"The Luminous Dead" by Caitling Starling (BR)

[Silvana]

Roll call for this BR.

I know this book from a tweet from Kameron Hurley who gave lavish praises.

Who's joining me?

[Sarah, The Unsettled]

I'll be here!

[Silvana]

Sarah wrote: "I'll be here!"

Buddyyyy

This looks like a horror SF one. My last experience with that subgenre was not too happy. But I have a good feeling with this one.

[Sarah, The Unsettled]

Silvana wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I'll be here!"

Buddyyyy

This looks like a horror SF one. My last experience with that subgenre was not too happy. But I have a good feeling with this one."

What was the last one you read?

I'm on the other side of the fence - sci-fi horror is probably one of my favorite subgenres.

[Silvana]

Peter Watts' Blindsight. I rarely read this subgenre - all I could remember are I Am Legend and The Girl with All the Gifts - but it surely sounds like something I'd enjoy.

[Kaa]

I'm going to try it. Horror isn't usually my thing, but the reviews I've seen so far make this sound intriguing.

[Anna]

It sounds like it's more atmospheric horror than supernatural/gore? I might try it? (I can't believe how many spooky books I'm reading or planning to read.)

[Silvana]

Yeah, sounds psychological too.
Maybe in the line of GRRM's Nightflyers? Well, hoping it is better than that.

[Silvana]

I plan to start tomorrow, one day earlier, provided that I finish my bingewatching of Chernobyl :D

[Christopher]

I have the book out from the library, not sure I’ll get to it soon enough, but if I do I’ll chime in!

[Sarah, The Unsettled]

Ugh... I was planning on borrowing the ebook from my library. No one had it on hold or borrowed for two or three weeks. Now that I want it- it’s being read by One and on hold by one.

I’ll have to grab the physical copy. It might take me a couple days to get over there. But start away- I’ll jump in as soon as I have it.

[Sarah, The Unsettled]

Got a hard copy sooner than expected. Enjoying the tone and imagery. Also loved the maps.

Curious as to what the point of these expeditions is.

[Silvana]

Starting chapter 4
So far so good. The detailed description kind of making me feel like I am reading a nonfiction book.

Found the (view spoiler)[the dead body with the fungus growth... Well I hope we get to something scarier... 😆 (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah, The Unsettled]

Silvana wrote: "Starting chapter 4
So far so good. The detailed description kind of making me feel like I am reading a nonfiction book.

Found the [spoilers removed]"

Me too!! Right now it seems like not a whole lot is going on.

[Anna]

Is there gore so far?

[Sarah, The Unsettled]

Anna wrote: "Is there gore so far?"

Not really. But then I read a lot of horror. And I’m only up to chapter 4.

[Anna]

I'm going to try it! Probably starting tomorrow. If there's something super yucky, let me know! :D

[Anna]

I'm somewhere in chapter five. (view spoiler)[ It's really boring so far. I'm not a horror reader, but this doesn't even feel like horror? I'm listening to the audiobook, the narrator's light tone might be part of the reason why this really isn't suspenseful at all. It's just two idiots making idiot choices. The best I can say is that it's reminded me of other things that make me anxious? I'm tempted to DNF, but I'll give it a little more time. (hide spoiler)]

[Silvana]

In chapter 7 (view spoiler)[we got more explanation on the reason behind Gyre's trip, a pure selfish goal of Em's, which is getting to my nerve. I understand Gyre's frustration especially her main survival tool was under Em's control. I wonder if she would take it off and take the risk of getting back on her own. Though It is still not horror if she only has to fight the elements. (hide spoiler)]

[Silvana]

@Anna: (view spoiler)[maybe the anxiety inducing part is what makes the book classified as 'horror'? Though it is more atmospheric thriller than straight up scary stuff, so far. (hide spoiler)]

[Anna]

I was just about to come talk about chapter 7

(view spoiler)[ Seriously? This can't be all it is? There has to be something more?! Seriously?!??!!? (hide spoiler)]

re: horror

(view spoiler)[ It's not making me anxious, it's reminding me of things* that have made me anxious in the past, and would still do that if I actively thought about them, but this isn't nearly enough to get me there. Not that I want to be anxious! I'm just honestly not sure why this is horror?

* RL cave diving accidents (hide spoiler)]

[Anna]

Chapter 12

(view spoiler)[ I would be terrified if there were mushrooms on my plate, but in a book? Umm, no. But the reason for Em's obsession is at least better than what we got in chapter 7. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah, The Unsettled]

Well I just read up to chapter 8.

(view spoiler)[I’m really annoyed with this so far. I don’t even know that I’d go so far to call it atmospheric. It’s dull. That’s it.

The whole thing feels like a set up to a bad romance novel.

And making it worse is the really bad reasoning on Em’s part for sending people down there. I’m tempted to DNF this too.

Beyond that, poor Gyre has no control in the situation, given Em can just inject her with drugs or shut down her suit... erghh... annoying... (hide spoiler)]

[Anna]

I just finished.

[Anna]

I don’t want to spoil anything but all the things you said Sarah. Yes. And it doesn’t change.

[Silvana]

Anna wrote: "Chapter 12

[spoilers removed]"

I agree, it's better.

Almost halfway of the book now, (view spoiler)[while I am still waiting for something more exciting to happen, I kind of enjoyed the solitary feel of having just one (well, two) characters so far. I actually enjoyed it best when Em did not talk. (hide spoiler)]

Personally, the water scenes mostly kept my attention since I plan to have a cave diving certification (which is very challenging from what I heard). I remember what it felt during a river tubing trip in a cave (but not submerged) and when I went swimming in lake in a tiny island but we have to pass a submerged cave from the sea first to get there. It was only three meters or so but having no gears in a small, enclosed space (we had to go one by one) with silted water did creep me out.

