This is a dramatized retelling of the expedition of Lady Jane Franklin going into the arctic with a band of women explorers to find a missing husband. The retelling is masterful and draws a picture of the life of an arctic explorers.
However, the expedition doesn't go as planned and soon there are accusations of murder. A must read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Source Landmark Books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have mixed feelings on the book. It was interesting and brutal which is different from other historical fiction novels.

There were a few instances of stereotyping that made me a bit uncomfortable. And, at least from the ones I have read, most historical fiction is based on real events but may have fictional characters. This expedition didn't happen which was kind of a bummer to find out. Although Lady Franklin was real and did help chart the Arctic in her search for her husband.
This book always made quite a few references to religion which is not something I am used to. But you if you are looking for something like that then you may enjoy this book. Because that I believe would be true to the times.

A dozen women join a secret 1850s Arctic expedition—and a sensational murder trial unfolds when some of them don't come back.

Eccentric Lady Jane Franklin makes an outlandish offer to adventurer Virginia Reeve: take a dozen women, trek into the Arctic, and find her husband's lost expedition. Four parties have failed to find him, and Lady Franklin wants a radical new approach: put the women in charge.
A year later, Virginia stands trial for murder. Survivors of the expedition willing to publicly support her sit in the front row. There are only five. What happened out there on the ice?

Set against the unforgiving backdrop of one of the world's most inhospitable locations, USA Today bestselling author Greer Macallister uses the true story of Lady Jane Franklin's tireless attempts to find her husband's lost expedition as a jumping-off point to spin a tale of bravery, intrigue, perseverance and hope.

MY THOUGHTS:

This book takes you to a very cold and unforgiving place. Both in the courtroom and on ice. Virginia Reeve takes a group of 13, suppose to be 12, women on an expedition to try and find Lady Jane Franklin's husband. From ships out on the water to walking in the freezing cold she tries to guide these woman. Many won't and don't make it. It's very hard for Virginia to see the women dying and knowing there is nothing she can do to stop it.

In the courtroom Virginia watches helplessly as person after person comes and testifies to things many do not know. They haven't a clue what happened. She's on trial for one person's death. Both her death and her "kidnapping."

You will feel the freezing cold. You will feel the ship as it glides across the water. You will feel the fear in Virginia as she faces a very uncertain future. If she has a future at all. If she is not hanged.

This book is done so excellently and in a way that draws you right in. It's written in almost complete perfection. You will feel so many things. From a bit of laughter to full on sobbing tears. From anger at how some people act both before the expedition and after while in the courtroom. It made me very mad how Virginia was treated by the men in this century.

This story is told from different time frames. One from the court and one from the beginning to the ending of the Arctic expedition. How the women managed. What they felt both about where they were and how they got along with one another. It always amazes me how women treat each other.... My heart broke for Virginia all during this book. I felt she was giving a raw deal. But you have to make up your own mind. You have to read this beautifully written, almost poetic, story for yourself and decide if you think things happened the way they should have. You will see things from several points of view. Things that happened on the expedition and things that happen in the courtroom. The thing that got me was how crooked courts could be even back then...

Very well written. Very likable characters. This book will take you on an adventure you won't soon forget. The descriptions are so well done. All of them.

Thank you #NetGalley, #GreerMacallister, #Sourcebookslandmark for this ARC. This is my review as I saw this story.
A big 5/5 stars and the highest possible recommendation.

Wow, the setting in the Arctic was as thrilling as was the courtroom drama and I felt like I was there with them every step of the way.
Adventurer Virginia Reeve is offered by Lady Jane Franklin the opportunity to take an all woman expedition to the Arctic to find her missing husband and his expedition team
The true story of Lady Jane Franklin's tireless attempts to find her husband's lost expedition is the background of this amazing story of these women and their journey both physically and mentally in the frozen Arctic that leads to a murder trial for Virginia and a tale of bravery, intrigue and more. for all of them.

I went through a whole gamut of emotions while reading this. It is INTENSE. Feel the Arctic cold that claims body parts as you read the story of Virginia, who is facing the gallows after leading an all-female group into the unknown. I love the final line! Thank you, Netgalley, for this arc.

This was an interesting work of historical fiction. I liked the structure that Macallister used to tell this story. Going back and forth in time added some intrigue and mystery to the plot. I don't know how historically accurate the novel is, but I enjoyed the characters, the plot and the story!

The Arctic Fury was a 5 star read for me!! I was riveted to the pages by the beautifully woven story and the strength, bravery, perseverance and hope of the intrepid women of the Northern Expedition.
First of all, the gorgeous book cover drew me in! Then, the story, where experienced trail guide, Virginia Reeve, is given the task of locating Lady Jane Franklin's lost husband and his men by way of an all women Arctic expedition. I shivered my way through each cold, blustery step they took!
Adventure, history, and romance in an outstanding book.
Thank you to Netgalley and Source books Landmark, as well as the author for the free E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I found this book pretty riveting most of the time. I expected an Arctic adventure but it actually switches between that and a court room drama. I may have liked more of the Arctic stuff, however. And I'm not sure some of the flashbacks were necessary. I think one of the big reveals would've been more shocking if it had just been hinted out throughout instead of showing us full stop with a flashback beforehand. I think the interactions between the women during the expedition could've used a little more depth as well.

