Fantasy fans of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and John Flanagan’s Ranger’s Apprentice series will embrace this first novel in an adventure-filled, Viking-inspired series by a debut author.
Meet Karn. He is destined to take over the family farm in Norrøngard. His only problem? He’d rather be playing the board game Thrones and Bones.
Enter Thianna. Half human, half frost giantess. She’s too tall to blend in with other humans but too short to be taken seriously as a giant.
When family intrigues force Karn and Thianna to flee into the wilderness, they have to keep their sense of humor and their wits about them. But survival can be challenging when you’re being chased by a 1,500-year-old dragon, Helltoppr the undead warrior and his undead minions, an evil uncle, wyverns, and an assortment of trolls and giants.
Readers will embark on a sweeping epic fantasy as they join Karn and Thianna on a voyage of discovery. Antics and hair-raising escapades abound in this fantasy adventure as the two forge a friendship and journey to unknown territory. Their plan: to save their families from harm.
Debut novelist Lou Anders has created a rich world of over twenty-five countries inhabited by Karn, Thianna, and an array of fantastical creatures, as well as the Thrones and Bones board game.
Praise for Frostborn:
"Future fans of Tolkien and George R.R. Martin can happily cut their serial-fantasy teeth on this first book of an eventual series." -Kirkus Reviews
"A fun, fast-paced, and highly enjoyable tale." -Garth Nix, bestselling author of the Abhorsen trilogy
*"...a powerful, fast-paced tale... The setting is rich, the characters well-defined, and the danger ever-paramount." -Publishers Weekly, starred
"...an excellent choice for readers new to the genre. The themes of staying true to oneself, teamwork, and individuality will resonate with readers." -School Library Journal
"...this accessible fantasy brings together two very different children bound by common goals." -Booklist
"The most delightful fantasy I have read in ages. . . . Put me on the waiting list for book 2!" -Amy Plum, international bestselling author of the Die For Me series
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful.
Kids should love this
By Tim C. Ward
I think kids are going to love this. As someone who has never been interested enough in middle grade fantasy (fantasy for ages 8-12), I was really impressed with how much I liked this. Frostborn is a smart adventure story for fans of dragons, frost giants, dwarves, swordfights and strategy games. There is a fair amount of humor, one examble coming from two-headed trolls that our young hero Karn must outsmart to survive. There are also funny draugs, Walking Dead soldiers who play a kind of dumb grave guard as they chase our heroes.Anders does a good job combining the lighthearted feel of this genre's fantasy adventure with high stakes conflict. His two main characters meet ghosts, dragons and more. They have to wield magic and smarts to escape fast-paced chase scenes and to save the lives of their family. The content of the battles is light enough for parents who may afraid of gore in their children's reads, but for imaginative adults, the action is exciting and painful in the unspoken subtext. Frozen worms through a nose? Ouch, but the description isn't like you'd see in an adult movie. The effect worked perfectly for both audiences.On top of all this fun and adventure is a coming of age story for our two young children. The first, Karn, is only interested in playing his Thrones and Bones boardgame. His father will pass down the family farm when he dies, so it is important to him that he train Karn to succeed. He loves his son, and when they pass on into the afterlife, he wants to be able to move on with pride. We feel that desire of Karn for his father to be proud, but we also feel his wanting to not have to be stuck taking care of a farm when so much adventure and travel could be had. Karn shows his strengths in a good heart and a keen mind at strategy as learned through his game. Anders told a well rounded and emotional story for Karn that utilized his strengths while also forcing him to grow. He will be a great character to follow in future books.The other main character is a half-breed human frost giant who is the child of a hero, but has doubts in her self because she is only half as tall as the pure bred frost giants she lives with. Her story also involves loving parents and a new friend, Karn, who want her to see where she is special and strong instead of different and weak. I had fun watching her grow up and utilize her skiing and other special powers and abilities as they run down hill from a fearful enemy. Great ending to her story as well.Anders gets five stars for creating such likable characters, making them think and mature to meet larger-than-life challenges, and for starting what will be a series of books that kids and adults will love to escape into and explore.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful.Exciting new series
By Peggy Tibbetts
Karn and Thianna are as strikingly different as any two 12-year olds could possibly be. Karn hails from Norrøngard, a mythical Norse country. Destined to become a farmer, he faces a future of slopping pigs and bartering at the local market. In the meantime, clever Karn is obsessed with playing Thrones and Bones, a board game which happens to be the locals’ favorite pastime. Unbeknownst to him, his Uncle Ori plots and plans a wicked game of this own which is about to turn Karn’s life inside out.Thianna is half-giant, half-human, and seven feet tall, which is small for a giant but she’s still growing. Born and raised with the giants on Gunnlod’s Plateau in the Ymerian Mountains, Thianna knows only a little about her human mother who died. But she is about to learn a whole lot more when a flock of warrior women swoop into her village to take back what they deem to be their property.In the midst of their crossed purposes, Karn and Thianna cross paths and destiny takes over. Their otherwise boring lives become a non-stop, action-packed adventure that includes close encounters with sprites, farting trolls, one enormous rude dragon, wyverns (flying reptiles), and the dreaded After Walkers.“Frostborn” is the first book in the Thrones and Bones series. The actual rules of the game are included in the end notes. Anders weaves game strategy throughout the story, which adds a layer of fun and games for savvy readers who want to get more involved in this exciting new series.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.Of Men And Giants (Or Half Giantesses)
By Nocturnus
This series must be read in order. This is the first book.Karn is adventurous and always thinking. Especially about his favorite game Thrones and Bones. He does not car about his family farm or running it... He cares even less for trading and haggling of any kind! He is intrigued by his Uncle Ori though it seems he never knows what Ori is up to. Will Karn ever find a worthy opponent for Thrones and Bones? What is Uncle Ori up to? Will Karn ever escape his destiny and get to have adventures of his own? Why couldn't HE have an older brother like Ori did?!Thianna is half human and half frost giant. The other young giants always make fun of her because she is maybe half their size. This has made her incredibly sensitive and forces her to play harder at games. She NEEDS to win to prove to her peers she is just as good a giant as they are. The only problem is that they don't like it when she wins which only further ostracizes her especially as she can do things they are physically incapable of. Thianna wishes to be all frost giant and forget her human side all together. Will Thianna ever find acceptance within the giant community? Will she ever be large enough for the others to quit picking on her for being a halfbreed? Is there a way for her to cast off and out her human half and become all frost giant? Why does her father feel she needs to acknowledge and celebrate her human half anyways?!This was an awesome pure fantasy action adventure romp full of sword and sorcery fun! There are loads of races and tons of magic tossed in with mysteries and intrigues aplenty! Based loosely on Norse history and culture (but without the worlds being separated) I was easily swept away and quickly learned the mythos so much so I was completely immersed in the fast paced adventures. I loved this book and can't wait for the next one to come out so I can find out what is in store for our two unlikely heroes!***This series is written at a middle grade reading level but is appropriate to be read to younger children and is even tons of fun for adult readers :)
