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In the Arctic Sun
The trees of Alaska’s Arctic wilderness have always been Sarah’s sentries and her house, a fortress, isolated from society and an abusive marriage.
Until it isn’t.
The arrival of a new neighbor and an oil company drilling through primordial, cold earth changes the forest of her valley. It bleeds through the serenity and disrupts her home, her sanity. Plagued with insomnia from the midnight sun, Sarah increasingly suspects something is using her sanctuary to hide from the bright, incessant light. An insidious menace, ancient and beyond explanation, using the wilderness for cover. Her personal demon that cares nothing for Sarah or her mental health. Something that won’t stop until it takes it all.
Until it isn’t.
The arrival of a new neighbor and an oil company drilling through primordial, cold earth changes the forest of her valley. It bleeds through the serenity and disrupts her home, her sanity. Plagued with insomnia from the midnight sun, Sarah increasingly suspects something is using her sanctuary to hide from the bright, incessant light. An insidious menace, ancient and beyond explanation, using the wilderness for cover. Her personal demon that cares nothing for Sarah or her mental health. Something that won’t stop until it takes it all.
- GenresHorror
137 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 25, 2022
4 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
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February 7, 2022Please note: I do not star rate on Goodreads.
I was lucky enough to read an ARC of Rowan's debut. Please read my review...
Who doesn’t love a horror story set in the Arctic? Rowan Hill’s debut novella delivers atmosphere, creature-features, and a sense of creeping dread like no other. In the Arctic Sun plays on the warped psychological state that living in a remote setting, in eternal daylight, instigates. I tell you, I could smell the crisp, clean air, tainted with impending doom as I turned the pages.
I was lucky enough to read an ARC of Rowan's debut. Please read my review...
Who doesn’t love a horror story set in the Arctic? Rowan Hill’s debut novella delivers atmosphere, creature-features, and a sense of creeping dread like no other. In the Arctic Sun plays on the warped psychological state that living in a remote setting, in eternal daylight, instigates. I tell you, I could smell the crisp, clean air, tainted with impending doom as I turned the pages.
June 25, 2022
In the Arctic Sun is Rowan Hill’s debut novella that promises to mess with your head. I’ve had the pleasure of reading Hill’s short stories and have always been transfixed with the atmosphere her writing always creates. The story perfectly examines the emotional turmoil the body can go through when they are robbed of sleep. Sleep deprivation is a torture method for a reason! The Arctic sun. Alaskan setting. Oil digging disrupting the fabric of her peace. It’s a no-brainer.
So, did In the Arctic Sun deliver?
Does a bear shit in the woods?
The prologue opens and gives the reader an immediate sense of place. You are in no doubt that this is a harsh and unforgiving landscape. Imagine watching a movie, it’s the opener that spans over the village, in slow motion, promising something much darker, something the inhabitants can’t see. It’s delicious and the fear of the unknown sends chills down your spine.
Sarah hasn’t been sleeping well, the Arctic Sun plagues her. Insomnia wreaks havoc on her body and mind. Living in Alaska was never on her bucket list but with the suggestion coming from her husband that they get away from the Californian rat race and live somewhere remote and secluded, she never imagined being there, but she doesn’t exactly hate it either. An ex-lawyer it’s good to feel less stress and just live a quieter life but she can’t deny either that this is a harsh way of living. The Arctic Sun is penetrating everything though, she’s drowning, the harsh light invading her senses. Her marriage is crumbling after an incident of domestic violence. She’s in uncharted territories and doesn’t know how to wade to the shore.
Mental health is a massive subplot in the story. It makes the links between sleep and how it can affect behaviours. You don’t have to wonder for long – the author has Sarah smash through those walls and focuses a big lens on the complications of mental health, isolation, and lack of sleep.
“Light only had meaning with dark to punctuate it.”
Sarah’s safe and calm life is upturned with the arrival of an oil digging crew. The noise is off the scale and adds to the problems Sarah seems to be experiencing. Her husband has left after a physical altercation, and she can hear scuttling under the floor and on the roof. Why are these things only an issue since her husband left the home?
Hill does a great job of making the reader question the reality of the matter. Gaslighting? Well, if it is she does a bloody good job of it because I was left with more questions…first time I’ve shouted at my kindle! I loved the motivations of the human side and the non-human side. Rowan Hill is one of those talents that can anchor a character and draw all their nightmares out for all to see. I flew through this book, like Alice going down the rabbit hole, it swallowed whole my reason and my expectation.
In the Arctic Sun is mesmerising. It has you in its grips with the very first page. I’ve been searching for a book that could give me the same feelings as when I first consumed IT and Hill delivered on that. The author is a master puppeteer.
So, did In the Arctic Sun deliver?
Does a bear shit in the woods?
The prologue opens and gives the reader an immediate sense of place. You are in no doubt that this is a harsh and unforgiving landscape. Imagine watching a movie, it’s the opener that spans over the village, in slow motion, promising something much darker, something the inhabitants can’t see. It’s delicious and the fear of the unknown sends chills down your spine.
Sarah hasn’t been sleeping well, the Arctic Sun plagues her. Insomnia wreaks havoc on her body and mind. Living in Alaska was never on her bucket list but with the suggestion coming from her husband that they get away from the Californian rat race and live somewhere remote and secluded, she never imagined being there, but she doesn’t exactly hate it either. An ex-lawyer it’s good to feel less stress and just live a quieter life but she can’t deny either that this is a harsh way of living. The Arctic Sun is penetrating everything though, she’s drowning, the harsh light invading her senses. Her marriage is crumbling after an incident of domestic violence. She’s in uncharted territories and doesn’t know how to wade to the shore.
Mental health is a massive subplot in the story. It makes the links between sleep and how it can affect behaviours. You don’t have to wonder for long – the author has Sarah smash through those walls and focuses a big lens on the complications of mental health, isolation, and lack of sleep.
“Light only had meaning with dark to punctuate it.”
Sarah’s safe and calm life is upturned with the arrival of an oil digging crew. The noise is off the scale and adds to the problems Sarah seems to be experiencing. Her husband has left after a physical altercation, and she can hear scuttling under the floor and on the roof. Why are these things only an issue since her husband left the home?
Hill does a great job of making the reader question the reality of the matter. Gaslighting? Well, if it is she does a bloody good job of it because I was left with more questions…first time I’ve shouted at my kindle! I loved the motivations of the human side and the non-human side. Rowan Hill is one of those talents that can anchor a character and draw all their nightmares out for all to see. I flew through this book, like Alice going down the rabbit hole, it swallowed whole my reason and my expectation.
In the Arctic Sun is mesmerising. It has you in its grips with the very first page. I’ve been searching for a book that could give me the same feelings as when I first consumed IT and Hill delivered on that. The author is a master puppeteer.
