Dead Ice

Dane Maddock Origins #4

by David Wood, Steven Savile

From the bestselling authors of Atlantis and Silver!
Navy SEAL Dane Maddock leads a team of operatives in a race against Russian Spetznaz agents to find a lost nuclear submarine and recover a threat known only as Romanov’s Bane, but the frozen wasteland of Wrangel Island is home to more than enemy soldiers. Soon, Dane and Bones find themselves face-to-face with dangers thought long extinct. Join them as they seek to foil a madman’s deadly plot in the action-packed thriller, Dead Ice.

Genres: Thriller, Adventure, Fiction, Military Fiction, Action

153 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 15, 2014

About the author

David Wood is the USA Today bestselling author of the Dane Maddock Adventures and many other titles and series. He also writes Science Fiction under the pen name Finn Gray and fantasy as David Debord. He is also a book reviewer, podcaster, and a member of International Thriller Writers and The Horror Writers Association. David and his family live in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Visit him online at www.davidwoodweb.com.

Reviews

[Gilbert Stack · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has all the hallmarks of a great thriller. A soviet submarine bearing some sort of break through weapon is trapped in the ice and an American team goes in to try and secure the weapon before Soviet special forces can arrive. Unfortunately, the novel never quite caught the adrenalin rush that normally accompanies such thrillers. The most interesting thing to happen was the discovery of some ice age animals thought to be extinct, but even this really didn’t get he pulse pounding. I suspect that if you’re fans of the series, just seeing your favored characters in action again will boost this novel considerably, but for those of us trying it for the first time it felt pretty tame—nothing terrible, but nothing wonderful either.

I received this novel from Free Audio Books in exchange for an honest review.

If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great addition to the Dane & Bones origin novellas. David Wood & Steven Savile are great writers in their own right, but they do a superb job together, weaving an interesting, fun adventure with high stakes. If you haven't read anything by these two authors or are new to the characters, this is a fantastic jumping off point. It is very easy to read in one sitting and makes for a fun afternoon of reading. Go get a copy, don't wait, just do it.

[A.D. Starrling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay read. Would have liked a faster pace.

[Julie Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay this isn't the normal adventure I have come to expect from this author. Although there is a little bit the story is not packed full of history or working out clue in order to track down a lost artefact, instead of is a military operation to beat the Russian to a trapped submarine. While not as good as normal (not as much banter from Bones) and it also seemed shorter, I did enjoy it. Dane was definitely the main focus, as he escaped one deadly situation from another and the mission for the good guy's was a lot deadlier than normal. Not my favourite but still a good listen.
Dane Maddock and his Navy SEAL team have been tasked with find a Russian submarine stuck in ice and retrieving an egg. Joining the team is a Russian translator and Dane is worried she won't be able to keep up, especially has she seem to have her own a gender. However the frozen Iceland has it own secrets and beating the Russians to the sub is the least of there worries.
I liked the narrator. He does a good job and has the right timber in his voice to pull of some interesting voices.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntary left this review.

[David Dalton · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my first Dane and Bones story. I really do not see me continuing on. I felt this was a very dull story and in no way did Dane or Bones really do anything special. Not quite the feeling I got when I read my first Dirk Pitt or Matt Reilly's Scarecrow stories. Those characters drew me right in and wham! I was hooked!

Nothing about this novella rekindled any feelings for these characters. Dane seems like an average joe......maybe it got a little exciting towards the end, but honestly I expect action thrillers to be....well, full of action. I caught this story on sale because these Dane and Bones stories always pop up when I surf thru GoodReads or Amazon. I love this type of story, just not this one.

[Rabid Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This audiobook is an action, adventure story with some supernatural overtures. A Russian submarine that has an unknown deadly weapon on board goes missing in the Arctic. Navy SEAL Dane Maddock and his friend Bones lead a special forces team to try to retrieve the weapon before the Soviets can arrive but they encounter some unusual deadly dangers. Fast moving story with some humour, a deadly secret, ice age animals and lots of action, but there are also some unrealistic storylines such surviving unscathed in the Arctic when you are soaking wet. The narration of the book was great (hence the 4*), the characters had individual voices and he brought out the humour well. This is still an entertaining story and I liked the main characters but it lacked some of the thriller aspect that is usual in this series.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brrrrrrrr

I don't know about anyone else, but I hate the cold Been somewhere that sub 0 no. Dane and Bones and his team were frozen little men and woman.
The extinct animals were a twist.
Liked the story very much.

