Empire of Ice and Snow offers a harrowing tale of a 1913 arctic expedition. It describes challenges faced, horrible deaths, treachery unleashed, and, ultimately, the drive to live.

Empire of Ice and Stone tells of the voyage of the Karluk, a brigantine vessel that sailed from Canada to the Arctic in 1913. It was led by Captain Bob Bartlett, the world’s best ice navigator at the time, and Vilhjalmur Stefansson, a “visionary” leader in search of wealth and fame. My thanks go to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the invitation to read and review; this book is for sale now.

This well told narrative details a part of history of which I have read very little. As school children, most of us in the Western developed nations read of the early explorers, but stories of voyages in the twentieth century are few and far between. This is why I take this one on, but I begin to wonder partway into it whether it is more than I have bargained for.

The first half is more than a little confusing, because there are so (so, so, so) many names to remember, and almost all of them are Caucasian men—as is usual for the time and situation. About halfway into it, I abandon my efforts to memorize all of them, and once I am satisfied with memorizing the names of the two leaders plus “Auntie,” (more in a moment) and the ship’s pets, I calm down a bit and it’s easier to follow. I am fortunate enough to receive the audio galley as well as the digital review copy, and that combination makes it easier to follow.

That said, this is not gentle reading. There is death—in many cases slow and terrible—and betrayal around every corner. I understood that there would be some of that when I took the book, but I’ll tell you right now, if you, dear reader, have any sort of mood disorder or are going through a dark time personally, you may want to stay away from this thing.

As the bodies begin to pile up, I start to feel angry, and I remain so, to some degree, until the book is done. Because this was a dumb thing that these men did. Their ship wasn’t up to the task, they cut too many corners at the outset, and this more or less spelled doom for many of those aboard. I can’t help speaking to these men as though they can hear me, and I’m asking what the fuck got into them to do this at all? If everyone had stayed home, most likely all of them would have lived to a ripe old age. True, they made some scientific discoveries; yet air travel was just around the corner, and the whole thing could have been done much more safely later on.

The story has a definite hero (Bartlett,) and a definite villain (Stefansson,) and the farther into the voyage we go, the more obvious this becomes. However, I would have liked to hear a good deal more about the other hero. Levy tells us that a lot of these men would have been dead before the rescuers arrived had it not been for the Innuit woman that was hired, along with her small children (!) to travel with them, and the narrative bears this out. Time and again, when they are on the razor’s edge of starvation, she comes up with an innovative way to use the environment around them to provide calories. Not always delicious calories, to be sure, but alive is alive. “Auntie” is a total badass, and deserves more ink; possibly not much information is available, given the biases of the time.

The book feels longer than it actually is; however, given the amount of complex information provided, it probably shouldn’t be pared down further. At the same time, I kept thinking that this would be so much more approachable if Jeff Shaara were doing the telling (via historical fiction.)

For those that are very interested in the history of early sea voyages, and to researchers, this immaculately researched book is recommended.

Not a bad book. I liked the narrator. Probably just not the right moment for me, as I am reading The Terror by Dan Simmons now too, and that might be too many shipwrecks at a time for me. It was interesting to listen to their tale of survival. I wouldn't want to go through anything like that.

An amazing story
I first listened to the audio version because I expected it to be a bit tedious to read the book. To my surprised after listening I grabbed the kindle version and reread the whole story. The Narrator Will Damron did an excellent job in having you visualize what was happening. The author Buddy Levy did an enormous amount of research to present the facts of this voyage. The contrast between Stefansson (the leader and organizer of the expedition) and Bartlett (Capitan of the Karluk) was sharply defined. You got to know the members of the crew and researchers. Noticed how the events brought out the best and worst in people. That anybody survived was mostly thanks to the determination of Captain Bartlett and the Inuit people that had joined the expedition. Their understanding of the living conditions, hardships of surviving and continued willing to help with cooking, hunting and providing of appropriate clothing for the arctic cold.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

This isn't my usual cup of tea but I actually liked it quite a bit? Something like this runs the risk of feeling too dry but the author did a great job at keeping things interesting. The narrator was great too.

I’ve read numerous accounts of arctic expeditions and few of them turn out well. This one is no exception, many of the members lose their lives after the ship is crushed in the ice and the group splits up to seek sustenance and rescue. I had no idea what a s**t Stefansson, the leader of the expedition, really was. As others have said, the captain of the Karluk is the real hero, never giving up the effort to rescue the survivors. Mr. Levy writes a gripping account, but he also embellishes the narrative with thoughts and feelings of the members, which unless taken from journals or interviews, are of course implied. It does make for more human interest, though, and the narrator does an excellent job.

