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petite_madeline's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5 Stars
Deep in the mountains of West Virginia, Addy finds herself in a dark and horrifying reality.
This novella is not at all what I expected. I went into this book looking for a spooky story steeped in Mothman lore and horror. What I got was a spiraling dark and confusing trip through subterranean terror. I enjoyed it, but it's just not what I expected.
Initially, I was annoyed that all of Addy's internal dialog and advice was coming from the various men in her life. I kept thinking, "Why does she need these men to guide her? Why can't her character be strong on her own." But, without going into to much spoiling detail, by the end I realized that was the point of this story.
We love horror that has a deeper message!
Deep in the mountains of West Virginia, Addy finds herself in a dark and horrifying reality.
This novella is not at all what I expected. I went into this book looking for a spooky story steeped in Mothman lore and horror. What I got was a spiraling dark and confusing trip through subterranean terror. I enjoyed it, but it's just not what I expected.
Initially, I was annoyed that all of Addy's internal dialog and advice was coming from the various men in her life. I kept thinking, "Why does she need these men to guide her? Why can't her character be strong on her own." But, without going into to much spoiling detail, by the end I realized that was the point of this story.
We love horror that has a deeper message!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Death, Body horror, Blood, and Car accident
Moderate: Toxic relationship
stephanieluxton's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book is about a woman travelling alone at night who has to make the decision whether or not to help a truckdriver who had helped her earlier after he has an accident the causes him to drive off a bridge. Also there's some supernatural shit going down.
I heard about this book on instagram reels and I picked it up because it was a short. My expectations were that it'd be a mothman type creature feature but it was so different from what I expected. It's not a traditional creature feature in which our characters are plainly stalked by a cryptid - it's more complex than that.
The ambience in this book is excellent. It reminded me a lot of the movie Barbarian in the sense that our protagonist is travelling alone and doesn't know whether or not to trust this man who is being kind and accomodating to her obvious skepticism.
What this book delivers is a wild ride. For sucha short book, it delivered some excellent little twists. Totally subverted my expectations.
Something this book does well is creating characters you care about in a short period of time.
The writing and dialogue was good. There were times where I felt a little confused regarding the characters surroundings but its a dark night so I suppose it's meant to feel disorienting.
I heard about this book on instagram reels and I picked it up because it was a short. My expectations were that it'd be a mothman type creature feature but it was so different from what I expected. It's not a traditional creature feature in which our characters are plainly stalked by a cryptid - it's more complex than that.
The ambience in this book is excellent. It reminded me a lot of the movie Barbarian in the sense that our protagonist is travelling alone and doesn't know whether or not to trust this man who is being kind and accomodating to her obvious skepticism.
What this book delivers is a wild ride. For sucha short book, it delivered some excellent little twists. Totally subverted my expectations.
Something this book does well is creating characters you care about in a short period of time.
The writing and dialogue was good. There were times where I felt a little confused regarding the characters surroundings but its a dark night so I suppose it's meant to feel disorienting.
It is a scary book. I almost finished it in one sitting just because I was nervous to go to sleep part way through. It's also fast paced and exciting and I was investing it what the hell was going on.
The first three quarters of the book are the best. The ending isn't bad. I think in horror it's often best to be left not understanding what happened rather than getting a big exposition dump but also I HAVE QUESTIONS. I WANT TO KNOW MORE.
I want to know the answers to the questions but I also love speculating. The fact that we don't get all the answers ensures that the reasonings for the events of the book aren't stupid, I guess.
I would definitely recommend this book.
I would definitely recommend this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Death, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Vomit
I don't recommend reading the spoilers because it'll take all the excitement out of the book and it's actually way cooler in the book than it sounds when I write it out. This is not an extreme horror novel.emmyann2319's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A nice fast paced spooky read. I would've liked more since there were all the different bits set up. (The bit with the smiling guy, the trailer, and Mads' coworker hinted to a wider universe I wouldn't have minded seeing more of )
And I loved the interpretation ofMothman actually being like, a chill helper? And helping Addy in the end to escape a world that would never listen to her (I assume)
And I loved the interpretation of
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Sexism
nika_nix's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-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? No
3.5
This one started off so strong but started falling apart towards the middle and it dragged a bit, as if an author didn't know where she was going with the story. I also really didn't like the ending at all. I also feel like the "feminism topics" were a bit too much on the nose. Still a thrilling and creepy horror with good gore imagery and a lot of dark and wintery vibes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Body horror, and Gore
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Vomit
waywardskyril's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
"With her gaze focused on her feet while her mind scrambled for purchase, she was in excellent position to see the hand, bone white and four-fingered, reach from the night and clasp her ankle."
Below by Laurel Hightower was a gratifying read with neverending twists, the interminable thrill melting away the pages. Combined with the skill of the writing making this an incredibly easy read, Below is an enjoyable book that I would recommend to anyone who likes paranormal horror, even though some of the questions are left unanswered and the ending didn't fully make sense.
Below Trigger Warnings at the bottom of the review
Considering this is a novella, there's a ton packed in. You leave the story with a lot of mysteries, but also an experience unlike any other. There are so many twists and developments, it's almost nonstop, making you want to keep flipping pages all the way through the story.
This is especially easy to do with the effortless flow of the writing. This book had an excellent ability to grab its reader and keep them until the final pages closed.
