latest installment of the Lord of the Isles saga. I rather enjoyed. Another Ilna from an alternate world is trying to take over everything. Lots of battles and as generic as the others, but I enjoyed it anyway. Magic, magic, everywhere. ( )

Not bad, and somewhat original, but I find these characters difficult to get interested in. They aren't very complex and most of them seem to do things by accident more than by design. The general plot, of a new young king trying to reunite an old kingdom while battling various plots isn't that original, nor is the idea that he has the spirit of an ancient king in his head. ( )

Prince Garrick and his in-head partner Carus head for Carcosa for Garrick's coronation, but an evil force threatens Garrick and his entire world. Working through magic, and through the local priests, something threatens Garrick's life directly, and then separates him from his trusted friends. Cashel and his quarterstaff are teleported to a world where a strange entity threatens everything. Sharina is pulled into a fairy-tale world where a talking axe warns evil trolls of her presence, but then welcomes her as a killing partner. Ilna and the ex-pirate Chalcus are sent to deal with a problem merchants have been having, only to find the same evil magic is working its way in Garrick's kingdom.
Each of the three major sub-plots works. Although Cashel is pretty one-dimensional as a character (he hits bad things with his quarterstaff and if that doesn't work, he hits them harder), he's pretty likable as a heroic type and his strategy works. Ilna is more complex, and shows important character development. Sharina's quest with her friend the axe is probably the most interesting of the three with the axe, Beard, being the most likable and memorable character in the story. In contrast, Garrick's own adventures serve mainly as a resting point. I certainly found myself wanting to get back to where the real action was.
This fifth instalment in the series is much like the rest of them: the main characters go their separate ways for the bulk of the novel and reunite for the subplot. The plot, in fact, is becoming rather predictable, with only details changing from book to book. There is very little of the "epic" in this fantasy series, as the plots of the now five books just don't seem to be driving at anything.

That being said, the book IS entertaining, and I even found myself laughing at points. That's more than can be said for some of the other big names in fantasy at this time. While not intellectually stimulating, "Goddess of the Ice Realm" is certainly an enjoyable escape for readers of the series. ( )