her away ASAP. Cassie's first reaction…(like any sane person) ”ok did I just hit my head and land in bizarre-O world”? No way was she leaving and no way was some make believe polar bear going to ruin her future.

Although outrageous, after having a full on conversation with Bear, Cassie realizes that her father has lied, and her grandmother's story is true. So Cassie makes a deal…..save her mother from the trolls and she would marry him. After the vows are said and mom is safe back home Cassie is stuck in Bears castle, but soon she learns to enjoy his company, eventually falling in love with him. NOW…before you get grossed out Bear does take the form of a man by night. BUT..there is one rule: she can never see Bears human face or it will bring devastating consequences!!

Despite love and happiness each will betray the other, one out of ignorance and one out of foolishness. In an act of anger Cassie breaks her promise and her world is turned upside down. Pregnant and alone she must journey to the ends of the earth, fighting enemies who will trick her, lie to her and tempt to steal everything that matters. In the Arctic wilderness, Cassie encounters the dangers of the ice, cold and open ocean water. With a touch of irony the same ice that Cassie loves so much, is bound by nature to kill her. Durst has a tremendous gift to detail, written beautifully I felt as if I were in the Arctic, surrounded by polar bears on Cassie’s unseemly endless journey on the ice. Our brave hero uses her knowledge of survival as well as relying on magical allies (which I can’t tell you about- because you have to read this to find out) to accomplish her goal of retrieving her shape-shifting husband. I loved the intriguing aspects of the Aspens and the trolls and how poetic the story came together. I seriously did not want the story to end!!!

Favorite Quote: You're my twaaqan, my soul mate

5/5 YA Fantasy