[Vicky Coughlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 4th book of Dane and Bones Origins series is another great roller coaster of a ride. Love it! David Wood does it again. Another late night reading but well worth it. Bring on the next book!

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cold, but Quick, Action

"Dead Ice" by David Wood and Steven Savile, is an action/adventure book set in the early 1980s in the deep cold of Arctic Russian territory. Dane Maddock leads a crack military team with his best friend, a Cherokee named Bones, and the alluring, infuriating Russian-American Zara Leopov. Their mission is to locate and secure a lost Faberge egg that hides a deadly secret from Rasputin. What greets them on the small, frozen island, besides dead woolly mammoths and vibrantly alive sabertooth tigers, are an ice-trapped nuclear sub with a dead crew, a crazy Russian, and a stealthy Spetznaz military team that equals their own skills. What this American team discovers, though, is unexpected by all but Leopov, and even she didn't believe their find.
Readers who enjoy action and military action will enjoy this fast-moving book.

[Paula Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Ice is the 4th origins book for Dane and Bones. When we think of a Faberge Egg we picture something that is beautiful and delicate. In this case, the Faberge Egg is highly dangerous. Dane and Bones are sent to recover this Egg from a Russian nuclear sub that is partially frozen in ice. Obvious, two US military personnel are not going to be welcome by the Russians.

On Wrangel Island, there is more than just the Russians to contend with..... there are also animals that are believed to be extinct. Add to that is the extreme cold temperatures.

It is so interesting to take a flashback to the previous military life of Dane on Bones. Love that you get caught up in the story. Wonderful pace and action packed.

Brilliant!

[Derick Siddoway · Rating 2 out of 5]

When reading this book, I couldn't help feel that there were missing parts. We open in a conference room, and the next chapter takes us directly to the site discussed without any interlude. I kind of wanted there to be a bit of discussion at that point, perhaps building relationships between the characters and developing their motivations. Instead, I found myself unsure of what any motivations were, and I found I didn't care much about the characters. If they'd all died, I wouldn't have felt any sense of loss.

However, the overall plot was entertaining, even if it was only a bare skeleton. I'm just saying that I wish it had been fleshed out more.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one seemed a little rougher than the Dane and Bones stories or the other prequels. The boys are sent North to a frozen island looking for something called Romanav's Bane and a missing Russian Submarine. With them is a female Russian Language specialist with an agenda of her own. Can the boys stop a madman and a superweapon?

This book is fun and action packed. The humour is all over the place. It just read a little rough, but hey if you like the other Dane and Bones books, you will like this one.

[Toni Spalding · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging storyline and story that moves along quickly.

The subjects of this story are cut from some of my worst teenage nightmares, and a few of those suffered as an adult. As the first Maddock and Bones tale I've read I find I'm missing some backstory on the characters, their history not that clearly carried forward. Ditto some of the smaller details from "scene" to scene. While I had some continuity issues, they definitely do not take away from a good plot and resolution. Would definitely recommend this book.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real enjoyable little thriller. Excitement in the Arctic as a Russian sub with a deadly secret may harbour a deadly secret that could threaten all of mankind. Sent to obtain the secret known as Romanovs Bane before the Russian Spetsnaz, Dane Maddock and his group of intrepid Navy Seals have to get their first.

Excitement with a hint of Alistair MacLean brought up to date. Exciting, thrills and spills and doesnt outstay its welcome.

[Jane K. Stecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating thriller

Dane Maddock and his friend Bones are two tough SEALS. They are sent on an important mission to the top of the world, Wrangel Island. Cold and isolated they must brave the elements to find a stranded Russian submarine and recover a precious artifact. Can they complete the mission in this hostile environment? Read it. You won't be disappointed.

[Benton Mcpeak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like the other Dane and Bones novels. Enjoyable to read without a lot of thought. kind of like going to a fun movie without any meaning. In any case I enjoyed it and will read the next one.

[Trevor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice quick read from the Dane and Bones Origins series. No real character development, just an early mission as they trek across the ice to retrieve Pandora’s Egg.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting and fun

I always enjoy this series. Perhaps the story is a little extravagant,but I always cheer for my favorite characters, knowing they will succeed in end.

[Mike Welch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story, but it could have had more depth.

[Nigel Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

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