Karn is a young Norrongard boy whose desire to see the wide world, and devotion to the board game Thrones and Bones, clash with his familial obligation to one day take his father’s role as leader of the farm.

Thianna is a misfit in the world of frost giants, her half-human lineage making her stand out as different from the rest of her people. She wants nothing more than to stay on the top of her mountain and gain the acceptance of her neighbors and kin.

When a scheming relative wakes the dead and a long-lost horn calls forth old enemies, Karn and Thianna find themselves thrust together in an adventure that will take them far out of their comfort zones, and far from home.

Former Editor Lou Anders’ debut young adult novel is an entertaining joyride through a fantastical realm informed by his research of Norse mythology. Anders expertly weaves mythological detail with contemporary styling to create an intriguing world that he populates with characters that should appeal to young female and male readers…as well as those of us who remain young at heart.

With the next book in the series due out this July, it was well past time for me to check out the work of an editor I have admired for many years. On one hand I am sorry that I waited, but on the other I am happy to know that I have a return trip booked for Lou Anders’ world in just a few short weeks.

Before going any further I must praise Anders for writing a book clearly aimed at its target audience. There are times in my adult life where I’ve read otherwise well-written YA books that either have material that does not feel age appropriate (my opinion only) or is so sophisticated that an advanced reader would enjoy it but it lacks the broad target audience appeal. The entire time I was reading Frostborn I was thinking about how much fun this book would be to read aloud. One day I hope to have the opportunity to read it aloud to my grandchildren.

That is not to say that Lou Anders’ writing lacks complexity or is in any way not sophisticated. Anders includes interesting old world mythology in a way that is educational and enlightening and yet is woven so cleanly into the story that it never impedes the pacing. Chapters alternate between Karn and Thianna, until they eventually meet up, in a way that allows the reader to get to know each unique character and their unique cultures before the action heats up.

And once it gets going, there is no turning back. Lou Anders keeps upping the stakes on his young protagonists and much to readers’ delight those characters meet the challenges with wit, intelligence, and teamwork while being characters to whom young people can relate. These are not superheroes, they are young people going through the same growing pains that we all have gone through…with the addition of having to fight off soldiers on wyverns, draugs, and a legendary dragon.

I recently did a re-watch of Goonies to celebrate the 30th Anniversary, and while watching the film I thought back to how this search for lost pirate treasure was such a part of my childhood imaginings. I was thinking similar thoughts while reading Frostborn. There is a great deal of material in the story that sparks the imagination and I can easily see this story sparking a young reader’s interest to learn more about mythology and folklore…or even a young-at-heart reader.

I have written before about my concerns that labeling a story as “fun” may give off the impression that it is somehow less worthy entertainment. That has never been the case for me. I consider it a high compliment when an author, film maker, or artist can create something that lifts the spirit with a high fun factor. Frostborn does that.

I knew from the start that Lou Anders had a multiple book deal going and so I expected to have Frostborn end with cliffhangers. Imagine my surprise when instead Frostborn turned out to be a complete, self-contained story, with the promise of more to come in the lives of Thianna and Karn. I enjoyed the way in which Anders revealed locations and historical and cultural details about his imagined universe through the travels and conversations of his protagonists. I also thoroughly enjoyed the way in which Anders references the entire gaming culture, from the resurgence of board games to the continuing popularity of video games, through Karn’s devotion to the Thrones and Bones game.

I have no doubt that Lou Anders set out to tell a story that would appeal to male and female readers, and in this he succeeds. Thianna and Karn are characters with agency that are facing the kinds of fears, doubts, dreams and obligations that real young people face. That they are doing so in a story that is both meaningful and entertaining makes me happy.

The second book in the series, Nightborn, is due out July 14th, and Frostborn has just been released in paperback. You can also get autographed copies of the hardback from Think Geek at an incredible price (which is what I did!).

Great job, Lou. I cannot wait to experience the next chapter in the lives of Karn and Thianna.

The cover painting and interior pencil illustrations for this book are by the artist Justin Gerard. You may recall that I recently did a feature on him after seeing him at Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 4 a few weeks ago. The original piece I bought from him had me aching to read something that reminded me of childhood and was filled with the kinds of fantastical images he creates. I was thrilled to receive my copy of Frostborn a few days after SFAL4 as it was exactly what I craved. Justin’s contributions to Lou Anders’ novel are amazing and I am beyond thrilled that he scored such great illustration for his debut novel. Justin Gerard has done the same for Nightborn, thus I look forward to seeing more great illustrations.