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mahtzahgay's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Genuinely one of the best horror novels I've read. Nahil's attention to detail and creeping, atmospheric horror makes for an effortlessly page-turning read.
Isiah and Essex's relationship, while a slow build and certainly not the cornerstone of the book, is both beautiful and haunting – I felt myself, despite knowing better, wishing for their happy ending.
Nahil draws not just on the imagery and world of seafaring, but the literal sea itself. Within descriptions of gore, beauty, and misery, Nahil repeatedly calls on the fauna and flora and world of the ocean; Isiah and the rest of the crew on the Merciful are wonderfully isolated from land, for all the ill it causes them.
Isiah and Essex's relationship, while a slow build and certainly not the cornerstone of the book, is both beautiful and haunting – I felt myself, despite knowing better, wishing for their happy ending.
Nahil draws not just on the imagery and world of seafaring, but the literal sea itself. Within descriptions of gore, beauty, and misery, Nahil repeatedly calls on the fauna and flora and world of the ocean; Isiah and the rest of the crew on the Merciful are wonderfully isolated from land, for all the ill it causes them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Terminal illness, Medical content, Alcoholism, Violence, Gore, Alcohol, Suicide, Death, and Gun violence
Moderate: Vomit, Animal death, Murder, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal cruelty
booktribe's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
4.0
If you’re looking for a book that will make your skin crawl, this is it! The creepy imagery was perfection & it was made even better by having a couple of illustrations in the book as well! There’s just something about the specific type of body horror used in this story that just gets me every time & I love it so much! Also, the overall message of this novel really resonated with me and I need people to read it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
sammileighm's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
poisoned_icecream's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I really enjoy reading horror that focuses on the ocean, so of course I had to read this. The fact that it's published by Tenebrous Press also helped.
Isaiah is on his first voyage on the whaling ship called Merciful, which unfortunately does not live up to its name after a strange man is found alive inside the body of a whale. Things gradually get worse for the crew as the novel progresses, as there is not enough food, and a mysterious illness appears. There is also some romantic feelings between Isaiah and the man from the belly of the whale.
The anti-capitalism theme is very evident in this book, such as when some fish suddenly appear on the ship, which the crew are excited to eat. But the captain makes them dump the fish back into the sea because according to him, they didn't work at getting the fish onto the ship. Fuck you Coffin, you piece of shit captain. 🖕🖕🖕🖕
Anyway, I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical horror. :)
Isaiah is on his first voyage on the whaling ship called Merciful, which unfortunately does not live up to its name after a strange man is found alive inside the body of a whale. Things gradually get worse for the crew as the novel progresses, as there is not enough food, and a mysterious illness appears. There is also some romantic feelings between Isaiah and the man from the belly of the whale.
The anti-capitalism theme is very evident in this book, such as when some fish suddenly appear on the ship, which the crew are excited to eat. But the captain makes them dump the fish back into the sea because according to him, they didn't work at getting the fish onto the ship. Fuck you Coffin, you piece of shit captain. 🖕🖕🖕🖕
Anyway, I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical horror. :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Alcoholism, Medical trauma, Suicide, Alcohol, Animal death, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
Moderate: Death of parent and Vomit
blackmetalblackheart's review against another edition
3.0
From the Belly is a book filled with cool imagery, ultimately hampered by its pace and repetition. The setting, most of the characters, and the overall idea are great. Like all Tenebrous Press releases, the cover is beautiful. The commentary on humanity feels accurate and relevant, and it was nice to see the queer representation and gender diversity. However, I struggled with caring at all about the main protagonist. Isaiah is dull and not fun to spend time with, one of the least interesting characters on the page. The book also drags its feet when it comes to the story. In an attempt to build suspense and tension, things just stretch out and begin to feel repetitive to the point of boredom. Perhaps it was an attempt to make the reader feel like they were a part of the Merciful crew, performing the same tasks and viewing the same horizon as each day runs into the next. I don't know if that being purposeful would improve my impression of it though. Overall, not a bad read, but it would have been a lot better if it had been novella length like the other releases from the publisher. I would be interested to check out future releases by the author.
oph_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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? Yes
5.0
- nautical horror my beloved
- maybe biased review but as someone who loves whaling history this is just in my niche wheelhouse
- at first I was kinda skeptical of the world building but then got into it
- just an awesome to the point horror story about how scary the ocean is
- maybe biased review but as someone who loves whaling history this is just in my niche wheelhouse
- at first I was kinda skeptical of the world building but then got into it
- just an awesome to the point horror story about how scary the ocean is
driftcompatib1e's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Body horror
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Suicide
booksandbreadcrumbs's review
3.0
I really don't know how to review this or how I feel about it. I regret that I took so long in reading it though, as I think I'd have a better idea of how I feel about it if I've read it faster.
roadtripreader's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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? Yes
4.0
All the prayers on the Merciful were answered. The answer was Nope...no mercy for you lot. If the sea is a tempest - then it stands to reason that the creature who dies(cheats death) and is reborn from that tempest (in a dead whale no less) is not to be trifled with.
I loved having a hundred questions jostling for attention as I read: The All-knowing Man From Inside The Whale - is he a sea-god? A sea-monster? An inbetween? Is Essex a manifestation of that Essex ship?!? So many questions I could eat them
I was firmly in his corner from the start. Well, him and Isaiah Chase - something about tortured souls aboard a ship whose only purpose is to torture and murder whales really drew me in. Poseidon was asleep during the whaling era. The Man From The Belly of the whale was not.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Ah yes. Get even. Even Steven? Square. The chaotic beauty of slow-marinating revenge sanctioned by The Gods Below is a far better tool for karma.
