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Neverest
One year ago, Sean Miller—journalist and mountain climbing enthusiast—reached the summit of Mount Everest and was never seen again. Unable to move on without knowing the truth of what happened, his widow Carrie insists on an expedition to search for Sean’s body so it can be properly laid to rest. Tom, Sean's best friend and former climbing partner, agrees to serve as expedition guide and promises to keep Carrie safe on the mountain, despite their complicated relationship history. Guided by a travel journal left behind by her husband, Carrie ventures into the frozen, open-air graveyard of the world's tallest peak. But as Sean’s diary and Carrie’s experiences reveal, climbing the mountain is more than a test of endurance; it’s a battle of wills with an ancient and hostile force protecting the mountain—and the dead do not rest easy at the summit. Neverest is a survival thriller with a hint of the supernatural that will appeal to fans of Ally Wilkes’ All the White Spaces and Amy McCulloch’s Breathless.
293 pages, Paperback
First published April 25, 2023
8 people are currently reading
337 people want to read
About the author
T.L. Bodine
13 books36 followersT.L. Bodine writes dark fantasy and horror. She's interested in uncanny, fantastic things, and the way real people with real problems interact with them.
You can also read up-and-coming stories on Wattpad, or check out her Tumblr for writing advice, creepypasta, and more.
When not writing, she can usually be found watching horror movies, playing story-heavy video games, or experimenting in the kitchen.
She lives in New Mexico with her husband, David, and two small dogs.
View content warnings for her books here: http://www.tlbodine.com/p/read-my-sto...
You can also read up-and-coming stories on Wattpad, or check out her Tumblr for writing advice, creepypasta, and more.
When not writing, she can usually be found watching horror movies, playing story-heavy video games, or experimenting in the kitchen.
She lives in New Mexico with her husband, David, and two small dogs.
View content warnings for her books here: http://www.tlbodine.com/p/read-my-sto...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
April 22, 2023
Full of atmosphere and emotion, T.L. Bodine' 'Neverest' is essentially a love story, be it a love letter to mountainiring or the amazing and unique narration of coping with the loss of a loved one. That said, there are a few creepy scenes that will curdle your blood. Claire, the protagonist of the story, goes to Mt. Everest to find her husband's body, lost a year before and never found, she's given his diary, and we learn, rather slowly, what has transpired. During the search, a lot is revealed about Claire herself, too, and it's very easy to lose yourself in the twisty psychological narratives of the book - that's how good Bodine's writing is. The plotline is deep, original, and complex - don't expect yetis and blood hungry creatures hunting for human flesh on Everest: the monster is the mountain itself, the menace lies in one's dying alone, cold and forgotten; plus, there's something poetic in the way Bodine describes the climb, subtly hinting at the rather unexpected, yet very moving, ending.
I'd love to read another story by this author and will keep out an eye for her next work!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I'd love to read another story by this author and will keep out an eye for her next work!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 23, 2023
First off, the paranormal element is subtle, but a Yeti is mentioned. This is not a creature feature, but the paranormal twist and the look into what happens when you climb a mountain and your mind may become your worst enemy.
A year ago, Sean Miller, Carrie’s husband, climber Mount Everest and never came home. Carries is lost in her grief, but evokes a promise from their best friend, Tom, to take her to the top so she can find her body.
I never saw Neverest being the book it turned out to be, but it surely has enough horror without the creature…or is there something more to the mountain, something that lays it’s claim to those who falter. Is it a beast? Is it their minds altitude sickness causing them to lose it? Is there a hostile force that protects the mountain?
Tom and Sean usually climbed together, but Tom had his reasons for not being on the trip. They weren’t what I thought and I wonder if all those that never returned from climbing Mount Everest were all accidents.
Neverest is a book about survival. I have seen some TV shows and read some accounts of Mount Everest. I cannot imagine ever having the desire to do such a thing. For one, I like heat and I am pretty laid back. I think climbers have a desire to conquer something. Or are they running from something? Sean felt climbing was the only time he was in control of events. When you think of all the support needed to accomplish such a feat, I think that is a misnomer.
