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Thrones & Bones #1
Frostborn
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.
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.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published August 5, 2014
About the author
Lou Anders
39 books202 followersLOU ANDERS is the author of the novel Once Upon a Unicorn, the Thrones & Bones trilogy of fantasy adventure novels (Frostborn, Nightborn, and Skyborn), and the novel Star Wars: Pirate’s Price. He is the recipient of a Hugo Award for editing and a Chesley Award for art direction. In the tabletop roleplaying game world, Anders is the creator and publisher of the Thrones & Bones: Norrøngard campaign setting. He has also done game design for Kobold Press, River Horse, and 3D Printed Tabletop. In 2016, he was named a Thurber House Writer-in-Residence and spent a month in Columbus, Ohio, teaching, writing, and living in a haunted house. When not writing, designing, and editing, he enjoys playing roleplaying games, 3D printing, weightlifting, and watching movies. He lives with his wife, children, and two golden doodles in Birmingham, Alabama. You can visit Anders online at louanders.com or on Facebook, Instagram, and other social networks.
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August 31, 2014
Originally published on my blog,
ReadLove
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It’s tough being twelve. And when you add things like duty and legacies to the equation, it’s even tougher.
Karn Korlundr’s father talks of nothing but responsibility. As firstborn son, Karn’s next in line to be hauld and inherit the family farm. Though this is a position of rank in Norrøngard, Karn sees no honor in it. He has different dreams — his sights are set on seeing the world. He’d much rather hone his skill at the traditional board game Thrones and Bones than study farming and trading.
Family heritage also casts an uncomfortable shadow for Thianna. Her father is a giant, but her mother was human, so at only seven feet, Thianna cuts a puny figure for a frost giant. And bully Thrudgelmir never lets her forget it. His incessant mocking leaves Thianna ashamed of her differences and convinced that she’ll never measure up.
An annual trade gathering brings Karn and Thianna together. And when individual dangers have them each on the run, they cross paths and unite in a struggle for survival.
Too frequently in a book, you grow weary of exposition as you wait for the adventure to begin. Not so with Frostborn. Anders quickly develops interest and sympathy for his players, and it’s enjoyable to simply watch them in their everyday lives. Readers will relish the chance to explore Anders’ compelling world alongside Karn and Thianna. As future installments promise to expand the territorial map, fans of series like Ranger’s Apprentice should be eager to follow this adventure and watch the world grow.
There are worthy villains here: a mysterious stranger, a treacherous uncle akin to The Lion King‘s Scar or Hamlet‘s Claudius, two-headed trolls, and ghostly warriors. If that’s not enticing enough, there are also dragons, or “wyverns”. The story benefits from perfect pacing. Anders handily manages alternating narrative viewpoints, jumping from one hero to the other in the same chapter before the two finally merge.
Have I mentioned how fond I am of these characters? It’s a pleasure to watch Karn and Thianna interact. I’ve not found a young heroine as endearing as Thianna in some time. Since when have we seen a girl beam with pride when someone remarks how large she is! Karn’s fittingly awkward around Thianna, and there’s a lot of banter and silliness derived from the size differential between the two. Though our protagonists begin the tale as lovable little misfits (well, maybe Thianna’s not so little), they find they are made of stronger stuff than they once believed.
Verdict 4.5 of 5 hearts. A Delightful Fantasy That Will Entertain and Inspire.
Frostborn lies in a literary sweet spot — the gap between middle grade and young adult. Within its pages, kids aged 10 to 14 will find a perfect introduction to the fantasy/adventure genre, one with just the right mix of humor, suspense, and adventure. Lou Anders’ Norse-influenced work couldn’t be released at a better time. The popularity of Disney’s Frozen should make picking up this book feel natural!
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I would like to thank Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for allowing me access to the title. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
It’s tough being twelve. And when you add things like duty and legacies to the equation, it’s even tougher.
Karn Korlundr’s father talks of nothing but responsibility. As firstborn son, Karn’s next in line to be hauld and inherit the family farm. Though this is a position of rank in Norrøngard, Karn sees no honor in it. He has different dreams — his sights are set on seeing the world. He’d much rather hone his skill at the traditional board game Thrones and Bones than study farming and trading.
Family heritage also casts an uncomfortable shadow for Thianna. Her father is a giant, but her mother was human, so at only seven feet, Thianna cuts a puny figure for a frost giant. And bully Thrudgelmir never lets her forget it. His incessant mocking leaves Thianna ashamed of her differences and convinced that she’ll never measure up.
An annual trade gathering brings Karn and Thianna together. And when individual dangers have them each on the run, they cross paths and unite in a struggle for survival.
Too frequently in a book, you grow weary of exposition as you wait for the adventure to begin. Not so with Frostborn. Anders quickly develops interest and sympathy for his players, and it’s enjoyable to simply watch them in their everyday lives. Readers will relish the chance to explore Anders’ compelling world alongside Karn and Thianna. As future installments promise to expand the territorial map, fans of series like Ranger’s Apprentice should be eager to follow this adventure and watch the world grow.
There are worthy villains here: a mysterious stranger, a treacherous uncle akin to The Lion King‘s Scar or Hamlet‘s Claudius, two-headed trolls, and ghostly warriors. If that’s not enticing enough, there are also dragons, or “wyverns”. The story benefits from perfect pacing. Anders handily manages alternating narrative viewpoints, jumping from one hero to the other in the same chapter before the two finally merge.
Have I mentioned how fond I am of these characters? It’s a pleasure to watch Karn and Thianna interact. I’ve not found a young heroine as endearing as Thianna in some time. Since when have we seen a girl beam with pride when someone remarks how large she is! Karn’s fittingly awkward around Thianna, and there’s a lot of banter and silliness derived from the size differential between the two. Though our protagonists begin the tale as lovable little misfits (well, maybe Thianna’s not so little), they find they are made of stronger stuff than they once believed.
Verdict 4.5 of 5 hearts. A Delightful Fantasy That Will Entertain and Inspire.
Frostborn lies in a literary sweet spot — the gap between middle grade and young adult. Within its pages, kids aged 10 to 14 will find a perfect introduction to the fantasy/adventure genre, one with just the right mix of humor, suspense, and adventure. Lou Anders’ Norse-influenced work couldn’t be released at a better time. The popularity of Disney’s Frozen should make picking up this book feel natural!
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I would like to thank Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for allowing me access to the title. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
September 9, 2014
The school year starts and I crank into tornado mode whirling through checklists that leave a swath of debris in my office. Reading this story was like the eye of the storm. I ended up sneak reading in-between lesson planning, system updates, meetings, and lunch before devouring it whole for dinner. Consider yourself warned. Read this book on the weekend or when you have a large chunk of uninterrupted time. The action-packed, well-plotted story has plenty of humor and a female character that defies stereotypes. A biracial girl named, Thianna, searching for her identity along with the message to girls to embrace yourself no matter what your size makes this story rise above your average fare. Boys will like the male protagonist, Karn, who loves to play the board game, Thrones and Bones, and uses strategy learned in it to defeat his enemies. He must face responsibility and discover his strengths and passion. The Norse mythology and Viking or Scandinavian history creates a world that is easy to visualize and solidly anchored in high fantasy. The linnorm or dragon, Orm, is like Jörmungandr from the Norse myths and the burial mounds where Karn crosses paths with zombies or "After Walkers" are patterned after the Viking burial grounds. This will appeal to fans of Percy Jackson, The Lord of the Rings series, and The Inheritance Cycle. Don't miss it.
