A Haunting in the Arctic
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
I requested a copy of the ARC from the publisher, Berkley, on NetGalley and was approved in exchange for consideration of a review. All opinions discussed are my own and are subjective to myself as a reader.
If you prefer video/audio format, I do have a non spoiler review that you can find here.
C. J. Cooke had me hook, line and sinker with just the first two pages of this one! The brief prologue was a promise of what would unfold in its pages: fear, isolation, destruction. The ambiance of the setting was both beautiful and terrifying. The mystery of this ship called to me like a siren.
A HAUNTING IN THE ARCTIC tells the tale of the ship, the Ormen, in a dual timeline. Its origin is presented through the perspective of Nicky, the daughter of the ship's owner in 1901. Its forlorn present and impending destruction is told through the perspective of Dominique, an explorer whose intent is to document the ship, give her a second chance to tell of events she's kept secret for so long, entrenched on the shores of an abandoned settlement in Iceland.
I was drawn in by the mystery of the ship as presented in Dominique's timeline, but before I had made my way through the first half of the book, I found myself more intrigued and excited to read the history of the ship from Nicky. The author left me a couple clues that helped me figure out one of the big mysteries that emerged in the present, so I found the end of the present timeline a touch disappointing. The choice to not explain the why of an important piece of the story irked me. This was not the case with Nicky's timeline, however. I found its ending and its tie to the present to be absolutely brilliant.
Reading the description of the ship, when it was used as a whaling vessel and all the lore, superstitions and crew positions - it felt to me that the author did her due diligence researching the setting, time period and terminology. Besides the nautical aspect, the trauma suffered by some of the characters was visceral, yet there was beauty in the recovery process. Either the author has first hand experience or she did her homework - so I either admire her journey or appreciate the dedication given to what was likely hours of research.
I fell in love with the writing style of C. J. Cooke - especially with her ability to build suspense and to make the pages feel alive with the atmosphere of the setting. The first night I started reading this book, I only made it through Chapter 1. Friends, I had seriously disturbing dreams that night. I decided this one would be a read-only-in-sunshine-book after that! Cooke's magnificent style alone makes me hungry to read more of her work.
I won't lie to you all - I requested this book on NetGalley on a whim because I liked the title. All it took was the words "Haunting" and "Arctic" and I was hitting the request button. I love horror most when it takes place in a cold setting for some reason and when you throw in a possibly haunted shipwreck - it was, as they say, the perfect storm.
You can find this review along with other reviews spanning multiple genres at The Nerdy Narrative or if you prefer video format, I do have a BookTube Channel
A heartfelt thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for their support towards my enthusiasm for reading and reviewing!
Special thanks to my highest level Patrons: Ev, Amanda L., Sharon, Andrew, Star, Kate, Gail, Amanda F., Lourdes, Tara, John, Ann, Chad K., Ashley E., & Jennifer M.
If you prefer video/audio format, I do have a non spoiler review that you can find here.
C. J. Cooke had me hook, line and sinker with just the first two pages of this one! The brief prologue was a promise of what would unfold in its pages: fear, isolation, destruction. The ambiance of the setting was both beautiful and terrifying. The mystery of this ship called to me like a siren.
A HAUNTING IN THE ARCTIC tells the tale of the ship, the Ormen, in a dual timeline. Its origin is presented through the perspective of Nicky, the daughter of the ship's owner in 1901. Its forlorn present and impending destruction is told through the perspective of Dominique, an explorer whose intent is to document the ship, give her a second chance to tell of events she's kept secret for so long, entrenched on the shores of an abandoned settlement in Iceland.
I was drawn in by the mystery of the ship as presented in Dominique's timeline, but before I had made my way through the first half of the book, I found myself more intrigued and excited to read the history of the ship from Nicky. The author left me a couple clues that helped me figure out one of the big mysteries that emerged in the present, so I found the end of the present timeline a touch disappointing. The choice to not explain the why of an important piece of the story irked me. This was not the case with Nicky's timeline, however. I found its ending and its tie to the present to be absolutely brilliant.
Reading the description of the ship, when it was used as a whaling vessel and all the lore, superstitions and crew positions - it felt to me that the author did her due diligence researching the setting, time period and terminology. Besides the nautical aspect, the trauma suffered by some of the characters was visceral, yet there was beauty in the recovery process. Either the author has first hand experience or she did her homework - so I either admire her journey or appreciate the dedication given to what was likely hours of research.
I fell in love with the writing style of C. J. Cooke - especially with her ability to build suspense and to make the pages feel alive with the atmosphere of the setting. The first night I started reading this book, I only made it through Chapter 1. Friends, I had seriously disturbing dreams that night. I decided this one would be a read-only-in-sunshine-book after that! Cooke's magnificent style alone makes me hungry to read more of her work.
I won't lie to you all - I requested this book on NetGalley on a whim because I liked the title. All it took was the words "Haunting" and "Arctic" and I was hitting the request button. I love horror most when it takes place in a cold setting for some reason and when you throw in a possibly haunted shipwreck - it was, as they say, the perfect storm.
You can find this review along with other reviews spanning multiple genres at The Nerdy Narrative or if you prefer video format, I do have a BookTube Channel
A heartfelt thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for their support towards my enthusiasm for reading and reviewing!
Special thanks to my highest level Patrons: Ev, Amanda L., Sharon, Andrew, Star, Kate, Gail, Amanda F., Lourdes, Tara, John, Ann, Chad K., Ashley E., & Jennifer M.
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.