This novel is probably going to get a lot of comparison to The Terror and such books, but I’ve never read them. I am fascinated by polar explorations and have watched a bunch of documentaries about it, so that’s probably going to be my field of comparison.
Or maybe the decent thing to do would just be to discuss the novel on its own merit without any comparisons whatsoever. Although…although, Shackleton. But ok, seriously, this is a tale of a disastrous Antarctic expedition. With supernatural undertones. Because being on your own at the very edge of the known world in the harshest of weather conditions isn’t terrifying enough. There were plenty of historical polar expeditions that went horribly wrong. In fact, even the ones that went well, probably had some horrific elements to them. Exposure, privation, isolation, etc. So the setting pretty much lands itself perfectly to the genre. It’s meant to disturb. It might be best to read it at night. Maybe on a winter night for added atmosphere, with the wind howling outside and snow obscuring your views, perhaps hiding something. Something scary. For the young protagonist of this novel, the trip is almost a pilgrimage. The war to end all wars has just ended. His beloved older brothers are both dead. All they ever dreamed about was Antarctica, so he picks up their dreams. He’s got a secret to hide, but he passes for a boy well enough, and once he builds up some muscles from heavy labor and proves himself to his shipmates, he graduates from a stowaway to part of the team. His joy is short-lived, though. Soon, their ship proves its name of Fortitude wrong and leaves everyone stranded. Can you be claustrophobic in a space the size of Antarctica? You bet your warmest pair of woolen socks you can. The nightmare doesn’t seem to end…and then there’s something in the snow, hiding in all the white spaces. Something watching them. Something evil. Will they make it against all odds? Read and find out. It’s a very competent debut, well written, hugely atmospheric and trendily queer to boot. It didn’t quite engage me emotionally as often or as much as I would have liked, but it may not be the book’s fault. Objectively, it was a good read. Thanks Netgalley.
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