Scan barcode
theduchess93's review against another edition
4.0
This was a serviceable, fun subterranean horror story, but the frame narrative about the reality show felt tacked on and not really fleshed out. Most of the plot holes center on that frame narrative -- why would a full-on production company let them go down alone without experienced/licensed cavers? How could they show any of what happened on TV? But overall, very claustrophobic and I enjoyed all of the side characters.
noczombie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-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? No
4.0
kelamity_reads's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.0
This is an awkward book to review.
On one hand, it wasn't a very good horror novel, and yet, on the other hand, I really kind of liked it.
After reading, I went and double checked what its genre shelving was and it's definitely shelved as 'horror'. In that regards, it's a pretty mediocre story.
The situation, especially the television production and health and safety aspects, is extremely contrived and often unbelievable. The male protagonist - Nick - is supposedly claustrophobic but gives only the shallowest indications of it. There's never a real sense of atmosphere or danger since the characters are very capable and level-headed and don't seem to be that concerned by their situation. Not to mention the always dependable satellite phone.
I mean, at no point did I feel like the characters were really in danger. The threat didn't feel that dangerous to me - neither from the environment (good ol' Al!) or the antagonist (wall-climbing doesn't make you scary).
The novel read more like an action story than a horror story.
So, I guess I would have to say that I didn't find it to be a very good horror story.
And yet...
I actually really enjoyed it! It's no work of literary mastery but it was a lot of fun.
I enjoyed the story, despite how obvious and predictable it was, and I enjoyed how capable Jess and Sophia were. I loved that the LGBTQIA+ elements felt totally natural and unremarkable (a good thing) too.
And that's why I have absolutely no idea how to rate this book! I'm going to go with a nice neutral 3 stars until I can figure it out.
On one hand, it wasn't a very good horror novel, and yet, on the other hand, I really kind of liked it.
After reading, I went and double checked what its genre shelving was and it's definitely shelved as 'horror'. In that regards, it's a pretty mediocre story.
The situation, especially the television production and health and safety aspects, is extremely contrived and often unbelievable. The male protagonist - Nick - is supposedly claustrophobic but gives only the shallowest indications of it. There's never a real sense of atmosphere or danger since the characters are very capable and level-headed and don't seem to be that concerned by their situation. Not to mention the always dependable satellite phone.
I mean, at no point did I feel like the characters were really in danger. The threat didn't feel that dangerous to me - neither from the environment (good ol' Al!) or the antagonist (wall-climbing doesn't make you scary).
The novel read more like an action story than a horror story.
So, I guess I would have to say that I didn't find it to be a very good horror story.
And yet...
I actually really enjoyed it! It's no work of literary mastery but it was a lot of fun.
I enjoyed the story, despite how obvious and predictable it was, and I enjoyed how capable Jess and Sophia were. I loved that the LGBTQIA+ elements felt totally natural and unremarkable (a good thing) too.
And that's why I have absolutely no idea how to rate this book! I'm going to go with a nice neutral 3 stars until I can figure it out.
pandasbookshelf's review
3.0
Below | Kev Harrison
Genre: dark fiction, horror
Below is a standalone horror novel by author, Kev Harrison. It is my first read by this author. I selected it based on the mystery horror premise.
The story follows a team headed up by Dr Nick Jones as they investigate an old mine for a travel documentary where Nick’s grandfather was buried alive some 50 years prior. What starts as an adventure quickly turns into something much more chilling, sinister and terrifying.
I’ll start with what I liked. The claustrophobic mine setting is a great location and not one I’ve seen done a ton of times. The dark themes and questioning narrative sets a disturbing tone which permeates through the story. There are trigger warnings at the end of the book for those who want to check before diving in.
Despite this, I didn’t feel very connected to the characters, other than Dr Nick Jones. I appreciate that the story jumps straight into the events, but I’d have enjoyed getting to know more backstory for each of the main characters either at the start or along the way. I didn’t really feel a sense of danger or really fear for the characters. I also found the pacing a bit slow for my liking, very little happens for most of the story, until around 70% in. It’s a slow burn kind of dark fiction that asks deep questions about human nature and survival.
Overall, this was quick and easy to read novella. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.
Genre: dark fiction, horror
Below is a standalone horror novel by author, Kev Harrison. It is my first read by this author. I selected it based on the mystery horror premise.
The story follows a team headed up by Dr Nick Jones as they investigate an old mine for a travel documentary where Nick’s grandfather was buried alive some 50 years prior. What starts as an adventure quickly turns into something much more chilling, sinister and terrifying.