But regardless, I enjoyed this book, and my time with the characters. I'm glad I picked it up.

The description of the book sounded really good so I was excited when my wish got granted, but I am sad to say that this book wasn’t what I expected.

I thought I would be reading a book with vivid descriptions of the perilous journey, the force of nature and how a group of women would cope, but that didn’t happen very often.

The story is told in flashback which prevented me from getting into the story. Half of the book features the court case that takes place a year later and the rest of the book is mostly observations of the characters of each other. There is very little of their time on the arctic.

Author Greer Macallister takes a compelling true story and weaves twists and turns into a remarkable journey that keeps the pages turning as if they are magic!

A 1850’s Artic expedition based on the lost expedition of Lady Jane Franklins husband. Lady Jane is adamant that her spouse and his crew are alive so she sends out numerous teams which come back empty handed if they even return.

She finally hires an American woman frontier guide, Virginia Reeve to lead an all woman crew of 12. However, they never find the missing crew, but due to the hardships and other aspects of the journey they return with five women. One family brings charges of murder against the young guide and the trial of the century becomes explosive in two rival newspapers!

The characters are manipulated from day one and poor Virginia is fighting the crew, elements, the expedition and herself!

This book is truly an awakening for all the characters and their growth and development!

I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a great drama.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

Historical fiction seems to be my favorite genre this year. I was quite drawn to reading The Arctic Fury by Greer Macallister because it takes place in a location I’ve never read nor been before. I do find history quite fascinating and authors do so much research to create a masterpiece like this one!

Like many books I’ve read this year, The Arctic Fury by Greer Macallister takes readers back and forth in time and somehow meeting at precisely the right moment at the end. This novel takes readers into the 1800s between an Arctic all-female voyage as well as travels to California, with it all focusing in on the Arctic all-female leader who’s on trial for murdering one of the female voyagers in her company.

When I read I can get fully engrossed in the story and tend to tune out the noises around me, particularly when there’s so much emotion in the words being shared. I’ll honestly admit, this happened several times while reading this novel. Let’s just say my 11 year old son is getting frustrated that my nose is stuck in books and not participating in his discussions about Minecraft and Fortnite, haha.

Anywho, I was drawn to the main character Virginia. She’s gone through so much yet still seems to be trying to find herself. Maybe that’s why she went on this Arctic all-female voyage in the first place. It’s amazing how our experiences really shape us as we go through life, isn’t it?

I’ll admit at first I didn’t like the character, Caprice, who is the presumed murdered but there’s no evidence. She came off to be a spoiled brat who never lifted a finger to get anything done and seemed to always get her way. But her character seemed to reveal her true self as she began to trust in Virginia more. Virginia and Caprice’s relationship went from hatred to becoming close bickering friends.

This novel did not end how I imagined, although I am quite pleased with its ending. It’s clever and unexpected. Being left guessing as the novel progresses is a sign of a creative and thoughtful writer.

A digital copy of The Arctic Fury by Greer Macallister was provided complimentary in exchange for an honest review by SOURCEBOOKS Landmark via NetGalley. I give this book 4 out of 5 tiaras because I was engaged with the court hearing, but a little disappointed in the manner of how some of the characters died. This title was wished for and the privileged granted my wish! I am ever thankful!

3.5 stars, Greer McAllister never disappoints. Engrossing tale of a band of women who journey to the Arctic in search of a missing expedition. .I loved the suspense, vivid characters and the back and forth from the expedition to the present. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Arctic Fury by Greer Macallister was a strong historical fiction novel about an all-female Arctic exploration to search for the lost Franklin Expedition at the behest of Franklin's wife. I also read Macallister's book, The Magician's Lie, which I also enjoyed very much.

I appreciate when historical fiction sheds light on a bit of history and also explains, usually in an author's note, which aspects of the book stick to history and which parts are imagined. This book did both. The Franklin Expedition was, of course, based on historical fact, but the female-led Arctic search party of 1854 was imagined.

The book alternated between the search party leader's murder trial and the tales of the search itself. I appreciated this literary technique, as it lended some suspense to the story. On one hand, we had the present trial of Virginia Reeve, and on the other hand, we heard about past, including the members of the search party, how they were selected and how they fared on the dangerous mission.

I found the characters to be appealing, interesting and well-developed. I was impressed to read that each character was based on a real figure from the time period.

The ending was solid and satisfying. If the book had a fault, it was that there was very little time spent on the actual Arctic expedition. I would have liked to hear more about their day-to-day experiences as they travelled.

