My thanks, and it's a huge THANKS to St. Martin's Press, Buddy Levy and Netgalley.
This was one fantabulous story! I was already a fan of Mr. Levy after reading another book of his about the Greely expedition.
Mr. Levy has a knack for making the reader feel as if they were there. He makes everything feel very fluid.
This read almost like a novel. I didn't feel bogged down in facts. The facts, dates and deaths were all here, but there was so much taken from diaries, and put into a readable form that I enjoyed every moment.
I've been reading these kinds of stories for years now, and I'm still often amazed at the heroism. Mostly though, some of these men had unbounded compassion.
Had I lived one to two hundred years ago, and been a man then I'd have signed on to a Polar expedition in a heartbeat!
Recommended!😍

Empire of Ice and Stone: The Disastrous and Heroic Voyage of the Karluk by Buddy Levy is a great nonfiction and historical account of the infamous and ill-fated attempt of the Arctic expedition of 1913.

I always love a good naval, Arctic expedition. Stakes are high, the captians and crew either win big or drama ensues. Unfortunately, sometimes lives are lost. However, the historical and biographical accounts that are created from a time that seems so far gone, but yet are usually less than 150 years ago.

This is another great book by Mr. Levy. I loved learning more about the Karluck and the events (many that were polarizing actions and decisions) that occurred afterwards was fascinating. Learning more about Captain Bob Bartlett and Vilhjalmur Stefansson and their respective decisions after their ill-equipped ship became encrusted into ice had me engaged and desperate to turn each page.

Mr. Levy presents a great account and has clearly done his research. I really appreciate and admire all of his talent and effort.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and S. Martin’s Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 12/6/22.