The writing, and watching shows and reading books, makes it easy to visualize her preparations, her assent, and the action as it unfolds. The hazards and danger, from the mountain and from the person themselves, does not make me want to follow in their footsteps. It was creepy. I found myself shivering and it wasn’t from the cold.
Maybe the mountain is striking back because of how humans have trashed it. My curiosity, which is great that an author can have me doing it, made me surf the internet. People…I get this feeling of who do they think they are. Do they think, if I were ever to climb the mountain, I would want to see how little they care about their environment? It’s like we say for the beach, leave only footprints.
Carrie is searching for answers and her guilt drives her on a journey of self discovery that she didn’t know she was looking for. The held the journal Sean had left behind as if it was her lifeline…
Man, oh man, that ending. I had no idea how T L Bodine would finish Neverest, but I didn’t see that coming. I guess, I was just along for the ride, not thinking of where I was going, just taking one step after another, one page after another, one word after another…
T L Bodine’s writing draws me in as I become fascinated with the allure to conquer, the price the climbers pay, both physical and mental, the cold, the lack of air and the tricks the mind plays on them. I wonder how many fall prey to altitude sickness and just wander off, lost on the mountain and lost in their mind.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Neverest by T L Bodine.
A year ago, Sean Miller, Carrie’s husband, climber Mount Everest and never came home. Carries is lost in her grief, but evokes a promise from their best friend, Tom, to take her to the top so she can find her body.
I never saw Neverest being the book it turned out to be, but it surely has enough horror without the creature…or is there something more to the mountain, something that lays it’s claim to those who falter. Is it a beast? Is it their minds altitude sickness causing them to lose it? Is there a hostile force that protects the mountain?
Tom and Sean usually climbed together, but Tom had his reasons for not being on the trip. They weren’t what I thought and I wonder if all those that never returned from climbing Mount Everest were all accidents.
Neverest is a book about survival. I have seen some TV shows and read some accounts of Mount Everest. I cannot imagine ever having the desire to do such a thing. For one, I like heat and I am pretty laid back. I think climbers have a desire to conquer something. Or are they running from something? Sean felt climbing was the only time he was in control of events. When you think of all the support needed to accomplish such a feat, I think that is a misnomer.
The writing, and watching shows and reading books, makes it easy to visualize her preparations, her assent, and the action as it unfolds. The hazards and danger, from the mountain and from the person themselves, does not make me want to follow in their footsteps. It was creepy. I found myself shivering and it wasn’t from the cold.
Maybe the mountain is striking back because of how humans have trashed it. My curiosity, which is great that an author can have me doing it, made me surf the internet. People…I get this feeling of who do they think they are. Do they think, if I were ever to climb the mountain, I would want to see how little they care about their environment? It’s like we say for the beach, leave only footprints.
Carrie is searching for answers and her guilt drives her on a journey of self discovery that she didn’t know she was looking for. The held the journal Sean had left behind as if it was her lifeline…
Man, oh man, that ending. I had no idea how T L Bodine would finish Neverest, but I didn’t see that coming. I guess, I was just along for the ride, not thinking of where I was going, just taking one step after another, one page after another, one word after another…
T L Bodine’s writing draws me in as I become fascinated with the allure to conquer, the price the climbers pay, both physical and mental, the cold, the lack of air and the tricks the mind plays on them. I wonder how many fall prey to altitude sickness and just wander off, lost on the mountain and lost in their mind.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Neverest by T L Bodine.
February 25, 2023
I’d read Bodine’s work before she asked me to blurb NEVEREST, so I was interested in seeing what she’d come up with next in this interesting horror story set on Everest. It’s something different and intriguing and it captured my attention immediately. And it certainly didn’t disappoint.
One thing I’ve noticed about Bodine’s writing is her ability to dig up the humanest of human emotions in her characters. To the point where they’re almost unlikeable for how raw they react to situations. Yet at the same time they’re so incredibly human that you can’t help but empathize with them while you’re reading. Carrie is no different as we sit on her shoulder and climb the mountain with her. She works through a rollercoaster of emotions as she grapples with her husband’s death, and the guilt of some of her feelings toward him in the final handful of time before he died. At times cringey, but realistic to the point of hurting, I couldn’t look away.
Plus, there’s this underlying low thrum of horror that simmers under the surface of the story. Right from page one there’s a sense of foreboding as Carrie’s plane comes in for a rocky landing. NEVEREST is definitely not a sun-shiny story, that’s for sure! It’s a horror that lurks in the corner of the eye, in reiterated tales of urban legends that live on only on people’s tongues. Or in Carrie’s case, in the works of her husband through his journal.
The ending doesn’t really give you that well-rounded solution to the story, but it’s a fitting ending and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. The horror is insidious that way, lurking just on the edges of the pages. It might peek it’s finger in, but that’s all you’ll see of it. I love this kind of psychological horror that never gives you the satisfaction of a solid ending. That’s the whole point, and it makes it all the creepier.
NEVEREST was a ride of a story that had me flinching with every page turn because I kept expecting something to reveal, but she keeps the terror on simmer the whole time, allowing it to needle under your skin and fester. If you want a low-key yet mind-screwy king of horror, NEVEREST is the book for you!
4.5
One thing I’ve noticed about Bodine’s writing is her ability to dig up the humanest of human emotions in her characters. To the point where they’re almost unlikeable for how raw they react to situations. Yet at the same time they’re so incredibly human that you can’t help but empathize with them while you’re reading. Carrie is no different as we sit on her shoulder and climb the mountain with her. She works through a rollercoaster of emotions as she grapples with her husband’s death, and the guilt of some of her feelings toward him in the final handful of time before he died. At times cringey, but realistic to the point of hurting, I couldn’t look away.
Plus, there’s this underlying low thrum of horror that simmers under the surface of the story. Right from page one there’s a sense of foreboding as Carrie’s plane comes in for a rocky landing. NEVEREST is definitely not a sun-shiny story, that’s for sure! It’s a horror that lurks in the corner of the eye, in reiterated tales of urban legends that live on only on people’s tongues. Or in Carrie’s case, in the works of her husband through his journal.
The ending doesn’t really give you that well-rounded solution to the story, but it’s a fitting ending and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. The horror is insidious that way, lurking just on the edges of the pages. It might peek it’s finger in, but that’s all you’ll see of it. I love this kind of psychological horror that never gives you the satisfaction of a solid ending. That’s the whole point, and it makes it all the creepier.
NEVEREST was a ride of a story that had me flinching with every page turn because I kept expecting something to reveal, but she keeps the terror on simmer the whole time, allowing it to needle under your skin and fester. If you want a low-key yet mind-screwy king of horror, NEVEREST is the book for you!
4.5
May 17, 2023
Sooooo just so everyone knows, the premise is kind of misleading…
This was more of a survival thriller than a horror story. Carrie’s climb of the mountain to manage her grief was fascinating. Sean’s diary entries were kind of boring.
The “creature” or supernatural aspects rarely manifest on the pages and are poorly explained or detailed. They could have been completely removed from the story without impacting it at all.
The ending- letdown after letdown after letdown.
This was more of a survival thriller than a horror story. Carrie’s climb of the mountain to manage her grief was fascinating. Sean’s diary entries were kind of boring.
The “creature” or supernatural aspects rarely manifest on the pages and are poorly explained or detailed. They could have been completely removed from the story without impacting it at all.
The ending- letdown after letdown after letdown.
May 31, 2023
Very suspenseful, made me happy to be a couch potato, although my fascination with Everest hasn't abated.
April 26, 2023
When I crave Everest/Moutain horror this will be the book I think about and compare all others to from now on. Perfectly unsettling.
