thereistime's review against another edition
4.0
This was such a great book. It was spectacularly creepy, and the description was great. It played just like a film in my head and I could definitely see this being a brilliant sci-fi/horror film. It reminded me a lot of the film 'Sphere' and had a very Deep Blue Sea vibe to it.
There were parts however that were quite obvious, and I had already guessed one of the 'big reveals' at least 100 pages before it happened. But that didn't stop me enjoying the narrative.
The romance between Mo and Armin felt too fast, and much like an afterthought, like the author had gone back at the end of the book and thrown in a bunch of kisses whenever the two characters were in the same vicinity. But other than that the characters were well rounded, and they seemed real.
All in all this was a good read and I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys deep sea horror.
There were parts however that were quite obvious, and I had already guessed one of the 'big reveals' at least 100 pages before it happened. But that didn't stop me enjoying the narrative.
The romance between Mo and Armin felt too fast, and much like an afterthought, like the author had gone back at the end of the book and thrown in a bunch of kisses whenever the two characters were in the same vicinity. But other than that the characters were well rounded, and they seemed real.
All in all this was a good read and I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys deep sea horror.
emmjay's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Relatively juvenile writing but still surprisingly creepy, though the ending dragged a bit and lost the creepy factor.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Murder
vanessa2603's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
5.0
hello?? i cannot believe this book is so less talked about because i just finished it and I'm reeling. can't articulate my thoughts well rn but it had EVERYTHING i want in a book and the ending has shaken me.
Spoiler
also i love the way the author chose to write this, because the mermaids have fully convinced me. i want to Know 😭
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Body horror, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
f18's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content, Gun violence, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Violence
Minor: Animal death and Alcohol
arachnid contentnikitheunicorn's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
oh my god. this book is insane. loved it
rainbow_grace's review against another edition
4.0
Well, that was chilling. Not my usual type of story, but very well done.
knitcowboy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
It's just not really scary. I did like it, but as a horror book idk. I want to be scared, but with this one I saw every twist coming, and you can only end so many chapters with "and he saw" or "and he screamed" before it itself becomes kind of silly.
I also didn't think the romance part was really that good. The rest of the narration feels very disconnected from that part, and it cuts the tension in a bad way when every time one of the main characters looks at the other and immediately starts to reminisce about how hot the sex was or that how he can't be falling in love because reasons ™.
What comes to the rest of the writing and the style? It felt really rushed, especially the start. Blue just really, really wanted to get to the horror part. Which I think made the story weaker, because the start is needed to establish normalcy which will be later broken, and just who the characters are and why I should care. Other than that, it's an easy book to read, and if you aren't aware of Dead Space, which especially the start feels like a riff of, then you're good, since you can't compare to what is a 100 times a better story.
Anyway, I'm still happy to see gay horror books. And the setting for this one was definitely different and interesting. Overall just an okay book.
I also didn't think the romance part was really that good. The rest of the narration feels very disconnected from that part, and it cuts the tension in a bad way when every time one of the main characters looks at the other and immediately starts to reminisce about how hot the sex was or that how he can't be falling in love because reasons ™.
What comes to the rest of the writing and the style? It felt really rushed, especially the start. Blue just really, really wanted to get to the horror part. Which I think made the story weaker, because the start is needed to establish normalcy which will be later broken, and just who the characters are and why I should care. Other than that, it's an easy book to read, and if you aren't aware of Dead Space, which especially the start feels like a riff of, then you're good, since you can't compare to what is a 100 times a better story.
Anyway, I'm still happy to see gay horror books. And the setting for this one was definitely different and interesting. Overall just an okay book.
suze_1624's review against another edition
4.0
Definitely somewhere between 3.5/4*
A chilling read about deep sea miners and scientists- and all the horrors of something going wrong at 7000ft down. And go wrong they do!
Armin and Mo got together v quickly - maybe we can blame the lack of dating opportunities at that depth!
Once strange things keep happening no one is safe - either from contamination or from those affected. Some gruesome deaths. Seemingly no way out. No obvious cause - beyond the ‘rock’ - for infection and who will or will not.
Set appx 115 yrs in future, we learn of things not going well for the world in short bios of crew when selected as soldiers. Creepy slithery things and a spider! Could definitely visualise as a movie and definitely in the region of a number of deep sea disaster movies.
Some good plot ideas - I was imagining USS Enterprise for the bathyshpere! Sliding doors etc.
The creepy voices. The discovery of a clue in peoples heads and who has it.
Armin and Mo did grow closer in adversity though the ending whilst kind of expected did kind of come quickly so I would have liked more of they why, how etc.
A chilling read about deep sea miners and scientists- and all the horrors of something going wrong at 7000ft down. And go wrong they do!
Armin and Mo got together v quickly - maybe we can blame the lack of dating opportunities at that depth!
Once strange things keep happening no one is safe - either from contamination or from those affected. Some gruesome deaths. Seemingly no way out. No obvious cause - beyond the ‘rock’ - for infection and who will or will not.
Set appx 115 yrs in future, we learn of things not going well for the world in short bios of crew when selected as soldiers. Creepy slithery things and a spider! Could definitely visualise as a movie and definitely in the region of a number of deep sea disaster movies.
Some good plot ideas - I was imagining USS Enterprise for the bathyshpere! Sliding doors etc.
The creepy voices. The discovery of a clue in peoples heads and who has it.
Armin and Mo did grow closer in adversity though the ending whilst kind of expected did kind of come quickly so I would have liked more of they why, how etc.