Book Review: Whiteout by Adriana Anders

After I received the ARC for “Whiteout” by Adriana Anders, I rediscovered her in Audible Escape! Call it serendipity or kismet, because even before I started reading “Whiteout” I downloaded a copy of one of her books.

Whiteout (Survival Instincts Book 1)

Listening to the book (I’ve read it before, even wrote a review for it), I remembered how good Anders was in world building. So, when I finally picked up the ARC for Whiteout, I was not surprised on being floored on her description of Antarctica and how “Poleys” live there.

First, we have Dr. Ford Cooper, a glaciologist who thinks of Antarctica as home. He is what you call a “Poley,” someone who stays in this icy continent the whole year round.

Enter Angel Smith, a cook who took the job at this remote research station to rebuild her life and her business. Angel is one of the “summer people,” those who only stay during the 6-month long of sunshine.

On the last day of Angel’s assignment, the day when she was supposed to fly back to civilization, the research station was attacked. Ford and Angel found themselves running for their lives. The nearest safe place was 300 miles away and they had to get there on foot!

In short, Angel and Ford had to cross country ski on the most inhospitable place on earth. With the sun setting, very little food and the killers at their heels, their odds of survival are slim to none.

Though there were no car chases or mind-numbing explosions, there is no shortage of adrenaline rush in “Whiteout.” Aptly titled, the snowstorms were total white outs and there were no landmarks. Ford and Angel had to rely on a compass, which you should know is not always reliable at the poles because the magnetic poles move!

Once you start reading and get caught in the web of ice, you cannot turn the page fast enough to know what happened next. You would fall in love with Angel and Ford. But, most of all, you would fall in love with humankind’s survival instinct as our heroes’ triumph even the most insurmountable tasks.

“Whiteout” is Rated T for Teens. Parental guidance is strongly advised due to violence and some sexual content which are not graphic.