November 2, 2023
I got this book in a book box and wasn't particularly interested by the synopsis. So if you picked this book up on purpose you will probably like it more than I did.
This follows a woman whose husband died on Mount Everest and a year after his death she attempts the climb in hopes of finding his body. We also have flashbacks from his prospective. In my personal opinion this reads more like a domestic thriller than a horror book. Both husband and wife are awful people. The wife blames everyone except her husband for his death (it was entirely his fault) and the husband was basically what men call an "alpha male". Their relationship was horrible. The ghost/horror/unexplained aspect only shows up like 95% into the book and the whole thing can easily be explained by altitude sickness.
I'm not interested in climbing and I don't like reading about awful selfish people so this book was never for me but its not badly written if it does sound interesting to you.
This follows a woman whose husband died on Mount Everest and a year after his death she attempts the climb in hopes of finding his body. We also have flashbacks from his prospective. In my personal opinion this reads more like a domestic thriller than a horror book. Both husband and wife are awful people. The wife blames everyone except her husband for his death (it was entirely his fault) and the husband was basically what men call an "alpha male". Their relationship was horrible. The ghost/horror/unexplained aspect only shows up like 95% into the book and the whole thing can easily be explained by altitude sickness.
I'm not interested in climbing and I don't like reading about awful selfish people so this book was never for me but its not badly written if it does sound interesting to you.
February 10, 2025
Bodine is a phenomenal author, and her skills are on full display here. Neverest is a creepy, atmospheric journey into the death zone. There is such a subtle touch to the otherworldly aspects that heightens the tension. But Bodine never lets the story stray far from the fractured relationships at its core. Brilliant read.
December 31, 2023
One year ago Carrie's husband, Sean Miller, went missing on Mount Everest. He had been part of a small group aiming to reach the summit, but was never seen again after the final push for the top. Carrie is determined she is going to find her husband's body & bring him home for burial, & their friend Tom, Sean's best friend & former climbing partner, volunteers to accompany her. Their Sherpa guide gives Carrie a journal left behind by Sean, & she reads this whilst they start their journey. It seems that Sean was haunted by something up there on Everest & spent the last few days feeling watched by something unseen.
The narrative is mostly told from Carrie's point of view in the present, whilst we get Sean's view from the expedition where he went missing. I'm not gonna lie, I was hoping it was going to be a lot scarier than it turned out to be. The book does discuss the strange things that can happen on the mountain whether it's due to oxygen deprivation or something more supernatural (i.e. Third Man syndrome) but I felt a lot more could have been done with this. The majority of the book seemed to be Carrie being a pain in the ass. 3.5 stars (rounded up) - could have been better.
The narrative is mostly told from Carrie's point of view in the present, whilst we get Sean's view from the expedition where he went missing. I'm not gonna lie, I was hoping it was going to be a lot scarier than it turned out to be. The book does discuss the strange things that can happen on the mountain whether it's due to oxygen deprivation or something more supernatural (i.e. Third Man syndrome) but I felt a lot more could have been done with this. The majority of the book seemed to be Carrie being a pain in the ass. 3.5 stars (rounded up) - could have been better.
September 27, 2025
On the positive side, im grateful to the author for serving my insatiable need for another alpine mountaineering book. The title, description and cover art really drew me in!
Otherwise it’s really a two star book for me. The writing feels like the “cool mom” from Mean girls with the amount of times she mentions “bagging peaks.”
Look at you knowing the lingo!
The ending was unique and not something I predicted, but the stereotypical nature of the characters and their relationships felt boring. I bought into the idea of this being a horror but it was mostly just a tinge of paranormal stored up for the very end.
Ended up feeling pretty blasé about it all.
Otherwise it’s really a two star book for me. The writing feels like the “cool mom” from Mean girls with the amount of times she mentions “bagging peaks.”
Look at you knowing the lingo!
The ending was unique and not something I predicted, but the stereotypical nature of the characters and their relationships felt boring. I bought into the idea of this being a horror but it was mostly just a tinge of paranormal stored up for the very end.
Ended up feeling pretty blasé about it all.
April 6, 2024
I'm sorry, but this book was so boring. 😴 The only part that was good was the last three chapters of the book. I have read worse, and I didn't feel the need to quit reading, but I will not recommend this book to anyone. #NotMyCupOfTea #Snoozefest
February 11, 2023
Haunting and intriguing - loved this book. Adventure, isolation, flawed protagonists and a mystery that steadily unfurls as the pages fly by.
April 6, 2023
ⓇⒺⓋⒾⒺⓌ
Neverest - TL Bodine
When Sean Miller, mountain climbing enthusiasts fails to return from Everest, his Wife Cassie convinces Tom, Sean’s best friend and (former) climbing partner to join her on an expedition to find and return Sean’s body.
Sean’s diary, recovered from a Sherpa who was part of his climbing team is given to Cassie which reveals there is more to climbing the mountain than just skill and endurance, but a battle of wills with an ancient and hostile force that protects the mountain.
I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I might.
Neverest is an intriguing read, and I real page turner in what is described as a survival thriller with a hint of the supernatural.
I had that feeling you have when you’re watching a horror movie, and you’re waiting for that jump scare - that anxiety, but it never really comes, it just keeps you dangling - waiting.
Neverest has you expecting the horror rather than actually delivering it.
The characters are believable, but not necessarily likeable, I wasn’t a big fan of our main character Carrie, and felt bad for her deceased love, Sean (read it, you’ll find out why).
I liked the ending of the book, despite the finale leaving me with questions I desperately wanted answers to!
Thank you to the author @tlbodine & @ghostorchidpress for sending me Neverest my way always appreciated
*𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝟮𝟱𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹
Neverest - TL Bodine
When Sean Miller, mountain climbing enthusiasts fails to return from Everest, his Wife Cassie convinces Tom, Sean’s best friend and (former) climbing partner to join her on an expedition to find and return Sean’s body.
Sean’s diary, recovered from a Sherpa who was part of his climbing team is given to Cassie which reveals there is more to climbing the mountain than just skill and endurance, but a battle of wills with an ancient and hostile force that protects the mountain.
I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I might.
Neverest is an intriguing read, and I real page turner in what is described as a survival thriller with a hint of the supernatural.
I had that feeling you have when you’re watching a horror movie, and you’re waiting for that jump scare - that anxiety, but it never really comes, it just keeps you dangling - waiting.
Neverest has you expecting the horror rather than actually delivering it.
The characters are believable, but not necessarily likeable, I wasn’t a big fan of our main character Carrie, and felt bad for her deceased love, Sean (read it, you’ll find out why).
I liked the ending of the book, despite the finale leaving me with questions I desperately wanted answers to!
Thank you to the author @tlbodine & @ghostorchidpress for sending me Neverest my way always appreciated
*𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝟮𝟱𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹
October 27, 2023
I think this might be a little under a 4 for me, but I'm giving it 4 stars here regardless.
I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. It definitely moved slowly, and it wasn't very scary. Spooky, yes, but nothing that could keep me up at night. This is a story of love and loss, period. With an accent of the supernatural.
I think Bodine did a great job of capturing the tediousness of mountain climbing. The time, repetition, extreme elements, and in some cases psychosis that comes out of it all. I felt like I was there on the mountain with the characters, and I am now curious about what Mt. Everest really looks like to someone on its slopes.
The story starts with you thinking that Carrie and Sean had a pretty great relationship. But you learn while climbing this mountain that this is actually not at all the case. Carrie does seem to love Sean because they have their history together, and he was her husband. But you realize loss entered their lives in the form of their declining marriage long before Sean's disappearance.
I won't go into further detail - I just wanted to give an impression as to the complexity of the relationships here. I found the ending satisfying, although the focus was not something I expected. Not an 'OMG I didn't see that coming' unexpected, but more of a 'hmmm, ok' sort of unexpected. Hence my slightly less than 3 stars description at the start of this review.
