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The Luminous Dead: A Novel Paperback – April 2, 2019
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Bram Stoker Award nominee for Best First Novel!
"This claustrophobic, horror-leaning tour de force is highly recommended for fans of Jeff VanderMeer’s Annihilation and Andy Weir’s The Martian." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)
The thrilling, atmospheric debut from the author of The Death of Jane Lawrence, a novel with the intensive drive of The Martian and Gravity and the creeping dread of Annihilation, in which a caver on a foreign planet finds herself on a terrifying psychological and emotional journey for survival.
When Gyre Price lied her way into this expedition, she thought she’d be mapping mineral deposits, and that her biggest problems would be cave collapses and gear malfunctions. She also thought that the fat paycheck—enough to get her off-planet and on the trail of her mother—meant she’d get a skilled surface team, monitoring her suit and environment, keeping her safe. Keeping her sane.
Instead, she got Em.
Em sees nothing wrong with controlling Gyre’s body with drugs or withholding critical information to “ensure the smooth operation” of her expedition. Em knows all about Gyre’s falsified credentials, and has no qualms using them as a leash—and a lash. And Em has secrets, too . . .
As Gyre descends, little inconsistencies—missing supplies, unexpected changes in the route, and, worst of all, shifts in Em’s motivations—drive her out of her depths. Lost and disoriented, Gyre finds her sense of control giving way to paranoia and anger. On her own in this mysterious, deadly place, surrounded by darkness and the unknown, Gyre must overcome more than just the dangerous terrain and the Tunneler which calls underground its home if she wants to make it out alive—she must confront the ghosts in her own head.
But how come she can’t shake the feeling she’s being followed?
- Print length432 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHarper Voyager
- Publication dateApril 2, 2019
- Dimensions5.31 x 0.97 x 8 inches
- ISBN-100062846906
- ISBN-13978-0062846907
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“This claustrophobic, horror-leaning tour de force is highly recommended for fans of Jeff VanderMeer’s Annihilation and Andy Weir’s The Martian.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“The Luminous Dead, the fantastic horror sci-fi debut from Caitlin Starling [...] is a survival story in the vein of The Martian, with a psychological horror twist.” — B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog
“Ghostly, mysterious, and terrifying, The Luminous Dead will have you rooted to the spot until the very last page.” — Peng Shepherd, author of The Book of M
“This is a survival story, a psychological thriller, and some of the best SFnal horror I’ve ever read. It’s a hell of a debut, and I can’t wait to see what Starling does next.” — Locus Magazine
“A harrowing, merciless descent into the human psyche. Starling’s prose is breathtakingly cinematic and left me without a molecule of spare oxygen. This book will catch you by the ankles and drag you backwards into a terrifying and inescapable reality. Read this one with all the lights on.” — Sarah Gailey, Hugo award-winning author of River of Teeth
“A tense psychological thriller and a gripping survival story that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. It’s a dark ride that’s worth every step.” — Martha Wells, author of The Murderbot Diaries
“Starling’s debut is tense and well-paced, taut and terrifying. This book never lets you (or Gyre) breathe for more than an instant before pushing you further into the frightening unknown. A book you won’t want to put down until the resolution arrives.” — Elsa Sjunneson-Henry
“The Luminous Dead managed to be the best sci-fi book coming in 2019. And the best horror novel. And the best queer story. This book is so many things at once, and I cannot wait for readers to discover the terrifying, complex world that Caitlin Starling has created.” — Mark Oshiro, author of Anger is a Gift
“The Luminous Dead dives into the human psyche and our ability for cruelty alongside compassion. Starling crafts a plot tight and gripping, weaves scenes dripping with wonder and terror, and keeps you wondering what’s real and what’s not until the very last page. Both beautiful and brutal, I loved it.” — K.A. Doore, author of The Perfect Assassin
“An electric mix of The Descent and Gravity, Starling’s debut gives us an exciting and terrifying sf adventure set in the dangerous bowels of a distant planet. This story has hidden depths, secrets and mysteries to reveal. Highly recommended from start to finish.” — John Hornor Jacobs, award-winning author of The Sea Dreams it is the Sky
“Starling’s debut gives us an exciting and terrifying sf adventure set in the dangerous bowels of a distant planet. But like the enormous cavern system below the surface of Cassandra V, this story has hidden depths, secrets and mysteries to reveal. Highly recommended from start to finish.” — John Hornor Jacobs, award-winning author of The Sea Dreams it is the Sky
“The Luminous Dead is a gripping scifi thriller with an eerie, claustrophobic setting that held me captive until I finished it. I think part of me was left behind forever in Starling’s cave. This book will drag you into its dark, twisting depths and will not let you go.” — Emily Suvada, author of This Mortal Coil
“With The Luminous Dead, Caitlin Starling gives us a confident debut, an imaginative future thriller that barely lets up the tension and claustrophobia. Mistrust and paranoia abound all the way to the end, and Gyre feels every moment of it, widening along with the events, as the poet said.” — Tade Thompson, author of the Wormwood Trilogy and The Murders of Molly Southbourne
“A startling debut. I was truly spooked.” — Kelly Robson, Nebula Award-winning author
“Starling’s debut is a chilling study in mutual guilt and dependence that will have readers racing toward the conclusion.” — Booklist
“With sharp prose and mounting dread, Starling will drag you into a dark descent. Get ready for chills.” — Sean Grigsby, author of Smoke Eaters and Daughters of Forgotten Light
“Caitlin Starling’s The Luminous Dead is a gripping, claustrophobic thriller propelled by complex relationships between women. I couldn’t put it down.” — Ada Hoffmann, author of The Outside
“A masterful, nail-biting thriller from an extraordinary talent. Meticulously researched, expertly paced, with yearning, self-destructive heroines whose incredible physical and emotional journies will leave you breathless.” — Kameron Hurley, author of The Light Brigade
“A torturous book. Horrifying in small, cutting, personal ways, and in the more classic scare-in-a-dark-room way. But there’s an iron rod of panicked strength that runs through the middle of it.” — NPR.org
“A genuinely impressive debut, suspenseful and horrific in turns.” — Sci Fi Magazine
“I’m still in disbelief that this book is a debut novel.” — The Reading Chemist
From the Back Cover
A thrilling, atmospheric debut with the intensive drive of The Martian and Gravity and the creeping dread of Annihilation, in which a caver on a foreign planet finds herself on a terrifying psychological and emotional journey for survival
When Gyre Price lied her way into this expedition, she thought she’d be mapping mineral deposits and the greatest dangers might be cave collapses and gear malfunctions. She also thought the fat paycheck meant she’d get a skilled surface team monitoring her suit and environment, keeping her safe. Keeping her sane.
Instead, she got Em.
Em sees nothing wrong with controlling Gyre’s body with drugs or withholding critical information to “ensure the smooth operation” of her expedition. Em knows all about Gyre’s falsified credentials, and has no qualms using them as a leash—and a lash. And Em has secrets, too . . .
As Gyre descends, mounting inconsistencies—missing supplies, unexpected changes in the route, and, worst of all, shifts in Em’s motivations—weigh on her more than the rocks overhead. Lost and disoriented, Gyre finds her sense of control giving way to paranoia and anger. On her own in this mysterious, deadly place, surrounded by darkness and the unknown, Gyre must overcome more than just the dangerous terrain and the Tunneler that calls the underground its home if she wants to make it out alive—she must confront the ghosts in her own head.
But why can’t she shake the feeling she’s being followed?About the Author
Caitlin Starling is the nationally bestselling author of The Death of Jane Lawrence and the Bram Stoker-nominated The Luminous Dead. Her newest novels, The Starving Saints and Graceview, epitomize her love of genre-hopping horror; her bibliography spans besieged castles, alien caves, and haunted hospitals. Her short fiction has been published by GrimDark Magazine and Neon Hemlock, and her nonfiction has appeared in Nightmare, Uncanny, and Nightfire. Caitlin also works in narrative design, and has been paid to invent body parts. She’s always on the lookout for new ways to inflict insomnia.
Product details
- Publisher : Harper Voyager (April 2, 2019)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 432 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0062846906
- ISBN-13 : 978-0062846907
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.31 x 0.97 x 8 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #148,292 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #51 in LGBTQ+ Horror Fiction (Books)
- #405 in Science Fiction Short Stories
- #1,477 in Exploration Science Fiction
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Caitlin Starling is the nationally bestselling author of The Death of Jane Lawrence (2021), Last to Leave the Room (2023), and the Bram Stoker-nominated The Luminous Dead (2019). Her upcoming novels The Starving Saints and The Graceview Patient epitomize her love of genre-hopping horror; her bibliography spans besieged castles, alien caves, and haunted hospitals. Her short fiction has been published by GrimDark Magazine and Neon Hemlock, and her nonfiction has appeared in Nightmare, Uncanny, and Nightfire. Caitlin also works in narrative design, and has been paid to invent body parts. She’s always on the lookout for new ways to inflict insomnia.
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book engaging with a compelling story and solid storytelling. They describe the horror elements as creepy and stressful. The writing quality is described as well-written and descriptive. Many readers find the emotional content intense and authentic, exploring trauma in an authentic way. However, some find the narrative repetitive and boring after a while. There are mixed opinions on the suspenseful aspect, with some finding it enjoyable and intriguing while others feel there is little actual horror.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book engaging with a gripping story and compelling characters. They describe it as an entertaining read with solid storytelling. Readers appreciate the simple yet meaningful story about self-discovery.
"...All that being said, The Luminous Dead is a gripping story with compelling, flawed characters that kept me glued to the page, and the themes of loss..." Read more
"...This is a book best read in daylight with the lights on and the sound of people surrounding you. "..." Read more
"...from the writer, the caving/diving picture the author built were really enjoyable but too much emotion or “human” based narratives and far less sci-..." Read more
"...It's a story of discovery into oneself. It's a story of survival and the anguish that comes with it...." Read more
Customers find the book's horror content engaging. They describe it as creepy, unsettling, and suspenseful. The two main characters are praised for their female perspectives.
"...This book was that and more. It was captivating in the most haunting yet personal ways...." Read more
"...And its AWESOME, creating a spooky, unsettling ambiance that occasionally becomes genuinely scary. And then...they kinda do nothing with it...." Read more
"...of story, and I found that the worldbuilding elements and mild body horror aspect of what the cavers undergo in order to be able to ghost their way..." Read more
"...If you like a good, dark and creepy read then I absolutely recommend you add this one to your TBR." Read more
Customers find the emotional content intense and compelling. They appreciate the authentic exploration of trauma that keeps them intimately close to every distressing moment. The author creates a dark, suspenseful atmosphere with real and human characters. The story is emotionally intelligent and honest, with a compelling dynamic between the characters.
"...that kept me glued to the page, and the themes of loss, grief, trauma, and loneliness are handled with the deftness of a veteran author..." Read more
"...I love how the tension builds; the paranoia grows thick and becomes all-encompassing. What is real? What is imagined?..." Read more
"...The issues around consent and grief were interesting I guess but not what I was expecting for a sci-fi horror , along with long meandering emotional..." Read more
"...A true story of pain and trauma and that rumble of hope that never goes away. I loved this book so much, I couldn't stop reading it...." Read more
Customers find the book well-written with a well-defined setting and man-versus-environment story. They appreciate the descriptive areas and the author's ability to make you feel immersed in the story. The writing is easy to read, with no typos or poor grammar.
"...Despite worldbuilding not being a big focus, the writing is vivid and descriptive...." Read more
"...In summary, well written and I can feel the sincerity from the writer, the caving/diving picture the author built were really enjoyable but too much..." Read more
"...over the course of the story- and that evolution and tentative trust is beautifully written. What isn't so well done is Grye's animosity towards Em...." Read more
"...I don't want to spoil anything, but I will say I found it very thoughtful and very true to the characters...." Read more
Customers have different views on the book's suspense. Some find it an enjoyable sci-fi thriller that keeps them intrigued, while others feel there is little actual horror and the ending feels anticlimactic. However, some readers felt the sense of menace and loss of control was terrible.
"...All that being said, The Luminous Dead is a gripping story with compelling, flawed characters that kept me glued to the page, and the themes of loss..." Read more
"...It's a story of discovery into oneself. It's a story of survival and the anguish that comes with it...." Read more
"..."Now it was a bone-deep dread, a sickness in her stomach. It strengthened in waves, and the more she fought it, the stronger it grew...." Read more
"...Beyond the horror-suspense-action element, there is a very authentic-feeling exploration of trauma, both immediate and in the past, and differing..." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the character development. Some find the characters engaging and well-defined, with flawed but fascinating characters. Others feel the main characters are not relatable enough and the interaction between them falls flat. The relationship development between the two characters is also criticized as bizarre and forced at times.
"...said, The Luminous Dead is a gripping story with compelling, flawed characters that kept me glued to the page, and the themes of loss, grief, trauma..." Read more
"...is an astoundingly claustrophobic thriller that delves into the minds of the two characters...." Read more
"...much of her time on the complex and at times confusing relationship between the two main characters, and while she did an excellent job setting the..." Read more
"...Grye is a solidly fleshed out character, despite being stubborn to the point of frustration. Em is the opposite- professional, distant, cold...." Read more
Customers have different views on the pacing. Some find it well-paced and engaging, while others mention it gets slow in the middle and drags until about 75% done. The characters are unlikable and expectations are not met, leaving some feeling unsatisfied with the book.
"...These are the novel's weakest moments, though author Caitlin Starling typically injects character-building into a lot of these moments to keep..." Read more
"...The book has a slower pace with growing unease that turns into full-blown paranoia...." Read more
"...Overall, it was disappointing and rather sad. Gyre deserved someone better...." Read more
"...That book was 3 stars, so it wasn’t great either, but this one was even worse...." Read more
Customers find the narrative repetitive and boring after a while. They mention it slows down the narrative and the plot line keeps repeating over and over. The story seems too long and has too much repetitive dialogue and situations.
"...I found the climbing descriptions interesting, despite it slowing down the narrative...." Read more
"...The problem for me was that the story really seems way too long. It all started to wear thin by the half-way point...." Read more
"...literal circles that this main character is going in, and not in an interesting way...." Read more
"...It is an overly long book, with too much repetitive back-and-forth dialogue and situations and aimless wandering that do not add neither tension nor..." Read more
Reviews with images
A Remarkable Debut. Unputdownable!
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2020I will start by saying that, despite my five-star rating, The Luminous Dead is not perfect. However, it kept me thoroughly hooked to the point that bumping it down a full star for some minor gripes seems disingenuous. I'm going to start the review with spoiler-free impressions and give a warning before moving into spoiler territory (out of necessity).
First off, the book is generally described as sci-fi horror. I would strongly contest this, as the novel is too light on horror for me to recommend it to horror fans and, while it is set against a sci-fi backdrop that definitely ties into the action of the novel, that's not the crux of the novel. The novel is 100% about the characters: protagonist Gyre, a caver who accepts a lucrative offer to explore a large cavern; and deuteragonist Em, Gyre's employer for the job who communicates with her via radio and acts as her backup in hazardous situations.
The real meat of the book is in the way these two characters relate to each other, and anyone who thinks their dynamic is petty, childish, or toxic must have extremely binary views of human beings. No, these characters are not entirely altruistic and good people, but their incredibly flawed natures are what make them so compelling. If you love nuanced, complex, three-dimensional characters with serious flaws, I honestly don't know that I could recommend The Luminous Dead more strongly.
I do have minor complaints with some of the description of the action, which grew admittedly tedious because it was too detailed for people with no knowledge of caving/spelunking (like me) to fully grasp what the author was describing but not detailed enough to paint a clear picture of what was going on. The descriptions also don't change much despite the protagonist doing A LOT of climbing. These are the novel's weakest moments, though author Caitlin Starling typically injects character-building into a lot of these moments to keep things from feeling too monotonous.
The biggest failing of the novel is in the lack of horror, which really could have been used to break up the monotony in the action. The novel starts off with a premise that makes claustrophobics like me uneasy, both in that Gyre is stuck underground and also that her body is confined to a climbing suit she cannot leave (even to sleep, eat, or use the bathroom) for the duration of her journey (which is over a week long). Sadly, it doesn't do anything particularly scary with that, and I was able to disengage enough from that to not feel any genuine fear.
**SPOILERS AHEAD**
There are also light horror elements when Gyre realizes she might not be alone in the cave. Yes, there is an enigmatic, largely unseen creature alluded to early, but when some supplies mysteriously go missing, she concludes another human is in the cave, but it's never exactly played up as horror. When they mysteries begin to ramp up in the third act, it is unsettling, but by this point it has played out for too long to create any genuine terror. Likewise, the climactic showdown between Gyre and the aforementioned creature (called a Tunneler) wraps up a little too quickly and neatly.
**END SPOILERS**
All that being said, The Luminous Dead is a gripping story with compelling, flawed characters that kept me glued to the page, and the themes of loss, grief, trauma, and loneliness are handled with the deftness of a veteran author (this is Starling's debut novel). If that sounds like you're thing, definitely check this one out.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2022I was positively hooked within the first two pages and devoured the book in two sittings. The Luminous Dead gives me similar vibes as Contagion and Pitch Dark, but let me tell you that Starling nails atmosphere: this book is utterly claustrophobic and nerve wracking. This is a book best read in daylight with the lights on and the sound of people surrounding you.
"Everything was painstakingly, extensively designed to protect her from... elements in the cave."
The stakes and danger are established early on: caving is dangerous but the money is good; most in the profession only do a few jobs before retiring. Life on Cassandra-V isn't a good one: it's a population overflow planet in near constant drought. Desperation has led to Gyre taking some... training shortcuts so she can do one big caving expedition and earn enough money to retire afterwards. Turns out this job is more dangerous than she thought and she has to fight her way out alive.
I just love the quiet unease of the story from the beginning. I felt anxious, unsettled, and claustrophobic and the tension is tightly wound within the narrative. I found myself needing to look away from the book every few pages to break the tension building in my body. The book has a slower pace with growing unease that turns into full-blown paranoia. I love how the tension builds; the paranoia grows thick and becomes all-encompassing. What is real? What is imagined?
"Now it was a bone-deep dread, a sickness in her stomach. It strengthened in waves, and the more she fought it, the stronger it grew. She felt it like a presence, like a tug at her center, like she was forgetting something she shouldn't be."
The number of times that I audibly gasped while reading this book or simply annotated with the word "NO!" is rather astounding. Mistakes were certainly made and I was like Randy in Scream yelling "behind you!"
Readers who like a lot of worldbuilding may find The Luminous Dead lacking: the focus of the plot is the cave and Gyre's fight for survival within it, along with the mysteries surrounding Gyre's mother / Em's parents. I do wish some more time had been spent building up the world/universe that Gyre and Em live in, but to be honest I was so captivated by the tension that it didn't bother me as much as a lack of worldbuilding typically does.
"A fleshy bulb squelched beneath her boot, and then deflated in a sudden burst, bioluminescent dust - no, spores - erupting from it and coating the ankle of her other leg with a fine, glowing mist."
Despite worldbuilding not being a big focus, the writing is vivid and descriptive. I could easily envision the setting: the dark, cramped space with faint sounds of water. This would make an excellent movie and I hope will one day be adapted.
Ultimately, The Luminous Dead is an astoundingly claustrophobic thriller that delves into the minds of the two characters. It's gripping and full of tension and a book I will undoubtedly think about for a long time.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2019I was looking forward to a gripping, subterranean horror story on another planet - I got some of the above.
For such a great premise I feel the author focussed much of her time on the complex and at times confusing relationship between the two main characters, and while she did an excellent job setting the actual stage, the sci-fi and horror elements were casually written in as after thoughts to support the background description of what the novel was about.
The issues around consent and grief were interesting I guess but not what I was expecting for a sci-fi horror , along with long meandering emotional framed sections of the book.
In summary, well written and I can feel the sincerity from the writer, the caving/diving picture the author built were really enjoyable but too much emotion or “human” based narratives and far less sci-fi horror than what the advertising would suggest.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2024I'm very picky about the kinds of books I enjoy. I need something personal and vulnerable. This book was that and more.
It was captivating in the most haunting yet personal ways. It's almost indescribable how emotionally intelligent this book is. It's a story of discovery into oneself. It's a story of survival and the anguish that comes with it. A true story of pain and trauma and that rumble of hope that never goes away.
I loved this book so much, I couldn't stop reading it. I finished it in just two days. Highly recommend.
Top reviews from other countries
- Amazon CustomerReviewed in Canada on December 31, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING
First of all, saw this on tiktok as a “recommended if you love the Dead Space video games you should read this book”. I’ve played all the games, and I own two Dead Space books, so this was right up my ally
It was so well written, slow at first but wonderful. Really picks up halfway through and I couldn’t put it down.
I wish I could have my time back to read this again for the first time as it was just so wonderful and loved every bit of it.
HIGHLY recommend!! Even if you aren’t a fan of the games, or never heard of them. Really good thriller!
- SamReviewed in the United Kingdom on April 21, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Evocative, Human, Isolating Horror
A story that masterfully keeps a haunting and ambiguous air over the grounded moment-to-moment practicality of exploration and the to-and-fro of maintaining and breaking down emotional and interpersonal walls.
The setup of being locked in an armoured suit, unable to feel one's own skin, relying more on a digital recreation of one's surroundings than seeing them directly, goes from being tense to mundane to horrific and back. The book is wonderfully paced and while it escalates, it remains grounded, gritty, keeping the threat of small, mundane challenges.
In addition to mundane threat is the psychological, the mysterious, and the inexplicable, but also a very potent human story incorporating themes of isolation, conection, loss, control, ambition, empathy, and trauma. It is very much appreciated.
Unfortunately I found the first page or two the weakest, slightly, in terms of prose. It very quickly improves and maintains a flow throughout the rest of the book.
10/10 - read it for down-to-earth (heh) sci-fi, early Lovecraft-like spooks, tense, well-paced horror, and human empathy amid isolating conditions.
- rafaReviewed in Mexico on December 1, 2020
3.0 out of 5 stars A tour de force: reading this book, that is
The premise was interesting. The journey inside a cave. I was tempted to read it to see how does a storyteller weave such complicated tale and what happens to the internal monologue of a person trapped in a cave. And then luminous dead? Ghosts? Could it get any better? Does it get any better?
No, really, does it?
I kept reading to see if it did. I hate leaving a book halfway through. I was tempted to quit, but I continued, much like the main character, sometimes dreading if I'd lose my sanity. I didn't. It has a couple of moments of greatness--nothing in the tiresome description of the cave or the climbing and descending, but on how the author is able to express the slowly descent into madness of this woman; on how trust is gained and lost and gained and lost again. OK this is not that interesting, but the commentary on how we build trust is. I won't go into the ending. Needless to say, maybe if you're into climbing or spelunking it might be more interesting. But I was just glad I could finish it and move on.
-
Red QueenReviewed in Germany on March 3, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Ein Trip in die Hölle und zurück
The Luminous Dead hat mich von Anfang bis Ende gepackt wie sonst wenige andere Bücher. Dabei ist es kein Action-lastiges Buch. Das, was passiert, hat trotzdem einen immensen Effekt sowohl auf Gyre als auch auf den Leser. Man wird mitgerissen und kann sich nicht wehren, und muss sich dann irgendwie wieder aus dem Loch herauskämpfen, in das einen das Buch mit Gusto stößt.
Ein hartes Buch, das den Leser nicht mit Samthandschuhen anfasst, ohne dabei jemals zu graphisch oder grotesk zu werden. Klaustrophobischer Horror mit einer klaren Leseempfehlung.
- MarJReviewed in Spain on August 18, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars I kind of miss the creepy cave.
Rating 4,5/5.
Great, great, read. This book gave me way more than I was expecting from it. I bought it with my mind not fully made up and, now that I'm finished, I must recommend it to anyone who is looking for a sci-fi horror treat.
The setting, is, of course, the main attraction of the novel. My hat goes off to Caitlin Starling for making a 400 plus page novel with just two characters in a single location as compelling and fun as The Luminous Dead has turned out to be. And again for crafting such a tangible atmosphere through the lens of a character that is sealed from the environment by a protective suit. Following Gyre through that cave has been a deliciously terrifying, claustrophobic and at times beautiful experience. Not just an interesting setting, but one the story really harnesses to great effect.
But while the cave is the selling point, the characters are the strongest point, if you ask me. Just two of them, but 400 pages of attention devoted to their psyche, their relationship and exploring their motivations. They drive the story, the intrigue, and it was them that really hooked me. They effortlessly carry and drive home the mysterious elements and the themes: distrust, paranoia, isolation, obsession and the exploitation of the poor by the rich.
Other than the great setting, atmosphere and characters, I have to point out the scares and creepy moments. It really has been a while since the last time a book spooked me the way several scenes of The Luminous Dead have. When they come, they are imaginative, vivid and they hit hard. They are weaved into the themes and the atmosphere in such a way that they feel way too real (in the best possible way). Had me looking over my shoulder when reading at night with dim lights. I loved them.
If I had to point out some negative aspect (as constructive criticism) I would point at the pacing- as a minor issue, though. It took me a bit of time to get really hooked on the early stages of the story, where it did felt like so many pages for just two characters and a cave was too much, relaying heavily -though understandably- on "caving jargon" I am not quite used to. I was wrong, of course, and I came to realise that soon enough. But I warn potential readers: if you feel unsure at the beginning, keep going, it really starts to pay off soon and the groundwork done on those early stages really enriches what is to come later.
The opposite happens at the final stretch, where I felt the story started to go too fast. There are some awesome scenes in those final chapters, full of exciting events - awesome spooky imagery included- and touching emotional moments, and I wouldn't have minded them being just a little longer. Don't get me wrong, this story does not have a rushed ending, nothing of the shorts. I found the ending extremely satisfactory, with all themes properly explored, all questions and arcs carefully resolved; nothing gets nowhere near to be ruined. It's just that those scenes were over a bit early than I would have liked. Simply put: I was sad I was getting over with the book, not sure that is really a negative point.
So, an absolute must-read if you are looking for a good science fiction-horror story. Very hard to put down once you start going. Great characters, whose secrets drive a page-turning mystery, great setting, interesting and thoroughly explored themes, a genuine heart and actual scares! I had an absolute blast, hope you do too.
PS: On my edition was a map of the cave, I strongly recommend to use it during your read! It took me a while to do so and I found it quite useful.