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yvo_about_books's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Finished reading: June 7th 2024
“In the brief moment he'd touched the metal, he'd felt the danger of the place. This ship wasn't a gem on the ocean floor, waiting to be found. It was a trap.”
I had a fantastic first experience with Darcy Coates' writing last year, and I've been meaning to read more of her books ever since. I was fascinated by the claustrophobic vibe of the blurb of From Below with the mysterious ship wreck, the dive angle and the promise of something dark lurking within... And I have to say that this story definitely delivered for me. While a tad overlong, the ominous and claustrophobic vibe of this paranormal horror slash locked room thriller made it impossible to stop turning those pages. From Below actually uses a dual timeline structure, where we switch between the present with the dive team and 1928 on board of the SS Arcadia in the days leading up to its disappearance. I wasn't expecting the historical POV, but I understand why it was added as it gave the story so much more dept as well as adding to that ominous atmosphere. The fact that you, like the characters in both timelines, don't have a clear idea what is happening added a hint of urgency, and while certain parts did feel a bit repetitive, it wasn't enough to prevent me from wanting to know more. From Below definitely classifies as paranormal/supernatural horror, so make sure you are prepared for things to get proper creepy along the way... Especially in the second half of the story where things become more intense. Honestly, I'm not sure why the dive team even returns to the Arcadia after the second dive! I would have run away screaming instead... If you are looking for a properly frightening and tense paranormal horror read with a locked room vibe and a truly claustrophobic feel with the majority of the present timeline set 300 feet under water, From Below without doubt fits the bill. It's true that the story is a bit overlong and the pace isn't always consistent, but the plot itself is intriguing enough to keep you fully on board anyway.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
downtown_kb's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Cove and her crew are making a documentary exploring the wreckage of a cruise liner that sunk under mysterious circumstances in 1928.
This was fantastically creepy. I think the pacing of this book was very good. A mix of nail biting moments and moments to breathe. I also appreciated the flash backs to the original events leading up to the sinking of the ship. I can't tell you how much I was freaked out by the claustrophobia that came from the deep sea diving element.
Gosh, I wish I could give this 5 stars but the last 20% for me was just too much. I felt the climax went on for just a little too long. Aiden! My gosh man what were you thinking? And while I appreciated that we got some redemption for Vanna, I think it could have been just as good left open ended. So, since the pacing got off there somewhat for me on that final dive for what felt like unbelievable reasons this lost some power with me.
Still a great horror read and I enjoyed it very, very much. My first Darcy Coates and I am excited to dive into the next one.
This was fantastically creepy. I think the pacing of this book was very good. A mix of nail biting moments and moments to breathe. I also appreciated the flash backs to the original events leading up to the sinking of the ship. I can't tell you how much I was freaked out by the claustrophobia that came from the deep sea diving element.
Gosh, I wish I could give this 5 stars but the last 20% for me was just too much. I felt the climax went on for just a little too long. Aiden! My gosh man what were you thinking? And while I appreciated that we got some redemption for Vanna, I think it could have been just as good left open ended. So, since the pacing got off there somewhat for me on that final dive for what felt like unbelievable reasons this lost some power with me.
Still a great horror read and I enjoyed it very, very much. My first Darcy Coates and I am excited to dive into the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Murder and Injury/Injury detail
aurora16's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, and Injury/Injury detail
_readerfromtheblacklagoon_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Mental illness, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
omega's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis
beepsies's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Grief and Death of parent
seawarrior's review against another edition
5.0
From Below is a bone-chilling and original horror novel with organic scares. I've always been fascinated by scuba-diving and underwater worlds, but Coates used our innate fears of drowning and being stranded in the sea against readers, frightening even me, who doesn't have a natural-born fear of water. The book was gripping the whole way through, and the switches between timelines and characters were the perfect length to hold suspense. I was thoroughly entertained by this haunting story and highly recommend it for other horror readers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
sophieamreacher's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Super creepy. Hated it and loved it at the same time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
aas's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
polarbearisla's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
So good. So terrifying and yet what an adventure! The tension developed gradually yet not painfully. The way the horror was written was so impressive. So scary and the characters were so real and lovable. Amazing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Confinement
Moderate: Death, Gore, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail