Review: Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick
What: Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick
Who: Simon & Schuster UK
When: October 7th 2014
How: A copy of this novel was provided by Simon & Schuster Australia for review.
Britt Phieffer has never been that adventurous, but that’s about to change. Wanting to impress her ex-boyfriend, Britt convinces best friend, Korbie, to take a trip with her and go trekking through the Grand Teton Mountains in Wyoming.
But when a freak storm leaves the girls stranded they seek shelter in a cabin, and find two knights in shining armour, Shaun and Mason, who are also hiding out.
But all is not as it seems, and Britt quickly discovers that the guys are there for reasons other than hiking…dangerous reasons that mean they need to get off the mountain, fast. In exchange for her life, Britt is forced to guide them down, and as they set out on a harrowing journey through the cold and snow, Britt realises the only way to get out of this alive is to pretend she is on their side.
But playing nice is hard, especially when Britt is unsure whether Mason, gorgeous and sexy, is the enemy or an ally. And as she begins to lose track of who is in control it is only a matter of time before things turn deadly…
There are two words to describe Black Ice and they are: hot mess.
Reading Black Ice was like watching one of those crappy B-grade horror movies where you spend the 1.5 hours yelling at the female MC to grow a brain and use some critical thinking. Except Black Ice took a lot longer than 1.5 hours to complete.
Let’s start off with our main character – Britt. As if Britt is a legitimate name anywhere. Britt’s a bit of a rich bitch, if we’re being honest here. Within the first chapter, I had a clear image of the type of girl she was. From the fact that she pouted and used the word daddy *gagging*, to her pining over her dick boyfriend who broke up with her on prom night, to her walking bare footed in a freaking petrol station, to her pretending some random stranger was her boyfriend in front of previously mentioned dick ex-boyfriend – Britt was an idiot, plain and simple. I had no hope for her whatsoever.
This escalated when she internalised about her “best friend” whom which she was constantly annoyed by. Then why were they friends? Beats me. I mean, if Korbie (KORBIE FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST) annoyed her so much, then why didn’t Britt just give the friendship the finger and piss the hell off? Again: beats me.
But it gets worse. OH SO MUCH WORSE. It starts raining because they set out a few hours later than they intended because Korbie was packing shit. For a hiking trip. All you need are warm clothes and good shoes. How long do they really take to pack? Anyway, because of this lateness they get stuck in a snowstorm in Britt’s Jeep (which she didn’t even prepare for going up a mountain like getting windshield wipers). They leave the heater on (cause, you know, fuel means nothing), and then decide to go walkabout in the snow. Enter cabin with two strange men. One of which was Britt’s fake boyfriend (who was so kind because he went along with it – I mean just how nice is he!!!).
So Britt and Korbie decide to go into this cabin with two strange, older guys – Shaun and Mason (nice fake boyfriend guy). Mason is all standoffish (how utterly cruel of him after he had been so nice) – hello warning bells! Shaun flirts with both the girls, gets angry over the tiniest thing (RING RING RING), whilst Mason has more of an urgent: you need to gtfo of this place right NOW (so very mean, isn’t he). Fast forward and Shaun + Mason decide to kidnap the girls and force them off the mountain because Shaun killed some guy and hit and run some chick. Britt convinces them to leave Korbie behind (with some flimsy completely unbelievable lie) and so the three of them set off together.
Okay, these bits are probably going to get a bit spoiler because I can’t withhold my feelings on certain topics. So, be warned: SPOILERS!
So Mason, Shaun and Britt set off to trek their way through a blizzard because Britt lied her butt off about her hiking skills and she has a map of dick ex boyfriend’s (who also happens to be Korbie’s brother). Britt pretty much spends the whole time fantasising about the ex boyfriend and then eventually leads Shaun and Mason to a cabin where she intends to piss off and leave them there. Lo and behold that doesn’t work.
During this time, Mason is still standoffish and Britt tries to “understand” why he would do this when he was so nice when she met him for five seconds at a petrol station. Then he is all self deprecating etc etc.
Britt somehow manages to run out into a snowstorm where Mason follows her. When they arrive back at the cabin, Shaun is in a verbal fight with ex-boyfriend who has found the cabin and is asking for Korbie and Britt. Shaun says that Korbie is back at the first cabin and Britt is off with Mason doing the dirty or something. Then ex-boyfriend (Cal) shoots Shaun dead. RING FREAKING RING.
Fast forward some time. Britt is attracted to Mason, refuses to think about the fact that Cal just murdered someone. There’s a make-out scene or two, in which Britt says that she has Stockholm Syndrome. PUHLEASE. Seriously? Just get out. Eventually she runs away from him because she can’t stand the fact that she likes this guy, and makes her way to Cal’s cabin.
More crap happens and then Britt finds out some shocking shit about Cal and tries to tell Korbie, who insists that she’s lying (such a great friendship here), and helps tie Britt up when Cal asks her to (WHAT? WHAT!).
END SPOILERS, GUYS!
I won’t go into any more details because then you’ll know the entire book, but I hope I explained my hot mess comment at the beginning of this review. The main character was as flimsy as a piece of paper, and the plot was practically nonexistent.
If you’re in need of an eye roll and stupidity abound, I’d say give Black Ice a go.
Oh, one more thing. I absolutely loved the Australian stereotype in the Epilogue! Because everyone from my country looks like Nicole freaking Kidman. And just because you know the words bogan and ute does not mean you should use them. Ever.
© 2014, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.
