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suncourts's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
hsurbaugh's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
sydneynolannn's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
no_shelfcontrol95's review against another edition
I love Darcy Coates to death. Sadly, this bad boy was not for me. Those first chapters say a lot about a book and it just did not grabbed my attention. I’m honestly sad, the plot is great but it’s missing something.
gmc16's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
actually_a_tardigrade's review
3.75
One of my favorite settings for horror is deep sea or cave diving, so this book was right up my alley! Also, I like Coates' work a lot and find her prose evocative and easy to read, even if one particular story or other isn't a favorite.
From Below is a solid horror novel that gave me a physical reaction - tight chest, cringing, the whole deal. The atmosphere is well-set and the general flow of the story is fast and kept me engaged. The action starts almost immediately and the first flashback scene is so tantalizing creepy.
My complaints are mostly to do with the characters. They all fell a bit flat and there's not a ton of development. On the one hand, the book does move quickly and it's very much a plot-motivated story imo, but on the other hand, I would have maybe liked a bit more time before the first dive to get to know the crew. It might have helped with some of the vague confusion and annoyance I felt when they acted in ways that were harmful to themselves or the team. Additionally, the ending was bit rushed. I would have liked to see how the crews' experiences in the ship followed them and impacted their lives briefly, rather than just being told that this was the case.
Despite these two complaints, I would still highly recommend this novel as a spooky read, especially for those who like any sort of horror to do with the ocean or diving.
From Below is a solid horror novel that gave me a physical reaction - tight chest, cringing, the whole deal. The atmosphere is well-set and the general flow of the story is fast and kept me engaged. The action starts almost immediately and the first flashback scene is so tantalizing creepy.
My complaints are mostly to do with the characters. They all fell a bit flat and there's not a ton of development. On the one hand, the book does move quickly and it's very much a plot-motivated story imo, but on the other hand, I would have maybe liked a bit more time before the first dive to get to know the crew. It might have helped with some of the vague confusion and annoyance I felt when they acted in ways that were harmful to themselves or the team. Additionally, the ending was bit rushed. I would have liked to see how the crews' experiences in the ship followed them and impacted their lives briefly, rather than just being told that this was the case.
Despite these two complaints, I would still highly recommend this novel as a spooky read, especially for those who like any sort of horror to do with the ocean or diving.
driveupstate's review
dark
mysterious
tense
5.0
THIS WAS SO GOOD! truly spooked me in parts and I’m notoriously hard to spook. the atmosphere and tension building was impeccable. I loved how it ended with enough closure that I felt satisfied but with just enough unknowns left to keep me thinking. SS Arcadia you are one mysterious girl
faithlaw95's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0