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Heavy Oceans
From Tyler Jones, author of MIDAS and BURN THE PLANS, one of Esquire’s Best Horror Books of 2022, comes a story of deep sea terror and cosmic horror.
Struggling with the pressures of being a new father and the weight of regrets, Jamie Fletcher travels to Hawaii in hopes of connecting with his estranged brother, Eric.
After a shocking act of violence, the brothers end up on a fishing boat--along with the captain and his son--in the middle of the ocean, where they encounter an uncanny and terrifying phenomenon that will signal a shift in the evolution of the world.
"Jones (Burn the Plans) draws readers into this cosmic horror story irresistibly. Wretched and thrilling, this fast-paced outing explores the horrors of humanity, the ocean, and the unknown all at once. Horror enthusiasts looking for deep-sea monsters, a cosmic sense of awe, or just old-fashioned disemboweling will find plenty to sink their teeth into."
- Publishers Weekly
"Gripping, visceral, and supremely unpredictable. It's tempting to try to describe the experience of Heavy Oceans as, like, The Langoliers meets Black Tide with a dash of Gabino Iglesias or S.A. Cosby, but the crystal-clear prose and the deft character work are pure Tyler Jones."
- Nat Cassidy, author of Mary: An Awakening of Terror and Nestlings
"Heavy Oceans transcends the horror genre like a wild A24 film that enjoys luring you in closer with its comfortable connections to reality, while then taking you someplace unfamiliar and limitless in terrifying possibility."
- Wesley Winters, author of Nobody’s Savior
Struggling with the pressures of being a new father and the weight of regrets, Jamie Fletcher travels to Hawaii in hopes of connecting with his estranged brother, Eric.
After a shocking act of violence, the brothers end up on a fishing boat--along with the captain and his son--in the middle of the ocean, where they encounter an uncanny and terrifying phenomenon that will signal a shift in the evolution of the world.
"Jones (Burn the Plans) draws readers into this cosmic horror story irresistibly. Wretched and thrilling, this fast-paced outing explores the horrors of humanity, the ocean, and the unknown all at once. Horror enthusiasts looking for deep-sea monsters, a cosmic sense of awe, or just old-fashioned disemboweling will find plenty to sink their teeth into."
- Publishers Weekly
"Gripping, visceral, and supremely unpredictable. It's tempting to try to describe the experience of Heavy Oceans as, like, The Langoliers meets Black Tide with a dash of Gabino Iglesias or S.A. Cosby, but the crystal-clear prose and the deft character work are pure Tyler Jones."
- Nat Cassidy, author of Mary: An Awakening of Terror and Nestlings
"Heavy Oceans transcends the horror genre like a wild A24 film that enjoys luring you in closer with its comfortable connections to reality, while then taking you someplace unfamiliar and limitless in terrifying possibility."
- Wesley Winters, author of Nobody’s Savior
206 pages, Paperback
First published December 7, 2023
24 people are currently reading
964 people want to read
About the author
Tyler Jones
22 books193 followersTyler Jones is the author of CRITERIUM, THE DARK SIDE OF THE ROOM, ALMOST RUTH, BURN THE PLANS, TURN UP THE SUN, HEAVY OCEANS, MIDAS, and NIGHT OF THE LONG KNVIES (coming December 2024 from Earthling Publications). His work has appeared in the anthologies BURNT TONGUES (edited by Chuck Palahniuk), ONE THING WAS CERTAIN, 101 PROOF HORROR, CAMPFIRE MACABRE, PARANORMAL CONTACT and in Dark Moon Digest, Coffin Bell, Aphotic Realm, Cemetery Dance, LitReactor, and The NoSleep Podcast.
He lives in Portland, Oregon.
He is represented by Elizabeth Copps at Copps Literary Agency and Alec Frankel at IAG for Film/TV.
He lives in Portland, Oregon.
He is represented by Elizabeth Copps at Copps Literary Agency and Alec Frankel at IAG for Film/TV.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
April 22, 2024
My thanks to Dark Lit Press, Tyler Jones and Netgalley.
I finished this story a handful of days ago and I'm still uncertain of my rating. So, I'm going to give it 4 stars while I'm also leaning towards 3 and occasionally 2.
This story was a slow burn for me. Honestly though, I'm not certain it will be for others.
Stuff happens "murder" early on, then there's the excitement of covering up a murder or two! Still, I was mostly just ready for the whole thing to end. Why? I don't know. Seriously. I was ready for the end. Then what happens? Yep! The end.
Crikey! I think I got whiplash. Turns out that what I was expecting was right on point. Mostly I love when that happens, but maybe not this time. It was a cop out. Also, that ending was messed up!
From that ending, I felt that a follow-up book should be written. But, I probably wouldn't read it.
Still, I would recommend this story. It was a good tale, but something about the whole damn thing keeps bugging the shit outta me. Eh, what's a gal to do?
I finished this story a handful of days ago and I'm still uncertain of my rating. So, I'm going to give it 4 stars while I'm also leaning towards 3 and occasionally 2.
This story was a slow burn for me. Honestly though, I'm not certain it will be for others.
Stuff happens "murder" early on, then there's the excitement of covering up a murder or two! Still, I was mostly just ready for the whole thing to end. Why? I don't know. Seriously. I was ready for the end. Then what happens? Yep! The end.
Crikey! I think I got whiplash. Turns out that what I was expecting was right on point. Mostly I love when that happens, but maybe not this time. It was a cop out. Also, that ending was messed up!
From that ending, I felt that a follow-up book should be written. But, I probably wouldn't read it.
Still, I would recommend this story. It was a good tale, but something about the whole damn thing keeps bugging the shit outta me. Eh, what's a gal to do?
March 19, 2024
Something New.
Heavy Oceans is a good one. It’s also a new one. I’ve never read anything like this before.
In Heavy Oceans, Jamie and his brother, Eric are in Hawaii, with Eric’s friend Matt and Matt’s dad, Ed.
Eric has a bad temper and he lets his temper get the worst of him. He gets into a fight with the local rich boy and ends the fight by winning it.
The fight ends with the five men, Jamie, Eric, Mattie and Ed and rich guy taking a long fishing trip.
What they go through on the fishing trip is an eventful experience and they may not be able to live through it.
Four stars. 💫💫💫💫
Heavy Oceans is a good one. It’s also a new one. I’ve never read anything like this before.
In Heavy Oceans, Jamie and his brother, Eric are in Hawaii, with Eric’s friend Matt and Matt’s dad, Ed.
Eric has a bad temper and he lets his temper get the worst of him. He gets into a fight with the local rich boy and ends the fight by winning it.
The fight ends with the five men, Jamie, Eric, Mattie and Ed and rich guy taking a long fishing trip.
What they go through on the fishing trip is an eventful experience and they may not be able to live through it.
Four stars. 💫💫💫💫
July 23, 2024
My thanks to Dark Lit Press, Tyler Jones and Netgalley.
I finished this story a handful of days ago and I'm still uncertain of my rating. So, I'm going to give it 4 stars while I'm also leaning towards 3 and occasionally 2.
This story was a slow burn for me. Honestly though, I'm not certain it will be for others.
Stuff happens "murder" early on, then there's the excitement of covering up a murder or two! Still, I was mostly just ready for the whole thing to end. Why? I don't know. Seriously. I was ready for the end. Then what happens? Yep! The end.
Crikey! I think I got whiplash. Turns out that what I was expecting was right on point. Mostly I love when that happens, but maybe not this time. It was a cop out. Also, that ending was messed up!
From that ending, I felt that a follow-up book should be written. But, I probably wouldn't read it.
Still, I would recommend this story. It was a good tale, but something about the whole damn thing keeps bugging the shit outta me. Eh, what's a gal to do?
I finished this story a handful of days ago and I'm still uncertain of my rating. So, I'm going to give it 4 stars while I'm also leaning towards 3 and occasionally 2.
This story was a slow burn for me. Honestly though, I'm not certain it will be for others.
Stuff happens "murder" early on, then there's the excitement of covering up a murder or two! Still, I was mostly just ready for the whole thing to end. Why? I don't know. Seriously. I was ready for the end. Then what happens? Yep! The end.
Crikey! I think I got whiplash. Turns out that what I was expecting was right on point. Mostly I love when that happens, but maybe not this time. It was a cop out. Also, that ending was messed up!
From that ending, I felt that a follow-up book should be written. But, I probably wouldn't read it.
Still, I would recommend this story. It was a good tale, but something about the whole damn thing keeps bugging the shit outta me. Eh, what's a gal to do?
February 21, 2024
HEAVY OCEANS [2023] By Tyler Jones
My Review 5.0 Stars Out Of 5.0 Stars
This short work by new-to-me Tyler Jones was an assigned “group read with author” on a horror club of which I am privileged to be a member. I was pulled in from the first page and remained riveted throughout the exciting read. Tyler Jones? I am a new fan of yours. I have my sights set on the highly praised short story collection BURN THE PLANS, named one of Esquire’s Best Horror Books of 2022.
So okay---what is this story about? Well, initially there is the backstory of an older brother experiencing an extended period of sleepwalking episodes, as observed, and reported in the narrative by younger brother Jamie. This was intriguing in light of Jamie reporting a Dr. Jekyll Mr. Hyde change in his big brother Eric. Both boys were in a home with an abusive alcoholic father. Eric was hell-on-wheels after he passed the sleepwalking period. He was depicted as cold, detached, and with a short fuse. Eric’s temper would flare like the sun and whatever had been in his path was damaged.
Our main storyline begins with younger brother Jamie Fletcher, now a new father and trying to cope with the demands of a wife and family, travelling to Hawaii with hopes of connecting with his estranged older brother Eric. He is travelling with a guilty conscience over his wife Sylvia and his 6-month-old baby boy Dylan. Jamie meets up with his brother Eric in a grungy dive, not at all what he expected a bar in Hawaii to be like. There he meets Matty, a friend and co-worker of Eric’s on Matty’s dad’s large fishing boat. Eric has an interaction with a well-heeled young guy named A.J. who he clearly does not like. Let us just say that all hell breaks loose and it culminates in a predictable but nevertheless shocking burst of homicidal violence from big brother Eric. A terrified Matty must call his father Captain Ed and explain what has happened. The older man does not panic and does his level best to manage what has happened. Yes, of course I know that is vague.
Soon our motley crew of the two brothers (Jamie and Eric) are aboard Ed’s fishing boat with him and his son Matty. They end up in the middle of the ocean, where reality takes an exit. Talk about a curveball…. on the aftermath of something pretty gruesome already, all at once the ship is going full speed ahead into the big waves of the ocean and…. that is where terrifying comes in… (and it does not leave for pretty much the duration of the story).
All I could think was “What the Hell?” Deep sea terror does not come more horrifying than this. That is admitting that we watch one heck of a lot of creature features around here. Crocs are perhaps preferred, but Alligators, Komodo Dragons, Anacondas, Sharks, Barracudas, they are all good. That said, Tyler Jones throws things way worse in our lap. So much happens and it meets my definition of extreme horror and then some.