Thianna is the daughter of a giant and human. At seven feet tall she is about half the size of most giants with the unique ability of being fast and agile. She struggles with her mixed heritage and is not accepted by some peers her age. When her dad gives her a gift from her mom to remember her human side, he sets in motion a series of events that cause evil people to hunt Thianna. Little does she know that the gift is a magical artifact that gives great power to the owner. While fleeing for her life, Thianna discovers how her mother ended up with the giants and must decide what to do with the gift. She ends up crossing paths with twelve-year-old Karn, a human whose dad trades with the giants. Karn will inherit his father's farm and become a Hauld. This is the most powerful position a free man can become in his culture and means the farm has been in the family for six or more generations. The Vikings traded in silver and Karn receives a lesson from his father. Even though he bumbles his first trade, he shows that he is a clever person with a quick mind as he corrects his mistake and challenges the buyer to a game of Throne and Bones, a board game made up by the author. This is one example of the terrific mix of Viking or early Scandinavian history facts and fiction.
Karn gets duped by a greedy uncle because he does not want the responsibility of running the farm. This causes a series of devastating events that make him decide to flee home. While on the run he meets up with Thianna who is being chased by wyverns. She saves him many times using her strength and agility. The author uproots stereotypes and when Karn calls Thianna enormous and big, it pleases her immensely. Strength is admired among the giants and she likes that she's the brawn in their relationship saving Karn from death many times. The culture she comes from plays violent physical games and she is disappointed when Karn just wants to play board games or "bored games" as she likes to joke.
Thianna's biracial background captures what it is like to be a minority. She is part human and part giant. Her human mother has died and she is not accepted by everyone in the community. In particular, she is bullied by a boy-giant and peer named, Thudgery. She knows how to outwit him and doesn't take him seriously until he puts her life in danger due to his intolerance of her. Not only does Thudgery show that he does not respect differences, he makes decisions that threaten others in the community. His illogical actions show a deluded young bigot whose narrow-minded views limit him from reaching his potential as a human. No one changes him in the end and he takes his friends with him starting his own village. While I envisioned him as the same age as Thianna, he must be older. He's only described as a "young giant." History has many examples of harmful intolerance due to race, social status, religion, or politics. This can be a good launch for discussions on tolerance and its definition in societies. Tolerance does not mean the acceptance of bad behavior, but it does mean treating others with respect.
As others in the community sacrifice their lives to help Thianna, she slowly realizes that they do accept her for being part giant and part human. At first Thianna wants to forget that she is human and be only giant. Her anger and resentment slowly give way to curiosity. And as she interacts with humans through trading and has adventures with Karn, she realizes that she wants to find out more about her human heritage. While she knows she is physically stronger than humans and that she's saved Karn countless times, she recognizes that Karn has saved her too using his intelligence to outwit his enemies. When she takes a last name, something giants don't do, it is the beginning of her learning to celebrate both cultures and find her identity as she moves toward independence. A good message of focusing on strengths rather than weaknesses.
For a clever character, I thought Karn was a bit naive regarding his uncle and his motives, but he did adore him and obviously had a blind spot. Karn is obsessed with the game, Thrones and Bones. As he flees with Thianna, he discovers that he assesses the situation just like in the game and that he can use strategies that are similar when dealing with dangerous people. Later he finds that running a farm can be similar to his favorite board game and that it isn't as boring as he first thought. He faces his responsibilities and learns to not resent his inheritance. Thianna still doesn't know the entire story as to why her mother left her people and at the end, she sets off to find some answers. A nice breadcrumb that will make me keep my eyes peeled for the sequel.
Thianna is the daughter of a giant and human. At seven feet tall she is about half the size of most giants with the unique ability of being fast and agile. She struggles with her mixed heritage and is not accepted by some peers her age. When her dad gives her a gift from her mom to remember her human side, he sets in motion a series of events that cause evil people to hunt Thianna. Little does she know that the gift is a magical artifact that gives great power to the owner. While fleeing for her life, Thianna discovers how her mother ended up with the giants and must decide what to do with the gift. She ends up crossing paths with twelve-year-old Karn, a human whose dad trades with the giants. Karn will inherit his father's farm and become a Hauld. This is the most powerful position a free man can become in his culture and means the farm has been in the family for six or more generations. The Vikings traded in silver and Karn receives a lesson from his father. Even though he bumbles his first trade, he shows that he is a clever person with a quick mind as he corrects his mistake and challenges the buyer to a game of Throne and Bones, a board game made up by the author. This is one example of the terrific mix of Viking or early Scandinavian history facts and fiction.
Karn gets duped by a greedy uncle because he does not want the responsibility of running the farm. This causes a series of devastating events that make him decide to flee home. While on the run he meets up with Thianna who is being chased by wyverns. She saves him many times using her strength and agility. The author uproots stereotypes and when Karn calls Thianna enormous and big, it pleases her immensely. Strength is admired among the giants and she likes that she's the brawn in their relationship saving Karn from death many times. The culture she comes from plays violent physical games and she is disappointed when Karn just wants to play board games or "bored games" as she likes to joke.
Thianna's biracial background captures what it is like to be a minority. She is part human and part giant. Her human mother has died and she is not accepted by everyone in the community. In particular, she is bullied by a boy-giant and peer named, Thudgery. She knows how to outwit him and doesn't take him seriously until he puts her life in danger due to his intolerance of her. Not only does Thudgery show that he does not respect differences, he makes decisions that threaten others in the community. His illogical actions show a deluded young bigot whose narrow-minded views limit him from reaching his potential as a human. No one changes him in the end and he takes his friends with him starting his own village. While I envisioned him as the same age as Thianna, he must be older. He's only described as a "young giant." History has many examples of harmful intolerance due to race, social status, religion, or politics. This can be a good launch for discussions on tolerance and its definition in societies. Tolerance does not mean the acceptance of bad behavior, but it does mean treating others with respect.
As others in the community sacrifice their lives to help Thianna, she slowly realizes that they do accept her for being part giant and part human. At first Thianna wants to forget that she is human and be only giant. Her anger and resentment slowly give way to curiosity. And as she interacts with humans through trading and has adventures with Karn, she realizes that she wants to find out more about her human heritage. While she knows she is physically stronger than humans and that she's saved Karn countless times, she recognizes that Karn has saved her too using his intelligence to outwit his enemies. When she takes a last name, something giants don't do, it is the beginning of her learning to celebrate both cultures and find her identity as she moves toward independence. A good message of focusing on strengths rather than weaknesses.
For a clever character, I thought Karn was a bit naive regarding his uncle and his motives, but he did adore him and obviously had a blind spot. Karn is obsessed with the game, Thrones and Bones. As he flees with Thianna, he discovers that he assesses the situation just like in the game and that he can use strategies that are similar when dealing with dangerous people. Later he finds that running a farm can be similar to his favorite board game and that it isn't as boring as he first thought. He faces his responsibilities and learns to not resent his inheritance. Thianna still doesn't know the entire story as to why her mother left her people and at the end, she sets off to find some answers. A nice breadcrumb that will make me keep my eyes peeled for the sequel.
August 23, 2014
Bell, Book & Candle | Frostborn Review
"For if you stand you'll surely fall. And if you fall, stand you will for now and all."
I am very pleased with this book. As much as I love fantasy based books, I tend to be a bit wary of ones containing dragons. This is a children's book, so be prepared for the young, naïve voice of both protagonists and POV characters, Karn and Thianna, because I honestly wasn't ready.
Back in the day when I was a kid, I wasn't much of a reader; now I remember why. Reading the POV of a preteen character makes me want to pull my hair out! Karn, one of the protagonists, had me shaking my head every scene I read with him in it. I just don't get how his character can be written as quick-witted in dire situations, but completely and utterly clueless in other situations such as those regarding is uncle. It's basic common sense! Then again, common sense isn't so common, as Thomas Paine wrote.
Thianna wasn't much better in my eyes. I didn't quite like the self hatred she had. Instead of trying to fit in with the other giants, I wish she would have seen herself as one of a kind with her half human/ half giant mix. Add that to the fact that she was a thick-skulled. I kept wanting to hit her on the forehead and say, "should have had a V8".