March 8, 2022
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
I connected with Rowan Hill on Twitter some time back (these things always seem fuzzy, it could’ve been a year, or three!) and when the release day hit for this one, she shared it and I immediately purchased a copy. I don’t know how I missed it, but I would’ve preordered this for sure. The cover art (from Don Noble) is gorgeous and the synopsis sounded right up my alley.
I went in unsure where we end up, but knowing that if this was a story set in remote Alaska where something lurks, wherever we did end up would be bleak and I’m here for that.
What I liked: The story follows Sarah, a former Californian lawyer, who has moved to a small town in Alaska with her husband, to try and decompress and leave the rat race behind them.
Not long after moving, they have an argument and her husband and her take a break, leaving her alone in the house.
Hill does a great job of showing us how isolated they are but not overdoing it. She deftly gives us clues and hints that Sarah isn’t alone in the house, while also alluding to what might actually be going on. There are a few scenes in this one that’ll have you squirming and pulling your legs off the floor or closer to you in bed, one specifically that’ll live with me forever involves a bear head being dragged away. Deliciously frightening.
The ending is fast-paced and chaotic and we get some really grisly events, which – when compared to what ‘actually’ happened – really does create some hard questions to examine.
What I didn’t like: Much like with ‘Come Closer’ by Sara Gran I don’t know if I truly accepted the “ill woman” strain that filtered throughout this. It’s tougher to go into it while remaining spoiler-free, but I think, for me personally, this book would’ve been more emotionally impactful (and it was in spades already) if it was an all or nothing approach to either side of that coin.
Why you should buy this: Hill has crafted a really fantastic, galloping story about isolation, survival and something lurking just out of sight. I really enjoyed how Sarah seemed to evolve in this one, going from a city-fied lawyer to a woman battling to stay alive.
This was a fun one and I’m excited to see what’s next for Hill!
I connected with Rowan Hill on Twitter some time back (these things always seem fuzzy, it could’ve been a year, or three!) and when the release day hit for this one, she shared it and I immediately purchased a copy. I don’t know how I missed it, but I would’ve preordered this for sure. The cover art (from Don Noble) is gorgeous and the synopsis sounded right up my alley.
I went in unsure where we end up, but knowing that if this was a story set in remote Alaska where something lurks, wherever we did end up would be bleak and I’m here for that.
What I liked: The story follows Sarah, a former Californian lawyer, who has moved to a small town in Alaska with her husband, to try and decompress and leave the rat race behind them.
Not long after moving, they have an argument and her husband and her take a break, leaving her alone in the house.
Hill does a great job of showing us how isolated they are but not overdoing it. She deftly gives us clues and hints that Sarah isn’t alone in the house, while also alluding to what might actually be going on. There are a few scenes in this one that’ll have you squirming and pulling your legs off the floor or closer to you in bed, one specifically that’ll live with me forever involves a bear head being dragged away. Deliciously frightening.
The ending is fast-paced and chaotic and we get some really grisly events, which – when compared to what ‘actually’ happened – really does create some hard questions to examine.
What I didn’t like: Much like with ‘Come Closer’ by Sara Gran I don’t know if I truly accepted the “ill woman” strain that filtered throughout this. It’s tougher to go into it while remaining spoiler-free, but I think, for me personally, this book would’ve been more emotionally impactful (and it was in spades already) if it was an all or nothing approach to either side of that coin.
Why you should buy this: Hill has crafted a really fantastic, galloping story about isolation, survival and something lurking just out of sight. I really enjoyed how Sarah seemed to evolve in this one, going from a city-fied lawyer to a woman battling to stay alive.
This was a fun one and I’m excited to see what’s next for Hill!
February 25, 2022
Rowan Hill's debut book, In the Arctic Sun, takes the reader to the isolated frontier of Alaska. With notes of Christopher Nolan's Insomnia, the reader is plunged into a world where the sun never quite goes away long enough to allow rest.
Hill doesn't skimp on the atmosphere, allowing the reader a generous look in at Sarah's world. We live and breathe with this character before the shit hits the fan, and the book's second and third acts are ultimately stronger for it.
Masterfully mixing psychological thriller with creature feature, Rowan Hill presents a story that drops clue after clue, but ultimately ends with just enough ambiguity to allow the reader to make up their own minds. A phenomenal and well-crafted debut. Look for more from this author.
Hill doesn't skimp on the atmosphere, allowing the reader a generous look in at Sarah's world. We live and breathe with this character before the shit hits the fan, and the book's second and third acts are ultimately stronger for it.
Masterfully mixing psychological thriller with creature feature, Rowan Hill presents a story that drops clue after clue, but ultimately ends with just enough ambiguity to allow the reader to make up their own minds. A phenomenal and well-crafted debut. Look for more from this author.
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March 8, 2022I need a follow up - justice needs to be served! Not going to explain or it'll be spoilers. Enjoyable quick read making the most of Arctic isolation, an unheard of monster, and the main character's mental health history. The latter is played on, not through Sarah's own behaviour - which shows her as vulnerable but with an inner strength - but by the assumptions of those around her. These assumptions lead to avoidable deaths and that final injustice. So yes, a follow up please.
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February 10, 2022Rowan Hill's debut novella delivers tightly paced tale of squishy creature-feature horror set against the unrelenting sunlight and primal beauty of the Alaskan wilderness. Part domestic drama, part monster tale, the story unfolds as protagonist Sarah navigates a marital collapse, mental breakdown and social condemnation in the small community of hardy Alaskan folk. As if that wasn't enough, the local mining crew have unleashed something terrible from the ancient bedrock, and it is headed right for Sarah's refuge in the wilderness. This is a fun, roaring tale with my favourite kind of protagonist; flawed and complicated, but completely relatable. Kudos!
March 7, 2022
I first stumbled upon Rowan’s writing in her short “They eat people, you know?” in the anthology “Slice of paradise” from Dark lit press, and was impressed enough to shoot off a message to her saying how much I liked the story shortly after finishing it. I am a pretty open book – if I like something I say it, and I say it straight away, while the impression lasts – and in the conversation following, Rowan let slip that her debut novel was coming out in about two weeks. So obviously – I pre-ordered it and rubbed my hands in excited glee – it felt like a fantastic new-author-for-me-discovery – I was ahead of the game.
Now obviously, Rowan’s debut sold like hotcakes – I wasn’t the only one expecting great things from her, and rightly so. I am obviously going to track down the rest of Rowan’s shorts in the various anthologies she has appeared in. I don’t obsess, but I do collect what I like.
