What do you think?
Rate this book
Underlife
Thomas Young has no idea where he comes from. Found living on the streets as a child and put into foster care, he always dreamed of having a family of his own. Now a grown man, he has his much longed for family, but his life is tinged with sadness. His son, David, has leukemia.
One night, as he's driving home from the hospital, he hits a homeless man, Mack, with his car. Mack knows Tom from his childhood and tells Tom he was once part of London's underground homeless and his son's leukemia is not all it seems.
In a desperate bid to save his son's life, Tom heads down into the miles of abandoned tubes lines and stations. But he quickly discovers something far more sinister waits for him than the giant rats, drug addicts and fast trains. There is also something dark and shadowy, and it wants out...
One night, as he's driving home from the hospital, he hits a homeless man, Mack, with his car. Mack knows Tom from his childhood and tells Tom he was once part of London's underground homeless and his son's leukemia is not all it seems.
In a desperate bid to save his son's life, Tom heads down into the miles of abandoned tubes lines and stations. But he quickly discovers something far more sinister waits for him than the giant rats, drug addicts and fast trains. There is also something dark and shadowy, and it wants out...
- GenresHorror
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 28, 2012
6 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
About the author
Marissa Farrar
140 books1,108 followersMarissa Farrar is a multi-published romance and fantasy author. She was born in Devon, England, loves to travel and has lived in both Australia and Spain. She now resides in the countryside with her husband, three children, a crazy Spanish dog, two rescue cats and six hens. She has a degree in Zoology, but her true love has always been writing.
Marissa is the author of sixteen novels, including the dark vampire ‘Serenity’ series. Her short stories have been accepted for a number of anthologies including, Their Dark Masters, Red Skies Press, Masters of Horror: Damned If You Don’t, Triskaideka Books; and 2013: The Aftermath, Pill Hill Press.
If you want to know more about Marissa, then please visit her website at www.marissa-farrar.blogspot.com. You can also find her at her facebook page, www.facebook.com/marissa.farrar.author or follow her on twitter @marissafarrar.
She loves to hear from readers and can be emailed at marissafarrar@hotmail.co.uk.
Marissa is the author of sixteen novels, including the dark vampire ‘Serenity’ series. Her short stories have been accepted for a number of anthologies including, Their Dark Masters, Red Skies Press, Masters of Horror: Damned If You Don’t, Triskaideka Books; and 2013: The Aftermath, Pill Hill Press.
If you want to know more about Marissa, then please visit her website at www.marissa-farrar.blogspot.com. You can also find her at her facebook page, www.facebook.com/marissa.farrar.author or follow her on twitter @marissafarrar.
She loves to hear from readers and can be emailed at marissafarrar@hotmail.co.uk.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 17, 2012
Is it okay to breathe now? WOW! From the first page right til the last, this book had me hooked in. Peril in dark underground tunnels so well described, A father desperately trying to unravel the paranormal mystery from his own childhood to be able to save his child today. This is one creepy-ass, seat clutching, breath holding story. Without giving away spoilers, I can say the end was highly satisfying for me and until I read it, I wasn't even sure such an ending would be possible. Marissa Farrar really captured these characters, made me care for them, and then bought it all home with a most perfect finale.
May 6, 2017
The emotional struggles of the characters are believable, and the main character is well-rounded. Some of the other characters are developed well too, though others feel like they could have done with rounding out a little more. Anyway, I did enjoy the book, and it has great potential. Unfortunately, I feel it didn't fully reach its potential. The author goes in to great detail in scenes where she could be brief, and leaves things vague where we could do with more details, so that the plot drags in places, and things are left unexplained in others. Not to mention, there are a few times where her choice of words for things made me think she was someone unfamiliar with the British words for things, rather than being the English born author Goodreads says she is, such as when she uses the words "potato chips" instead of "crisps" for example; if you're writing a book set in a certain country, with characters who have grown up in the country in question, you should use the phrasing for that country. So, a nice read, but not a great one.
December 29, 2015
Underlife is a horror novel that is mainly set in the tunnels in London's underground.
It is a very dark read that makes you question as a parent how far you would go to save your child.
Tom has grown up shutting out the period of his life from the age of seven and under. It isn't long though after meeting Mack that he starts to remember the life he used to lead as a young child. Understandably it is one that many of us would want to put behind us but due to the people that live underground they think that Tom is the answer to all their problems.
The journey through the dark tunnels is a tense and at times disturbing read. The great thing with this authors books is that you could easily visualise her novels as a film and they would certainly make for some scary experiences. Will certainly have readers scared of what lurks in shadows!
