I have always been fascinated by explorers and have had the pleasure to study them academically. The expedition of Sir John Franklin in 1845, to seek out the Northwest Passage in the Arctic has the extra mystery in that the two ships he took (HMS Terror and HMS Erebus) never returned and no messages from the crew ever arrived home. Four years after their disappearance, Franklin's wife and others organised many searches for the missing men, and this novel is a story about how such an event may have been.

The two main characters in this account are based on real people and they are very different. They often clash in their viewpoint, one admiring Franklin to hero status while the other aspires to professional recognition. They connect as they both want to find out what happened to the ships and crew. Their thoughts are shown in sharp contrast as the author jumps from one character to the next and fortunately there are only on a few characters in each scene. The crew members they refer to are names I recognise from historical accounts of the expedition, which makes the story have a genuine thread.

The first half of this book is very slow, with the men making their way through the challenges presented by the ice, descriptions of the landscape and their ailments as well as hunting the few animals that exist in this environment. After the the fifty per cent mark however, the story lifts through some discoveries and life and death situations. My reading patience pays off.

This is a well written if a tad tedious book at times, impeccably researched in historical information, although I'm not sure whether using the spelling 'Esquimaux' for the indigenous peoples makes it more authentic. A story about survival, guilt, loneliness and ambition, and how people can believe in a collective truth despite knowing otherwise.

Bitter Passage by Colin Mills was an incredible story.
And extremely hard one to put down.
The vividness and well written characters were amazingly described.

Wow! This started slow, which had me a little worried as I like my books at least medium-paced. But then it picked up and turned into a haunting story of survival. The prose is beautiful and truly evocative and creates an atmosphere anyone interested in discoveries, survival and exploring the wilderness will enjoy. It's definitely a character-driven story and their development as they are faced with extreme conditions is fascinating to follow. The fear of the unknown, the cold, the isolation, the harsh environment: all of this makes for an incredible psychological journey into the characters' heads. I can't say I really grew attached to them, which might be the one negative I have to point out, but I was fascinated by their stories and reactions nonetheless and my heart hurt for them quite a bit. It's not a happy read, it can't be with this subject, and I was glad to finish it; but the general sense of heaviness and tension was fitting to tell that story. It made for a really immersive experience. Now, I know nothing about the true story, so I can't speak on how accurate this book is, but it is certainly a very convincing read. I'll be curious to read more from this author!

WARNING: it's another unpopular opinion review!!

I love a good survival story, so it's easy to understand why I ended up adding Bitter Passage to my shelves. The cold and unforgiving Arctic setting sounded like the perfect backdrop for this story based on true events, and I've been looking forward to pick it up... Imagine my surprise when I ended up struggling immensely with this story instead. I really didn't want to add another DNF this close to the end of 2024, but I simply didn't see another way out. I'll try to explain below why I came to this decision quite early on.

I can't deny that the premise itself is fascinating and had a lot of potential. It's hard to judge if this potential is eventually met since I only read 10% of the story, but what I did read was simply so incredibly dull. Watching paint dry would be more interesting, and this is not an understatement. Nothing much happens at all beyond the overload of names mentioned and the characters walking and talking... Combine this with an extremely slow pace, and I found it impossible to find the motivation to keep reading. I actually tried reading this story multiple times over the last month, but I kept putting it down instead.

A lot of my aversion towards Bitter Passage had to do with Adams and his constant religious talk. I know this is a personal reaction, but religion in stories is one of my main pet peeves and I just couldn't move past this. Especially since he is one of the key characters in the plot... I've come to the conclusion that Bitter Passage most definitely isn't a right fit for me, and I couldn't bring myself to suffer through another 90% of the story. I've seen reviews mentioning that at least the first third is extremely slow and things get pretty graphic including mentions of cannibalism, so I might have just dodged a bullet here. Most people do seem to enjoy this story though, so definitely don't give up on my account if you think it's your cup of tea.

This is the second book I've read about the Franklin expedition. The Franklin expedition was a group of men lost in the arctic who were never found. This fictional tale tells the story of the men who tried to find him. They found way more and way less than they expected. The arctic is a dangerous place for a group of sailers and trackers.

I enjoyed this book. The pace really picked up halfway through. Don't give up before then!

Bitter Passage is a historical fiction inspired by the true events of a polar expedition set in the early/mid-1800s. The story centres on the journey of a sledge team of rescuers, spearheaded by Lieutenant Frederick Robinson, and his second in command, Assistant Surgeon Edward Adams.

The story begins with the splintering of Lieutenant Robinson’s team by his own command. A core group consisting of him, Adams, and a third (James Billings), venture forward in pursuit of the lost crew of Sir John Franklin’s expedition without the burden of extra men who could slow the process down.

I was drawn to this story primarily because it reminded me of survivalist stories like Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, and mysteries like The Dyatlov Pass Incident. I was completely unfamiliar with this genre of prose going in, but fancy myself the type to read anything and everything.

