The plot revolves around thirteen-year-old princess Thirrin Freer Strong-in-the-Arm Lindenshield, as she must fight to save her small home, the Icemark, from the invading Polypontian Empire.

[3] The Polypontian Empire has conquered much of the known world in recent years, much thanks to its fearsome general, Scipio Bellorum.

After King Redrought sacrifices his entire army to stop the invasion, Thirrin, his daughter, is left alone to save the nation.

Thirrin, with the aid of a young warlock, Oskan Witch's Son, must attempt to win over the Vampire King and Queen.

On the advice of King Grishmak of the werewolves, Thirrin and Oskan travel to the Hub of the World, to try to ally themselves with the Snow Leopards, led by Tharaman-Thar, who live there.

For example, Scipio Bellorum's name is a combination of the Roman general Scipio Africanus and Bellum, the Latin for war, and his sons Octavius and Sulla are similarly named after Augustus, born Gaius Octavius Thurinus, and Lucius Cornelius Sulla, respectively.

Other evidence that supports this conclusion can be found in the history of a Celtic tribe called the Iceni that lived in what is now Norfolk, Britain and was under the control of the Roman Empire.

There are marked similarities between Boudica and Thirrin; bright red hair, a piercing gaze, and a certain bluntness of speech.

Little information is available at the current moment but what is known is that it will be produced by Courtney Pledger and the screenplay will be by Michael Hirst (The Tudors, Elizabeth: The Golden Age)[4] The Icemark Chronicles website has reported that the company that purchased the rights to the movie will not actually be making a film of the first book in the near future.

The Guardian described it as "a supremely satisfying read which really deserves to be called a page-turner... Hill's original and quirky approach could yet make him the proper heir to Joan Aiken's crown."