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Burn with Sam Blackett #1
Powder Burn
If Dragon Tattoo’s Mikael Blomkvist and the Hunger Games’ Katniss Everdeen could have a love-child, she’d probably be a lot like Sam Blackett...
Sam had given up her Manhattan job, and her cute apartment in Brooklyn. She’d abandoned her astonished boyfriend to the charms of ESPN, and flown off into a new dawn to chase her dream of becoming an investigative journalist.
Three months later, alone in a soulless internet café, she’s facing some cold, hard facts; she’s unpublished, unhappy and broke. And right then, the gorgeous Pete Halland blows into her life – headed for the mythical Powder Burn mountain to write history and blast into legend.
If she throws in her lot with Pete and reports the story for National Geographic magazine it could rescue her ambitions, but he’s holding back some crucial information – the question for Sam is... what?
Soon, Sam is up to her neck in snow and the weather is the least of her problems; lost in a secretive Himalayan kingdom with – what could be – a magic sword and a simmering and potentially bloody revolution.
But the father she lost to the war in Iraq was a marine, and he taught her a few tricks in the Vermont backcountry that might just get her out alive – and with a story to tell that could make the front page of the New York Times.
Powder Burn is the first of a new series featuring Sam Blackett from the author of the best-selling Janac’s Games books.
Sam had given up her Manhattan job, and her cute apartment in Brooklyn. She’d abandoned her astonished boyfriend to the charms of ESPN, and flown off into a new dawn to chase her dream of becoming an investigative journalist.
Three months later, alone in a soulless internet café, she’s facing some cold, hard facts; she’s unpublished, unhappy and broke. And right then, the gorgeous Pete Halland blows into her life – headed for the mythical Powder Burn mountain to write history and blast into legend.
If she throws in her lot with Pete and reports the story for National Geographic magazine it could rescue her ambitions, but he’s holding back some crucial information – the question for Sam is... what?
Soon, Sam is up to her neck in snow and the weather is the least of her problems; lost in a secretive Himalayan kingdom with – what could be – a magic sword and a simmering and potentially bloody revolution.
But the father she lost to the war in Iraq was a marine, and he taught her a few tricks in the Vermont backcountry that might just get her out alive – and with a story to tell that could make the front page of the New York Times.
Powder Burn is the first of a new series featuring Sam Blackett from the author of the best-selling Janac’s Games books.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 31, 2013
18 people are currently reading
265 people want to read
About the author
Mark Chisnell
35 books61 followersMark Chisnell has written 16 books, they’ve been translated into five languages and topped sales and download charts in the USA, UK, Germany, Italy and Spain.
Mark writes suspense and mystery thrillers, technical books on the art and science of racing sailboats, along with non-fiction books and journalism on travel, sport and technology for some of the world's leading magazines and newspapers, including Esquire and the Guardian.
Mark began his writing with travel stories, while hitch-hiking around the world. He got a job sweeping up and making tea with the British America’s Cup team in Australia in 1987 to earn the money to get home. He worked his way onto the boat as navigator and has sailed and worked with six more America’s Cup teams since then. He’s also won three World Championships in sailing, and currently runs the Technical Innovation Group at Land Rover BAR, Sir Ben Ainslie’s British America’s Cup team.
Mark now lives by a river in the UK with his wife, two young sons and a dog – whenever he gets a couple of minutes peace he can usually be found reading a Jack Reacher novel, or the latest from Michael Lewis or Malcolm Gladwell.
Mark writes suspense and mystery thrillers, technical books on the art and science of racing sailboats, along with non-fiction books and journalism on travel, sport and technology for some of the world's leading magazines and newspapers, including Esquire and the Guardian.
Mark began his writing with travel stories, while hitch-hiking around the world. He got a job sweeping up and making tea with the British America’s Cup team in Australia in 1987 to earn the money to get home. He worked his way onto the boat as navigator and has sailed and worked with six more America’s Cup teams since then. He’s also won three World Championships in sailing, and currently runs the Technical Innovation Group at Land Rover BAR, Sir Ben Ainslie’s British America’s Cup team.
Mark now lives by a river in the UK with his wife, two young sons and a dog – whenever he gets a couple of minutes peace he can usually be found reading a Jack Reacher novel, or the latest from Michael Lewis or Malcolm Gladwell.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
January 13, 2017
Power Burn has an identity crisis. Its back-cover copy hints at an action thriller with a warrior-goddess heroine. What it is instead is an old-fashioned adventure novel, man (or, in this case, woman) against Nature in a remote environment, risking life and limb in the pursuit of some semi-impossible goal. Hammond Innes – with whom the author shares some similarities – used to write this kind of novel. But requiring a reader to adjust expectations while the novel unfolds can be problematic, and if he/she doesn’t adjust, the disconnect can lead to some of the less-glowing reviews you see here.
Let’s start with Sam Blackett, our heroine. That book description sells her as the love child of Mikael Blomqvist and Katness Everdeen, but she’s really a fledgling Nellie Bly – a young, aspiring American journalist who’s the very definition of “plucky.” Broke and adrift in Kathmandu, she scams her way into a three-man trek searching for the semi-legendary Powder Burn snowboard run, nursing the hope that she can sell an article about the expedition to National Geographic. That things don’t go according to plan goes without saying.
Sam is a capable, self-reliant young woman with some family issues that thankfully don’t often intrude on the story. She has generally good instincts and can carry her weight on the trek. But, Katness? Sam doesn’t have that level of ferocity, nor is she called on to lead that kind of action. Not a bad thing, but still an example of imperfect expectation management. She’s good enough company when she’s present and active, although she tends to fade into the narrative at times.
