Happy Monday! Welcome to a new Butterflies & Aliens Book of the Week where we feature a pick that is backlist, or lesser known, or just something we think is super cool.

One of my favourite types of books to read are fiction novels set in a remote and cold setting with some intense survival element. They can be literary, mystery, horror, historical, or whatever genre, I will probably read it if it has these elements. And I figured out a long time ago that I love these types of books because I am a big wuss and would definitely die if I was the main character (I also loved The Martian by Andy Weir for this reason). Reading these kinds of books allows me to live these extreme circumstances without leaving the warmth and comfort of my home. So, when I saw the cover of The White Road by Sarah Lotz on the bookstore shelf, pre-pandemic, I had to pick it up.

When I discovered that the book also has another one of my favourite tropes, I was immediately hooked. I love really unlikeable main characters that you just can’t help but end up cheering them on. I admire authors who can create characters like this very much.

The premise of the book is that Simon, ex-adrenalin junkie, needs more subscribers to his website so he hires a guide to take him through the Cwm Pot Caves. There is a terrible history to the caves, his guide isn’t exactly stable, and horrible things happen that Simon manages to record and survive. The book moves on with Simon climbing Everest after recovering from the Cwn Pots. And of course, things are not what they seem.

The author nails the claustrophobic creeping dread in the caves and carries the dark vibes throughout. The settings come alive and function almost as characters, the writing is atmospheric, you are torn between the psychological and the supernatural, and the tension builds steadily through to the conclusion. Overall it is a haunting and chilling novel that I couldn’t put down.

So, since the weather is getting frosty again here in Alberta this week, maybe The White Road is your next perfect backlist read while avoiding the outdoors.

Happy Reading!

– Stacey