Other than that, I liked the story and the Norse influences throughout it. The dragons were kind of funny, although they weren't really in this book as much. I saw right through that Karn's Uncle right from the beginning. When everyone finally figured it out, I was like "DUH!!". The ending was is a cliffhanger --- so hang on tight everyone!
"For if you stand you'll surely fall. And if you fall, stand you will for now and all."
I am very pleased with this book. As much as I love fantasy based books, I tend to be a bit wary of ones containing dragons. This is a children's book, so be prepared for the young, naïve voice of both protagonists and POV characters, Karn and Thianna, because I honestly wasn't ready.
Back in the day when I was a kid, I wasn't much of a reader; now I remember why. Reading the POV of a preteen character makes me want to pull my hair out! Karn, one of the protagonists, had me shaking my head every scene I read with him in it. I just don't get how his character can be written as quick-witted in dire situations, but completely and utterly clueless in other situations such as those regarding is uncle. It's basic common sense! Then again, common sense isn't so common, as Thomas Paine wrote.
Thianna wasn't much better in my eyes. I didn't quite like the self hatred she had. Instead of trying to fit in with the other giants, I wish she would have seen herself as one of a kind with her half human/ half giant mix. Add that to the fact that she was a thick-skulled. I kept wanting to hit her on the forehead and say, "should have had a V8".
Other than that, I liked the story and the Norse influences throughout it. The dragons were kind of funny, although they weren't really in this book as much. I saw right through that Karn's Uncle right from the beginning. When everyone finally figured it out, I was like "DUH!!". The ending was is a cliffhanger --- so hang on tight everyone!
December 7, 2020
This was a great choice for the winter months. Wonderful story that seems similar to Odd and the Frost Giants and the sweeping tale of the Neverending Story. The alternating narrators were an added pleasure.
September 1, 2016
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.
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.
June 27, 2014
Frostborn is the first in the middle grade Thrones & Bones series. I'm a bit older than the target audience, but even so, it's a terrific read. It is a deceptively simple story, meaning that it is an easy read that deftly introduces characters and situations while moving the story along at a steady clip that will keep younger readers engaged. But by the end, you suddenly realize that it wasn't just a fast-moving adventure story, it was a touching exploration of values. Family. Responsibility. Individuality. Diversity. Respect. All these topics are woven into a fast-moving action tale with extraordinary skill. There are two things that stood out to show how impactful this book was. One, I enjoyed the early part of the book that served to establish the two main characters in their normal day-to-day settings. Whereas usually you find yourself tapping your foot waiting for the characters to break out of their routine and start the action, I found the early chapters to be just as engaging,if not moreso, than the adventure when the two main characters find themselves on the run from the evil villains. And two, if I was ten years old, I would be in my backyard playing this world.
Read
June 8, 2014Award-winning editor Lou Anders first novel is a Norse-inspired, adventure-fueled tale for young fantasy enthusiasts. Karn, a young farmer-to-be, strikes up an unlikely friendship with Thianna, a half-giantess, to take on undead forces, an ancient dragon, troublesome trolls, an opportunistic uncle, and more! If you’re looking to inspire your child to follow in your Martin/Eddings/Jordan-loving footsteps, then this book is a great place to start.
February 14, 2017
Originally posted at Fantasy Literature. http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
Editor, publisher, and essayist Lou Anders’ debut novel is a sweet Middle Grade story inspired by Norse legends. Frostborn, the first in a series, has two likeable heroines. The first is Karn, the son of a prosperous farmer who’s head of their clan. Karn is his father’s heir, which secretly infuriates Karn’s uncle, a twin who is only a few seconds younger than Karn’s father. However, Karn isn’t interested in running the family farm and being clan chief. He spends his time playing a strategy board game called Thrones & Bones and he’d like to have some adventures before settling down. Karn’s uncle would be thrilled if Karn would leave home, but his father is determined to make Karn a worthy successor. When the uncle tries to take Karn out of the picture, Karn is forced to flee.
Our second hero is Thianna, the daughter of a frost giant and a human woman. Because of her mixed heritage, Thianna is small for a giantess (but still bigger than humans) and is mercilessly teased by her peers. Thianna ’s mother met the frost giants when they sheltered her when she was on the run from wyvern-riding warriors. She died after Thianna was born and now those warriors have come looking for Thianna because they think she has something they want. She makes a daring escape.
That’s how Karn and Thianna end up on the run together. They make a good team. The giantess is big and she knows how to fight. Karn isn’t very physical, but his wits have been honed by all the time spent playing Thrones & Bones. He can often talk his way out of a dangerous situation, which can be pretty funny sometimes. The kids complement each other and together they face two-headed trolls, a dragon, wyverns, a draug, and an undead warrior named Helltoppr. They travel through a winter landscape that features high cliffs, freezing river rapids, avalanches, blasted cities, and dead forests. There’s a wonderful chase scene in a crumbling coliseum. When the action slows down, Karn and Thianna entertain us with a bit of banter. Lou Anders perfectly balances the terror, humor, excitement, and emotion. Both kids mature as they discover inner strengths they didn’t know they had.
As Karn and Thianna start to figure out what’s happening to them, they realize that not only are they and their families in danger, but so is the realm they live in. Their clans are isolated from the outside world, and this is the first time they sense that their lifestyles, and probably their lives, are being threatened. Anders doesn’t give us the details, but hints at evil goings-on in the wider world. Whatever Thianna’s mother had seems to be the key. Frostborn ends at a satisfactory stopping place, but it’s obvious that the story will go on.
Middle Grade readers are sure to love Frostborn and, as an adult, I liked it, too. It’s an exciting fantasy adventure and I’m looking forward to the next THRONES & BONES novel. I listened to Listening Library’s audio version which is 8½ hours long and narrated by Fabio Tassone, a European actor. He gave a great performance. I’ll definitely choose this format for the sequel.
Editor, publisher, and essayist Lou Anders’ debut novel is a sweet Middle Grade story inspired by Norse legends. Frostborn, the first in a series, has two likeable heroines. The first is Karn, the son of a prosperous farmer who’s head of their clan. Karn is his father’s heir, which secretly infuriates Karn’s uncle, a twin who is only a few seconds younger than Karn’s father. However, Karn isn’t interested in running the family farm and being clan chief. He spends his time playing a strategy board game called Thrones & Bones and he’d like to have some adventures before settling down. Karn’s uncle would be thrilled if Karn would leave home, but his father is determined to make Karn a worthy successor. When the uncle tries to take Karn out of the picture, Karn is forced to flee.
Our second hero is Thianna, the daughter of a frost giant and a human woman. Because of her mixed heritage, Thianna is small for a giantess (but still bigger than humans) and is mercilessly teased by her peers. Thianna ’s mother met the frost giants when they sheltered her when she was on the run from wyvern-riding warriors. She died after Thianna was born and now those warriors have come looking for Thianna because they think she has something they want. She makes a daring escape.
That’s how Karn and Thianna end up on the run together. They make a good team. The giantess is big and she knows how to fight. Karn isn’t very physical, but his wits have been honed by all the time spent playing Thrones & Bones. He can often talk his way out of a dangerous situation, which can be pretty funny sometimes. The kids complement each other and together they face two-headed trolls, a dragon, wyverns, a draug, and an undead warrior named Helltoppr. They travel through a winter landscape that features high cliffs, freezing river rapids, avalanches, blasted cities, and dead forests. There’s a wonderful chase scene in a crumbling coliseum. When the action slows down, Karn and Thianna entertain us with a bit of banter. Lou Anders perfectly balances the terror, humor, excitement, and emotion. Both kids mature as they discover inner strengths they didn’t know they had.
As Karn and Thianna start to figure out what’s happening to them, they realize that not only are they and their families in danger, but so is the realm they live in. Their clans are isolated from the outside world, and this is the first time they sense that their lifestyles, and probably their lives, are being threatened. Anders doesn’t give us the details, but hints at evil goings-on in the wider world. Whatever Thianna’s mother had seems to be the key. Frostborn ends at a satisfactory stopping place, but it’s obvious that the story will go on.
Middle Grade readers are sure to love Frostborn and, as an adult, I liked it, too. It’s an exciting fantasy adventure and I’m looking forward to the next THRONES & BONES novel. I listened to Listening Library’s audio version which is 8½ hours long and narrated by Fabio Tassone, a European actor. He gave a great performance. I’ll definitely choose this format for the sequel.
August 10, 2014
Fair disclosure: I know Lou Anders, and while we are not troll-slaying friends, he's a darned cool and interesting guy and I consider my knowing him a privilege.
Frostborn, the first book in the Thrones and Bones series, is a solid, well-plotted novel that opens a series that follows two young protagonists - Karn, the heir to a large farm and Thianna, a half-frost giant - of age twelve as they confront betrayals, trolls, undead Vikings, and the largest linnorn (a type of Nordic dragon) in the known world. The series title is also the name of the boardgame that Karn plays obsessively (rules thoughtfully included at the back of the novel) and that figures prominently in the course of the novel.
Lou has an easy, familiar writing style that makes Frostborn a pleasure to read for older readers than its target audience, like you've picked up an old friend. He paints his world with care, so it seems perfectly natural for the character that Karn is talking to to be revealed as a dwarf after a few exchanges, or for Thianna to plunge into ice-laden rivers that would kill a normal human in short order as though she were simply taking a bath.
I rated the book at 5 stars, and I believe that it deserves it - more importantly, if you have a middle reader (boy or girl) that's found the fantastic worlds of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings films exciting, but isn't ready for fantasy novels and series aimed at more adult audiences, I think that there's a good chance they'll rate it as a 5-star experience as well.
Ultimately, the best compliment I can pay Lou is that got this book at 4:30 PM today at his book signing, started reading it after 10 PM tonight, am writing this review at 12:35 PM, and I want to read the next novel in the series... right now.
Frostborn, the first book in the Thrones and Bones series, is a solid, well-plotted novel that opens a series that follows two young protagonists - Karn, the heir to a large farm and Thianna, a half-frost giant - of age twelve as they confront betrayals, trolls, undead Vikings, and the largest linnorn (a type of Nordic dragon) in the known world. The series title is also the name of the boardgame that Karn plays obsessively (rules thoughtfully included at the back of the novel) and that figures prominently in the course of the novel.
Lou has an easy, familiar writing style that makes Frostborn a pleasure to read for older readers than its target audience, like you've picked up an old friend. He paints his world with care, so it seems perfectly natural for the character that Karn is talking to to be revealed as a dwarf after a few exchanges, or for Thianna to plunge into ice-laden rivers that would kill a normal human in short order as though she were simply taking a bath.
I rated the book at 5 stars, and I believe that it deserves it - more importantly, if you have a middle reader (boy or girl) that's found the fantastic worlds of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings films exciting, but isn't ready for fantasy novels and series aimed at more adult audiences, I think that there's a good chance they'll rate it as a 5-star experience as well.
Ultimately, the best compliment I can pay Lou is that got this book at 4:30 PM today at his book signing, started reading it after 10 PM tonight, am writing this review at 12:35 PM, and I want to read the next novel in the series... right now.
December 11, 2017
A fun fantasy adventure! I really enjoyed this one! I read it a while back and out of a few of the fantasy books I've read, this one stood out and stayed with me the most (sorry Fablehaven, I can barely remember you).
Would definitely recommend!!!
Would definitely recommend!!!
June 30, 2015
After I accepted the second book in the Thrones and Bone series,
Nightborn
, I immediately went to he library to buddy read it with my oldest. Ironic enough, Frostborn was a book I have previous checked out for him that he never got around to reading.
I am not a huge middle grade reader - but it's one category that I have been wanting to get into for a while now. Fantasy probably wasn't the best of genres to start with though, to be honest.
Frostborn had a really slow start. The story didn't really progress until about 40%, with the introduction to the characters and world building. This is not necessarily a bad thing - but it took a lot of patience on my part to get past this.
We have an array of characters; the main two being Karn, a boy next to take over his family farm and Thianna, a half-human/half-giant. Once these two are introduced, the story really picks up its pace and doesn't let up from there. These two make a great team - with Thianna's stubborn and tough personality and Karn's wit. Their adventures were quite entertaining and love how everything pieced together in the end.
Overall - Frostborn was a great start to a series. Minor pacing issues aside in the beginning, it's entertaining with an interesting world with Norse history and lore, fans of fantasy books will get a kick out of this one!
I am not a huge middle grade reader - but it's one category that I have been wanting to get into for a while now. Fantasy probably wasn't the best of genres to start with though, to be honest.
Frostborn had a really slow start. The story didn't really progress until about 40%, with the introduction to the characters and world building. This is not necessarily a bad thing - but it took a lot of patience on my part to get past this.
We have an array of characters; the main two being Karn, a boy next to take over his family farm and Thianna, a half-human/half-giant. Once these two are introduced, the story really picks up its pace and doesn't let up from there. These two make a great team - with Thianna's stubborn and tough personality and Karn's wit. Their adventures were quite entertaining and love how everything pieced together in the end.
Overall - Frostborn was a great start to a series. Minor pacing issues aside in the beginning, it's entertaining with an interesting world with Norse history and lore, fans of fantasy books will get a kick out of this one!
April 12, 2015
It's "If You Like Ranger's Apprentice" month in the Young Adult Lounge. Battle armor-clad warriors, outsmart a legendary dragon, and survive an avalanche in this Viking-inspired hero's journey starring a 12 year-old human boy and a half-giant girl whose differences make their partnership stronger. Along the way, you'll dodge some gassy trolls and undead minions while practicing your board game strategy because "you know you're not a true Norronur unless you can swing a sword, hurl an insult, and play a game of Thrones and Bones." Ready to play? Game rules included, make your own set while waiting for the follow-up title to this series opener that can also stand alone.
December 18, 2013
Frostborn was pure enchantment. Not only was it the most delightful fantasy I have read in ages, but its characters captivated me in a way that completely won my heart. A boy who turns his gaming obsession into real world triumphs and a girl who actually wants to be bigger and stronger than the boys...what kids aren't going to gobble this up?I haven’t loved a female protagonist as much as I did Thianna since my major girl-crush on Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird. Bravo, Lou Anders. Put me on the waiting list for book 2!
October 15, 2017
Frostborn was a great book!! Honestly, it was a little hard to get into, but otherwise I loved it.
About to start reading Nightborn!!
I had the pleasure of meeting the author at a festival in my city. I came home and put the books on my wish list, and I’m just now sitting down to read them. :D
Karn and Thianna are two unlikely friends, but they somehow manage to stick together.
Can’t wait to read Nightborn!
About to start reading Nightborn!!
I had the pleasure of meeting the author at a festival in my city. I came home and put the books on my wish list, and I’m just now sitting down to read them. :D
Karn and Thianna are two unlikely friends, but they somehow manage to stick together.
Can’t wait to read Nightborn!
December 20, 2017
Ok. So the cover of this book almost scared me, but as soon as I dove into this book I IMMEDIATELY LOVED it!!!!! I loved the suspense and the adventure and the crazy turns of events! I cannot WAIT to read the rest of the series!!!!! I totally recommend it to adventure seekers!❤️😂
November 22, 2015
Review coming soon!
July 7, 2014
It's really unusual that the two most recent books I read and am reviewing this summer have been two Nordic inspired books filled with snow and ice considering the oppressive heat that had settled over Central New York for the last two weeks. And both books have been phenomenal for different reasons.
It would be safe to say that reading Lou Anders' Frostborn after reading Abercrombie's Half A King could be considered unfair, but Anders has written a completely different kind of book that does what it does really, really well. Labeled by some as middle grade, it's hard to argue, but it reads "older" and more like a RPG tie in novel. (More on that later.)