I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. It definitely moved slowly, and it wasn't very scary. Spooky, yes, but nothing that could keep me up at night. This is a story of love and loss, period. With an accent of the supernatural.
I think Bodine did a great job of capturing the tediousness of mountain climbing. The time, repetition, extreme elements, and in some cases psychosis that comes out of it all. I felt like I was there on the mountain with the characters, and I am now curious about what Mt. Everest really looks like to someone on its slopes.
The story starts with you thinking that Carrie and Sean had a pretty great relationship. But you learn while climbing this mountain that this is actually not at all the case. Carrie does seem to love Sean because they have their history together, and he was her husband. But you realize loss entered their lives in the form of their declining marriage long before Sean's disappearance.
I won't go into further detail - I just wanted to give an impression as to the complexity of the relationships here. I found the ending satisfying, although the focus was not something I expected. Not an 'OMG I didn't see that coming' unexpected, but more of a 'hmmm, ok' sort of unexpected. Hence my slightly less than 3 stars description at the start of this review.
October 26, 2023
Everest is a metaphor for grief: who knew all those bodies up top could have lives beyond the frigid cold?
Widowed Carrie enlists the help of her late husband's best friend Tom to help her climb Everest with the help of paid locals--the last to see Sean, Carrie's husband alive. She thinks Tom expects her to back out, but it's the closure she needs: Sean's body was never found. As Carrie gets closer and closer to the base camp, the more she comes to understand who Sean was, at his core. Their marriage, before he died, was not a completely pleasant one. Like all marriages, there were troubles and big disagreements. Interspersed in her journey are entries from Sean's climbing journal, which reveal that the climb to Everest's summit is more harrowing than it seems: Sean hears things, sees things. Could it be the mountain calling to him, like an old god? Or could it just be altitude sickness?
As Carrie begins to experience the same things--the fear of climbing, the fear of what might be out there--she wonders if she'll make it back down...or up to the summit completely.
Widowed Carrie enlists the help of her late husband's best friend Tom to help her climb Everest with the help of paid locals--the last to see Sean, Carrie's husband alive. She thinks Tom expects her to back out, but it's the closure she needs: Sean's body was never found. As Carrie gets closer and closer to the base camp, the more she comes to understand who Sean was, at his core. Their marriage, before he died, was not a completely pleasant one. Like all marriages, there were troubles and big disagreements. Interspersed in her journey are entries from Sean's climbing journal, which reveal that the climb to Everest's summit is more harrowing than it seems: Sean hears things, sees things. Could it be the mountain calling to him, like an old god? Or could it just be altitude sickness?
As Carrie begins to experience the same things--the fear of climbing, the fear of what might be out there--she wonders if she'll make it back down...or up to the summit completely.
November 6, 2023
I liked this story a lot. Survival horror, winter horror, creature horror - all the things I do so love.
However, this wasn't an in-your-face supernatural horror story. This was more of a relationship drama and the dangers of mountain climbing. It felt very realistic, in its portrayal of the physical and mental exhaustion of trying to summit a mountain; and not just any mountain, but Everest.
I used to think that it would be awesome to climb a mountain. Now I know better. It would be bitterly cold, it would take a long time, it would be exhausting - and that is just physical. Throw in the psychological toll such a journey can take. Nope, not for me, thanks.
But the story was good. It was well-written and engrossing. I wish the supernatural stuff had been leaned into a bit more, and maybe that the ending had taken a bit longer. I did like that there is a bit of uncertainty in the end of the book. I think I know what will happen, but it's not written, so I can't be sure.
All in all, I enjoyed the heck out of this book.
However, this wasn't an in-your-face supernatural horror story. This was more of a relationship drama and the dangers of mountain climbing. It felt very realistic, in its portrayal of the physical and mental exhaustion of trying to summit a mountain; and not just any mountain, but Everest.
I used to think that it would be awesome to climb a mountain. Now I know better. It would be bitterly cold, it would take a long time, it would be exhausting - and that is just physical. Throw in the psychological toll such a journey can take. Nope, not for me, thanks.
