Young Adult Book Review: Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick
SUMMARY:
Sometimes danger is hard to see... until it’s too late.
Britt Pfeiffer has trained to backpack the Teton Range, but she isn't prepared when her ex-boyfriend, who still haunts her every thought, wants to join her. Before Britt can explore her feelings for Calvin, an unexpected blizzard forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin, accepting the hospitality of its two very handsome occupants—but these men are fugitives, and they take her hostage.
In exchange for her life, Britt agrees to guide the men off the mountain. As they set off, Britt knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her. The task is made even more complicated when Britt finds chilling evidence of a series of murders that have taken place there... and in uncovering this, she may become the killer’s next target.
But nothing is as it seems in the mountains, and everyone is keeping secrets, including Mason, one of her kidnappers. His kindness is confusing Britt. Is he an enemy? Or an ally?
Book Details
Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick
Young Adult / Thriller / Survival
Published on October 7, 2014 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Source: Bought
My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
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Book Review
BLACK ICE is one of those thrillers that you go into only knowing the bare bones of the story, just enough to intrigue you with its hints of a suspense and romance, yet the ever-increasing tension and dark twists completely ensnare you in their grasp. I was taken by surprise by how much this story captivated me.
Set against the harsh backdrop of the Grand Tetons of Wyoming during an unsuspected snow storm, Britt Pfeiffer and her best friend Korbie are forced to seek refuge from their back-packing trip in a remote cabin, its occupants two handsome, but very secretive guys who have their own dark agendas and Britt has just walked into a situation that is much more dangerous and life-threatening than the raging blizzard outside.
“I blinked my eyes dry, sniffling until I felt composed. I had to be smart. My best tool now was my brain. I had to use this time to evaluate my situation.”
I loved getting sucked into this story, as back-packing, ex-boyfriends, flirting and fun turn into something darker, dangerous and scary. Britt's character goes from being a slightly thrill-seeker with a knack of digging herself into trouble, one who is often pulled out of danger just in time by her sweet, but over indulgent dad or the other men in her life, to someone who realizes she has to take charge-there's no one else to save her this time around.
There's a pivotal moment in the book, when she literally realizes she could die, and at the moment the author Becca Fitzpatrick brilliantly begins twisting the story tighter and tighter, dropping clues, upping the tension and danger, all the while Britt is faced with the challenge of saving herself. I couldn't read fast enough to see how this resilient heroine was going to handle herself, but she does and it is awesome.
I can't talk about the story without mentioning the romance of course, one that carefully shadows the suspenseful of the mystery. The story takes on a edgy note as Britt is held hostage, her captors needing her help to get off the mountain. I was writing down clues, and holding my breath as an undeniable attraction, one that began before she set foot in that cabin, was present.
The boundaries kept shifting, and all I could do was follow along with Britt as secret after secret were revealed and feelings exposed. I kept asking myself, just who really is the bad guy, while reading Black Ice and I loved how Becca Fitzpatrick kept me guessing for so long, and then it still doesn't matter because survival is still not assured.
Black Ice is a taunt thriller with a seductive edge, a bridge between dark suspense and romance. A cat and mouse game that kept me on glued until the last page.
