A researcher stranded in Antarctica receives a radio message that a nuclear war has broken out in this claustrophobic survival thriller, perfect for fans of The Martian, The Last Murder at the End of the World and Breathless.

It’s been four months since glaciologist Rachael Beckett left her husband and daughter to join an urgent research trip to a remote field station deep in the Antarctic. But after losing all communication with her crew at base camp, she’s trapped and alone – and running out of supplies. The only information she has about what’s gone so catastrophically wrong is an emergency radio broadcast playing on a loop: a nuclear war has broken out, and Rachael might be the last survivor on Earth.

Abandoned and starving, all she has left is a fierce determination to stay alive in the extreme cold and perpetual darkness of the polar winter. The research she’s gathered about catastrophic climate damage means she holds the fate of the continent and the world in her grasp…if there’s even a world left to save.

Struggling with loneliness and grief over the unknown fate of her family back home, Rachael knows both her life and her sanity balance on a knife edge. As she battles to stay alive in unimaginable conditions, she soon discovers she’s not completely alone in the dark and cold–but she might wish she was…

Published
February 25, 2025
Where to find this book
External links open a book search at the selected retailer. Availability may vary.
Risingshadow

Rating distribution

How reader ratings are distributed across the 1–10 scale.

100
91
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
Risingshadow

What did you think of this book?

Share your experience with other Risingshadow readers.

Risingshadow

Reader reviews

1 review

What Risingshadow readers think about this book

9/10

I really enjoyed reading this book. Couldn’t put it down, I think because it was fast paced, and I was rooting for the main character to survive. I could feel her heat and loneliness. I thought the book was fast-paced and held my attention. However, if I could give some advice to the author, I would say that the crazy strength and other survival actions from a non-in shape woman were unrealistic also reduce repetitive information, like that the Antarctic winters are so much more harsh than summer. I felt there were some personal agenda items from the author related to global warming and “the current president“ (implied) that I personally am tired of. Even with this, the book kept my interest, and I plan to read his next book.

Risingshadow

Readers Also Enjoyed