Griff is an Alaskan native in tune with the solitude and majesty of the wilderness his family tour company shares with its guests. When his Uncle Roger, a celebrated wildlife photographer, has knee surgery, Griff is pressed into service leading a small group of guests on a ten-day tour. Among the guests is River Vale, a former supermodel who has left the runway behind in order to travel the world and share his perspective in a successful book (soon to be made into a movie) entitled "Professional Nomad."

I love how the plot keeps us riveted throughout as we meet River, see Griff become gobsmacked by this gorgeous man who comes alive hiking the Alaskan landscape, and watch as they navigate their initial attraction and enter into a "summer fling" of sorts. And let's face it, the Alaskan setting is really one of main characters of this book - from the Kenai Fjords to Denali and everywhere in between. The author does a beautiful job of giving us a sense of Alaska's magnitude and how it has contributed to shaping Griffin and his family.

Each man has a lot of baggage: Griff is still dealing with the aftermath of a long unrequited attraction as well as an accident that caused him to leave the Air Force after 12 years. He's a recovering alcoholic and feels he needs his reclusive routine to cope with his addiction:

"He knew that kind of hurt, what it means to have done battle with habits threatening to do a person in, what it meant to resist temptations to backslide, and how coping really was an individual thing."

As the author so succinctly puts it: "Griffin coped by staying put. River coped by moving around." River quit modeling after almost dying from an eating disorder. Constant travel keeps him centered and focused and removed him from his toxic career. But lately, "... these days he simply wasn't sure who he was, who he needed to be, what direction would yield the same sort of peace that travel had originally afforded him."

The pace of the story is a bit slow, and I will admit about 50% of the way through, when Griff and River were in the tentative beginnings of their relationship, I felt the story could have been easily wrapped up with a HEA and perhaps an epilogue. But the absolute beauty of this book is how these two wounded souls find each other, and then figure out how to be together. They have a combustible yet tender sexual relationship, but it takes time for them to truly understand what the other needs and to give that understanding with an open and willing heart.

And after all 384 pages of "Arctic Sun," I found myself willing to read more about Griff and River, so I would definitely recommend that readers stick with this book and surrender themselves to the pull of this unlikely romance, in the same way that travelers have given in to the lure of Alaska. 4.5 stars.

I’m always excited when authors I enjoy launch a new series because it feels like the start to an adventure and I never know quite what to expect. Arctic Sun had that adventure feeling throughout with both main characters in this slow burner finding a bit more of themselves while on an outing in Alaska.

I love the way this opposites attract coupling matched up with Griffin leading a photography tour group that includes ex-fashion model River, who’s writing a book depicting his travels. I’ve always been a fan of the heroes who appear grumpy and standoffish on the surface because it give the reader a chance to see their personality emerge. What surprised me was how I got that from both characters, with River putting on an outgoing, breezy air to hide his own personal battles. Containing a bit of a hurt-comfort theme, Arctic Sun wades through a good amount of angst, but I enjoyed learning about Griffin and River and seeing them fall for one another and grow personally as well as a couple. The writing in Arctic Sun was great, not only transporting the reader to the setting but conveying the myriad of emotions Griffin and River dealt with as they tried to find a way to make their two worlds align. I also liked that the pace of the romance reflected the time these two needed; it felt real and substantial by the end and definitely worthy of that happy ending.

Blurb summarizes the premise well enough so I won't rehash.

This was a very middle of the road read for me. The first two thirds of the book was the relationship dance, with both men struggling emotionally to identify what they are feeling and rejecting those feelings on the basis that they aren't worthy. The last one third of the book was post-breakup dramatics and the heart to heart talking that <i>should</i> have been happening in the first part.

This is a hurt/comfort/healing book. The two main characters are both dealing with personal issues - Griff was injured in a training injury that killed his best friend and spiraled into depression, drinking and gambling. Dane was a former male supermodel and unable to cope with the passing of his mother, struggled with an eating disorder that he still fights. Poor self-esteem, lots of self-deprecation, emotional scars and issues. For myself, had it been one person, I might have been able to tolerate the emotional turmoil, but for two? It didn't work for me and I struggled to stay engaged.

I'll be blunt - both characters were trying to sabotage the relationship before it even starts - this was like watching a car wreck in slow motion because the foreshadowing was so heavy, it was a matter of when, not if. There was so much negative self talk that again, I struggled to stay engaged.