The prose of this book perfectly captured the gradual loss of one’s faculties and self control when pushed to the brink of both the earth, and even the most resilient person’s limits. I especially appreciated Mills’ personification of the elements as supernatural entities to reinforce the foreignness and ancient, bordering on primordial, existence of the arctic. It helped root the crew of three—even with the giant Billings—as mere specks in the unending swath.

Although a slow burner—as most character-driven narratives tend to be—there was no shortage of suspense and horror in this story. The constant tension between leader and second-in-command kept me engaged to the very end, and even had me a little teary-eyed at how and where our characters’ journeys end (both mentally and physically).

Bitter Passage was an excruciating toll on all its characters, and a titivating extrapolation of the true events it’s inspired by. I would highly recommend it to others, with a reminder of the follow triggers to watch out for: colonial racism (common of the time), ableism (also common of the time), and depictions of gore and violence.

Bitter Passage* is a breathtaking, heart-pounding journey into the icy wilderness of the 19th-century Arctic, and it’s the kind of book that doesn’t just stay with you—it haunts you. Right from the start, this debut novel grabs you with its tension, throwing you into the brutal landscape where survival is anything but certain.

Mills doesn’t just paint a picture of snow and ice; he digs deep into the psychological toll of being stranded in the most unforgiving place on Earth. You’ll feel the cold, the isolation, and the creeping dread as the characters battle both nature and their own minds. The writing is hauntingly beautiful, with a slow, deliberate pacing that builds tension in the most unexpected ways. The character development is a standout, and you’ll find yourself rooting for—and aching for—each of the men on this ill-fated expedition.

While the Kindle edition could’ve benefitted from some visual elements like maps or illustrations (just to help you get fully immersed), these small things don't take away from the power of the story. If you're into survival tales, historical fiction, or stories about human resilience, **Bitter Passage** is a must-read. Prepare to be captivated, moved, and maybe even chilled to the bone. This is one book that’s hard to put down—and even harder to forget. Highly recommend!

Based on true events, Bitter Passage tells the story of the ill-fated expedition to rescue British Royal Navy Hero John Franklin. He, his crew and ships Erebus and Terror disappeared in 1845 while searching Arctic territory for the Northwest Passage. Now on the HMS Enterprise, sent to rescue Franklin and his men, Lieutenant Frederick Robinson, Assistant Surgeon Edward Adams and seaman Jimmy Billings plan to walk, pulling a sledge, to find the missing ships. This doesn’t seem like a good idea and it was not. However, at the time “Empires are made through exploration now, not conquest.” Robinson and Adams form an uneasy friendship although their motives are quite different. Robinson desperately wants to please his harsh father and Adams is atoning for imagined sins. The harsh Arctic environment will reduce them both to men who care about nothing but their survival.

Bitter Passage is more harrowing because it is true. The loss of Franklin and his ships has become a maritime mystery. Although their adventure is fictionalized, Robinson and Adams were a real part of the expedition to find Franklin. The men experience hunger, snow blindness, madness, animal attacks, terror, loneliness and more, and the Arctic will win. This is historical fiction that is impossible to put down. Colin Mills’ evocative writing will put you on board wooden ships, make you question decisions made by the Navy, feel hunger, fright and more. Mills’ background is intriguing and Icant wait to read what he writes next. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Colin Mills for this ARC.

I admit to being a fan of books-both fiction and nonfiction- about polar exploration so I found myself pulling at memories and comparing it to other novels based on the Ross expedition. Mills has brought a fresh eye to the quest to find the missing men. This is very character driven but it's also atmospheric enough for fans of the genre (the smell of frostbitten feet!). You know going in, don't you, that not everyone will survive the ice but who, who will lose their life? Thanks to Netgalley for the ArC. Good storytelling makes it a good read.

A chilling historical mystery based on the true story of Captain Franklin's quest to find the Northwest Passage, the disappearance of he and his crew and the subsequent Royal Navy search over a period of years. The writing reflects the cold starkness of the landscape and the desperation of Lieutenant Robinson and surgeon Adams from HMS Investigator to find remnants of HMS Erebus. Well researched and heartbreaking.

Before I give you my review this book has alot of triggers. This is however a book about trying to survive the Arctic.

This book kind of reminded me of a book I read a long time ago called Lure of The Labrador Wild. This book also describes the expedition and the deteriorating relationships between the men. As the story progresses I actually felt like I was with these men enduring the harshness that is The Arctic. A very detailed story.

If you love explorations and reading about expeditions then you should experience this book.

Thank you publisher and netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and isn't influenced by anyone else

This book is beautiful and brutal. I had a great time pulling up Arctic maps to follow along with their journey. I’m definitely inspired to learn more about the Arctic expeditions.

The pacing was very slow, thought, and I almost DNF’d because of it: there was nothing but walking for the first half of the book. The ending as well isn’t rushed as much as it feels unresolved, which was extremely unsatisfying considering everything that happened on the journey.

Overall a really interesting subject matter and I learned a lot!

Thank you to NetGalley, Colin Mills, and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fictional novel but based on true events.

Colin does a great, if not always pleasant, job at describing the horrors of being stuck in ice - the wind chill, snow, tensions, blisters, hunger. You can feel the wind on your face and the frostbite in your toes. It's very evocative.

It is very much a character story, rather than plot - which isn't a negative for me as I prefer character over plot. And Colin has done well with creating fictional versions of real people. I have heard of the people mentioned in this book, but my knowledge of what they went through is practically non-existent. And so I feel Colin has given me enough to get to know them, but left enough out to whet my appetite to go down a Google black hole and look them up myself.

Having said that, I didn't feel any strong feelings for the characters. I wasn't overly bothered whether they succeeded or not. They're interesting characters and I enjoyed reading about them, but I felt they could have done with a bit more meat on them.

I'd say it focusses more on the characters psyche and mental health rather than what they physically set out to do, which I did like.

It isn't an easy book in any stretch of the imagination. It has complicated topics such as injury, violence, death, difficult relationships, and racism (as was prevalent in the 1800s).

It is worth persevering with. It is quite slow to begin with. I'd say at least the first 25-30% takes some getting through, but on the whole I felt it was balanced enough. I'd have preferred a bit more a bit earlier to keep me interested, but I was glad I kept with it, as it was a good study in creating hostile environments.

It isn't a genre I know well. I can't name many, if any, fictional books I've read regarding a polar disappearance, struggle, and attempted rescue. And considering I read 300+ books a year, it was a breath of fresh air to read something completely new to me.

Like I said, I don't know the true story, so I can't say how much of it is accurate, but it felt like it was rooted in some strong research, and there's clearly a passion on Colin's part in the topic.

I'm not sure it's a book that'll stick with me, but it has sparked an interest in the true story, and I will definitely be looking it up for myself because I am a big nerd.

On the whole I'd say it's a good book and I enjoyed reading it but it did have its flaws. Fairly interesting characters but a bit flat, slow pacing to begin with, needs more and earlier, and I think I'd have to say that if you are familiar with the time period or true story, you will get much more pleasure out of it. But going in blind, whilst in some aspects is great, it can leave you feeling slightly lost at times.

The premise of the book is so interesting, and It doesn't disapoint. Having watched the series about the Terror, I just had to read this book!! Mistery, darkness, and many interesting characters. Totally reccomended.

I remember watching a tv adaptation of this story not so long ago and finding it absolutely fascinating, so when this popped up I knew I had to read it.

The story holds nothing back, it’s a hell of a story, hopeful, desperate, scary, tense…I could go on. I found myself tensing up and holding my breath in the last few chapters - I got rather stressed out.

Brilliantly written, and deeply emotional.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Colin Mills for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Bitter Passage coming out December 3, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I’ve read and watched a couple things about this topic, so I was interested in checking out another book about it. I think stories about the sea and braving the elements are really fascinating. I really enjoyed this book. I would read other books by this author.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys seafaring stories!

In May 1845, Sir John Franklin, commander of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror, departed England to seek a navigable route across the top of the Americas. He and his 128 men never returned.
Four years later, Royal Navy Lieutenant Frederick Robinson and Assistant Surgeon Edward Adams are determined to find the men missing in the Arctic.

I've always been interested in the story of the Franklin Expedition. I looked forward to reading this, but it was a lot different than I expected.

I was looking forward to being immersed in the environment since it is the reason for them being there. Instead this is more of a character study of the men sent to find them. The pace is slow and a lot is overly detailed. The story is also philosophical which I didn't expect or enjoy.

If you stick with it you get an idea of some of what likely happened with the Franklin Expedition.

"Bitter Passage" is a slow-moving character study that focuses on two very different men searching for the truth behind the failed Franklin expedition. Countless books, fiction and nonfiction, have been written about this segment of history and the isolated, strange world of the Arctic. "Bitter Passage" is unique in that it doesn't focus on men on the Erebus or Terror ships, but their attempted rescuers. You might guess going in that things are going to go bad given that we still don't know what happened exactly in the real world, and you'd be right. While I enjoyed this book, it was ponderous. Lots of in-depth character work hanging on a somewhat thin skeleton of plot.

this was a bit of a different book for me but i really enjoyed it! i do wish i had looked into to trigger warnings properly but once i was over the initial shock i really did get into it and was gripped by the end. i felt really entranced by the setting in particular.

thank you so much to netgalley, the publisher and the author for the arc 🫶🏻

If you, like me, have a merely healthy obsession with polar exploration in the 19th century, then Bitter Passage will be a book you want to read. And, for the most part, it was a decent enough way to pass the time. It’s a character-driven book about surviving in one of the most hostile landscapes on Earth, following two men who, to put it bluntly, do not like each other one bit, but are forced to depend on one another for survival. In searching for evidence of another expedition’s fate, they find themselves stranded and their only hope is to continue on across the ice. It’s a book that very successfully evokes that bleakness and the vastness of the landscape around the characters. I think if it’s let down anywhere, it’s that it doesn’t make you feel much for these men. I wasn’t that invested in their survival, to be quite honest, or their relationship and its development (or relative lack of? I feel that could have been done better). I read it to find out what happened, rather than feeling compelled by the plot itself. But, like I said, it was a good enough read and not one I regretted.