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jmpulver14's review against another edition
4.0
Perfect for a quick read. Very descriptive, unexpected twists and turns. Perfect for a reading slump.
vikingwolf's review against another edition
3.0
This book is the first of three books (so far) featuring the character of Grant Coleman, expert in paleontology. I actually read the second book Monsters in the Clouds before this one but it doesn't create much of a problem, reading out of order. In the second book, we are told that Grant had an adventure in a cavern with mutant creatures so it was nice to get to read that story now.
Grant has been working at a college which has now cut his paleontology department and he really needs to find a paying job. He leaps at the chance when he is asked to go to Montana to lead a documentary team exploring a cavern that is said to be home to giant bats. Grant soon discovers that he has actually been signed up for a reality TV show and that there are a lot of nasty things living in the cavern.
I like Grant as a character. He is a normal guy who has just lost his job, and what he is offered sounds too good to be true. It turns out to be worse than he thought. He discovers that it more of a reality TV show complete with bimbo female presenter and utility men as the camera crew. He is also concerned about whether he is actually going to get the money that was promised to him as he doesn't trust Frazier after all his lies. The team blow up the hillside as they blast their way into the cavern, leaving the whole area unstable. They are led by a caver who claims to know the way inside but even that is no use when a sudden cave-in traps them inside the cavern and they must rely on Colton to find a way out of the maze of tunnels and caverns. They are not prepared for the range of creatues that want to eat them and the other natural dangers that they are going to face as they search for an exit.
A sub plot running through this is that there is something inside the cavern that is worth money. Local Ranger McKinley hears the explosion and goes to the hill to arrest whoever has been using the explosives. As she enters the cave, the cave-in occurs and she finds herself trapped with Grant and his team. The men who are looking for the rich pay day find themselves on the outside of the cave and grab a hostage to help to get them inside. I found the side story less interesting as I was more invested in what was happening inside the cavern. There were so many interesting creatures on the attack that I feel the robbery plot was not really required.
The creature feature element was certainly the highlight of the book. As well as the giant bats, there are huge millipedes, scorpions, tetra fish, salamanders...that is pretty exciting stuff! I liked the various creature attacks, the tension of the trip through the darkness as things lurk waiting to attack and the natural disasters that threaten them. The characters other than Grant and McKinley aren't that memorable but I didn't mind them as they were basically monster fodder and I didn't care too much about who lived or died as long as it was entertaining. It was a good enough read to entertain and was exactly the type of plot I'd expect in this kind of book.
Grant has been working at a college which has now cut his paleontology department and he really needs to find a paying job. He leaps at the chance when he is asked to go to Montana to lead a documentary team exploring a cavern that is said to be home to giant bats. Grant soon discovers that he has actually been signed up for a reality TV show and that there are a lot of nasty things living in the cavern.
I like Grant as a character. He is a normal guy who has just lost his job, and what he is offered sounds too good to be true. It turns out to be worse than he thought. He discovers that it more of a reality TV show complete with bimbo female presenter and utility men as the camera crew. He is also concerned about whether he is actually going to get the money that was promised to him as he doesn't trust Frazier after all his lies. The team blow up the hillside as they blast their way into the cavern, leaving the whole area unstable. They are led by a caver who claims to know the way inside but even that is no use when a sudden cave-in traps them inside the cavern and they must rely on Colton to find a way out of the maze of tunnels and caverns. They are not prepared for the range of creatues that want to eat them and the other natural dangers that they are going to face as they search for an exit.
A sub plot running through this is that there is something inside the cavern that is worth money. Local Ranger McKinley hears the explosion and goes to the hill to arrest whoever has been using the explosives. As she enters the cave, the cave-in occurs and she finds herself trapped with Grant and his team. The men who are looking for the rich pay day find themselves on the outside of the cave and grab a hostage to help to get them inside. I found the side story less interesting as I was more invested in what was happening inside the cavern. There were so many interesting creatures on the attack that I feel the robbery plot was not really required.
