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The Shadows of Miskatonic #1
Darkness Below
2023 Readers' Favorite Silver Medal Winner in the Fiction - Horror genre!
Nightmares. Disappearances. Suicide. Fall semester is always a challenging time at Miskatonic University. All Ellen Logan wants to do is pass her classes while holding down a bad job at a New Age bookstore. But when a former roommate jumps to her death from the university clocktower and another friend vanishes, leaving her with a mysterious book, she embarks on her own investigation. With the help of renowned professor Andrew Carter, she uncovers evidence of a murderous cult, a terrifying creature, and a ghost who knows far too much about her. To survive, Ellen and Carter must descend into the Darkness Below to stop the forces that threaten to tear their world apart.
Nightmares. Disappearances. Suicide. Fall semester is always a challenging time at Miskatonic University. All Ellen Logan wants to do is pass her classes while holding down a bad job at a New Age bookstore. But when a former roommate jumps to her death from the university clocktower and another friend vanishes, leaving her with a mysterious book, she embarks on her own investigation. With the help of renowned professor Andrew Carter, she uncovers evidence of a murderous cult, a terrifying creature, and a ghost who knows far too much about her. To survive, Ellen and Carter must descend into the Darkness Below to stop the forces that threaten to tear their world apart.
328 pages, Paperback
Published March 10, 2023
98 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Cottrell
3 books10 followersBarbara Cottrell gave up her career as a professor to pursue her true passion: writing weird fiction. She is the author of Darkness Below and is a lifetime member of the Horror Writers Association. She enjoys presenting her work in unusual venues like Mystery Writers in the Mausoleum and Word Horde Emporium of The Weird and Fantastic. She also served as a judge on the Redwood Writer Anthologies Redemption: Stories from the Edge, Endeavor: Stories of Struggle and Perseverance, and helped edit Remember When and On Fire. She lives in Sonoma County on a not-at-all-haunted vineyard. When she isn’t exploring the dark side, she makes wine with her husband, Lance.
To find out more about her and the world of Miskatonic University, visit www.barbaracottrell.com.
To find out more about her and the world of Miskatonic University, visit www.barbaracottrell.com.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 28, 2023
A light and entertaining blend of Lovecraft and dark academia with a bit of Indiana Jones thrown in. Set around the Miskatonic University it uses the premise that Lovecraft and those writer he inspired were documenting hidden truths. Into this world is thrown a plucky female student with psychic powers who investigates weird goings on at the uni. Nothing groundbreaking, but definitely a riveting and diverting piece of horror entertainment.
October 12, 2023
A dark and mysterious read. Welcome to Miskatonic University a place were myth and reality meet. A place where it you peak beneath the surface of this place that's shrouded in mysterious mystic you just might find that some of the myths are reality too.
This book had it all the occult, psychics, possession, pure evil in human form and not so human form. And on top of that we get a somewhat snarky, beautiful, tough, young women not willing to put up with crap or be shoved to the wayside. (And I'm sure she had a certain someone rolling in their grave.) I also loved the little tidbits about other authors and artists that were connected into the story.
Once a person stumbles into the evil that lurks beneath there's no turning back and no escape. You are now facing a darkness most never see and have an important part to play.
All of the characters were interesting and came with their own set of secrets (secrets they seem willing to kill to keep). Ellen and Carter played well off each other and made for a great team. Even with their secrets and mistrust they formed a bond with one another that allowed them to work together through some horrible situations.
Can't wait to dig into the next book.
This book had it all the occult, psychics, possession, pure evil in human form and not so human form. And on top of that we get a somewhat snarky, beautiful, tough, young women not willing to put up with crap or be shoved to the wayside. (And I'm sure she had a certain someone rolling in their grave.) I also loved the little tidbits about other authors and artists that were connected into the story.
Once a person stumbles into the evil that lurks beneath there's no turning back and no escape. You are now facing a darkness most never see and have an important part to play.
