3.5 stars

There's much to enjoy about Wilkes's novel of the Arctic. Her descriptions of the settings, from the ship, to the glaciers to the isolated camps in the depths of the winter dark were wonderful. The interactions between her characters were well-crafted, highlighting their different motivations and ambitions as well as their fears and weaknesses. The tension of the close quarters is cleverly evoked and there is breathless suspense in some of the action sequences. Unfortunately, some of the elements didn't quite work for me.

I loved Jonathan and the idea of a trans protagonist in this very particular setting and his story was fascinating but I wanted just a little bit more of it. The details about his life prior to the expedition were largely limited to the expected difficulties of a trans man living in a very patriarchal society with strict gendered expectations, but there wasn't much about these that made his experience personal. I was also uncertain about his ability to keep his identity under wraps in the extremely tight quarters with several cis men and only one ally. On the one hand I applaud these choices for not centring the narrative on transphobia and Jonathan's more trans-specific difficulties, allowing him to have concerns and priorities that were shared with the other men, but it did leave the narrative feeling a little unbalanced, in particular his relationship with his brothers which was so central to the story but which we only saw in glimpses and hints.

My main problem however was with the ghost story. It felt a underdeveloped and hazy and I found myself wishing that the more overt ghostly events were removed and we were just left with uncertainty over whether the ghosts were there or whether the tension, stress, conflict and hardship were putting the men on edge and highlighting their fears. Some of this feeling is probably down to the comparisons I felt with Michelle Paver's Dark Matter, another LGBTQ ghost story set on an Arctic (rather than Antarctic) expedition, which is genuinely chilling. For me All the White Spaces would have benefitted from some ambiguity, allowing Wilkes to focus on those aspects where the story was strongest. I will still look forward to her future work.

All the White Spaces wears some of its influences on its sleeve. Drawing on both The Terror, and Shacklebolt’s exploration of the Antarctic, it also depicts a trans man learning about masculinity in a subtle and non-overbearing way…. whilst trying to survive the cold and something malevolent that doesn’t like human presence.

I say it a lot, but something I appreciate in stories is the presence of trans characters where their trans-ness is both pivotal to their experience but at the same time is not the story. Jonathan spends a large portion of the story learning what it means to be a man. He starts by assuming it means like his brothers - strong, militaristic, ready to fight, unforgiving of weakness. But as the circle of people around him gets smaller, and things get more perilous, he starts to value other qualities and sees other ways of treating people as demonstrated most clearly in Jonathan’s changing behaviour to James Tarlington, the science officer.

However, as a horror story there were a couple of elements that were on the weaker side. Pacing is a bit of an issue for this book. Parts of the novel are slow and bogged down in detail - we spend a lot of time on the journey to the South which helps with the character work but does little to build suspense and dread. The slow picking off of people, whilst in keeping with the nature of the expedition, and the uneasiness growing amongst the crew also draws out the story in a way the climax doesn’t ultimately reward. What I do like is that Wilkes does both clearly and comprehensively say it is supernatural in text, rather than leaving it ambiguous as to whether it was purely psychological in nature (one of my pet peeves in horror) and leaves the exact nature of the big bad undefined. It could be a malevolent spirit, an antarctic entity that emphatically punishes trespass or a doppelganger, we don’t really get a solid answer or physical entity for the character to attack or defeat.

To conclude there’s a lot here to intrigue and I would definitely recommend it to a variety of people for different elements although perhaps not those looking solely for something to scare them.

Creeeeeepy. Ally Wilkes has written something really special here: a horror novel with a trans lead that is utterly involving (and chilling) from start to finish. I loved the slow-burn approach of the novel, which deftly established numerous settings and a big cast of fascinating characters. I genuinely felt like I had been at sea, then trapped in the freezing cold of Antarctica. Jonathan is a fantastic protagonist, and I desperately wanted him to be okay by the end of the book. All the White Spaces is a stunning debut—it creaks with tension and delivers more than a few chill-down-spine moments of genuine menace. I can't wait to read more from this author.

This is a beautifully written book and such a wonderful, compelling setting - during a post world war 2 Antarctic expedition. I read this over a course of windy, rainy nights and the atmosphere of the book totally matched the mood produced outside. As for the main character - Jonathan - I immediately fell in love. Such a wonderfully drawn perspective and so refreshing to have a transgender voice from this period. A great read!

I mainly requested All The White Spaces for the setting and that part didn't disappoint. The isolation of the Antarctic makes for a very creepy atmosphere. However, a lot of the tension was lost for me purely by the slow pace of the book. I do appreciate that it was less about the action and more about the setting and the main character, but it takes a lot time for anything to happen and I wasn't invested in the survival of any of the characters really. The trans rep was great to see in a historical setting, and Jonathan's character and connection to his brothers was a strong part of the story, but the rest of it just fell flat to me and it wasn't as entertaining or scary as I would've liked.

All The White Spaces intertwines a tense, Antarctic horror with a trans man’s coming of age story.

After the death of his brothers in the First World War, Jonathan Morgan stows away on the Antarctic expedition they had always dreamed of. He’s soon discovered on the ship but manages to convince the grizzly crew to let him stay on. It’s hard work, but he’s never been happier. Until disaster strikes, and the men must take to land in the darkest of winters – where something watches them from the ice.

Horror set in an isolated location is always entertaining, and The White Spaces is no exception. Ally Wilkes masterfully builds tension as the characters realise there’s no one coming to rescue them. The book tackled many intriguing themes. It combines exploration, with a coming-of-age transmasculinity story, and the horror of being a survivor. Set just after the First World War, many of the cast face PTSD and grief, which serve to intensify the horrors they face. However, the character development could have been stronger. Some emotional beats didn’t hit as hard as they should have due to wrangling a large cast and ambitious themes. Regardless, this is a fantastic debut, that fans of Arctic/Antarctic horror should pick up.

Expeditions and seeking to conquer the many wild spaces of our world is something we always praise. It’s a test of humans are capable of. Endurance, strength and bravery It is not just a physical test but a mental one crossing seas, mountains or deserts takes its toll. But in these vast empty spaces who knows what lurks awaiting us and what that will do to us when our guard is down. This is one aspect of Ally Wilkes very interesting horror novel All The White Spaces that explores this facet of humanity but also unpeels how masculinity and bravery are often linked both for toxic and good reasons.

Jonathan Morgan in 1920 stows away on a ship heading for the southern hemisphere with their friend Harry Cooper. Both have been impacted by the aftermath of WW2 which Harry fought in and Jonathan lost both his brothers in. A family obsession of the brothers had been the adventure sof famous explorer James ‘Australis’ Randall and Antarctica. For Jonathan joining Harry’s trip is a chance to honour them. Jonathan is soon discovered but Australis is persuaded to let Jonathan join as a ‘spare’ for the team working hard doing all the jobs as the seas get colder and the weather more inhospitable. The expedition is heading to a previously unknown part of Antarctica that only one other crew is known to have attempted this trip recently and they’ve never been heard of since they left. The expedition soon finds themselves in trouble and the crew all find themselves in danger and aware that the empty spaces around them may be looking back.

This story really pulls you in. Right from the off there is an air of dread and death in the whole tale. Rather than going for bloody loud scenes this is the subtle and quiet horror where the isolation, the loneliness of the estuation being just the only living being for thousands of miles around you while the weather itself is bad enough to kill you; yet alone whatever else could lurk out there. From the off we are aware this a group that all are in the aftermath of WW1 where many of the team fought; lost loved ones or in one imprisoned. Leaving the busy world of the northern hemisphere is a chance for them to resume their older innocent lives before the war but we soon learn all of the crew have their baggage; something that an evil force is only too keen to exploit.

