A Cartography of Cold

About this book

In 1908 Halifax, an archivist carefully transcribes the fragmented, salvaged records of a doomed 1871 Arctic expedition. Through recovered ledgers, map fragments, and letters, the true story of survival emerges from the ice. The narrative alternates between two young members of the expedition: Silas Thorne, a ruthlessly ambitious twenty-year-old quartermaster who hoards supply data to manipulate his way into a gentleman's standing, and Akiqsik, a brilliant nineteen-year-old Inuit apprentice tracker tasked with guiding the rigid European officers through unpredictable, unmapped channels. When a sudden polynya collapse strands the ship three weeks from their intended winter quarters, the colonial hierarchy begins to fracture under the threat of starvation and scurvy. Silas initially attempts to weaponize his secret navigational notes to bargain for his own captaincy upon rescue. However, as the brutal winter sets in and his logistical data proves useless against the elements, he is forced into a profound moral pivot. Abandoning his transactional worldview, Silas learns traditional seasonal hunting cycles from Akiqsik. Together, they must orchestrate a desperate and perilous ice-run relay to reach salvation. Ultimately, Silas must make a defining choice: claim sole credit for the rescue route to secure his coveted promotion, or sacrifice his ambition to publicly document Akiqsik's traditional navigation and preserve her people's legacy.

Book details

Genres:

Historical Fiction, Coming-of-age, Adventure

Language:

en

Published:

2026-04-15

Content rating:

G