Series: Crusoe Adventure Series
Author: Andrew Lane
Age group: 12 - 17
Page count: 258 pages
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Summary from Amazon:
Months after their rescue by the government agency Segment W, Robinson Crusoe and his friend Friday have proven their skills as secret agents. They’re now climbing the ranks of this exclusive group of spies who reports directly to the Crown. Suddenly, in the dead of winter, Friday is shocked to see her father, who once tried to kill her, walking the streets of London. She tries to elicit the help of Segment W, but they are preoccupied with the continued investigation into an organization that staged a kidnapping of the king’s daughter. What will she do? As Friday’s past comes back to haunt her, she, Crusoe, and Daniel Defoe must uncover the mystical Circle of XIII’s sinister plans to recruit new members into the society using dangerous and magical means. How does her father fit into all of this? Will they be able to escape unscathed?
Day of Ice is the second installment of a series that thrusts a young Robinson Crusoe into a new world of espionage, intrigue, and peril.
I love how the author combined the story of a tropical island with 17th century London. We learn a lot about the characteristics of both settings. I don't like it at all when it seems as if we are being lectured about elements of the story. Fortunately, this was not the case in Day of Ice. The settings were well-described through the characters' eyes. I learned a lot through subtle explanations that often lead to a big picture.
There was one setting which I did not like. It felt flat and creeped me out, and I did not like the scenes that were set there. However, I understand that was probably the author's intention.
There was a lot of action in this book. There are chases, thwarted escapes, brutal murders... This action ties in with the mystery, which made it a roller-coaster ride for me. I was waiting for either an answer or a character to be caught in every chapter. Sadly, I didn't enjoy it very much. I felt expectant the whole time, but was disappointed because I was not interested in what was going on.
The characters of Friday and Crusoe were both really well-developed. They were strong and capable characters who believed in themselves and what they could do. They knew they had endured trials before and that they could brave them again. They trusted each other a lot. I liked how I was able to see through Friday's POV more than the last book.
The 'bond' between them felt really eerie. They knew what the other was planning, what they were thinking, what they felt... All because they had spent so much time together on a tropical island. This had key moments in the story, but it did not feel realistic.
This leads me to the romance. It was sweet. However, all they seemed to do was think how pretty/handsome the other was and how much they cared for them. I was really put off-slash-disgusted.
I'm sorry to say I don't feel that Day of Ice lived up to Dawn of Spies' high standard. It was a good book, and I wouldn't be reviewing it if there wasn't a little something that appealed to me. Okay, just not for me. I give Day of Ice a seven out of ten for its strong characters and action.
Author bio:
Taken from his website, and if you'd like to access, click the button!
If you'd like to read more MMGMs, Greg Pattridge has provided all the links this week. If you'd like to read those and read his review, click the link below.
Have a great week!
Bye,
Vi