Hello everyone,
We have entered winter a little earlier than scheduled here in the UK. Yesterday we had snow, and of course that means the temperatures are freezing cold.
With that in mind, I decided to look back at some of the coldest settings I have come across while reading. Here is my top 10!
Ice Court – Six Of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
The Ice Court is in the kingdom of Fjerda and it is the location of the prison where Matthias Helvar is being held. A major stronghold that Kaz Brekker and his Crows are tasked with breaching, any trespassers are met with a similarly icy reception.
The Creak On the Stairs by Eva Bjorg Aegisdottir
This book is set in Iceland, a country known for being cold (the clue is in the name). The cold, as well as the remoteness, is one of the things that makes this engaging mystery novel quite eerie.
Sleep by C.L. Taylor
This is set in a remote guest house in a tiny Scottish town. As the story progresses, a snowstorm prevents anyone from leaving, while the owner of the house ends up dead and one of the guests happens to be a killer.
Ergarth – Beast by Matt Wesolowski
Some of the narrative in this book is based around the ‘Beast from the East’ storm that travelled across Europe from Siberia in 2018. In the small town of Ergarth in northern England, a vlogger is killed on a snowy day and as true crime podcaster Scott King investigates, the atmosphere is chilling.
The Winter Of The Witch by Katherine Arden
The final part of the Winternight Trilogy, much of this book is devoted to Vasya’s relationship with the winter god Morozko. He is not the only element of the book which brings the cold though – the setting as a whole is made to feel freezing!
Ice Palace – The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi
The second book in this trilogy takes Severin and his associates to Siberia, where they enter the Ice Palace chasing acquisitions and something more. All kinds of things happen here which have an impact on each character’s development, and the palace also contains a leviathan. Just by looking at the cover – which is very beautiful – tells you that the setting is very cold indeed.
Dead Secret by Ava McCarthy
I read this nail-biting thriller all the way back in 2018, and one of the most abiding memories was its oppressive setting, as the main character Jodie escapes and evades capture before finding out her husband’s shocking secret.
Northern Lights by Philip Pullman
After escaping Mrs Coulter and going in search of her father, Lyra travels north, where it gets progressively colder. After meeting and befriending ice bear Iorek Birnason, her final destination is Svalbard. She needs every inch of her fur coat.
The Glass Woman by Caroline Lea
Another book set in Iceland, the setting is one of the standout factors here and you can just feel the ruggedness of the terrain, and the biting cold. I certainly felt transported while reading it.
What Beauty There Is by Cory Anderson
I actually do not remember much about this one which I read in 2021, but for some reason the setting really sticks out in the memory as two young boys survive treacherous, wintry conditions throughout.
Honourable Mentions
The Huntress by Kate Quinn
This takes place during multiple timelines and settings, but one of the most compelling images it contains shows a woman known as Die Jagerin shooting down a number of people from one side of a frozen lake. The crime makes the setting feel even colder.
The Hand On The Wall by Maureen Johnson
In this third book of the series, Ellingham Academy is hit by an avalanche. It is during this event that Stevie Bell solves the present day murder cases.
Bone China
Set in a coastal location in South West England, what made the cold stand out here is that a lot of attention was drawn to the windows always being open despite the freezing temperatures.
The One Memory Of Flora Banks by Emily Barr
This book ends with Flora travelling all the way to Svalbard.
Let’s Chat
Have you read any of these books? Which books have you read that contain extremely cold settings? Let me know in the comments!
Happy reading :)
Stephen Reads Books 