Her companions on the trek are also clearly drawn: Pete, the dreamboat British mountaineer; Lens, the American camera jock trying to shoot a comeback snowboarding documentary to reset his career; and Vegas, the semi-burnout American snowboarding jerk-champion also trying for a comeback. Author Chisnell does a good job separating these three so they form distinct characters. The banter between these blokes seems natural and the dialog is generally good. However, the American characters often slip into British English, especially in the first half, raising the question why any of them need to be American in the first place.
Nearly all the action takes place in and around Shibde (a thinly-disguised Tibet), suffering under the heel of the oft-mentioned-rarely-seen Demagestanis (thinly-disguised Chinese). The geography of this top-of-the-world locale is well rendered, as is the trekking and mountaineering; Chisnell shows off his experience on mountains in Nepal to good effect. The terrain and weather are much more the antagonists in this story than any of the human characters, as is the wont of these man-against-Nature tales.
So why only three stars? A series of missteps – none fatal, but cumulatively telling – bring down the overall rating. I’ve mentioned a couple already. Some of the others:
- The weakest link is Jortse, the Shibdeese man-of-mystery freedom-fighter manqué who does the most to derail Sam’s and Pete’s plans. He totes the back-cover-mentioned magic sword, but ultimately comes off as more a spoiled brat than a charismatic resistance leader; it’s no wonder he’s in the pickle he’s in. As such, his ultimate fate leaves little impact.
- Chisnell misses multiple opportunities to inject more drama into the proceedings. In a couple of places (for instance, the hazardous crossing of an ice sheet), there’s a lot of setup with not much payoff. Those Demagestanis are talked up as badasses, but seem not especially threatening when they finally appear. A major character meets his end offstage in a fairly ambiguous way. The author can do drama – a sequence with Sam and Pete weathering a howling blizzard outside is particularly well-done – so these are conscious decisions rather than a lapse in ability.
- When Our Heroes finally engage with the natives, there’s no cultural, philosophical or linguistic texture to the Shibdeese. The set dressing is there – caves, yak-butter torches, robes – but no sense of the Otherness of these people, nor of the clash of different world views. The council of elders conducts its business in flawless, idiomatic English, and their discussion wouldn’t be out of place on The Borgias.
- Finally, a wildly out-of-character epilogue seems almost bolted on and casts a different – but not especially satisfying – complexion on the action that precedes it.
Powder Burn isn’t a bad book, even for its various issues. You do, however, need to approach it with the proper set of expectations. This is Jon Krakauer territory, not James Rollins; the action and drama comes from confronting the wild rather than from a clash of arms or ideologies. Sam Blackett is more Marion Ravenswood than Lara Croft (or Ms. Everdeen). This is the first installment in a series; here’s to hoping the author steps up his game when he takes Sam to China in the next episode.
Let’s start with Sam Blackett, our heroine. That book description sells her as the love child of Mikael Blomqvist and Katness Everdeen, but she’s really a fledgling Nellie Bly – a young, aspiring American journalist who’s the very definition of “plucky.” Broke and adrift in Kathmandu, she scams her way into a three-man trek searching for the semi-legendary Powder Burn snowboard run, nursing the hope that she can sell an article about the expedition to National Geographic. That things don’t go according to plan goes without saying.
Sam is a capable, self-reliant young woman with some family issues that thankfully don’t often intrude on the story. She has generally good instincts and can carry her weight on the trek. But, Katness? Sam doesn’t have that level of ferocity, nor is she called on to lead that kind of action. Not a bad thing, but still an example of imperfect expectation management. She’s good enough company when she’s present and active, although she tends to fade into the narrative at times.
Her companions on the trek are also clearly drawn: Pete, the dreamboat British mountaineer; Lens, the American camera jock trying to shoot a comeback snowboarding documentary to reset his career; and Vegas, the semi-burnout American snowboarding jerk-champion also trying for a comeback. Author Chisnell does a good job separating these three so they form distinct characters. The banter between these blokes seems natural and the dialog is generally good. However, the American characters often slip into British English, especially in the first half, raising the question why any of them need to be American in the first place.
Nearly all the action takes place in and around Shibde (a thinly-disguised Tibet), suffering under the heel of the oft-mentioned-rarely-seen Demagestanis (thinly-disguised Chinese). The geography of this top-of-the-world locale is well rendered, as is the trekking and mountaineering; Chisnell shows off his experience on mountains in Nepal to good effect. The terrain and weather are much more the antagonists in this story than any of the human characters, as is the wont of these man-against-Nature tales.
So why only three stars? A series of missteps – none fatal, but cumulatively telling – bring down the overall rating. I’ve mentioned a couple already. Some of the others:
- The weakest link is Jortse, the Shibdeese man-of-mystery freedom-fighter manqué who does the most to derail Sam’s and Pete’s plans. He totes the back-cover-mentioned magic sword, but ultimately comes off as more a spoiled brat than a charismatic resistance leader; it’s no wonder he’s in the pickle he’s in. As such, his ultimate fate leaves little impact.
- Chisnell misses multiple opportunities to inject more drama into the proceedings. In a couple of places (for instance, the hazardous crossing of an ice sheet), there’s a lot of setup with not much payoff. Those Demagestanis are talked up as badasses, but seem not especially threatening when they finally appear. A major character meets his end offstage in a fairly ambiguous way. The author can do drama – a sequence with Sam and Pete weathering a howling blizzard outside is particularly well-done – so these are conscious decisions rather than a lapse in ability.
- When Our Heroes finally engage with the natives, there’s no cultural, philosophical or linguistic texture to the Shibdeese. The set dressing is there – caves, yak-butter torches, robes – but no sense of the Otherness of these people, nor of the clash of different world views. The council of elders conducts its business in flawless, idiomatic English, and their discussion wouldn’t be out of place on The Borgias.
- Finally, a wildly out-of-character epilogue seems almost bolted on and casts a different – but not especially satisfying – complexion on the action that precedes it.
