The Arctic Fury by Greer MacAllister

Exceptional story telling that drew me in and kept me invested from beginning to end. I could not put it down!

What I liked:
* The seamless moves between the expedition and trial
* That I felt I was with the characters on their journey
* The plot and quality of writing
* That I could “see” the characters and felt I knew them
* The way revelations were made
* The exceptional women and the talents they brought to the expedition
* The intrigue, infighting, contest of wills, and eventual bonding that occurred between most of the women
* The strength and fortitude of the women
* That there was a hint of romance for one or more of the women
* That there were elements of hope even when things were grim
* That I had more than one person to thoroughly dislike
* The conclusion
* Everything really except…

What I didn’t like:
* The underhanded people with hidden objectives and what they were willing to do to achieve their goals
* The loss of life – though it was expected from the beginning that not all would survive the expedition
* Having to say goodbye when the book ended

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks-Landmark for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

Fantastic! Riveting story of a failed expedition through the Arctic. Seamless storytelling through multiple points of view. Engaging read that will grab you from start to finish.

I have always been fascinated by the mystery of the Franklin expedition and also by true stories of pioneering feminists. Women who refused to live by society's expectations and paved their own paths. The Arctic Fury blends both of these intriguing subjects together in a compelling story of adventure, mystery, betrayal and heartbreak.
Virgina Reeve is offered the chance to do the unthinkable: lead a group of 12 women to the Arctic in a search for the lost Franklin expedition. The chapters alternate between Virginia Reeve's trial where she is accused of murder and the past recollection of various characters detailing the quest to find out what happened to the Franklin expedition.
The chapters flow very smoothly and piece together details of the journey and what each woman thought and felt. It led to very good character development and an understanding of why the women acted in the manner they did.
The novel was thought provoking and very touching. One thing that surprised me is how the author was able to take a character who was unlikable to one who became the opposite.
This is the first novel I have read by Greer Macallister but it will not be the last.

I was pleasantly surprised with The Arctic Fury. The premise drew me in: in 1853, a party of twelve women brave the arctic to lead an expedition to find the lost Franklin Expedition. The story is told in alternating timelines though. The second timeline follows the leader of the group, Virginia, during her trial where she's accused of murdering one of the women. I found both timelines fascinating and engaging, and the way Greer Macallister weaves them together is impressive. I could barely put this book down. I'd highly recommend if you're into historical fiction!

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 5
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4

Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark, for the review copy!

The Arctic Fury by Greer Macallister
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

It's 1853 and Virginia Reeve, who is an experienced California trail guide, is requested to go to Boston by a benefactor. Virginia is offered a job opportunity that could be written in the history books. She must lead a party of 12 women through the Arctic in search of the lost Franklin Expedition. This group of 12 all bring their own certain skills for this quest but tragedy strikes. After struggling to survive the Artic not all of the women arrive safely home. Virginia is then arrested and accused of murder.

I was pleasantly surprised by this one and the cover is gorgeous. 😍

I am so late on posting this review but this lovely gem is out now. If you enjoy a strong female group and historical fiction please check this one out!

Throught the book the timeline changes every chapter, from the courtroom scenes to the expedition itself. I could have read a whole book about the expedition and the strong bond these women made. I highly recommend!

Thank you @netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

#historicalfiction #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #bookcommunity #reading #arc #thearcticfury

In 1853, Virginia Reeve is tasked by Lady Jane Franklin to head an expedition of twelve women into the Artic to find her husband and his lost crew. Already being a seasoned adventurer having led many groups over the years through the Oregon Trail into California, Virginia is looking for a different kind of adventure. One that will replace a certain event that resulted in a recent tragic loss. Despite the inherent dangers, Virginia is confident in her ability to lead this expedition.

Fast-forward a year later and Virginia is on trial for murdering one of the women. Only five women from the expedition are seated in the courtroom to show their support for Virginia. So what really happened out there in the Arctic? Events unfold between chapters alternating from the expedition and the courtroom. Between the truth told and secrets kept, is the real story of what lengths people will go to survive.

This is only the second book by Greer Macallister that I've read although all of them have been on my radar, but of what I've read from her, I'm so impressed with the way she focuses these historicals so completely upon women. Giving them such agency and such depth even when they're battling within a world that caters more to men.

