Mads Vorten is a tough, brave and intelligent man, the leader of an uprising in which the stake was to break free from the yoke of a cruel dragon and his followers. But now he has landed in captivity, and what’s worse, he has been given an ultimatum: he will either help the dwarves regain at least some of their territory, or his unit will perish. Mads, known for his courage, does not even consider leaving his companions in distress, and although the mission seems abstract and impossible to implement, he undertakes it. He does not realize, however, that on the way he will also have to face old enemies and his own memories and desires.
Mr. Marcin, when you write something
I have a slight problem with the Frosty Trail novel. On the one hand, it’s just perfect. It begins with an interesting historical description and a summary of the events that shape the current socio-political situation. Later, a strong, enterprising, and clever hero is introduced, whose motives are clear and pleasantly justified. In the next stage, readers are thrown into a whirlwind of intrigue, fights and wandering (at the same time they are not overwhelmed by it, because the pace and emotions are properly dosed), which leads to a satisfactory ending. On the other hand, while reading, I had the feeling that the characters knew much more than I do. Their previous stories, experiences and fights, although fragmentarily mentioned, did not give me a full picture of what was happening and how I should perceive these heroes. It did not take away the pleasure of reading, but it caused that I could enjoy it in such 85% percent. Earlier, the writer had published two other novels in this world with another publisher, so I suspect it would be worth getting to know them (before I started on the adventures of Mads Voorten).
Not good dragons!
The frosty trail is primarily dark fantasy. There is no place here for indulgence, charming romances or fabulous adventure missions. This world is brutal, and the characters who function in it every day have to make difficult decisions. Mads is an excellent strategist who is always a step ahead in his actions compared to others, so something that even looks like normal behavior turns out to be a well-thought-out plan, implemented in stages over time. The loyal team of companions is also full of extraordinary and memorable personalities.
It’s been a long time since I read a novel in which the great lizards would be, on the one hand, an object of worship, and on the other, they would be characterized by imperfect characters. The dragon babies in this novel are a very interesting idea – differing in posture, behavior, powers and even the level of intelligence, they were for me an intriguing combination of two aspects: animal and human.
To read or not to read – that is the question
Despite the 15% that I felt was a lack of knowledge, it was an interesting read. The world was created precisely, the characters of the people who appeared were not briefly described, but were guided by specific motivations. I think this book will surely find a lot of fans.
