The scene is set for adventure as the captain gathers his crew to sail a northwest passage through the Arctic, and young Tom becomes his Kalifax (a symbol of hope and courage) on the journey. Winnipeg writer Duncan Thornton has created a well-crafted fantasy in his first novel, drawing on his experience as a dramatist. Surreal black and white illustrations by Yves Noblet add to the power and mystery of the story. The inviting cover shows Tom cradled by Grandfather Frost with the ship far below, frozen into the ice. In keeping with the northern theme of the book, even the page markers are compass needles swinging north.

Thornton’s voice rings clearly as he tells the story of the Volantix and her crew, who chant “With a heave, ho! and it’s North we go / To the Eaves of the World and the icy flow!” Thornton blends real and fantastical details in his tale: for example, the provisions include many lemon pies along with salt meat and port wine. One weak element is his unconvincing attempt to invent a language for the islanders they meet at the end of their voyage when they enter the tropics.

True fantasy grapples with the interior journey of the hero, and Thornton successfully depicts Tom’s struggle to strike out on his own, risking failure and death, as he grows from being a protected child to a mature adult striving to save the crew. This novel will appeal to readers of high fantasy.