This was such a unique read! It takes such a different spin on dystopian societies in apocalyptic worlds than what I’ve read in the past.
Rating: 4/5
Three hundred years ago, something terrifying arose and pushed humanity to the brink of extinction. Now, a small remnant – the descendants of the few survivors who were able to escape the massacre below – lives above the clouds, on the top of a Mountain.
When they discover that their water supply is being poisoned Down Below, an expedition, including seventeen-year-old girl Icelyn Brathius, must descend and face the monsters, the Threat Below, that wiped out civilization centuries ago.
Icelyn quickly learns that all is not what it seems as she uncovers secrets hundreds of years old and struggles to stay alive in a world where no human is fit to survive.
I received a free copy of The Threat Below to read in exchange for an honest from the author, Jason Latshaw, himself. Thank you so much for this opportunity! I genuinely enjoyed reading this! I can’t wait to read the sequel of this!
This was such a unique read! It takes such a different spin on dystopian societies in apocalyptic worlds than what I’ve read in the past. And based on the synopsis I thought I was entering a high fantasy book and in a way it is. But not in the way I expected it to be. I was envisioning this as a whole new fictional world. However, in fact, it’s actually a subsequent look at our world.
This was such a unique read! It takes such a different spin on dystopian societies in apocalyptic worlds than what I’ve read in the past.
The Threat Below shows a society that’s built on top of a mountain, where the founder traveled with a small number of survivors from the attack of these beasts called the Threats Below. These beasts were unable to breathe at such high altitudes so this society was created at the top of the mountain out of the beast’s reach. However, this new society follows a new set of strict rules and it’s segregated in a different way. Unlike before it was by race, now it’s by abilities there are the Cognates and the Veritas. Cognates are the upper class so to speak and spend their days with intelligent tasks such as focusing on running the society where the Veritas spend their days being more active such as being the hunters as their bodies are considered to be more agile. And these two classes aren’t allowed to marry within each other. Way to improve on our world guys!
Besides this ridiculous new form of segregation, this society is set up in such a weird manner when it comes to the rules that are written in “the code.” They live by this code, which determines all the laws. One thing I found especially weird was the way in which couples are paired up, being each other’s “intendeds” this whole idea was just weird to learn about.
I mentioned this feeling like a high fantasy and I still feel as if it does. Mainly with how the society is set up. It was so unique to hear about this new world that’s from the fall of our own. Even though none of this was apparent at first, we don’t learn anything until we’re well into the book.
It was so unique to hear about this new world that’s from the fall of our own. Even though none of this was apparent at first, we don’t learn anything until we’re well into the book.
We follow multiple characters throughout the storyline, one main viewpoint in first person, the rest being third person from various people. Our main character is Icelyn, the Chief’s daughter, who decides to leave the safety of the village once they learn the water is being poisoned. Icelyn travels outside in the land below where the Threat Belows lurk, in an attempt to clear the poison or find a new water source. After Icelyn leaves, secrets start unveiling themselves, and Icelyn starts to learn the world she thought she knew is not what it seems.
I really enjoyed following our main character, Icelyn. She wasn’t perfect and she definitely grew a lot throughout the book. I appreciated she was adventurous even if she started off cautious. She always did what she thought was best even if she was wrong.
Throughout the entire book I only really got on with two characters. Besides Icelyn, the majority of the other characters I found extremely annoying or just plain out unlikable. Which wasn’t a bad thing, I’ve noticed I’m starting to enjoy more books with unlikable characters.
I will say this book was so fun to read but it’s also very dense. It’s over 500 pages long and features a lot of world-building. I definitely didn’t expect to spend so much time reading this. But I enjoyed every bit of it. I also couldn't help but get Atlantis vibes. You know, that Disney movie from what feels like forever ago. It was mainly the idea that Icelyn traveled down from the mountain to discover more than she expected. I don't really want to say too much more than that otherwise I'd give away some major spoilers. If you have read this and are familiar with the movie I mentioned, you might know what I'm talking about!
I really enjoyed this book! It was a fun unique adventure that I didn’t expect to take. I can’t wait to read the sequel. I have several questions that need to be answered! I hope the sequel will answer them. I think if you enjoy fantasy and aren’t afraid of a longer book, I highly recommend trying this one!