I’ll start with what I liked. The claustrophobic mine setting is a great location and not one I’ve seen done a ton of times. The dark themes and questioning narrative sets a disturbing tone which permeates through the story. There are trigger warnings at the end of the book for those who want to check before diving in.
Despite this, I didn’t feel very connected to the characters, other than Dr Nick Jones. I appreciate that the story jumps straight into the events, but I’d have enjoyed getting to know more backstory for each of the main characters either at the start or along the way. I didn’t really feel a sense of danger or really fear for the characters. I also found the pacing a bit slow for my liking, very little happens for most of the story, until around 70% in. It’s a slow burn kind of dark fiction that asks deep questions about human nature and survival.
Overall, this was quick and easy to read novella. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.
the_coycaterpillar_reads's review
5.0
Below has everything you would come to expect from Kev Harrison. Right from the start, we have the folklore contact. A dangerous mine that has a history of caving in. A grandfather with hero status. A presenter looking for her big break. The characters have bigger balls than I, the mere thought of being caved in is enough for me to put the breaks on. The breath you rely on running short, the darkness making you question reality, only your thoughts for company, no siree, I am out!
This is the third novella I have read from Kev Harrison (previously read The Balance and Warding) and it gives us something different. Nick has revered his grandfather for many years. He’s the ultimate idol, someone to base your life choices on. He’s studied the events of the 1957 cave-in where his grandfather managed to save many people but ultimately, he lost his life. He is given the opportunity to explore this mine in person as part of a new TV show for Adventure TV. He jumps at the chance – it’s one thing agreeing to this from the comfort of your home in Wales but it’s another thing entirely stepping into a mine that instantly triggers your claustrophobia.
The events that transpire are pure horror. The horror of mankind and all the intricacies of a destroyed mind. It examines the heavy weight of action and consequence.
Jess his co-host has had enough of vlogging everything. She’s sick of always having to be on display, immaculate appearance, and fake smile. IGTV is not where she wants to be, and this opportunity is her big break. One thing I adore about Harrison’s writing is the fact that he values characterisation as equally important as the plot. The duo’s adventure below the surface is distilled in fear and a chilling sense of doom.
Below could be compared with The Descent or As Above so Below but I think it’s in a league of its own, no comparison would do it justice and Harrison has created a story that would chill you to stone quicker than a Medusa stare.
Below ensnares the reader with its intoxicating atmosphere. From the descriptions of the impenetrable dark to the descriptions of the rock surface and the random noises that seem to assault their senses were expertly done. You always get an immersive experience and I felt like I was there with Nick and Jess, close enough to hold their hands and try and drag them back to the surface because they clearly aren’t thinking straight! HA!
Below is a testament to Kev Harrison and his skill. Master of folklore. Disturbing and relentless, this author is on a roll.
This is the third novella I have read from Kev Harrison (previously read The Balance and Warding) and it gives us something different. Nick has revered his grandfather for many years. He’s the ultimate idol, someone to base your life choices on. He’s studied the events of the 1957 cave-in where his grandfather managed to save many people but ultimately, he lost his life. He is given the opportunity to explore this mine in person as part of a new TV show for Adventure TV. He jumps at the chance – it’s one thing agreeing to this from the comfort of your home in Wales but it’s another thing entirely stepping into a mine that instantly triggers your claustrophobia.
The events that transpire are pure horror. The horror of mankind and all the intricacies of a destroyed mind. It examines the heavy weight of action and consequence.
Jess his co-host has had enough of vlogging everything. She’s sick of always having to be on display, immaculate appearance, and fake smile. IGTV is not where she wants to be, and this opportunity is her big break. One thing I adore about Harrison’s writing is the fact that he values characterisation as equally important as the plot. The duo’s adventure below the surface is distilled in fear and a chilling sense of doom.
Below could be compared with The Descent or As Above so Below but I think it’s in a league of its own, no comparison would do it justice and Harrison has created a story that would chill you to stone quicker than a Medusa stare.
Below ensnares the reader with its intoxicating atmosphere. From the descriptions of the impenetrable dark to the descriptions of the rock surface and the random noises that seem to assault their senses were expertly done. You always get an immersive experience and I felt like I was there with Nick and Jess, close enough to hold their hands and try and drag them back to the surface because they clearly aren’t thinking straight! HA!
Below is a testament to Kev Harrison and his skill. Master of folklore. Disturbing and relentless, this author is on a roll.
emziethebookworm's review
4.0
Now I for one need more books based off of this kind of horror a mean at first a thought it wasn't going to have anything horror related in it, boy was u wrong on so many levels of interest.