I had never heard of the Kaluk, which is surprising as it was a Canadian government sponsored expedition. In the summer of 1913, the wooden-hulled brigantine Karluk departed Canada for the Arctic Ocean. The ship was captained by Bob Bartlett, considered the world’s greatest living ice navigator. The leader of the expedition was Vilhjalmur Stefansson, a man hungry for fame. He pushed for the Karluk to be the ship for this expedition, even though many others said it wouldn't be able to make the trip in the condition it was in, but he didn't listen. Just six weeks after the Karluk departed, giant ice floes closed in around her. As the ship became icebound, Stefansson left with five companions and on what he claimed was a 10-day caribou hunting trip. This man abandoned the ship and crew and left them to flounder on their own. Twenty-two men and an Inuit woman with two small daughters now stood on a mile-square ice floe, their ship having sunk and their original leader gone. Bob Bartlett was a man of honour and did his utmost to save his crew, endangering his own life to save some of them. He never forgave himself for not being able to save them all. Making a camp to survive, he took an Inuit hunter and set out on the ice to find help for the crew. The descriptions of what he and the other crew members dealt with was harrowing. From bear attacks, scurvy, health issues, snow blindness, starvation, devolving into madness and getting lost, this book was full of suspense. Would they survive? Who would survive? This book is full of heroes, self-sacrificing people, everyday people who taught them how to survive and the dangers of the world, as well as a story of discovery. I don't think many people today would head off on such a dangerous voyage, nor be able to survive the conditions they dealt with, but this was the age of exploration and many were eager to be part of it. I listened to this book, but also referred often to the ebook for clarification. Of course after reading this one, I went down the google rabbit hole seeking out pictures and images as well as other information. This was a well researched book using journals, interviews and other information to share this story in such a detailed way. It was not boring nor dry, but kept me enthralled from start to finish.

This work is an examination of the 1913 Canadian Arctic Expedition that became trapped in the arctic after their ship became icebound then sank. The leader of the expedition left with a few companions and never came back, making his way back to civilization, abandoning the rest of the expedition. The ship’s captain soon realized he was now responsible for the lives of the remaining twenty-four people and was forced to make difficult and life-changing decisions to keep his team alive.

What an excellently written history! Despite the density and scope of this work, it was highly engaging. The author did an excellent job at weaving historical documents and research together to create an immersive tale that made this feel like it was a work of fiction. It almost felt like reading a Jack London novel.

The juxtaposition between Stefansson and Bartlett was highlighted well, and I enjoyed the in-depth discussions of the challenges and disasters that haunted this expedition from as early on as the planning stages. In fact, the author excelled at focusing on the humans of this story and their personalities/characteristics, which I think is part of why this was such an engaging read.

I listened to the audiobook version of this work so I can’t comment on the presence of references/footnotes, but there were facts and asides included throughout the work that made me confident in the author’s knowledge and use of historical documentation. The narrator did a wonderful job, and I highly recommend this book. My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

5 captivating epic stars

I had not heard of the Karluk, its crew, or the Canadian Arctic Expedition of 1913. Empire of Ice and Stone was a fascinating read/ listen. Non-stop adventure and problems, fighting for one’s life in the unforgiving arctic, hunger, travel, cold and pain: Buddy Levy’s extensively researched account captivated and entertained. Though details from diaries and first-person accounts abound, the narrative remains lively throughout. Like the best books, it made me want to learn more – and I looked for photos of the ill-fated voyage and survivors. (I wish a few had been included in the book.) I particularly appreciated the follow-up on what happened to the main protagonists.

The narrator’s strong male voice was perfect for the story - easy to understand with excellent pacing and inflections.

I appreciated the author’s list of resources, the index, NOTES, etc. Buddy Levy has outstanding writing and organizational skills. A huge amount of resourced material flows into a superb narrative. Highly recommended for men and women who enjoy well-told tales. I hope they make a documentary of this.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another solid book to add to the polar expedition collection. I do love this genre so I was hoping to get approved for the advance copy and I was not disappointed. The author does a good job of filling in the spaces between the journal entries so that the facts flow nicely along and you can keep up with the multiple story lines. I didn't always like the author's additions, sometimes I felt it waxed a little too poetic, but I think this is just a personal preference regarding style and not any grand failing on the part of the book. I mean, the story is remarkable. Another account of the triumph of the human spirit. You meet some really great people with indominable courage, skill, and hope, and others who are less fortunate. Then there is Stefansson - this man managed to slip out of more than one failed expedition and has blood on his hands because of his desire for fame (read Ada Blackjack if you want another story about this guy's doomed adventures). This was probably the most frustrating part of the story - the fact that people suffered greatly, despite their will to live, because of one person's carelessness and hubris. I think my only other complaint is that you don't get to know all of the crew very well - that may be due to the fact that the officers and scientists wrote mainly about themselves or the other officers in their journals, or it may have been the author's choice - regardless, sometimes people got mentioned a ways into the book and I was like...wait who? Aside from that, I definitely would recommend this for someone looking for adventure, stories of human endurance, extreme survival, or polar/arctic expeditions. The narrator (Will Damron) did a good job and the pacing was nice. Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

*Possible spoiler but includes a Content Warning - if you read these extreme exploration books, you know that the animals do not usually fare very well, so just be aware...though this is not as bad as some. Nigeraurak and Molly survive though!

