I'm always on the hunt for arctic exploration books, fiction or nonfiction. Greer Macallister's The Arctic Fury is a formidable entry into that specific category, with a welcome emphasis on female fortitude. Macallister imagines an expedition of thirteen women sent in secret by Lady Jane Franklin in the years after her husband's disappearance in the arctic. Chapters alternate between the expedition in 1853 and the 'present' of 1854, where group leader (and main POV character) Virginia Reeves is on trial for the murder of a fellow explorer, Virginia maintains her innocence, but the fact that only six survivors are present in the courtroom, along with the ferocious prosecution and lackluster defense, works against her.

The women in this novel are an eclectic variety, each exhibiting distinct strengths and weaknesses that forge friendships and tension across the group. Issues of race, class, gender, and sexuality emerge as the thirteen explorers make their way north and, when things go wrong, back south again. The snippets from Virginia's past life as a guide in the west along the Oregon Trail also give a welcome respite from the claustrophobic courtroom and the chill of the tundra.

[4.5/5: An exciting and tense work of historical fiction that centers women. The writing style is descriptive and engaging, and I would love to read more novels like it. Readers that are interested in 19th century exploration will find something to like here, and those that like historical fiction as much as I do will find an excellent exemplar in The Arctic Fury.]

Many thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I spent most of one day reading The Arctic Fury by Greer Macallister. All I can say after finishing it is, "Wow, wow, wow."

Part historical fiction, part crime thriller, Macallister masterfully tells the story of a failed women-led Arctic expedition through multiple points of view jumping between the expedition timeline and the trial timeline. The unique tension created by hearing the accused's story paired with the unique voices of the other women on the expedition created a palpable tension that cause me to set the book down not wanting to know what happened only to pick it up again immediately so I could find out what happened. The Arctic Fury was a delight to read.

Issues of classism, sexism and racism are touched on throughout the book.

I was so anxious, eager, and excited to read The Arctic Fury by Greer Macallister! I loved her fantastic novel, Woman 99 and cannot recommend it enough if you haven’t read it yet. In her newest book, Greer takes us on an all-female expedition through the Arctic, led by a brave young woman named Virginia.

This book switches between the trial of Virginia, being charged with the death of one of the women on the expedition, and the actual expedition itself as the women endure hardships and challenges while on their mission of trying to find a group of men who are missing.

Here’s the synopsis:

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 bravely, intrigue, perseverance and hope.

I love the author’s writing. Her descriptions make the harsh arctic come to life and I know I would not have lasted a week out there in the elements! This was an interesting read, I knew nothing of the real-life explorations of the Arctic. The Arctic Fury places the reader front and center of the trial and my favorite parts were towards the end of the book when we, the reader, begin to lose all hope.

The research it must have taken the author to write this and learn all about exploring this part of the world must have taken forever! There is plenty to keep the reader glued to the pages until the very last chapter. If you are a fan of historical fiction, I think you will enjoy this book which comes out on December 1.

You can pre-order the book here, and of course, add it to your Goodreads list.