Interesting if you have an interest in the topic This was pretty good - a little slow in parts, but overall interesting. It felt like a sequel to _The Terror_ about a mission looking into John Franklin's disappearance. It was well researched and the character of Zeke was especially easy to hate - he made a good villain in that there wasn't anything redeeming about him.
Good story, but confusing characters Interesting story. There's something about that time in scientific exploration paired with the exotic Arctic that makes this novel work. Zeke and Erasmus are fantastic characters, but I felt their relationship wasn't explored/developed as much as it could be. Also, I felt conflicted about what the author intended regarding Dr. Boerhaaves and, especially, Alexandra. Were they supposed to be major characters? They seem uncomfortably stuck somewhere in the middle.The human side of Arctic exploration Early Arctic exploration has been a popular topic the last few years, as we can warmly and safely look back in wonderment at the amazing courage, persistence, and discoveries of these men.
But the histories focus on the adventurous aspects of the journey, not on the organizational and human aspects of small groups of men in close quarters under harsh conditions for long periods of time. This work of fiction goes there where the histories don't and can't in examining how the men thought about each other and interacted with each other.
I have read some of the histories, and this book rings so true to their spirit that I thought it was based on a true story. It works on all levels as history, adventure, and a novel.Lack of Character Development I struggled to finish this book. The characters were not engaging. It could have been really interesting.A good historical adventure A good adventure story and well written. Not the best I've read, but certainly an enjoyable read.