ALL the heart to heart and emotional growth happens in the last third of the book. By this time I lost my ability to empathize with either character.

What I DID like about this story was opposites attract. Men from two totally different worlds finding they have so much in common. I enjoyed watching first impressions and assumptions being broken down and proven wrong. I enjoyed the Alaskan setting quite a bit - life with float planes, the remoteness, planning ahead to get supplies. So there was some positivity that kept me engaged.

As with any book, some folks are going to be able connect with the themes presented. I might have been better able to empathize if it had been one character and not both struggling with recovery issues. If you like strong hurt/comfort/healing books, then this may be for you.

CW: Alcoholism & Eating Disorders

Arctic Sun is a beautiful story about two men that have lost, been broken and picked themselves up again. River chooses to keep on the move, whereas Griffen likes to stay put. When these two meet sparks fly. But can feelings, two different worlds colliding and the wrong time mess it all up?

Annabeth Albert does a beautiful job showing that recovery is not linear and even with the support, and love, you have to look into yourself and want to change.

I really loved this story, the emotions and recovery, felt very real, overall it was a beautiful story about Griffen and River falling in love, but also falling in love with themselves again.

Recovering alcoholic Griffin is trying to hold his sobriety together by creating a life and a routine that isolates himself from everything and everyone. Unfortunately, when his family needs him, he’s thrust into a position as a tour guide and photography expert where he meets a man who could tear down his carefully constructed walls. Former model turned travel writer River is one skipped meal away from an eating disorder disaster. He uses travel to run from his problems, but when he meets his sexy, grumpy travel guide, he may have to stay in place and stop running.

Overall, Arctic Sun was an okay read. Nothing earth shattering or all that unique, but certainly better than some books in this genre. Here’s my breakdown on what worked and what didn’t.

The Good:
Griffin. I enjoyed Griff and thought he was a good character with real, relatable issues. The way he was trying to deal with his addiction was so sad and lonely. I do wish Albert had given more background about his time in the military, the injury that ended his career, the circumstances of Hank’s death, and Griff’s descent into alcoholism. The lack of details made it all seemed glossed over and less of a factor in his current situation.

The Setting:
Alaska! Such a beautiful place. Wild and wonderful. I’d traveled to a lot of the places mentioned, so it was fun to read about the characters seeing some of the same sights because I could really visualize the places in my mind as I read.

The Not-So-Good:

River. I did not find him nearly as compelling as Griffin. He came off as selfish and self-destructive. His modeling was one of the driving factors behind his eating disorder, yet he continues to subject himself to his toxic, former modeling friends who do nothing but criticize his physique and bring up his body issues. Again, Albert fails to go into much detail about River’s problems, but I wish she would have. I think it would have made River’s episodes and behavioral changes far more believable.

The Bad:
Length and repetition. I’ve said this about other Annabeth Albert books. She really needs to cut down on the constant rehashing of why two characters can’t be together or how much they love each other. As much as I hate this expression, it’s like beating a dead horse. There are far too many scenes that discuss the same thing over and over and over again which leads to the other huge problem, length. I was really getting tired of the story even before River’s initial Alaska tour came to an end. Add to that all the repetitive scenes and monologues, and it was a real struggle to make it to the end.

The Future:
Arctic Sun was the first in Annabeth Albert’s Frozen Hearts series. Book Two will feature womanizing, manizing (is that a word? If not, it needs to be) bisexual Toby. He got a few brief mentions in Arctic Sun, and I am intrigued enough about him to read his book, Arctic Wild, which comes out in June.

I really liked the character growth of both Griffin and River. The MCs start out with one seeming a bit childish and the other stodgy. By the end, they both had looked inward and faced their issues. They are imperfectly perfect for each other.

The ARC still had a few proofreading issues, but nothing too bad. This is a solid read and I would recommend it.

Y’all, I teared up SO OFTEN as I tore through Annabeth Albert’s latest, Alaska-set, romance. It’s full of great stuff like wilderness, photography, and hot sex, but at its core it’s about two guys who learn to accept that recovery is HARD and full of patches where you’re just Not Okay. Griffin’s an alcoholic. River has an eating disorder. Their relationship doesn’t fix either of these issues, but it does put them both on a path where they’re better able to help themselves. It’s emotionally charged—and, of course, potentially triggering, so please proceed with caution if necessary.