So “In the arctic sun” has a great premise – set in the Alaskan Arctic wilderness, rowan’s MC Sarah is a woman that is a writer searching for inspiration, and isolation, to write. Having just had a fight with her husband, the couple decides to split for a couple of weeks to gain perspective. Sarah is on medication to help her sleep – the nonstop sun in her environment hampers her ability to think lucidly and her lack of sleep can only be combatted by drugs and alcohol. Not the best mix, but she has it under control.
A new neighbor enters the story, and simultaneously an accident at the local drilling rig (an oil pipeline driller) provides the background to this creature feature. Something is out there, in the ice and snow, and it decides to use Sarah’s house as its den.
I’m not telling you anymore. This is just a blast. The first 50% of the book is set up, we get the elements of animals on the loose nearby, her husband’s violence, Sarah’s insomnia, a new neighbor who is first seen watching Sarah through binoculars, sounds of an animal in her house, etc. Rowan’s language is both poetic and engaging, the flow happily carries you through those 70 odd pages wondering where the threat is going to come from, and make no mistake, the threat is going to come. Rowan weaves tension and the effects of sleep deprivation masterfully. What is real and what is imagined?
The remaining 50% - well – hell, you can’t turn the pages quick enough. I might very well have had more paper cuts from this book than any other this year, you can’t get through it quickly enough. The violence, when it arrives, is wonderful, brutal, bleak, raw in its savagery. The creature is realistic in its mannerisms – exactly the kind of nightmare you could imagine. The seeds Rowan planted of mental instability and unreliable narrator play in a constant battle in your mind with the reality Sarah sees – You are constantly aware that if Sarah is not seeing the truth, her actions can be seen in a totally different – and equally terrifying – light.
How to describe In the Arctic sun? A breathless, adrenaline-fueled psychotic slaughterhouse romp in the unending, unforgiving sun of the arctic wasteland of Alaska, with a showdown ending with an ancient monster that will be the basis of your nightmares for weeks to come.
I loved it. I couldn’t get enough.
Encore! Encore!
5 out of 5 ⭐ ‘s
Now obviously, Rowan’s debut sold like hotcakes – I wasn’t the only one expecting great things from her, and rightly so. I am obviously going to track down the rest of Rowan’s shorts in the various anthologies she has appeared in. I don’t obsess, but I do collect what I like.
So “In the arctic sun” has a great premise – set in the Alaskan Arctic wilderness, rowan’s MC Sarah is a woman that is a writer searching for inspiration, and isolation, to write. Having just had a fight with her husband, the couple decides to split for a couple of weeks to gain perspective. Sarah is on medication to help her sleep – the nonstop sun in her environment hampers her ability to think lucidly and her lack of sleep can only be combatted by drugs and alcohol. Not the best mix, but she has it under control.
A new neighbor enters the story, and simultaneously an accident at the local drilling rig (an oil pipeline driller) provides the background to this creature feature. Something is out there, in the ice and snow, and it decides to use Sarah’s house as its den.
I’m not telling you anymore. This is just a blast. The first 50% of the book is set up, we get the elements of animals on the loose nearby, her husband’s violence, Sarah’s insomnia, a new neighbor who is first seen watching Sarah through binoculars, sounds of an animal in her house, etc. Rowan’s language is both poetic and engaging, the flow happily carries you through those 70 odd pages wondering where the threat is going to come from, and make no mistake, the threat is going to come. Rowan weaves tension and the effects of sleep deprivation masterfully. What is real and what is imagined?
The remaining 50% - well – hell, you can’t turn the pages quick enough. I might very well have had more paper cuts from this book than any other this year, you can’t get through it quickly enough. The violence, when it arrives, is wonderful, brutal, bleak, raw in its savagery. The creature is realistic in its mannerisms – exactly the kind of nightmare you could imagine. The seeds Rowan planted of mental instability and unreliable narrator play in a constant battle in your mind with the reality Sarah sees – You are constantly aware that if Sarah is not seeing the truth, her actions can be seen in a totally different – and equally terrifying – light.
How to describe In the Arctic sun? A breathless, adrenaline-fueled psychotic slaughterhouse romp in the unending, unforgiving sun of the arctic wasteland of Alaska, with a showdown ending with an ancient monster that will be the basis of your nightmares for weeks to come.
I loved it. I couldn’t get enough.
Encore! Encore!
5 out of 5 ⭐ ‘s
February 27, 2022
This book was the perfect distraction for reading over the weekend and escaping from the world. I had a feeling it would be good and I'm pleased to say my instinct was right. The story begins with Sarah, living alone in remoteness. There is a back story for her, and I don't want to give any spoilers, but I really empathized with her and I think all readers will.
She is alone, and yet not alone. Aside from a new neighbor close by, there is something else lurking and if you think you might be able to guess what it is, you will be wrong. The story pulls us along and it is exciting and nerve-wracking too. I loved the ending, and it's almost as if the reader gets to form their own opinion as to what happened. Excellent writing and really unique.
Personally, my dream has always been to live in a very remote area, entirely alone and now I think I might well have changed my mind...
She is alone, and yet not alone. Aside from a new neighbor close by, there is something else lurking and if you think you might be able to guess what it is, you will be wrong. The story pulls us along and it is exciting and nerve-wracking too. I loved the ending, and it's almost as if the reader gets to form their own opinion as to what happened. Excellent writing and really unique.
Personally, my dream has always been to live in a very remote area, entirely alone and now I think I might well have changed my mind...
February 19, 2022
After a fight ends physically, Sarah and her husband Ted separate for a few weeks to recollect themselves and figure out what comes next in their marriage. Left alone, Sarah begins hearing and seeing things around the house and surrounding woods after an accident at a nearby mining site. As signs of life reveal themselves in her home, Sarah’s mental health comes into question, making us question what’s real and what’s being fabricated by Sarah’s deteriorating mind.
Hill’s debut is a brewing storm, each page inching closer to that biblical level downpour, petrichor emanating from the Alaskan soil. The tension is like the metallic taste lightning leaves in your mouth just before it strikes, or how your hair stands on end before the strike. You know something is coming, and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.
Hill’s debut is a brewing storm, each page inching closer to that biblical level downpour, petrichor emanating from the Alaskan soil. The tension is like the metallic taste lightning leaves in your mouth just before it strikes, or how your hair stands on end before the strike. You know something is coming, and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.
February 25, 2022
After some marital issues Sarah finds herself alone while her and Ted take a few weeks apart. During this time Sarah begins to hear and see things. A local trooper mentions her mental health when she calls him for help. In the meantime, things continue to spiral out of control.
This book was intense! Things start off a bit slow (not in a bad way) it really pulls you into the story. We get to know Sarah pretty well or so we think… then BAM you will be questioning everything. Is this real? Are these hallucinations? Hill does an excellent job playing with your emotions throughout the book. Very suspenseful read that will leave you wanting more and questioning everything.