Underlife starts off at quite a steady pace which turns into a race against time for Tom to save his sons life.
Another gripping and enjoyable read.
It is a very dark read that makes you question as a parent how far you would go to save your child.
Tom has grown up shutting out the period of his life from the age of seven and under. It isn't long though after meeting Mack that he starts to remember the life he used to lead as a young child. Understandably it is one that many of us would want to put behind us but due to the people that live underground they think that Tom is the answer to all their problems.
The journey through the dark tunnels is a tense and at times disturbing read. The great thing with this authors books is that you could easily visualise her novels as a film and they would certainly make for some scary experiences. Will certainly have readers scared of what lurks in shadows!
Underlife starts off at quite a steady pace which turns into a race against time for Tom to save his sons life.
Another gripping and enjoyable read.
April 3, 2016
I am a big fan of Marissa Farrar's writing. This is one of her older books but still as good. It is more of a horror boo than her romance books i have read.
I loved this book, it was a very unique read and very original. The main theme running through the whole book is the deep love a father has for his son and will literally go into the bowels of hell to find a cure! There is happiness, sadness and longing in this book. It inspires you to think about your own family. I love that it turned out Sky was his baby sister meaning that neither of them are alone anymore as they always thought they had been.
I have to say the scenes with the baby doll scared the crap out of me (probably my own fear). They way the whole book was written is that you can see it in your mind so easily as you are reading it, i think thats what made this scene so scary.
Loved this book and it is a must for all Marissa Marrar fans!!!!!
I loved this book, it was a very unique read and very original. The main theme running through the whole book is the deep love a father has for his son and will literally go into the bowels of hell to find a cure! There is happiness, sadness and longing in this book. It inspires you to think about your own family. I love that it turned out Sky was his baby sister meaning that neither of them are alone anymore as they always thought they had been.
I have to say the scenes with the baby doll scared the crap out of me (probably my own fear). They way the whole book was written is that you can see it in your mind so easily as you are reading it, i think thats what made this scene so scary.
Loved this book and it is a must for all Marissa Marrar fans!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2013
This was a rather disappointing read. I felt that there was a lot of potential in the story, but the author failed to explore it. The characters are mostly flat, unfortunately they are not allowed to really develop. So much so that the secondary characters are mostly forgettable. The evil is to amorphous to be truly convincing. Throughout the book, I was hoping its nature would be explained but it was not. The Underworld lacked description and the plot seemed to drag throughout. My biggest gripe is with the metaphysics of David's leukemia and infection by 'the Shadows.' It seemed to be both spiritual and physical in nature and left me scratching my head. (Much like the movie 'The Ring'--why does copying the tape make a difference?)
This book would have been much better if it was broken into two parts and the author took the time to develop the characters and plot much more thoroughly.
This book would have been much better if it was broken into two parts and the author took the time to develop the characters and plot much more thoroughly.
October 6, 2012
Having read & enjoyed the short prequel Go Back I was lucky enough to get an advance copy of Underlife to read & review.
I have loved everything I have read by Marissa Farrar & her latest book did not disappoint! As I parent I can fully understand how Tom will go to any length to try to save his dying son even though the last thing he wants to do is leave his bedside. Tom has to confront his fears to return to the underground tunnels where he spent his early years to try to find answers. As usual there are plenty of twists and surprises as well as excellent descriptions bringing the horror of the tunnels alive, making you feel as though you were actually there! A real page turner!
I have loved everything I have read by Marissa Farrar & her latest book did not disappoint! As I parent I can fully understand how Tom will go to any length to try to save his dying son even though the last thing he wants to do is leave his bedside. Tom has to confront his fears to return to the underground tunnels where he spent his early years to try to find answers. As usual there are plenty of twists and surprises as well as excellent descriptions bringing the horror of the tunnels alive, making you feel as though you were actually there! A real page turner!
January 2, 2016
Underlife is the story of a desperate man, a family man, who undertakes a perilous journey into the bowels of London in order to save his young son. In order to save him, the man must confront his own childhood and the terrible things that he experienced as week as facing more tangible threats to his and the band of homeless who help him on his way.
The book is well written from most angles. The dialogue and characterization is find well, for the main character in particular. His struggles with maintaining his relationship with his wife, his own doubts about the mission he is carrying out on behalf of his son, and his own attempts to figure out what is going on are handled well. The description of the utter exhaustion that increasingly creeps over him as he goes deeper under the city is palpable and effective in helping the reader commiserate with his struggles. The characters are likable overall, if not we'll drawn outside the few main characters involved. You genuinely want them to survive and succeed in their mission, which I can't say for sine books I've read. The pacing and idea behind the plot are well managed and keep things going on at a good clip while keeping things generally interesting.