Powder Burn isn’t a bad book, even for its various issues. You do, however, need to approach it with the proper set of expectations. This is Jon Krakauer territory, not James Rollins; the action and drama comes from confronting the wild rather than from a clash of arms or ideologies. Sam Blackett is more Marion Ravenswood than Lara Croft (or Ms. Everdeen). This is the first installment in a series; here’s to hoping the author steps up his game when he takes Sam to China in the next episode.
May 1, 2013
A broke, fledgling writer on the verge of returning to her small-town journalist job; an experienced climber and expedition leader; a hot-tempered, adrenaline-addicted snowboarder; a videographer on the verge of bankruptcy--these are the disparate characters that Mark Chisnell has assembled in his Action/ Adventure novel, Powder Burn. What might be an otherwise pure adventure read is spiced up by the mysterious location of the mountain extreme snowboarder,Vegas, plans to conquer; and journalist, Sam (short for Samantha), hopes to publicize, provided she can sell the story.
The intrigue deepens in a separate story line as two other characters flee a fictional, recently occupied Himalayan country, with a mysterious and fabled sword. As the opening chapters progress, the reader suspects, thanks to excellent foreshadowing, that the fate of these two groups is intertwined.
The prose is fluid, visual, and authentic. I could fairly feel my lungs pumping as the characters lug backpacks and gear up a merciless mountain. Author Chisnell created complicated personalities; and the conflicts between them add texture to the story. The characterization of the snowboarder subculture is superb in both their anti-establishment personalities and hip dialogue. I was impressed with the British writer’s technical knowledge, as well as his handling of Yankee vernacular and colloquialisms. The attention to detail puts the reader on the mountain and in every white-knuckle episode as the adventurers race to the shocking secret of the sword and its master.
The story has all the thrills of other climbing/thriller adventures, and I kept imagining Trevanians’s Eiger Sanction meets Toshiro Mifuni in Red Sun. Get out your backpack, rest your head on it next to the fire, and vicariously enjoy an adventure that will leave you panting to get into the mountains.
The intrigue deepens in a separate story line as two other characters flee a fictional, recently occupied Himalayan country, with a mysterious and fabled sword. As the opening chapters progress, the reader suspects, thanks to excellent foreshadowing, that the fate of these two groups is intertwined.
The prose is fluid, visual, and authentic. I could fairly feel my lungs pumping as the characters lug backpacks and gear up a merciless mountain. Author Chisnell created complicated personalities; and the conflicts between them add texture to the story. The characterization of the snowboarder subculture is superb in both their anti-establishment personalities and hip dialogue. I was impressed with the British writer’s technical knowledge, as well as his handling of Yankee vernacular and colloquialisms. The attention to detail puts the reader on the mountain and in every white-knuckle episode as the adventurers race to the shocking secret of the sword and its master.
The story has all the thrills of other climbing/thriller adventures, and I kept imagining Trevanians’s Eiger Sanction meets Toshiro Mifuni in Red Sun. Get out your backpack, rest your head on it next to the fire, and vicariously enjoy an adventure that will leave you panting to get into the mountains.
April 1, 2013
I am always happy to read a book by Mark Chisnell, so I was thrilled when he requested a read/review of Powder Burn.
I'm going to appoint Chisnell the Thriller King. When I pick up one of his books, I expect a taut, well-written, can't-put-it-down thriller with unexpected twists and turns and I'm never disappointed.
Powder Burn is another home run hit in the thriller category. It features Samantha (Sam) Blackett, and I'm happy to find this is only the first of a series featuring Sam. She's gutsy, broke, and willing to go on an adventure with a good-looking Brit and his companions, mostly so she doesn't have to go back to her mother and admit defeat. Aside from the part where she's hiking off into high altitudes of the Himalayans with strangers part, I can relate. :-) It turns out, everyone on this trip is keeping some secrets. Pete Halland (the handsome Brit) and his friends don't tell her they're on their way to find the legendary Powder Burn to document a snowboarder's dream ride down a flawless chute. What they don't tell Sam is that this ride will take them illegally into the mystical and mysterious country of Shibde. They're counting on Sam's writeup for National Geographic to catapult the film and its participants into fame and fortune. What Sam doesn't tell them is she's only had one article published, in a small regional magazine where her mother works, and has a snowball's chance in hell of getting a story accepted by National Geographic.
While they planned on having to quietly sneak across the border of Shibde to access the legendary Powder Burn, they didn't plan on meeting a revolutionary and his apparently magical sword. What follows is classic Chisnell, a tight buildup of tension as the roller coaster chugs its way to the top of the mountain, unexpected twists and turns, then a long, gut-wrenching drop to the finish. The epilogue is the revealing photo finish.
I don't know what this book's pricing is going to be, but whatever it is - it'll be worth it! Watch for it on April 3rd, then get ready for a great thrill of a read.
Updated (April 1, 2013): This book is now available at Amazon. For only $0.99, it's a steal.
I'm going to appoint Chisnell the Thriller King. When I pick up one of his books, I expect a taut, well-written, can't-put-it-down thriller with unexpected twists and turns and I'm never disappointed.
Powder Burn is another home run hit in the thriller category. It features Samantha (Sam) Blackett, and I'm happy to find this is only the first of a series featuring Sam. She's gutsy, broke, and willing to go on an adventure with a good-looking Brit and his companions, mostly so she doesn't have to go back to her mother and admit defeat. Aside from the part where she's hiking off into high altitudes of the Himalayans with strangers part, I can relate. :-) It turns out, everyone on this trip is keeping some secrets. Pete Halland (the handsome Brit) and his friends don't tell her they're on their way to find the legendary Powder Burn to document a snowboarder's dream ride down a flawless chute. What they don't tell Sam is that this ride will take them illegally into the mystical and mysterious country of Shibde. They're counting on Sam's writeup for National Geographic to catapult the film and its participants into fame and fortune. What Sam doesn't tell them is she's only had one article published, in a small regional magazine where her mother works, and has a snowball's chance in hell of getting a story accepted by National Geographic.