You DO want to look for this when it drops on April 1st, though. My crying jags aside, it made me want to do a LOT of hiking and convinced me I might like to visit Alaska after all. (MIGHT; a high of 20 in summer is a major turn-off.) I wish I could read River’s books, too. They sound great.

I enjoyed the hell out of this. It's a very slow burn but I think it works. Griff and River could not be more diferent (and with a lot of baggage) but they have a lot of love for each other.
I need to go to Alaska and see all those places myself! I can't wait for the next book

Sometimes, if I’m familiar with an author, I can overlook flaws in a story - especially if/when the author is trying something new; I’ll round up and qualify the recommendation to AAR readers with the reasons why.  But that familiarity can be a problem when I can’t quite decide if the problems I have with a book are down to me or the story (or both!), and that’s what happened with Arctic Sun.  Ultimately, I’ve decided it’s both - the pacing is off (the story drags), the story is dark (alcoholism and an eating disorder figure prominently), and I never connected with its principal characters.  The principals are polar opposites I had a hard time believing could or would fall for each other, let alone form a lasting partnership; I just didn’t feel the chemistry between them.  It’s challenging to launch a new series, especially when fans are so invested in the previous one, but unfortunately, Arctic Sun tries to do and be too much, and it’s more exhausting than entertaining.Griffin Barrett, a recovering alcoholic who’s struggled hard for his sobriety, likes solitude and routine.  After leaving the military, he’s hidden himself away at his family’s compound in Alaska, limiting himself to relationships with his tight-knit family, and the small group of employees who work for the family travel tourism business.  He’s a hermit and sometimes lonely, but his reclusive lifestyle suits the person he wants to be and prevents him from falling back into the destructive habits - drinking to oblivion and hooking up with a series of forgettable men - that nearly destroyed his life.  When his mom presses him to lead a photography tour into the Alaskan wilderness, Griffin’s knee-jerk response is to refuse.  But with his injured uncle unable to lead the group, Griffin is best qualified to go - he’s a skilled photographer and he’s familiar with the itinerary and logistics of leading a group into the Alaskan wilderness - and he reluctantly agrees to go in his uncle’s stead.River Vale is a world-famous supermodel fresh off the success of his first published book - a photography memoir chronicling his nomadic lifestyle.  River has demons he’s trying to outrun, and unable to stay in the same place for too long, he chases adventure.  No stranger to hard work or to roughing it, he’s hoping this latest undertaking - photographing the remote Alaskan wilderness - will jumpstart his stalled second book.  His publisher isn’t pressuring him... yet - but River is anxious anyway.  Arriving in Anchorage straight from a visit with his jet-setter friends during Italy’s fashion week, River is looking forward to a week to unwind and refocus.  He isn’t expecting Garrett, his gruff and handsome mountain guide.  Despite Garrett’s obvious ‘keep away’ body language, he’s just the sort of challenge River loves, and although he rebuffs all River’s attempts to charm and flirt with him, it only makes River try harder.When the trip gets underway, Garrett is frustrated by his inconvenient and inappropriate attraction to the handsome River - and although determined to steer clear of him, traveling in close proximity makes it nearly impossible.  River flirts with him whenever he can, and when River’s with the group, he fluidly transitions into buddy mode - friendly with everyone he meets.  He’s a talented photographer and low maintenance client and not all what Garrett had expected.  When one of the lodges mixes up their reservations and Garrett is forced to share a small cabin with River, Garrett knows he’s in trouble.River doesn’t waste any time exploiting time alone with Garrett in close quarters.  He tempts and flirts, cajoles and teases... until Garrett finally gives in.  Usually I’m 100% on board with Ms. Albert’s opposites-attract pairings, but Arctic Sun is the exception.  Garrett is working hard to keep away from River from almost the moment they meet.  Maintaining his sobriety is a tricky and painful business, and River - despite the clear warning signs - won’t take no for an answer.  Yes, they’re sexually attracted to one another, but Garrett makes it clear he thinks hooking up with River is a bad idea.  He does it anyway, and from that point forward, I struggled with the story.  Physical attraction almost immediately segues into a deep, meaningful emotional connection - and it’s a big leap.Over the course of a weeklong trip - most of which Garrett spends trying to keep River at a distance -  these two wildly different men with disparate lifestyles and personal demons they’re reluctant to share with each other somehow form a soul deep connection.  In romance novels, an author like Ms. Albert can and does make this work.  In real life, it usually doesn’t.  And in Arctic Sun, when the author throws in doubtful family and friends, and a big Misunderstanding, it’s simply too much folks.If the first half of Arctic Sun is devoted to the surprise love connection Garrett and River forge in Alaska, the second half is a painful reminder of all challenges they still need to face in order to be together.  Misunderstandings, doubts and destructive behavior follow hard on the heels of the trip, and despite the tension and anxiety that Ms. Albert expertly ratchets up, I wasn’t invested in this couple, and the story drags.  It’s depressing and sad, too - and friends, that combination led me to put this book down time and time again.  Garrett and River are likeable - loveable - guys, but this story feels oddly hollow and I simply wasn’t rooting for them by the end of it.  By contrast, a secondary romance that takes place largely off the page proved infinitely more joyful and entertaining!As I mentioned at the beginning, I’m a big fan of Ms. Albert’s.  Although this romantic pairing didn’t work for me, the framework for what’s to come in the series - more stories set in picturesque Alaska, quirky characters related to the Barrett family business, and more opposites-attract pairings - leaves me hopeful better is yet to come.  Based on my history with Ms. Albert (the first books in the #gaymers and Out of Uniform series were also my least favorite), I have no plans to give up on her Frozen Hearts.  I recommend Arctic Sun, with reservations.Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/KoboVisit our Amazon Storefront

