title: Goddess of the Ice Realm (Lord of the Isles)
author:  David Drake 
description: Best known for his military SF (Grimmer than Hell, etc.), Drake is less adept at epic fantasy, as shown in this overlong, wearying novel, the fifth installment in his Lord of the Isles series. Young Prince Garric, his beautiful blonde sister Sharina, his boyhood friend Cashel and Ilna, Cashel's witch-weaver sister, have finally reached their goal, the island kingdom of Carcosa, from which Garric will rule. If only it were that easy. He must first reunite the many island kingdoms, disunited for a millennium. While Garric battles nasty villains and giant centipedes, Drake drops Sharina, Ilna and Cashel each into trouble on separate other-dimensional worlds. His crosscuts between his different story lines call to mind D.W. Griffith's Intolerance, in both their dexterity and monotony. Out of the author's inexhaustible imagination come endless dragons, demons and undersea monsters, as well as two more original and memorable creations: Beard, an insatiably bloodthirsty and chattering axe wielded by Sharina, and Evne, an enchanted female talking toad that accompanies Cashel. Written in an accessible style and with only mild violence and no sex, this series is particularly suitable for adolescent fantasy fans, especially those with a lot of patience.<br />Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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  **P RAISE FOR THE LORD OF THE ISLES**
  
  
  **_The Fortress of Glass_**
  
  
  “Drake possesses every skill necessary to make this story a thoroughly
  absorbing one, even to new readers. Those who have sailed with him through the
  preceding two Isles trilogies ought to eagerly demand it.
  
  
  — _Booklist_
  
  
  **_Master of the Cauldron_**
  
  
  “Drake’s grasp of large-scale action, as well as small dramas, makes him a
  superb storyteller. The sixth addition to his Lord of the Isles series belongs
  in most fantasy collections.”
  
  
  — _Library Journal_
  
  
  “Drake writes this kind of fantasy adventure as well as anyone active in the
  field and has a real gift for the intricacies of court intrigues.”
  
  
  — _Science Fiction Chronicle_
  
  
  “Great, gritty realism on both material and magical planes, and Hell quite
  literally breaks loose on occasion. The audience for this kind of fantasy saga
  should prove large and ongoing.”
  
  
  — _Booklist_
  
  
  **_Goddess of the Ice Realm