A review by ryanwhitley
Whalefall by Daniel Kraus

adventurous dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

While WHALEFALL might not be for everybody, it was certainly for me. It had everything I love about underwater stories: creepy, claustrophobic spaces; and the terror of the unknown depths. I also really love survival stories, and this book scratched that itch big time. The first act of the book was my favorite, as it leaned into my loves and fears about the ocean. The second act was a bit slower for me as I felt it lacked the severity of tension (if that’s even possible for this plot) of the first act. The third act was incredible. Kudos to Daniel Kraus for the research he put into the story: it shows and I appreciate it. And, if this priest may say so, special kudos for his nods to and clear appreciation for the book of Jonah. Some holy books end in questions, indeed. 
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