To make this work Wilkes opts for a very precise and informative type of storytelling. We spend a good half of the novel travelling with the team to Antarctica and this really helps to get us into the mindset and approach of travellers back then. The shortage of fresh food, the ways the crew entertain themselves, the dangers of sea travel and the reliance on dogs rather than machines for travel. The world we get to see all through newcomer Jonathan’s eyes is hard tough and we soon realise easily broken if your luck fades. Injury at sea is fatal, taking a glove off accidentally could lead to limb loss and as we head further south, we get the feeling this group is getting particularly unlucky. I was very impressed how organically we get to know this world seeding these facts into our reading rather than constant huge infodumps.

The other apect here and one I think is extremely cleverly done is exploring what this type of activity means for masculinity. Jonathan is a young trans man (and I should note trans people in history have been around a very long time); they’ve escaped the family home to honour their brothers and also be the man they have always wanted to be. But Wilkes smartly asks exactly what is being a man. While Jonathan gets to dress and act the way they’ve always wanted they have only had a certain view of what a good man should be. Brave, stoic and ready for battle just like their lost brothers or how Australis is shown in the papers. What this tale though does is show us many other shades of being masculine. Australis the leader is described in the style of Shackleton as loud, taking the centre stage and makes his men follow him anywhere. This though is shown to have hidden dark sides – moodiness, a failure to listen and a huge temper. We see some men who are living in the moment and others who need a leader to serve (even when the probably could have done a better job). Harry as Jonathan’s best friend is a brave kind veteran, but he is also a man recovering from PTSD caused by the trenches. Most interesting is the character of the expedition’s scientist Tarlington who is discovered to be a conscientious objector imprisoned for refusing to fight in the war. Just after the war we see how veterans take this as a personal insult (reacting in kind) but we soon find out WW1 really was not going to be a marvellous easy adventure and this expedition too is showing the darker sides of humanity. Jonathan as things get harder has to revise their opinion of what is a good and great man and what this means for who they want to be as well. It’s a really impressive angle and handled very well and the use of post WW1 when many Brits were finding they were no longer masters of the world and working out what they want to do next is neatly paralleled. Coming of age for the UK and not just the main character

This tale is slightly more cosmic horror. The supernatural steadily ramps up from strange sights out of the corner of your vision to full on attacks of a very personal kind. It is not explained it is just simply people in the wrong place and wrong time who become playthings of something very inhuman. Working out how this force attacks and how it can be stopped push the story. My only reservation is there are some pacing issues and just when you think the story is ready to fly halfway it loses some momentum. But if you read the various novel parts episodically, I found it worked very well.

All The White Spaces is a very smart, enthralling and compelling story. It successfully delivers that hard task of mixing horror and an exploration of people in a really interesting way and when it gets creepy it gets verrrry creepy; yet there is always a lot of humanity being explored in the story. I shall be very much looking forward to what else Ally Wilkes has in store for us in future work. Highly recommended!

ALL THE WHITE SPACES is the perfect book to read in winter! After losing his two brothers in the war, Jonathan runs away from home with his friend Harry to join an expedition. But this is more than just a fun trip - Jonathan is trans, and for the first time ever, he gets the chance to live as his true self. He works hard to be accepted by the men and be part of the crew. I loved how the book portrays the stifling societal expectations of gender and identity through his eyes.

The chilly setting is atmospheric and the stakes are high. These men have to survive as their minds and bodies deteriorate, supplies dwindle and unexplained events happen. The writing is elaborate, which unfortunately resulted in a slow pacing. While there are creepy moments, I wish the tension is ratcheted up more. The book could have been shorter, I believe the physical copy is almost 600 pages. But if you enjoy historical supernatural horror in the frozen depths of the Antarctic, add this book to your list!