This book was intense! Things start off a bit slow (not in a bad way) it really pulls you into the story. We get to know Sarah pretty well or so we think… then BAM you will be questioning everything. Is this real? Are these hallucinations? Hill does an excellent job playing with your emotions throughout the book. Very suspenseful read that will leave you wanting more and questioning everything.
March 4, 2022
I pre-ordered this novella and it hit my Paperwhite last week, so I was eager to get stuck into it. The premise sounded so intriguing.
Sarah lives in Alaska, isolated from the world after her husband and her exchanged the fast-paced city life for something quieter. But their marriage has hit a stumbling block and she's living alone. Well, as alone as she can be with the bright orb of the sun burning in the sky all day, constant drilling, a new neighbour, and some kind of creature...
From the moment I started, I fell into Sarah's quiet, but disturbing existence. I felt her agony at having to deal with the sun all day. Could feel how cheated she was by the isolation that had slowly become a trap, instead of a comfort. Understood her anger at a partner who should still be with her, while she found a distraction in a new, younger man.
Not to mention whatever had wormed its way into her basement. 😱
And then, somewhere along the way... everything changed. I started doubting everyone, but still felt sorry for Sarah because no one believed her. No one was there to witness the terrifying stuff.
I really enjoyed this psychological horror tale with such slow-burn dread dripping from every page. This story will keep you guessing until the end, and even then you'll be questioning the ambiguity.
Great debut!
Sarah lives in Alaska, isolated from the world after her husband and her exchanged the fast-paced city life for something quieter. But their marriage has hit a stumbling block and she's living alone. Well, as alone as she can be with the bright orb of the sun burning in the sky all day, constant drilling, a new neighbour, and some kind of creature...
From the moment I started, I fell into Sarah's quiet, but disturbing existence. I felt her agony at having to deal with the sun all day. Could feel how cheated she was by the isolation that had slowly become a trap, instead of a comfort. Understood her anger at a partner who should still be with her, while she found a distraction in a new, younger man.
Not to mention whatever had wormed its way into her basement. 😱
And then, somewhere along the way... everything changed. I started doubting everyone, but still felt sorry for Sarah because no one believed her. No one was there to witness the terrifying stuff.
I really enjoyed this psychological horror tale with such slow-burn dread dripping from every page. This story will keep you guessing until the end, and even then you'll be questioning the ambiguity.
Great debut!
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September 12, 2022Finally got to finish this while I was on a week's break in a lodge and it was an almost perfect setting to curl up and make my way through this tale. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Rowan has a wonderful knack for creating flawed but captivating leads. This flair, coupled with a brilliant sense of atmosphere, gave me near immediate investment for this story. The whole tale plays on page cinematically, at first sweeping over our surroundings and creeping through the silence of the wilderness, before chaos ensues and we pan from scene to scene until we can almost envision the lens shaking from our mind's eye.
Sarah, our main character, has a story which is nicely layered, with multiple points of conflict hemming her in from every direction, alongside an unreliable quality to keep us wondering what might unravel next. And whilst I hoped some of the ambiguity would be rectified at the end, so the fate of our characters had a solid emotional impact, it didn't detract from the fact each chapter felt steeped in anxiety and tension. I questioned both the characters and myself at multiple points, which was a great experience. The conclusion, whilst in some ways frustrating, was still a firecracker of an ending to a hectic ride.
Exceptionally fun bit of writing with a great sense of dread and atmosphere. And to say this is a debut as well - amazing work!
Rowan has a wonderful knack for creating flawed but captivating leads. This flair, coupled with a brilliant sense of atmosphere, gave me near immediate investment for this story. The whole tale plays on page cinematically, at first sweeping over our surroundings and creeping through the silence of the wilderness, before chaos ensues and we pan from scene to scene until we can almost envision the lens shaking from our mind's eye.
Sarah, our main character, has a story which is nicely layered, with multiple points of conflict hemming her in from every direction, alongside an unreliable quality to keep us wondering what might unravel next. And whilst I hoped some of the ambiguity would be rectified at the end, so the fate of our characters had a solid emotional impact, it didn't detract from the fact each chapter felt steeped in anxiety and tension. I questioned both the characters and myself at multiple points, which was a great experience. The conclusion, whilst in some ways frustrating, was still a firecracker of an ending to a hectic ride.
Exceptionally fun bit of writing with a great sense of dread and atmosphere. And to say this is a debut as well - amazing work!
April 5, 2022
Set in the mountains of Alaska during the season of constant sun, our main character Sarah is alone following a domestic violence incident involving her husband. She is struggling to sleep & suspects there is some sort of animal or creature living in her basement.
This wilderness horror novella from Rowan Hill is well written with a strong lead character in Sarah, the classic unreliable narrator, whose declarations of a creature in her basement are viewed as improbable as her sanity is questioned by a local Police officer who is also a friend of her husbands. She seeks solace in a new neighbour, but ultimately she will be forced to confront her fears, both real & imagined.
While the setup is strong, the plot is one that is quite familiar, and some elements stretch credibility. And despite the books strengths (character / setting / writing), I felt like there weren’t many surprises along the way. The creature itself felt a little arbitrary after being kept in the shadows for most of the book. I did like the late spanner thrown in the works about Sarah’s state of mind but it was all too easily resolved to get to the monster action.
But it was still a fun, quick read & I will be sure to check out Rowan’s future work (her story in the Slice of Paradise is fantastic).
This wilderness horror novella from Rowan Hill is well written with a strong lead character in Sarah, the classic unreliable narrator, whose declarations of a creature in her basement are viewed as improbable as her sanity is questioned by a local Police officer who is also a friend of her husbands. She seeks solace in a new neighbour, but ultimately she will be forced to confront her fears, both real & imagined.
While the setup is strong, the plot is one that is quite familiar, and some elements stretch credibility. And despite the books strengths (character / setting / writing), I felt like there weren’t many surprises along the way. The creature itself felt a little arbitrary after being kept in the shadows for most of the book. I did like the late spanner thrown in the works about Sarah’s state of mind but it was all too easily resolved to get to the monster action.
But it was still a fun, quick read & I will be sure to check out Rowan’s future work (her story in the Slice of Paradise is fantastic).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2022
This is such a wild ride!
Filled with slow-brewng suspense, Hill takes readers into the Alaskan wilderness where the sun never sets. Sarah and her husband Ted escaped the city to start a new life in the beautiful Alaskan landscape. After an argument, they decide to give each other some space, and Sarah is left alone in the house. Strange sounds coming from the woods spike her anxiety, but when she seeks help, her mental health is quickly questioned.
Readers looking for terrifying plot with the perfect unreliable narrator will enjoy this one!