I always enjoy accounts of historical arctic expeditions and their many perils. I was excited to be able to access this most recent title that covered such an expedition that I had never heard of, that of the Karluk. This book provides intricate details of this ill-fated journey and its outcome, in particularly contrasting the leadership (or lack thereof) styles of Steffenson and Bartlett. This book is a study not just in the endurance and willpower required of those who dare to explore the Arctic in the early 20th century, but just what makes a strong leader under dire circumstances. My only slight complaint with this book is that it was just so long and extremely detailed that it became a bit of chore to slog through at times. It is still an excellent addition to the literature on this topic and highly recommended. The narrator did a great job of relating the material as well.

The story of the men, woman, children, and animals aboard the Karluk and their time in the Arctic Circle is one that’s close to my heart as an Atlantic Canadian. Learning about the leadership and heroics of Newfoundlander Captain Robert A Bartlett in school left a lasting impression on me as a child, and Levy’s portrayal is my favourite to date.

Meticulously researched and cross-referenced, Levy misses no detail made available to us, while pointing out discrepancies in accounts instead of choosing his preferred truth. He spares no detail of the exciting, domestic, and harrowing through diary entries of those present, and weaves a fast-paced and suspenseful narrative from these sources. From a lucky kitten and little dog, to an Inuit seamstress and her young children, to hunters and school teachers, and men of the sea and of science varying in all ranges of arctic experience, Levy does not understate the incredible acts of all those aboard the Karluk as then transition from ship to ice flows to Wrangel Island and beyond without any grandiose exaggerations. Readers who are familiar with these events will be pleased with the juxtaposition of Bartlett’s and Stefansson’s character as a point of reference, and readers new to the Canadian Arctic Expedition and the disaster of the Karluk will be hooked and unable to step away.

With an audiobook narrated by the incredible Will Damron, and all the trappings of seafaring exploration and grueling survival, ‘Empire of Ice and Stone’ is impossible not to fly through. I highly encourage all readers to give this one a try, and to head to the Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage website to learn more about this awe-inspiring piece of history.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an Advanced Listening Copy of Buddy Levy’s ‘Empire of Ice and Stone’ in exchange for an honest review.

This is a book you didn't know you needed to read.
A book that reads like fiction, but is 100% true [which, as you read, is often terrifying to realize].
A book of adventure, exploration, daring, and amazing courage in the face of extraordinary conditions no one should survived.
A book that will make you queasy and uncomfortable.
A book that will 100% piss you off [All the absolutely horrific decisions that [the so-called] CAPTAIN Stefansson {WHO is a real piece a work and who IMO can be blamed for all that happens} makes and continues to make while people are suffering and dying would make a dead person angry].
A book that will make you ugly cry [and if you don't, you might actually be the dead person mentioned before] at so many points [so many unneeded deaths].
And a book that will absolutely make you believe in the strength and courage and the deep abiding love and friendship that grows between people who are in the most direst of straights and wish and hope that you have men [and one amazing woman who I am in complete and total awe of] of this caliber on your side if and when you encounter the worse that life can throw at you.

Thank you for writing this Mr. Levy and bringing this story to light - people need to know about this and the amazing men that survived this horrific ordeal. Well done.

I was grateful to receive an audiobook ARC for this book as well. Will Damron is one of my favorite narrators at the moment and he tells this story superbly. I highly recommend listening to this outstanding audiobook when picking up this book to read. You will absolutely not be sorry.

Thank you to NetGalley, Buddy Levy, Will Damron - Narrator, Macmillan Audio and St. Martin's Press for providing this ARC and audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book sets out to detail the fateful voyage of the Karluk and explain why the two leaders of the expedition had such differing versions of these events. This book has a clear idea on which of the leaders, either Bob Bartlett or Vilhjalmur Stefansson, had the most blame and the most deserved accolades following the eventual rescue of 12 survivors of the expedition. Not having any previous knowledge of the Karluk, I cannot give any firm opinions on the veracity of these claims, however, I did learn a lot about the expedition as a whole and was able to file the information on the leaders in my mind as a controversial episode of the voyage.
The book charts the entire journey from start to finish, as well as each group as the parties are split following the sinking of the Karluk in the icepack. The heroism and ability to persevere under extreme and unimaginable circumstances is spectacularly displayed in this book.
If you have previously liked stories about Ernst Shackleton, this is another book you should definitely read. The audiobook is well read and produced and fully engaged my mind all the way through.