While they planned on having to quietly sneak across the border of Shibde to access the legendary Powder Burn, they didn't plan on meeting a revolutionary and his apparently magical sword. What follows is classic Chisnell, a tight buildup of tension as the roller coaster chugs its way to the top of the mountain, unexpected twists and turns, then a long, gut-wrenching drop to the finish. The epilogue is the revealing photo finish.
I don't know what this book's pricing is going to be, but whatever it is - it'll be worth it! Watch for it on April 3rd, then get ready for a great thrill of a read.
Updated (April 1, 2013): This book is now available at Amazon. For only $0.99, it's a steal.
May 3, 2013
The first in what is going to be a series of books featuring Sam Blackett, this was a highly enjoyable novel and a great opener. We meet Sam as she is travelling and feeling a bit down - her plans to write about her travels and sell her articles to various magazines is not going well. Nearly out of money, and on the verge of returning home, she rashly agrees to go on an expedition with three men she has only just met, up the mountains in Nepal to the legendary "Powder Burn" mountain run - assuming of course it exists. They are intending to make a Snowboarding film, she promises them an article in National Geographic...what can POSSIBLY go wrong?.Well, Sam is a great character, feisty, not above lying if it gets her where she wants to be, and she takes no nonsense from anyone so you would be right to assume its not going to be plain sailing. Don't expect a standard thriller here either - This book will surprise you with its depth and where it takes its characters, which is why I'm not saying more about the plot.. Think "Adventure" in the style of Alistair Maclean but very much with its own voice and sense of style. Great writing, great characterisation and an interesting and unusual story this is a great read...and the ending will make you smile. I look forward to the next in the series and am very grateful to Mr Chisnall for sending me a copy of this to enjoy...because enjoy it I did.
May 23, 2013
I've had the pleasure of reading Chisnell's books before and always enjoyed them. So, I was looking forward to his newest release, Powder Burn. Before, his main character was a man, so I was anxious to see how he did with a woman. It may seem like a silly thing to some, but some authors can't write the opposite sex point of view. However, Mark CAN and he does it very well!
In fact, I really liked Sam. She's smart, strong and determined as hell. She's down on her luck and instead of tucking tail and returning home, she decides to join three others in an expedition to the fabled Powder Burn. Sam, being a journalist, figures this may get her a good story for National Geographic and back on track again for her dream of being an investigative journalist.
But not everything is as simple as it seems. The men she accompanies all have secrets of their own and when something explodes, Sam will need all of her wits about her if she hopes to get off of that mountain alive. With nail-biting action, a twisting plot, a solid plot and a fiesty heroine, Powder Burn is a page-turning thriller that is almost impossible to put down. The first in a new series, I'm not sure how Chisnell is going to top this one! Highly recommend!
In fact, I really liked Sam. She's smart, strong and determined as hell. She's down on her luck and instead of tucking tail and returning home, she decides to join three others in an expedition to the fabled Powder Burn. Sam, being a journalist, figures this may get her a good story for National Geographic and back on track again for her dream of being an investigative journalist.
But not everything is as simple as it seems. The men she accompanies all have secrets of their own and when something explodes, Sam will need all of her wits about her if she hopes to get off of that mountain alive. With nail-biting action, a twisting plot, a solid plot and a fiesty heroine, Powder Burn is a page-turning thriller that is almost impossible to put down. The first in a new series, I'm not sure how Chisnell is going to top this one! Highly recommend!
June 29, 2013
Having enjoyed The Defector by Mark Chisnell, I was happy to agree to a review of Powder Burn, the first book in a new adventure series featuring journalist, Sam Blackett.
After two months in southern Asia chasing her dream of becoming an investigative journalist, Sam is tired, frustrated and nearly broke. On the verge of admitting defeat and returning home to New York, a chance encounter with a handsome Brit, Pete Halland, has her agreeing to join him and his mates on their expedition to 'Powder Burn', deep in the Himalayan ranges, where 'Lens' plans to film 'Vegas' skiing the legendary mountain run.
The real action in Powder Burn begins when, nearing the run, the group find two men claiming to be refugees trying to escape from Shibde, a tiny region ruled by a brutal regime which forbids entry by foreigners. One of the men is suffering from severe altitude sickness and so Sam and Pete feel there is no other choice than to offer them their help, unwittingly involving themselves in a dangerous bid for revolution. With the weather on the mountain worsening, Chisnell cranks up the tension and the pace as Sam and her companions try to avoid capture in a perilous race down the mountain.
Sam is a strong protagonist, and in this introduction, proves to be likeable, intelligent and resourceful, important traits for a featured character for a series. Her companions on the journey are well developed, with distinct personalities and believable motivations for being part of the trek.
Powder Burn offers plenty of twists and turns and one or two surprises to its readers. I think it is an entertaining action thriller sure to please adrenalin junkies and adventurers alike.
January 31, 2014
There are three different stories intertwined is this engaging and at times thrilling narrative The writing is strong and the location, somewhere in the Himalayas, has potential. The characters, a young woman trying to find herself, a dreamy Brit (the woman's point of view), two American characters with the nicknames Vegas (muscle-man/snowboarder) and Lens (film-maker) are of varying interest.
They are joined by two enigmatic "natives" of "Shipde," one of whom has received what he believes to be the twelve hundred years old sword of the First Emperor. This magical instrument would enable them to regain the former glory of the kingdom and drive out the occupying "Demagistanians." These disguises are not more than a fig leaf and seem somewhat arch under the circumstances.
The three stories involve "riding down the mountain," liberating Shibde, and the possible involvement of the CIA in the second theme; together, they strain the story-line. The adventures of the four Westerners who want to make a film about snowboarding down the mountain from twenty-four thousand feet might have been a dramatic story.
