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A review by readundancies
The Arctic Fury by Greer Macallister
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
There were so many passages from this novel that were written in a way that held a heavy amount of impact. Greer Macallister certainly has a way with words and she displays her talent really well throughout the progression of this tale.
The beginning 50ish pages are slow. I'd add that the end is a little more slow going as well. But the middle? The middle of the story is where all of the exciting things happen - where the storytelling truly shines - and is quite frankly the strongest portion of the novel. The shift between Virginia's POV and the other explorers worked really well with the dual timeline of the past and the actual expedition versus the present and court proceedings of Virginia's trial. I was engaged throughout; there was no single POV that sticks out to me as lacking when compared to all of the others which is an accomplishment of the novel that I was rather surprised by since I genuinely expected to take issue with at least one of them. But the characterization was established enough between the women that each one felt unique and held up well individually when we got to see their thought process and motivations. Even many of the minor characters evoked some level of reaction from me (especially the prosecutor and Thisbe).
Other notable strengths of the story include the level of representation that Macallister incorporated - if I recall correctly, there was 2SLGBTQ+ rep (I believe both lesbian and trans?), disability rep, some racial diversity and it was rather unexpected which made it a pleasant surprise - as well as the way Macallister weaves certain aspects/events of history together. Without getting into much detail, I really like the way that the author decided to incorporate historical fact and the choices that were made when manipulating some into the fictional piece. Virginia's backstory made for a compelling read especially in conjunction with it's parallels of the expedition itself and I really enjoyed the reveal despite it's inevitability in nature.
Overall, I really enjoyed this read, and I would definitely be open to reading more from Greer Macallister in the future.
The beginning 50ish pages are slow. I'd add that the end is a little more slow going as well. But the middle? The middle of the story is where all of the exciting things happen - where the storytelling truly shines - and is quite frankly the strongest portion of the novel. The shift between Virginia's POV and the other explorers worked really well with the dual timeline of the past and the actual expedition versus the present and court proceedings of Virginia's trial. I was engaged throughout; there was no single POV that sticks out to me as lacking when compared to all of the others which is an accomplishment of the novel that I was rather surprised by since I genuinely expected to take issue with at least one of them. But the characterization was established enough between the women that each one felt unique and held up well individually when we got to see their thought process and motivations. Even many of the minor characters evoked some level of reaction from me (especially the prosecutor and Thisbe).
Other notable strengths of the story include the level of representation that Macallister incorporated - if I recall correctly, there was 2SLGBTQ+ rep (I believe both lesbian and trans?), disability rep, some racial diversity and it was rather unexpected which made it a pleasant surprise - as well as the way Macallister weaves certain aspects/events of history together. Without getting into much detail, I really like the way that the author decided to incorporate historical fact and the choices that were made when manipulating some into the fictional piece. Virginia's backstory made for a compelling read especially in conjunction with it's parallels of the expedition itself and I really enjoyed the reveal despite it's inevitability in nature.
Overall, I really enjoyed this read, and I would definitely be open to reading more from Greer Macallister in the future.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Suicide
Minor: Cannibalism, Grief, and Medical content