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gilexia's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Here we go with another highlight of 2024! I've already read Voices in the Snow by her and loved it. And yes, this book was that good too! I loved every page of it. The characters were so loveable and I really empathized with Aidan. He was my favorite character because I connected with him more than any other character in ALL the books I've read this year.
Also, the story was really cool. Great ideas, well executed. Compared to Voices in the Snow, it was a little quieter, less surprising twists, but it had such a creepy atmosphere the whole time. Also the narrative with the past and the present was really cool. Both timelines were special on their own, but they also worked really well together. Plus the ending was quite emotional for me. Really good ending.
Honestly, it's now one of my favorite books and it was just fun to read this book. Anytime again.
Also, the story was really cool. Great ideas, well executed. Compared to Voices in the Snow, it was a little quieter, less surprising twists, but it had such a creepy atmosphere the whole time. Also the narrative with the past and the present was really cool. Both timelines were special on their own, but they also worked really well together. Plus the ending was quite emotional for me. Really good ending.
Honestly, it's now one of my favorite books and it was just fun to read this book. Anytime again.
The moment Cove entered the water, the storm's lashing rain vanished as though someone had put it on mute. Bubbles raced past her as they fought to escape the folds of her suit and return to the surface. Her throat closed over, unwilling to let her breathe when the ocean flooded over her face, and her first breath of oxygen whistled as she forced it down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Body horror and Murder
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Death of parent
Corpseskaneebli's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Confinement and Murder
Minor: Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Classism
sleepye's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, and Death
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Vomit
zandria's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Also submachanaphobia, open water, corpses, drowning suffocationyvo_about_books's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Finished reading: June 7th 2024
“In the brief moment he'd touched the metal, he'd felt the danger of the place. This ship wasn't a gem on the ocean floor, waiting to be found. It was a trap.”
I had a fantastic first experience with Darcy Coates' writing last year, and I've been meaning to read more of her books ever since. I was fascinated by the claustrophobic vibe of the blurb of From Below with the mysterious ship wreck, the dive angle and the promise of something dark lurking within... And I have to say that this story definitely delivered for me. While a tad overlong, the ominous and claustrophobic vibe of this paranormal horror slash locked room thriller made it impossible to stop turning those pages. From Below actually uses a dual timeline structure, where we switch between the present with the dive team and 1928 on board of the SS Arcadia in the days leading up to its disappearance. I wasn't expecting the historical POV, but I understand why it was added as it gave the story so much more dept as well as adding to that ominous atmosphere. The fact that you, like the characters in both timelines, don't have a clear idea what is happening added a hint of urgency, and while certain parts did feel a bit repetitive, it wasn't enough to prevent me from wanting to know more. From Below definitely classifies as paranormal/supernatural horror, so make sure you are prepared for things to get proper creepy along the way... Especially in the second half of the story where things become more intense. Honestly, I'm not sure why the dive team even returns to the Arcadia after the second dive! I would have run away screaming instead... If you are looking for a properly frightening and tense paranormal horror read with a locked room vibe and a truly claustrophobic feel with the majority of the present timeline set 300 feet under water, From Below without doubt fits the bill. It's true that the story is a bit overlong and the pace isn't always consistent, but the plot itself is intriguing enough to keep you fully on board anyway.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
beepsies's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Grief and Death of parent
harpoonholly's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Audiobook read by Abby Craden. She's a fine reader, though sometimes her pacing took away from the story rather than added to it. But, she handled each character's personalities well and their individual moments of fear, anxiety, despair, and joy.
I've been looking for a deep sea horror that is both "deep sea" and "horror" and From Below nails it. It's atmospheric in its description of the SS Arcadia, it is the sublime underneath, making the wider ocean seem like a safe haven in comparison. Coates takes what is often thought of as a Lovecraftian subgenre (to both horror and the gothic) and deviates from the weirdist (weirdism sub-subgenre) norm.
I've been looking for a deep sea horror that is both "deep sea" and "horror" and From Below nails it. It's atmospheric in its description of the SS Arcadia, it is the sublime underneath, making the wider ocean seem like a safe haven in comparison. Coates takes what is often thought of as a Lovecraftian subgenre (to both horror and the gothic) and deviates from the weirdist (weirdism sub-subgenre) norm.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicide, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Death of parent and Murder
There might be more horror/gothic ambience in reading the text directly, letting the readers' imaginations to get away with them. The audiobook was enjoyable, but had a kimd of impersonal, voyeuristic vibe. Of course, I couldn't stop listening till I was through, so maybe not...aas's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
wrensreadingroom's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
svangleboyer's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Darcy Coates delivers another great horror that will give you chills and question whether some mysteries should stay hidden.
From Below follows our heroine Cover and her documentary team as they explore a long-lost ship the Arcadia that sunk and has been located on radar after all these years. Everything appears to be going well until the team enter the ship and then things start to go very wrong.
I am a big fan of isolation horror, and you can't get more isolated than the middle of the ocean. Darcy Coates does an amazing job creating such suspenseful and creepy moments that will keep you riveted. I really like the direction the author took with the idea of a haunted ship because I felt it was a bit unique. I also loved how the author handled writing two different timelines that flowed together so seamlessly. The pacing was very consistent throughout until you get to last 100 pages when things get really creepy.
I love all the characters because they are very interesting, and I loved the character depth of each one. I would have loved to learn a bit more about Deveraux and Roy backstory because they are still a bit of a mystery to me. It is hard to pick a favorite character for me because I related to them all in one way or another, but I would say that Vanna was my favorite. Vanna is very dedicated to doing her job and doing it well even if it could be hazardous to her.
I highly recommend From Below to any fans of the movie Ghost Ship, any fans of good ghost stories, any horror fan, and any fans of isolated locations themes.
From Below follows our heroine Cover and her documentary team as they explore a long-lost ship the Arcadia that sunk and has been located on radar after all these years. Everything appears to be going well until the team enter the ship and then things start to go very wrong.
I am a big fan of isolation horror, and you can't get more isolated than the middle of the ocean. Darcy Coates does an amazing job creating such suspenseful and creepy moments that will keep you riveted. I really like the direction the author took with the idea of a haunted ship because I felt it was a bit unique. I also loved how the author handled writing two different timelines that flowed together so seamlessly. The pacing was very consistent throughout until you get to last 100 pages when things get really creepy.
I love all the characters because they are very interesting, and I loved the character depth of each one. I would have loved to learn a bit more about Deveraux and Roy backstory because they are still a bit of a mystery to me. It is hard to pick a favorite character for me because I related to them all in one way or another, but I would say that Vanna was my favorite. Vanna is very dedicated to doing her job and doing it well even if it could be hazardous to her.
I highly recommend From Below to any fans of the movie Ghost Ship, any fans of good ghost stories, any horror fan, and any fans of isolated locations themes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement and Death of parent