Reviews

The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling

alexandratheroux's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

2.75

alexandra_ninelives's review against another edition

3.0

At first, I thought I’ll have a new favorite horror book but this author’s strength is starting a great story and not finishing it. There were only 2 characters and she could not even write a believable relationship between them. The suspense parts were well written but it’s infuriating that I still don’t know what’s been happening the whole time and I finished the book.
How the author described the place where it all took place was not enough. I couldn’t imagine half of it.
Overall, I think the people who have raved about this book for me read a completely different story than me.

aeculley's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

johannalinderman's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

boytrouts's review

5.0

This is the first time I've devoured a 400+ page book in a single night in almost 5 years. I often say that the first 50 pages of a novel are the hardest to get into, but that is not the case for this book. I was completely gripped by page 8. I highly recommend reading this book in the dark by the light of a small book light for maximum atmosphere. You will start to feel claustrophobic, and I think that's a good thing. Starling has a magical and terrifying ability to transport you into the cave itself and have you constantly looking over your shoulder. 

cordiaelly's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

tandem_tricycle's review

adventurous dark 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? Yes

5.0

yvarg's review against another edition

adventurous challenging reflective 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? Yes

3.75

purplerose923's review

adventurous dark mysterious fast-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? Yes

4.0

reliures's review

4.25

Sci-fi horror mystery where Gyre, a professional caver on a foreign planet, dives down into a strange underground cave system, monitored by Em, a woman with mysterious intentions. 

I really liked this book! The writer did a great job setting up the claustrophobic, confusing and creepy cave system.  

The characters were both flawed and realistic, the tension between the two was really well rendered, each of them having their own secrets. 

I also did like the sapphic angsty yearning. 

The mounting tension and dread concerning the cave itself and what happened in the past was also well rendered by the author, the paranoia corrupting Gyre’s mental health, like a parasite. 

Some parts I struggled through, some elements felt a bit repetitive or too long, I felt like shaving some pages off could have made it more into a page turner. Also the ending felt a bit abrupt to me. 

Overall this was an incredibly solid debut novel !