Readers who enjoy historical fiction and strong female characters will enjoy this novel.

Thanks for Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This brutal story about a group of women who set out on an unbelievable mission to the Arctic in search of a missing crew was fascinating even in the moments that were challenging to read. We know early on in the book that not everyone made it back, but the author doles out some of the identities bit by bit so that readers are left wondering some of their fates for quite awhile. Greer Macallister also slowly brings in another horrific event of the past that has deeply impacted the main character's life (keeping it mysterious here) that is just as, if not more, difficult to read about. Despite the unforgiving landscape and tragedies that befall this group, this was so interesting and I was invested in following their adventures and downfalls.

3.75 actual stars

Set in the 1850's after Lady Jane's husband Sir John Franklin goes missing during a famous expedition in 1845, she dispatches a secret group of women to bring her husband home. After other failed attempts, Lady Jane believes that women can accomplish the task of finding her husband and chooses Virginia Reeve, a woman already hardened by harsh conditions who survived the tragic Donner's Party to lead the expedition. A year later Virginia during a sensational trial for essentially the murders of some of the women who did not return Virginia finds herself in jail recounting the tragic events that unfolded on this ill-fated journey.
This was a fascinating, reimagined premise about a group of strong women determined to undertake perilous conditions in an attempt to accomplish what no man had done and the woman who led them. Reading the author's notes, there was a real life Virginia Reeve who was just 13 when her family journeyed to California during the Donner's Party tragedy which makes this for me all the more interesting. Kudos to the author for this new take on The Franklin Expedition featuring women.

Thanks to author Greer Macallister for granting my wish on NetGalley.

This is an intense, addicting read. I kept putting off starting it, not wanting to be weighed down with the sorrow of tragic death, but I ended up finishing it in one day. I had to know what happened next. I had to know what Virginia would reveal. HAD TO. I was immediately draw in to all of the characters’ joys and sorrows, loved the use of flashbacks, and couldn’t wait to find out how it all came together. And one death had me tearing up - totally unexpectedly!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Arctic Fury is a historical crime thriller that should be on every TBR. This book blew me away. I think it needs to be in the line up for the book club that I co-host!

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Why is Virginia Reeve on trial for the murder of Caprice Collins? Set in the 1850s, this is the story of an intrepid woman who takes on the challenge of finding two ships lost in the Canadian arctic. Along with 12 other women (and sled dogs), Caprice among them, they set out across the Hudson Bay on the Doris until things begin to go wrong. Several of these women have secrets, dangerous secrets. Conditions on the ship are bad but not so bad as when part of the party is sent ashore to continue on their own. You can debate the actions of some of them but each will stand out in your mind. No spoilers as to what happens to each (you'll know early on who has survived to be in the courtroom whee Virginia is being tried.). Virginia's back story is spooled out slowly; she's got a secret too and it's the reason Lady Franklin hired her in particular. It's odd to say no spoilers about what is essentially an adventure story but that's the case here. It's wonderful atmospheric and the characters fascinating. And intrepid. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is the rare book where I would have welcomed more detail. Two thumbs up.

The Arctic Fury does what a superb historical fiction should do - make the reader curious about the events that have been fictionalized. This book does that and more. McCallister celebrates women, their power, their fortitude, their bonds and their frailties.

Virginia Reeve has been selected to lead an expedition into the Arctic wilderness in search of John Franklin and his crew or at the very least their bodies. Virginia's team will consist of 11 other women setting the tone for an extraordinary adventure and simply unheard of in 1853. The tale is told through a then and now perspective as well as adding in some other chapters of different character narration for perspective. As such, it took a bit for the story to get going. The now timeline takes place in a courtroom where Virginia is on trial for murder. The then timeline jumps to various points in Virginia's life, including the expedition north. Once the women board the ship and begin their travels through Hudson Bay the story really catches wind.

McCallister is a bit coy with some details calling an event in Virginia's past the Very Bad Thing. If the reader is paying attention you can catch on a bit earlier as to what is going on. If not, the final build up and conclusion of the story will be shocking. As soon as I finished reading, I spent the next hour researching John Franklin and his voyage as well as John Rae, whose findings play a role in the conclusion of the novel. I also read up on the details of the Very Bad Thing and am intrigued to read more about these events. The author deserves many kudos for this and for making a fictionalized story both fascinating and relevant

This is a fascinating story that the author imagines. It is presented in alternating chapters, going between the Arctic expedition and the murder trial of Virginia Reeve in Boston in 1854. In the story Virginia is recruited to lead an all-female expedition to the Arctic in search of John Franklin and his group that disappeared. The trial takes place a year and a half later when only part of their group returns and their leader is accused of murder. The author does a great job of painting a picture of the harsh, frigid Arctic, as well as the fear Virginia has of hanging for a murder that she did not commit.