The gist: Having come across one of Wilkes’ short stories (Where Things Fall from the Sky published at Nightmare Magazine), I was excited to get my hands on a copy of All the White Spaces. And I was not disappointed—Wilkes takes the polar horror so deftly crafted in Where Things Fall from the Sky and weaves it into All the White Spaces, bringing fear, terror, and bone-numbing chills all the way.

There is something about the isolation of polar exploration, the imposition of the endless ice and smothering dark, that resonates somewhere in my horror soul, and Wilkes wonderfully captures the descent into chaos and madness that can claw at humanity when things start to go wrong.

If you’re a fan of AMC’s adaptation of The Terror, or Alma Katsu’s The Hunger, then you’re going to want this on your reading pile.

Favourite line: “Sometimes the South just takes a man”

Read if: You get your horror kicks from less than successful polar expeditions.

Read with: Blankets and a heater on hand.

Jo was always envious of older brothers Rufus and Francis; the freedom they were allowed while Jo had to stay at home, their shared plans for the future, particularly their intent to join an expedition to Antarctica led by famous explorer, James 'Australis' Randall. When Rufus and Francis are killed during the Great War, Jo resolves to take up their plan and journey south - even if that means stowing away.

As the expedition leaves any signs of civilisation behind, tension aboard the Fortitude increases. Despite his reputation, not everyone totally trusts him, and the weather conditions are not looking good with too much sea-ice for the time of year, but it's once the Ice proper is reached that things start to go really wrong. A fire forces the crew to leave the ship, taking sleds and heading for the base of a rival German expedition, but this is found empty, and seemingly haunted by ghosts which call men out onto the ice and into terrible danger.



Set in the early 20th century period of great Polar exploration, all The White Spaces is a story of self-discovery and -determination set against a backdrop of icy wastes and encroaching horror. Arctic/Antarctic stories always have some sort of pull over me - the everlasting days of summer, the equally lengthy nights of winter, the necessity for self-reliance and courage against almost over-whelming odds. So naturally I loved this. The ice and its hazards, the gradually shortening days, the complete isolation are all brilliantly captured, and make the reader feel there in this last human outpost.

The horror is finely balanced - not too much left to the imagination, not too self-explanatory (for want of a better word). Maybe it grows from the men, from their deeply hidden fears or desires, or their memories of the horrors of war - maybe it truly is something lurking in that remote place - but the men's reactions to it feel honest and believable.
It's a story for both readers of historical adventure and horror. From the historical perspective there are similarities with Shackleton's doomed frozen-in-the-ice expedition, whose outcome I half-expected this story to follow (it doesn't). In fiction, an obvious comparison is Dan Simmons' The Terror, and if you loved that, either in book or on TV, you'll love All The White Spaces, but I preferred this as it doesn't take a real-life mystery and add unnecessary 'make-believe' horror. That element is an integral part of All The White Spaces, and the story better balanced for it.

All The White Spaces is a historical horror story about isolation, selfhood, and the impacts of the First World War, as a young man sneaks onto an Antarctic adventure. Jonathan Morgan stows away on the ship of famous adventurer James 'Australis' Randall, hoping to chase the Antarctic dreams of his two older brothers who died in the war.

Antarctica and the Arctic have always appealed to me, I think because it is so unknown, that it grabs your attention. To mix horror and history together as a genre is very different but it works in this case! The book has a "survival horror" feel to it and keeps you hooked unit the end.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

All the White Spaces is the brilliantly told story of Johnathan Morgan who stows away on the ship of renowned explorer James Randall and his expedition to the Antarctic. Johnathan’s brothers were obsessed with Randall and his daring exploits, wanting nothing more to return from the war and join his crew. When both Rufus and Francis die from their wounds overseas, Johnathan knows he must fulfill that dream for them. As their ship gets closer to the Antarctic, there is a strange sense of unease on the ship. When disaster strikes the crew has no choice but to abandon ship and find somewhere to survive in the frozen landscape. As darkness descends the expedition soon fear they are not alone – is there something hunting them or is the cruel frozen landscape driving them mad?