Frostborn is a fantasy adventure told through the POV of two young people (one of my favorite methods of telling a story), a female giantess of mixed heritage and a young boy more interested in playing games than learning how to run his father's farm. The two characters meet and embark on a dangerous adventure with both of their families lives hanging in the balance.
Anders captures the awkwardness of adolescence brilliantly in this story while not hitting you over the head with it. One of the issues I have with YA/MG right now is that author's focus so much on how much of a schlub our hero/protagonist is. I love that while both characters are awkward in their own way, they are capable and confident in others. That is something that is so overlooked in so much YA that I'm reading these days. Karn and Thianna are great characters, especially Thianna....a strong female character as a lead...just what we need in fantasy these days.
The plot is snappy. Not as grim as Abercrombie (big shocker there), it's more of a romp with just the right number of hints that there is a much bigger picture than we are seeing about these characters. It's a real skill to pull this off and Anders does it well. In this day and age of grimdark, fantasy is missing the fun and Frostborn provides that in spades without diminishing the risk and tension of what the characters are going through. It's a classic, well done chase book with all the tropes of a chase book executed brilliantly. I'm looking forward to the next step of what these characters are going through, how they are going to grow and how it fits in the world at large.
Let's talk a little about the world...I know, having talked to Lou via social networking, that there is a larger world and a setting guide/RPG created for the world of Frostborn. I have something of a fetish (maybe not the right word, but it's the best I can do right now) for setting guides and if I had extra money kicking around, there would be a shelf of these sitting in my imaginary office somewhere. I know that Lou and I share this fetish (again, I make it seem salacious) and his world building is brilliant. It's a very real and fascinating world that he's created that fits what I think that he might be doing. He mixes the right real world cultural and historical references together to build a terrific world. I'm eager to see how these pieces fit together in the next volume. It's a pretty darn good study in world building and how to introduce a world without a lot of exposition.
Lou Anders is one of the good guys in fantasy publishing right now. About a year ago, he did me a solid that I will always appreciate. As an editor, he's putting out some of the best new voices out there. I have a dream list of editors that I'd love to work with some day and he's among them. He's written a terrific fantasy novel for all ages. Don't let the whole middle grade thing throw you, any fantasy fans will enjoy his book.
It would be safe to say that reading Lou Anders' Frostborn after reading Abercrombie's Half A King could be considered unfair, but Anders has written a completely different kind of book that does what it does really, really well. Labeled by some as middle grade, it's hard to argue, but it reads "older" and more like a RPG tie in novel. (More on that later.)
Frostborn is a fantasy adventure told through the POV of two young people (one of my favorite methods of telling a story), a female giantess of mixed heritage and a young boy more interested in playing games than learning how to run his father's farm. The two characters meet and embark on a dangerous adventure with both of their families lives hanging in the balance.
Anders captures the awkwardness of adolescence brilliantly in this story while not hitting you over the head with it. One of the issues I have with YA/MG right now is that author's focus so much on how much of a schlub our hero/protagonist is. I love that while both characters are awkward in their own way, they are capable and confident in others. That is something that is so overlooked in so much YA that I'm reading these days. Karn and Thianna are great characters, especially Thianna....a strong female character as a lead...just what we need in fantasy these days.
The plot is snappy. Not as grim as Abercrombie (big shocker there), it's more of a romp with just the right number of hints that there is a much bigger picture than we are seeing about these characters. It's a real skill to pull this off and Anders does it well. In this day and age of grimdark, fantasy is missing the fun and Frostborn provides that in spades without diminishing the risk and tension of what the characters are going through. It's a classic, well done chase book with all the tropes of a chase book executed brilliantly. I'm looking forward to the next step of what these characters are going through, how they are going to grow and how it fits in the world at large.
Let's talk a little about the world...I know, having talked to Lou via social networking, that there is a larger world and a setting guide/RPG created for the world of Frostborn. I have something of a fetish (maybe not the right word, but it's the best I can do right now) for setting guides and if I had extra money kicking around, there would be a shelf of these sitting in my imaginary office somewhere. I know that Lou and I share this fetish (again, I make it seem salacious) and his world building is brilliant. It's a very real and fascinating world that he's created that fits what I think that he might be doing. He mixes the right real world cultural and historical references together to build a terrific world. I'm eager to see how these pieces fit together in the next volume. It's a pretty darn good study in world building and how to introduce a world without a lot of exposition.
Lou Anders is one of the good guys in fantasy publishing right now. About a year ago, he did me a solid that I will always appreciate. As an editor, he's putting out some of the best new voices out there. I have a dream list of editors that I'd love to work with some day and he's among them. He's written a terrific fantasy novel for all ages. Don't let the whole middle grade thing throw you, any fantasy fans will enjoy his book.
November 1, 2017
Fun and fast-paced. A bit predictable, but that doesn't deter from a good story one bit. Really looking forward to the next book.
October 13, 2014
I picked up this book because of a podcast interview with Lou Anders. I've been a fan of Lou's from his many podcast appearances, so definitely wanted to check it out. My boys are six and thirteen, so just barely missing the target middle grade audience of 8-12, but thought they (and me) would enjoy it all the same. The interview I listened to said Frostborn would still work well for the younger of the middle grades, so thought I'd try it on the younger son first. I asked him if he was interested in book that was likely a little too advanced, but one that had giants and dragons in it, and his eyes totally lit up.
So, I read this to my six year old son, who absolutely loved it. Near the end, he was griping about only having a few chapters left and then when we were down to the last chapter, he was asking me when is book two coming out? He went crazy with happiness at the last line of the book. He's already wanting to reread it. He's also figured out that next year is 2015 and because book 2 should come out in 2015, that must mean it's only a couple months away! Right? :) Now I'm distracting him with other books, but he definitely keeps coming back to this one.
For a six year old, it was a little advanced for him, but nothing a few well timed "this is what that word means" from me. And he was interested in it enough that, while he couldn't read it himself, by the end he was definitely picking out all the words on the page that he did know. He was very willing to try to follow along as I read it to him. He had little difficulty following the plot (a few "I don't remember that" from the early chapters), but not enough to really confuse him. We discussed a few of the forgotten things and how they applied later without much difficulty. He even figured out a few of the plot twists as they happened.
He's a boy, so of course, he loved the Karn scenes, but the Thianna scenes were pretty well received, too. I think because Thianna was a lot more action oriented, her scenes still appealed to him.
So from his point of view, this was an amazing book.
We now "have" to make a Thrones and Bones set. A small suggestion would be to have a printable board on http://www.thronesandbones.com/ but seeing the simple hand drawn ones at http://louanders.com/thrones-and-bone... I'm not sure how much is really needed.
From an adult's point of view, the book was really very good. I know I'm not exactly the target audience, but I greatly enjoyed the story. From my perspective, it may have been a little lacking in the "out on their own" section of the book only compared to the fantastic detailed beginning. I was kind of wondering where the story was going for a bit about three quarters in, before it made sense and they circled back to tie it all up in a bow. I think the ONLY thing that felt a little out of place was the reappearance of Gindri, but I would guess he plays a more involved role in future novels.
So really, the rating really goes like this:
The Kid: ***** I love it! I want the next book NOW!
The Parent: ***** My kid is incredibly enthusiastic about reading this and even when I was too tired to read on a specific night, I was "forced" by him to read anyway. Now he wants more. Cool.
The Adult: **** Pretty good. A little straightforward, but still had a twist or two that kept me guessing. Again, I'm not really the target audience, but I still liked it a lot. Very enjoyable. I want to read book two, too, to find out more about this world.