"The snow fell heavy while she climbed, but the inches of accumulation silenced the hillside. Flakes collected in her hair and on her eyelashes, and her feet and hands were soon frigid, her fingers too stiff to grab onto trees and brush on her way up."
The characters, particularly the main character, have some surprising depth, and the MC is actually dynamic, going through some changes by the end of her ordeal.
Overall, she was likeable, but there was something a bit off about her. Her decision making capabilities, logic, and the voices inside her head all made her seem a bit separated from a realistic character, not too far apart, but far enough to take me out of the story briefly from time to time.
In conclusion, this IS a good story, and it exceeded my expectations in writing style and excitement, but fell short in explanation and motivation. On the scale of whether I recommend it, I find it's good enough to weigh decidedly on the side of recommend. It's a thrilling, dark little story that'll entertain any horror buff.
Below Trigger Warnings (POSSIBLE mild SPOILERS AHEAD):
~Past emotionally abusive relationship that is frequently mentioned and heavily on the MCs mind
~Dead bodies, described in detail
~Blood, brains, guts, dismembered limbs (it gets a bit gross a couple of times, but I wouldn't describe it as "excessive")
~Hydrophobia
~Claustrophobia
~Intense; scary; monsters; and near blindness from how dark it is
Below by Laurel Hightower was a gratifying read with neverending twists, the interminable thrill melting away the pages. Combined with the skill of the writing making this an incredibly easy read, Below is an enjoyable book that I would recommend to anyone who likes paranormal horror, even though some of the questions are left unanswered and the ending didn't fully make sense.
Below Trigger Warnings at the bottom of the review
Considering this is a novella, there's a ton packed in. You leave the story with a lot of mysteries, but also an experience unlike any other. There are so many twists and developments, it's almost nonstop, making you want to keep flipping pages all the way through the story.
This is especially easy to do with the effortless flow of the writing. This book had an excellent ability to grab its reader and keep them until the final pages closed.
"The snow fell heavy while she climbed, but the inches of accumulation silenced the hillside. Flakes collected in her hair and on her eyelashes, and her feet and hands were soon frigid, her fingers too stiff to grab onto trees and brush on her way up."
The characters, particularly the main character, have some surprising depth, and the MC is actually dynamic, going through some changes by the end of her ordeal.
Overall, she was likeable, but there was something a bit off about her. Her decision making capabilities, logic, and the voices inside her head all made her seem a bit separated from a realistic character, not too far apart, but far enough to take me out of the story briefly from time to time.
In conclusion, this IS a good story, and it exceeded my expectations in writing style and excitement, but fell short in explanation and motivation. On the scale of whether I recommend it, I find it's good enough to weigh decidedly on the side of recommend. It's a thrilling, dark little story that'll entertain any horror buff.
Below Trigger Warnings (POSSIBLE mild SPOILERS AHEAD):
~Past emotionally abusive relationship that is frequently mentioned and heavily on the MCs mind
~Dead bodies, described in detail
~Blood, brains, guts, dismembered limbs (it gets a bit gross a couple of times, but I wouldn't describe it as "excessive")
~Hydrophobia
~Claustrophobia
~Intense; scary; monsters; and near blindness from how dark it is
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Emotional abuse, Death, and Blood
the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-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? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Blood, Vomit, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Misogyny, Violence, and Gore
mermaidsherbet's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Car accident, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Trafficking
Minor: Vomit and Medical content
killing_u95's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Perfect! Short read at just over 100 pages, but was written to feel like a full novel. Immediately you're drawn in to the characters and feel sympathetic for them, rooting everyone on. Lot of twists and mind breaking events. Can't recommend enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gore, Kidnapping, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Death, Vomit, Violence, Stalking, Body horror, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
sdsmith80's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Brief yet brutal! ***Minor spoilers ahead***
This novella is a quick read, but really packs a punch! The dread and despair were palpable through most of it, which is something I really love. I want to be worried about the characters and whether or not they'll survive. This book came through beautifully.
I also kept wondering about Mads through the beginning. Although we get some insight later on, I'm still wondering just what the nature of his business was. Honestly, I would love to see that explored further. Maybe a prequel someday? Okay, really I just want to see more of this universe, period. I want to know what the creatures are, who else they may have targeted, and what Addy will do with her future. </Spoiler>
This novella is a quick read, but really packs a punch! The dread and despair were palpable through most of it, which is something I really love. I want to be worried about the characters and whether or not they'll survive. This book came through beautifully.
I also kept wondering about Mads through the beginning. Although we get some insight later on, I'm still wondering just what the nature of his business was. Honestly, I would love to see that explored further. Maybe a prequel someday? Okay, really I just want to see more of this universe, period. I want to know what the creatures are, who else they may have targeted,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Gore
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Emotional abuse
bbtea's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I went into “Below” incredibly excited, but unfortunately left my time in the caverns a bit disappointed. The elements of greatness were there; creepy, horrific creatures, the mystery of Mothman, hell on psyche of our main character. But some parts missed the mark of their potential for me, and I also wanted more of the man himself from the front cover in the story.
I’ve seen others love it though, and perhaps its execution just wasn’t for me!
I’ve seen others love it though, and perhaps its execution just wasn’t for me!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Violence
Moderate: Vomit