Unfortunately, the nuts and bolts of the plot don't quite excite as much as the general idea of the plot. The plot hinted at in the prequel Go Back suggested a slightly richer plot than what we got, and even the book itself toys with some ideas that never really are explored. Add a result, the book comes along at a good, but somewhat conventional pace. The ending, while satisfying on a narrative level, geeks a but tacked on and ambiguous - but in a cheesy, cliffhanger, sequel bait way, but just underwhelming. I think the overall mid of the book might have improved by ending it a few pages earlier.
As said above, the main character and his family are well examined, but many the others who play a bigger role than the family are less generously explored. Thus is not to say that they are caricatures, but some of them could have been drawn better for the reader.
Overall the book is entertaining, and certainly keeps your attention. For my money, it was certainly worth it, but not exactly something I'll go back and read again soon.
The book is well written from most angles. The dialogue and characterization is find well, for the main character in particular. His struggles with maintaining his relationship with his wife, his own doubts about the mission he is carrying out on behalf of his son, and his own attempts to figure out what is going on are handled well. The description of the utter exhaustion that increasingly creeps over him as he goes deeper under the city is palpable and effective in helping the reader commiserate with his struggles. The characters are likable overall, if not we'll drawn outside the few main characters involved. You genuinely want them to survive and succeed in their mission, which I can't say for sine books I've read. The pacing and idea behind the plot are well managed and keep things going on at a good clip while keeping things generally interesting.
Unfortunately, the nuts and bolts of the plot don't quite excite as much as the general idea of the plot. The plot hinted at in the prequel Go Back suggested a slightly richer plot than what we got, and even the book itself toys with some ideas that never really are explored. Add a result, the book comes along at a good, but somewhat conventional pace. The ending, while satisfying on a narrative level, geeks a but tacked on and ambiguous - but in a cheesy, cliffhanger, sequel bait way, but just underwhelming. I think the overall mid of the book might have improved by ending it a few pages earlier.
As said above, the main character and his family are well examined, but many the others who play a bigger role than the family are less generously explored. Thus is not to say that they are caricatures, but some of them could have been drawn better for the reader.
Overall the book is entertaining, and certainly keeps your attention. For my money, it was certainly worth it, but not exactly something I'll go back and read again soon.
October 8, 2012
I received this book from the author to give an honest review.
This book amazed me! Especially after I read the prequel "Go Back" I wanted more of Thomas and his family.
Underlife gives you a taste of what life underground is like and what a parent will do for his child. Would you being a parent do anything to save your sick child? Even by going and facing the dark and possibly death?
Thomas and Abi's son has leukemia and is on his death bed. One day Thomas meets a homeless man named Mack, who tells him about the shadows that live underground. He is the only one that can not only save the world but also his son David. Thomas doesn't believe him, but realizes that he will do anything he can to save him. Even by facing what is hidden below.
While following Mack underground he meets other homeless people and they help him on his journey to get rid of the shadows. During this journey Thomas learns some important things about his life, and what happened to him when he was seven.
I really felt for Thomas and Abi because of their son. I have two children and it would kill me if they were sick like David and it seemed as all hope was lost. Marissa did a really great job writing this book and making you feel what David felt and his parents. I wanted to hug David and tell him it would be okay, and hug his mother and tell her to have faith. It's been a while since I had a book make me feel like that.
In Underlife there is paranormal, love, sadness, adventure. It all combines perfectly with a wonderful plot and makes an AMAZING read. I truly recommend you read this book. I do not think you will be disappointed.
This book amazed me! Especially after I read the prequel "Go Back" I wanted more of Thomas and his family.
Underlife gives you a taste of what life underground is like and what a parent will do for his child. Would you being a parent do anything to save your sick child? Even by going and facing the dark and possibly death?
Thomas and Abi's son has leukemia and is on his death bed. One day Thomas meets a homeless man named Mack, who tells him about the shadows that live underground. He is the only one that can not only save the world but also his son David. Thomas doesn't believe him, but realizes that he will do anything he can to save him. Even by facing what is hidden below.
While following Mack underground he meets other homeless people and they help him on his journey to get rid of the shadows. During this journey Thomas learns some important things about his life, and what happened to him when he was seven.
