We really enjoyed this new series. The author has written a very accomplished novel for this being a debut. We are looking forward to following Oswin on his further journeys and adventures.

In a frozen world of Tundra, Oswin Fields, the lone stray saved from the Endless Expanse, is called to join the school for ice apprentices. Eager to demonstrate his belonging within Tundra, he takes his place reminding himself is a stray and will never be a proper Tundran. However, beneath the school's magical exterior lies a lurking danger. As beasts begin to attack, Oswin must address the new world, everything he thought he knew and confront his deepest fears and test his inner strength to save the very place he still doesn’t know if he should call home.

Ice Apprentices by Jacob North is released on 30th January by Simon & Schuster.

Oswin is right where I want to start this book review. What a protagonist. Taking this adventure with Oswin and seeing the beauty of their humanity and neurodivergence was nothing but an absolute pleasure. Oswin is one of those protagonists that I think will stay in a lot of people’s hearts of a very long time. Growing up, I saw almost no representations of my own neurodivergence in the fiction I read (and if it was there it was treated as a negative character trait) so Oswin has brought a hope and a lightness to my heart that younger neurodivergent are going to get to read such a wonderful character who’s like them.

I said it a couple of times in 2024, but I will forever be impressed when someone creates a new form of magic as sometimes it does feel as though we’ve seen it all. Jacob North, however, has found a fun way to capture the magic of winter and form a perfect snowball of the mystical and fantastical. The creatures (meersnofs, kikorkas, no-reads and more), spells, lore, and world of Ice Apprentices are to be commended, and I can only imagine that they were incredibly fun to write as they were joyous to read. Younger me would’ve been equally mesmerised and cautious of the monsters, exactly as a good children’s book should.

I do have to take a second to herald praise upon Jacob North for showing how representation can and should be done. None of the diversity is forced, shoehorned in to check boxes, or misrepresented to fit a plot (as I’ve seen a couple of times in fiction this past year). It is just a depiction of the REAL world, which is beautifully diverse if you go outside and look at it. It was marvellous to see a cast that I think anyone, and I mean anyone would be able to find someone to relate to. No matter how much the world may be trying to send us back, this is what fiction in 2025 should look like and authors like Jacob North are the future and the frontier.

All in all, I was absolutely mesmerised by Ice Apprentices. My reaction to the ending (Don’t worry, no spoilers here) was so visceral I actually immediately DMed Jacob North to say I couldn’t believe it! I cannot wait for the sequel to this wonderful novel and see many incredible things on the horizon for Jacob North and Ice Apprentices. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to go wander the icy night outside and see if I can spot a kikorka…

Ice Apprentices is the first in an epic fantasy trilogy – and what a start this is! I was completely absorbed in this icy world, its magic, its danger and its diverse inhabitants: a world where danger lurks, where secrets twist and turn and where answers lie hidden for a courageous stray to unearth.

Oswin Fields is an outsider – a stray – found in Tundra (the last settlement in an ice-covered world) and adopted by Lullia, a mother who is harsh and cold towards him. His is a hard life, and one that he doesn’t feel will ever change, so he is shocked when his adoptive mother tells him that he has been selected to train as an ice apprentice in Corridor – a school which trains apprentices to contribute to Tundra’s survival.

Oswin is met with hostility by many in Corridor as they cannot understand why a stray would be asked to become an ice apprentice and also because his surname is synonymous with an uncle who is viewed as a traitor to Tundra. But, when he and another apprentice, Ennastasia, are attacked by a monster they’ve just learned about in a lesson, he might just be the only hope of saving the Corridor …

And so begins an absolutely gripping, action-packed adventure that swept me into a richly imagined world of ice, of monsters and of peril and deception. I found the magical system fascinating and really liked that, as this is part of a trilogy, I know there is lots more to learn – but I was given enough to satisfy my curiosity and leaving me eager to find out more. There are plenty of unexpected twists and turns, moments of heart-pounding danger and incredible revelations that made this a real page-turner.

I really liked both Oswin and Ennastasia, and loved the friendship that develops between them, a hard won friendship and one they both desperately need. Oswin is impetuous, tenacious and endlessly curious, but he is also someone who doesn’t feel he belongs and doesn’t feel worthy of the place he has been given in Tundra and the Corridor. Ennastasia, because of who she is, fears opening herself up to friendship, yet Oswin, who doubts his worth so much, breaks down her barriers leading to a genuine, honest friendship that is so heart-warming.