CHIARA. I just started reading this last night and I haven’t gotten past chapter 2 but already had the inkling this wouldn’t be my cup of tea. Britt sounds so irritating and her friendship with Korbie sounds fake and why was she getting so bothered by her douchebag exboyfriend and walking barefoot at a station? UGH. And ooh she finds Cal’s very marked map and HELLO obvious! I just hate when ‘mystery’ stories are so predictable. Anyway, thanks for confirming my suspicions. I think I’d rather read another book now. *moves on*
EURGH. Yes, Britt and Korbie are irritating as heck and I could not stand them. And the douchebag ex-boyfriend thing was just seriously PAINFUL to read. I think those first two or so chapters really told all when it came to this book.
Yeah, mystery books that are let-downs are sorely disappointing. I hope your next book is one better than this, Hazel!
Oh dear! I have this to review and am about to start it, but I’m now a tad wary of it. I’ve seen some really high ratings for this one, and low ones too so it looks like it could be the type of book that you either love or hate. Thanks for sharing your honest opinion :)
Oh no! I hope you like it better than I did, Eugenia!
No problem :)
Omg this review literally had me laughing. It sounds so silly that I think I might actually like it. :P Just reading it and laughing at how stupid everything is. *strokes imaginary beard*
Yay! I’m glad I was able to give you some laughs, Laura XD
Everything WAS pretty stupid so I guess if you’re looking for that kind of novel, you’ve come to the right place!
Woah, so this sounds like the crappiest book EVER, and damn it ’cause the cover’s cool, *peeved face* but THANK YOU for this review, I haven’t laughed so hard in ages! Loved reading ♥
That’s okay, Safah – I’m glad you liked my review :D
I actually really wanted to read this…until now. I’m kind of scared to pick it up now, but I’m glad that I hadn’t already spent money on it. And that Australian thing- it would be very interesting if we all looked like Nicole Kidman and drove around in utes. Now that’s something I’d pay to see. Anyway, lovely review as always. Also, this text = GAH, it’s love. Am I allowed to marry it or would that be too weird?
x Ely
Maybe you can rent it from the library if you’re still keen to read it?
Australian stereotypes piss me off in general, but it was seriously the straw that broke the camel’s back in Black Ice -.-
Thank you, lovely. And feel free to marry the font ;D
<3
Obviously this book made you emotional in all the wrong ways! I requested a copy of this, even though I’m not a huge Becca Fitzpatrick fan, I think I may regret my decision
Great review, sorry you didn’t enjoy it..
Of course! :P I’m interested to see what you think of this one, Rochelle.
Yeah, it was a shame but I guess I wanted to read it and gave it a shot!
Chiara, can I just say, I laughed so much when I read this “Britt’s a bit of a rich bitch.” Perfect rhyming. Just perfect!
Is it weird that I may want to read this for so I can hate…I know. Sometimes I like to read books that are messes because I love a bit of incredulous laughter. BUT I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH YOU ON THE NAMES. What is with the crazy, unbelievable names?! Great review! I cheated and peaked at those spoilers because I can’t resist xD
Yay for laughing :D
If you want some incredulous laughter and heaps of eye rolling, I would say go for it, Jess! They are in abundance in Black Ice *shudders*
The names in YA at the moment are killing me slowly. I just CANNOT.
Thank you! And it’s okay to cheat with spoilers ;D
Goodness gracious – this definitely sounds like a hot mess! I was already avoiding this because of the negative hype over Fitzpatrick’s Hush, Hush trilogy, but a part of me was hoping she would have improved her writing between finishing that series and starting this. Apparently not.. :( Brittany sounds like a protagonist that would definitely get on my nerves quite easily, and I don’t like the fact that she’s so dependent on other people.
Anyway, definitely going to skip this one. Not sure what’s with all the positive reviews I’ve been reading though; but I’m definitely trusting you here. Thanks for sharing and, as always, BRILLIANT review! Hope your next read is better! :)
I am pretty scared about the Hush, Hush series now D: I own all of the books but haven’t gotten around to reading them, but if they’re anything like this book, I don’t think I will like them.
Britt was definitely an MC that was irritating, and her dependency was incredibly annoying, as well.
I’ve been seeing positive reviews floating around as well, and I think we read different books? XD
Thanks, lovely and I do, too!
I knew I was right in not wanting anything to do with this book! I couldn’t stand Hush, Hush and I know I won’t like this one. But can I just say…Brit is a totally legitimate name (I have gone by nothing else since the age of four)! But I don’t like my name being used for Becca Fitzpatrick’s terrible characters (but at least I’m not called Nora..)
Oh, I know Britt/Brit is often used as a shortening for Brittany (or variations) but it never said that it was a nickname, so I thought that was kind of weird D:
Now I am really hesitant about the Hush, Hush series because I was not a fan of this one at all…
Baha! I’m sorry you didn’t care for it too much but I got a lot of laughs out of your review ;D I’ll definitely be skipping this one, it sounds pretty bad.
Waitwaitwait she really called her boyfriend Daddy? Are you serious? D: Oh my gosh. Korbie and Britt. Ooookay. At least the strange guys have somewhat normal names.
“Britt says that she has Stockholm Syndrome” WHAT IS THIS BOOK. I- I can’t even. This sounds even WORSE than Hush, Hush.
I’m glad you got some laughs, Alise! :D
Noo, she called her Dad ‘daddy’, and it’s just one of those things I CANNOT STAND. It just makes me shudder. Korbie and Britt are horrid names, right? D:
I KNOW. I was like: you don’t just throw those kind of terms around, jeezus. I own the entire Hush, Hush series and haven’t read them yet. Whelp.