3.5*

I am so torn over just what I think about this book because: A) Annabeth is one of my favourite authors and B) I actually loved a lot of this book.

But, for me at any rate, it seemed to take forever to actually get to the meat and bones of the story. My status update should explain a bit about how I felt, it seemed like I'd read almost a whole book but I was only at the half-way point.

Both characters are wonderfully expressed and both are dealing with serious issues in ways which felt realistic to me as an outsider never having dealt with either an eating disorder or with alcoholism.

They both had interesting quirks and backgrounds that never overtook the present, but the present itself just dragged on for a bit too long for me.

However, having said the above, I absolutely adored the final third of this book, it was everything I'd expect from an Annabeth Albert novel. It was expressive, it had trials which were overcome with some good communication, it had forgiveness and acceptance that asking for help doesn't make you weak.

Huge massive positives also for the setting. The descriptions of Alaska put me right into that landscape, I followed on the journey as they explored the hidden gems and beautiful national parks which make up this remote and stunning state (from all the images I went and looked up while reading!)

There's an interesting set of secondary characters. I didn't get Griffin's mother at all, she seemed unduly hostile to River from the out but River's old friends were perfectly portrayed as a set of vacuous people with which he no longer had anything in common.

Overall, I really enjoyed the final part of this book and firmly believed the two of them would make it into their Happy Ever After, but the first quarter dragged and that's why my rating is one star lower than it would have been otherwise.

ARCTIC SUN is the first book in the Frozen Hearts series, and we jump straight in with a model and a mountain man. Or at least, that's how the first appearances seem to be.

Both River and Griffin have more to them than it appears. Griffin is a recovering alcoholic, whilst River has to deal with food issues. Both of these subjects are serious and dealt with in a sympathetic manner, yet not glossing over the repercussions either. Ms. Albert makes it quite clear to the reader just how much these affect our MC's lives, even if prevention is better than cure!

This is a long book, with plenty to get your teeth into. There were no editing or grammatical errors that I noticed. The descriptions of Alaska are simply breathtaking, and if it wasn't on my bucket list to begin with, it definitely would be now.

A great introduction to a new series, and absolutely one to follow. Highly recommended by me.

A captivating story about two men dealing with their demons in their own way. On the surface, Griff and River seem like they couldn't be more different, but through forced proximity during an Alaskan tour, they forge a friendship that has the possibility of turning into something more. Although the description of the initial tour that brought Griff and River together dragged on a little slowly for my taste, the descriptions of the Alaskan wilderness were beautifully written. The eventual meltdown between them was expected, but it was still painful to watch unfold. Like a wreck you could see coming in slow motion but were powerless to stop. I appreciated that although both men grew through the story and were stronger at the end, they acknowledged that they weren't "cured" of their struggles. Seeing how they face their mental health issues together was more powerful than some magical cure at the end.

