Summary

The blood of the Strong-in-the-Arm clan awoke, roaring in Thirrin's brain, and the fighting spirit of the Hypolitan, her mother's people, straightened her spine and sent a tingling excitement coursing through her veins.

The blood of the Strong-in-the-Arm clan awoke, roaring in Thirrin's brain, and the fighting spirit of the Hypolitan, her mother's people, straightened her spine and sent a tingling excitement coursing through her veins. She was heir to the throne of the Icemark... She must defend her land and her people When her father dies nobly in battie, fourteen-year-old Thirrin Freer Strong-in-the-Arm Lindenshield becomes Queen of the Icemark, a tiny kingdom forever caught between dangerous neighbours. But she bears a heavy burden. Thirrin must not only win the respect of her people but also raise an army to protect them from the most formidable threat of invasion that her nation has ever known - and do so before the end of the winter snows. Resourcefully, she goes in search of new allies from far beyond her borders. With her friend Oskan Witch's Son at her side she journeys across the Land-of-the-Ghosts to the frozen Hub of the World. She meets the most incredible creatures: vampires, wolf-folk and most wondrous of all, the giant Snow Leopards. But can she persuade them to unite, and rally to The Cry of the Icemark? steadfast young queen who puts duty first. But beneath her armour, she is just a girl trying to make sense of an extraordinary world.