Shibde, its fight for liberation among rival groups not to mention the sinister Demagistanians and the connivance/instigation of a meddlesome superpower--all seem to this reviewer an attempt by the author to get a few things off his chest. In themselves these are serious subjects and worthy of more than tract-like soundbites. But neither this grab-bag of geopolitical concerns nor the drama of riding the mountain gets enough of the author's attention and abilities. Less would have been more.
They are joined by two enigmatic "natives" of "Shipde," one of whom has received what he believes to be the twelve hundred years old sword of the First Emperor. This magical instrument would enable them to regain the former glory of the kingdom and drive out the occupying "Demagistanians." These disguises are not more than a fig leaf and seem somewhat arch under the circumstances.
The three stories involve "riding down the mountain," liberating Shibde, and the possible involvement of the CIA in the second theme; together, they strain the story-line. The adventures of the four Westerners who want to make a film about snowboarding down the mountain from twenty-four thousand feet might have been a dramatic story.
Shibde, its fight for liberation among rival groups not to mention the sinister Demagistanians and the connivance/instigation of a meddlesome superpower--all seem to this reviewer an attempt by the author to get a few things off his chest. In themselves these are serious subjects and worthy of more than tract-like soundbites. But neither this grab-bag of geopolitical concerns nor the drama of riding the mountain gets enough of the author's attention and abilities. Less would have been more.
April 2, 2013
I had read another book by this author so I thought I'd give this one a go. I was hooked way before the 10% sample size and so bumped it up my ever increasing TBR!
And it then proceeded to keep me so hooked that I read WAY past my bedtime cos I wanted to finish it. There was just the right amount of intrigue to keep me wanting to read on without it being laid on too thick. I think that's the difference I guess between HAVING to read on and WANTING to read on.
The characterisation was great - I really did feel something for the characters. I especially loved the differences between the guys and the fact that the one thing they had in common was enough to outweigh the very big differences in their characters, goals and beliefs.
The action was thrilling, I actually held my breath at a couple of points. The balance between action and description was perfect. Enough description to assist the story but not too much that it distracted the reader away from it. There was one bit that I do admit to speed reading through but that was because, for me, it was a little techie and tbh I am not really into ice mountain climbing but in no way did it spoil anything in the story for me. And I absolutely loved the twist at the end ;)
And the best bit - Sam returns in a new story next year!
And it then proceeded to keep me so hooked that I read WAY past my bedtime cos I wanted to finish it. There was just the right amount of intrigue to keep me wanting to read on without it being laid on too thick. I think that's the difference I guess between HAVING to read on and WANTING to read on.
The characterisation was great - I really did feel something for the characters. I especially loved the differences between the guys and the fact that the one thing they had in common was enough to outweigh the very big differences in their characters, goals and beliefs.
The action was thrilling, I actually held my breath at a couple of points. The balance between action and description was perfect. Enough description to assist the story but not too much that it distracted the reader away from it. There was one bit that I do admit to speed reading through but that was because, for me, it was a little techie and tbh I am not really into ice mountain climbing but in no way did it spoil anything in the story for me. And I absolutely loved the twist at the end ;)
And the best bit - Sam returns in a new story next year!
April 3, 2013
We are familiar with the maritime backdrop to the author's previous novels so this latest book came as a bit of a surprise. However it has all the Chisnell hallmarks that we have come to expect and enjoy. Strong storyline, well drawn characters and very well researched. Fast paced with lots of twists and turns in the plot. Sam Blackett is a new, likeable and welcome addition to that small band of action heroines. All this makes for a very good read and I look forward to the next installment of Sam's adventures.
April 28, 2013
Am looking forward to the next book in this series. The book is well written with great action-believable aspects as to the story, the characters, and kept my interest.
May 1, 2025
I still remember the sheer intensity of Sam Blackett’s climb—the way the thin air made every breath feel like a battle, the aching burn in every muscle, and the ever-present danger of a single misstep sending everything crashing down. Her journey wasn’t just about reaching the summit of Powder Burn Mountain; it was about survival, pushing limits, and facing the brutal reality of the mountain’s unforgiving nature.
Every section of the ascent was a new challenge—navigating crevasses, fighting exhaustion, and trusting instincts when logic screamed to turn back. The descriptions were so vivid that I could almost feel the biting cold against my skin, the vertigo-inducing heights making each foothold a test of nerve. But what struck me the most wasn’t just the physical endurance—it was the mental battle. The mountain didn’t just demand strength; it demanded resilience, an unwavering belief that reaching the top was worth the struggle.
By the time the final stretch arrived, I felt the weight of every choice—Sam’s exhaustion, Pete Halland’s secrets, and the sheer force of will required to keep going. It wasn’t just a climb. It was a reckoning, a test of courage that lingered long after the last page. Would I have made it? I’m not sure—but I loved every second of watching Sam try.
Every section of the ascent was a new challenge—navigating crevasses, fighting exhaustion, and trusting instincts when logic screamed to turn back. The descriptions were so vivid that I could almost feel the biting cold against my skin, the vertigo-inducing heights making each foothold a test of nerve. But what struck me the most wasn’t just the physical endurance—it was the mental battle. The mountain didn’t just demand strength; it demanded resilience, an unwavering belief that reaching the top was worth the struggle.
By the time the final stretch arrived, I felt the weight of every choice—Sam’s exhaustion, Pete Halland’s secrets, and the sheer force of will required to keep going. It wasn’t just a climb. It was a reckoning, a test of courage that lingered long after the last page. Would I have made it? I’m not sure—but I loved every second of watching Sam try.
June 5, 2018
I liked this book well enough. It had enough adventure to keep it interesting. I think the part about Shibde, the authors take on Shangri-La, was not very good. The entire part with the council - history, dialogue, action - was stilted, as if it needed more authenticity - it just didn't feel real. I realize the book is a work of fiction, but within that parameter (fiction) it just didn't mesh up with the rest of the story.
July 20, 2018
i gave it to 25%, but didnt keep my interest. kind of boring. i have SO many other choices that i am going to stop reading this one.
August 14, 2023
Two snowboarders, a filmmaker and an aspiring journalist embark upon an adventure. Far fetched but compelling reading.
March 4, 2017
This book focuses on a mysterious snowboarding run called Powder Burn that is secret for reason of its location in a foreign land. A legendary magic (or is it?) sword and a man that joins their trek after they meet up on the mountain are other elements of the plot.
October 11, 2013
I was drawn to this because of two things: 1. If Dragon Tattoo’s Mikael Blomkvist and the Hunger Games’ Katniss Everdeen could have a love-child, she’d probably be a lot like Sam Blackett... and 2. The fact the woman on the cover is wielding a sword. It all just screams kick-ass heroine. Though strength comes in many forms, I totally need a sword-fighting female every now and then.
We have a young woman who wants to make it as a journalist...and she thinks she finally has that story that will put her on the map, get her in Nat Geo. She's accompanying three men to a legendary mountain called Powder Burn, where they will be the first ones to snowboard it. History being made. One month trekking and backpacking and fighting high altitude and snowstorms.
But she gets more than she bargained for when the team runs into two strange men wielding an equally strange sword.
This is flat out an adventure, a thrill ride. There's soldiers, lies, secrets, arguments, death, shooting, blizzards...wow.
And Sam starts a romance and is faced with some tough decisions. Help a man or not help a man? Leave someone behind? Tell a story or not? There's also tension with one of the boarders. I like this chick. I like how she thinks and sticks up for herself... "...a good smack is the only thing that some people understand.."
It was entertaining, no doubt. BUT...and here are my quibbles:
-I didn't find it all believable. I mean, really, three people on a snowboard?
-There's a serious lack of emotion.
-It needs another round of edits. I got an ARC on Netgalley, but it was placed on that site after the book was published so I wonder if the finished copy has these errors...there were enough to really irritate me, such as "Why are the Demagistani's so anxious..." and "I think they've been fighting the Demagistani's."
I loathe apostrophe abuse. I have no idea why there are apostrophes there. What do the Demagistanis own? That is how it should be spelled.
I also spotted things like family are and family have...and forbad instead of forbade. There was an error on every page. Again, these MAY have been fixed later.
-The ending did not satisfactorily explain everything. I was confused and wondering about many things. It just didn't tie up very well for me. Like, these people claim they will not harm others, not even to regain their country from a Taliban-like group of people...yet they have an army that runs around with rifles and shoots at suspected CIA agents??? Um...like, ok. So the army isn't Buddhist and can run around shoot people for you, right? You just can't shoot them yourself...but why not send this army to get your country back?
Things just didn't make sense to me. However, it's a good yarn and despite the fact I have to say the cover is misleading--this chick doesn't really wield a sword though she does utilize a rifle--it is enjoyable.
We have a young woman who wants to make it as a journalist...and she thinks she finally has that story that will put her on the map, get her in Nat Geo. She's accompanying three men to a legendary mountain called Powder Burn, where they will be the first ones to snowboard it. History being made. One month trekking and backpacking and fighting high altitude and snowstorms.
But she gets more than she bargained for when the team runs into two strange men wielding an equally strange sword.
This is flat out an adventure, a thrill ride. There's soldiers, lies, secrets, arguments, death, shooting, blizzards...wow.
And Sam starts a romance and is faced with some tough decisions. Help a man or not help a man? Leave someone behind? Tell a story or not? There's also tension with one of the boarders. I like this chick. I like how she thinks and sticks up for herself... "...a good smack is the only thing that some people understand.."
It was entertaining, no doubt. BUT...and here are my quibbles:
-I didn't find it all believable. I mean, really, three people on a snowboard?
-There's a serious lack of emotion.
-It needs another round of edits. I got an ARC on Netgalley, but it was placed on that site after the book was published so I wonder if the finished copy has these errors...there were enough to really irritate me, such as "Why are the Demagistani's so anxious..." and "I think they've been fighting the Demagistani's."
I loathe apostrophe abuse. I have no idea why there are apostrophes there. What do the Demagistanis own? That is how it should be spelled.
I also spotted things like family are and family have...and forbad instead of forbade. There was an error on every page. Again, these MAY have been fixed later.
-The ending did not satisfactorily explain everything. I was confused and wondering about many things. It just didn't tie up very well for me. Like, these people claim they will not harm others, not even to regain their country from a Taliban-like group of people...yet they have an army that runs around with rifles and shoots at suspected CIA agents??? Um...like, ok. So the army isn't Buddhist and can run around shoot people for you, right? You just can't shoot them yourself...but why not send this army to get your country back?
Things just didn't make sense to me. However, it's a good yarn and despite the fact I have to say the cover is misleading--this chick doesn't really wield a sword though she does utilize a rifle--it is enjoyable.
February 5, 2014
I really enjoyed this story. I liked the characters and got involved in the action. I liked Sam's guts in quitting her job and trying to live her dream. She had guts and chutzpah which I like in a heroine. She is a thinking heroine with a bit of daring as she signs on with total strangers to go hiking into the Himalayas on faith that she'll get a National Geographic worthy story (even though it's her flying home money).
Pros: The pros are a good story that moves quickly and has a lot of action. It also is filled with extreme sports, mountain climbing, and a crazy, dangerous stunt. The strong heroine is nice, and she also gets to be tough, and strong and gutsy which is nice. She can take risks like go mountain climbing with a bunch of strangers because she can take care of herself. There is a hint of romance which also fills out the story as well.