The Arctic Fury drew me in from the first page and I think the way that Greer Macallister cleverly delves out information, how the mystery is slowly pieced together is simply marvelous. I loved how she connects Virgina's past and present. It all clicks rather brilliantly together and I loved that I actually could see where we were being led because I kinda felt like I was in on something. It connected me a little more to the story and made those instances where I didn't know what was coming all the more impactful.

I don't want to speak too much about the story as I don't want to give any crumbs of information away because that will surely ruin some of the twists.

I loved that, even though this is mainly Virgina's story, Greer Macallister takes the time to make the other ladies within the expedition really well rounding characters themselves. She's such a talent that even these women whose voices aren't the loudest, I still feel like I understood them, their actions. Why they would choose the path they did.

My only complaint is that some of the finally revealed motivations remain a bit murky for me. They didn't have the impact that I had hoped given the build up. Mind you not everything just a few bits and pieces.

So far, Greer Macallister has never failed to draw me in, in a completely immersive way within her stories. The Arctic Fury will make you feel the frigid cold air in your bones, will make you feel the dedication and commitment of these women. And speaks a lot about our will to survive. I cannot wait to see what comes next from Greer Macallister and in the mean time to catch up on what I've missed.

*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first book by this Author, but definitely won't be my last!! I could not put this book down!! I loved every minute of it!!

The Arctic Fury, the latest from Greer Macallister, is a hybrid of adventure and courtroom drama. The story centers around Virginia Reeve, who leads a group of women north into Canada and towards the Northwest Territories in 1853. If you look on a map today, you see Nunavut Territory. It’s Northwest of the Hudson Bay. And it’s the brutal cold Arctic, as the book’s title implies.

The goal is finding two lost explorer ships, which other expeditions so far failed to do. This time, Virginia and her band of 12 other women make the trek, sponsored by the Lady Jane Franklin. It’s her husband, Lord John Franklin, who led the lost ships some years before.

At the start, we also learn that Virginia stands accused of murdering another woman in the group, Caprice Collins. Caprice’s parents bring charges against Virginia in their home city of Boston, despite the death happening thousands of miles away. They’re well-connected and wealthy, so the court accommodates them.

As the group departs, Virginia bristles at the unlucky number of 13 adventurers. Accordingly, the entire trip is unlucky and unhappy. To tell the story Macallister moves between multiple timelines, including the arctic and the courtroom.

She also offers multiple perspectives, including various women in the group. Her main storyteller is Virginia, but we hear from many of the other key figures as well. Of course Virginia has secrets about her past, which influence her character and ultimately the events.

My conclusions
When I began The Arctic Fury, I expected something altogether different. The book sounded like a high-suspense, event-driven plot. And two of Macallister’s past books delivered on this promise. Instead, this book propelled like a ship in an ice jam—slowly.

The time on the ship heading north through the Hudson Bay had events of note—the clashes between male crew members and the women, for example. But once they arrived in the arctic, I imagined the women facing challenges in the wilderness, like wolves or hostile humans. While we learn that they hunted regularly, it’s more often told than shown. As the women struggle with heavy emotions and long, dark nights the action slows down considerably.

I also wanted suspense in small ways as well as big. And Macallister delivers on some of that. But unfortunately, the big question—is Virginia found guilty of murder and sentenced to hang—is truly the only significant suspense.

On the other hand, I liked the way the arctic explorers confront gender roles. None of these women are meek and prissy types. Virginia wishes often for her buckskin pants, but she also struggles to truly inhabit the leadership role. Other women are more comfortable there, including the doomed Clarice. And this makes for some interesting conflict among the troop. But still, it didn’t feel like quite enough to propel the novel from good to great.

Still, if you’re looking for historical fiction with a unique premise and gender role conflicts, this would work well.

Acknowledgements
Many thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and the author for the opportunity to read a digital advanced readers’ copy in exchange for this honest review.

I really enjoyed the Arctic Fury!
The story is a construction very loosely based on some facts, and is about an all-female expedition to search for 2 lost British ships of history, the Terror and the Erebus.
The leader of the expedition is a woman named Virginia, who has experience guiding settlers out west to California. The funding for the adventure comes from the wife of one of the lost British officers.

