Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.36 AVERAGE
3.36 AVERAGE
medium-paced
One of the most claustrophobic books I've ever read, and I loved every minute. This book does a good job at making you feel hopeless, which is what makes it truly horrifying for me. I've only read one other Cutter book (The Troop), and both seemed to grip you in the hand of dread all the way through. The images are grotesque and the emotions are raw. Read this, even if you only read it once.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“The water wasn't the same down here.
Water is what runs out of the kitchen taps or a playground drinking fountain. It fills bathubs and pools and yes, of course, the ocean- but at a certain depth, water becomes a barrier from all you remember, all you think you know.
You're trapped within it, a plaything of it.
Focus erodes. Your thoughts mutate. The pressure.
The pressure.
The soul can't cope with that. It shouldn't be expected to.
Humans weren't built for this. There's a reason nothing lives down here.
Or nothing should.”
The premise of the Deep is promising, the atmosphere was fantastic and certain parts were grotesque but it fell a little short on the execution.
A group of scientists are hunting for a cure to a disease called the 'Gets' which leaves people unable to care for themselves as their memory and mind deteriorate until the infected person finally forgets how to breathe. The possible cure, a substance named 'Ambrosia' is discovered by Clayton Nelson on the bottom of the Ocean and a team is sent down to a special lab, the 'Trieste', to study it. We follow Luke Nelson who is called in to help after all communication, but a strange transmission from his brother, has stopped.
Nick Cutter nailed creating an atmosphere of isolation, paranoia and fear. The idea of being 8 miles underwater in a station where the pressure could kill you instantly if the structural integrity was breached is terrifying. While the views from the Trieste were both fascinating and deeply unsettling at the same time. Luke as a character is so well written you can feel his desperation as the situation slowly gets worse and worse. Cutter did an amazing job at intercutting horrific memories from Luke's past that still tied in with what was happening in his present.
Unfortunately the book fell flat at the ending when it's ultimately revealed what is behind all the goings on in the Challenger Deep and you are left with more questions than answers.
Despite giving three stars I do recommend this book if you are a fan of body horror and psychological horror, you might even find that you enjoy the ending of the book whereas I did not.
Water is what runs out of the kitchen taps or a playground drinking fountain. It fills bathubs and pools and yes, of course, the ocean- but at a certain depth, water becomes a barrier from all you remember, all you think you know.
You're trapped within it, a plaything of it.
Focus erodes. Your thoughts mutate. The pressure.
The pressure.
The soul can't cope with that. It shouldn't be expected to.
Humans weren't built for this. There's a reason nothing lives down here.
Or nothing should.”
The premise of the Deep is promising, the atmosphere was fantastic and certain parts were grotesque but it fell a little short on the execution.
A group of scientists are hunting for a cure to a disease called the 'Gets' which leaves people unable to care for themselves as their memory and mind deteriorate until the infected person finally forgets how to breathe. The possible cure, a substance named 'Ambrosia' is discovered by Clayton Nelson on the bottom of the Ocean and a team is sent down to a special lab, the 'Trieste', to study it. We follow Luke Nelson who is called in to help after all communication, but a strange transmission from his brother, has stopped.
Nick Cutter nailed creating an atmosphere of isolation, paranoia and fear. The idea of being 8 miles underwater in a station where the pressure could kill you instantly if the structural integrity was breached is terrifying. While the views from the Trieste were both fascinating and deeply unsettling at the same time. Luke as a character is so well written you can feel his desperation as the situation slowly gets worse and worse. Cutter did an amazing job at intercutting horrific memories from Luke's past that still tied in with what was happening in his present.
Unfortunately the book fell flat at the ending when it's ultimately revealed what is behind all the goings on in the Challenger Deep and you are left with more questions than answers.
Despite giving three stars I do recommend this book if you are a fan of body horror and psychological horror, you might even find that you enjoy the ending of the book whereas I did not.
adventurous
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
made my brain itch the same way that Luminous Dead did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror
Moderate: Child abuse
Horribly over-written and boring. Cutter tries to write like King and turns it up to eleven, but not in a good way. Skip this one.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Pandemic/Epidemic