Review: Uncharted by Adriana Anders

 

Uncharted (Survival Instincts #2) by Adriana Anders

Publication Date: August 24th 2021 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

Pages: 384

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Daredevil pilot, Leontyne “Leo” stays home from an assignment, grounded by a stomach bug, but rest isn’t in her future. She’s sent off to fetch a man in the wilds of Alaska before the evil Chronos group can get their hands on him, and the deadly virus he might possess. However, they’re outnumbered and outgunned and from the minute Leo and Elias connect they’re running for their lives. Not only do they have the enemy to contend with, they have the rugged Alaskan wilderness and its fickle weather to survive.

Uncharted was so much fun! From page one it’s an action-packed thrill ride!  The romance between Elias and Lee was a big part of the story as well, and oh-so-hot! Even though things happened fast when you analyze the time they spent together, it didn’t feel fast since Leo and Elias were glued together, relying on each other through all sorts of life-or-death situations: injury, weather, near escapes from the enemy. It bonded these two like nothing else! Attraction was immediate, but trust and respect took a little more time, and it felt like they got to know each other before anything physical happened. Sometimes characterization suffers with an action-packed story, but Ms. Anders deftly worked layers into Leo and Elias without slowing the plot down. I cared about them and was on the edge of my seat hoping they’d come out on-top and happy together!

There were a few interesting secondary characters as well: Amka, the woman who sent Leo off to fetch Elias in the first place, was one bad-ass old lady, and I just loved her! She had her own little side story, and I was in awe! One more that I won’t mention because of spoilers, and I can’t forget Borealis “Bo”, Elias’ sweet dog. The Alaskan wild was almost another character vividly described. Untouched beauty, awe inspiring and deadly.

I read and loved the previous story, Whiteout.  Uncharted lived up to my expectations and then some! While this is part of a series, I don’t think it’s necessary to read the previous stories. Uncharted stands well on its own, however, you’d be missing out on two amazing stories: Deep Blue (Survival Instincts #0.5) part of Turn the Tide, a novella still free on Amazon, and Whiteout (Survival Instincts #1). I’m eagerly anticipating the next one to come!

5 Stars

Book Description:

Hotshot pilot Leo Eddowes is afraid of nothing and no one. So when she's asked to evacuate a man from the wilds of Alaska, she doesn't hesitate. But with enemies in close pursuit and the weather turning sour, what should have been a simple mission quickly shifts to disaster.

And there's only one way out.

When Elias Thorne disappeared, he was America's most wanted. Now he's spent more than a decade in one of the most remote places on earth, guarding a dangerous secret. Leo's arrival, quickly followed by a team of expert hunters, leaves him no choice but to join forces with her—and run. Neither is prepared for their reluctant partnership to flare into something as wild and untamed as the frozen world around them...but as desperately cold days melt into scorchingly hot nights, Leo and Elias must learn to dig deep, trust in each other, and forge a bond as strong as the forces of nature.

Stranded together in a frozen wilderness,
There's nowhere left to run...