Filled with slow-brewng suspense, Hill takes readers into the Alaskan wilderness where the sun never sets. Sarah and her husband Ted escaped the city to start a new life in the beautiful Alaskan landscape. After an argument, they decide to give each other some space, and Sarah is left alone in the house. Strange sounds coming from the woods spike her anxiety, but when she seeks help, her mental health is quickly questioned.
Readers looking for terrifying plot with the perfect unreliable narrator will enjoy this one!
March 29, 2022
My earliest memories of childhood reading ricochet between JRR Tolkien and Stephen King. Honorable adventure and gut-chewing demons where the men and the monsters are often indistinguishable. “In the Arctic Sun” slithers deliciously into that latter camp.
The eternal sun of Alaskan summer feels like the last place evil could find purchase. But Hill makes the relentless, sleep-sucking glare feel as sinister as the blackest midnight for newly-separated protagonist Sarah Smith. As the exiled California lawyer tries to find some peace away from the big city, her spat with her husband soon gives way to a deeper concern about something that seems to be roaming the remote and impenetrable forest. Sounds on the roof, skittering footfalls in the basement, bears and dogs disappearing into thin air. Sarah’s lone neighbor tries to reassure her, but the rugged, retired football player isn’t sure if Sarah is truly being hunted or just haunted by psychological trauma she won’t address. And neither are you, the reader. At every moment you think Hill is going to pull the curtain one way or another to reveal what’s really going, the shadows creep back in.
It’s a short, thrilling read that keeps the mystery alive right until the last words. Highly recommended.
The eternal sun of Alaskan summer feels like the last place evil could find purchase. But Hill makes the relentless, sleep-sucking glare feel as sinister as the blackest midnight for newly-separated protagonist Sarah Smith. As the exiled California lawyer tries to find some peace away from the big city, her spat with her husband soon gives way to a deeper concern about something that seems to be roaming the remote and impenetrable forest. Sounds on the roof, skittering footfalls in the basement, bears and dogs disappearing into thin air. Sarah’s lone neighbor tries to reassure her, but the rugged, retired football player isn’t sure if Sarah is truly being hunted or just haunted by psychological trauma she won’t address. And neither are you, the reader. At every moment you think Hill is going to pull the curtain one way or another to reveal what’s really going, the shadows creep back in.
It’s a short, thrilling read that keeps the mystery alive right until the last words. Highly recommended.
February 27, 2022
Brilliant Read!!
Sarah and Ted decide to move to Alaska after their stressful 60 hour a week jobs for a less stressful environment because previously Sarah had suffered a breakdown, but she is suffering on a daily basis with her mental health issues so Alaska should be safe and serene think again.
Weird and creepy things start happening, is she suffering from hallucinations or is it real, hearing scuttling noises from the dark dank basement below.
She has a falling out with her husband who is living in the local town. Her mental problems are spiralling out of control now and no one believes her what she is seeing and hearing.
Totally loved this read, I definitely think I am not going to have a good night's sleep tonight after finishing the book, nightmares are a coming arghhhh!!!!
A must read!!
Sarah and Ted decide to move to Alaska after their stressful 60 hour a week jobs for a less stressful environment because previously Sarah had suffered a breakdown, but she is suffering on a daily basis with her mental health issues so Alaska should be safe and serene think again.
Weird and creepy things start happening, is she suffering from hallucinations or is it real, hearing scuttling noises from the dark dank basement below.
She has a falling out with her husband who is living in the local town. Her mental problems are spiralling out of control now and no one believes her what she is seeing and hearing.
Totally loved this read, I definitely think I am not going to have a good night's sleep tonight after finishing the book, nightmares are a coming arghhhh!!!!
A must read!!
February 28, 2022
I have a soft spot for debut books and when I had the chance to read an ARC for Rowan Hills' debut novella, I was excited.. and not disappointed. I was also not prepared for this one.
After a painful separation, Sarah is alone in her arctic home when she starts hearing and seeing strange things around her home. Scratches on the roof, doors that won't stay closed and a mysterious presence in her basement are her new companions.
Sarah is isolated by more than just her location. As the situation in her home grows more dire, she turns to the men around her, but they in turn doubt and distrust her. In turn, Sarah grows more desperate until she is forced to take matters into her own hands.
This novella is tense and gripping. The story builds into a violent climax and an ending I did not predict.
After a painful separation, Sarah is alone in her arctic home when she starts hearing and seeing strange things around her home. Scratches on the roof, doors that won't stay closed and a mysterious presence in her basement are her new companions.
Sarah is isolated by more than just her location. As the situation in her home grows more dire, she turns to the men around her, but they in turn doubt and distrust her. In turn, Sarah grows more desperate until she is forced to take matters into her own hands.
This novella is tense and gripping. The story builds into a violent climax and an ending I did not predict.
January 4, 2024
This book's premise is pretty good, the execution: not so much. The author did an excellent job of describing what I imagine it's like living with the sun never setting for a good chunk of the year. Her descriptions of nature are so vivid that you feel like you're there. Towards the end, the story went downhill. It almost feels like Hill just got tired or maybe couldn't figure out how to end the story. My main complaint is that the author never missed an opportunity to cuss the Lord. I know some people will roll their eyes at this comment, but I really don't care. It bothers me and I'm never one to stifle my opinion because it won't sit well with the masses. All of that being said, the author's writing is good enough that I would check out another title from her.
June 27, 2022
You know how you feel after not getting any sleep and it gets worse the longer you go? Everyday things become distorted and ill-defined. Even in the daylight, your world becomes hazy and obscured. Welcome to Alaska where the sun doesn’t go down for almost three months. Add marital issues and construction noise in an otherwise quiet valley, and you’re not sleeping at all.
Then there’s the strange sounds Sarah keeps hearing. And the incident at the construction site. This once tranquil sanctuary is becoming a place she might not escape from.
I’m not going to say much because with novellas, saying a little is saying a lot. Rowan Hill paints a portrait of isolation and insomnia that kept me anxiously tuning pages until the end. Then once you get there, you immediately want to talk to someone about it- so read this so I can talk to you about it! Hill totally killed it in her debut(!) novella, but this is so polished you’d never know this is her first foray into longer fiction. More please!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*I was sent a ebook ARC in exchange for an honest review, but I also purchased a copy.
Then there’s the strange sounds Sarah keeps hearing. And the incident at the construction site. This once tranquil sanctuary is becoming a place she might not escape from.
I’m not going to say much because with novellas, saying a little is saying a lot. Rowan Hill paints a portrait of isolation and insomnia that kept me anxiously tuning pages until the end. Then once you get there, you immediately want to talk to someone about it- so read this so I can talk to you about it! Hill totally killed it in her debut(!) novella, but this is so polished you’d never know this is her first foray into longer fiction. More please!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*I was sent a ebook ARC in exchange for an honest review, but I also purchased a copy.