The good news is that I enjoyed “Arctic Sun” a lot more than the last books by Annabeth Albert. The bad news is that I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy it if I hadn’t struggled through the first thirty percent or so, which I found rather weak. And I suspect I wouldn’t have done that if it hadn’t been an ARC - I tend to stick with these a lot longer than with books I buy because of a sense of obligation. In this case, luckily, it paid off.

“Arctic Sun” is the first book in Annabeth Albert’s new series set in Alaska. Its main characters are Griffin, a pilot working for his family’s business and River, a former supermodel turned travel writer. They meet on one of Griffin’s family’s tours, where Griffin has to take over as a guide for his uncle. There’s immediately a spark between them, but Griffin doesn’t do fun. River is very persuasive, though, and the two of them spend several nights together and even decide to see each other again afterwards. But neither of them is looking for a relationship, really, and they both have issues they struggle with, so it doesn’t seem like there is a future for them.

The Alaska setting was a big draw for me, and it didn’t disappoint. What I struggled with in the beginning was that it felt like something I’d read a thousand times before and didn’t enjoy much in the first place. Attraction, protestations, persuasions... I was bored to tears, and it didn’t help that in my opinion Annabeth Albert’s writing lacks the subtlety that makes that sort of thing bearable. I have nothing against instant attraction, but I need tofeel the spark and tension, and simply writing something like their pants are tightening doesn’t make me feel that.

However, I felt like things got better once the tour was over, and the characters felt more real then, and their interaction more genuine and organic. Occasionally, especially towards the end, the conversations became a little too much like speeches and sounded like lifted from textbooks about proper couple communication, but overall I found them much more believable past the 40% marker.

I also have to say that I appreciated the way that for once, anal sex wasn’t the be all end all. That’s one of my pet peeves, and I’m always happy to find books that avoid it

Overall, I liked it, so I’m rounding up the 3.5 stars. I do think she needs better editing - there is always more potential in her books that ends up being realized. If you have the patience for a book that doesn’t immediately convince, I can recommend reading this. Ultimately I’m glad I read it and stuck with it, despite its weaknesses, and I will check out the sequel.

Annabeth Albert is an auto-buy/auto-read author for me, and has been since I started reading the Out of Uniform series, which I appreciated for the inclusion of military life and culture, but also the character and relationship development. Her new series, Frozen Hearts, is different, but still has the same focus on relationships and people, and I enjoyed reading the first instalment.

Arctic Sun follows Griffin – a former Air Force pilot turned cargo pilot and occasional tour-guide living in Alaska – and River – a former supermodel turned writer who travels the world for his books. Both of them have demons in their past: Griffin is a recovering alcoholic and River is recovering from an eating disorder that continues to cause him problems, and both have to come to grips with what the other is dealing with in their own way. They meet when Griffin has to host a tour group on a photographic trip around Alaska. Normally this job would fall to his uncle, a famous photographer, but an injury sees Griffin leading, and that’s where he meets River. Determined not to get involved with a client, River eventually breaks down Griffin’s defences and the two begin a relationship that neither one is sure how to navigate.

There were a few things that I had trouble with in this book – it felt a lot slower than some of Albert’s other books, like the pacing was off a fraction. It also went over the sobriety and eating disorders constantly which felt a little repetitive (important, but probably didn’t need to be rehashed constantly).

That said, there were plenty of things I did love:

I loved how Griffin has to come to terms with letting other people in.
I loved the development of the relationship between Griffin and River and the discussions the two of them had over control and being comfortable with each other. Most of the time it was open and honest and the two were very accepting of one another.
I appreciated the miscommunication the two characters have in the second half of the book – relationships are hard, and it’s relatable to have people say things they don’t mean and to hurt. It was also nice to see both characters acknowledge that they had hurt each other and try to reconcile.
Another huge thing I enjoyed was the setting. Alaska was such a huge character in its own right in this book and (having never been there) I found the travel descriptions really fascinating. It really helped to create atmosphere, and set the tone for the book.

As always, I look forward to future books in the Frozen Hearts series.

I quite liked this book because the characters, their lives, thoughts and convictions were far from average. Both men had to deal with a live that wasn't easy, with problems they had to overcome. That also meant that their journey towards each other was not free from obstacles.
I can't quite pin down why this wasn't a 5 star read for me. It was a good book and I greatly enjoyed reading it. It's just not one of those memorable ones that I definitely need to read again.

