An all-women crew embarks on an Arctic expedition, but not everyone returns
The Arctic Fury — Greer Macallister
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The Arctic Fury by Greer Macallister
Content warnings, which contain some spoilers, included in the footnote of this newsletter.1
What It’s About
What really happened out there on the ice? That’s the question everyone’s asking but no one has the answer to — no one but Virginia Reeve, that is.
Boston, 1853. Virginia stands on trial for one count of kidnapping and one count of murder, but she swears she’s innocent. She was, according to her, commissioned by Lady Jane Franklin, a society woman and wife to Sir John Franklin, to lead an all-women expedition to the Arctic to find out what happened to her husband once and for all. Countless groups of men have traversed the path and failed, so Lady Jane is ready to try something new.
Virginia assembles a group of women, some chosen by her and some by Lady Jane, and they set out on their arduous journey north, but from the very beginning, nothing goes to plan. Maybe that’s how she ended up where she is now, accused of murdering Caprice Collins, a fellow explorer on the journey with her.
Part courtroom drama, part adventure epic, The Arctic Fury is told through dual timelines of Virginia’s legal defense and flashbacks to their trek through the ice.
Why You Should Read It
Historical fiction fans rejoice! I’m following through on my promise to read more books not set in the twenty-first century, and right out of the gate, I’m reading some winners. You’ll like this book because Macallister doesn’t waste any time building up the world or time period — instead, she jumps you right into the story and builds it as it progresses.
Typically, I would think twelve women would be far too many to keep track of character-wise, especially when introducing chapters from each woman’s point of view, but Macallister manages to give each woman a distinct voice and personality, adding depth to the story with their own narratives and backgrounds. And while there was a “big twist” that didn’t really come across as that shocking to me, it didn’t detract from the tense narrative surrounding the overall storyline.
If you’re a fan of courtroom mysteries and dramas, historical retellings from women’s point of view, or stories where characters face incredible hurdles and challenges, The Arctic Fury should be added to your list.
Can’t get enough, or looking for a different recommendation? Browse the archives, or check out some popular past recommendations:
A crop circle enthusiast is hired to revive a small Vermont town
Read a Renaissance Faire rom-com with grumpy pirates and pub songs
Prisoners fight to the death in a gruesome late-capitalist dystopia
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Content warnings include sexual assault and rape (off-page, no detail, implied through characters’ memories); death; homophobia; racism; misogyny; miscarriage and stillbirth (late-term, on page, detailed descriptions); suicide and suicidal ideation; cannibalism (off-page, reference and suggested only). The dogs are fine.
Loved this book!
So glad you focused on that book. On my TBR and I plan to recommend it to a friend!