Shroud of Ice

Endorsements

“Shroud of Ice is a remarkable novel, one that lingers in a reader’s memory long after the final page has been turned. Sharon Krasny crosses 5,000 years to create a drama with themes of dignity, loyalty, resilience, and community; extending the tale began with her first novel, Iceman Awakens, a memorable read in itself. Gaspare may have been shrouded in ice for centuries, but in these pages, he lives and breathes again, as emotionally complex as any modern character.  Krasny’s research is impeccable and her writing is tight, often lyrical, tense where it needs to be, and always elegant. Shroud of Ice stands as a significant work, one that honors any bookshelf upon which it might sit and any reader who might undertake its journey.”

 – Greg Fields, author of The Bright Freight of Memory

2025 American Writing Award for Literary Fiction PEN/Faulkner Nominee

“A poetic, rich, imaginative journey, not just for Gaspare the Iceman but for the reader as well. Grim and compelling, it’s about so much more than survival in an age of primitive conditions. This novel speaks to the deep motivations of each of us: the search for freedom, redemption, and true brotherhood. Haunting.” 

– Maryel Stone, author of Child of the Scales

“Sharon Krasny has done it again! Years after Gaspare was reduced to slavery in Iceman Awakens, she continues to flesh out the mysterious, frozen 5,300-year-old mummy of the Alps in such a way that I saw him as a living, breathing human being with hopes, dreams, and fears not so unlike ours today. I felt as if I were with Gaspare and Haliam every step of their journey toward freedom. Krasny’s exquisite writing style, which ranges from lyrical descriptions to sharp, staccato, emotion-filled sentences, made me see what they saw, hear what they heard, and feel what they felt. Her intensive research and passion for her subject have created a book not only of the heart but of the mind as it brings to life the culture and people, both bad and good, of the Copper Age.”

– S. A. Smith, author of The Rain Gypsy, The Cemetery Tender, and the upcoming Sweetgrass in the Rain

“Shroud of Ice, the speculative fiction story of Gaspare and his life in ancient times, will keep you as spellbound and delighted as it kept me. The themes of friendship, home, and family run deep.

“The difficulties of life in such a harsh environment will keep you turning pages as you move

toward the inevitable conclusion. Death and danger are Gaspare’s constant companions as he

escapes his enslavement in the copper mines to return to his home and family.

“Gaspare is the name the author has given Ötzi, a man who died centuries ago and was found in what Ms. Krasny correctly calls a shroud of ice in the title of this book. Her first book, Iceman

Awakens Book I, led to recognition of her talents as an author. Now, Shroud of Ice continues her

journey as an author and seeker of knowledge about a man who could never have foreseen what he would contribute to our understanding of history.

“I highly recommend Shroud of Ice. It’s a winner!”

– Charles Tabb, President of The Virginia Writers Club and author of Floating Twigs, a Kirkus Reviews recommended book

“Shroud of Ice is a riveting family saga of love, betrayal, and belonging. Deeply imagined and exquisitely written with a rich historical context, I took my time with this one, savoring every page.”

– Julia Sullivan, award-winning author of Bone Necklace

“Krasny’s research and command of language urge us to walk alongside Gaspare and listen deeply to what is said and not said. Through the lens of the ancients, we come face-to-face with our strengths and vulnerability as a species. His journey, real and imagined, is a compelling lesson in the complexity of our roots, our innate drive to survive, and our profound need for safety, community, and freedom. Shroud of Ice is not just history, plot, and character. It is epic poetry, extended metaphor, and a masterpiece of literary fiction for our age.”

– Katherine Mercurio Gotthardt, award-winning poet and author of The World Has Changed from When I Last Was Here

“Historical fiction at its most visceral, Sharon Krasny’s Shroud of Ice unflinchingly portrays a story of nature’s hardships alongside human fragilities. Krasny’s powerful storytelling rewarded me with an epic tale of betrayal and resilience that kept me up into the late hours…”

– Nic Winter, author of A Season to Kill (Darcy Sinclair Novel)