June Readalong 2020: The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling

[Kari]

Question that concerns spoilers up through Chapter 17: (view spoiler)[At what point exactly during the Camp 6 sump disaster did Em sedate Gyre? I realize at this point we can't trust either of them to convey info accurately so it may or may not have even happened at all, but I'm trying to figure out where Gyre would have slept for more than a day. Maybe I overlooked it. (hide spoiler)]

[Shainlock]

Up through ch 14. I feel like I have been reading and reading and I’m not getting anywhere ... 💧😔

[Melanie]

Lilyn G. | Sci-Fi & Scary | wrote: "My major pick with this novel (do not read spoiler unless finished), and the reason I didn't particular care for it overmuch is [spoilers removed] and that just isn't nearly as interesting."

I just finished it and felt the same way Lilyn. Not sure how I'm going to rate it. (view spoiler)[ It kept my attention and was one of those books where I'd pick it up to just read a little and an hour had passed! But I wanted more ghosts and tunnelers, not romance (hide spoiler)]

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

Tyler J wrote: "I ended up giving it 3 stars. Enjoyed parts of it...and I have mixed feelings. 3 isn't a bad rating for me."

3 means you liked it! Don't let anyone else tell you differently. I'm gonna die on this hill, lol!

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

I'll be honest here and say that I enjoyed it but parts of it were a slog for me. Personally I liked the relationship parts the best. I'm wired weird for a horror fan :)

[Tyler]

Bark wrote: "Tyler J wrote: "I ended up giving it 3 stars. Enjoyed parts of it...and I have mixed feelings. 3 isn't a bad rating for me."

3 means you liked it! Don't let anyone else tell you differently. I'm g..."

Lol. I will die on that hill with you!

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

Two withered corpses atop the hill screaming "THREE STARS MEANS I LIKED IT".

[Kari]

Bark wrote: "Two withered corpses atop the hill screaming "THREE STARS MEANS I LIKED IT"."

Make that three! I don't understand why three stars is a bad rating!

[Tyler]

😂"THREE STARS IS GOOD"

[Melanie]

In that case, I'm giving it three stars :)

[Shainlock]

I don’t know if I can keep going. I’m trying.
How you doing Kim?!

[Franklinbadger]

Shaina wrote: "I don’t know if I can keep going. I’m trying.
How you doing Kim?!"

I'm finding it a bit of a slog but can't put my finger on why!

[Shainlock]

Yes. Me too. I never want to hear the word sump again.

[Shainlock]

Mmhmmm!

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

The pace is definitely a bit leisurely. I read it in big gulps because I needed to see how the relationship resolved because I'm nosy.

[Mindy'sBookJourney]

It is a bit slower than I was expecting, but that makes sense since there are only 2 characters. There is plenty of dread, and the stakes are plenty high. I am about 100 pages in now, and I am really enjoying it.

[Franklinbadger]

Lilyn G. | Sci-Fi & Scary | wrote: "Franklinbadger wrote: "Shaina wrote: "I don’t know if I can keep going. I’m trying.
How you doing Kim?!"

I'm finding it a bit of a slog but can't put my finger on why!"

I think it's because it's..."

That would normally be my cup of tea, but the execution in this case isn't quite sharp enough maybe.

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

Melanie wrote: "In that case, I'm giving it three stars :)"

hahahaha! Scream it from the rooftops.

[Jen]

I'll agree not a lot happens, but I loved it. I was hooked and read it in two days. :)

[Tracy]

I’ve listened to a couple podcasts where she talks about a major change that was done in the book. I will wait until month is over and share.

[Melanie]

Tracy wrote: "I’ve listened to a couple podcasts where she talks about a major change that was done in the book. I will wait until month is over and share."

Ooh, yes please, don't forget to share.

[Kari]

Tracy wrote: "I’ve listened to a couple podcasts where she talks about a major change that was done in the book. I will wait until month is over and share."

You can always put it under a spoiler cut, too!

[Iva]

I feel like the fact that I decided to listen to this one instead of physical read it has kept me going. I'm really enjoying it so far. I'm about 11 chapters in.

[Kari]

I just finished, and loved it. I can't believe Starling maintained so much tension with such a tight story, just two characters and a cave. My only issue, like some of you, was that (view spoiler)[I would have liked to know more about their backstories and the mysteries of the cave. Also, how many others think that relationship is suuuuper unhealthy? I'm not complaining, not every fictional relationship needs to be perfect to be enjoyable, and I certainly enjoyed Gyre and Em's dynamics, but I definitely wouldn't hold it up as an ideal. (hide spoiler)]. Ultimately, though, Starling is definitely one to watch.

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

Put it in spoiler tags Tracy. I NEED TO KNOW!

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

@Kari I agree with your spoiler but (view spoiler)[ I love tortured, unhealthy and complicated relationships - yikes- why do I admit that? (hide spoiler)] Anyhow, I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

[Franklinbadger]

Bark wrote: "@Kari I agree with your spoiler but [spoilers removed] Anyhow, I can't wait to see what she comes up with next."

Ha ha - me too (in fiction anyway!). Although (view spoiler)[ I like to get a bit more of a sense that the author realises they're writing an unhealthy relationship! (hide spoiler)]

[Franklinbadger]

Lilyn G. | Sci-Fi & Scary | wrote: "Franklinbadger wrote: "Bark wrote: "@Kari I agree with your spoiler but [spoilers removed] Anyhow, I can't wait to see what she comes up with next."

Ha ha - me too (in fiction anyway!). Although [..."

Phew!

[Shainlock]

Finally finished. I rounded to three. Kinda confused at the end so if anyone feels like elaborating that’s would be cool. I mean I think I’ve got it but .... really ?

[Mindy'sBookJourney]

I just finished it. I gave it 3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4 stars. I really loved the claustrophobic feel throughout. I liked the relationship. I really enjoyed the last quarter when the horror elements became more pronounced. I think it would if the wandering the tunnels part was cut down just a bit. I think that the setting could have been explored just as properly with about 50 less pages. But overall, very enjoyable.

[Tawana]

I am enjoying it so far

[Franklinbadger]

Lilyn G. | Sci-Fi & Scary | wrote: "Sioux wrote: "I just finished this (my first read with this group). Like others have noted the claustrophobia and body horror (that suit had me shuddering) were there - but I found the dread/horror..."

Same here - I think this is a case of "didn't quite hit the mark but I'll pre-order her next book"!

[Carol]

Mindy'sBookJourney wrote: "...if the wandering the tunnels part was cut down just a bit. I think that the setting could have been explored just as properly with about 50 less pages..."

I zoomed through in two days and just finished. Totally agree. (view spoiler)[Fewer loops through the tunnels (and repetitions in her head about the relationship) (hide spoiler)] would have made me happy. And also, why (view spoiler)[ didn't Em send a team down to meet her sooner? (hide spoiler)]

[Kristy]

I just finished and also gave it 3 stars. (Y'all can add me to the hilltop as well.) I didn't dislike this book, but I was expecting sci-fi horror and instead felt like this was more sci-fi thriller with a romance thrown in.