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the_books_music_life's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
From Below is set around a crew of underwater divers who explore a famously unsolved shipwreck that was recently found, as well as try to uncover the mystery of what actually happened.
The duel timeline was a key piece of this book it added so much to the story that I think the reader would have been lost without. We get the see the original crew in the days preceding the wreak. The duel timeline also adds even more questions onto the mystery while answering some questions we have in the present.
I did have a little trouble following all the different POV's as it doesn't differentiate who is narrating be it the characters in the past or present. Almost all the characters where well fleshed out and had depth to them. They all had pasts and we get to learn a little about a few of the characters pasts and how it relates to the story.
I still have a ton of questions and I really thought the story would go a certain way multiple times but it didn't and it surprised me. I'm glad the story didn't go in the way I was thinking as it would have been cliché and overdone.
The aspect of the secrets the Arcadia has hidden is wonderfully thought out and you can just tell how much research went into this book.
I did have issue with some of the characters choices and I felt the book was a little longer than it needed to be. But, overall the book was wonderful and I enjoyed it immensely.
The duel timeline was a key piece of this book it added so much to the story that I think the reader would have been lost without. We get the see the original crew in the days preceding the wreak. The duel timeline also adds even more questions onto the mystery while answering some questions we have in the present.
I did have a little trouble following all the different POV's as it doesn't differentiate who is narrating be it the characters in the past or present. Almost all the characters where well fleshed out and had depth to them. They all had pasts and we get to learn a little about a few of the characters pasts and how it relates to the story.
I still have a ton of questions and I really thought the story would go a certain way multiple times but it didn't and it surprised me. I'm glad the story didn't go in the way I was thinking as it would have been cliché and overdone.
The aspect of the secrets the Arcadia has hidden is wonderfully thought out and you can just tell how much research went into this book.
I did have issue with some of the characters choices and I felt the book was a little longer than it needed to be. But, overall the book was wonderful and I enjoyed it immensely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Body horror, Death of parent, and Panic attacks/disorders
shipwreck,honeywine's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Gore, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Death, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Suicide attempt, Medical trauma, and Alcohol
dogearedbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.0
So I realized claustrophobic horror is defintly something that scares me silly. Not the fear of being in enclosed places but more the idea of being trapped somewhere. Unable to escape.
300 feet under the surface with your oxygen strapped to your back INSIDE something you might not be able to get put of, ya that is terrifing. Throw in a haunted ship and you get a very atmospheric spooky ride.
It flashes between past (the week up to the Ships sinking) and present (the crew diving the wreckage). This makes sense because seeing what the Arcadia crew went through is necessary for understanding the ship, but it made the book pretty long. It felt a little too long for me as well as not a satisfying ending (at least not satisfying for me).
300 feet under the surface with your oxygen strapped to your back INSIDE something you might not be able to get put of, ya that is terrifing. Throw in a haunted ship and you get a very atmospheric spooky ride.
It flashes between past (the week up to the Ships sinking) and present (the crew diving the wreckage). This makes sense because seeing what the Arcadia crew went through is necessary for understanding the ship, but it made the book pretty long. It felt a little too long for me as well as not a satisfying ending (at least not satisfying for me).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Self harm, Suicide, Death, and Murder
Minor: Death of parent
ionicbondie's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Murder and Self harm
library_dreamer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
5.0
I've read several books by Darcy Coates at this point. I've gone back and forth with some others about how good I thought they were. Regardless of how much I like them, I always think that she can write the creepiest scenes that will stick with you.
From Below is very different from any of the other Coates books that I have read, but it is gold. If I had to pick something to improve, it would be that more back story to many of the characters would have been welcome. However, that didn't stop me from rooting for them and understanding their actions. The scenes in the ship were eerie and terrifying. The pictures in my head will stick with me for a while. This is the one that needs a movie deal, please and thank you.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
From Below is very different from any of the other Coates books that I have read, but it is gold. If I had to pick something to improve, it would be that more back story to many of the characters would have been welcome. However, that didn't stop me from rooting for them and understanding their actions. The scenes in the ship were eerie and terrifying. The pictures in my head will stick with me for a while. This is the one that needs a movie deal, please and thank you.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Murder, and Suicide
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