
The Curse of Ice: The Sands of Time Book 2 is a fantasy book by Nishi Singh.
The Planet Ishtar is doomed unless the famed hero Xerxes, more commonly known as Dragonheart, retrieves all Seven Sands of Time. His quest for the second Sands of Time will pit him against the revered Ice Queen Llekoa as his party has to venture into her domain, the Artic Tombs. Xerxes and his companions will have to endure many grueling trials and battles on their quest as the forces of evil try to stop them. Xerxes himself will have many tough times ahead of him, especially once he learns that an especially dangerous foe that he had vanquished has returned. What mythical lands will they venture into on their quest? And what trials await the group? Join Xerxes and his friends on their journey to save Ishtar from the clutches of the Dark Flame to find out!
What a read this book was with an abundance of content awaiting me in each chapter. The main attractions for me were the varied and interesting places that the protagonist's party visited and stumbled upon on in their quest. The unique characters found in each location were another positive for me as they always provided some fascinating lore. Something else that got me hooked on this book was the well-established lore that Nishi Singh has created. This draws you in and leaves you mesmerized at how the author has thought up such concepts.
The provision of a glossary was also a welcome addition. Action scenes were well-written and there was an abundance of spectacularly choreographed action. It's insane just how many cool battles take place. Overall, there was such a wealth of amazing content. I'd recommend this book to readers that love the fantasy genre, and readers that have watched films such as World of Warcraft and Lord of the Rings are sure to enjoy this one


'...Singh has delivered a strong first book in what will surely be an impressive series'
'The Pearl of Immortality has laid a superb foundation for many more...'
‘The novel is most impressive in terms of its world building, as Ishtar is expertly depicted as a vibrant and dynamic place, overflowing with history, original creatures and unique forms of magic.'
'Xerxes is ...a fascinating young man...and an excellent YA hero'

"I was immediately drawn into this mystical and fantastic story of strange worlds and ancient powers..."
"..attention-grabbing and maintaining interest..."
"...the author has masterfully woven a web of intriguing fantasy fiction..."


In this YA fantasy debut, a teen learns that his destiny involves a distant planet, several races of magical beings, and the defeat of a Dark King.
In 18th-century Persia, Xerxes has just turned 15. On his chest is a birthmark shaped like a dragon’s head, and his grandfather Azman calls him Dragonheart. For the boy’s birthday, Azman gives Xerxes a prized sword that he forged himself years ago. He also suggests that Xerxes and his friend Kaspar skip their morning chores and ride into the city with him. But on the busy streets, the boys accidentally spill a man’s pastries and must run for cover. At the insistence of a strangely garbed fighter, they duck into a curiosity shop. Inside they meet the warrior, named Zalgarra, who instructs Xerxes to seize a gold lamp. The teens argue about taking the advice seriously when a dark-cloaked creature appears and attacks. Xerxes grabs the lamp and finds himself transported to the planet Ishtar, where he is the prophesied Thirteenth Dragon Rider.
His arrival marks the beginning of his training with Grandmaster Nab and the dragon named Sesha, and the hunt for the Pearl of Immortality—crucial to the bond between dragon and rider. Attempting to thwart the hero are the Dark King of Snakes, Xul-Nagrah, and the wretched Queen Kaliiya. In her epic novel, Singh marries reliable genre elements like dragons and elves with strong statements on fate, as when Azman says,
“Accept what Destiny has weaved for you, for no Design of Life can be altered.”
On Ishtar, heavy sweeps of lore surround Xerxes, including the presence of the long-lived Aryans, Nemurs, and Bazilians—all presided over by the Elder Gods—and the True Flame, which facilitates magic. Singh’s prose conjures loveliness, like the chamber with “a dark background radiant with flickering stars” that’s embellished with “images of colourful dragons.”
Fantasy fans of all ages who love meaty chunks of layered mythology and a strict light versus dark dynamic should enjoy this series’ opening volume.
Though dense with worldbuilding, this dragon rider tale remains refreshingly optimistic.

'Wonderfully detailed and imaginative, The Pearl of Immortality by Nishi Singh,
is truly a fantasy epic that holds your attention from page one.’
‘…an excellent story that promises even more action in the next volume.’ 'Magic and mystery abound in the Pearl of Immortality...'