And of course this book reminds me a lot of the Thai cave rescue thing.

[Anna]

Silvana, I was expecting exactly those kind of feels! I didn’t really get them, which might be a good thing for my general wellbeing!

[Silvana]

I just finished as well.

Well, that's a downer.

(view spoiler)[the novel works better as a novella or novelette. While I appreciate the amount of research/authenticity poured in, the story and plot were not that interesting and do not deserve 400 pages.

I am also a bit bothered with the sudden infatuation over Em, and the weird romance or whatever at the end. If I were Gyre, I would take the money and GTFO far away as possible from Em and probably caves. (hide spoiler)]

[Anna]

I completely agree! I still haven’t made it to my laptop to make longer comments, but I thought that novella length would have been great.

[Sarah, The Unsettled]

Wow you guys are fast.

It doesn’t sound like this improves at all... is it safe to DNF? I don’t care about either of these characters enough to see (view spoiler)[where the romance is going. Sometimes I like romance, but I don’t really want it to be the whole point, especially in a book that is being marketed as horror. (hide spoiler)]

[Anna]

I'd say DNF if you're not feeling it. There's a tiny little bit of actual suspense near the end, but other than that, it's the same all the way. That's why I thought novella length would have worked. Cut out all the fluff and amp up the creep factor. A tighter story with the same elements could have worked well, without the (view spoiler)[ romance. I mean what's scarier than being stuck alone in a cave filled with water? I wasn't worried for a second, and this is a subject that normally makes me very anxious. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah, The Unsettled]

Anna wrote: "I'd say DNF if you're not feeling it. There's a tiny little bit of actual suspense near the end, but other than that, it's the same all the way. That's why I thought novella length would have worke..."

Thanks Anna! I feel less bad about DNFing since you guys already finished. Normally a buddy read I try to stick it out til the end.

I’m kind of on the opposite end of the spectrum from you, in that I read a decent amount of horror. So if it wasn’t suspenseful for you until the end I think I’m just going to be really annoyed with the whole thing.

What a disappointment. I was really excited for this one too. I agree I think this could have worked well in a novella format.

If you guys are looking for something with a similar feel that actually dives into horror territory, I read Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Walking to Aldebaran earlier this year. It is a novella, it’s in a cave system, and it’s probably one of the scarier books I’ve read this year.

[Anna]

Yeah it was the tiniest blip of a 'oh is something finally happening?!' so I'm not sure if it's even fair to call it suspense :D

Aldebaran is on my TBR already, I'll have to check it out soon!

[Silvana]

Sarah wrote: "Anna wrote: "I'd say DNF if you're not feeling it. There's a tiny little bit of actual suspense near the end, but other than that, it's the same all the way. That's why I thought novella length wou..."

I echo Anna's suggestion - better to spend minutes for something else :D And thanks for the Aldebaran suggestion, I actually have it in my TBR too. So, Anna, shall we BR it?

[Anna]

Sure!

Adrian Tchaikovsky might lure in others, too. What does your crazy reading schedule look like, could you squeeze this in sometime in October?

[Silvana]

Anna wrote: "Sure!

Adrian Tchaikovsky might lure in others, too. What does your crazy reading schedule look like, could you squeeze this in sometime in October?"

Actually yes, I do have an opening due to a mis-scheduling. How about October 17? It's a novella so won't take too long.

[Anna]

I'm good anytime! I'll add it to th BR list and let people know it's happening!

[Silvana]

Anna wrote: "I'm good anytime! I'll add it to th BR list and let people know it's happening!"

Perfect, thanks. Well, at least this not-so-luminous BR produced something ;p

[Anna]

Haha yes! Now we just have to figure out what Sarah gets out of this? Or is it the joy of recommending something better?

[Silvana]

The joy of watching this video?

https://youtu.be/No4OZwVPcNI?t=161

Now, that's what I call horror.

[Sarah, The Unsettled]

Definitely the joy of recommending something better. At least I hope it’s something better. I need to stop recommending stuff. It’s nerve wracking. Lol.

And I will definitely lurk on your buddy read. Maybe I’ll even skim re-read it. It’s really short, I think it only took me a day or two to get through.

[Sarah, The Unsettled]

Silvana wrote: "The joy of watching this video?

https://youtu.be/No4OZwVPcNI?t=161

Now, that's what I call horror."

It’s a cool video though! It’s also awesome that you’re going for your cave diving certification. I think I’d be too scared to do it but always thought it sounded awesome.

[Anna]

Yeah I have nightmares about cave diving footage! The Finnish media still occasionally brings out the story from 2014 when Finnish divers died in a cave in Norway. The amount of information I have about cave diving is astounding, especially with last year's Thai caves being so prominently in all media

[Jemppu]

Anna wrote: "...The Finnish media still occasionally brings out the story from 2014 when Finnish divers died in a cave in Norway...."

Thank you for the link. This single news article captures the dread of it much more effectively than 400 pages of despairing could.

[Anna]

Yeah those rl stories terrify me, this book not at all :/

[Silvana]

Jemppu wrote: "Anna wrote: "...The Finnish media still occasionally brings out the story from 2014 when Finnish divers died in a cave in Norway...."

Thank you for the link. This single news article captures the ..."

Agree. It could happen real quick, that kind of accident.

Both cave and wreck diving terrify and fascinate me. I don't think we have many explored underwater caves here in Indonesia, but at least I really want to try one that's longer than ten meters.