February 24, 2022
Rowan Hill's debut isn't something you'll want to miss out on.
Set in the deceptively beautiful isolation of the Alaskan wilderness, Rowan has managed to craft both an intensely human story and violent creature feature in only 130 pages. Both sides are explored beautifully, with constant questions and uncertainties keeping you engaged and curious. The prose is delightful and vivid, the pacing gripping, and the tension consistent throughout both the quiet moments and the bloody.
It's unrelenting. gorgeous, and I can't recommend it enough!
Set in the deceptively beautiful isolation of the Alaskan wilderness, Rowan has managed to craft both an intensely human story and violent creature feature in only 130 pages. Both sides are explored beautifully, with constant questions and uncertainties keeping you engaged and curious. The prose is delightful and vivid, the pacing gripping, and the tension consistent throughout both the quiet moments and the bloody.
It's unrelenting. gorgeous, and I can't recommend it enough!
February 26, 2022
scareeee
Intelligent. Well-written. Starts hot, and gets hotter. A little sex. A lot of violence. I could not put it down. There must be good lineage behind this talented author. Looking forward to the next.
Intelligent. Well-written. Starts hot, and gets hotter. A little sex. A lot of violence. I could not put it down. There must be good lineage behind this talented author. Looking forward to the next.
March 1, 2022
A well-written debut novella drenched in both sunlight and darkness. Breathe in the fresh Alaskan wilderness...damn, this one was good.
February 14, 2022
I found this book riveting from page one. I love the narrator and was completely immersed in the remote Alaskan lifestyle she’s carved out for herself. The details Hill gives about making it in the vast Alaskan wilderness are rich and compelling. The writing is terrific, with lines like "Light only had meaning with dark to punctuate it" and (this one's my favourite) "Moving to Alaska might mean freedom to a man, but the real freedom, in Sarah's opinion, was knowing your face was not presentable and not giving a shit." Right on, miss narrator lady.
There’s tension from a number of sources – the neighbor, the husband, the woods, and what lies in the woods—and the pacing is right on the money. It kept me turning the pages even though I had plenty of work to do.
Oh: and the way author Rowan Hill drip-feeds little details in is masterful. Kept me guessing to the end.
Thank you, Rowan, for a great story!
There’s tension from a number of sources – the neighbor, the husband, the woods, and what lies in the woods—and the pacing is right on the money. It kept me turning the pages even though I had plenty of work to do.
Oh: and the way author Rowan Hill drip-feeds little details in is masterful. Kept me guessing to the end.
Thank you, Rowan, for a great story!
March 15, 2022
Isolation, extreme weather conditions, and atmospheric horror are the major building blocks of In the Arctic Sun. These ideas and more litter the pages of Hill’s debut. When I think of creature features, I typically imagine the over-sized monsters from the black-and-white days, but Arctic Sun falls in that category as well, and it does a damn good job.
This is the story of someone trying to escape their past, and start a new one in a land that has more trees than people. I’m sure many of us can relate to the idea of escaping from society, but what would you do if you did and the thing in this new place has actual monsters?
The cover—a Don Noble piece—sums up the tone perfectly. It’s strange, mysterious, psychological, and the juxtaposition of colors create the effect of light, causing you to squint. Incredible!
The way Hill peppered in clues throughout the story was not only necessary, but integral to the plotting and pace of the story. The character development reflects an all-too-real person in the most surreal of conditions, and that is what makes this story so believable. Something else Hill does incredibly well is makes it so not only the protagonist, Sarah, questions who she can and cannot trust, but at times the reader questions if she’s a reliable source.
Hill is one of those author’s that bust through the gates swinging with a smart, fast-paced, and thrilling ride. This book is perfect for readers that like mystery, suspense, and don’t want too much of the blood and guts.
This is the story of someone trying to escape their past, and start a new one in a land that has more trees than people. I’m sure many of us can relate to the idea of escaping from society, but what would you do if you did and the thing in this new place has actual monsters?
The cover—a Don Noble piece—sums up the tone perfectly. It’s strange, mysterious, psychological, and the juxtaposition of colors create the effect of light, causing you to squint. Incredible!
The way Hill peppered in clues throughout the story was not only necessary, but integral to the plotting and pace of the story. The character development reflects an all-too-real person in the most surreal of conditions, and that is what makes this story so believable. Something else Hill does incredibly well is makes it so not only the protagonist, Sarah, questions who she can and cannot trust, but at times the reader questions if she’s a reliable source.
Hill is one of those author’s that bust through the gates swinging with a smart, fast-paced, and thrilling ride. This book is perfect for readers that like mystery, suspense, and don’t want too much of the blood and guts.
March 16, 2022
Video Review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkxPV...
Daylight savings time disrupts my sleep a lot. I have to get up for work really early, so when the sun is beating into my bedroom in the evenings, and my wife denies my request for black-out curtains because "they don't match the theme," my usual 6 hours of sleep becomes 5...and then 4.
Imagine though if the sun never decided to take a break. What if the evil wizard living behind the sun thought it is a funny joke to make the sun shine on you non-stop? This is why I will never move to the Arctic. Yes, this reason right here. This is the only reason.
Here we have a debut novella from Rowan Hill that takes a closer, deeper look at the inability to get decent sleep due to the midnight sun of the Arctic.
We meet Sarah. Things have happened between Sarah and her husband, and he’s not around right now. Things we know: It’s sunny. Sarah works late because she’s lost all concept of time with the sun. There is construction. Noisy construction. Sarah has a neighbor. Sarah is isolated. She is alone with her thoughts. Sarah needs drugs and alcohol to sleep. Things we don’t know: Background for Sarah. Medical conditions for Sarah. The reason for the fight between Sarah and her husband.
Events happen with the construction, and there may be a creature in Sarah’s house, and she may have a thing for her neighbor, and, well that’s enough. If I tell you much more, we will enter spoiler territory.
We get a psychological horror story mixed with a possible creature feature, and I say possible for a reason. We get a fight for survival. We get blood and deaths. We get adultery.
We get a lot of stuff, packed into this short fast paced novella. Fast paced is an understatement. Once you hit the 50% mark, the story feels like someone hit the fast forward button. We also get a lot of questions. And I’m not so sure we get the answers. Maybe at least not the answers we expect, or even the answers we want to accept.
Hill’s writing comes across sharp and direct. Not too descriptive, but enough to feel the isolation of Sarah, not just physically, but mentally. Enough that one will question is it the nonstop sun causing insomnia to create these issues, or a completely different, bigger condition causing these issues?