This is an adventure that feels like it has so much more to come, and I cannot wait to join the ice apprentices in their next adventure – especially after that ending!

A breath-taking, perilous adventure into an icy world that will undoubtedly capture the hearts and imaginations of readers of 9+ who will be eager to continue the adventure.

A tale full of ice-cold magic set in a unique school, perfect for middle-grade readers.

The Ice Apprentices is an adventurous tale set at the heart of Corridor, a special school where students learn about the magic that fills the icy lands they live in. For me, the world-building in this story was the standout feature: the concept of the school itself, as well as the frosty land it is set in with all its special quircks (including growing logs from splinters!). Oswin is the main character trying to find his place amongst his Tundran peers. Despite not having been born in Central Tundra and despite his family name, Oswin is a young character who strives to prove that he belongs at the school. The story is highly visual: I would love to see this as an animated film adaptation!

However, while the world and its magic are intriguing, I found myself wanting more backstory on certain aspects of the story, particularly Lullia's character and how Oswin came to stay with her. The magic system and rules of this world have only started to be fully explained and become clearer over time, so I think there’s definitely potential for more adventures in this frosty land! Three stars and probably more stars when the full trilogy comes out and makes the most of this icy world!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC. This is my honest opinion of the book. This review is now available on Goodreads.

This is an exciting children’s minster and magic adventure. A boy is taken, from being an outcast having been found in the outer expanses of the Tundra, to a school for ice apprentices. There he finds danger, new friends, excitement and a lot more about his family. Things he was not told about before he arrives. But Oswin Fields is bright and observant, with lots of questions continually springing into his mind, and he’s ready to overcome the difficulties and solve the puzzles thrown in his way. Thank you to Simon and Schuster UK Children’s and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Ice Apprentices is a refreshing and fast-paced adventure that centers on Oswin, a determined young boy with a dream of becoming an ice apprentice. What sets this book apart is how it handles Oswin’s identity—he’s a trans character, but the story isn’t about his experience being trans. Instead, it focuses on his experiences at Corridor (a magical school where you learn ice magic) bravery, curiosity, and ambition, which makes him an incredibly relatable protagonist.

The magic system is unique and exciting, offering a fresh take on the familiar "magic school" trope. The world-building feels new and intriguing, with a focus on the craft of ice magic.

The pacing is spot-on, keeping you engaged from start to finish. Oswin’s journey is one of growth, challenge, and self-discovery, and you’ll quickly find yourself rooting for him every step of the way. Ice Apprentices is a heartwarming reminder that all kids—no matter who they are—can have grand adventures.

Right away this was an exciting book full of little mysteries that needed solving. An unusual world encased in ice and snow, where even the animals are made of snow.
The characters themselves are diverse without it being made to be a big thing (ie the main character is a transboy, and there is another character who gender fluid. Neither of these things are made into a big deal, they don't cut into the story or feel forced in. It's just a case of that's who they are, which I love.)
All the characters are very different, with distinct personalities too.
The story had me completely hooked from start to finish and I cannot wait to read more in this series!

Poor Oswin! I felt really sorry for him the whole way through and then something happened that made him happy. Yay! AND THEN there was the epilogue and now I'm feeling sad for him again. This was a truly fantastic story and I really can't wait for the next 2 to answer all my questions (maybe not as many as Oswin would have!). This has everything: monsters, magic, friendships, secrets and bad choices. It was a page turner that I couldn't put down.

Talk about being hooked, I could not put this book down!

You very quickly grow attached to Oswin, and you’ll find yourself rooting for him at every turn. He has a lot to prove but he’s brave, inquisitive and determined to become an ice apprentice. Despite his disadvantage of being a much maligned ‘stray’, he is set on breaking out of his small town life working endlessly in timber, to become an asset to the Tundra.

It was a really well weaved story and I loved the plot itself, not to mention the great characters. It was great navigating this story world with Oswin, and his encounters with Ennastasia were always entertaining!

It’s set itself up so well as a series and after this one, I can’t wait to rejoin the adventure with Oswin again in the next one!