Oswin Fields returns to his school, Corridor, for his second year as an ice apprentice.

On an errand in Central Tundra, 14-year-old transgender boy Oswin narrowly evades imprisonment when he’s caught snooping around the Stalagmite Cabin, a sacred structure that houses the ice lungs, which protect the land from monsters. It doesn’t matter that he was following a mysterious voice that uttered a dire warning—or that he saw a woman getting dragged inside the cabin—because no one believes the word of a stray. Pale-skinned Oswin’s trouble continues once he’s back at school. When Master Pin attacks Grandmaster Yarrow, High Watcher Greyheart takes charge, imposing a ruthless ranking system. If Oswin can’t conquer his fear of heights, climb the Wice, and claim his spellbook, he’ll get kicked out of school for good. To make matters worse, Tundra’s winter season, the Freeze, returns earlier than ever—and it’s harsher than usual. With food in short supply, the people of Tundra may be torn apart by brutal, survivalist beliefs. Picking up with the insatiably curious Oswin already entangled in trouble, this sequel captures readers’ attention with its high stakes and fast pace. Despite Oswin’s age, his antics and the cartoonish villainy of the adults in the story will appeal to the humor of a younger audience. The resolution once again leaves readers bursting with questions about Oswin and the dangerous and quirky world of Tundra.

A suspenseful adventure with a delightfully silly sense of humor.

– Kirkus, February 15, 2026