So, I read this to my six year old son, who absolutely loved it. Near the end, he was griping about only having a few chapters left and then when we were down to the last chapter, he was asking me when is book two coming out? He went crazy with happiness at the last line of the book. He's already wanting to reread it. He's also figured out that next year is 2015 and because book 2 should come out in 2015, that must mean it's only a couple months away! Right? :) Now I'm distracting him with other books, but he definitely keeps coming back to this one.
For a six year old, it was a little advanced for him, but nothing a few well timed "this is what that word means" from me. And he was interested in it enough that, while he couldn't read it himself, by the end he was definitely picking out all the words on the page that he did know. He was very willing to try to follow along as I read it to him. He had little difficulty following the plot (a few "I don't remember that" from the early chapters), but not enough to really confuse him. We discussed a few of the forgotten things and how they applied later without much difficulty. He even figured out a few of the plot twists as they happened.
He's a boy, so of course, he loved the Karn scenes, but the Thianna scenes were pretty well received, too. I think because Thianna was a lot more action oriented, her scenes still appealed to him.
So from his point of view, this was an amazing book.
We now "have" to make a Thrones and Bones set. A small suggestion would be to have a printable board on http://www.thronesandbones.com/ but seeing the simple hand drawn ones at http://louanders.com/thrones-and-bone... I'm not sure how much is really needed.
From an adult's point of view, the book was really very good. I know I'm not exactly the target audience, but I greatly enjoyed the story. From my perspective, it may have been a little lacking in the "out on their own" section of the book only compared to the fantastic detailed beginning. I was kind of wondering where the story was going for a bit about three quarters in, before it made sense and they circled back to tie it all up in a bow. I think the ONLY thing that felt a little out of place was the reappearance of Gindri, but I would guess he plays a more involved role in future novels.
So really, the rating really goes like this:
The Kid: ***** I love it! I want the next book NOW!
The Parent: ***** My kid is incredibly enthusiastic about reading this and even when I was too tired to read on a specific night, I was "forced" by him to read anyway. Now he wants more. Cool.
The Adult: **** Pretty good. A little straightforward, but still had a twist or two that kept me guessing. Again, I'm not really the target audience, but I still liked it a lot. Very enjoyable. I want to read book two, too, to find out more about this world.
September 10, 2016
Karn is a young Norrønir boy who shuns his father’s farm life and his responsibilities. He’d rather be playing his favourite strategy game, Thrones and Bones, than wielding a sword or haggling for food and supplies. Meanwhile, further north, Thianna is determined to prove herself every bit a giant, while hating the half-human part of her that makes her so obviously different. At the seasonal gathering where Norrønir and giants come together to trade, the two young ones meet and discover that they really don’t have anything in common except what makes them different. When circumstances later exile them from their respective worlds, they are forced to trust in each other, and in their own uniqueness to get themselves out of some pretty big trouble.
Right from the prologue, I was sucked in as Anders weaves a thrilling escape for a mysterious woman and the beast she rides, culminating in a very moving climax that promised that the rest of the book could only get better. While this is most certainly a children’s book, I really enjoyed Anders’ approach to its serious, painful and sometimes frightening elements. Anders, who has a young son and a daughter, is clearly writing for his children (and later realized he was writing about them), but the storytelling holds a sense of maturity that I think is sometimes lacking in books aimed at this age group (8-12). That’s not to say that the book is too “grown up.” The language is fun mix of classical and colloquial, there’s a sharp sense of wit and humour on display, and Thianna and Karn are definitely the kinds of kids a young reader can relate to. Anders eloquently balances the fun side of childhood, while respecting that quite often, kids know and understand quite a lot more than adults give them credit for.
I also loved the casual little interjections of trivia. I learned a few things from Anders's little tidbits of information, and I know young readers would be just as fascinated by the knowledge. I am a firm believer in learning something new every day, and this is one of the many places where Frostborn really shines.
I expected Frostborn to end up being a typical buddy quest adventure, and while there were elements of that involved and implied for future books, I really loved the way Anders focuses on the kids separately as much as they are together. They each come to terms with their situations and its often after the moments of self-discovery that they are able to be of stronger aid to their friend. Together, they both remain unique and probably don’t agree on a lot of things, but there is a healthy level of respect for each other and their differences as they work toward resolving their problems.
Overall, a really impressive entry into the young readers fantasy genre that both kids and parents can have fun with and learn from. And then follow up family reading night with a game of Thrones and Bones!
With thanks to Crown Books and the author for providing an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
See more reviews at The Bibliosanctum
Right from the prologue, I was sucked in as Anders weaves a thrilling escape for a mysterious woman and the beast she rides, culminating in a very moving climax that promised that the rest of the book could only get better. While this is most certainly a children’s book, I really enjoyed Anders’ approach to its serious, painful and sometimes frightening elements. Anders, who has a young son and a daughter, is clearly writing for his children (and later realized he was writing about them), but the storytelling holds a sense of maturity that I think is sometimes lacking in books aimed at this age group (8-12). That’s not to say that the book is too “grown up.” The language is fun mix of classical and colloquial, there’s a sharp sense of wit and humour on display, and Thianna and Karn are definitely the kinds of kids a young reader can relate to. Anders eloquently balances the fun side of childhood, while respecting that quite often, kids know and understand quite a lot more than adults give them credit for.
I also loved the casual little interjections of trivia. I learned a few things from Anders's little tidbits of information, and I know young readers would be just as fascinated by the knowledge. I am a firm believer in learning something new every day, and this is one of the many places where Frostborn really shines.
I expected Frostborn to end up being a typical buddy quest adventure, and while there were elements of that involved and implied for future books, I really loved the way Anders focuses on the kids separately as much as they are together. They each come to terms with their situations and its often after the moments of self-discovery that they are able to be of stronger aid to their friend. Together, they both remain unique and probably don’t agree on a lot of things, but there is a healthy level of respect for each other and their differences as they work toward resolving their problems.
Overall, a really impressive entry into the young readers fantasy genre that both kids and parents can have fun with and learn from. And then follow up family reading night with a game of Thrones and Bones!
With thanks to Crown Books and the author for providing an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
See more reviews at The Bibliosanctum
August 19, 2014
Every time I travel I take a book with me from my giant stack of reading material. Recently I purchased a tablet for myself and needed something worthy of my trip to GenCon for me to enjoy on the plane. Now normally I do not read YA fiction but, having met Lou Anders for a few years back (and having been in occasional contact) I was aware of a book he had been working on and was delighted to hear of it's release. The book, Thrones and Bones Frostborn, would be my somewhat appropriate book to read as I traveled to one of the biggest gaming conventions of the year. I say somewhat appropriate because gaming and finding where you belong are at the core of this tale.
Being a "geek" all my life I have, until well into my adulthood, felt somewhat out of place in the natural order of things. Where my school mates played ball or ran track, I found myself creating Roleplaying Games or reading comics. Growing up was difficult as a geeky person in the late 80's and 90's so finding where I belonged took many years. These days pop culture has made it easy to be a geek, GenCon is one of those shows that remind you that you belong, but the pain of rejection and being an outcast still occasionally haunts me to this day. This is where this book really spoke to me.
This book, the first in a series, follows two unlikely heroes, both just different enough from their communities that they feel that they do not belong. The young boy, Karn, is the heir apparent of a large family homestead and is being groomed for the task of taking over in the event of his fathers passing, however, Karn, being a gamer and a dreamer, has no wish to run the family farm. He would much rather explore, find his place in the world and of course, play Thrones and Bones, his favorite board game. Our other protagonist, Thianna, is a girl of two worlds, half Frost Giantess and Half human, she doesn't fit in either world and only knows one. She is painfully aware that she is different, but only wants to be what she grew up as, a Frost Giant, like he father. Our two protagonists eventually unite and what an adventure they have. In their journey they face Trolls, the Undead and even a Dragon all the while discovering that being different can be a benefit that can eventually save your life. For someone who was once a bit of an outcast, it was a nice reminder of how things can get better over time, something I tend to have taken for granted over the years. I look forward to the next installment of the series and can honestly say I haven't been this excited about a new fantasy series since I first read the Dragonlance Chronicles all those years ago. Give this book a go, it's well worth your while.