But the story was good. It was well-written and engrossing. I wish the supernatural stuff had been leaned into a bit more, and maybe that the ending had taken a bit longer. I did like that there is a bit of uncertainty in the end of the book. I think I know what will happen, but it's not written, so I can't be sure.
All in all, I enjoyed the heck out of this book.
April 26, 2023
Neverest by T.L. Bodine was in incredibly emotional and unsettling slow burn of a book. Carrie's husband Sean has vanished after reaching the peak of Mount Everest and she cannot rest until she traces his steps to try to understand what happened. She is confronted with feelings of grief, guilt, curiosity, and physical exertion throughout the story. There is a very unsettling feeling that lurks in every page that continuously propelled me forward, needing to know what would happen next. Although there are no outright jump scares or scenes of blood and gore, the slow burn of horror is present in this story.
I had never read any of this author's work prior to this, but I will be seeking her out now! Thank you to Ghost Orchid Press for a gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I had never read any of this author's work prior to this, but I will be seeking her out now! Thank you to Ghost Orchid Press for a gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 27, 2024
Beginning of 2023 I received an eARC of this book from the publisher but due to life stuff I wasn’t able to pick up and it ended up lingering on the tbr. Now that I have finally read it, I thoroughly regret waiting this long because that was just awesome. It is not full on horror but it definitely is a horror. The tension during the climb up the mountain crept into my bones like the cold crept into the main characters. I felt like I was there with them the whole way up. Amazing poetic creepy gripping writing, and I loved both climbing up in Claire’s POV as well as finding out Sean’s story in his diary chapters. I also love the way it ended, could never have predicted that. Highly recommend this one!
March 6, 2023
Solid 3 1/2 stars!
If you find yourself called to the mystery of the mountains…. You are never alone. In the most inhospitable environment where nothing is capable of surviving something thrives. A slow, festering, simmer of a horror tale set on Everest. Amazing imagery, raw emotions and something lurking just out of sight. A doomed story of a widow trying to find closure and answers with a subtle unease that works it’s way into your head and has you questioning who’s voice is that really in the back of your mind……. A slow burn of a horror that had me hooked at horror tale set on Mt. Everest.
If you find yourself called to the mystery of the mountains…. You are never alone. In the most inhospitable environment where nothing is capable of surviving something thrives. A slow, festering, simmer of a horror tale set on Everest. Amazing imagery, raw emotions and something lurking just out of sight. A doomed story of a widow trying to find closure and answers with a subtle unease that works it’s way into your head and has you questioning who’s voice is that really in the back of your mind……. A slow burn of a horror that had me hooked at horror tale set on Mt. Everest.
April 20, 2023
The plot-driven story delves into Carrie's life and Sean's mountain climb journey. The chapters switch between Carrie and Sean's diary as they merge together between Sean's feat and Carrie's journey in his footsteps revealing tense encounters and tough truths, as well as the difficult physical climb. The story is long to conclude a final truth. The book is written in the present tense, so readers read the narrative in real-time. A personal pleasant way to read since nothing in the future can be foreseen and readers learn what happens at the same time as the character.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 25, 2024
This book scared me more than many horror novels, despite the fact that this is essentially a thriller and that supernatural elements are very vague. The story of a woman searching for her lost / presumed dead husband on Mt Everest is gripping and Bodine masterfully blends their backstory as a couple with breathtaking descriptions of mountains and information about Everest without slipping to info-dumping. The story pulled me in and the facts I learnt about Everest - the hostile, deadly place that attracts so many people - were horrifying enough to keep me awake.
This is an excellent, tense, scary story.
This is an excellent, tense, scary story.
August 10, 2023
Carrie is climbing Everest in search of the body of her husband who disappeared a year ago after reaching the summit. Her story is intertwined with bits of a diary that her husband Sean left behind. The story and characters are engaging and there are hints of something supernatural on the mountain- or is it just the result of altitude psychosis? Carrie’s reflections on her marriage and her relationship with Sean’s best friend - with whom she is now climbing-add nuance to the story. An enjoyable, fast-paced read.