I really felt for Thomas and Abi because of their son. I have two children and it would kill me if they were sick like David and it seemed as all hope was lost. Marissa did a really great job writing this book and making you feel what David felt and his parents. I wanted to hug David and tell him it would be okay, and hug his mother and tell her to have faith. It's been a while since I had a book make me feel like that.
In Underlife there is paranormal, love, sadness, adventure. It all combines perfectly with a wonderful plot and makes an AMAZING read. I truly recommend you read this book. I do not think you will be disappointed.
October 18, 2012
I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
Ok...I started this book with extremely high expectations after reading Marissa's "Dark Road" and "Underlife" exceeded my expectations. Marissa's ideas are unique and imaginative and I really enjoy her style of writing. She manages quite well to be descriptive without boring you to death and really keeps the story moving along!
Her characters are strong and multidimensional and she made the London 'underground' really come to life and...well, the 'under-underground' was really creepy and you never knew what was going to happen next!
I am very glad that I got the chance to read "Underlife" and look forward to reading more of Marissa's current books and await future offerings!
Ok...I started this book with extremely high expectations after reading Marissa's "Dark Road" and "Underlife" exceeded my expectations. Marissa's ideas are unique and imaginative and I really enjoy her style of writing. She manages quite well to be descriptive without boring you to death and really keeps the story moving along!
Her characters are strong and multidimensional and she made the London 'underground' really come to life and...well, the 'under-underground' was really creepy and you never knew what was going to happen next!
I am very glad that I got the chance to read "Underlife" and look forward to reading more of Marissa's current books and await future offerings!
March 1, 2013
I did enjoy this story and found the concept original and quite interesting. The book also contained some strong characters and the scenes involving the emotions of the parents of the dying boy felt very believable.
However, the middle of the book dragged badly. There was just far too much time running through tunnels and this got a bit too tedious - in fact I ended up skimming pages and flipping through them on my Kindle to get to the next significant bit of action or dialogue.
Overall, entertaining but needs a good edit and an injection of tension, whether through action or interaction between characters.
However, the middle of the book dragged badly. There was just far too much time running through tunnels and this got a bit too tedious - in fact I ended up skimming pages and flipping through them on my Kindle to get to the next significant bit of action or dialogue.
Overall, entertaining but needs a good edit and an injection of tension, whether through action or interaction between characters.
February 4, 2013
This is a wonderfully paced and suspenseful book.
Who really knows what hides in the darkness, out of the prying eyes of humanity? This book give you not only a glimpse of a life that is full of darkness and fear but also gives you the love of a father for his son. Marissa Farrar takes your imagination and mind through so much that I really didn't want the story to end but when it did, well all I can say is WOW!! The emotions that run though this book will stay with me for a long time to come.
Who really knows what hides in the darkness, out of the prying eyes of humanity? This book give you not only a glimpse of a life that is full of darkness and fear but also gives you the love of a father for his son. Marissa Farrar takes your imagination and mind through so much that I really didn't want the story to end but when it did, well all I can say is WOW!! The emotions that run though this book will stay with me for a long time to come.
February 21, 2016
Are you afraid of the dark? Well you should be. Under the streets of London an ancient evil is desperately trying to get out. Tom, who has no idea of what lay in his past, and a group of watchers, who guard the under life of London that few people even realize exists, set off a dangerous adventure. It's race against time to save not only the young son of Tom, but all of humanity. Truths will be learned, lives will be changed, and who will make it out alive? I recommend you give it a read and find out for yourself.
August 21, 2016
Slimed And Fearful
Lots of twists and turns. Not the easiest to follow. Interesting plot but not a constant page turner. The best was the detail of all the underground tube tunnels of London. Amazing what exists beneath ones feet. Too bad historians never felt the need to clean and open them to the public.
Lots of twists and turns. Not the easiest to follow. Interesting plot but not a constant page turner. The best was the detail of all the underground tube tunnels of London. Amazing what exists beneath ones feet. Too bad historians never felt the need to clean and open them to the public.
February 23, 2016
Marissa Farrar is an expert craftsman. This is an exceptional horror masterpiece. An ancient evil lurking in the underground tunnels of London, a dying child and a parent who can save him. This book will have you the edge of your seat, and refusing to put it down until you finish.
February 22, 2013
Not my usual genre but really enjoyed this one. Interesting concept and the story quickly got moving and continued at a good pace, keeping me interested and guessing right until the end.
July 21, 2015
I had a tough tie reading it at first but by the end of the first chapter I was page flipping, and losing sleep.
October 28, 2014
Pretty good thriller. Story did have some extraneous characters and I thought the ending was a tad predictable.
May 4, 2015
Different from what I normally read but it was ok
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews