Now that it’s October, one of my favorite times of the year has begun. If you’ve been following for a while, you already know that I adore spooky month. I’ve got a few ARCs in the horror genre I’ve been eager to get to, and the time is finally here! The first of these features a descent into The Void, a deep series of caverns full of monsters and other dangers. The deeper travelers explore, the more unfathomable the horrors they encounter become. And yet, there are those who would explore its most extreme depths, and they will pay good money for someone to lead them there.

What Feeds Below publishes Today, October 6th. It’s available everywhere you can buy books, including on Bookshop.org

Summary:

Petra thinks the Void tourists are idiots. She cannot fathom why anyone would want to explore that festering pit of monsters. All she’s ever wanted was to get away from it. Unfortunately, that’s where all the money is in her city. She can either hunt for treasures to fence while fending off mutations and mutants who wish to eat her alive (or worse)… Or she can guide those idiot tourists with her best friend Jade.

Those are the options if she ever wants to save up enough to move away or open up the clinic she’s always dreamed of. Petra prefers the safer route by far, even if Jade does yearn for the potential payout of a bigger risk. Then a job that should be routine then takes an unexpected turn. Petra can’t get Jade back out on her own. She has to make a deal to get her best friend back. For Jade, there is no risk Petra wouldn’t take.

My Thoughts:

Every one of us has a phobia or two. Whatever yours may be, you are sure to encounter it within The Void. It has six levels, each with its own unique and fascinating horrors. The author has created not just one full and stunning world, but seven. From the urban human world above ground, through each separate biome, each is a full and thriving ecosystem you won’t be able to look away from – even when you want to. Whether your nightmares are fueled by quicksand, claustrophobia, or the creatures of the deep sea, it’s here. It’s waiting for your attention.

Fans of eco-horror will want to get their hands on this one. Our main character has a specific interest in the plant and fungal life found within The Void. This means we get some mesmerizing notes about the science behind these fictional species. Truthfully, I would read a spinoff compendium of The Void’s flora and fauna from cover to cover. Likewise, those who venture into The Void do so with specialized equipment, and the fictional technology they use is captivating.

Of course, within the narrative, there are still many more discoveries to be made about The Void and its most extreme depths. Along the way, there is also much to learn about human nature. This was a book that I absolutely did not want to put down, no matter how it fluctuated from hypnotically gorgeous to abhorrently gruesome and back. Occasionally it was all at the same time. This is the first novel I’ve read by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne, and now I need to go back and read her first two. I also cannot wait to see what she comes out with next.

Content Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence and Injuries, Body Horror, Vomit, Child Death, Death of a Parent, Chronic Illness, Classism, Fire & Burn Injuries, Worms & Bugs, Limb Loss, Rot & Decomposition, Animal Death, Mutation, Abandonment, Child Neglect, Gaslighting & Manipulation, Toxic Friendship, Graphic Medical Content, Panic/Anxiety Attacks, Gore, Excrement, Bullying, Ableism

After I Finished What Feeds Below

After What Feeds Below, I jumped right into another horror ARC. It’s another that I’ve been really excited for. This one is a new title from an author who has previously written some of my favorite eco-horror. However, this time we’re out of the woods. Instead, we’re under the waves and fully facing my thalassophobia in the deep ocean.

My next review will be for Scorpion Deep by CG Drews.