In an attempt to help her family, a woodcutter’s daughter known only as ‘the lass’ agrees to spend a year in a castle of ice with a mysterious, magical white bear. Little does she realize that her attempts to delve into the secrets of the castle and its owner will bring her into a strange confrontation with all manner of magical beings, culminating in a battle of wills with a host of fiendish trolls. This is an enchanting, complex story that draws from several classic fairy tales and imbues them with a strong Nordic feel, managing to make the old and familiar seem fresh and new all over again. Jessica Day George succeeds in bringing authenticity to this historical fairy tale.