Margaret Murie's 'Two in the Far North' is this incredible memoir that feels like stepping into a time machine. It chronicles her adventures with her husband, Olaus, as they explore Alaska's wilderness in the early 20th century. The book isn't just about trekking through snow—it's packed with vivid descriptions of landscapes, wildlife encounters, and the sheer grit it took to survive in such a remote place. Murie’s writing makes you feel the crunch of ice underfoot and the awe of seeing caribou herds migrate.
What really stands out is how she blends personal reflection with conservation advocacy. The Muries were pioneers in protecting Alaska’s ecosystems, and her passion seeps through every page. From setting up camp in blizzards to studying wolves, it’s a love letter to the wild. I finished it feeling like I’d tagged along on their expeditions—and maybe even wanted to pack my own boots.
'Two in the Far North' is like sitting by a campfire listening to someone’s wildest stories. Murie’s tales of Alaska—from grizzly encounters to makeshift sled repairs—paint this raw, unfiltered portrait of adventure. The book’s 'plot' is loose, more a series of vignettes than a traditional narrative, but that’s its charm. You get snippets of their research, like tracking caribou migrations, alongside personal musings about isolation and resilience.
It’s not just about survival; it’s about falling in love with a place so harsh yet beautiful. I kept bookmarking passages where she describes the northern lights—her prose turns science into poetry. Perfect for anyone who craves armchair exploration with heart.
If you’ve ever dreamed of vanishing Into the Wilderness, 'Two in the Far North' might be the closest you get without buying a plane ticket. Murie’s memoir is part travelogue, part science journal, and entirely gripping. She details their expeditions with such clarity—you can almost smell the pine resin and hear the wolves howling at midnight. The 'plot' is really their life: setting up research stations, enduring brutal winters, and advocating for preserving places like the Arctic Refuge.
What hooked me was her voice—warm, witty, and unflinchingly honest. She doesn’t romanticize the hardship (Frostbite sounds awful), but her wonder is contagious. It’s a reminder of how much the world has changed since the 1920s, and how much we’ve lost—and could still protect.
Reading 'Two in the Far North' was like flipping through a photo album of Alaska’s untamed beauty, but with words instead of pictures. Murie doesn’t just tell you about her travels; she makes you live them—whether it’s navigating glacial rivers or documenting bird species. The plot’s backbone is her partnership with Olaus, both as life partners and as scientists. Their work laid groundwork for modern conservation, which adds this cool historical layer.
I especially loved the quieter moments, like her observations of Arctic foxes or the eerie silence of a snowstorm. It’s not an action-packed thriller, but the tension comes from nature itself—unpredictable and majestic. By the end, I had a newfound appreciation for how fragile these ecosystems are.
2025-12-08 22:38:49
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I've never been lucky.
I lost my parents at a young age to false treason claims against the Redwood Pack. My cruel uncle Storm assumed my father's role of Alpha in the Pack, and ever since he became Alpha, my life has been a living hell.
When he brings news of the Northern Alpha King hosting a ball to pick his Luna of the North, I know my chances are slim and didn't want to go. But my uncle Storm charges me to act as a spy for him. Gather Intel on the runnings of the Northern Pack and bring to him.
Failure to do so?
He'll have my head.
When I meet Alpha King Elijah Lahiz, King of the North under weird circumstances, the mate bond snaps into place, and we're bonded to each other. However, after a night of passion, Elijah acts like I don't exist and picks my best friend, Raya as his Luna.
Distraught and feeling betrayed, I run away to the South and into the patient arms of the Southern King Jeremiah, to escape my uncle's wrath. Jeremiah propositions an alliance to take down both my uncle and Elijah.
But there's a problem. A huge one, really.
I'm carrying Alpha Elijah's child.
Everything North Campbell believes about her life is a lie. She doesn't discover that until the night her father dies, and she learns he wasn't her father. He kidnapped her as a baby from her birth parents, Jim and Carol Allis. They seem ecstatic to find her, but she quickly learns they, along with their powerful dragon-shifter ally Pytor Douglas, have nefarious plans for her.
She runs straight into the arms of another mysterious group, and they tell her she's a Trueblood—descended from all the mythic races and capable of great power. She's at risk, but the Council assigns her six bodyguards, and the Oracle has seen her future husband is among the six.
North is dragged from realm to realm to learn how to use her powers. That task seems impossible—almost as impossible as choosing just one man from among the six mythics entrusted with her protection. How can she choose between a vampire, an angel, a demon, a witch, a dark elf, and a wolf-shifter when each of the men is perfect for her in different ways? Dare she risk everything and choose them all? Will she have a chance to make the decision, or will Pytor's group get her first?
TRIGGER WARNING!!! This is rated 18+. Alpha Parthe is as dark as described. If you are not into dark romance, please, in the name of everything holy...
***Excerpt***
"My breath just made you quiver," He leaned closer so that I could almost taste his breath, "...Then imagine what my tongue would do."
"I warned you not to play with fire if you are afraid of flames," He added, his voice hoarse with need.
My plump lips parted in response, "I am not afraid to burn for what I love." I had just stirred something in him that had lay dormant all his life.