This novel would have earned a high rating from me whether or not there was a plot twist or a surprise where you felt like a dummy. Guess what? You get the surprise and the twist in addition to all of the chilling horror. I allotted four stars instead of five solely because I was miffed by the ending. I thought about it, and the ending was righteous.
MEGA DOSE OF DEEP-SEA TERROR AND COSMIC HORROR
My Review 5.0 Stars Out Of 5.0 Stars
This short work by new-to-me Tyler Jones was an assigned “group read with author” on a horror club of which I am privileged to be a member. I was pulled in from the first page and remained riveted throughout the exciting read. Tyler Jones? I am a new fan of yours. I have my sights set on the highly praised short story collection BURN THE PLANS, named one of Esquire’s Best Horror Books of 2022.
So okay---what is this story about? Well, initially there is the backstory of an older brother experiencing an extended period of sleepwalking episodes, as observed, and reported in the narrative by younger brother Jamie. This was intriguing in light of Jamie reporting a Dr. Jekyll Mr. Hyde change in his big brother Eric. Both boys were in a home with an abusive alcoholic father. Eric was hell-on-wheels after he passed the sleepwalking period. He was depicted as cold, detached, and with a short fuse. Eric’s temper would flare like the sun and whatever had been in his path was damaged.
Our main storyline begins with younger brother Jamie Fletcher, now a new father and trying to cope with the demands of a wife and family, travelling to Hawaii with hopes of connecting with his estranged older brother Eric. He is travelling with a guilty conscience over his wife Sylvia and his 6-month-old baby boy Dylan. Jamie meets up with his brother Eric in a grungy dive, not at all what he expected a bar in Hawaii to be like. There he meets Matty, a friend and co-worker of Eric’s on Matty’s dad’s large fishing boat. Eric has an interaction with a well-heeled young guy named A.J. who he clearly does not like. Let us just say that all hell breaks loose and it culminates in a predictable but nevertheless shocking burst of homicidal violence from big brother Eric. A terrified Matty must call his father Captain Ed and explain what has happened. The older man does not panic and does his level best to manage what has happened. Yes, of course I know that is vague.
Soon our motley crew of the two brothers (Jamie and Eric) are aboard Ed’s fishing boat with him and his son Matty. They end up in the middle of the ocean, where reality takes an exit. Talk about a curveball…. on the aftermath of something pretty gruesome already, all at once the ship is going full speed ahead into the big waves of the ocean and…. that is where terrifying comes in… (and it does not leave for pretty much the duration of the story).
All I could think was “What the Hell?” Deep sea terror does not come more horrifying than this. That is admitting that we watch one heck of a lot of creature features around here. Crocs are perhaps preferred, but Alligators, Komodo Dragons, Anacondas, Sharks, Barracudas, they are all good. That said, Tyler Jones throws things way worse in our lap. So much happens and it meets my definition of extreme horror and then some.
This novel would have earned a high rating from me whether or not there was a plot twist or a surprise where you felt like a dummy. Guess what? You get the surprise and the twist in addition to all of the chilling horror. I allotted four stars instead of five solely because I was miffed by the ending. I thought about it, and the ending was righteous.
MEGA DOSE OF DEEP-SEA TERROR AND COSMIC HORROR
January 6, 2024
4.5 stars.
HEAVY OCEANS, by Tyler Jones, is the first I've read from this author. I was very impressed with the writing, and how he managed to incorporate first a sense of two brothers, bound by abuse and mystery, and bring it around to the present day. As Jamie, the younger brother, is feeling something "strange" at home with his new family, he takes a visit to Hawaii to see his older brother Eric. The dynamics between the brothers are more "shown" than told--which I always appreciate. The background we do have from them gives enough of a starting point for the reader to interpret the feelings, emotions, and "connection" that they have, even if being distanced for a long period of time.
Enter a fast paced, horrible event that quickly changes the direction from "emotional", to physical. The brothers, along with Eric's boss, Ed, and son, Mattie, all come together to cover up "the problem". The fact that these people take care of each other, says a lot more than any backstory every could. The action moves onto a large fishing boat in the ocean, and EVERYTHING changes.
From there, we reach a new level of horror--Lovecraftian in style, cosmic, and unnatural in every sense of the word. You can see the short backstory of the younger brothers coming into play--and just interpret it as you will. I know this style of horror isn't for all. If you like tidy endings and rational explanations, this may not be for you. For those with an appreciation for some ambiguity, this novella gives you plenty to ponder on long after finishing it.
Overall, I loved the style, writing, and character exploration. There were two particular scenes that I felt we could have had a little more to go on with, but other than those, this was a fast paced, horrific read that I devoured. I'm excited to read more by Tyler Jones.
Recommended.
HEAVY OCEANS, by Tyler Jones, is the first I've read from this author. I was very impressed with the writing, and how he managed to incorporate first a sense of two brothers, bound by abuse and mystery, and bring it around to the present day. As Jamie, the younger brother, is feeling something "strange" at home with his new family, he takes a visit to Hawaii to see his older brother Eric. The dynamics between the brothers are more "shown" than told--which I always appreciate. The background we do have from them gives enough of a starting point for the reader to interpret the feelings, emotions, and "connection" that they have, even if being distanced for a long period of time.
Enter a fast paced, horrible event that quickly changes the direction from "emotional", to physical. The brothers, along with Eric's boss, Ed, and son, Mattie, all come together to cover up "the problem". The fact that these people take care of each other, says a lot more than any backstory every could. The action moves onto a large fishing boat in the ocean, and EVERYTHING changes.
From there, we reach a new level of horror--Lovecraftian in style, cosmic, and unnatural in every sense of the word. You can see the short backstory of the younger brothers coming into play--and just interpret it as you will. I know this style of horror isn't for all. If you like tidy endings and rational explanations, this may not be for you. For those with an appreciation for some ambiguity, this novella gives you plenty to ponder on long after finishing it.