Cons: There were something I didn't find believable, like the fact that Sam thought she could get a story in National Geographic without any high quality photos. I think it only mentions her taking a photo once, and the boys keep putting her off of doing anything so she won't give their position away to any rival snowboarders. Also, some of the dealings with the foreign dignitaries seemed weak and forced. I was also confused about the foreign country they were in, I've never heard of Shibde or the other country that started with a D, that doesn't mean they don't exist, but I wasn't sure if they were supposed to be totally make-believe, or what. So, I kept wondering, is this real, or supposed to add tension with the 'magical' sword element? I couldn't find a mention of the country on google, so I was distracted by that.
Overall, the book was fun and the tension level and sword twist at the end were nice. I enjoyed it, I'd recommend it to anyone who likes action adventure (and mountain climbing and snowboarding).
Pros: The pros are a good story that moves quickly and has a lot of action. It also is filled with extreme sports, mountain climbing, and a crazy, dangerous stunt. The strong heroine is nice, and she also gets to be tough, and strong and gutsy which is nice. She can take risks like go mountain climbing with a bunch of strangers because she can take care of herself. There is a hint of romance which also fills out the story as well.
Cons: There were something I didn't find believable, like the fact that Sam thought she could get a story in National Geographic without any high quality photos. I think it only mentions her taking a photo once, and the boys keep putting her off of doing anything so she won't give their position away to any rival snowboarders. Also, some of the dealings with the foreign dignitaries seemed weak and forced. I was also confused about the foreign country they were in, I've never heard of Shibde or the other country that started with a D, that doesn't mean they don't exist, but I wasn't sure if they were supposed to be totally make-believe, or what. So, I kept wondering, is this real, or supposed to add tension with the 'magical' sword element? I couldn't find a mention of the country on google, so I was distracted by that.
Overall, the book was fun and the tension level and sword twist at the end were nice. I enjoyed it, I'd recommend it to anyone who likes action adventure (and mountain climbing and snowboarding).
July 6, 2013
This book was very different from anything I have read before -- and in a good way!
It followed Sam, a down-on-her-luck reporter, who is looking for her career-breaking story when she comes across a pair of extreme snowboarders and a documentary filmmaker out to film the pair board what is certain to be an epic run on a never-before-seen slope; a slope known only as "Powder Burn." Not to mention the undeniable good looks of one of the boarders, the ever resourceful and capable Pete.
Only problem? They have to hike there. And it is not a weekend hiking expedition type of trip. That and another slight problem that is being kept from Sam for the first half of the month-long hike. One that would certainly have been a deal breaker had she been initially informed. What could possibly be o bad they won't tell her?
Ultimately, it turns out their little hiking trip is sure to be even more dangerous than previously thought. Fortunately for Sam, she grew up well-trained in the backcountry by her Marine father and is thus able to handle many of the obstacles that come their way. She is a bit of hard-ass, bad-ass heroine in that way. Definitely not a girly-girl.
This book had a little bit of everything: action, mystery, suspense, thrill, and a dash of romance. Even a bit of a final twist.
I enjoyed the action as it was often mixed in with the suspense and thrill -- it kept me turning pages. It was not exactly nail-biting action, but it was edgy and often even unpredictable enough to be suspenseful.
The book's main focus was far from romance, and thus is definitely not enough to turn off anyone who doesn't want to read a romance novel. However, it was just enough to satisfy anyone who likes a little love story, as I do.
February 5, 2014
Author Hand down
First of all a huge thanks to the author and Shut up and read community for sharing a copy with me to read and review.
The book no doubt has a very interesting story line and while it starts at a small pace it progress nicely to its end.The language of the book is what made me reduce two stars from the total rating as the language is a bit troubling and you need a bit of time to get used to it and somehow i felt that it made it less captivating even though the story is fresh and exciting.
What i like about the book is the plot itself which makes sure that you do not get too bored in the mountains where the story takes place as after couple of pages you feel like you have nothing else to look forward to except the snow capped mountains and the fear of frost bites and other dangers hidden in the mountains but then thankfully mid way the book takes a major turn and picking up the pace and getting interesting from there on.
What i did not like in the book is the language that was difficult for me to get fully immersed into the whole book and took me to reach the middle of the book to get comfortable with the narration style and the pace is a bit slow but manages to pick up nicely later. Also there are a whole lot of technical details involved which is kind of confusing for a person who is new to the skiing and whole mountain expedition part
The language of the book is not exactly easy and comfortable and requires a bit of effort but once you get used to it you will find the plot interesting but have to have a little patience for things to pace up.
First of all a huge thanks to the author and Shut up and read community for sharing a copy with me to read and review.
The book no doubt has a very interesting story line and while it starts at a small pace it progress nicely to its end.The language of the book is what made me reduce two stars from the total rating as the language is a bit troubling and you need a bit of time to get used to it and somehow i felt that it made it less captivating even though the story is fresh and exciting.
What i like about the book is the plot itself which makes sure that you do not get too bored in the mountains where the story takes place as after couple of pages you feel like you have nothing else to look forward to except the snow capped mountains and the fear of frost bites and other dangers hidden in the mountains but then thankfully mid way the book takes a major turn and picking up the pace and getting interesting from there on.
What i did not like in the book is the language that was difficult for me to get fully immersed into the whole book and took me to reach the middle of the book to get comfortable with the narration style and the pace is a bit slow but manages to pick up nicely later. Also there are a whole lot of technical details involved which is kind of confusing for a person who is new to the skiing and whole mountain expedition part
The language of the book is not exactly easy and comfortable and requires a bit of effort but once you get used to it you will find the plot interesting but have to have a little patience for things to pace up.
October 4, 2013
There was a time when I read a lot of books that were in a non-fiction subgenre that, for lack of a better term, I’ll call armchair mountaineering. Most of those I read are long out of print, but a relatively recent and well known example is Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air. Many of those took place in the Himalayan mountains, as does Powder Burn. Although the story largely takes place in a fictional Himalayan kingdom, Chisnell’s descriptions of the area and the personalities of the types of people who find adventure there fit reality, or at least my perception of it formed from reading those other books.