And this is how the book is effective. The first half seems like one big set up. The writer isn’t exactly telling you where to go, but more suggesting where to go, only for the second half to either make you right or wrong, no in-between.
The finale is quick, but violent and brutal. The whole scene is nightmarish. And in the end we have a story floating around our brains, as we recall certain events, trying to decipher if each event was real or made up.
The story is a bit exhausting. But enjoyable. Don’t necessarily expect questions to be answered. Relax after you read it. You may be out of breath. Grab a bite. Watch a movie. Try to forget everything you just read in this book. Because in about a week, during a strange time, while you’re in a strange place, the story will pop in your head causing more questions. It will slowly eat away your brain, consuming your soul, and when you’ve gone completely mad, only then you will know the true effect the Arctic Sun has on you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkxPV...
Daylight savings time disrupts my sleep a lot. I have to get up for work really early, so when the sun is beating into my bedroom in the evenings, and my wife denies my request for black-out curtains because "they don't match the theme," my usual 6 hours of sleep becomes 5...and then 4.
Imagine though if the sun never decided to take a break. What if the evil wizard living behind the sun thought it is a funny joke to make the sun shine on you non-stop? This is why I will never move to the Arctic. Yes, this reason right here. This is the only reason.
Here we have a debut novella from Rowan Hill that takes a closer, deeper look at the inability to get decent sleep due to the midnight sun of the Arctic.
We meet Sarah. Things have happened between Sarah and her husband, and he’s not around right now. Things we know: It’s sunny. Sarah works late because she’s lost all concept of time with the sun. There is construction. Noisy construction. Sarah has a neighbor. Sarah is isolated. She is alone with her thoughts. Sarah needs drugs and alcohol to sleep. Things we don’t know: Background for Sarah. Medical conditions for Sarah. The reason for the fight between Sarah and her husband.
Events happen with the construction, and there may be a creature in Sarah’s house, and she may have a thing for her neighbor, and, well that’s enough. If I tell you much more, we will enter spoiler territory.
We get a psychological horror story mixed with a possible creature feature, and I say possible for a reason. We get a fight for survival. We get blood and deaths. We get adultery.
We get a lot of stuff, packed into this short fast paced novella. Fast paced is an understatement. Once you hit the 50% mark, the story feels like someone hit the fast forward button. We also get a lot of questions. And I’m not so sure we get the answers. Maybe at least not the answers we expect, or even the answers we want to accept.
Hill’s writing comes across sharp and direct. Not too descriptive, but enough to feel the isolation of Sarah, not just physically, but mentally. Enough that one will question is it the nonstop sun causing insomnia to create these issues, or a completely different, bigger condition causing these issues?
And this is how the book is effective. The first half seems like one big set up. The writer isn’t exactly telling you where to go, but more suggesting where to go, only for the second half to either make you right or wrong, no in-between.
The finale is quick, but violent and brutal. The whole scene is nightmarish. And in the end we have a story floating around our brains, as we recall certain events, trying to decipher if each event was real or made up.
The story is a bit exhausting. But enjoyable. Don’t necessarily expect questions to be answered. Relax after you read it. You may be out of breath. Grab a bite. Watch a movie. Try to forget everything you just read in this book. Because in about a week, during a strange time, while you’re in a strange place, the story will pop in your head causing more questions. It will slowly eat away your brain, consuming your soul, and when you’ve gone completely mad, only then you will know the true effect the Arctic Sun has on you.
September 20, 2022
Do you like stories about isolation? How about paranoia? What about creature features?
Maybe all three? Well you're in luck. It's like Insomnia and The Thing had a wild night out together and made a book baby. A wonderfully creepy, sad, and propulsive book baby.
Rowan Hill outdoes herself and it's only her first book! How is that even possible? If you read it, you'll know exactly what I mean. Confident, assured prose and a measured, meticulous pacing that makes you feel you're in the hands of an old pro. Future works from Hill are eagerly anticipated here in this dojo.
Former attorney Sarah moved to Alaska about three years ago with her husband Ted. The summers up there are brutal in that the sun never sets. Ever. Up is down and down is up when you can't get a proper sleep cycle going. Wine and Ambien cocktails sometimes do the trick. It also doesn't help that Sarah and Ted are taking a break from their marriage because of, well... reasons. Cue Sarah's handsome new neighbor. The only neighbor for miles and miles. What's he up to out here, alone? Oh yeah, and a faceless corporation is drilling for oil in the valley below, disturbing all kinds of stuff. And things. The dense forest below her house is the only source of darkness in the area. A great place for disturbed things to hide.
Or is it? What's really going on? How sane can you stay when time has no meaning anymore?
You'll want to read this whole story in one sitting, which is not hard to do, but that's the treat about good novellas. They feel like movies unfolding in the proper, precise amount of time necessary. If you grew up on isolation horror and creature features like I did (and still do) you'll eat this one up lickety-split. Writer Rowan Hill knows what she's doing and the mind reels at future stories that will spring forth from her creativity.
Maybe all three? Well you're in luck. It's like Insomnia and The Thing had a wild night out together and made a book baby. A wonderfully creepy, sad, and propulsive book baby.
Rowan Hill outdoes herself and it's only her first book! How is that even possible? If you read it, you'll know exactly what I mean. Confident, assured prose and a measured, meticulous pacing that makes you feel you're in the hands of an old pro. Future works from Hill are eagerly anticipated here in this dojo.
Former attorney Sarah moved to Alaska about three years ago with her husband Ted. The summers up there are brutal in that the sun never sets. Ever. Up is down and down is up when you can't get a proper sleep cycle going. Wine and Ambien cocktails sometimes do the trick. It also doesn't help that Sarah and Ted are taking a break from their marriage because of, well... reasons. Cue Sarah's handsome new neighbor. The only neighbor for miles and miles. What's he up to out here, alone? Oh yeah, and a faceless corporation is drilling for oil in the valley below, disturbing all kinds of stuff. And things. The dense forest below her house is the only source of darkness in the area. A great place for disturbed things to hide.
Or is it? What's really going on? How sane can you stay when time has no meaning anymore?
You'll want to read this whole story in one sitting, which is not hard to do, but that's the treat about good novellas. They feel like movies unfolding in the proper, precise amount of time necessary. If you grew up on isolation horror and creature features like I did (and still do) you'll eat this one up lickety-split. Writer Rowan Hill knows what she's doing and the mind reels at future stories that will spring forth from her creativity.
March 20, 2022
DON'T start reading at night if you plan to sleep. Don't start early on a workday if you plan to go to work. Once you start you won't stop. When you finish you'll spend days-weeks-months trying to decipher the truth contained in this book.
