Cold weather and ice made their way to South Texas this past weekend, making for the perfect excuse to curl up by the fireplace and read a book. I've opted for a title that takes place in about the most wintry setting I could imagine, the Canadian Arctic. I won a copy of Alice Henderson's A Blizzard of Polar Bears from a Goodreads giveaway late last year. The rush of the holidays and a few publisher-provided books kept me away from the title for a bit. Then early this year, Henderson's work was put on my radar again, this time via a recommendation from Chris with Book Cougars. She included the title as one of her favorites of 2021, so I knew I was in for a treat.
Biologist Alex Carter is no stranger to working with wildlife in rugged terrain. She was stationed in Montana when she received a call requesting her help in a different kind of place. Alex quickly accepted the opportunity to study polar bears in the arctic climate, a place that has seen the effects of rising global temperatures that threaten the future of vulnerable species. From the start, she realized that the harsh cold weather would be the least of her worries. Obstacle after obstacle arose all coming to a head when her team's helicopter caught fire and forced a landing in the unformidable wilderness.
Not one to panic, even in the most insurmountable of circumstances, Alex set to navigating the vast sheet of ice. Her years studying wildlife in the field make her uniquely qualified for this kind of survivalist situation. Nothing in her past, however, could prepare her for what comes next. The team is being hunted. It isn't wild animals or subzero temperatures that threaten their life. No, this time they are being chased by armed assailants riding aboard snowmobiles. Alex will have to turn to her instincts and improvise a way to not only complete her mission but simply to stay alive.
I wasn't sure what to expect from A Blizzard of Polar Bears, especially because I hadn't read Henderson's first novel to feature her hero Alex (A Solitude of Wolverines). Despite my lack of familiarity with the character and her previous adventure, I had no trouble following along with this novel. Henderson sets a pace that matches the primal setting she writes about. She peppers in commentary about climate change and the impact it has on the natural world, but never in a way that detracts from the survival story at the center of the novel. A Blizzard of Polar Bears is a breakneck thriller that perfectly balances character beats with pulse-pounding action. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and plan to backtrack to the first book soon.
For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2022, 6)
Sounds like the perfect winter read. Whatever the opposite of a beach read is lol
ReplyDeleteKaren @For What It's Worth
It is exactly that!
DeleteI really want to read this one even though I haven't read her first novel. The plot and the Arctic setting really appeal to me. :)
ReplyDeleteI think you'd really enjoy this one!
DeleteI enjoyed this one as well Ethan.
ReplyDeleteHappy to hear that! Have you read the first book too?
DeleteI don’t mind going back and starting a new series, but i like it too when i don’t have tp 😊
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize this was book two until I was well into it, so I was relieved that I was still able to follow everything.
DeleteGood to know that this can work as a stand alone. This does sound like the perfect winter read.
ReplyDeleteIt was quite the adventure!
DeleteThis sounds like a thriller I'd really enjoy! I love survivalist type stories!
ReplyDeleteIt took me back to reading Gary Paulsen's books when I was younger.
DeleteI don't know what would be worst, being too cold or being too hot. This sounds great.
ReplyDeleteI say being too cold is the worst haha!
DeleteThis looks perfect for a wintery weekend. I am glad to know you could read this as a standalone.
ReplyDeleteIt was perfect for the rare cold spell we had here. Of course this week was back to the upper 70's, so it didn't last.
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