A review by lauraglovestoread
The Luminous Dead, by Caitlin Starling
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I feel mixed about this novel: some aspects really worked for me, while others didn't quite work.
What I liked: the protagonist Gyre is well developed and complex, the terrifying setting is consistently well established, and I feel like the reader is given enough information to be interesting while a lot of core aspects of what's going on are unclear (as they are to the protagonist, who with more and more time underground seems to become a less reliable narrator).
What I didn't like: the book felt long. I can appreciate this re: the subject matter -- no doubt the caving expedition felt like eternity! -- but some bits were repetitive and could've been shorter. The romantic aspect should've been left out entirely; I love queer rep but it made zero sense and didn't add anything to the plot.
Content warnings: claustrophobia, violence, death, death of a loved one, injury detail, blood, some gore
What I liked: the protagonist Gyre is well developed and complex, the terrifying setting is consistently well established, and I feel like the reader is given enough information to be interesting while a lot of core aspects of what's going on are unclear (as they are to the protagonist, who with more and more time underground seems to become a less reliable narrator).
What I didn't like: the book felt long. I can appreciate this re: the subject matter -- no doubt the caving expedition felt like eternity! -- but some bits were repetitive and could've been shorter. The romantic aspect should've been left out entirely; I love queer rep but it made zero sense and didn't add anything to the plot.
Content warnings: claustrophobia, violence, death, death of a loved one, injury detail, blood, some gore
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore and Blood