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es_the_book_hoarder's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
angethology's review against another edition
2.5
You know those pre-drops on a rollercoaster, where you go through those small dives or loops before the dreaded, huge, main one? This book is pretty much like that, but without that huge drop at the end.
"The wonder from the first encounter with the flowers was gone, replaced with laden dread."
"The Luminous Dead" follows Gyre, a caver who is on a dangerous mission exploring a cavern on a foreign planet, while in communication with her handler/boss Em. Throughout her journey in the cave, Em is her only point of contact who makes sure the operation is "smooth" by administering whatever Gyre needs to her technologically advanced suit (or rather, what Em thinks she needs), and that in and of itself is a unique concept, especially seeing how the characters' relationship develop and handle their isolation.
Both of the characters are extremely stubborn in their own ways, and that's clearly why they butt heads most of the time, but also how they gradually bond with each other.
My main issue with the book lies with how repetitive the miniscule the problems or dangers are. It has a predictable pattern of Gyre encountering something problematic, getting angry at Em for withholding information or administering drugs, and Em eventually caving in to Gyre's solutions (no pun intended). Every dangerous incident is just a slight variation of the previous one, and it just becomes superfluous and stagnant.
What's more frustrating is the books seems to want us to believe that their relationship organically blossoms when it feels more like, the flowers are wilting away and still on for the audience to enjoy. With Em's true motivations laid bare, it's difficult for me to sympathize with her, and even more difficult for me to wrap my head around Gyre's seeming resignation of following Em's mission. This change in their relationship is too fast for me (while still maintaining a snail's pace), and a third way through is where I almost checked out. The supposed coldhearted Em who barely communicated with Gyre at first (even on a professional level), suddenly cares so much about her, without even having established a proper relationship — it's too implausible.
I do like the prose and there's a lot of potential, certain individual scenes stand out and if it weren't for the redundancy, the ambiance would be more effective; the sci-fi elements and technology are actyally quite impressive too. I'll keep an open mind in checking out Starling's works.
"The wonder from the first encounter with the flowers was gone, replaced with laden dread."
"The Luminous Dead" follows Gyre, a caver who is on a dangerous mission exploring a cavern on a foreign planet, while in communication with her handler/boss Em. Throughout her journey in the cave, Em is her only point of contact who makes sure the operation is "smooth" by administering whatever Gyre needs to her technologically advanced suit (or rather, what Em thinks she needs), and that in and of itself is a unique concept, especially seeing how the characters' relationship develop and handle their isolation.
Both of the characters are extremely stubborn in their own ways, and that's clearly why they butt heads most of the time, but also how they gradually bond with each other.
My main issue with the book lies with how repetitive the miniscule the problems or dangers are. It has a predictable pattern of Gyre encountering something problematic, getting angry at Em for withholding information or administering drugs, and Em eventually caving in to Gyre's solutions (no pun intended). Every dangerous incident is just a slight variation of the previous one, and it just becomes superfluous and stagnant.
What's more frustrating is the books seems to want us to believe that their relationship organically blossoms when it feels more like, the flowers are wilting away and still on for the audience to enjoy. With Em's true motivations laid bare, it's difficult for me to sympathize with her, and even more difficult for me to wrap my head around Gyre's seeming resignation of following Em's mission. This change in their relationship is too fast for me (while still maintaining a snail's pace), and a third way through is where I almost checked out. The supposed coldhearted Em who barely communicated with Gyre at first (even on a professional level), suddenly cares so much about her, without even having established a proper relationship — it's too implausible.
I do like the prose and there's a lot of potential, certain individual scenes stand out and if it weren't for the redundancy, the ambiance would be more effective; the sci-fi elements and technology are actyally quite impressive too. I'll keep an open mind in checking out Starling's works.
darkntwistybooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
luc_3's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mebius's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Strong start, but in second half becomes too repetitive. With unnecessary tucked romance, but probably these two people deserve each other. Also Tunneler was more scary when we didn't seen it. Open confrontation was lackluster.
lotswife's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
2.75
Super intriguing turns a bit boring about 60% through. You find out the why of the story and it's makes the character's reason for the whole endeavor seem kinda unrelatable. Repetitive after a while also.
mrobison576's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.0
I very much preferred this to the other Caitlin Starling book we read for horror book club. Still a lot more character-focused than I was expecting from a sci-fi/survival/horror book with a monster - I also think the monster was overhyped considering how little we actually see it - but I liked the horrible lesbians and their codependent field agent/man-in-the-chair thing a lot. My main other criticism was going to be about some of the odd choices the protagonist makes, but in the last chapter we find out she is TWENTY-TWO so you know what, I’ll allow it.
dowryofbooks's review against another edition
2.0
2/5 stars
I wanted to love this, I really did!! I've had this sitting around waiting to be read for ages and I finally decided to pick it up while anticipating this authors newest release.
Honestly, this has a strong premise but it just didn't work for me. This survival type story would have played out so much better in a movie format, but on page the pacing lulled and the plot got pretty repetitive. A hundred or so pages could have been cut. Also all of the reveals felt anticlimactic, especially the reason worth risking lives going in this cave. I was just ripping my hair out at every point the main character decided to keep going deeper in instead of turning back after all of the information she was learning about how sketchy the climb was.
I wanted to love this, I really did!! I've had this sitting around waiting to be read for ages and I finally decided to pick it up while anticipating this authors newest release.
Honestly, this has a strong premise but it just didn't work for me. This survival type story would have played out so much better in a movie format, but on page the pacing lulled and the plot got pretty repetitive. A hundred or so pages could have been cut. Also all of the reveals felt anticlimactic, especially the reason worth risking lives going in this cave. I was just ripping my hair out at every point the main character decided to keep going deeper in instead of turning back after all of the information she was learning about how sketchy the climb was.
sourpatch409's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.25
I read a review describing this book as having Silent Hill and The Descent vibes. That's what initially grabbed my attention.
It was not like that.
I was really hoping for more monster/big scary beastie action - like in The Descent. There's little interaction between the main character and the Tunneler (cave monster), and she doesn't even see one until the book is almost over. I also think it would've been more interesting to have had a couple other cavers with her and have them get hurt/killed off, increasing the tension. Reading climbing details repetitively for one person was a bit tedious.
It was not like that.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, and Death of parent