A thrilling, nonstop adventure with vibrant characters and the kind of richly imagined world you never want to leave.” — Shannon Messenger, New York Times bestselling author of the Keeper of the Lost Cities series
“Amie Kaufman charges onto the scene with Ice Wolves, a story full of epic beasts and endearing heroes that will keep you reading late into the night. If you’ve ever wanted to go on an adventure, read this book.” — Marie Lu, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Young Elites
“Dragons! Wolves! Epic battles! Divided loyalties! Amie Kaufman’s Ice Wolves is full of fast-paced adventure, but at its heart it’s also the tale of one boy facing two classic questions: Where do I belong? and Who am I? The answers he finds will enthrall any reader.” — Margaret Peterson Haddix, New York Times bestselling author of the Shadow Children series and the Missing series
“Unique and utterly spellbinding; a fast-paced, fantastical thrill ride from beginning to end.” — Gregory Funaro, New York Times bestselling author of Alistair Grim’s Odditorium
“With propulsive prose and impeccable pacing, Amie Kaufman has created a wholly absorbing fantasy world that feels both ancient and dangerous. Readers will devour this tale of fire and ice, magic and mystery, family and friendship—and immediately beg for the next book. Engrossing and vibrant.” — Claire Legrand, acclaimed author of Foxheart
“Nestled between fast-paced action and vivid imagery, Kaufman deftly shares with us the heartache of lives diverging, of losing the one person who has always been with you in the fight against the world. I feel this story so deeply and I want more!” — Alex Gino, award-winning author of George
“What a treat to have a magical world full of diverse characters in which any young person can imagine themselves as powerful shape-shifters. An engaging world and cliffhanger ending leave readers wanting more.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Nestled between fast-paced action and vivid imagery, Kaufman deftly shares with us the heartache of lives diverging, of losing the one person who has always been with you in the fight against the world. I feel this story so deeply and I want more!
Unique and utterly spellbinding; a fast-paced, fantastical thrill ride from beginning to end.
Dragons! Wolves! Epic battles! Divided loyalties! Amie Kaufman’s Ice Wolves is full of fast-paced adventure, but at its heart it’s also the tale of one boy facing two classic questions: Where do I belong? and Who am I? The answers he finds will enthrall any reader.
A thrilling, nonstop adventure with vibrant characters and the kind of richly imagined world you never want to leave.
Amie Kaufman charges onto the scene with Ice Wolves, a story full of epic beasts and endearing heroes that will keep you reading late into the night. If you’ve ever wanted to go on an adventure, read this book.
01/22/2018
In this lively first book in the Elementals trilogy, orphaned twins who have grown up as street thieves are separated for the first time when their shapeshifting abilities manifest. Twelve-year-old Anders becomes an ice wolf, and his sister, Rayna, transforms into a scorch dragon—a traditional enemy of the wolves. After Rayna is stolen away by other dragons for their own purposes, Anders is invited to attend the Ulfar Academy, a school dedicated to training ice wolves to guard their land against dragon attacks. Anders just wants to learn enough to locate and rescue his sister, but the more he bonds with his new friends and delves into his special abilities, the more he wonders if there’s something else to the conflict between ice and fire. In her first solo novel, Kaufman (Unearthed) conjures an intriguing world with memorable, diverse characters. Although the backstory isn’t entirely fleshed out, and some of the twists are predictable, the premise is solid, backed up by an enticing blend of magic, action, and excitement. Ages 8–12. Agent: Tracey Adams, Adams Literary. (Mar.)
With propulsive prose and impeccable pacing, Amie Kaufman has created a wholly absorbing fantasy world that feels both ancient and dangerous. Readers will devour this tale of fire and ice, magic and mystery, family and friendship—and immediately beg for the next book. Engrossing and vibrant.
12/01/2017
Gr 4–6—Anders and his twin sister Rayna could not be any different. Rayna is quick and confident. Anders always seems to make mistakes and needs Rayna far more than she needs him. But when the twins must participate in a magical selection ceremony to keep from being discovered as pickpockets, things take a dramatic turn. Ice Wolves and Scorch Dragons are enemies and no family in remembrance has produced one of each, until now. When Rayna turns into a dragon and Anders turns into a wolf, they separate for the first time. Growing in confidence at the Ulfar Academy, Anders and his friend set out to reunite with his sister and discover why the magical artifacts that protect the people of Vallen and help control the powers of ice and fire are failing. This story of magic and mystery is hindered by a slow pace and an unsatisfying resolution. The first of a planned trilogy, the tale begins with a bang and ends with a bit of a whimper. Characters are interesting but not explored to their full potential. VERDICT A slow start for a long journey. Consider as a secondary purchase where fantasy with animal elements circulates well.—Elizabeth Speer, Weatherford College, TX
★ 2017-11-22
Twelve-year-old twins discover that they have opposing elemental powers that could change the fate of the entire realm.Homeless, orphan twins Rayna and Anders have spent most of their lives stealing and picking the pockets of rich tourists to survive. Pickings are good at the Trial of the Staff, when the entire village of Holbard gathers to see which of its 12-year-old members have the elemental power to shape-shift into an ice wolf and qualify for the Ulfar Academy. At this event, both twins discover elemental powers: Anders has ice wolf blood and Rayna, dragon blood—but dragon and wolf are enemies. They are separated when Rayna, in dragon form, flees the Wolf Guard, later to be captured by other dragons. Now Anders has no choice but to join Ulfar Academy in order to learn what the Wolf Guard teaches about dragons, as it is imperative that he locate and save his twin sister. As Anders grows close to the members of the Wolf Guard, he discovers secrets about the true relationship between dragons and wolves. Both twins have brown skin and black, curly hair, and Holbard is a genuinely diverse community. What a treat to have a magical world full of diverse characters in which any young person can imagine themselves as powerful shape-shifters. This engaging page-turner honestly earns its forthcoming sequel.An engaging world and cliffhanger ending leave readers wanting more. (Fantasy. 10-14)