Overall, I loved the style, writing, and character exploration. There were two particular scenes that I felt we could have had a little more to go on with, but other than those, this was a fast paced, horrific read that I devoured. I'm excited to read more by Tyler Jones.
Recommended.
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December 9, 2023Full review at The Mort Report:
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/the...
Tyler Jones is a new read for me and I decided to go into this one blind.
I will start off by saying that this author’s writing style flows really well and it made me curious to read more by him.
This is a story about a man who visits his brother in Hawaii and there is an incident of violence that changes the trajectory of their lives. As they find themselves on a fishing boat with a captain and his son, this start getting weird – and cosmic horror ensues.
For my personal taste, this story was a miss. It was not because the author did anything wrong or badly, I just had some trouble wrapping my head around something. I tend to have a very logical mind and sometimes I just struggle with handling something that should not make sense in our “normal” world. At around the halfway point, something happens and my mind kept struggling with accepting the image.
I think that a lesser writer would have lost me completely as a reader here – again, because of my personal taste – so I can’t fault Mr. Jones on this story. The characters have development, though I can also see that some people might want more of a back story on Eric and Jamie, but there is enough said to read some things between the lines.
Readers who enjoy cosmic/creature horror should snag this one, but also those readers who might like a little psychedelic imagery should enjoy the narrative.
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/the...
Tyler Jones is a new read for me and I decided to go into this one blind.
I will start off by saying that this author’s writing style flows really well and it made me curious to read more by him.
This is a story about a man who visits his brother in Hawaii and there is an incident of violence that changes the trajectory of their lives. As they find themselves on a fishing boat with a captain and his son, this start getting weird – and cosmic horror ensues.
For my personal taste, this story was a miss. It was not because the author did anything wrong or badly, I just had some trouble wrapping my head around something. I tend to have a very logical mind and sometimes I just struggle with handling something that should not make sense in our “normal” world. At around the halfway point, something happens and my mind kept struggling with accepting the image.
I think that a lesser writer would have lost me completely as a reader here – again, because of my personal taste – so I can’t fault Mr. Jones on this story. The characters have development, though I can also see that some people might want more of a back story on Eric and Jamie, but there is enough said to read some things between the lines.
Readers who enjoy cosmic/creature horror should snag this one, but also those readers who might like a little psychedelic imagery should enjoy the narrative.
September 1, 2025
DNF at 59%. I'm not familiar with Tyler Jones, so I went into this fresh with no expectations. The story followed two estranged brothers as they reconnect. Unfortunately, they got tangled up in some unpleasant business which then put them into a murder subplot, followed by a cosmic horror type of scenario. I enjoyed the initial portion of the story with Eric and Jamie when they were younger. Great way to establish the brothers and their traumas growing up, which would eventually pay off later in the book. Now their relationship should have remained the primary focus of the entire story, which is some ways it was, but it just felt like the horror aspects were forced in, interrupting it. I couldn't connect with the flow or pacing and wish that the author maybe scaled back on the scope that he undertook here. Having a more simplified, and even possibly reduced, horror presence, as opposed to this large-scale, mind-bending event, would have allowed the book to remain more centered. And that would have resulted in a much more focused and better quality story. I didn't dislike it, but there were just too many barriers preventing me from maintaining my focus on any specific part of the book, which became more frustrating than enjoyable. In its current form, I'm not many horror or, more specifically cosmic horror, fans will enjoy this any more than I did.
December 29, 2023
I would have liked the author to have gone a little more in depth about the hoke and the creatures. Overall a decent read though.
January 9, 2024
"Before we go any further, I need to make one thing clear," Ed says. "What we're doing here is fixing a problem. Sometimes, you gotta do something that don't feel right because everything else is wrong."
This book was fucking good. I'm not sure how else to put it. It's fast paced and gritty, starting with
What I really enjoyed about this story was the non-stop insanity that seemed almost tongue-in-cheek in places. The dead-man shuffle as the brothers try to move the body of their friend. The scene where the arm ominously flops out of the truck bed. The idea to make chum of AJ. And all of this before the real horror in the ocean actually begins.
I really enjoyed this story. It's relentlessly fast paced, gritty, bloody, with a touch of emotional family love. Kudos to author Tyler Jones! You made an instant fan and reader out of me!
This book was fucking good. I'm not sure how else to put it. It's fast paced and gritty, starting with
What I really enjoyed about this story was the non-stop insanity that seemed almost tongue-in-cheek in places. The dead-man shuffle as the brothers try to move the body of their friend. The scene where the arm ominously flops out of the truck bed. The idea to make chum of AJ. And all of this before the real horror in the ocean actually begins.
I really enjoyed this story. It's relentlessly fast paced, gritty, bloody, with a touch of emotional family love. Kudos to author Tyler Jones! You made an instant fan and reader out of me!
January 18, 2024
This was an odd, creepy read. There are strong aspects of Lovecraftian horror in this book. Add to that how little we still know about the oceans and what is in it and this story becomes even more creepy.
In addition to the horror aspect there is a family drama the characters are experiencing in the beginning of the book. All of this leads to a read that feels longer and more interesting then the actual 162 page length of the book.
In addition to the horror aspect there is a family drama the characters are experiencing in the beginning of the book. All of this leads to a read that feels longer and more interesting then the actual 162 page length of the book.
January 30, 2025
It felt like a very bad acid trip deep into a upside down hole in the ocean, full of horrible sea creatures. Wish I could have spent just a little more time in that hole!
