Published by Atria Books Genres: Fiction, Gothic, Historical Fiction, Horror
Format: ARC, eBook
Abandonment. Betrayal. Cannibalism.
William Day hoped to be a celebrated arctic explorer, but his expedition ended in failure and the survivors only survived by eating the dead. Now he is disgraced and the subject of rumors and disgusted looks. It has been thirteen years and his second-in-command, Jesse Stevens, has gone missing and William is given the chance to redeem himself by facing up to his past decisions and actions. Not only will his expedition have experienced seaman, but he will also be accompanied by a reporter and Stevens’ wife, a spirit-medium who performs séances. The search for Stevens will not be easy, not when the dead wait….
I previously read Ally Wilkes book All the White Spaces which also takes place on a ship in a freezing unforgiving environment. I’m going to quote myself from that review: “I don’t know why I am intrigued by books set in the cold, there is a certain thrill and danger to it, I suppose that I enjoy. Being without help, left to your devices, with the sheer painful cold that chills down to your bones. The atmosphere of a cold environment – ice and snow for as far as the eye can see. I’m in every single time.”
Ally Wilkes excels at setting the stage. Her books are atmospheric, descriptive, and tense. They have a gothic feel to them. Her characters are up against the unimaginable – trapped, dealing with lack of food, scurvy, and the bitter, bitter, cold.
In this book, Day is not only dealing with his current circumstances but also his past. He is plagued by his failed voyage, his sexuality, and the ghosts that haunt him. The séances on board paired with conditions both onboard and off, create an eerie and tense vibe.
Not only did this book feel very much like her other book, All the White Spaces, this book also reminded me of The Terror by Dan Simmons. As both of her books have taken place on a ship trapped in the unforgiving cold, I hope that her next book goes in a different direction.
I enjoy Wilkes writing and thought she excelled at creating atmosphere and with Day’s inner turmoil. The downside was that this book felt longer than 400 pages as there are some slower parts.
I do think that two books of hers that I have read would make great movies.
This was a solid 3 stars for me. It was enjoyable, atmospheric, eerie, and creepy.
Thank you to Atria Books, Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
