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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
No. No thank you. A world where insects reigned supreme and mutated?! GIANT SPIDERS AND WATER SPIDERS?!?
What in the H.P. Lovecraft did I just read. The movie The Descent meets H.P.Lovecraft in a chilling tale of spelunkers racing to break world records of caving to the deepest depth in the world. No. Really. Like center of the earth deep. Only they aren’t alone down there.
What in the H.P. Lovecraft did I just read. The movie The Descent meets H.P.Lovecraft in a chilling tale of spelunkers racing to break world records of caving to the deepest depth in the world. No. Really. Like center of the earth deep. Only they aren’t alone down there.
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
An updated version of Verne's classic, this is an interesting cross between adventure novel and creature feature.
Two teams of cavers are taking part in a competition, where the one that manages the deepest descent is rewarded with one million dollars. And, as they hope, quite a bit of fame. They both go for the Krubera Cave in Georgia, with one of the groups expecting to go about 7,200 feet deep. The other one, though, expects to go much deeper. They get in contact with a russian caver that had descended into the cave in the 70s and is now in an asylum, as it took her a year to get back out and no one believed her when she reported of the horrors she had seen. Well, that and a hidden world underground with never before seen flora and fauna.
What she's saying is that Verne's book was actually based on a true story by the long-dead alchemist Arkady Saknussov, who over 500 years ago had found another world at the center of the earth, underground oceans, giant mushrooms and all.
They go for it. And, surprise, they find it. They find the horror as well.
This was a lot of fun. I feel a little bad for rating this higher than Jule Verne's classic. But it is just more entertaining and better paced. The experience went from being claustrophobic to a sense of wonder and discovery. It is not a welcoming world, though, and the sheer variety of different threats the characters are going to face was probably the best part of it.
It's decently written, too, and I only wished that Beck had taken a little more time to establish the characters. They were serviceable at best, and apart from the teamleaders and one or two others I sometimes had trouble telling them apart. They pretty much got the treatment of the characters in creature features (everyone making dumb choices included). And that was a bit of a problem. Because this book is much more than just that. Don't get me wrong, I love me some good creature feature. But that's just not quite what this book is. With better characters it could have been a five star read. It still came close.
4.5 stars rounded down.
Two teams of cavers are taking part in a competition, where the one that manages the deepest descent is rewarded with one million dollars. And, as they hope, quite a bit of fame. They both go for the Krubera Cave in Georgia, with one of the groups expecting to go about 7,200 feet deep. The other one, though, expects to go much deeper. They get in contact with a russian caver that had descended into the cave in the 70s and is now in an asylum, as it took her a year to get back out and no one believed her when she reported of the horrors she had seen. Well, that and a hidden world underground with never before seen flora and fauna.
What she's saying is that Verne's book was actually based on a true story by the long-dead alchemist Arkady Saknussov, who over 500 years ago had found another world at the center of the earth, underground oceans, giant mushrooms and all.
They go for it. And, surprise, they find it. They find the horror as well.
This was a lot of fun. I feel a little bad for rating this higher than Jule Verne's classic. But it is just more entertaining and better paced. The experience went from being claustrophobic to a sense of wonder and discovery. It is not a welcoming world, though, and the sheer variety of different threats the characters are going to face was probably the best part of it.
It's decently written, too, and I only wished that Beck had taken a little more time to establish the characters. They were serviceable at best, and apart from the teamleaders and one or two others I sometimes had trouble telling them apart. They pretty much got the treatment of the characters in creature features (everyone making dumb choices included). And that was a bit of a problem. Because this book is much more than just that. Don't get me wrong, I love me some good creature feature. But that's just not quite what this book is. With better characters it could have been a five star read. It still came close.
4.5 stars rounded down.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror
Yet another in the "oh, I read or listened to this years ago -and it's not great" run of books. These people kept doing one stupid thing after another. Oh we've just had a friend die, but let's go for more adventure (and not in an intelligent way).
This was like a cheesy Friday night monster flick you watch because it's on.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence
Moderate: Body horror, Gore
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
That was ... anticlimactic.
One of the deepest caves in the world is in Russia. In the 70s, a team of explorers went down to break records ... and in a way, they did. Only one made it out and she was locked up in an asylum.
