the_vegan_bookworm's review
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Blood, Vomit, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Misogyny, Violence, and Gore
xwritingstoriesx's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5 stars. I rarely come across horror books with mimicry used as a theme. Something appearing not as it seems/posing as something else is such an interesting and rather untapped concept within horror lit. I really liked that the creature wasn't fully explained and that as the reader, we didn't even know what it was capable of. The imagination can really run wild and that's scarier than being spoon-fed and given all the answers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Car accident, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Trafficking
mermaidsherbet's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Car accident, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Trafficking
Minor: Vomit and Medical content
gssll_lpz's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Body horror, Gore, and Death
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis
howlinglibraries's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
"Came outta nowhere, didn't it?"
There are four things that I love, all of which are present in this book: cryptids, feminist horror, Laurel Hightower's writing, and a story so action-packed I have to devour it in one sitting.
I love cryptid stories in general, and like many cryptid lovers, I have a soft spot for Mothman. (I'm a diehard member of the "Mothman isn't bad, actually, he's just trying to help" club, in case you were wondering.)
When I heard Laurel was writing a story involving him, I was immediately sold, though I did force myself to patiently wait a little while to read this because I knew one of my favorite bookish groups was planning to read it in October. It was so worth the wait!
I loved Addy's character and how angry and full of spite and pain she was over the misogyny she'd faced throughout her life, especially from her ex-husband. When we meet her, she's already jaded and mistrusting of men she meets, and honestly, it was very easy to relate to her concerns and wariness. But that element of the story takes a backseat pretty quickly because let me tell you, shit hits the fan fast in this novella, and once it does, it never lets up until the end.
I was totally captivated and loved every second of this. It would make such a fun horror movie adaptation (*cough cough, side-eyes streaming services*), and I absolutely recommend it to anyone who likes cryptids, creature features, and/or horror with badass, tough feminist heroines. I can't wait to see what Laurel comes out with next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, Car accident, Misogyny, and Gore
Minor: Domestic abuse
babydog420's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Gore
Minor: Trafficking and Panic attacks/disorders
mfrisk's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
As a fan of cryptids and psychological terror this book is a great quick read. Our main character delves deep into her own experiences and existence through being challenged to survive and take on the unknown. Highly recommend this read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Body horror, Violence, Car accident, and Confinement
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Vomit
enchantressreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Addy Treadway is driving alone on a lonely West Virginian road when she has a near miss with an idling van. To calm her nerves, she takes a break from her road trip to a horror convention at a nearby diner and meets the truck driver who was behind her during the almost-accident, Mads. When it starts to snow, Mads offers to help her pass the Silver Creek Bridge to give her peace of mind. As they are driving, however, all of the light is blotted out by something with a dark presence and red eyes, and Addy is thrown into an unbelievable situation. With only her dim flashlight and her ex-husband berating her in her head, Addy has to survive the unexpected in order to flee from whatever is hiding beneath the bridge.
Below is a nice mix of the Mothman legend of West Virginia and The Descent, a cave movie with terrifying creatures. Hightower always knows how to tug at the heartstrings, so there's a story within the horror of Addy trying to break away from her abusive ex-husband and become her own person. Through her ordeal under the bridge, I believe she finally realized that she's capable all on her own, and without Brian nagging in her head.
I'm a huge Mothman fan, even going as far as to visit Point Pleasant, West Virginia, where the Mothman legend is famous. Residents reported seeing a giant winged creature resembling a bat, or a moth, or a bird, with giant red eyes flying above the trees. Not long after, in December, the Silver Bridge between West Virginia and Ohio collapsed, spreading citizens and Christmas presents everywhere. I had the privilege to drive along the Silver Memorial Bridge, which was built after the collapse.
With that in mind, I had very high hopes for Below. I enjoyed the story and the way it was written, but there were a few points that I don't believe were fleshed out enough. I still have some questions! But maybe the questions will remain, as mythical as Mothman himself.
I highly recommend Below for anyone who loves creature features. We surely don't have enough of them in modern horror, and I love to see it.
Thank you to Ghoulish for sending me an advanced copy to review! Below releases on March 29th.
CW: gore, car accident, toxic/abusive relationship
Below is a nice mix of the Mothman legend of West Virginia and The Descent, a cave movie with terrifying creatures. Hightower always knows how to tug at the heartstrings, so there's a story within the horror of Addy trying to break away from her abusive ex-husband and become her own person. Through her ordeal under the bridge, I believe she finally realized that she's capable all on her own, and without Brian nagging in her head.
I'm a huge Mothman fan, even going as far as to visit Point Pleasant, West Virginia, where the Mothman legend is famous. Residents reported seeing a giant winged creature resembling a bat, or a moth, or a bird, with giant red eyes flying above the trees. Not long after, in December, the Silver Bridge between West Virginia and Ohio collapsed, spreading citizens and Christmas presents everywhere. I had the privilege to drive along the Silver Memorial Bridge, which was built after the collapse.
With that in mind, I had very high hopes for Below. I enjoyed the story and the way it was written, but there were a few points that I don't believe were fleshed out enough. I still have some questions! But maybe the questions will remain, as mythical as Mothman himself.
I highly recommend Below for anyone who loves creature features. We surely don't have enough of them in modern horror, and I love to see it.
Thank you to Ghoulish for sending me an advanced copy to review! Below releases on March 29th.
CW: gore, car accident, toxic/abusive relationship
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Car accident and Toxic relationship
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