A mean a TV crew going to learn about a man's family member that worked in the mine years ago and what the outcome of it all was, right with the outcome the last 10 chapters or so got really weird and scary, a mean common sense would of told them to get out hut nope let's investigate more, until they come across something not human or animal, what sort of creature could it of been.
What I wasn't expecting was the horrible truthful twist near the end of the book, was not expecting that at all.
I really liked this book, had. A wendigo kind of feeling throughout it which was amazing.
Really wish there was more horror books based on this topic, don't get very many at all.
A mean a TV crew going to learn about a man's family member that worked in the mine years ago and what the outcome of it all was, right with the outcome the last 10 chapters or so got really weird and scary, a mean common sense would of told them to get out hut nope let's investigate more, until they come across something not human or animal, what sort of creature could it of been.
What I wasn't expecting was the horrible truthful twist near the end of the book, was not expecting that at all.
I really liked this book, had. A wendigo kind of feeling throughout it which was amazing.
Really wish there was more horror books based on this topic, don't get very many at all.
rebekahg101's review
3.0
Below is a great example of an author that has great potential. If you liked The Lost Village or early Stephen King this is one book to pick up.
This novel follows the story of Nick and his friends who are filming their journey of exploring a mine shaft that had collapsed and trapped Nick’s grandfather.
This book has an amazing concept that I haven’t really seen be explored too often.
The writing at times seems really simple and more like a YA novel. The characters each had a different voice and you can certainly tell each of them apart, which was a huge factor in me liking this story. I loved the group dynamic. That being said- I did get immersed into the story, the atmosphere was brilliant and very well done. Overall, a fun and short read and a great way to dip a toe into the horror genre.
I feel like Kev Harrison definitely has a grip on what he wants his books to be; he is for sure an author to keep an eye on. As an avid horror reader, I am certainly looking forward to any other works he puts out.
This novel follows the story of Nick and his friends who are filming their journey of exploring a mine shaft that had collapsed and trapped Nick’s grandfather.
This book has an amazing concept that I haven’t really seen be explored too often.
The writing at times seems really simple and more like a YA novel. The characters each had a different voice and you can certainly tell each of them apart, which was a huge factor in me liking this story. I loved the group dynamic. That being said- I did get immersed into the story, the atmosphere was brilliant and very well done. Overall, a fun and short read and a great way to dip a toe into the horror genre.
I feel like Kev Harrison definitely has a grip on what he wants his books to be; he is for sure an author to keep an eye on. As an avid horror reader, I am certainly looking forward to any other works he puts out.
mistylyn's review
3.0
Below by author Kev Harrison is a delicious slice of horror that will have readers all over the world sleeping with the lights on.
The story is that of Nick Jones, a man whose life has been in many ways shaped by the grandfather he knew only through the stories told to him. Nicholas Jones was a twenty eight year old miner when he heroically spirited fellow workers to safety during a mine collapse. As his turn to exit the mine arrived, the entire shaft disintegrated, burying he and two other miners alive. Nick has heard the stories all of his life, stories that sparked his own interest in mining and led to his pursuit of a PhD in mining engineering. The mine where Nick’s grandfather perished was never reopened, and Nick is on a funded mission to reopen the entrance and retrieve his grandfather’s remains—remains that have been in the collapsed mine for over sixty years. Nick is accompanied on his journey by upwardly mobile influencer Jess and camera operator Sophia. Together they descend into the darkness, where they discover that they are not alone.
Harrison’s strength is in creating a setting that is claustrophobic, dark and disturbing. The reader is immersed in this underground world, and it isn’t difficult to feel as if the walls are closing in. As the three explorers descend into the bowels of the mine, the tension builds in an edge-of-the-seat way that is physically experienced by the reader.
The weakness in this book, however, destabilizes reader engagement. The characters are two-dimensional—never fully explored or developed enough to warrant investment. I wanted to know more about Nick particularly, and of the specifics in the stories he had been told. I wanted his background so that I could feel some sort of emotion regarding his experiences in that mine. I also felt like the relationship between Jess and Sophia was forced as a way to make the story seem “woke” and on pointe with contemporary culture. It just wasn’t organic enough to be believable, a shortcoming that would be easily remedied by the inclusion of their back stories.
Overall, an atmospheric book that is a quick read—preferably with the lights on.
Thanks to NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press for providing me a free copy for review. Below is available now at major booksellers.
