Under a Pole Star - Stef Penney - 3.5 rounded up

[Booknblues]

The 19th century was a time of great exploration as well as a time when women were seeking their rights, so it is no surprise that women were also explorers in this time period. Isabella Bird, Gertrude Bell, Annie Londonberry, Annie Spith Peck and Mary Kingsley were among the women explorers of the time.

What if there was a female Arctic explorer? Stef Penney in her book Under a Pole Star imagines what this may have looked like with her polar explorer, Flora Mackie.

I was excited to dive into this book because The Tenderness of Wolves remains a favorite book of mine. Penney created such a desolate cold world in her writing in that book, that I couldn't wait to cool of in another of her books.

Penney does create wonderful characters with Flora Mackie and Jakob de Beyn whose stories are told in alternate section of the book. She has a gift for descriptions of the cold desolate north and she is respectful of the indigenous people.

While this is an adventure story, it is by and large a love story. I would not have minded if some of the erotic details had been edited. It certainly would have cut down this somewhat lengthy book of 613 pages. She does wax quite poetic with some of that:

He heard moans and exultations; he saw himself in her eyes, inscrutable mirrors, dark as the northern sea – as deep and unpredictable. He remembered water shining at her temples, and then he felt himself fall.

My impatience with all that brought it down to 3.5 stars, although I allow for a round-up.

I applaud the underlying plot line if only it had been presented a bit more starkly.


Those who loved The Tenderness of Wolves, they will also appreciate this. For those who don't care for the more erotic moments, just skim through you won't really miss anything.

[Theresa]

I have been wondering about this one, as I too loved The Tenderness of Wolves. Definitely will keep it on the TBR.

And I love that you too are delvinginto cold snowy books during the summer heat, though mine have so far been limited to Christmas settings.

[Booknblues]

This happened to be my trim for this month so it was perfect.

We should hit 100 today, so cold and snowy is ideal. I have both Christmas and otherwise on my soonish pile.

I'm also trying to finish my play harder, so I can get in on the next swap.

I think you would like this one, maybe not as much as The Tenderness of Wolves, but there is a lot packed into Under a Pole Star.