A review by shelby_7664
Whalefall by Daniel Kraus

adventurous reflective sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.5

While diving in an attempt to find his deceased father's remains, Jay witnesses something that few people have ever seen- a giant squid, alive and floating in front of him. The situation quickly turns deadly when a sperm whale comes to eat the squid and Jay becomes entangled in the squid's tentacles and is swallowed along with it. Jay must figure out a way to escape before his oxygen runs out. 
I really enjoyed this book. It was fast-paced and great for readers who like scientific elements included in their thrillers. I appreciated author's attention to detail, although warning to anyone with a sensitive stomach- there are some pretty gnarly descriptions of injuries and the contents of a whale's stomach. The discussions and realizations surrounding Jay's tumultuous relationship with his father gave the story real depth (pun intended), made me cry, and I think will resonate with a lot of people. 
I would recommend this to people who enjoyed Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton, Devolution by Max Brooks, and Artemis by Andy Weir. 

Disclaimer: I received an advance copy of Whalefall from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
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