What a story! This is a gripping survival adventure and the sinking of the Karluk.

Captain Bob Bartlett was asked to join The Canadian Arctic Expedition led by Vilhjalmur Stefansson. Captain Bartlett was concerned about the retrofitted wooden whaler "Karluk" that was commissioned for the 1913 expedition. He joined anyway along with many scientists, crew, Inuit hunters, the family, and sleigh dogs.

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Karluk Departure: wikimedia.org

Captain Bartlett's instinct and Arctic experience proved correct. In August, two months into the journey, the Karluk was stuck in ice. She continues to drift westward for months. They eventually had to abandon her and set "Shipwreck Camp" on ice in January.

This is where a real story is so terrifying. If this were fiction it would definitely be classified as horror with some gore! Buddy Levy presents such great detail about the expedition, the leadership style of Captain Bartlett vs Stefansson, and what it took to survive in this inhospitable environment. When the Karluk was crushed and sank, I sure felt like life was lost. It's heartbreaking. Until the end of the book, I still couldn't believe how anyone could travel 700 miles in that condition to seek help.

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Voyage Map: wikimedia.org

This is masterful storytelling and I highly recommend it to fans of the genre. Will Damron brought this epic story to life with his excellent narration. As this was an advance audio copy, there was no accompanying file which I believe will be included with the release edition.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for my ALC.

Truly captivating audiobook about a failed polar ice mission in the early 20th century. Hours if detailed description of the trials and tribulations of this ill-fated voyage and the numerous disasters that occurred before, during, and after. Highly recommended for those who enjoy maritime nonfiction told in a fiction style.

When Stefan‘s northern expedition got set to head to the northern sea of Alaska it was a trip made on falsehoods and a selfish man’s dream of glory. And when the going got tough for the car lock the leader Stevenson got going, but thanks to God he left the ship in the capable hands of captain Bartlett and without his where with all, talents and capabilities more would’ve Parished then the 16 who did. Captain Bartlett new hall to keep the men’s spirits up and have them hoping for the best while preparing for the worst. As opposed to Stevenson who when he knew the worst was coming he claimed he was going on a “caribou hunting excursion it would only be gone for 10 days, but walk straight through for more supplies went to visit his family and finished his expedition and gave not another thought to the men on the car lock. then head the nerve to try to place the blame on Captain Bartlett. Did I mention caribou were extinct in the part of the wilderness he went to hunt for them? He was a selfish self-absorbed man who is only thought was for his own glory and not the safety of men who risk their lives to see his dream come true. This was such a great book and it was documented so well that it reads like an adventure story as opposed to a real true to life non-fiction adventure. Oh I was thoroughly engaged in this book I started it this morning and didn’t stop until I was done it was so so good! It was sad to see men who I had come to really like nourish, but thanks to Captain Bartlett and his awesome wherewithal some men did survive. Not only that Steffensen would get his glory because although the expedition did accomplish a lot it also cost the Canadian government 10 times the amount they were willing to spend and he got the newspaper coverage he thought he deserves but it was captain Bartlett who got the awards. I really love this book I Love so much I read the Kindel Version and listen to the audio and loved the narration in this book. It was narrated by Will Demirell and I love his narration. I received it from netGally and Saint Martin’s press but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review but all opinions are definitely my own.

I already reviewed this book so I won’t review it again. It was so good I listened to it for a second time. I caught even more interesting facts this second time around. Highly recommend!

Everyone knows the story of Ernest Shackleton’s ill fated Arctic expedition, but few have ever heard of Captain Bob Bartlett his ship, the Karluk, and Vilhjalmur Stefansson, the leader of their 1913 expedition to the Arctic. After being stuck fast in the ice after a few mere weeks, Stefansson set off with five other men to go caribou hunting, but they never returned. The remaining souls aboard the Karluk looked to Captain Bartlett and he rose to the occasion, as the small party built shelters, hunted for food and just managed to survive. With little hope of rescue coming for them, Bartlett decided to go for help, taking along with one of the Inuit hunters on a 1,000 mile journey in search of rescue. While Bartlett did finally get help for his stranded passengers and crew, not all survived the long wait and the captain was often criticized for his choices. No one, however, can doubt his stamina and determination in what is one of the greatest (and sadly, least known) Arctic rescues in history