Is it Gaslighting? Mental Illness? Paranoia? Viciousness? Who is right and who isn't? How do we ever really know what we haven't seen for ourselves? Then too, can we trust our own senses not to deceive us? As Pontius Pilate once declaimed, "What is truth?" Apparently he didn't know, and after reading this novel, I agree.
Is it Gaslighting? Mental Illness? Paranoia? Viciousness? Who is right and who isn't? How do we ever really know what we haven't seen for ourselves? Then too, can we trust our own senses not to deceive us? As Pontius Pilate once declaimed, "What is truth?" Apparently he didn't know, and after reading this novel, I agree.
November 16, 2023
Fast, Thrilling, and Intense!
Hill's debut, In the Arctic Sun, is a suspenseful, well-crafted story filled with dread, atmosphere, and isolation. This one's a blast from the first page to the last, and I'll read anything by Hill in the future. Highly recommended!
Hill's debut, In the Arctic Sun, is a suspenseful, well-crafted story filled with dread, atmosphere, and isolation. This one's a blast from the first page to the last, and I'll read anything by Hill in the future. Highly recommended!
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May 23, 2022Originally posted: https://runningreader87.wordpress.com...
Summary:
Sarah lives in a remote cabin in the vast wilderness of Alaska. Alone, now that her husband left, Sarah faces isolation like she’s never experienced before. Couple that with the fact that this is the heart of 24 hour sunlight in Alaska, and the recipe for adverse side effects is prime. A new neighbor, a drilling company, a small gossipy town, and some mysterious deaths thicken the plot. And then Sarah starts to suspect something more nefarious is happening in her little neck of the Alaskan woods. But what exactly? Is it her husband? Or something much, MUCH worse? Something almost unbelievable?
Favorite Quote:
“The idea time was a man-made construct struck true in the land of endless sun. It didn’t care what time Sarah should eat, sleep, write, or ignore the house chores. Every hour could be five o’clock in the season of eternal summer. But without numbers assigned to the day, Sarah would turn feral.”
Review:
One of my favorite things about this story is that from the start you get the feeling that Rowan knows this place and loves it. She paints a beautiful picture of the Alaskan wilderness—it’s vast beauty, it’s overwhelming ruggedness, and the stark contrast of being alone in a usually busy world. And then she takes an already grand stage and ups the ante by setting the story at the peak of 24 hour sunlit days.
The characters are relatable, but particularly well done is the main character, Sarah. Listen, it’s hard to create content when the vast majority of the time the main character is by themselves. There are a lot of thoughts, and not a lot of dialogue. But Rowan uses this to her advantage. It allows her to build trust and then abruptly shift to take that trust away and make you question everything.
I did get a little bogged down at times in waiting for action to happen. But this was rare, and when the action did happen it kept your eyes glued to the page.
One of my favorite things about this book is that it masterfully uses mental health in the plot. Rowan creates a situation where you can’t trust what you are reading. You simply can’t be sure if what you’re reading is actually happening to the character or is actually in their head. This is compounded with the 24 hours of sunlight, which, if handled improperly could be enough to drive almost anyone mad. Even the books ending leaves you wondering. It’s ambiguous, but in a satisfying way.
Conclusion:
I was really satisfied with this read. It’s a quick read, by an upcoming author, with an amazing setting and intriguing plot. I don’t think you can go wrong by grabbing yourself a copy!
Summary:
Sarah lives in a remote cabin in the vast wilderness of Alaska. Alone, now that her husband left, Sarah faces isolation like she’s never experienced before. Couple that with the fact that this is the heart of 24 hour sunlight in Alaska, and the recipe for adverse side effects is prime. A new neighbor, a drilling company, a small gossipy town, and some mysterious deaths thicken the plot. And then Sarah starts to suspect something more nefarious is happening in her little neck of the Alaskan woods. But what exactly? Is it her husband? Or something much, MUCH worse? Something almost unbelievable?
Favorite Quote:
“The idea time was a man-made construct struck true in the land of endless sun. It didn’t care what time Sarah should eat, sleep, write, or ignore the house chores. Every hour could be five o’clock in the season of eternal summer. But without numbers assigned to the day, Sarah would turn feral.”
Review:
One of my favorite things about this story is that from the start you get the feeling that Rowan knows this place and loves it. She paints a beautiful picture of the Alaskan wilderness—it’s vast beauty, it’s overwhelming ruggedness, and the stark contrast of being alone in a usually busy world. And then she takes an already grand stage and ups the ante by setting the story at the peak of 24 hour sunlit days.
The characters are relatable, but particularly well done is the main character, Sarah. Listen, it’s hard to create content when the vast majority of the time the main character is by themselves. There are a lot of thoughts, and not a lot of dialogue. But Rowan uses this to her advantage. It allows her to build trust and then abruptly shift to take that trust away and make you question everything.
I did get a little bogged down at times in waiting for action to happen. But this was rare, and when the action did happen it kept your eyes glued to the page.
One of my favorite things about this book is that it masterfully uses mental health in the plot. Rowan creates a situation where you can’t trust what you are reading. You simply can’t be sure if what you’re reading is actually happening to the character or is actually in their head. This is compounded with the 24 hours of sunlight, which, if handled improperly could be enough to drive almost anyone mad. Even the books ending leaves you wondering. It’s ambiguous, but in a satisfying way.
Conclusion:
I was really satisfied with this read. It’s a quick read, by an upcoming author, with an amazing setting and intriguing plot. I don’t think you can go wrong by grabbing yourself a copy!
June 22, 2025
I did not like this book.
First off, I am so TIRED of the mentally unstable/ill female main character trope and this book doesn't do anything particularly new and interesting with it which only compounded my frustration. Her illness does explain some of the wildly outrageous decisions that she made- I guess.
SPOILER
The pacing was incredibly slow for how short it was. There was a whole lot of nothing really happening until the last 30 pages. The events leading up to the climax were supposed to cause tension and suspense and really did neither for me.
I will admit I was pleasantly surprised when this book turned out to be a creature feature. I love creature horror, and LOVED the little bit of that we get in this story- I really wish the author had leaned into that more instead of the unreliable mentally ill narrator thing.
First off, I am so TIRED of the mentally unstable/ill female main character trope and this book doesn't do anything particularly new and interesting with it which only compounded my frustration. Her illness does explain some of the wildly outrageous decisions that she made- I guess.
SPOILER
The pacing was incredibly slow for how short it was. There was a whole lot of nothing really happening until the last 30 pages. The events leading up to the climax were supposed to cause tension and suspense and really did neither for me.
I will admit I was pleasantly surprised when this book turned out to be a creature feature. I love creature horror, and LOVED the little bit of that we get in this story- I really wish the author had leaned into that more instead of the unreliable mentally ill narrator thing.
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