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A Fortress of Grey Ice

Sword of Shadows #2 / 6
by J. V. Jones
A Fortress of Grey Ice (Sword of Shadows #2) by J. V. Jones
★ 8.00 / 9
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"Fabulous... a trilogy which is sure to take readers everywhere by storm." – SFX

J. V. Jones lives up to that praise in her new, highly charged epic adventure of Ash March and Raif Sevrance, two outcasts whose fates are entwined by ancient prophecies and need, in the cold, dark world that threatens to be torn asunder by a war to end all wars. Isolated by their birthrights, they are but two who fight the dreaded Endlords, but both Ash and Raif are special in unique ways that isolate them, and their strength and courage will be needed if the world is to be saved from darkness.

Raif, wrongly accused and cut off from his clan by the treachery of their new headsman, has a talent for killing that is part of his curse and his burden. He also bears another burden of greater weight.

Ash is a sacred warrior to the Sull, an ancient race whose numbers have declined. Raised as a foundling, never knowing her true history, she must learn to accept the terrible gifts of her heritage.

As Ash learns more of her greater fate, Raif's task looms dark and desperate, for he must journey through the nightmare realm of the Want, a place where even the Sull now fear to tread. For deep within the Want is the Fortress of Grey Ice, and there he must heal the breach in the Blindwall that already threatens the world. Should he fail, not even Ash's powers can save them...

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FantasyHigh Fantasy
Release date: April 2002
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J. V. Jones

J. V. Jones

In the dim-lit corners of epic fantasy, where bleak snowscapes stretch endlessly and characters wrestle with fate and survival, few voices cut as sharply—or as humanly—as that of J. V. Jones.

Born in Liverpool, England, J. V. Jones didn’t come to storytelling through the usual doors of academia or literary acclaim. She grew up behind the counter of her father’s pub, soaking in stories from all walks of life—every overheard confession, joke, and sorrow was fuel for the intricate emotional layers that would later define her writing. These roots, grounded in raw humanity, remain one of the quiet powers behind her fantasy worlds.

Read more ...

Jones’s work is known for its complex characters, cold and perilous landscapes, and morally grey struggles that refuse to offer easy answers. Her debut, The Baker’s Boy, introduced readers to The Book of Words trilogy—a series that unspooled a traditional fantasy setup only to subvert it in thoughtful, often brutal ways. But it was A Cavern of Black Ice, the first installment of her darker, more mature Sword of Shadows saga, that truly carved her name into the stone of modern fantasy.

Set in a harsh, unforgiving world that mirrors the emotional terrain of its characters, Sword of Shadows stands as a testament to her commitment to realism in fantasy. Jones doesn't merely build kingdoms and cast spells—she writes of hunger, of loyalty torn in the cold, of love surviving in the shadow of violence. Her prose is lyrical but grounded, poetic without ever losing grip on the gritty realism that makes her stories resonate.

While Jones’s pace has slowed in recent years, her impact remains. Readers still revisit her books for their richly textured world-building, emotionally charged character arcs, and a sense of danger that feels startlingly real. She may not be one of fantasy’s loudest voices, but hers is a voice that lingers—quiet, precise, and piercing.

Whether chronicling the fall of empires or the fragile strength of broken people, J. V. Jones writes with a clarity and depth that few in the genre consistently achieve. Her stories remind us that fantasy, at its best, reflects the complexities of being human—even in the most unforgiving of landscapes.

Sword of Shadows

In this powerful saga of redemption and renewal, J. V. Jones brings to vivid life the magnificent tapestry of a world at once desperately fighting for survival against supernatural monsters and rent by internecine warfare. The frozen land at the north of the world was once ruled by a legendary nation of superhuman warriors. But that age has passed, leaving ancient clans to struggle for dominance as supernatural forces beyond their control threaten their very existence.

Amid the chaos of world-changing violence, unlikely heroes emerge. An unwanted warrior, a forsaken woman of power, the betrayed widow of a slain clan chief: these are the heroes rising to claim what has been taken from them and to reshape the world.


Sword of Shadows consists of four books and series is set to expand with the upcoming release of two more books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.

A Cavern of Black Ice (Sword of Shadows #1)
★ 8.64 / 11
A Fortress of Grey Ice (Sword of Shadows #2)
★ 8.00 / 9
A Sword from Red Ice (Sword of Shadows #3)
★ 8.34 / 6
Watcher of the Dead (Sword of Shadows #4)
★ 8.60 / 5
Endlords (Sword of Shadows #5)
⧗ 10.00 / 10
A Sword Named Loss (Sword of Shadows #6)
⧗ 10.00 / 3

Book Reviews

11/26/2007
Seregil of Rhiminee avatar
Seregil of Rhiminee
3707 books, 260 reviews, 15 posts
★★★★★★★★☆☆ 8 / 10

A Fortress of Grey Ice is the second book of the Sword of Shadows series. I enjoyed reading this book just as much as I enjoyed reading A Cavern of Black Ice. In my opinion A Fortress of Grey Ice is great fantasy entertainment. I can recommend this book to everybody, who likes good fantasy stories.

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