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see_sadie_read's review against another edition
2.0
Spoiler alert
Let me say early on that my low rating is a reflection of the fact that I did not like the book, not necessarily that it's a poorly written book. I suppose you could say that it's a subjective, rather than objecting rating.
The issue was largely that, despite the stunning descriptions of nature, the book didn't hold my attention. I was bored a lot of the time and I found Laura's thoughts repetitive. Then, with about 100 pages to go, I set the book aside and read three other ones before forcing myself back to finish it. The problem was that in addition to the things I listed above, it became obvious that the hinted mystery was going to be a pedophilia ring and I both didn't want to face reading it and felt horribly disappointed that Turner chose such an over-used, tritely salacious climax. All in all, I'm just glad to be finished with it.
Let me say early on that my low rating is a reflection of the fact that I did not like the book, not necessarily that it's a poorly written book. I suppose you could say that it's a subjective, rather than objecting rating.
The issue was largely that, despite the stunning descriptions of nature, the book didn't hold my attention. I was bored a lot of the time and I found Laura's thoughts repetitive. Then, with about 100 pages to go, I set the book aside and read three other ones before forcing myself back to finish it. The problem was that in addition to the things I listed above, it became obvious that the hinted mystery was going to be a pedophilia ring and I both didn't want to face reading it and felt horribly disappointed that Turner chose such an over-used, tritely salacious climax. All in all, I'm just glad to be finished with it.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
‘There was no normal in Antarctica.’
Laura Alvarado is an environmental scientist working in Antarctica. She is sent to an outpost on a remote Antarctic island to report on an abandoned Norwegian whaling station, as part of an environmental impact assessment. But nothing is as it seems in this place. From the beginning,
Laura finds she is treated as an outsider. And when she travels to the whaling station, the wildlife behaves strangely. There are signs of recent human interference around the whaling station, yet no one is supposed to have been there. What is going on?
Laura and a colleague become separated while on a diving expedition. Laura enters an ice cave, and is sure that she sees a boy, crying for help. Reunited with her colleague, they can find no sign of any other human. But Laura doesn’t give up easily.
‘Someone’s tampered with my property. In a zone where no one’s meant to be, in a place where I’m not allowed.’
Laura’s search for information takes her from Antarctica to Nantucket, and then to Europe. The abandoned whaling station has its own history. Finding out about that history will enable Laura to face some issues of her own as well as to find out just what is going on.
I enjoyed this novel, as I enjoyed Ms Turner’s first novel. Her descriptions of Antarctica and of the abandoned whaling station had me hooked early. The history of the whaling station kept me reading. Like Laura, I was keen to find answers. But, and without introducing spoilers, there were a couple of aspects of the story that didn’t really work well for me. By this stage, though, the story had so much momentum that I couldn’t have put it down. I love Ms Turner’s writing, the way in which she creates the atmosphere, the space in which to tell a story.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Laura Alvarado is an environmental scientist working in Antarctica. She is sent to an outpost on a remote Antarctic island to report on an abandoned Norwegian whaling station, as part of an environmental impact assessment. But nothing is as it seems in this place. From the beginning,
Laura finds she is treated as an outsider. And when she travels to the whaling station, the wildlife behaves strangely. There are signs of recent human interference around the whaling station, yet no one is supposed to have been there. What is going on?
Laura and a colleague become separated while on a diving expedition. Laura enters an ice cave, and is sure that she sees a boy, crying for help. Reunited with her colleague, they can find no sign of any other human. But Laura doesn’t give up easily.
‘Someone’s tampered with my property. In a zone where no one’s meant to be, in a place where I’m not allowed.’
Laura’s search for information takes her from Antarctica to Nantucket, and then to Europe. The abandoned whaling station has its own history. Finding out about that history will enable Laura to face some issues of her own as well as to find out just what is going on.