The story is that of Nick Jones, a man whose life has been in many ways shaped by the grandfather he knew only through the stories told to him. Nicholas Jones was a twenty eight year old miner when he heroically spirited fellow workers to safety during a mine collapse. As his turn to exit the mine arrived, the entire shaft disintegrated, burying he and two other miners alive. Nick has heard the stories all of his life, stories that sparked his own interest in mining and led to his pursuit of a PhD in mining engineering. The mine where Nick’s grandfather perished was never reopened, and Nick is on a funded mission to reopen the entrance and retrieve his grandfather’s remains—remains that have been in the collapsed mine for over sixty years. Nick is accompanied on his journey by upwardly mobile influencer Jess and camera operator Sophia. Together they descend into the darkness, where they discover that they are not alone.
Harrison’s strength is in creating a setting that is claustrophobic, dark and disturbing. The reader is immersed in this underground world, and it isn’t difficult to feel as if the walls are closing in. As the three explorers descend into the bowels of the mine, the tension builds in an edge-of-the-seat way that is physically experienced by the reader.
The weakness in this book, however, destabilizes reader engagement. The characters are two-dimensional—never fully explored or developed enough to warrant investment. I wanted to know more about Nick particularly, and of the specifics in the stories he had been told. I wanted his background so that I could feel some sort of emotion regarding his experiences in that mine. I also felt like the relationship between Jess and Sophia was forced as a way to make the story seem “woke” and on pointe with contemporary culture. It just wasn’t organic enough to be believable, a shortcoming that would be easily remedied by the inclusion of their back stories.
Overall, an atmospheric book that is a quick read—preferably with the lights on.
Thanks to NetGalley and Brigids Gate Press for providing me a free copy for review. Below is available now at major booksellers.
jodine's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.0
"There is no danger down here, Not as long as they can get us out. Eventhen, its only slow danger. Thirst. Starvation. Suffocation."
In 1957, several miners were trapped inside a gold mine after it collapses. They manage to stay alive for several days but are unfortunately never recovered from the collapsed mine.
Some 60 years later, Nick, the grandson to one of the miners trapped, works as a mining engineer and grew up with a granddad portrayed as a hero by the locals. He decides to go back to theold mine, bringing a social media influencer, Jess, and her camera operator Sofia, to try and uncover the secrets of what really happened in the mine. They soon discover unsettling clues to the workers last moments alive, but are they really alone in the deep, dark mine? Or is there something, or someone waiting for them down in the abandoned mine?
If this was a movie I'd be on it ASAP! It has a kind of found footage-feeling to it with the documentary trope and the old abandoned mines which I really love, it added to the creepy atmosphere and added another level of threat with the chance of another collapse. I liked the writing style, it really added to the suspense and my enjoyment of the book. I would definitely recommend this to any horror reader.
The ending was a bit drawn out I think, but the plot twist was fun and the method of the characters figuring things out and piecing the events together with the help of the diary pages found in the cave was a nice detail.
TW: cannibalism, body horror, kidnapping, claustrophobia, injury detail, death
Genres: horror
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.
*MILD SPOILER*
"With his own breats silenced, it was undeniable. The unmistakable sound of someone panting." "His vision darted up, the cone of light following close behind. But there was no one. Nothing."
I was reading this in bed at night and managed to scare my husband trying to sleep next to me when I shouted "SOMETHING IS BREATHING INSIDE THE CAVE!"
In 1957, several miners were trapped inside a gold mine after it collapses. They manage to stay alive for several days but are unfortunately never recovered from the collapsed mine.
Some 60 years later, Nick, the grandson to one of the miners trapped, works as a mining engineer and grew up with a granddad portrayed as a hero by the locals. He decides to go back to theold mine, bringing a social media influencer, Jess, and her camera operator Sofia, to try and uncover the secrets of what really happened in the mine. They soon discover unsettling clues to the workers last moments alive, but are they really alone in the deep, dark mine? Or is there something, or someone waiting for them down in the abandoned mine?
If this was a movie I'd be on it ASAP! It has a kind of found footage-feeling to it with the documentary trope and the old abandoned mines which I really love, it added to the creepy atmosphere and added another level of threat with the chance of another collapse. I liked the writing style, it really added to the suspense and my enjoyment of the book. I would definitely recommend this to any horror reader.
The ending was a bit drawn out I think, but the plot twist was fun and the method of the characters figuring things out and piecing the events together with the help of the diary pages found in the cave was a nice detail.
TW: cannibalism, body horror, kidnapping, claustrophobia, injury detail, death
Genres: horror
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.
*MILD SPOILER*
"With his own breats silenced, it was undeniable. The unmistakable sound of someone panting." "His vision darted up, the cone of light following close behind. But there was no one. Nothing."
I was reading this in bed at night and managed to scare my husband trying to sleep next to me when I shouted "SOMETHING IS BREATHING INSIDE THE CAVE!"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Cannibalism, Death, Body horror, and Injury/Injury detail
bbehring12's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0