The story was well-written, with beautiful descriptions, allowing you to see the action and scenery in your minds eye. The story goes back and forth from the aftermath of the expedition to the expedition itself.
I don't want to give any spoilers, but both sections are very intriguing and really draw the reader in.
I must say for me, I was more interested in the expedition sections and just wanted to really know what happened.

The book was a good length, and all of the action and twists and turns made sense.
I would recommend this book for a strong female-led arctic adventure!
Thanks to NetGalley for a free ARC of this fun story just when I needed some armchair travel! My opinions are m own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an opportunity to read The Arctic Fury.

It’s 1853 and a group of women are hired by Lady Franklin to go to the Arctic in search of her husband Sir John Franklin and his two missing ships .

I went into this with high expectations - the story - although a bit fantastical if you think about it considering the times - just sounded so interesting, but the book fell a bit flat for me but it does have quite high ratings, so I think it’s worth reading if it sounds interesting to you.

The book starts in a courtroom, where Virginia, the expedition leader, is accused of murdering one of the members of the expedition, and tells us the story through flashbacks. Although primarily told through Virginia’s perspective, occasionally we get get to hear a bit from a different woman’s perspective at different times - which I though was quite well done. I wish we had heard more from them and less of the quite slow courtroom antics in the first half of the book.

A beautifully written, powerful starry about what it takes to be a leader, man or woman. Suspenseful and adventurous, this story is a perfect mix of the best pieces of a handful of genres. I absolutely loved Arctic Fury.

MY REVIEW: 2.5 Stars ⭐️

I thought the premise of this book sounded fantastic! The book itself didn’t really meet up to my expectations. I did like some of the characters, but the book just wasn’t what I was hoping for.

The book goes back and forth to the murder trial to snippets of this expedition. I don’t know if this is why it didn’t seem like much of an expedition to me. Either way, the book will appeal to many people in my opinion. The book is not bad by any means, I just wanted more myself.

*Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for a digital copy of this book.

Absolutely fantastic book. Part historical, part mystery just loved it. Thank you publisher and netgalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

Exciting, gripping tale of adventure, misfortune and female grit, ARCTIC FURY is as good as historical fiction gets. The not-quite true tale takes some license with known facts and spins a wonderful yarn that captivates from beginning to end. The characters are wonderful and compelling. I did not want the book to end. Greer Macallister is especially good at writing historical fiction with daring, striking female protagonists; she is a creative, gifted author. This is a great book. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

This is my third Greer Macallister and she is definitely a go-to for historical mysteries. I love the uniqueness of her stories. I was so excited for this book and it did not disappoint. I enjoyed the dual timeline of the courtroom scenes with what happened on the expedition. I feel like the beginning was building up to something crazier happening, so when it was revealed what happened in the Arctic it felt a little anti-climactic. It was hard at times to keep track of the characters because there were so many. But ultimately, I loved the story and the discussion of sexism and classism during this time period.

As a defense attorney, I always hate how defense attorneys are portrayed in fiction...but what can you do.

This story of a band of extraordinary women on a dangerous journey into the North, was an unexpected joy. I loved how the story moved back and forth between the 1850’s all-female expedition through the frozen and treacherous terrain, to a tense murder trial on (some) of their return. The unexpected court room drama, full of lies and mistrust, camaraderie and endurance, kept me turning the pages.... a really great read.

A huge thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

This was an extraordinary book. It had all of the elements that make for an unforgettable journey and the perfect escape.

This is a story about one woman's determination to escape her past and find purpose. Virginia Reeve is a survivor of tragedy and hardship. She knows that her resilience is her greatest asset, and though she is proud of it, the circumstances that forged it are something she wishes she could bury. When an unexpected benefactor lures her all the way across the country with the promise of adventure, she takes a chance.

What Virginia doesn't know is that the expedition of women she is tasked to lead into the wild Arctic are a motley crew bound together by secrets and their own desires. Each woman agreed to take part in the fated journey for different reasons, and each woman must make her peace with those reasons. When Virginia leads the party home, their numbers are drastically reduced from thirteen to six.

The absence of one of the party stirs immediate repercussions. She is the treasured daughter of a wealthy society scion, and her parents will stop at nothing to exact vengeance for their loss. There is no body, but Virginia is accused of murder. She is castigated as an example of the unfeminine. She refuses to change her plea of innocence.

