H.P. Lovecraft’s influence on the horror style can’t be escaped. The tendrils of particularly his aquatic horrors are far reaching, regardless of the problematic nature of the person himself. So why not embrace these horrors and inform a narrative with a number of the horrific themes, however add some parts that will fairly frankly fly within the face of Lovecraft’s beliefs. Enter Megan Bontrager’s The Sea Hides its Lifeless which tells the story of a anthropological group spelunking an underwater cave the place secrets and techniques of the cult of the Leviathan could possibly be unearthed.
ATONE OR DIE.
Grad scholar Caro has no thought what she desires to do along with her life, however when a chance arises to behave as a analysis assistant on an anthropological expedition for her professor and lover, Edward Beck, she doesn’t hesitate.
Beck assembles a group of lecturers and professionals to review the traditional sea-based Cult of the Leviathan, and the expedition descends into the ocean caves the place the cult are stated to have dwelt.
However when the cave entrance collapses, trapping them inside, the expedition will discover they aren’t alone within the darkness. Surrounded by unusual artefacts and scattered bones, an historic trial has been set in movement. One after the other, the members of the expedition will probably be examined and compelled to atone for his or her biggest sin. . . or die.
Informed from the first-person perspective of Caroline “Caro” Destler who’s having an affair along with her married educational mentor, Edward Beck. Beck is obsesses with the aquatic cult who worship Leviathan and with the invention of stone monoliths close to a collapse Maine, he gathers a bunch of grad college students on an expedition to study extra about it. He convinces Caro he wants her to hitch him, though he additionally has frequently promised her he would finish his marriage so he could possibly be along with her.
On her approach to the expedition; nonetheless, Caro encounters a wounded deer on the facet of the street which delays her arrival by a day. When she arrives, the expedition is underway but it surely isn’t lengthy earlier than the cave exploration takes a flip for the more serious… a collapse traps the group and a direct sense of claustrophobia envelops the story.
Trapped with solely Beck to information them, initially, the group begins to expertise unusual issues. Hallucinations, maybe, forcing them to relive their darkest reminiscences. Because the people within the group change into separated and their sanity begins to wane, the darkness of the cave spreads. Not simply due to the shortage of sunshine, however due to the supernatural parts of the cult, the cave, and the monoliths.
Bontrager definitely is aware of the best way to craft a horrific scene. There’s a rising sense of dread early on within the novel with the jaws snapping shut as quickly because the crew turns into caught within the cave. I couldn’t assist be discover resonance and/or similarities with Neil Marshall’s great subterranean horror movie The Descent. The Sea Hides its Lifeless was somewhat extra… moist, not simply because it set within the sea, however there’s some bloody, gory scenes all through the novel, a terrific instance of Bontrager’s pleasant expertise at crafting horror. As can typically be the case in horror tales, a number of the extra horrific parts are the human characters and Beck isn’t any exception. Hints of which are supplied early within the novel by means of his relationship with Caro.
Let’s get to Caro, since she’s the protagonist narrator. She’s type of a milquetoast bland character, not less than on the outset. The scene with the deer provides a glimpse into who she is perhaps, however she appears to be extra carried alongside by the story, a participant in what’s occurring to her somewhat than a real proactive particular person with company. Her journey, and the way she ‘awakens’ all through the narrative is a few good character improvement. Caro’s background is revealed in bits and items teasing readers till the total reveal, which I assumed was dealt with properly and made Caro an much more empathetic character, particularly as her connection to one of many characters grew in power because the narrative drove in direction of conclusion.
The Lovecraft factor is pretty omnipresent, given the aquatic cult horror and the body of the story. Lovecraft’s On the Mountains of Insanity tells the story of a tutorial expedition led by a college professor headed to the Antarctica. In each The Sea Hides its Lifeless (which sounds prefer it *may* be a narrative by Lovecraft) and On the Mountains of Insanity issues don’t precisely go in response to plan when the respective teams arrive at their locations.
Bontrager is certainly a author to observe, I loved The Sea Hides its Lifeless a terrific deal, with some actually horrific scenes, a way of place within the confines of the caves, and a few character improvement to understand in our protagonist.
Really useful
© 2026 Rob H. Bedford
Commerce Paperback | Run for It/Orbit
July 2026 | 368 Pages
https://megbontra.com/
Excerpt: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/orbit-books/excerpt-the-sea-hides-its-dead-by-megan-bontrager/
Evaluate copy courtesy of the writer
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