I randomly watched a show on National Geographic about Sir John Franklin’s lost Arctic expedition days before I was pitched this book. I was fascinated by the lost expedition and when this book made it onto my desk for review immediately following the show, I was super intrigued and couldn’t WAIT to read this one! I was so excited to read a new ghost story and one that featured shipwrecks, questions, and a rugged landscape that takes on a life of its own within the story.
I have really been on an Arctic kick lately, the Franklin expedition show was just the start, I got hooked on more series featuring Arctic climbing in Greenland and other extreme mountain sports shows on National Geographic. From the time I was a kid, I have been fascinated by Iceland and Greenland, these locations hold a certain amount of mystery simply for their remote locations and I am so here for it—it appeals to the adventurer in me! There aren’t many books that feature this kind of unfamiliar setting so when I saw this one I jumped to review it and the location did not disappoint!
This book is definitely more of a horror book than historical fiction, though there are elements of historical fiction and the Gothic but I felt like it was more horror in nature but because it included elements from other genres, I think it will appeal to more readers but just know when you pick this one up you are picking up more of a ghost story/horror novel than historical fiction! Side note, this book did make me go down a complete rabbit hole about whaling and Arctic exploration which both were fascinating to research!
Summary
A deserted shipwreck off the coast of Iceland holds terrors and dark secrets in this chilling horror novel from the author of The Lighthouse Witches.
The year is 1901, and Nicky is attacked, then wakes on board the Ormen, a whaling ship embarked on what could be its last voyage. With land still weeks away, it’s just her, the freezing ocean, and the crew – and they’re all owed something only she can give them…
Now, over one hundred years later, the wreck of the Ormen has washed up on the forbidding, remote coast of Iceland. It’s scheduled to be destroyed, but explorer Dominique feels an inexplicable pull to document its last days, even though those who have ventured onto the wreck before her have met uncanny ends.
Onboard the boat, Dominique will uncover a dark past riddled with lies, cruelty, and murder—and her discovery will change everything. Because she’ll soon realize she’s not alone. Something has walked the floors of the Ormen for almost a century. Something that craves revenge. (summary from Goodreads)
Review
This is my first time reading this author, based on what other reviewers have said about this book and the author, I think I would be open to reading more books by her. This book wasn’t what I was expecting. I knew it was going to be a ghost story and horror etc so naturally I expected some creepy things etc. But I wasn’t prepared for how brutal Nicky is treated on the ship crew and by her family. At some points I was like wow was this really necessary and did it really further the story in the way that the author had hoped? It did have relevance I suppose but I think that the same effect could have been achieved without so much brutality and trauma for one character. It was difficult to read Nicky at times throughout the book so just be aware that some parts were difficult.
I did enjoy the folklore parts! I don’t know much folklore about the selkies and I was really interested in the folklore elements of this book. I would actually have liked to see a bit more in the way of folklore for this book instead of all the trauma that was Nicky’s story. I think the author really did a nice job incorporating the folklore and the landscape into the book itself. The setting added a lot of bleakness and unknown to the story for me which is what I was hoping for and expecting in this book. I loved that it had hints of that Franklin expedition in it since I had so recently watch a documentary on that! It was exactly the book I was hoping to read after the documentary.
I wasn’t a huge fan of Dominique’s character (the modern day plot) but I liked how the modern and past came together in this one even if I didn’t love the characters. There is a sort of third plot happening in this book too which honestly I could have done without. It was the 1970s version of the ship that was a research vessel…..it was relevant to the story but also…..not. I think the story would have been stronger without this distraction. So where does that leave me with this book? Well I liked it—the setting, history, mystery, folklore, the gothic/paranormal elements—all great. I didn’t love the distraction of the ‘third timeline’ and I didn’t really care for any of the characters. In the end I went with three stars. It was solid and I would be open to reading more by this author but it wasn’t not the best book I read all year either. So a solid three it is!
Book Info and Rating
Format 352 pages, Paperback
Published February 27, 2024 by Berkley
ISBN 9780593550205 (ISBN10: 059355020X)
Free review copy provided by publisher, Berkley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.
Rating: 3 stars
Genre: horror, gothic, historical fiction.
The Lit Bitch 