March 4, 2024
When I looked at this it was tagged as a Thriller. It got a little atmospheric at the end but it was primarily a love story for climbing. Once I removed my thriller expectation I enjoyed the story much more. A woman heads up to the summit of Everest in order to find her husband's remains. You know there is a ghost story involved in the telling but it only occupies about 5 pages of the book.
I think that readers entering this journey with the right expectations will enjoy this much more than someone expecting a Thriller.
I think that readers entering this journey with the right expectations will enjoy this much more than someone expecting a Thriller.
April 5, 2023
The human condition is TL Bodine's greatest strength. From the start to the breathless frantic finishing peak I've found myself fully enraptured by the humanity and thematic exploration of her characters. I had the great luck to read this raw masterpiece before the release, and can only warmly recommend it to anyone who loves character focused fiction and who searches for the humanity in the imperfect, strange and other. The same can be said for TL Bodine's other work as well.
April 12, 2023
Neverest by T.L. Bodine is a chilling survival story centered around grief, regret, and the search for answers in order to move on. Filled to the brim with quiet, unsettling moments, this book will have you nervously turning each page.
One of the very best slow-burn and suspenseful novels I have ever read, this one carries readers along step by step, taking everything in as we climb the mountain and break down the walls in the main character’s mind to see the full picture. Like the climb itself, things are only made clear at the top.
I loved every single second of this story. This is a must-read for fans of horror that has elements of survival, real-world horrors, and the supernatural.
Check out my full review here:
https://www.ericarobynreads.com/never...
One of the very best slow-burn and suspenseful novels I have ever read, this one carries readers along step by step, taking everything in as we climb the mountain and break down the walls in the main character’s mind to see the full picture. Like the climb itself, things are only made clear at the top.
I loved every single second of this story. This is a must-read for fans of horror that has elements of survival, real-world horrors, and the supernatural.
Check out my full review here:
https://www.ericarobynreads.com/never...
April 28, 2023
this worked well overall in the horror genre, it had everything that I was hoping for. It worked well as a blend of Ronald Malfi's The Ascent meets Caitlin Starling's The Luminous Dead. The idea of a horror novel on a mountain is terrifying and it worked overall. T.L. Bodine has a great writing style and I'm excited to read more books like this.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 6, 2024
2.5
There is something about Bodine's writing that is easy to get sucked into, however the story isn't what was promised. Considering the setting there is a sublet dread that carries throughout but I struggle to call it horror. It didn't help that so much of the story felt repetitive. Bodine could have shortened this by 80 or more pages and I still would have understood Carrie's guilt and the disconnect she and Sean had been pushing against since the beginning of their marriage.
There is something about Bodine's writing that is easy to get sucked into, however the story isn't what was promised. Considering the setting there is a sublet dread that carries throughout but I struggle to call it horror. It didn't help that so much of the story felt repetitive. Bodine could have shortened this by 80 or more pages and I still would have understood Carrie's guilt and the disconnect she and Sean had been pushing against since the beginning of their marriage.
April 24, 2023
This is the first book I've read written by T.L. Bodine; I can’t wait to read more of her books.
The story is about Carrie & Tom; her husband is a journalist and mountain climber who disappears. She’s gets his best friend Tom go go with her in search of his body.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
The story is about Carrie & Tom; her husband is a journalist and mountain climber who disappears. She’s gets his best friend Tom go go with her in search of his body.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
June 27, 2023
The pacing and character development plus the obvious deep dive into the nature and history of mountain climbing made me think critically about exploration, ego, and sociopathy in that order. 10/10 book.
September 30, 2023
I loved this book. It was atmospheric. Being able to look up real places and the base camps and already knowing the history of death on Mt Everest, I was able to create this vivid story on my head that I got to watch play out page after page.
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