The creature feature element was certainly the highlight of the book. As well as the giant bats, there are huge millipedes, scorpions, tetra fish, salamanders...that is pretty exciting stuff! I liked the various creature attacks, the tension of the trip through the darkness as things lurk waiting to attack and the natural disasters that threaten them. The characters other than Grant and McKinley aren't that memorable but I didn't mind them as they were basically monster fodder and I didn't care too much about who lived or died as long as it was entertaining. It was a good enough read to entertain and was exactly the type of plot I'd expect in this kind of book.
oviyabalan's review against another edition
1.0
I have never been an horror fan. I was hoping that this book could get me into the genre. Yet another disappointment. After reading so many great reviews on goodreads, I decided to pick this one from my choices.
I couldn't get involved with any of the characters. Everything about the story, the setting, the narration bored me.
Glad I finished it in one sitting.
This isn't for me. If you like horror by any chance, give it a try. Others in the horror fan community seems to like it.
I couldn't get involved with any of the characters. Everything about the story, the setting, the narration bored me.
Glad I finished it in one sitting.
This isn't for me. If you like horror by any chance, give it a try. Others in the horror fan community seems to like it.
oviyabalan's review
1.0
I have never been an horror fan. I was hoping that this book could get me into the genre. Yet another disappointment. After reading so many great reviews on goodreads, I decided to pick this one from my choices.
I couldn't get involved with any of the characters. Everything about the story, the setting, the narration bored me.
Glad I finished it in one sitting.
This isn't for me. If you like horror by any chance, give it a try. Others in the horror fan community seems to like it.
I couldn't get involved with any of the characters. Everything about the story, the setting, the narration bored me.
Glad I finished it in one sitting.
This isn't for me. If you like horror by any chance, give it a try. Others in the horror fan community seems to like it.
lilyn_g's review
4.0
Cavern of the Damned was a fun read that almost hit all the notes for great campy horror. A predictably twisty plot, a cast of screw-ups and wannabes, a heroic undertaking that goes horribly wrong… This book pretty much has ‘low-budget Syfy film’ written all over it. The only thing it’s missing is the necessary amount of cheesy one-liners. I’m quite sure there are plenty of script-writers who could rectify the situation.
There’s not much plot to Cavern of the Damned. A broke paleontologist grasps at a chance to make a bit of money. What he finds on the expedition exceeds his wildest dreams, and his worst nightmares. None of the crew he’s on are prepared for the spelunking that awaits them. Especially as they’re pursued by various overgrown examples of why people have fears of arachnids, arthrophods, and so on. Lots of the crew die, with a few having the requisite close escape only to bite (heh) it later when they think they’re going to make it.
The female protagonist in the book is believably strong and action-oriented and gifted with survival instincts. The paleontologist is a good guy, but fairly forgettable. The rest of the crew are just cardboard characters that you know are meant for giant creature nomming. Some books try to be atmospheric and chilling and often fail horribly (I’m having that experience right now). Others quite happily go straight to scary monsters and lots of death to make a reader happy. Cavern of the Damned makes me happy.
Honestly, not much more to say about Cavern of the Damned. It’s well-written, moves along at a quick pace, and at only 129 pages, you can easily read it in one sitting. A perfect read for a long car or plane ride. Or just for lounging around being lazy, honestly. It’s not mentally taxing, and it doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what it is.
There’s not much plot to Cavern of the Damned. A broke paleontologist grasps at a chance to make a bit of money. What he finds on the expedition exceeds his wildest dreams, and his worst nightmares. None of the crew he’s on are prepared for the spelunking that awaits them. Especially as they’re pursued by various overgrown examples of why people have fears of arachnids, arthrophods, and so on. Lots of the crew die, with a few having the requisite close escape only to bite (heh) it later when they think they’re going to make it.
The female protagonist in the book is believably strong and action-oriented and gifted with survival instincts. The paleontologist is a good guy, but fairly forgettable. The rest of the crew are just cardboard characters that you know are meant for giant creature nomming. Some books try to be atmospheric and chilling and often fail horribly (I’m having that experience right now). Others quite happily go straight to scary monsters and lots of death to make a reader happy. Cavern of the Damned makes me happy.
Honestly, not much more to say about Cavern of the Damned. It’s well-written, moves along at a quick pace, and at only 129 pages, you can easily read it in one sitting. A perfect read for a long car or plane ride. Or just for lounging around being lazy, honestly. It’s not mentally taxing, and it doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what it is.
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