Being a "geek" all my life I have, until well into my adulthood, felt somewhat out of place in the natural order of things. Where my school mates played ball or ran track, I found myself creating Roleplaying Games or reading comics. Growing up was difficult as a geeky person in the late 80's and 90's so finding where I belonged took many years. These days pop culture has made it easy to be a geek, GenCon is one of those shows that remind you that you belong, but the pain of rejection and being an outcast still occasionally haunts me to this day. This is where this book really spoke to me.
This book, the first in a series, follows two unlikely heroes, both just different enough from their communities that they feel that they do not belong. The young boy, Karn, is the heir apparent of a large family homestead and is being groomed for the task of taking over in the event of his fathers passing, however, Karn, being a gamer and a dreamer, has no wish to run the family farm. He would much rather explore, find his place in the world and of course, play Thrones and Bones, his favorite board game. Our other protagonist, Thianna, is a girl of two worlds, half Frost Giantess and Half human, she doesn't fit in either world and only knows one. She is painfully aware that she is different, but only wants to be what she grew up as, a Frost Giant, like he father. Our two protagonists eventually unite and what an adventure they have. In their journey they face Trolls, the Undead and even a Dragon all the while discovering that being different can be a benefit that can eventually save your life. For someone who was once a bit of an outcast, it was a nice reminder of how things can get better over time, something I tend to have taken for granted over the years. I look forward to the next installment of the series and can honestly say I haven't been this excited about a new fantasy series since I first read the Dragonlance Chronicles all those years ago. Give this book a go, it's well worth your while.
November 16, 2019
Right up my kids alley
July 20, 2014
I got a copy of this book through the Amazon Vine program for review. It looked like a fun fantasy middle grade read, and it was. This is the first book in the Thrones and Bones series.
Karn is a preteen boy who is supposed to be learning how to take over a very successful Norrøngard family farm. Unfortunately he has no interest in farming and would rather play his favorite game Thrones and Bone. Karn ends up having to flee his hometown and runs into the young half-giantess, Thianna. Thianna has also had to flee her home for sensitive reasons. Thianna and Karn have meet briefly before at a trade gathering and they end up making their way through the wilderness and trying to survive together. The giantess is being chased but she isn’t sure why, all she knows is that it has something to do with the horn she carries.
This was a well done middle grade adventure fantasy. I enjoyed the different races of creatures; humans, trolls, giants, wyverns. It was a fun read with a lot of adventure, action, and some magic.
It is nice that it features both a boy and a girl as main characters, so it should appeal to fantasy lovers of all genders. The writing style and plot were fairly straightforward and simple to read. As such, I think it will appeal to younger readers (middle read) even more than it did to me as an adult.
There is a lot about people working towards their strengths and how friendship can carry you through difficult times. Thianna and Karn both have very different strengths and weaknesses and they find that by working together they can survive many tough situations. They were both engaging and likable characters; they make some mistakes but do learn from the mistakes they make.
Anders has created a very detailed world here with maps a glossary of terms, and even a section in the back that shows how to play the game Thrones and Bones.
The book is tied up very nicely at the end and there are no big cliffhangers. As I said the plot and writing level are fairly easy, so I think younger middle grade readers will enjoy this book more than adults will.
Overall I enjoyed the book. It was a nice, simple adventure story with some intrigue and some interesting races of characters. The world is incredibly well thought out and very detailed. I would recommend to those who like middle grade fantasy and I am curious to see where this series goes in the future.
Karn is a preteen boy who is supposed to be learning how to take over a very successful Norrøngard family farm. Unfortunately he has no interest in farming and would rather play his favorite game Thrones and Bone. Karn ends up having to flee his hometown and runs into the young half-giantess, Thianna. Thianna has also had to flee her home for sensitive reasons. Thianna and Karn have meet briefly before at a trade gathering and they end up making their way through the wilderness and trying to survive together. The giantess is being chased but she isn’t sure why, all she knows is that it has something to do with the horn she carries.
This was a well done middle grade adventure fantasy. I enjoyed the different races of creatures; humans, trolls, giants, wyverns. It was a fun read with a lot of adventure, action, and some magic.
It is nice that it features both a boy and a girl as main characters, so it should appeal to fantasy lovers of all genders. The writing style and plot were fairly straightforward and simple to read. As such, I think it will appeal to younger readers (middle read) even more than it did to me as an adult.
There is a lot about people working towards their strengths and how friendship can carry you through difficult times. Thianna and Karn both have very different strengths and weaknesses and they find that by working together they can survive many tough situations. They were both engaging and likable characters; they make some mistakes but do learn from the mistakes they make.
Anders has created a very detailed world here with maps a glossary of terms, and even a section in the back that shows how to play the game Thrones and Bones.
The book is tied up very nicely at the end and there are no big cliffhangers. As I said the plot and writing level are fairly easy, so I think younger middle grade readers will enjoy this book more than adults will.
Overall I enjoyed the book. It was a nice, simple adventure story with some intrigue and some interesting races of characters. The world is incredibly well thought out and very detailed. I would recommend to those who like middle grade fantasy and I am curious to see where this series goes in the future.
August 25, 2014
Frostborn captured my attention, what’s not to like – frost giants, dragons, and a character who is obsessed with a specific board game. There’s something about middle grade fiction that is so satisfying. It’s not just about the adventure and action, but there’s always deeper meanings. Thianna is a female frost giant, but she is also half human, therefore she always feels inadequate and trying to prove that she is a frost giant. She’s bullied and often gets in and out of fights, but her father knows her destiny will take her beyond her own village. It’s on a trip to trade with the humans that she meets Karn, a boy who should be learning to haggle and take over his father’s prestigious farm, but all he wants to do is play Thrones & Bones, a board game with strategy and intelligence required to win.
When his uncle sets a trap that has Karn about to fight for his life, his father steps in, and loses, throwing Karn on the run. Thianna’s mother’s past has caught up to her, 3 women on wyverns are after a special horn her mother carried with her when she crashed years ago in the frost giant’s valley. Long since passed, Thianna carries the horn and finds herself fleeing from the women for a reason she is unsure of. The pair meet up again and aide each other to hide from their pursuers and gain a close friendship. Together, they must trick a dragon, flee their pursuers all while trying to figure out how to set things right.
I love their friendship as it grows, they often tease each other and have a few fights over words said that were taken too seriously. I love that Thianna is constantly saving Karn, who is not as well trained in any weapons or strength, but is the brighter of the two. Karn uses his intelligence to save them as often as Thianna saves them physically. The plot moved along quickly as they were often in peril and on the run. It was a little easy to predict at times and I didn’t particularly like the way it ended, with a bit of foreshadowing into the next book.
Verdict:
The first book in a new adventure series with unique characters and strong fantasy elements.
When his uncle sets a trap that has Karn about to fight for his life, his father steps in, and loses, throwing Karn on the run. Thianna’s mother’s past has caught up to her, 3 women on wyverns are after a special horn her mother carried with her when she crashed years ago in the frost giant’s valley. Long since passed, Thianna carries the horn and finds herself fleeing from the women for a reason she is unsure of. The pair meet up again and aide each other to hide from their pursuers and gain a close friendship. Together, they must trick a dragon, flee their pursuers all while trying to figure out how to set things right.
I love their friendship as it grows, they often tease each other and have a few fights over words said that were taken too seriously. I love that Thianna is constantly saving Karn, who is not as well trained in any weapons or strength, but is the brighter of the two. Karn uses his intelligence to save them as often as Thianna saves them physically. The plot moved along quickly as they were often in peril and on the run. It was a little easy to predict at times and I didn’t particularly like the way it ended, with a bit of foreshadowing into the next book.
Verdict:
The first book in a new adventure series with unique characters and strong fantasy elements.
September 13, 2014
Of Men And Giants (Or Half Giantesses)
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 :)
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 :)
September 17, 2014
In the spirit of full disclosure, Lou is a friend of mine; but though knowing the author could have gotten me to read a book once, it couldn't have enchanted my eight year old on the read-aloud. We both thoroughly enjoyed Frostborn.
The world building is delightfully thorough, but never gets in the way of the story. Rather, hints of the world beyond what our heroes know are seeded throughout the books: hopefully, clues to future stories. And our heroes are what carries the book.
Karn would rather play Thrones and Bones (Viking chess) than learn the nuts and bolts of running his father's farm, and he wants to see the world beyond the farm. Thianna has always been small for a frost giant--the legacy of her late human mother-- and she wants nothing more than to fit in with the other giants. When Karn accidentally challenges a draug (undead warrior), he sets off a chain of events that brings the two into an alliance against trolls, draug, wyverns, and Orm the Great Dragon.
Thianna is such a great character. Her struggle to fit in and her initial reluctance to embrace or even explore the part of her heritage that makes her stand out in her village make her very sympathetic. I loved that she is the brawn of the pair and I loved that Karn uses his game strategy to solve some of their challenges. The two make a great team and their character arcs elegantly parallel each other. Without giving anything away, some of their solutions to problems were very clever. I especially enjoyed Thianna's use of her mother's heritage. Both Karn and Thianna end up in a different place then they expected in the beginning, and it's very satisfying for the reader. In addition, the book is sprinkled throughout with humor, which also makes reading it aloud fun.
If you are a parent, you may wish to invest in the audiobook as your voice may give out before your listener is ready for you to stop.
The world building is delightfully thorough, but never gets in the way of the story. Rather, hints of the world beyond what our heroes know are seeded throughout the books: hopefully, clues to future stories. And our heroes are what carries the book.
Karn would rather play Thrones and Bones (Viking chess) than learn the nuts and bolts of running his father's farm, and he wants to see the world beyond the farm. Thianna has always been small for a frost giant--the legacy of her late human mother-- and she wants nothing more than to fit in with the other giants. When Karn accidentally challenges a draug (undead warrior), he sets off a chain of events that brings the two into an alliance against trolls, draug, wyverns, and Orm the Great Dragon.
Thianna is such a great character. Her struggle to fit in and her initial reluctance to embrace or even explore the part of her heritage that makes her stand out in her village make her very sympathetic. I loved that she is the brawn of the pair and I loved that Karn uses his game strategy to solve some of their challenges. The two make a great team and their character arcs elegantly parallel each other. Without giving anything away, some of their solutions to problems were very clever. I especially enjoyed Thianna's use of her mother's heritage. Both Karn and Thianna end up in a different place then they expected in the beginning, and it's very satisfying for the reader. In addition, the book is sprinkled throughout with humor, which also makes reading it aloud fun.
If you are a parent, you may wish to invest in the audiobook as your voice may give out before your listener is ready for you to stop.
June 18, 2014
Over the course of a lifetime I've read a good number of middle grade fantasy books, beginning with Lloyd Alexander, to Rowling, and finally Riordan. My eight year old son, for his part, has devoured more than seventy middle grade books over the past two years and had the opportunity to read Lou Anders Frostborn at roughly the same time I did. I believe that is a fine test for any book, to be read not only by a professional fantasy editor but also a young soul directly in the center of its target market.
I have to say, Anders shows some wonderful writing chops in this volume, beginning with a deep understanding of character development that follows the book to its conclusion. A child's journey, and the the reflection of modern day difficulties translated to a fantasy setting abound in this fantastic volume. I was impressed again and again with how Anders managed to weave this story into a relatable tapestry that transcended the words themselves. A truly stunning feat for a first time author.
The adventure itself is a fun romp filled with giants, wyverns, and other standard fantasy subjects while relating to real would shades and geography.
On the whole, I found it to be a book that stood well against the best of its peers.
My son, perhaps an even better judge than myself, gave the book a 9.5 on a 10 point scale and considered it 'as good as the best works of Lasky, Mull, or the collection of authors who make up Erin Hunter'. Certainly a strong endorsement from a well read youth.
I have to say, Anders shows some wonderful writing chops in this volume, beginning with a deep understanding of character development that follows the book to its conclusion. A child's journey, and the the reflection of modern day difficulties translated to a fantasy setting abound in this fantastic volume. I was impressed again and again with how Anders managed to weave this story into a relatable tapestry that transcended the words themselves. A truly stunning feat for a first time author.
The adventure itself is a fun romp filled with giants, wyverns, and other standard fantasy subjects while relating to real would shades and geography.
On the whole, I found it to be a book that stood well against the best of its peers.
My son, perhaps an even better judge than myself, gave the book a 9.5 on a 10 point scale and considered it 'as good as the best works of Lasky, Mull, or the collection of authors who make up Erin Hunter'. Certainly a strong endorsement from a well read youth.
August 4, 2014
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.
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.
January 18, 2015
Summary- Karn Korlundsson hates the farming life and the fact that he is to become hauld (head leader) of the traveling farm village he lives him. He wants to see the world. Thianna is half-giant, half-human. She is content to stay in her frost giant village, and she strives to be excepted. It is hard being half the height of every giant around her, you know! When dangers arise for the the two of them, they happen to meet up and band together. Thus begins the journey of a life-time for the small boy and the giant girl. They are chased by draugs (evil undead people) and evil female warriors riding winged reptiles. Will these two misfits survive?
What I Liked- As a fan of Norse mythology, I am a huge fan of this book, and its Nordic-like setting and lore. The frost-giants are just plain cool. Literally. I like the fact that there is a tough (7′) female protagonist, along with a short boy who can’t even swing a sword. They were great opposites in characters. The Nordic legends are a wonderful touch, and I can’t help but want more. Mr. Anders has written a fine book. His style is a spot-on epic fantasy for middle-graders, with tons of humor, friendship, and adventure. I can’t wait for the next book, especially after that dang-blasted awesome cliffhanger that makes me both happy and angry! (happy that there will be another book, angry (or maybe sad) that I will have to wait)
*NOTE* I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
What I Liked- As a fan of Norse mythology, I am a huge fan of this book, and its Nordic-like setting and lore. The frost-giants are just plain cool. Literally. I like the fact that there is a tough (7′) female protagonist, along with a short boy who can’t even swing a sword. They were great opposites in characters. The Nordic legends are a wonderful touch, and I can’t help but want more. Mr. Anders has written a fine book. His style is a spot-on epic fantasy for middle-graders, with tons of humor, friendship, and adventure. I can’t wait for the next book, especially after that dang-blasted awesome cliffhanger that makes me both happy and angry! (happy that there will be another book, angry (or maybe sad) that I will have to wait)
*NOTE* I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
July 2, 2014
My wife is a school teacher for 8-10 year olds. I'm just a super geek with a penchant for Skyrim, good space opera and anything that will get my kids (ages 3 and 5) prepared for having an unapologetic geek father. When I read frostborn I thought some of the geography and character names might be too tongue twisting for YA readers. Then my wife assured me that all the Harry Potter, Star Wars and other things her classroom is into has the same sort. As for my recommendation on the book- *I* enjoyed it thoroughly. Didnt feel like the pace ever stumbled, enjoyed the character development and was left wanting more. I do hope there is a table top game being developed as a companion piece, because Thrones and Bones sounds like Tolkien chess. Its got a few somewhat scary moments that have enough comic relief to keep younger readers from being frightened. Come to think of it- this would make for an excellent segue into some of the headier fantasy for young readers- ease them into Tolkien and then, if you named your child Arya like I did- maybe onto Song of Ice and Fire in their later teens. Good natured and well crafted (and well researched!) fun.
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