The thought-provoking climax to Brennan’s climate-thriller trilogy offers a nuanced exploration of human resilience and societal challenges in a post-catastrophe world. As the title suggests, the series has centered on frozen islands, specifically “thirty ice-covered islands that were once Ireland” after the tsunamis of 2061 and the melting of polar and Greenland ice caps drastically raised sea levels. At a time when “young people are a minority,” this final entry finds hope in the third generation of survivors to be born since that “Eriador event,” as they grapple with the complexities of a changing environment, the pressures of external migration, and all that it takes to survive.Brennan's world-building continues to impress, painting a vivid picture of an Iceapelago slowly recovering from climatic upheaval. The author skillfully balances the optimism of improving conditions with the underlying tensions of a world forever altered. The contrast between the recovering Iceapelago and the losses endured in less fortunate regions adds depth to the global context of the story, and Brennan creates a compelling conflict involving climate refugees from the Principality of Ria Formosa, in Portugal, and elsewhere. While always emphasizing the lived human experience, Brennan explores territorial rights, resource scarcity, and the moral implications of exclusion in a world reshaped by climate change. The character of Rory, the Iceapelago Commander, serves as a practical focal point for these ethical dilemmas.
While the novel's pacing may be slower than traditional post-apocalyptic thrillers, this allows for a more considered, empathetic examination of long-term societal adaptation, with an incisive emphasis on how each generation faces the future. Brennan's prose is clear and descriptive, effectively conveying his characters' physical landscape and emotional terrain. Brennan generally provides enough information to make the story accessible to newcomers—though for full context they are advised to start with the first entry—while satisfying long-time readers with continuity, character development, and a strong sense of how people and societies adapt over time.
Takeaway: Humane climate novel prioritizing societal questions in a ravaged future.
Comparable Titles: Kim Stanley Robinson's New York, 2140, Margaret Atwood's MaddAddam trilogy.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
