And the author kept teasing these big scary tunneler creatures which basically amounted to. I thought it was well written, but lacked any momentum. 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. The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling started out interesting as it created an atmosphere around the main protagonist and her controller when it comes to cave diving/exploring. Lost and disoriented, Gyre finds her sense of control giving way to paranoia and anger. It is also home to the Tunnelers, strange alien creatures capable. Īs 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. Gyre has taken on the task of exploring a dangerous cave system that is partially underwater. Em knows all about Gyre’s falsified credentials, and has no qualms using them as a leash-and a lash.

Keeping her sane.Įm sees nothing wrong with controlling Gyre’s body with drugs or withholding critical information to “ensure the smooth operation” of her expedition. 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. Visual indication that the title is an audiobook. 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. The Luminous Dead audiobook (Unabridged) &mid A Novel By Caitlin Starling. '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)Ī 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. Bram Stoker Award nominee for Best First Novel!

The luminous dead tunneler