December 8, 2023
3.5 Great start, but a weaker finish, in my opinion only. Very well written. Would definitely read Jones again.
December 7, 2023
“Undertow.
Caught in something that’s pulling him under, deeper and deeper into the dark.”
A poignant tale of two estranged brothers reconnecting.
After a lifetime of trauma and strange occurrences, Jamie and Eric catch up in a bar in Hawaii. The following events will break their bond further, or forge it into something stronger; a body, a boat, and an unbelievable cosmic encounter alter both their lives.
I really, really enjoyed the author’s writing and descriptive style. There were some seriously creepy moments and the whole boat foray evoked a sense of dread for me.
My only critique would be that I would love to know more about why & how these occurrences came about. Why Eric? Why now? That’s just me though. I really like close ended stories and any ambiguous questions answered.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and DarkLit press.
Caught in something that’s pulling him under, deeper and deeper into the dark.”
A poignant tale of two estranged brothers reconnecting.
After a lifetime of trauma and strange occurrences, Jamie and Eric catch up in a bar in Hawaii. The following events will break their bond further, or forge it into something stronger; a body, a boat, and an unbelievable cosmic encounter alter both their lives.
I really, really enjoyed the author’s writing and descriptive style. There were some seriously creepy moments and the whole boat foray evoked a sense of dread for me.
My only critique would be that I would love to know more about why & how these occurrences came about. Why Eric? Why now? That’s just me though. I really like close ended stories and any ambiguous questions answered.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and DarkLit press.
December 8, 2023
Phenomenal!
Jones knocks it out of the park with this one. HEAVY OCEANS is a tour de force of pulse-pounding horror. One of my favorite reads of 2023. Check it out! You won't be disappointed.
Jones knocks it out of the park with this one. HEAVY OCEANS is a tour de force of pulse-pounding horror. One of my favorite reads of 2023. Check it out! You won't be disappointed.
July 27, 2024
3.5 stars
December 24, 2023
This book falls into a new genre I have just created called "horror anesthesia", I felt like I was drowning in the ocean of Tylers prose(was that too poetic??), mesmeric and hypnotic its a fever dream of a book, cosmic horror that's awash with psychological thriller elements, hard to define this could easily find its place amongst survival horror/family drama genres, at its core this is about love, grief and two brothers reconnecting, I loved the authors writing style, parts had my skin crawling, an extremely unique and unpredictable read I couldn't put this down and it has 100% amplified my fear of the sea hahahahitsscaryguyshahah
December 3, 2023
This book is for sure a fever dream from the start to the finish. I couldn’t put it down and had to keep reading.
If your brother ended up doing something really bad, would you still love him the same way? Would you help him cover up whatever it is that happened? Even after you’ve looked up to him your whole life?
Love and grief are the biggest themes here and I have to say it blew my mind at the end. If you have a fear of the ocean, you might want to tread cautiously. But me, I jumped right in.
If your brother ended up doing something really bad, would you still love him the same way? Would you help him cover up whatever it is that happened? Even after you’ve looked up to him your whole life?
Love and grief are the biggest themes here and I have to say it blew my mind at the end. If you have a fear of the ocean, you might want to tread cautiously. But me, I jumped right in.
November 26, 2023
Heavy Oceans is a strange and liminal trip to the places that are in betwixt and between. The story follows two brothers. While growing up, the older brother sleepwalks and does all sorts of things that he would never do while awake. His younger brother keeps an eye on him when he is in "Sleep Eric" mode. That's what he calls it, since his brother's name is Eric. One night while sleepwalking Eric disappears or at least that's what Jamie thinks he remembers or maybe not.
Fast forward to the current day, Eric lives in Hawaii and Jamie is going to visit him and contemplating leaving his family. He is about to embark on one of the strangest journeys of his life.
I loved the writing, it draws you into the weird places that this story haunts, the characters are great, the vibe is weird, it is fantastic. This story could have been an episode of the X-Files, loved it!
Fast forward to the current day, Eric lives in Hawaii and Jamie is going to visit him and contemplating leaving his family. He is about to embark on one of the strangest journeys of his life.
I loved the writing, it draws you into the weird places that this story haunts, the characters are great, the vibe is weird, it is fantastic. This story could have been an episode of the X-Files, loved it!
December 23, 2023
I’ve loved Tyler Jones’ work since I first read him in the anthology ‘Burnt Tongues’ and it irked me that I couldn’t find anything by him for a time, that was until I reached out to Richard Thomas and enquired if he knew if Tyler had done or was doing anything else. Richard mentioned that a book called Criterium was coming shortly and I jumped on it.
Criterium displayed to me a writer who was everything I wanted, who could pull a reader in and ruin them, I was hooked.
I then read his next book, The Dark Side of the Room… a short novella but one which really resonated, and his mastery of the dark and the things that prowled its boarders won me over. I’m a Tyler Jones fan for life.
He followed this up with Almost Ruth, Enter Softly, Burn The Plans, Turn Up The Sun and Midas.
What I have loved is seeing how Tyler has grown as a writer, how he has stretched his wings and become one of indie horrors most passionate and most distressing writers… each work brings something new, something dark and something beautiful.
Heavy Oceans is a blast, from the very first pages you’re pulled into this crazy world and nightmare, you can’t look away, it’s as if he’s slipped a ring in your nose and he’s pulling you through the story, whether you want to go or not. The allure to keep reading is so strong you’d wonder if there is not some enchantment on this book.
I loved it, and how Tyler makes you believe in the impossible is truly the mark of a great storyteller, I didn’t doubt it, I just believed. The books is short, but it packs a punch, there are moments of deep horror, of shock, of body horror, of other worldliness, of grief, of love and loss… it’s fabulous and well worth your time.
