Book review
Written by Sarah Beth Durst
Simon & Schuster paperback
Release date Out now

When Arctic-dwelling Cassie turns 18, she finds that fairytales can become an ice-shattering reality. Discovering that her mother might still be alive beyond the ice, Cassie embarks on a quest to save her - whatever the consequences…

A fairytale in which a girl falls in love with a magical polar bear? It sounds a little far-fetched, even for the most romantic fantasist. Yet Sarah Beth Durst’s adaptation of the Scandinavian fairytale East of the Sun and West of the Moon has the power to enchant faster than you can say Aurora Borealis. What starts out as a dangerous journey to save Cassie’s mother, quickly turns into something more surprising in an achingly beautiful story of hope, love and loss.

Set in the wintry world of an Arctic research station and its surroundings, the novel features many elements that are typical of the genre, including a young heroine who faces a difficult choice between her family and her true love, and a dangerous quest to save the mother she has never met. But Durst’s ingenious writing style, unexpected twists and brilliantly developed characters, including a distinctive, strong-minded heroine, give this fairytale a glittering edge over other children’s fiction.

The novel artfully deals with the drastic measures people can go to for love and the startling consequences of those measures. Durst’s prose is fantastic, and her descriptions of the icy landscape are particularly impressive: you can feel the magical pull of the vast white Arctic expanse in every page. It results in a captivating and often moving read, which is sure to be popular with fantasy fans of all ages. Cassandra Zoro

VERDICT: 9/10
A charming modern fairytale that will grip anyone with an interest in romantic fantasy or icy climes.