Review: Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick

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Title: Black Ice
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Simon & Schuster BFYR
Pub. Date: October 7, 2014
Genre: Young Adult
Rec. Age Level: 14+
Pages: 392
More by this author: Hush, Hush series

Description:
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 a departure for Becca Fitzpatrick, who made a name for herself with the supernatural love story Hush, Hush. Though there are no supernatural heartthrobs in Black Ice, readers will still find a mysterious, good looking bad boy and plenty of action.

Personally, I'm a bit divided about Black Ice. I will say that I enjoyed it more than Hush, Hush, but that's probably because supernatural romance isn't really my thing.

Black Ice is primarily a thriller, with a bit of romance and mystery mixed in. Like the main character, I was never sure who to trust or what was going to happen next; I loathed interruptions during especially tense passages. There's something about this novel that has me recommending it as the YA Gone Girl - it has the same psychological twistiness.

Fitzpatrick's descriptions of the harsh, deadly weather in the Tetons are especially well done. This element alone makes me want to recommend Black Ice as a cold weather read. Curling up on a bitterly cold winter night and delving into this one would be a chilling experience in more ways than one.

My one quibble regarding Black Ice was Britt's reactions to a few situations. I can't say much about this without risking spoilers, but there were a couple instances in which Britt fell a bit flat and her reactions didn't feel at all realistic. Luckily, this small issue didn't distract much from my overall reading experience.

Recommended.