Now, two teams of cavers are racing to win a bet (and thus 1 million dollars): to be the first to go that deep. Though one of the teams, led by Michael (the MC), actually has other plans since they know of the supposed wonders waiting at the mythic center of the Earth. Which is also why they go visit the woman in the Russian asylum to obtain information from her (a sort of roadmap).
The rest is a typical story of dumb people doing even dumber things. That was one of the most unrealistic aspects of this story, if you can believe that. Because cavers (like climbers) are usually very diligent people who not only know their stuff but also prepare ad nauseum. Unlike these "explorers". *lol*
Inside the cave, there are many pathways leading to numerous different landscapes that were truly awesome to "see". Unfortunately, at that point the author apparently couldn't decide whether to have a fast-paced slasher story with lots of gruesome deaths or stay with the adventure theme, resulting in the reader getting neither, fully.
Not enough blood and gore, not enough time spent describing the surroundings. I think the former weighed heaviest for me. Because the characters weren't just reckless but also stupid and I wanted to have some fun with them dying horrible deaths. *evil grin*
However, the story was still fun and the writing style wasn't bad at all (fast-paced action even if it wasn't in any way ground-breaking). It was just utterly forgettable (I couldn't remember the names of the people after they had died *lol*). But it was still good enough, I suppose.
One of the deepest caves in the world is in Russia. In the 70s, a team of explorers went down to break records ... and in a way, they did. Only one made it out and she was locked up in an asylum.
Now, two teams of cavers are racing to win a bet (and thus 1 million dollars): to be the first to go that deep. Though one of the teams, led by Michael (the MC), actually has other plans since they know of the supposed wonders waiting at the mythic center of the Earth. Which is also why they go visit the woman in the Russian asylum to obtain information from her (a sort of roadmap).
The rest is a typical story of dumb people doing even dumber things. That was one of the most unrealistic aspects of this story, if you can believe that. Because cavers (like climbers) are usually very diligent people who not only know their stuff but also prepare ad nauseum. Unlike these "explorers". *lol*
Inside the cave, there are many pathways leading to numerous different landscapes that were truly awesome to "see". Unfortunately, at that point the author apparently couldn't decide whether to have a fast-paced slasher story with lots of gruesome deaths or stay with the adventure theme, resulting in the reader getting neither, fully.
Not enough blood and gore, not enough time spent describing the surroundings. I think the former weighed heaviest for me. Because the characters weren't just reckless but also stupid and I wanted to have some fun with them dying horrible deaths. *evil grin*
However, the story was still fun and the writing style wasn't bad at all (fast-paced action even if it wasn't in any way ground-breaking). It was just utterly forgettable (I couldn't remember the names of the people after they had died *lol*). But it was still good enough, I suppose.
Did not like.
I'm not a fan of caves; especially when light and air become optional in the environment. So, I was ready for a tense environment. Instead, I get B-rated horror movie shenanigans.
I'm not a fan of caves; especially when light and air become optional in the environment. So, I was ready for a tense environment. Instead, I get B-rated horror movie shenanigans.
“I declare the earth is hollow, habitable within, and that it can be reached via deep caverns hidden about the world. I pledge my life to this truth and I am ready to prove my theory true.”
Cavers go down deeper and deeper, in search of rumours, old tales and whoever inspired Jules Verne. Here there be monsters.
I was in search of something light, some underwater/caving creature feature and this looked interesting. There was one editing mistake early on, otherwise the writing was good. The characters were fleshed out sufficiently. I connected enough to care. It was suspenseful. There was humour. The critters were creepy and the world very imaginative and believable. I had fun.
The ending was maybe a touch too fantastic, however also left the reader with two small plot bunnies, making me wonder if maybe there was a sequel? I would read it. Door 2 would mean reading Jules Verne...
The cave: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krubera_Cave
4.5 troglodytes, rounded up.
Cavers go down deeper and deeper, in search of rumours, old tales and whoever inspired Jules Verne. Here there be monsters.
I was in search of something light, some underwater/caving creature feature and this looked interesting. There was one editing mistake early on, otherwise the writing was good. The characters were fleshed out sufficiently. I connected enough to care. It was suspenseful. There was humour. The critters were creepy and the world very imaginative and believable. I had fun.
The ending was maybe a touch too fantastic, however also left the reader with two small plot bunnies, making me wonder if maybe there was a sequel? I would read it. Door 2 would mean reading Jules Verne...
The cave: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krubera_Cave
4.5 troglodytes, rounded up.