"Then so be it... Princess."
***
She was an angel craving chaos. He was a demon craving peace. She knew he was hell, yet she chose to burn with him.
It takes a special kind of woman to handle his darkness and tame his demons.
Alpha Parthe comes from a bloodline of cursed Alphas, endlessly consumed by the need to track and kill, constantly plagued by the scent of blood.
The more they kill, the more they want to kill. It only gets worse on every full moon.
No one mated to an Alpha from the Wild Wolf pack ever lived more than two years. And every Alpha from that lineage dies at thirty-three due to the curse.
Parthe vowed never to have a mate or a son. But these vows crumble when he meets a girl he considers 'little and insignificant.'
The fate of Luxuria, who was set to marry the love of her life, Kahel, takes a drastic turn when she finds out she was mated to this cursed Alpha, whom she dreaded with her life.
What happens when his curse gradually seeps into Luxuria, the woman who was meant to be his remedy?
The Ice Between Us
After a devastating fall shattered her career and confidence, figure skater Lena Hart returns to her hometown of Silver Ridge to heal. But the ice that once felt like freedom now feels like fear every attempt to skate ends in panic, every memory drags her back to the moment she fell.
Her coach believes she can find her way again, starting small, a frozen pond, quiet mornings, baby steps. But Silver Ridge holds more than memories. It holds Evan, the hockey star she once loved and lost, the boy who watched her fall long before the world did.
Now, as winter closes in, Lena must face the ice, her past, and the man who never stopped believing in her. Can she learn to trust herself, and him, before the ice between them melts for good?
A story of healing, second chances, and love that refuses to stay frozen, *The Ice Between Us* will break your heart and warm it all at once.
Before the world turned to ice, her family came knocking, ready to negotiate the terms of our marriage.
They wanted more than commitment. They wanted three million dollars and three luxury homes.
My parents shut them down immediately. It was ridiculous.
Then, the storm hit.
The blizzard sealed us inside the house.
With numbers on their side and no mercy to spare, her family took control of everything. The food. The heat. Our chances.
When we fought back, we lost. They dragged us outside and left us in the snow.
We froze.
Then, I opened my eyes.
I was back to before it all began.
On a far away and isolated island, young Ellie has lived her life in the peaceful but rigid town of Bluebay, with one very strict rule... Abide by the peace treaty, never to cross the border into the forbidden forest where the savage and evil 'cold ones' live. But when Ellie secretly steps into their territory, she unintentionally brings their two worlds of humans and vampires together. Ellie is all too soon at the center of betrayal, tragedy, forbidden love and a secret plot to destroy everyone and everything on the island.
Two Wolves' is this gripping middle-grade novel by Tristan Bancks that totally caught me off guard with how deep it goes. The story follows Ben Silver, a 13-year-old kid whose life flips upside down when his parents suddenly drag him on this chaotic 'road trip'—except it's not a vacation. It's a getaway after his dad robs a bank! The tension is unreal because Ben's torn between loyalty to his family and knowing what they're doing is wrong. The title comes from this Cherokee parable about two wolves inside us (good vs. evil), which mirrors Ben's internal struggle throughout their desperate run from the law.
What really hooked me was how Bancks makes you feel Ben's panic and confusion—like when they're hiding in this creepy abandoned cabin, or when Ben starts questioning everything he thought he knew about his dad. There's this one scene where Ben secretly Googles news about the robbery, and the weight of his family's actions hits him like a ton of bricks. It's not just a chase story; it makes you wonder what you'd do in his shoes. The ending leaves you thinking for days about morality, family bonds, and whether 'doing the right thing' is ever black and white.
I've always had a soft spot for quirky, lesser-known stories, and 'Two in the Bush' is one of those hidden gems that deserves more attention. It follows the misadventures of a pair of siblings who stumble upon a mysterious, overgrown garden in their new neighborhood. The garden seems to have a life of its own, with plants that shift and change overnight. The siblings soon realize they’ve wandered into a pocket of another world, where time moves differently, and the rules of reality don’t quite apply.
The story takes a wild turn when they encounter a talking fox—not the cutesy kind, but a sly, enigmatic creature who serves as their guide (or maybe their tormentor). The fox drops cryptic hints about a 'keeper' of the garden, someone who’s been trapped there for centuries. The siblings’ bond is tested as they grapple with whether to help the keeper escape or leave the garden’s magic undisturbed. It’s a beautiful blend of whimsy and melancholy, with themes of family, sacrifice, and the fleeting nature of childhood wonder. The ending left me staring at the ceiling for a good hour, just processing everything.
Margaret Murie's 'Two in the Far North' is such a gem for nature lovers and adventure seekers! While there isn't a direct sequel, her later works like 'Wapiti Wilderness' and 'Two in the Arctic' continue the spirit of her Alaskan explorations with Olaus. They dive deeper into their conservation work and the wild landscapes they cherished.
If you loved the raw beauty and personal storytelling in 'Two in the Far North,' these books feel like natural extensions. Murie’s writing always has this warmth—like she’s sharing campfire tales. I’d also recommend checking out documentaries or biographies about the Muries; their legacy in environmentalism adds layers to her books.