Ice (Durst novel)
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Founder | Sarah Beth Durst |
| Products | Fantasy novel |
Ice is a novel authored by Sarah Beth Durst, offering a contemporary adaptation of the Norwegian fairy tale East of the Sun and West of the Moon. In 2009, it received a nomination for the Andre Norton Award.
Plot
During her childhood, Cassie's grandmother recounted that her absent mother had been taken by North Wind to live as his daughter and eventually become the bride of a polar bear king. The North Wind’s daughter fell in love with Cassie's father and negotiated with the bear king for her own daughter to wed the bear. The bear consented, concealing both Cassie’s mother and father. When North Wind discovered his daughter, she implored him to take her away instead of her family; he carried her off, leading to her capture by trolls. Cassie regarded this story as a mere fairy tale meant to explain her mother’s disappearance.
Growing up at the Eastern Beaufort Research Station in Alaska, Cassie dreams of pursuing a career as an arctic scientist. On her eighteenth birthday, she spots a massive polar bear but is unable to capture it. Her father then insists she move to live with her grandmother in Fairbanks, a proposal she declines. Soon after, the bear returns and claims her as his bride. Surprised by his otherworldly nature, Cassie agrees to marry him on the condition that he rescues her mother from the trolls.
The polar bear—known simply as "Bear"—transports Cassie to an ice palace and reveals himself as a "munaqsri," a soul transporter who maintains natural equilibrium by managing polar bear souls. At night, Bear assumes human form and explains that Cassie must bear children to inherit the role of munaqsri herself. She refuses but they develop a close relationship.
Bear often departs to deliver souls to newborn polar bears. Noticing Cassie's unease, he permits her to visit the research station where she reunites with her traumatized mother, Gail. Returning with Bear, she shares data to help predict polar bear births and accompanies him on his duties. Later, Cassie discovers she is pregnant despite using contraception, which Bear had magically rendered ineffective. Feeling betrayed, she exposes his human face with a flashlight, breaking their agreement and forcing Bear into marriage with the troll princess.
Determined to find Bear, Cassie ventures onto the ice, protected by polar bears. She contacts other munaqsri and is brought to Father Forest, who cares for her until the baby is born since Bear is presumed dead. After escaping months later, she falls from a cliff and is rescued by Jamie Ieuk, a human munaqsri who heals her after she hints at many souls needing collection. Remembering that her mother is North Wind’s daughter, Cassie summons South and East Winds to reach her grandfather. Overcome with guilt regarding Gail’s fate, North Wind blows Cassie toward the trolls’ domain.
At the trolls’ stronghold, Cassie reunites with Bear under the condition that she convinces him to father a child with the troll princess—an impossibility since trolls lack physical bodies. Torn between loyalty to her husband and the unborn child, Cassie gains insight into her father’s earlier decision and is expelled as her baby is born. Jamie assists with the delivery but lacks a soul for the newborn. Realizing trolls are lost souls seeking incarnation, Cassie persuades Jamie to collect the troll princess’s soul for their child. With this resolved, Cassie arranges for Jamie and other munaqsri to gather troll spirits while she and Bear return home with their daughter.
Characters
- Cassandra Dasent: The main character who was brought up at an Arctic research facility, initially believing her mother’s disappearance was a gentle way of describing her death. As she matures, she uncovers the reality and learns that she has existed as a spirit since her birthday.
- Bear: Known as the ruler of polar bears, he was promised a bride by the North Wind. The North Wind’s daughter, Gail, offered her own child to Bear in exchange for marrying the man she loved. Bear searches for Gail’s daughter once she reaches adulthood.
- Gail: Also called Abigail, she is Cassie’s mother and the North Wind’s adopted daughter. Following Cassie’s birth, the North Wind handed Gail over to the trolls for eighteen years, inflicting significant trauma. When Cassie reunites with her mother, she finds her emotionally distant and withdrawn.
- Laszlo Dasent: Cassie’s father, who knew about Gail’s history but chose not to pursue it to shield Cassie. He opposed revealing supernatural matters to her. After Cassie returns from the ice castle, he attempts to relocate her away from the research station; however, she departs alongside Bear.
- Ingrid Dasent: Laszlo’s mother and Cassie’s grandmother residing in Fairbanks. She recounted Gail’s story to Cassie until Laszlo intervened. Ingrid took care of Cassie during her early years.
- Father Forest: Met by Cassie during her journey to find Bear; he initially seems supportive but later reveals plans to confine her until she gives birth. Cassie ultimately manages to escape his grasp.
- Jamison "Jamie" Ieuk: An Inuk munaqsri tasked with guiding human souls who spares Cassie after she persuades him that more than 25,000 souls remain without bodies.
See also
- East by Edith Pattou