The drama that unfolds in the courtroom is divided by intervening chapters about the expedition itself.

I could not put this book down, and the ending was absolutely perfect.

A female explorer eager to put terrible events behind her jumps at the chance for a new trek. What starts as an adventure fueled by ambition turns into a harrowing series of events. Author Greer Macallister keeps readers guessing until the end in her latest book The Arctic Fury.

It’s 1853, and Virginia Reeve needs a fresh start. Up until now, she’d made her career leading parties to the California territory over well-worn trails. A tragedy forces her to turn away from that life, but the desire for exploration and grand adventures hasn’t quite left her yet. When she receives a request to meet with a wealthy woman and wife to a famous explorer, Virginia feels compelled to accept

Virginia goes to Boston to meet British noblewoman Lady Jane Franklin who lays out the terms. Lady Franklin’s husband, John, disappeared during an expedition into the Arctic, and all efforts to find him have yielded nothing. Fed up with the lack of results, Lady Franklin has decided on a wild course of action: hire a team of explorers made up solely of women. She’s sick of men waiting for men to solve the problem, she says. It’s time for the women to step in and make things right.

The offer, and the money to go with it, are both tempting, but even Virginia understands the uphill battle it will be to lead a women-centric group in a man’s world. Still, the allure of leaving the known world behind is overwhelming. She accepts Lady Franklin’s terms, including dictating who some of the women trekkers will be, and puts together her team. Within weeks they’re off.

Less than a year later, Virginia has returned home. Some of the women have come back with her; others have not. An experienced guide, Virginia knows how to motivate a group of people to keep moving, yet even she couldn’t anticipate the outcome of the expedition. When she returns, she’s put on trial for the murder of one of the women traveling with her. In addition to fearing for her own life, Virginia is afraid that the truth about her past will finally come to light. If it does, she knows there won’t be any returning from it.

Author Greer Macallister builds a compelling narrative to stay with the book to find out both about the outcome of the trial and the motivation behind it. Alternating chapters between the expedition and Virginia’s trial, Macallister teases out the tension. Her research into real-life explorer John Franklin blends with fiction in a masterful manner.

One of the drawbacks of the book comes in the number of women on the expedition. Including Virginia, 13 women make the trek to the Arctic. Macallister makes clear from the outset who the most important players will be to the plot, which is a shame because the others seemed just as interesting. No doubt, readers will understand by the end why so many women were needed in the group. As the plot unfurls, Macallister does her level best to help readers keep the characters straight and she lets Virginia lead in every way possible. I recommend readers Bookmark The Arctic Fury.

Lady Jane Franklin hires Virginia Reeve to take 12 women on a trek to the Arctic to find her husband. This expedition ends tragically. Virginia also ends up on trial for murder. One of the women on the trip dies and her family needs to blame someone! However, there is a lot of double dealing, secrecy and lies.

This book is told in various time periods, settings and various points of view. This bothers many readers. However, the author handled this excellently and I had no trouble keeping up.

Now, there are several parts I enjoyed more than others. I loved the courtroom scenes. That is where the true mystery lies. This section is intriguing and unique.

The part about the expedition is just ok. This is why I gave the book a 4 instead of a 5 star. The expedition should have been the most exciting. But I just did not enjoy this part as much as I expected.

All that being said…this is a unique read about strong women overcoming many facets of life! Grab your copy today! You will be glad you did!

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark Publishing for the advanced copy of this title, in exchange for my honest review.
I share my opinions with you and will not be sharing on my usual platforms, Goodreads, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon. During this unprecedented time, I feel like criticism toward any author who is engaged in a book launch is unnecessary and somewhat cruel.
The description of this title had me very excited, as I am enamored with 19th C exploration. The premise however kept getting in the way of the storyline as I found the possibility of an all female party to be too far from plausible. In light of such small steps we are now just seeing in terms of female engagement in our world, I found it hard to stay immersed in this storyline. This might not have been the best time to read such a dark and disturbing tale and I kept waiting for a little relief to counterbalance such despair. The final 5 chapters were a long-awaited reprieve and the writing in these pages in particular were outstanding. The themes of female friendship and dedication came to fruition, but for this reader, it was an arduous task to get there. I imagine there will be exciting discussions, particularly as the recent discovery of the Erebus and Terror, sheds new light on a fascinating story.