Review: Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

Guys, I'm part of the Black Ice Blog Tour hosted by Pinoy Book Tours. I volunteered to be the firs to post because I'm just so excited for Becca's standalone! Been a fan of hers for years now and I must say that Black Ice didn't disappoint me.

Book Description:

Hardcover, 400 pages
October 7th 2014 by Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers

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?

BLACK ICE is New York Times bestselling author Becca Fitzpatrick’s riveting romantic thriller set against the treacherous backdrop of the mountains of Wyoming. Falling in love should never be this dangerous…

Reviewer's Copy: ARC

Source: Becca Fitzpatrick + National Book Store and Penguin Teen(Thank you!!)

My Thoughts:

Note: Spoiler free! It's such a shame I can't share with you what I really want to say. Please feel free to fangirl with me @precious_shusky

Hush, Hush was one of my first YA reads ever. Let me put it this way: I loved Becca's writing a lot. With Black Ice, I honestly didn't know what to expect out of the story but I definitely expected something good. I wasn't disappointed.

With the setting of far-from-civilization Wyoming mountains and the fierce cold and the stuck-in-the-here-and-the-now situation, Black Ice had the fine elements of a thriller. Throw in uninhabited cabins with history of death and blood and two kidnappers, and the author had me reading at the speed of lightning. There was something about being stuck due to the situation and the weather that made my heart hammer and drove me into a jittery, paranoid mess of a worried reader. These elements brought out the desire and the fight to survive in our heroine, Britt. She was really struggling against all odds: against her kidnappers, against the weather and even against her own weaknesses and emotions.

Britt, as a character alone, without the dangerous experience, was lovable and unforgettable. She began her journey to the mountains with just one thought in mind: to prove to her ex-boyfriend Calvin that she could go backpacking and survive the Teton Crest. Instead, she proved herself as a survivor in more ways than one. She ended her journey with eyes wide open, observant and appreciative of life. As she spent her days in the mountain, she was looking back on memories. In these moments, I got to know her well: her past, her feelings, the changes that happened in her life, her little observations about the people around her, her relationships and most of all, her strengths and weaknesses. The flashbacks tugged at my heartstrings and made me feel closer to Britt. I loved her to bits. Every step of the way, I was cheering her, scheming with her and thinking with her.

Mason. He was truly one in a million. Being one of the kidnappers, I should have hated and doubted him from the start but for some reason, I couldn't. He was an enemy and an ally but on top of it all, he was a mystery that I wanted to savor, examine and solve him. He could be harsh, go with his partner in crime, and act like he does not care at all. However, Mason also has a soft side - he was gentle, thoughtful and considerate sometimes. He was both, effectively driving Britt insane into interpreting his actions and evaluating his motives. Through it all, I found myself drawn to him, admiring his well-planned mission, his beautiful mind and everything about him.

The exchanges between Britt, her kidnappers, Korbie and Calvin were quite colorful and meaningful, shedding light on who they really were when it comes down to dire and desperate circumstances. Black Ice peeled off the characters' layers, revealing their personalities, weaknesses and strengths with every page. The characters that were introduced in the beginning of the novel were not the same characters that I encountered in the ending. There were changes in them, revelations and final decisions on who they would be and who they would be with. No one was perfect. No one was the same after what happened in Wyoming. I absolutely loved this part about Black Ice.

Black Ice is absolute perfection with the sizzling romance, the heart-pounding intensity and explosions of violence, the mind-blowing twists and turns and the lovable well developed main characters. Unputdownable, deliciously good, atmospheric, beautifully written, Black Ice is delightful for readers who are looking for psychological thrillers and standalone novels. This novel took away my heart. I'm in love with Black Ice (and Mason). If you are into crime in fiction as well, try this. I promise, you won't regret it. I highly recommend this!

Rating:

5 Cupids = Eternal book love.
I will never, ever, ever forget this book. I highly recommend this!