Disappointing. I love GRRM’s adult fantasy and had high expectations for this chapter book, but it just didn’t work for me on several levels. It felt like he was trying for a fairy-tale feel, but it didn’t have the omniscient storyteller voice to hold our interest, and the (mostly) third-person point of view of the narration was distant and unengaging. The main character is, admittedly, supposed to be cold, but it makes us not like her or care about her. The narration does slip into omniscient occasionally, to tell us about other characters, but only in a dry and informational kind of way. At first I thought (sadly) that Martin just didn’t feel he had to approach a book for children with the same care and effort he did his books for adults—that maybe he thought he didn’t need to go as deep, or whatever—but then I realized this was actually originally published as a short story in the (adult) fantasy anthology Dragons of Light. So, I have no idea what happened here, why it lacks pretty much everything that is wonderful about Martin’s other work.I should add that if this were written by someone else, I would probably have given it two stars. It's just that I know Martin is capable of such amazing writing, that this seems all the more disappointing in comparison. ( )

The Ice Dragon was fantastic, it showed how a little girl that has winters touch, live thorugh all the seasons but only want one, Winter. She has only one wish, that wish was to ride onthe Ice Dragons back. She soon got that wish. The ending was very emotional, the Ice Dragon has fulfilled a dream and has risked his life for the childs family. ( )

http://books.moonsoar.com/archives/20... ( )

George R.R. Martin has been widely acclaimed for what is hailed as the best current ongoing series, "A Song of Ice and Fire". "The Ice Dragon" is a children's novella that has no connection with his better known and more adult series. However, there is still enough Martin goodness for fans and those looking for an introduction to Martin to give it a look.

Adara is a young girl who loves the winter and the cold. She is a content with feeling isolated and different from her family, enjoying her time alone immensely by playing in the snowy, winter fields surrounding her house. Her life is changed, though, when she befriends an ice dragon, a creature of fearsome repute. War and an invading army intrudes upon Adara's childhood world and family life, spurring Adara and the ice dragon to risk everything in order to survive.

Though this is a children's novella, Martin does not shade away from the uglier aspects of life. While not as dark and adult as "A Song of Ice and Fire", tragedy and sadness does abound in this tale. Parents will want to read this book first to decide whether it is appropriate material for their children and to anticipate any difficult questions that may arise from certain aspects of the story.

Martin's writing is simple and straightforward, almost stark in its tone, eschewing excessive description that constitutes most adult epic fantasy. He hits the mark, though, in terms of the audience he is writing for. The story itself is beautiful and sad, and while there is nothing groundbreaking or novel here, the writing is definitely top-notch. Yvonne Gilbert contributes some stunning artwork to the story, advancing Martin's storytelling and description along tremendously through her gorgeous illustrations.

Last Word:
If you are a George R.R. Martin fan, you will no doubt be please with his take on a children's story. For the non-fans of Martin, "The Ice Dragon" is a stark but beautiful and bittersweet story that does not shield the audience from some of the uglier aspects of life, and reaffirms Martin as one of his generations great fantasy storytellers. ( )

Basic Reason for Beginning: Reread to study descriptions of dragons.
Basic Reason for Finishing: Fast. Cute.

Full review here. ( )