Tyler Jones is the real deal and I can’t wait to see what comes next from this masterful storyteller!
Each book sees him develop more and more and from being there from the start I’d liken it to seeing greatness birthed right before my eyes!
Criterium displayed to me a writer who was everything I wanted, who could pull a reader in and ruin them, I was hooked.
I then read his next book, The Dark Side of the Room… a short novella but one which really resonated, and his mastery of the dark and the things that prowled its boarders won me over. I’m a Tyler Jones fan for life.
He followed this up with Almost Ruth, Enter Softly, Burn The Plans, Turn Up The Sun and Midas.
What I have loved is seeing how Tyler has grown as a writer, how he has stretched his wings and become one of indie horrors most passionate and most distressing writers… each work brings something new, something dark and something beautiful.
Heavy Oceans is a blast, from the very first pages you’re pulled into this crazy world and nightmare, you can’t look away, it’s as if he’s slipped a ring in your nose and he’s pulling you through the story, whether you want to go or not. The allure to keep reading is so strong you’d wonder if there is not some enchantment on this book.
I loved it, and how Tyler makes you believe in the impossible is truly the mark of a great storyteller, I didn’t doubt it, I just believed. The books is short, but it packs a punch, there are moments of deep horror, of shock, of body horror, of other worldliness, of grief, of love and loss… it’s fabulous and well worth your time.
Tyler Jones is the real deal and I can’t wait to see what comes next from this masterful storyteller!
Each book sees him develop more and more and from being there from the start I’d liken it to seeing greatness birthed right before my eyes!
August 9, 2024
CN. Body Horror, Gore, Worms/ Snakes/ Eels, Drug Overdose, Domestic Abuse/ Abusive Father
This was a random pickup from a display at my local library on a whim. I pretty much read this whole thing at the beach today.
I don't really have much to say about this beyond really enjoying it as pulpy eldritch horror that is kinda The Mist on a boat with a little Annihilation thrown in.
Nothing too deep (beyond the ocean), but a thoroughly enjoyable page-turner!
This was a random pickup from a display at my local library on a whim. I pretty much read this whole thing at the beach today.
I don't really have much to say about this beyond really enjoying it as pulpy eldritch horror that is kinda The Mist on a boat with a little Annihilation thrown in.
Nothing too deep (beyond the ocean), but a thoroughly enjoyable page-turner!
November 15, 2023
Heavy Oceans has all of Jones's trademark pathos and uses it to make this cosmic creature feature an enthralling voyage into darkness.
November 16, 2023
Tyler Jones' 'Heavy Oceans' combines the finest elements of sea horror and cosmic horror with the story of two brothers who've gone through domestic abuse. It starts like your standard type of psychological thriller, with the younger brother visiting his sibling in Hawai, and then both getting involved in a murder. The attempt to deal with the repercussions brings them to the middle of the ocean, where they come face to face with the unexpected. By that point, Jones has managed to fill out the brothers' story as children by dropping hints left and right about some very creepy situations they experienced in the past. The book develops into a fast-paced, original, tightly plotted sea adventure, full of terror, tension, and suspense, told in style and uncanny visuals - the latter quite unique and stunning (e.g., for significant parts of the story, the ocean looms above as if it were the sky!) The characters (the siblings plus a friend and his father) are portrayed realistically and somberly, the dialogue is sharp and natural, and the ending brings much-needed closure, without foregoing the atmosphere of dread of the book's latter parts. An excellent horror story highly recommended for all types of horror fans!
Thank you to DarkLit Press and NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC!
Thank you to DarkLit Press and NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC!
October 25, 2025
In every TV show about a gang, there's always this one gangster who has a morally uptight relative who constantly busts their balls about the dangers of the thug life. Nobody ever likes this character, and they usually wind up getting killed in order to teach the gangster a lesson. Well, that annoying person was the narrator of this book. Dude was so annoying, constantly nagging his brother, "Boo hoo, you sold someone fentanyl and they overdosed" yeah bitch, that's how we roll on these streets
January 10, 2024
"There's a fearful beauty to the anomaly."
[2.5 stars] Jamie escapes to Hawaii to visit his older brother, Eric, only to encounter another set of problems — ones that drag you to a strange abyss, literally. The novel for the most part explores Jamie and Eric's relationship, and how their traumatizing childhood shapes them as adults. In Eric, this trauma manifests by sleepwalking. However, that eventually translates to aggression and recklessness, traits that the brothers are afraid are inherited from their father.
The eerie cosmic oceanic terror happens halfway through the book, and while I understand the significance of the brothers' relationship, I expected the horrors of the ocean to be a more conspicuous element. Whatever mystery plagues the ocean seems to only scratch the surface of the truly terrifying consequences of being plunged in the depths of the unknown. And I wish the author explored that more, or at least make the ocean a more active role in reflecting the characters' conflict. Instead, they almost feel like unrelated side quests where the ocean subplot is kind of shoehorned in the main narrative.
I did think the second half was well written, especially once we got to the creepy threads — it's just not enough to fully immerse myself into the plot, with its short length in particular. That last bit regarding the official reports of the ocean changes really hooked me in and was probably my favorite part of the book, and that's what I thought it would be like for the majority of the story. For it being called Heavy Oceans it's just not very heavy on the ocean, but that's just my personal preference too.
Thank you NetGalley and DarkLit Press for the review copy, all opinions are my own.
[2.5 stars] Jamie escapes to Hawaii to visit his older brother, Eric, only to encounter another set of problems — ones that drag you to a strange abyss, literally. The novel for the most part explores Jamie and Eric's relationship, and how their traumatizing childhood shapes them as adults. In Eric, this trauma manifests by sleepwalking. However, that eventually translates to aggression and recklessness, traits that the brothers are afraid are inherited from their father.
