Book Review: The Daughter of The Ice by Luís Falcão de Magalhães
Sometimes, you crack open a new fantasy novel and immediately feel like you’ve slipped into a familiar rhythm—like sitting by the fire with a mug of something warm, knowing a good tale is about to unfold. The Daughter of The Ice by Luís Falcão de Magalhães, fits that mould nicely. It doesn’t reinvent the genre, but it doesn’t have to. This is classic fantasy done with heart, craft, and just enough surprises to keep things interesting.
Set in the world of Elessia, the book kicks off with an old favourite: the threat of a returning darkness and an ageing warrior named Eregar who’s not quite ready to hang up his sword. But Magalhães doesn’t just follow the well-trodden path. He brings along an unexpected cast of characters: Johan, a thief far removed from typical hero status, and their band of friends, who get swept up in events bigger than any of them imagined. When Johan’s lover, Annah, is cursed, the group is forced to team up with Eregar, setting out on a dangerous journey that none of them asked for.
That’s where the fun really starts. There’s a refreshing mix here: seasoned experience clashing (and eventually blending) with youthful reluctance, personal stakes driving grander decisions, and characters who feel flawed and believable. The mentor-hero dynamic is present, sure, but it never feels tired.
And then there’s Eileen—the titular Daughter of the Ice. She’s a goddess, a villain, and, surprisingly, one of the most compelling characters in the book. Magalhães doesn’t give us a moustache-twirling evil-doer. Eileen’s motivations, emotions, and choices are layered, making her chapters some of the most engaging in the story. You want to know what makes her tick.
That said, the journey isn’t without its bumps. While the opening is intriguing and sets up the world well, things do slow down significantly about a quarter of the way in and the momentum dips just when you expect the story to start building, and it doesn’t really pick up again until tlater. For a story with gods, curses and creeping doom, it occasionally lacked urgency.
Another issue is the emotional connection—or lack thereof. I found it hard to fully invest in the characters’ journeys. Despite the cast being varied and well-intentioned, they often felt distant, more like pieces on a board than people with skin in the game. This was made more noticeable by a narrative style that leans a bit too heavily on telling rather than showing. Internal monologues and dialogue often carried the weight of exposition, and it made parts of the book feel like a guided tour rather than an immersive experience.
To be clear, the writing is good and the author has a good grasp of pacing in the latter half, especially when it comes to action scenes like the battles, which are handled deftly through multiple POVs. But the reliance on exposition-heavy narration and sometimes unnatural dialogue holds the story back from being truly gripping throughout.
Still, credit where it’s due: Magalhães has built a world that feels alive and cohesive. Elessia may not be painted with intricate detail on every page, but there’s enough there to spark your imagination and make you want to return.
In the end, The Daughter of The Ice is a solid entry in the classical fantasy tradition. If you’re after a well-paced adventure with a darker edge and a few fresh twists, this could scratch the itch. It’s not without its flaws, but the heart of the story, the looming threat, the reluctant heroes, and the goddess wreathed in ice—is strong enough to carry it through. Elessia may not break the mould, but it does offer a journey worth a read.
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