I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for more. We have the story of Griffin who doesn’t like to be around people. Even though he has a good relationship with his mom and uncle, his mom was quick to guilt him into doing things, yes I understand that she bailed him out when he needed it but still. Anyway, his uncle is going to need surgery on his knee and he can’t take the latest group on a photography tour, Griffin reluctantly agrees to take his place. River is a retired super model who is now a travel writer and doesn’t want to set down roots. Griffin misjudges River thinking that he is going to be a liability, especially in the backcountry. River proves that he is no novice and proves that he loves the outdoors and knows how to take care of himself. Griffin is a recovering alcoholic and River is still dealing with anorexia and eating is very hard for him. This story is a slow burn set in a backdrop of an Alaskan wilderness that I could picture. There is no magic fix here with our boys, but with love and understanding, there is acceptance and peace.

What a unique story! You can always count on AnnaBeth Albert to have a truly unique plot— she constantly pushing the edges of “the norm” for me personally and I can’t ever get enough!

This story revolves around grumpy griff- our Alaskan adventure guide, and River an “on a break” mode and author. They two are such a unique combo. River trying to find himself in a new world and Griff trying to leave behind the past. Both have a struggle with their own demons (food and alcohol) and both were extremely well written.

I loved the plot as I enjoyed imagining the picturesque landscape of Alaska. The slow burn that is their love story was the icing on the cake. I felt this was so well rounded- even the side characters had great depth! I can tell this is the start to a surely successful series.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this one!

Ugh, I hate, hate, hate giving middling/bad ratings to authors I adore, and I adore Annabeth Albert. I've read 23 of her books (holy hell), and I'm a huge, huge supporter of her work. That being said, I struggled with Arctic Sun.

I'm going on vacation to Alaska this summer, so I was really excited to read a book that involved the Alaskan wilderness and romance. I spent a good portion of the story trying to convince myself that I liked it... but I didn't. I felt that the Alaska details were nice, but I didn't feel settled in the setting. I also couldn't help feeling that the romance was forced.

I think the story's main problem was the pacing. It felt suuuuuper slow, and I had to push myself to read quickly just to pass the time. I finished it rapidly, not because I loved it and couldn't put it down but because it was sort of boring and I wanted to move onto my next read.

I also think the author tried to pack too much into one story. These guys have a lot of baggage, and I didn't feel like we got enough pagetime to really explore their issues in depth. It felt like a lot thrown at us and it was hard to unpack it all and spend time getting to know these characters.

When it boils down to it, the chemistry was just not there for me. I always want to feel that romance-y romance, and with over 1500 romances under my belt, I'm super picky. Annabeth Albert usually brings me all the feels, but I didn't feel it with the one. Sad face.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

3.5 stars. Albert leaves behind her hunky Out of Uniform military MCs (start with Off Base) for a series set in the breathtaking wilds of Alaska. Loner Griffin meets former superstar model River, and the two men discover a surprising attraction as well as shared recovery issues (Griffin from alcohol and River from an eating disorder), but both have insecurities that keep them from believing that they can have a long-term relationship and from fully opening up to each other.

I've been a big Annabeth Albert fan since the first Gaymers book, Status Update, but something about Arctic Sun didn't fully grab me. I'll admit that neither wilderness men nor models are my cup of tea, and the descriptions of the Alaskan scenery were lost on someone who focuses on dialogue and action, so it was a hard sell to start with. I liked the way Griffin went from assuming River would be an empty-headed diva to reluctantly liking him and being attracted to him, and then taking himself out of his comfort zone to be with him. I also liked the way the sex scenes were very much illustrative of how the relationship was developing between the men and not just added in for titillation purposes. Several of the scenes were more sweet than sexy, which was fine with me.

But for some reason it was too easy to put the book down and I didn't feel the urgency of the love story. I also missed the camaraderie of the Out of Uniform series; Griffin had acquaintances (one of whom will be the next book's MC) but no true friends, and River's friendships were admittedly toxic. I liked but didn't love Griffin and River together. Maybe Arctic Wild will do a better job of selling me on this series.

I can see where this story was trying to go with the characters, the plot, and the themes that are woven together.

Unfortunately, I just couldn't get into this story.
The pacing was off and development of the characters was a little short.
I was intrigued enough to want to finish and hope the rockiness of the story smoothed out.

I can appreciate where the author was trying to go but there was a massive disconnect between me and what I was reading.