The Icebound Land

Infobox Book
name = The Icebound Land


image_caption =
author = John Flanagan
cover_artist =
country = Australia
language = English
series = Ranger's Apprentice
genre =
publisher = Random House (Australia)
pub_date = November 30, 2005
media_type = Paperback
pages = 307
isbn = ISBN 1741660211
preceded_by = The Burning Bridge
followed_by = Oakleaf Bearers

"The Icebound Land" is a fantasy novel in the Ranger's Apprentice series by John Flanagan.

Author

John Flanagan is an author from Australia. He began writing the Ranger's Apprentice series for his son to help him appreciate books. The series consists of seven books that are all available in Australia. However, only four books, "The Ruins of Gorlan", "The Burning Bridge", "The Icebound Land" and "The Battle for Skandia" have been released in the United States.

Plot summary

This book continues from "The Burning Bridge", where Will and Evanlyn are bound for Skandia, as captives of the Skandian Jarl, Erak.

Halt has sworn that he will rescue Will, but is forced to stay by the Ranger Commandant Crowley. He is so desperate to leave that he publicly insults the king who reluctantly banishes him for one year. Because Halt is banished, he is no longer a Ranger, and he sets off to Skandia. First, he must go through Gallica where he meets Horace, who is also determind to find Will. Horace joins him, travels as a freelance knight, defeats many other inadequate freelance knights, and wins horses and armor. His reputation grows and he is captured by the horrible Lord Deparnieux of Castle Montsombre who desires to fight him. Halt, as a result, kills the warlord with a single, well-aimed arrow allowing Horace and him to get on a ship to Skandia.

Meanwhile, Erak believes that Will and Evanlyn (Princess Cassandra) would be treated better than the average slave and while this is true for Cassandra, it is not the case for Will. Will is forced to be a yard slave and is assigned the worst work, such as jamming a paddle into frozen water to keep the ice thawed. This is back-breaking, torturous, and freezing work and he suffers terribly. Later on, a so-called "friend" gives him a dangerous drug called warmweed, which has a blissful warming, soothing effect. It also makes the addict blank and lifeless, unable to think, talk, or remember, and always craving for another dose. After taking it, Will quickly becomes addicted. Erak one day sees this and helps Will and Evanlyn escape to a deserted hunting house with some provisions and a small bundle of warmweed to relieve Will of his addiction.

Characters

Will - the protagonist of the series. He is a young man who has been studying with Halt, a legendary ranger. He has learned much over the years and is very accomplished in all facets of the ranger skills. He has been part of numerous wars and conflicts. He recently escaped from Skandia and managed to successfully overcome a warmweed addiction. He was originally conscious of his small height and thin, wiry frame (because he wanted to be a knight before becoming Halt's apprentice) but has come to be proud of them as they suit his Ranger profession.

Halt - Will's teacher and mentor. He has done many things for the Kingdom over his years of service and is regarded as one of the best Rangers of the time. He appears grim and silent, embodying the Ranger stereotype that appears throughout the book, but he does have a caring side.

Princess Cassandra - AKA Evanlyn meets Will in The Burning Bridge. Evanlyn is the king's daughter, but keeps her identity a secret.

Horace - Horace was once an arch enemy of Will's; every moment he had been picking on Will for his dream of being a Knight. Since he went to battle school he has learned many things and has become a close friend of Will's, accompanying him on some missions and attempting to save him when he and the King's Daughter, Cassandra (Evanlyn), were taken captive by the Skandians. Horace also gains the honor and valor of a knight, and is appalled to see anyone's disrespect or lack of chivalry.