The eerie cosmic oceanic terror happens halfway through the book, and while I understand the significance of the brothers' relationship, I expected the horrors of the ocean to be a more conspicuous element. Whatever mystery plagues the ocean seems to only scratch the surface of the truly terrifying consequences of being plunged in the depths of the unknown. And I wish the author explored that more, or at least make the ocean a more active role in reflecting the characters' conflict. Instead, they almost feel like unrelated side quests where the ocean subplot is kind of shoehorned in the main narrative.
I did think the second half was well written, especially once we got to the creepy threads — it's just not enough to fully immerse myself into the plot, with its short length in particular. That last bit regarding the official reports of the ocean changes really hooked me in and was probably my favorite part of the book, and that's what I thought it would be like for the majority of the story. For it being called Heavy Oceans it's just not very heavy on the ocean, but that's just my personal preference too.
Thank you NetGalley and DarkLit Press for the review copy, all opinions are my own.
June 26, 2025
This starts out as an almost familial drama. Jamie travels to Hawaii to reconnect with his brother Eric. He’s also running from his mistakes and the pressure of fatherhood. But after hardly any relaxation time, the story turns the violence up to a whole new level. The author takes no time at all to crack on into this one.
A drug deal gone wrong, a fist fight gone too far. Now Jamie, Eric, and Eric’s boss and his son, are out on the open ocean, hoping to dispose of a problem before it starts. What follows this time—and I did go into this entirely blind—is another tonal shift as the author brings on almost-Lovecraftian cosmic horrors. There were twists I did not expect, and the under-ocean world shift made me think of Pirates of the Caribbean when they flipped the boat in Davy Jones’ Locker. Although this shift felt much more like a science fiction twist.
I’ll be honest, I haven’t quite gotten along with cosmic horror. And while I did enjoy this, I was much more a fan of the parts that were about the brothers. And I believe a little length might have helped me to connect with them and their struggles. I honestly thought at first it would be a crime/murder novella. That, and I expected more of the ocean to come into play, although the creepy ‘being’ taking over deep sea creatures was definitely a highlight. The infected water, as well as the ‘being’ itself, felt like a mix of The Sundowner’s Dance by Todd Keisling with the more scientific infection from Symbiote by Michael Nayak. Both those if they were meshed with the scifi ending of The Sound of Suffering by Mark Towse. All of which definitely published after this one, so if you’ve liked anything I’ve said, or if you are a fan of cosmic horror—this is definitely unique!—this could be a hit for you!
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-heavy-...
A drug deal gone wrong, a fist fight gone too far. Now Jamie, Eric, and Eric’s boss and his son, are out on the open ocean, hoping to dispose of a problem before it starts. What follows this time—and I did go into this entirely blind—is another tonal shift as the author brings on almost-Lovecraftian cosmic horrors. There were twists I did not expect, and the under-ocean world shift made me think of Pirates of the Caribbean when they flipped the boat in Davy Jones’ Locker. Although this shift felt much more like a science fiction twist.
I’ll be honest, I haven’t quite gotten along with cosmic horror. And while I did enjoy this, I was much more a fan of the parts that were about the brothers. And I believe a little length might have helped me to connect with them and their struggles. I honestly thought at first it would be a crime/murder novella. That, and I expected more of the ocean to come into play, although the creepy ‘being’ taking over deep sea creatures was definitely a highlight. The infected water, as well as the ‘being’ itself, felt like a mix of The Sundowner’s Dance by Todd Keisling with the more scientific infection from Symbiote by Michael Nayak. Both those if they were meshed with the scifi ending of The Sound of Suffering by Mark Towse. All of which definitely published after this one, so if you’ve liked anything I’ve said, or if you are a fan of cosmic horror—this is definitely unique!—this could be a hit for you!
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-heavy-...
November 21, 2023
You know how there are certain authors whose prose just feels like home? That’s Tyler Jones for me, and his newest novella HEAVY OCEANS is no exception.
OCEANS tells the story of two brothers and their bond through a dysfunctional (to say the least) upbringing, and how that upbringing takes them to waters they never thought they’d trek. There’s a quote from their father early on in the story that sums up their relationship and path they’re on to a T: “No matter what you get into, you get the other out of it…You’re not one, you’re two. Together, always. No matter what, you bleed for each other, because that’s what brothers do.”
This pseudo-crime, sci-fi, cosmic horror novella takes you on a trip where you’ll have no clue where you’re headed, so just strap on a life jacket and hope you can handle the deep waters.
OCEANS tells the story of two brothers and their bond through a dysfunctional (to say the least) upbringing, and how that upbringing takes them to waters they never thought they’d trek. There’s a quote from their father early on in the story that sums up their relationship and path they’re on to a T: “No matter what you get into, you get the other out of it…You’re not one, you’re two. Together, always. No matter what, you bleed for each other, because that’s what brothers do.”
This pseudo-crime, sci-fi, cosmic horror novella takes you on a trip where you’ll have no clue where you’re headed, so just strap on a life jacket and hope you can handle the deep waters.
December 1, 2023
I was so immersed in this book, what an incredible story.
I have a deep fear of the ocean, which made this read a very effective horror for me! I loved the deep cosmic horror aspect as well. This story took me for a ride, flipped me on my head and ended with my head still spinning like a top. I found the writing to be super smooth and the story was well driven. It kept me really invested and intrigued and I really enjoyed such a fresh take on deep sea horror.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to lose their afternoon in the upside down, Tyler did such a fantastic job with this story.
I read this ARC through NetGalley, and my review is all my own!
