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A review by the_novel_approach
Arctic Fire by Keira Andrews
4.0
Keira Andrews’ Arctic Fire is a novella that first appeared in the Unconditional Surrender anthology, published in 2014. Not having read the story at that time, I can’t say whether it’s changed much, if at all, from the original, but I can say that reading it from start to finish in a single sitting wasn’t at all a hardship.
Introducing characters and beginning a new relationship in a short novel gives authors any number of challenges, I’m sure, since the word count doesn’t allow for a lot of backstory in which the reader can engage emotionally. What Andrews does right in this story is to give both Jack and Kin just enough tragic background for us to identify with them and the losses they’ve both experienced—tug at just the right heartstrings, and you hook me pretty much every time. This also allows for them to connect with each other in empathy as the hazardous circumstances—a blizzard on the Arctic tundra—gives the story a sense of forced intimacy that wouldn’t have been accessible just anywhere. There’s one scene alone, where Kin is helping Jack stave off frostbitten fingers, that wouldn’t have worked as well outside of the tent that served as the only barrier standing between them and the deadly elements.
The contentious start to their relationship was also a nice addition to the story. There’s no love-at-first-sight for Kin and Jack, and, thankfully, no premature I love yous before the end of the novella; only the promise that something special could come of their meeting. A little danger ramps up the connection between the two men, and the setting also goes a long way in building the bond that starts growing between them, despite the social odds against them. Getting a bit of a tutorial in Inuit customs and language is also an interesting and unique bonus to the story. Who says contemporary romance can’t be educational too?
Arctic Fire is a nice addition to this authors romantic repertoire, and the rugged and barren landscape only adds to the story’s tension.
Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach Reviews
Introducing characters and beginning a new relationship in a short novel gives authors any number of challenges, I’m sure, since the word count doesn’t allow for a lot of backstory in which the reader can engage emotionally. What Andrews does right in this story is to give both Jack and Kin just enough tragic background for us to identify with them and the losses they’ve both experienced—tug at just the right heartstrings, and you hook me pretty much every time. This also allows for them to connect with each other in empathy as the hazardous circumstances—a blizzard on the Arctic tundra—gives the story a sense of forced intimacy that wouldn’t have been accessible just anywhere. There’s one scene alone, where Kin is helping Jack stave off frostbitten fingers, that wouldn’t have worked as well outside of the tent that served as the only barrier standing between them and the deadly elements.
The contentious start to their relationship was also a nice addition to the story. There’s no love-at-first-sight for Kin and Jack, and, thankfully, no premature I love yous before the end of the novella; only the promise that something special could come of their meeting. A little danger ramps up the connection between the two men, and the setting also goes a long way in building the bond that starts growing between them, despite the social odds against them. Getting a bit of a tutorial in Inuit customs and language is also an interesting and unique bonus to the story. Who says contemporary romance can’t be educational too?
Arctic Fire is a nice addition to this authors romantic repertoire, and the rugged and barren landscape only adds to the story’s tension.
Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach Reviews