So if you find a "dead" man in a whale, maybe check that he's dead first before talking smack about him and threatening to throw him overboard🤷🏽♀️ See I love a story about vengeance and this feels not just like vengeance or revenge - this feels like beautiful, terrifying wrath. I love it. Plus I hate whalers so I'm okay with everyone on the Merciful suffering.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Captain Coffin is a powertripping alcoholic nepo-baby trash. Man fvck him.
The Man From The Whale brought the ocean with him and I had to wonder if this ship would become an island ship complete with skeletons of the crew, lush greenery poking through and supernatural keeping it tethered to one spot. Maybe not but I was not disappointed with the outcome.
I don't know whose past was more intriguing- The Man from the whale or Isaiah Chase.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene:
🌸The storm kills men up-top, and the man from the Belly of the whale wakes up. Not ominous at all.
🌸Captain Coffin's greed: dumping the boon for cruelty's sake.
🌸Isaiah's Dream: deceased dad with a message and picture. Whale
🌸Isaiah and The Bucket
🌸Bye Bye Bellamy - you had it coming.
🌸Fallon and Isaiah in the brackish ocean inside The Hold
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Let me out of this cell, and you will know exactly what a curse feels like.” (I love a good cures. Release the God from the Belly of The Whale already.)
🖤 “What you let me see in sleep, Gods Deep and Gods Above, let me see in waking.” (Chase the Seer)
🖤 “Whalers deal in death. They go bloody wherever they travel. They revel in it. I can’t just stop what’s been set into motion” (Essex)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■The hum, Essex and the shadow
■Whaler's Contract
■Captain Johanna Briggs
■Isaiah's instant deep healing vs Merciful's Rot
■ A rich boon of fish
■ The ocean in The Hold
■Dreams of The Seer
■Bellamy's Eye and The Whale
GR/SG Rating: 3.75
CAWPILE: 7
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Horror (Fantasy) Books by 2025
I loved having a hundred questions jostling for attention as I read: The All-knowing Man From Inside The Whale - is he a sea-god? A sea-monster? An inbetween? Is Essex a manifestation of that Essex ship?!? So many questions I could eat them
I was firmly in his corner from the start. Well, him and Isaiah Chase - something about tortured souls aboard a ship whose only purpose is to torture and murder whales really drew me in. Poseidon was asleep during the whaling era. The Man From The Belly of the whale was not.
Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Ah yes. Get even. Even Steven? Square. The chaotic beauty of slow-marinating revenge sanctioned by The Gods Below is a far better tool for karma.
So if you find a "dead" man in a whale, maybe check that he's dead first before talking smack about him and threatening to throw him overboard🤷🏽♀️ See I love a story about vengeance and this feels not just like vengeance or revenge - this feels like beautiful, terrifying wrath. I love it. Plus I hate whalers so I'm okay with everyone on the Merciful suffering.
Two Sentences, A Scene or less - Characters:
Captain Coffin is a powertripping alcoholic nepo-baby trash. Man fvck him.
The Man From The Whale brought the ocean with him and I had to wonder if this ship would become an island ship complete with skeletons of the crew, lush greenery poking through and supernatural keeping it tethered to one spot. Maybe not but I was not disappointed with the outcome.
I don't know whose past was more intriguing- The Man from the whale or Isaiah Chase.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene:
🌸The storm kills men up-top, and the man from the Belly of the whale wakes up. Not ominous at all.
🌸Captain Coffin's greed: dumping the boon for cruelty's sake.
🌸Isaiah's Dream: deceased dad with a message and picture. Whale
🌸Isaiah and The Bucket
🌸Bye Bye Bellamy - you had it coming.
🌸Fallon and Isaiah in the brackish ocean inside The Hold
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
🖤 “Let me out of this cell, and you will know exactly what a curse feels like.” (I love a good cures. Release the God from the Belly of The Whale already.)
🖤 “What you let me see in sleep, Gods Deep and Gods Above, let me see in waking.” (Chase the Seer)
🖤 “Whalers deal in death. They go bloody wherever they travel. They revel in it. I can’t just stop what’s been set into motion” (Essex)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
■The hum, Essex and the shadow
■Whaler's Contract
■Captain Johanna Briggs
■Isaiah's instant deep healing vs Merciful's Rot
■ A rich boon of fish
■ The ocean in The Hold
■Dreams of The Seer
■Bellamy's Eye and The Whale
GR/SG Rating: 3.75
CAWPILE: 7
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Horror (Fantasy) Books by 2025
hjerteknuser's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
oh, i loved this dearly! it bad this undercurrent of grim tension thrumming at all times and i was so deeply invested in every horrible thing that happened to this ship and it's crew. my main complaint is that there wasn't more of it, I'd gladly read an entire book of just Isaiah and Essex talking about gods and humanity.
Literature specifically for people who liked the vibes of The Lighthouse (2019) but wished it was more coherent and people whose favourite video game character is The Outsider from Dishonored (I'm both of those) (the Dishonored OSTs are ideal to listen to while reading this)
Literature specifically for people who liked the vibes of The Lighthouse (2019) but wished it was more coherent and people whose favourite video game character is The Outsider from Dishonored (I'm both of those) (the Dishonored OSTs are ideal to listen to while reading this)
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