All of the characters were interesting and came with their own set of secrets (secrets they seem willing to kill to keep). Ellen and Carter played well off each other and made for a great team. Even with their secrets and mistrust they formed a bond with one another that allowed them to work together through some horrible situations.
Can't wait to dig into the next book.
November 24, 2023
This was a quick and fun read, but the MC was a bit Mary Sue for me. All the men want her, she finds out all the info she needs very easily, she's psychic, she's not like other people...
The pacing is very quick and reminded me of Lovecraft County in terms of "hey this random thing is happening now, just go with it."
There's a little bit of flirty romance but nothing major. A heck of a lot of world building but you don't need to be familiar with the Lovecraft mythos in order to understand the story.
Might be a fun beach read or holiday getaway. Something fun where you don't have to think too hard and you can just enjoy the craziness.
The pacing is very quick and reminded me of Lovecraft County in terms of "hey this random thing is happening now, just go with it."
There's a little bit of flirty romance but nothing major. A heck of a lot of world building but you don't need to be familiar with the Lovecraft mythos in order to understand the story.
Might be a fun beach read or holiday getaway. Something fun where you don't have to think too hard and you can just enjoy the craziness.
March 19, 2023
Really enjoyed this! I felt a little lost in the beginning but with most first books it’s all about the build, and the author does a wonderful job of it. Easy read and the writing felt fast paced which made it hard to put down. I also love a good “bad boy” and carter ticks that box, while she’s not the strongest character I can’t wait to see what’s coming next for her and I’ll be on the edge of my seat waiting for more!
October 2, 2024
I am a casual HP Lovecraft fan. I have read some of his short stories and seen a lot of movies that have taken inspiration from his work. Gave this book a try after seeing the awesome cover art with nasty tentacled monster and loved every page of it!
The author does an excellent job establishing the setting of Miskatonic University, Arkaham, the New England climate, and the stores and homes that inhabit it. Our protagonist, Ellen Logan, is such a great character. It was easy to get invested in her journey through the story trying to figure out what is happening to her friends, what is haunting the community and really figuring out secrets of her own past. Carter is interesting and tough to read for most of the story. Hard to exactly pin down his motives and whether he is actually trying to help Ellen.
Lastly the creature and fantastical elements were pitch perfect. The monsters when they do appear have impact and devastation creating real stakes whenever they show up. Then there is the ghostly and psychic elements that really tie everything together that are unique and at times emotional given their connection to history.
Just ordered the sequel. Cannot wait to read it!
The author does an excellent job establishing the setting of Miskatonic University, Arkaham, the New England climate, and the stores and homes that inhabit it. Our protagonist, Ellen Logan, is such a great character. It was easy to get invested in her journey through the story trying to figure out what is happening to her friends, what is haunting the community and really figuring out secrets of her own past. Carter is interesting and tough to read for most of the story. Hard to exactly pin down his motives and whether he is actually trying to help Ellen.
Lastly the creature and fantastical elements were pitch perfect. The monsters when they do appear have impact and devastation creating real stakes whenever they show up. Then there is the ghostly and psychic elements that really tie everything together that are unique and at times emotional given their connection to history.
Just ordered the sequel. Cannot wait to read it!
March 14, 2025
This is a pretty good story idea, but the writing is just dreadful. But I now know for certain sure that being womansplained is not any more fun than to be mansplained. How stupid does she think her readers are?
April 11, 2023
In Darkness Below, by Barbara Cottrell, Ellen Logan is a junior at the infamous Miskatonic University in the city of Arkham. I imagined Miskatonic to be a sort of higher education Hogwarts. The story grabs the reader from page one. Ellen, who is psychic, is a witness to a suicide. As the semester progresses, a fraternity house is destroyed, a friend steals an ancient book and then disappears, and another student pulls a gun on her--all these events seem to be connected to a dark and disturbing presence lurking under the earth.
