The Arctic Fury by Greer Macallister

THE ARCTIC FURY by Greer Macallister is a work of historical fiction which was a LibraryReads selection for December 2020. Initially, I was intrigued by the premise:Virginia Reeve, a young female guide on the overland trail to the Pacific Ocean is asked to lead a different expedition. This time, a wealthy woman asks Virginia to guide 12 women in their 1855 quest to find The Franklin, a ship missing in the Arctic. I enjoyed the beginning and learning about the character traits of various expedition members, but then the book seemed to drag. Maybe that was my own dread of the harrowing conditions they would face, as I silently encouraged them to turn back? Macallister adds to the realism by offering differing perspectives as the voyage continues and by employing flashbacks between the journey and an ensuing murder trial. Fans of adventure stories like Into the Wild may enjoy this story of survival and female courage; based on true events.