I enjoyed this novel, as I enjoyed Ms Turner’s first novel. Her descriptions of Antarctica and of the abandoned whaling station had me hooked early. The history of the whaling station kept me reading. Like Laura, I was keen to find answers. But, and without introducing spoilers, there were a couple of aspects of the story that didn’t really work well for me. By this stage, though, the story had so much momentum that I couldn’t have put it down. I love Ms Turner’s writing, the way in which she creates the atmosphere, the space in which to tell a story.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
lamusadelils's review against another edition
3.0
Buenísima atmósfera, exacerbada por la locación y el flujo acelerado de la historia. Pero ya me conocen, detesto el romance innecesario y en este caso además mal desarrollado porque prácticamente fue más misterio adivinar con cual de los personajes iba a terminar nuestra protagonista que descifrar las pistas de lo que estaba pasando.
lydiagrace1999's review against another edition
3.0
After being gifted this book a few months ago, I was a bit dubious to read it. It certainly isn’t a genre I’m familiar with, and the Antarctic setting is not one I thought a solid narrative could be based. Of course, Turner did end up doing this, but everything just felt too... far-fetched. It’s certainly not like a book I’ve ever read before, but I doubt in the next few months I will particularly remember it or what happens. Also, I found Laura, the protagonist, unlikeable. To me, she was a boisterous woman who didn’t like doing what /anyone/ told her, and despite being 39 years old in this book, her taste in men was either those who were 10 years older or younger than her. Very strange. She was too trusting in characters she’d only just met, and it seemed she only realised this when on her own. It came across to me that others’ opinions of her, especially of men, were what mattered to her most rather than how she valued herself. Overall, an easy read but nothing out of the extraordinary, 3/5.
hope_lenzen's review against another edition
4.0
I was enthralled by this book and the writing. I loved the Antarctic setting and all the details and I quickly got caught up in the petty politics of Alliance. Found it to be just the right amount of excitement as we got further and further into the story and while the ending was delivered well I wasn’t too happy with it...
tennilles's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pedophilia
kaydee's review against another edition
2.0
A mediocre thriller with a distasteful twist, saved somewhat by the Antarctic setting.
melbsreads's review against another edition
4.0
Trigger warnings: stillbirth, death of a child (in the past), graphic descriptions of whaling, death of a friend,
I'm a sucker for a decent thriller, and the fact that this one is set in Antarctica immediately tipped me over the edge into picking it up.
The beginning, I'll admit, is definitely a little on the slow side. There's a lot of description of Antarctic wildlife and historic villages and who even knows what else. But things gradually get creepier and creepier, and twists and turns start appearing all over the place.
Basically, it kept me guessing until the end, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Spoiler
human traffickingI'm a sucker for a decent thriller, and the fact that this one is set in Antarctica immediately tipped me over the edge into picking it up.
The beginning, I'll admit, is definitely a little on the slow side. There's a lot of description of Antarctic wildlife and historic villages and who even knows what else. But things gradually get creepier and creepier, and twists and turns start appearing all over the place.
Basically, it kept me guessing until the end, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
see_sadie_read's review against another edition
2.0
Spoiler alert
Let me say early on that my low rating is a reflection of the fact that I did not like the book, not necessarily that it's a poorly written book. I suppose you could say that it's a subjective, rather than objecting rating.
The issue was largely that, despite the stunning descriptions of nature, the book didn't hold my attention. I was bored a lot of the time and I found Laura's thoughts repetitive. Then, with about 100 pages to go, I set the book aside and read three other ones before forcing myself back to finish it. The problem was that in addition to the things I listed above, it became obvious that the hinted mystery was going to be a pedophilia ring and I both didn't want to face reading it and felt horribly disappointed that Turner chose such an over-used, tritely salacious climax. All in all, I'm just glad to be finished with it.
Let me say early on that my low rating is a reflection of the fact that I did not like the book, not necessarily that it's a poorly written book. I suppose you could say that it's a subjective, rather than objecting rating.
The issue was largely that, despite the stunning descriptions of nature, the book didn't hold my attention. I was bored a lot of the time and I found Laura's thoughts repetitive. Then, with about 100 pages to go, I set the book aside and read three other ones before forcing myself back to finish it. The problem was that in addition to the things I listed above, it became obvious that the hinted mystery was going to be a pedophilia ring and I both didn't want to face reading it and felt horribly disappointed that Turner chose such an over-used, tritely salacious climax. All in all, I'm just glad to be finished with it.
charf47's review against another edition
4.0
An exciting mystery in a fascinatingly beautiful setting.