I have a deep fear of the ocean, which made this read a very effective horror for me! I loved the deep cosmic horror aspect as well. This story took me for a ride, flipped me on my head and ended with my head still spinning like a top. I found the writing to be super smooth and the story was well driven. It kept me really invested and intrigued and I really enjoyed such a fresh take on deep sea horror.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to lose their afternoon in the upside down, Tyler did such a fantastic job with this story.
I read this ARC through NetGalley, and my review is all my own!
May 30, 2025
“Jaime takes one last look at the horizon, the dark blue sky, feeding into black space, and he can understand how people once believed there was an edge to the world. A place for the waves flowed off a sharp surface, turning to ice in the void.”
What a mind fuck this book was! Tyler Jones once again creates a captivating story about two brothers who had a very traumatic childhood and become estranged. Jaime the younger brother, goes to Hawaii to see his older brother Eric after leaving his family. What happens next is nothing short of pure insanity! I could not put this down! I couldn’t believe what I was reading and needed to find out why it was happening. Incredibly mind bending and heartbreaking, Tyler writes so beautifully and I love how well he layers his characters. The imagery he creates is so visceral you can almost feel it. Part cosmic horror, part eco horror, part shared family trauma, this is one that I will not be forgetting. This is only my second Tyler Jones book but it will not be my last!!
What a mind fuck this book was! Tyler Jones once again creates a captivating story about two brothers who had a very traumatic childhood and become estranged. Jaime the younger brother, goes to Hawaii to see his older brother Eric after leaving his family. What happens next is nothing short of pure insanity! I could not put this down! I couldn’t believe what I was reading and needed to find out why it was happening. Incredibly mind bending and heartbreaking, Tyler writes so beautifully and I love how well he layers his characters. The imagery he creates is so visceral you can almost feel it. Part cosmic horror, part eco horror, part shared family trauma, this is one that I will not be forgetting. This is only my second Tyler Jones book but it will not be my last!!
January 1, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Heavy Oceans is a haunting story filled with cosmic horror, and readers are going to love this!!
Heavy Oceans follows two brothers trying to reconnect after Jamie, our main character, starts facing some struggles in his new position as a father. A couple of bad decisions later and the two brothers find themselves in some deep......"water." Once these characters get on the boat, it's a terrifying thrill ride until the end.
I had been hearing great things about this book for a while, and as a fan of DarkLit Press I knew I had to try to get a copy. This is such a fun book and readers are going to enjoy this. It's twisted and I can guarantee that nobody will know what's going to happen by the end of this story. It's hauntingly beautiful and tackles big themes like abuse and the cycles that you can find yourself in.
This was so creative and written so well that I really did devour this! It has touches of Into the Drowning Deep, The Troop, and other fun horror stories that the book community loves.
Absolutely check this story out! Tyler Jones absolutely destroyed me with this book and I can't wait to read more by him!
PS - if you aren't already following Dark Lit Press! You absolutely should check out some of the great things that they are putting out!
Heavy Oceans is a haunting story filled with cosmic horror, and readers are going to love this!!
Heavy Oceans follows two brothers trying to reconnect after Jamie, our main character, starts facing some struggles in his new position as a father. A couple of bad decisions later and the two brothers find themselves in some deep......"water." Once these characters get on the boat, it's a terrifying thrill ride until the end.
I had been hearing great things about this book for a while, and as a fan of DarkLit Press I knew I had to try to get a copy. This is such a fun book and readers are going to enjoy this. It's twisted and I can guarantee that nobody will know what's going to happen by the end of this story. It's hauntingly beautiful and tackles big themes like abuse and the cycles that you can find yourself in.
This was so creative and written so well that I really did devour this! It has touches of Into the Drowning Deep, The Troop, and other fun horror stories that the book community loves.
Absolutely check this story out! Tyler Jones absolutely destroyed me with this book and I can't wait to read more by him!
PS - if you aren't already following Dark Lit Press! You absolutely should check out some of the great things that they are putting out!
January 11, 2024
I was chatting with a friend who was curious about my experiences reading indie horror - her thought being that small, independent presses put out inherently lesser quality books. I assured her, most emphatically that my experience has been the opposite. I’ve read SO MANY indie authors who are KILLING IT without the juggernaut machinery of a big publishing house, and in that category, I would put any of Tyler Jones’ books up against the best out there.
Tyler Jones is an incredible, absolutely MUST READ author in as much as SK is, or Ronald Malfi is, or Robert McCammon is. He has the gift.
Heavy Oceans is a slow-burning masterpiece of cosmic horror. It made me feel like I did reading the horror books I snuck off of my mom and dad’s shelves in the 70’s and 80’s before things got slick and polished and repetitive. It is truly terrifying when the familiar shifts to almost familiar, but not quite right, and shit gets weird and dangerous, but we don’t know how or why or what happens next. Jones creates this incredibly bewildering and oppressive atmosphere and then drowns the reader in unsettling and terrifying hit after hit. There is no rest for the wicked in this tale.
Tyler Jones is an incredible, absolutely MUST READ author in as much as SK is, or Ronald Malfi is, or Robert McCammon is. He has the gift.
Heavy Oceans is a slow-burning masterpiece of cosmic horror. It made me feel like I did reading the horror books I snuck off of my mom and dad’s shelves in the 70’s and 80’s before things got slick and polished and repetitive. It is truly terrifying when the familiar shifts to almost familiar, but not quite right, and shit gets weird and dangerous, but we don’t know how or why or what happens next. Jones creates this incredibly bewildering and oppressive atmosphere and then drowns the reader in unsettling and terrifying hit after hit. There is no rest for the wicked in this tale.
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