This book sucked me in right from the very first page. All the White Spaces is my first five-star read of 2022 and it’s such a compelling story. It was brimming with atmosphere, I loved the way the tension built and built as things progressed. The writing really brought the frozen tundra to life and there were more than a few scenes that sent a shiver down my spine. I honestly couldn’t put this book down and I ended up reading right into the middle of the night because I had to know how it was going to end.

This book has such fascinating characters and I think they’re what captivated me so much. Johnathan – dealing with the loss of his brothers, finally feeling like he’s in the place he’s supposed to be. There were so many characters that I liked and each was dealing with their own trauma from all that had happened during the war. All the White Spaces is an incredible book, one I cannot wait to reread in the future. This book is a must-read and I cannot wait to read more from Ally Wilkes.

All the White Spaces forces its characters to confront their fears as they struggle to survive a seemingly doomed expedition to Antarctica.
Our main focus is young Jonathan Morgan, left behind during the War, who follows famed explorer Randall on his journey to Antarctica. From the outset things seem tense, with certain members of the party resentful of some of those invited. When their ship is burned, the men are forced to strike out for an unchartered space. As they prepare to overwinter in this inhospitable area, it becomes clear that someone - or something - is threatening this group.
The book opens in the early stages of the journey, with Jonathan stowed away and full of excitement at the thought of proving their worth. Though slow, the opening allows us the opportunity to get to know each of the key characters within the expedition party. We see a little of their background and learn that there are many secrets on board, with all having a vested interest in keeping these secrets hidden.
When the ship is found on fire we know someone has done it. We don’t know why, but it forces the men into a situation that is fraught with danger. Slowly, details are revealed that show just how dangerous this area can be…and the creeping sense of horror was well-conveyed.
Once the men are in the abandoned huts, wondering what happened to the German party that passed this way a year earlier, I found myself more invested in the story. The underlying tensions within the party are exacerbated by the events surrounding them. Voices are heard. People find themselves lured into the open, following something they believe. Strange things start happening. Who, or what, is behind this soon becomes our focus.
What we soon realise is that the worst ghosts are those we conjure for ourselves. Haunted by the War and their own experiences, the men have to confront their own ghosts if they are to survive this.
A haunting exploration of identity and historical attitudes, this was an intriguing story. I’m grateful to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this prior to publication.

The premise of this book is really interesting- just after the end of the First World War a young woman, whose two brothers were casualties of the conflict, disguises her gender in order to become part of an expedition to the Antarctic.
Something about the execution didn’t work for me though, I found it slow and not gripping enough to continue with.

Exquisitely written, immersive novel about an Antarctic expedition where a young man sets out on a mission of fearlessness when his brothers die in the First World War. There might be a note in the back of this novel by the author expressing that any errors are hers alone but this novel feels so meticulously researched every part of this story came alive. The character tensions, carrying so much trauma from the war, is fantastically done, as is the unnerving and claustrophobic dread of the novel's setting and its hauntings. Jonathan himself is a great protagonist, flawed and naive at times but told with heartfelt attention to detail. I really liked the way Ally Wilkes wrote so compassionately about Jonathan's trans experience and it added a lot to the novel's impact.

I was initially intrigued by the premis of this book. The characters and the story was something that pulled me in and as a massive fan of The Terror, this was set up to be one of my favourites.

I enjoyed the risks that this book took in its characters and depictions. It was highly atmospheric and the list at the start helped. The twists and turns throughout kept me entertained and the eerie suspense in the writing made for a wild journey.

This was uniquely and amazingly crafted.

Jonathan Morgan is a stowaway on a ship -- destination the Antarctic! Jonathan, set on finding adventure aboard the ship of a world-famous explorer, can finally live as his true gender. Aided by a childhood friend, they prepare themselves for an unforgettable expedition.

