''A Fortress of Grey Ice'' is a

fantasy novel Fantasy literature is literature set in an imaginary universe, often but not always without any locations, events, or people from the real world. Magic, the supernatural and magical creatures are common in many of these imaginary worlds. Fa ...

by British writer J. V. Jones, the second book in the ''Sword of Shadows'' series. It follows ''

A Cavern of Black Ice A Cavern of Black Ice is a fantasy novel by British writer J. V. Jones, the first book in the ''Sword of Shadows'' series. It is followed by ''A Fortress of Grey Ice,'' ''A Sword from Red Ice'' and ''Watcher of the Dead Watcher or Watchers may ...

'' and is followed by ''

A Sword from Red Ice ''A Sword from Red Ice'' is the third book in the ''Sword of Shadows'' fantasy series by J. V. Jones. The first two books in the series are ''A Cavern of Black Ice'' and ''A Fortress of Grey Ice''. It was published in the United States and the ...

'' and ''

Watcher of the Dead Watcher or Watchers may refer to: In print * Watcher (angel) or Grigori, a class of fallen angels in Biblical apocrypha * Watcher (comics), an extraterrestrial species who watches the universe in Marvel Comics ** Uatu, the Watcher * ''The Watch ...

.'' The novel focuses on multiple characters and plotlines. One of the large ones is Raif, who becomes disenchanted with his position in life. Abandoned by friends, feeling he has nothing, he goes wandering, only to join up with a new group called the Maimed Men.

Plot summary

''A Fortress of Grey Ice'' represents a greater division of storylines than was present in the first book. The novel opens rather dramatically with new characters and settings, then moves quickly to Ash March's abrupt and covert departure from Raif in order to join the Sull. Left with the Listener, Raif finds himself alone, now abandoned by clan and friend, cut off from everyone and everything that he loves. Embittered and resentful of the lore that claims him as Watcher of the Dead, Raif will wander the edge of the Want until he finds the only group willing to accept an outcast and renegade, the outlaw Maimed Men. Elsewhere Ash, already leagues away from Raif, will become initiated into the mysterious blood lettings of the Sull, all the while riding in haste to reach the safety of the Sull lands, guarded by her two Far Riders and pursued by the maeraith she has been unintentionally released.

References

American fantasy novels 2003 American novels Tor Books books {{2000s-fantasy-novel-stub