The story, which I don’t want to say much about, is also different from the typical thriller due to the setting and the personalities involved. Of the main characters, some of them you’ll like (especially Sam, the protagonist), some you won’t, and others you’ll feel ambiguous about, but all add to the tale in a good way. A fun, relatively quick read and a great start to the series.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
The story, which I don’t want to say much about, is also different from the typical thriller due to the setting and the personalities involved. Of the main characters, some of them you’ll like (especially Sam, the protagonist), some you won’t, and others you’ll feel ambiguous about, but all add to the tale in a good way. A fun, relatively quick read and a great start to the series.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
September 6, 2016
3.5 stars
I wasn't sure I'd end up liking this book, the way it started, but it ended up sucking me in and I couldn't put it down.
The plot seems a bit slow going at first, but quickly picks up towards the middle, so it's definitely worth sticking with it. I wasn't crazy about the characters and first and the way they were written... they almost seemed too stereotypical in the unlikable sort of way, but they all gradually grew on me. Even though I can't say that they're were favorite characters, they were tolerable and had amusing moments of wittiness which I enjoyed. The plot is fairly straightforward, not too many back stories and such, but captivating enough and well written enough to keep me interested. The ending was a bit abrupt though, and seemed to hastily wrap everything up without too much description. I read the last half almost non-stop and, although it wasn't the best written thing ever, it kept me entertained and gave a great sense of adventure and mystery.
I wasn't sure I'd end up liking this book, the way it started, but it ended up sucking me in and I couldn't put it down.
The plot seems a bit slow going at first, but quickly picks up towards the middle, so it's definitely worth sticking with it. I wasn't crazy about the characters and first and the way they were written... they almost seemed too stereotypical in the unlikable sort of way, but they all gradually grew on me. Even though I can't say that they're were favorite characters, they were tolerable and had amusing moments of wittiness which I enjoyed. The plot is fairly straightforward, not too many back stories and such, but captivating enough and well written enough to keep me interested. The ending was a bit abrupt though, and seemed to hastily wrap everything up without too much description. I read the last half almost non-stop and, although it wasn't the best written thing ever, it kept me entertained and gave a great sense of adventure and mystery.
September 9, 2013
There is something missing in this novel. All the basic elements of a good story are there, but it's lacking in something. It felt more as if it were being told without emotion than trying to put the reader in the story with feeling. There just wasn't any passion. I think the closest we came to feeling something was when Pete ran his hand down Sam's belly and she pulled away and stood up. Prior to that moment and for the rest of the story following that moment, I couldn't relate on any level with the characters. They just were. I didn't feel their discomfort from the cold, or fear of the natives, or even their hunger. A story needs to make you feel something, this one didn't!
February 12, 2014
Powder Burn was an interesting novel. I enjoyed it very much. I will definitely read more from this author. I did have problem keeping track of where we were at in the novel. Questions that I was asking as I was reading were not answered, so I HAVE to get the next one to finish the story line.! I had trouble following what was going on because if the shifting back and forth. I still have no idea why the sword was not to leave the area. Is anyone going to find out the secret of the sword? Is Sam going toke it on journalism. Just a fee of the questions that I want answers to. Thanks for letting me read: Powder Burn
Read
February 14, 2014Was a great read.
From start to finish you are caught up in a great story. Sam Blackett, finds herself unpublished and broke in the Himalayas. In walks Pete Halland, a sexy snowboarder on a voyage with two of his friends. They are going to make a documentary of the legendary Powder Burn, and Sam is just the attention they'll need. Sam decides to tag along for a great story to write, but ends up in a fight for her life. Between abominable conditions and caught in a freedom fight and a mystical sword. Follow along the journey with many jumps of its own.
From start to finish you are caught up in a great story. Sam Blackett, finds herself unpublished and broke in the Himalayas. In walks Pete Halland, a sexy snowboarder on a voyage with two of his friends. They are going to make a documentary of the legendary Powder Burn, and Sam is just the attention they'll need. Sam decides to tag along for a great story to write, but ends up in a fight for her life. Between abominable conditions and caught in a freedom fight and a mystical sword. Follow along the journey with many jumps of its own.
July 14, 2013
Got this for free as a Kindle deal, which is a good thing. Sam has some potential as a character, but the whole story takes a ludicrous turn into magic swords and a secretive kingdom named Shibde struggling against the "nascent superpower" of Demagistan. Reads like Dan Brown without the background research. There are a few scenes that grabbed me, one being Lens stuck on the ice cliff--it seemed more focused and conscious of both setting and real emotion than most other parts of the book.
February 2, 2014
The book was well written, but I just couldn't get into the characters. They all seemed a little shallow. The story was a little complicated by the fact that I was not familiar with the Himalaya region, mountain climbing, and snow boarding. So none of the events felt very real to me. There was only one technical problem with the epub I had, there were no scene separators. So the story would jump between different scenes without warning.
December 18, 2015
Snow Bobarding
I think the ending of this book just gave me chills. Before that I really liked the heroine in the book and Pete. They are good people in a bad situation and give out good advice to their team. I love reading about strange place a and unusual people and this book does qualify for that.
I think the ending of this book just gave me chills. Before that I really liked the heroine in the book and Pete. They are good people in a bad situation and give out good advice to their team. I love reading about strange place a and unusual people and this book does qualify for that.
May 26, 2013
3.5 stars. This is no lyrical read, just an action-packed, no frills novel that entertains. Sam Blackett is a headstrong young woman who is willing to take risks and makes spur-of-the-moment decisions that most rational people would avoid.
October 8, 2013
Pretty good read. I was looking for something not along the usual murder and mayhem that I read and picked this up. I liked the characters. I liked the subject matter and how it all came together in a decent plot. I will have to check out more from this author.
July 1, 2013
So so book about an adventure in central asia
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