Terrana, a young girl from Sector Thirteen (Earth), somehow ends up in Sector One, a strange world where powerful beings known as Lacers and Weavers, exist. They can manipulate "Qi", a sophisticated form of energy that enables them to cast spells. The extrapolation of "Qi" is amusing, and Young's technical details in describing it are impressive, especially the difference between Lacers and Weavers, and the various ranks of power.
Terrana's character is more complex than most heroines in popular Young-Adult stories. Like them she has special abilities that make her a key player in the great war, but more importantly, her challenge of being considered an alien and her internal conflicts with her inner demon "Anarret", are characteristics that make her deep and sympathetic. Because of her subconscious alter-ego and violence, many misunderstand her, including herself. Young doesn't reveal all her mysteries at once. Her mentor figure Baneyon, the ice phoenixes, and her pet-dolphin Puddy are the only ones whom she seems to connect with. There are some entertaining characters with integral missions and I get excited when I see them kick demons' asses, but many of them lack the depth that Terrana has.
In the first half of the novel, Young takes time to develop the worlds that Terrana explores; we learn about culture, demons, and Qi from lectures in Minda Yerra, a school in Pampa Gumpina. Even though the conflict against an alien race doesn't get momentum until the middle, the lighthearted tone and build-up are never boring. There's a mind-blowing surprise in every chapter. Young has the skill and energy to carry her readers to the novel's most intense moments, where they can spend a pleasurable time reveling in its exotic wonders. Young highlights Terrana's fascination of the world in these passages:
- Terrana studied the people with something akin to awe; never in her life could she have imagined such a melting pot of races
- A new and exciting world opened up to her. Never before had she seen so many races converge
The diversification of the society reflects the novel's melting pot-qualities: its heterogeneous mixture of fantasy and science fiction elements. There are demons, mobile-suit soldiers, dogs that could see through illusions, Margakan (feline race), snaleks (snail-like creatures), a Dream Walker, and other exotic species. It's a fun and weird mix that you wouldn't find in an average fantasy novel. Young is not afraid to break down boundaries between genres. Because of that, Ice Phoenix is worth discovering.
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You can also read the review here: http://goo.gl/Rw7FBo