A Covenant of Ice is the third and final novella in the fantasy series The Crowns of Ishia, written by Karin Lowachee, published by Solaris. A fitting finale to this trilogy full of themes such as loss, healing and heritage, examining our relationship with nature while still continuing with our excellent cast of characters, and giving us a different perspective for this final book, Lilley's.

Janan and Lilley have finally reunited after years separated; Lilley is back with his love, but this Janan is not the same as the one he remembered, as Janan is now tied to the dragon Raka and the remnants of the human soul. This bond also starts to permeate Lilley, getting fragments and pieces from the dragon, that he's not sure how to interpret, losing a bit the sense of his individuality.
In the backdrop, a Kattakan expedition towards the Northern lands of Ishia will force our characters to start a new travel, trying to reclaim those lands that once were for the Ba'Suon, and avoid a war between the powers that are threatening Ishia.

Choosing Lilley as the POV character makes this novella a bit different from the other two: less communication from the dragons, and there's a major focus on mental health. He's really struggling with the current situation, doubting his own role and still with unhealed trauma; it's a bit darker in some senses, but also gives us "the outsider POV" regarding the Ba'Suon.

The prose is equally poignant as in the previous novellas, with Lowachee putting a heavy focus on the reflexive nature of this series, especially regarding colonization and the displacement of the native people from their lands; some details like the magic and the own Ba'Suon history is expanded. In terms of pacing, you can expect something similar to the previous novellas, neither too fast but never slow.

A Covenant of Ice is a great way to close what for me is an excellent series; if you want a fantasy proposal that is not afraid to examine themes such as colonization with a queer focus, this is perfect!