THE GOOD:
An interesting look at the world of Alaska fishing.

THE BAD:
Pretty consistent vulgar language. Drug use to get through the hard work.

CONCLUSION:
Harsh and brutal. And it just keeps getting worse. But definitely lives up to the book blurb.

**Review of *The North Line* by Rick Riordan**
⭐⭐⭐⭐

*The North Line* by Rick Riordan is an engaging adventure that follows Adam, a young man who takes a job on a fishing boat in Alaska, hoping to earn quick money. What starts as a seemingly straightforward endeavor quickly turns into a journey of self-discovery and unexpected challenges. As Adam navigates the rugged Alaskan waters, he encounters not only the harsh realities of the fishing industry but also the complexities of human relationships and the personal demons that haunt him.

Riordan's storytelling shines as he vividly describes the stunning yet treacherous Alaskan landscape, immersing readers in the beauty and danger of the environment. The characters Adam meets along the way are well-drawn and add depth to the narrative, from fellow fishermen to locals with their own stories and struggles. The novel deftly explores themes of ambition, responsibility, and the search for identity, making it a thought-provoking read that resonates on multiple levels. However, readers should be aware that the book contains rough language, which reflects the gritty nature of Adam's experiences. With its blend of adventure, humor, and poignant moments, *The North Line* is a compelling story that showcases Riordan's talent for creating relatable characters and immersive settings, appealing to both young adults and adult readers alike.

Thank you Hyperion Avenue for allowing me to read and review The North Line by Matt Riordan on NetGalley.

Published: 04/02/24

Stars: 2

What's worse execution or expectation?

Riordan's debut novel is a 3:1 ratio of words vs F word.

Early on I was cross at myself for trying to stick with the book. I do believe Riordan can tell a good story. However, the use of profanity prohibited any enjoyment. Recognizing the backdrop, the workers on the boat, class of people, I did imagine a lot of swearing. However, this literally went overboard and made me cringe.

I expected a mystery and even some F words given the setting, not this; I cannot fathom recommending.

I really wanted to love this book. The description of fishing in Alaska and the people, well they were dead on. It's just the end....they threw the bad guy over the boat. That's it. The End. I was disappointed.

Felt like I was fishing right along the guys on the Nerka. What a great book. Didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did and honestly didn’t want it to end. A fantastic story of fishing the north line. The author is very descriptive and the story flows so wonderfully with surprises and the unexpected. Just well done. Enjoyed it immensely.. if you love adventure books, stories of perseverance, travel, adventure and deep character stories - this is for you….all on a boat!

I struggled to get into the story at first but the more I read the more I was hooked. The story felt gritty and real and the author did a great job of portraying working on a commercial fishing ship, I would recommend this book.

An adventure story on the Bering Sea. It was a riveting tale with unexpected twists.
Many thanks to Hyerion Avenue and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

College Student in need of quick money finds work on an Alaskan fishing boat in Bering Sea. When a strike threatens the entire season, Adam is thrust into survival mode.

I loved that this book read like an episode of Deadliest Catch. Perfect amount of character development and suspense. The ending however, was a bit abrupt and disappointing. So many unanswered questions.

Thank You NetGalley for the free e-galley.

If you've ever had a desire to fish for big money in Alaska, this book will take that desire away in a heart beat, it is a very descriptive tale of one man's decision to make some 'quick' money to pay for tuition he had lost due to drug trafficking. Adam wasn't a big drug trafficker, he mostly sold to other students at the University, until one student had a bad experience and told authorities that Adam had provided the pills. Adam can keep his place at University, he just has to come up with the $26,000 tuition. A friend puts him in touch with an uncle that owns several fishing boats in Alaska, tells him they pay really well and he should easily be able to make the money he needs. With no other prospects, Adam spends the last of his money on a trip to Alaska. He finds the boat and after convincing the two men, Cole and Nash, to take him on they are soon off fishing for herring. Adam has no experience with commercial fishing and it's eye opening to say the least. The boat they are on "Vice" is old and decrepit, and after filling their hold with fish, the boat cabin catches on fire, ending their season. They have however caught a lot of fish and are expecting something for it. Until the owner of the boat shows up, who decides that because the fire was their fault none of them are getting paid for the fish they caught. But a new fishing window is opening and Adam is able to talk himself onto the boat, Nash is given another boat to captain. A strike that had been threatening comes into play but that doesn't stop them from going out to fish, they are the only boat out there and are catching tons of fish. This was a very good book,, very well written and I enjoyed it and would recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Hyperionavenue for the ARC.

If you are a fan of Deadliest Catch or the movie “Finestkind”, this book will probably be right up your alley. I was intrigued because I love Alaska and commercial fishing fascinates me. The writing really puts you in the middle of the chaos of what it’s like and I was impressed. I’ll be looking for the author’s next release now that he’s on my radar!

This story follows Adam, a college kid who lost his scholarship and is trying to make up the cash to finish his degree, as he joins a fishing boat crew in Alaska. It starts like a modern adventure novel with a not-wholly likable lead. By the end, it turns into a horror story. It's a lot of detailed talk about killing fish and the small details of how the boat and nets work.

I thought this would be more of a mystery than it was. It turns out of be a group of unlikable men on a boat together in the middle of nowhere doing things they shouldn't. As I discovered, I'm not the right audience for this book. The writing is solid and creates interesting characters while brining to life an unfamiliar world. If you're into solitary adventure and horror, you're in the right place. If not, you're probably not the right audience either.

When I picked up Matt Riordan's debut novel, "The North Line," I wasn't sure what to expect—it's not the kind of book I usually go for. But wow, did it surprise me. Riordan pulls from his time on fishing boats to write a story that's full of action and high-seas drama and rings true in a way that only someone who's lived it could capture.

The book follows Adam as he joins a commercial fishing crew and learns to navigate the waters and the dynamic personalities onboard. It introduces a cast of characters that are as strange as they are intriguing. Even with zero knowledge of commercial boating, the story kept me engaged. I might have gotten even more out of it if I knew a thing or two about the industry, but that didn't really matter overall.

Riordan's storytelling blends excitement with humor and personality. It's impressive how he's crafted such a fascinating read, and it definitely makes me want to see where he'll go next. Overall, "The North Line" earns four out of five stars from me. I definitely recommend this book if you're in the mood for something that combines real-life grit with the thrill of adventure.

A stunning debut! I didn’t think that a book about the fishing industry in Alaska would be something I would be interested in but I loved this. Very tense, lots of insight into the brutality of the industry. You can tell that the authors experience on fishing boats really informed his writing, giving an authenticity to this story Gritty, raw and tense. Lots of colorful language. Exactly what you would expect with three men alone on a boat spending every minute together. Adam, a lacrosse player in college loses his scholarship after selling drugs. He needs to make enough money to cover his last year of tuition. How far will he go to make the money he needs? How much can he endure? So much happens. Exciting read

The North Line was a cautionary tale of the outcomes our bad decisions can lead to. We follow the main character Adam, as he starts his first ‘green’ year of commercial fishing – an occupation not for the faint of heart. I was fascinated by his story, the evolution of his character, and the twists and turns throughout the book. I think this book captures many facets of human nature without throwing it ‘in your face’. While the ending was good, it felt a bit abrupt. I would have liked to read more about what happens next for Adam. Thank you Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley for the eARC.

A great book with great characters but it was t completely my style book. If you love Alaska or fishing/crBbbg stories you will love this. Great writing too.

Fishing in Alaska's Bering Sea gives Adam a chance to not only make money for his education but also to learn more about himself. The challenges and hard life on an aging fishing boat offers him a chance to see himself differently. Well written and readable.

Really enjoyed this one. My dad is the captain of a commercial fishing boat and I’ve been up twice and I felt like the author did a great job capturing what it’s really like up there. Well written characters and plot.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Matt Riordan - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Adam is a college student, an athlete, never quite feeling like he fit in. But one big mistake lands him in serious trouble - he lost his scholarship and needs to earn $26,000 to finish his last year of school. Through an acquaintance, he gets a job with an Alaskan fishing crew and he learns what he's really made of. A strike among the fishing crews ignites a whole different powder keg.

Wow - if you would have told me that a book about fishing would be this tense and gripping, I wouldn't have believed it! This is why people watch reality shows such as Deadliest Cast. It sure puts a different definition on the word "work" so that the rest of us can buy our frozen seafood neatly shrink-wrapped into individual portions without too much thought about where it came from or who made it possible. This is gritty, realistic (Riordan did this work and it shows), and your heart will be in your throat. Amazing debut!

The North Line by Matt Riordan is an enthralling debut!
I was hooked from the first page, and the book kept me up for half a night until I was finished.
Riordan is an incredible writer the way he creates his characters was very well done.
The suspense is riveting and this was one story I was glued to.

Thank You NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am not sure what I expected for this story but I was pleasantly surprised by this one! This is such a riveting and well written story! The characters are well developed, likable, real and gritty. It was like watching a version of Deadliest Catch but being on the deck with the men during the mackerel season. The ending was a surprise as well.

Adam joins an Alaskan fishing crew that’s promising quick money as he is a senior in college who lost his scholarship and has some legal troubles. Hired for the dangerous work, Adam quickly embarks on a dark-hearted exploration of who he really is. Adam soon finds himself drawn in to the work. But when a strike threatens to end the season before it even begins, Adam and his newfound friends find themselves in a war between crews and even each other.

Highly recommend.