I went into this one with high expectations and it did not disappoint! Jonathan was a wonderful character, full of hope and enthusiasm with such a tenacious spirit. I really loved his journey. The chapters aboard the ship were interesting, slower paced but a great set up for what came later.

When disaster struck and the team had to abandon ship the tension really set in. The descriptions of the landscape were brilliantly written. Being in first person too meant that everything felt sharper, more brutal. The story was really unsettling in places and quite bleak but Jonathan was so wonderful I was willing him on and couldn't turn the pages fast enough.

A truly captivating read that I enjoyed immensely!

Thank you to Titan Books for the gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Is it a cliché to say 'this book is creepy as hell and kept me up all night?' Yes, Does that make it any less true of Ally Wilkes' stunningly atmospheric, creeping-dread-filled debut All The White Spaces? Absolutely not! It's almost 2am here and I am exhausted, having spent night after night telling myself I'd read 'just a chapter or two' before bed, only to look up and discover it's almost 3am. Beautifully crafted horror with a compelling cast of characters, a chillingly vivid setting and a plot that grips you, vice-like, and pulls your mind on a terrifying journey will do that, though, won't it?

Set just after World War II, All the White Spaces follows Jonathan Morgan - a young trans man still reeling from the loss of his two beloved older brothers, In an attempt to honour his brothers' memory - and to find his own way outside of his parents' expectations -, Jonathan convinces family friend Harry to help him stows away on an Antarctic expedition, led by his brothers' hero Lord Randall. But, of course, disaster strikes and the crew find themselves stranded in the vast, frozen no man's land, with no hope of rescue, dwindling supplies and - soon enough - a very dwindling number of men. Because there's something ghost-like lurking beneath the Aurora Borealis and, under its influence, there's no telling who Jonathan can trust. Not even himself...

I was utterly absorbed remarkable historical horror - which somehow manages to tackles themes of grief, family, gender identity and the vey real gruesomeness of war, all while creating an atmosphere of slow-burning dread which build to a fast-paced and nightmarish climax in the final chapters, Jonathan's distress over the loss of his brothers is more than a catalyst for adventure - it hangs over every scene, genuine and increasingly heart-wrenching as the horror builds.

I absolutely adored this book although, maybe, don't read it too late at night (or actually do, it doesn't matter.. It's going to keep you awake either way).

There were elements of this book that I really enjoyed particularly in the first half of the book ,I loved the fact that the narrator of the story was a trans man which at the time the book was set just after the First World War was very unusual .Their difficulties accepting life as an Edwardian woman was described beautifully .Growing up with 2 older adored male siblings being lost in the final stages of war just when it seemed they were safe and coming home it was clear from the start that Jo was struggling
I loved the early descriptions of the boat journey down to the Antarctic with a male family friend .The scene is set for something not being quite right with the trip early on
Once in the Antarctic and suffering from i cold isolation and the other worldly southern lights of the aurora borealis the book is at times terrifying and exciting
My one negative comment was that I felt the spooky second 2/3 of the book was a bit repetitive.I usually read is book in one setting but I felt I needed to put this one down and come back to it to appreciate it fully .I personally would have liked less of this part of the book and would have enjoyed it more
I loved the section in the ice crevice very scary and sad

An Antarctic expedition, at the close of the first world war, goes horrifically awry and untold horrors are revealed in this historical horror novel.

I appreciated how slow the horrifying elements this contained were to appear and how the reader was intimately introduced to the characters and this world first. I felt I understood ship life, the placement for each individual, and their interpersonal relationships well enough so that any initial confusion was waylaid long before the insidious elements were drip-fed into the novel.

I also highly appreciated all that occurring between and around each scene that was presented to the reader. Much was inferred about cultural and societal expectations, largely regarding gender, and many struggles were faced by these characters when they refused to be defined by these narrow margins or packaged into these tight boxes. I thought the author focused on these with a grace and sensitivity that never overshadowed the suffering of these character's historical counterparts and allowed their true selves to shine through from the confines of time and these pages.