Published by Titan books Genres: Fiction, Horror, thriller
Format: ARC, eBook
Chilling, atmospheric and terrifying, Among the Living, was a fast well written read that would make a great movie! Full of vivid descriptions, creepy and dangerous moments.
I love books set in cold unforgiving settings and this book fits the bill! A group of miners who illegally mine rare minerals have bitten off more than they can chew on an island in the Arctic. Led by Dean, they venture into a cave and make a shocking discovery that has remained hidden and frozen for thousands of years.
Bethan is part of a group of environmentalists who arrived at the remote island in the Arctic after Dean contacted Bethan. They once worked together but their friendship ended after a tragedy. Bethan and her group arrive as Dean and most of his crew have run out of the cave in terror. Once both groups are on the same page that a dangerous contagion has been awakened, they work together, against the odds, to survive and to stop the contagion from spreading.
WOWZA! This proved to be a fast and gripping read. I loved the atmosphere and the sense of danger that was seeping from the pages. Whew! I enjoyed how Lebbon took his characters from being rivals to being united in their fight to survive. I loved how the characters went through several emotions ranging from awe to disbelief, before settling into terror and determination. Not only do they have to survive the cold and the harsh terrain, but they are also up against something that is the stuff of nightmares.
I had no idea what I was getting into when I picked up this book. Upon finishing, I found myself thinking about the plot. The real horror in this book is the thought of a contagion getting loose and affecting the world. After the pandemic, this book is very relevant. It is also unsettling, gripping, and hard to put down!
I enjoyed the characters. Some are extremely brave, some are stubborn, some have some dense moments (Dean, I’m talking about you), and some have some moments of glory. Overall, a very enjoyable yet terrifying book. This was my first book by Tim Lebbon and I look forward to reading more of his books in the future.
Gripping, chilling, atmospheric and well written!
Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.