Would-be readers, it may help you to know that I rarely find a book that I am driven to finish. In my youth I read voraciously, and then at some point I lost my “reading mojo.” This book has given it back to me and I think it's due to the author’s commitment to character development. This is much more than a magical adventure story with elements of horror. It asks some big questions along the way. One of the most concerning themes was misogyny. Ellen has the terrible realization that even some of the “good guys” fantasize about raping women for revenge when hurt or threatened. I don’t want to think this is true, but the statistical reality of violent and sex crimes against women throughout history support the theme. Another element that had me unsettled is the sense that with all the men revolving around Ellen, she had no safe, soft, place to land–she wasn’t sure she could trust any of them–even the uncle who raised her. Perhaps that’s a result of trauma she suffered as a young teen, or perhaps it’s a comment on reality that we can’t ever truly know what is happening in the hearts and minds of others. Ellen herself as a character is well-rounded. She’s quick to anger and often does not act in her best interests. That is where we as readers can recognize her youth; other times she has such a wealth of knowledge and experience that she seems much older. I don’t consider this a flaw, though, as I have known many young, intelligent people who seem to be old souls who gather knowledge at lightning speed.
I highly recommend this novel if you enjoy a fast-paced adventure with strong character development. And the promise of more novels to come is exciting!
Would-be readers, it may help you to know that I rarely find a book that I am driven to finish. In my youth I read voraciously, and then at some point I lost my “reading mojo.” This book has given it back to me and I think it's due to the author’s commitment to character development. This is much more than a magical adventure story with elements of horror. It asks some big questions along the way. One of the most concerning themes was misogyny. Ellen has the terrible realization that even some of the “good guys” fantasize about raping women for revenge when hurt or threatened. I don’t want to think this is true, but the statistical reality of violent and sex crimes against women throughout history support the theme. Another element that had me unsettled is the sense that with all the men revolving around Ellen, she had no safe, soft, place to land–she wasn’t sure she could trust any of them–even the uncle who raised her. Perhaps that’s a result of trauma she suffered as a young teen, or perhaps it’s a comment on reality that we can’t ever truly know what is happening in the hearts and minds of others. Ellen herself as a character is well-rounded. She’s quick to anger and often does not act in her best interests. That is where we as readers can recognize her youth; other times she has such a wealth of knowledge and experience that she seems much older. I don’t consider this a flaw, though, as I have known many young, intelligent people who seem to be old souls who gather knowledge at lightning speed.
I highly recommend this novel if you enjoy a fast-paced adventure with strong character development. And the promise of more novels to come is exciting!
May 27, 2023
Tentacular fun! Cottrell's Darkness Below launches her new series, The Shadows of Miskatonic, with a fun dark-academia theme and a plot that involves the Elder Gods, trapped miners and Nazi concentration camp survivors.
The books main character is a young psychic woman, Ellen, an orphan who was raised by her uncle--except she doubts he really is her uncle. He deals in antiquities, but has also profited from her gift over the years. Now a student at Miskatonic University, Ellen is confronted by increasingly dangerous events, seemingly initiated by an old book that was taken from the creepy college's library. From demonically possessed frat boys to vengeful ghosts (and sexy ones), from manipulative psychics to alternate realms, Ellen struggles to stop the mayhem and make sense of the more-that-usual madness around her. It's pretty gruesome and dark, but also funny. Cottrell doesn't forget she's writing about the college experience and there's plenty of satire about the charismatic professor who teaches one class--the "rules" of college life, and even financial aid. Ellen works part-time as a cheesy New Age store that is delightful.
Summer's coming; this would be a great beach read or hammock read. The second book is due out in October, 2023, and I await it eagerly.
The books main character is a young psychic woman, Ellen, an orphan who was raised by her uncle--except she doubts he really is her uncle. He deals in antiquities, but has also profited from her gift over the years. Now a student at Miskatonic University, Ellen is confronted by increasingly dangerous events, seemingly initiated by an old book that was taken from the creepy college's library. From demonically possessed frat boys to vengeful ghosts (and sexy ones), from manipulative psychics to alternate realms, Ellen struggles to stop the mayhem and make sense of the more-that-usual madness around her. It's pretty gruesome and dark, but also funny. Cottrell doesn't forget she's writing about the college experience and there's plenty of satire about the charismatic professor who teaches one class--the "rules" of college life, and even financial aid. Ellen works part-time as a cheesy New Age store that is delightful.
Summer's coming; this would be a great beach read or hammock read. The second book is due out in October, 2023, and I await it eagerly.
March 22, 2023
Barbara Cottrell’s debut novel is a real page-turner! Miskatonic University student, Ellen Logan, is a psychic who gets involved in a dark, supernatural world by a friend. She and her professor, Carter, battle a supernatural creature underground struggling to be set free.
This is not my usual genre, having read horror stories all my life, I’ve never gotten into the Lovecraft-type world. I could not out this book down and would often read late into the night. Well done Barbara, now I can’t wait for book 2 to come out!
This is not my usual genre, having read horror stories all my life, I’ve never gotten into the Lovecraft-type world. I could not out this book down and would often read late into the night. Well done Barbara, now I can’t wait for book 2 to come out!
July 29, 2025
Darkness Below (The Shadows of Miskatonic Book 1), is my first read from author Barbara Cottrell. The book jumps right in to it and the reader will have to catch-up as the story develops. If you like Marie-Hélène Lebeault, you might like this book, style-wise it's the author she reminds me of and the only bad thing about it was that it ended, as all books do, the good news is it's the first book in a series. I look forward to reading more from this author, in fact Thin Places (The Shadows of Miskatonic Book 2) is next on my TBR list. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
January 12, 2025
Dumbest book ever. I got to chapter 6 when I gave up. The book was all over the place where the main character is force into situations that the author got her into or the character forces herself into for plot reasons. Half of it is unneeded and the other half is force explanation on everything because mysteries are dumb and the reader is stupid. Do yourself a favor and get something better than this. If I could I would block this author books for the rest of my reading days.
October 15, 2025
I have just found my next bingeworthy author! This book reads like a Leigh Bardugo story, with layers of horror, thriller, magic, and suspense. There were so many secrets layered throughout. But also Cottrell's prose is just beautiful and captivating. I also loved the tension between Ellen and Andrew (though I admit wishing it were more than a tease!). I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of this series!
April 19, 2023
A fun, fast-paced story set in a modern time where the Cthulhu Mythos were actually real. The main character attends Miskatonic University where she must deal with egotistical professors, maniacal cultists, ancient texts, and of course Lovecraftian monstrosities. I read this book in two sittings, as the story is engaging and never slows.
April 25, 2024
A masterful weaving together of art, lore, and Lovecraftian horror with contemporary culture. I was hooked from the first chapter. Miskatonic University comes to life and delivers an experience not unlike a campaign of your favorite RPG. Ellen embodies all the desired qualities of a strong female protagonist that have left me craving more. Cottrell nailed it. Bring on book two!
March 18, 2023
Caught my interest and held it
It was a pure joy reading the first book in this series. The characters were fully formed and the settings helped me to easily picture them. I couldn't put this book down - read it in one sitting.
It was a pure joy reading the first book in this series. The characters were fully formed and the settings helped me to easily picture them. I couldn't put this book down - read it in one sitting.
May 24, 2025
Life at Old' Mis - Katonic
Well paced, engaging, and drops enough familiar names to please any fan of the Mythos. A wonderful female lead character. Am I gonna read the sequel? Is squid on the menu at Mis'?
Well paced, engaging, and drops enough familiar names to please any fan of the Mythos. A wonderful female lead character. Am I gonna read the sequel? Is squid on the menu at Mis'?
November 26, 2024
Very good! I took away one star for the romantic subplot, it felt very shoehorned in and really didn't advance the main plot.
August 9, 2024
This book is magnificent! The character development,the mystery,the suspense,the danger!!! And a cult?!?! I loved this book!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews