Review: Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick - more romance than thrill

Title: Black Ice 

Author: Becca Fitzpatrick

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Canada

Publication date: October 7, 2014

Genre(s): Young Adult (Contemporary/Thriller)

Source: Publisher

Format: ARC 

Pages: 392

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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 had such a great premise. I'm a sucker for any type of thrillers.. whether psychological, murder, or mystery. Knowing Black Ice involves kidnapping and trying to escape the kidnappers, I had to get my hands on it. Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing an ARC! I really like Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush Hush saga, so I was expecting an amazing romance, thrilling fast paced plot, and likable characters. Unfortunately every single one of these points was lacking. This doesn't mean I didn't like the book, because I did. I just didn't like it as much as I hoped I would. 

 

The story takes a while to kick off.. almost 80 pages to finally continue on to the unknown, when the girls get kidnapped. I'm all for building the whole plot and storyline.. but this is a contemporary, you don't need any world building like in fantasy, paranormal, and dystopian books. Still, I was patient. I wasn't the biggest fan of Britt though. Right before the kidnapping, she had several weird vibes from the two future kidnappers but she chose to ignore every single hunch she's had. The whole time I was virtually banging my head on a wall. Also, Britt's supposed friend? ugh that is one toxic and unhealthy friendship. I honestly didn't understand Britt and why she bothered staying friends with Korbie when all the girl did was try to prove how much better she is to Britt. Once the kidnapping actually happens, that's when the plot picks up. Another plot line that picks up is the romance and dear God I wasn't on board with that at all. I really tried liking Britt and the guy but I just couldn't. So I just tried ignoring the romance (again, something I've come to automatically do in a ton of YA books).  

The big mystery in Black Ice is who the killer is. The first chapter is set several months before (in April), where you read the POV of one of the girls that ended up being murdered by the mystery killer. He (no spoilers, you find out it's a male from that first chapter) has actually killed several girls around their area in the past year. I honestly guessed who the killer was very early on and I was correct so the shocking factor didn't work for me. However I do have to say I did like who Fitzpatrick chose to be the killer, their motive, and why they killed. It was quite brilliant. I personally was a tad bit disappointed in this book because I had pegged it as becoming a favorite thriller/mystery. I do think fans of romance and ones who never really delved into the mystery/thriller books would enjoy it and love the mystery.