The Anvil of Ice was originally released in 1986 and saw the start of an epic fantasy trilogy. It was followed by The Forge in the Forest and The Hammer of the Sun. Rohan managed to create a beautifully detailed world that would be able to inspire writers.

The tale follows a similar plot to many classic epic fantasies, an apprentice who finds himself with the power to do unimaginable things and to save the world. The novel very much focuses on character development, letting the antagonist to form in the background as a growing threat. The protagonist in the novel is in the form of Alv. Rohan manages to create an air of mystery surrounding Alv’s past, whilst still focusing on the progression of the novel.  Alv manages to discover a power to shape metal, and the journey begins as Alv tries to discover a way to defeat the Ice.

Rohan manages to convey an antagonist in the ice, which is advancing and threatening the development of the world. However, Alv must decide whether he sees the threat as worth battling. Rohan creates a world of uncertainty and a danger that is slowly progressing towards them. The parallels of our world to Rohan’s world creates a mythical tale.

With The Anvil of Ice, the author managed to create a piece of work that was and is truly original, and clearly stands the test of time. The powers of the mastermith and the way the metal work is perceived as a kind of magic creates a fantasy tale rarely seen.

This addition comes under Gollancz Fantasy Masterworks, which allows for an intricately written introduction that shows the importance of the novel in the world of fantasy publication. The introduction is written by Graham Sleight, and he makes it clear why The Anvil of Ice deserves more attention. The novel shows a detailed world of characterisation, with an original plot that fantasy fans would love. A modern fantasy classic that deserves the title of a fantasy masterwork.

THE ANVIL OF ICE / AUTHOR: MICHAEL SCOTT ROHAN / PUBLISHER: GOLLANCZ / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW