Sky Song

In the icy lands of Erkenwald, 12-year-old huntress Eska is accidentally freed from her year-long imprisonment in a cursed music box by Flint, a boy with an invention for almost every situation. Alongside Blu, Flint’s younger sister, Pebble, an excitable and permanently hungry fox cub and Balapan, a powerful eagle, they must escape from Winterfang Palace and ultimately overcome the evil Ice Queen, who is stealing the voices of her subjects in a desperate quest for immortality. The only way that she can be defeated is by finding the ancient Frost Horn and using it to release the magical Sky Song, which will then unite the three tribes of the frozen kingdom.

This is a fast-paced adventure, full of action and excitement, but it also contains a deeper message about the importance of loyalty and friendship. The world that Abi Elphinstone has created is beautifully drawn and introduces many concepts of ancient mythology. The two lead characters, Eska and Flint, both grow and develop throughout the story; Eska, as she learns that friendship can be an incredibly powerful weapon and Flint, as he gradually realises that he must change many of his long established views about the other tribes of the kingdom. The portrayal of Flint’s deep love for his sister Blu, who has learning difficulties, is one of the highlights of the book, as is the depiction of the vast and majestic wilderness in which the story takes place.

For children who have enjoyed the Narnia stories or the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness by Michelle Paver, this would be an excellent addition to the bookshelf. Although Sky Song was written as a stand-alone adventure, the snowy world created is so rich that it provides a wonderful opportunity to imagine the further adventures that might take place.