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It Bubbles Under The Skin
Jayce has spent her whole life by the ocean as part of the close-knit communities found across the Îles de la Madeleine. With a place to call her own, a job she adores, and a girlfriend she loves, her life has always been a comfortably predictable one.
But after a night in the waters at Pointe aux Loups Beach, Jayce quickly finds her world upended as something calls to her from the ice-cold waves. When blisters filled with saltwater ooze from her skin and ropes of seaweed slither from her body, Jayce realizes she can’t ignore the voice for much longer.
But after a night in the waters at Pointe aux Loups Beach, Jayce quickly finds her world upended as something calls to her from the ice-cold waves. When blisters filled with saltwater ooze from her skin and ropes of seaweed slither from her body, Jayce realizes she can’t ignore the voice for much longer.
- GenresHorror
98 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 21, 2025
2 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Caitlin Marceau
69 books292 followersCaitlin Marceau is a queer Canadian author and illustrator based in Montreal. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing, is an Active Member of the Horror Writers Association, and has spoken about genre literature at several Canadian conventions. Her work includes Femina, A Blackness Absolute, and her award-winning novella, This Is Where We Talk Things Out. Her second novella, I’m Having Regrets, and her debut novel, It Wasn’t Supposed To Go Like This, are set for publication in 2024. For more, visit CaitlinMarceau.ca or find her on social media.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 20, 2025
Amazing horror novella! I loved the duel perspectives! I'm a sucker for a story within a story, and caitlin marceau does it perfectly. I could imagine the pain of those blisters!! Also, I love reading fellow Canadian's works. Highly recommend .
February 18, 2025
A beautiful novella of the sea, supernatural, body horror and ultimately love. It manages to be haunting and emotive without being grim.
There are two narrative strands, one in the present day with Jayce and Bridget, the other hundreds of years earlier with Claudine and Marguerite.
I enjoyed how Jayce’s transformation begins with little preamble (as in it’s not a subtle, gradual thing but dives straight in once it starts), and the whole sense of a single moment having far-reaching effects.
Jayce and Bridget’s narrative moves relentlessly forward while Claudine and Marguerite’s is more out of sequence, though that gives it an unsettling feel (in a good way) and now that I think of it reminds me of tides going in and out, combined with currents and eddies.
There isn’t a wasted word here and there’s a satisfying, lingering conclusion.
I’m a big fan of Marceau’s work and this ranks as one of her strongest works, though I’ll never think of seaweed the same way…
There are two narrative strands, one in the present day with Jayce and Bridget, the other hundreds of years earlier with Claudine and Marguerite.
I enjoyed how Jayce’s transformation begins with little preamble (as in it’s not a subtle, gradual thing but dives straight in once it starts), and the whole sense of a single moment having far-reaching effects.
Jayce and Bridget’s narrative moves relentlessly forward while Claudine and Marguerite’s is more out of sequence, though that gives it an unsettling feel (in a good way) and now that I think of it reminds me of tides going in and out, combined with currents and eddies.
There isn’t a wasted word here and there’s a satisfying, lingering conclusion.
I’m a big fan of Marceau’s work and this ranks as one of her strongest works, though I’ll never think of seaweed the same way…
March 8, 2025
The body horror is intense at times- check TW in the book.
September 3, 2025
Caitlin Marceau’s It Bubbles Under The Skin is a chilling work of body horror and coastal folklore, one that balances visceral unease with a deeply human core. Set against the rugged backdrop of the Îles de la Madeleine, the novella draws strength from its setting, its slow-burn tension, and its unsettling exploration of transformation.
At its heart is Jayce, a woman whose life has always been steady—anchored by her community, her work, and her girlfriend. That stability makes the unraveling of her world all the more disturbing. After a night swimming at Pointe aux Loups Beach, Jayce begins to notice horrifying changes: saltwater blistering from her skin, seaweed crawling out of her body, and a mysterious voice from the waves that grows impossible to resist. Marceau captures this descent with unflinching precision, building dread not just from the grotesque imagery but from the claustrophobic inevitability of change.
The novella excels at atmosphere. The ocean itself becomes a character—vast, cold, and mercilessly seductive. The tight-knit island community adds depth and grounding, contrasting Jayce’s ordinary life with the monstrous transformation lurking beneath her skin. It’s this tension between the familiar and the alien that makes the horror hit so effectively.
Where the story shines brightest is in its themes of identity and inevitability. The horror is not only physical but existential: Jayce’s loss of control over her body mirrors the loss of control over the life she thought she knew. The creeping inevitability of the sea’s call is both terrifying and strangely beautiful, blurring the line between curse and inheritance.
If the novella has a drawback, it’s that the brevity leaves some threads underexplored—particularly Jayce’s relationships and the mythology behind her transformation. Readers may wish for a deeper dive into her emotional landscape or the origins of the oceanic voice. Still, the lean structure keeps the tension taut and ensures every page drips with unease.
At its heart is Jayce, a woman whose life has always been steady—anchored by her community, her work, and her girlfriend. That stability makes the unraveling of her world all the more disturbing. After a night swimming at Pointe aux Loups Beach, Jayce begins to notice horrifying changes: saltwater blistering from her skin, seaweed crawling out of her body, and a mysterious voice from the waves that grows impossible to resist. Marceau captures this descent with unflinching precision, building dread not just from the grotesque imagery but from the claustrophobic inevitability of change.
The novella excels at atmosphere. The ocean itself becomes a character—vast, cold, and mercilessly seductive. The tight-knit island community adds depth and grounding, contrasting Jayce’s ordinary life with the monstrous transformation lurking beneath her skin. It’s this tension between the familiar and the alien that makes the horror hit so effectively.
Where the story shines brightest is in its themes of identity and inevitability. The horror is not only physical but existential: Jayce’s loss of control over her body mirrors the loss of control over the life she thought she knew. The creeping inevitability of the sea’s call is both terrifying and strangely beautiful, blurring the line between curse and inheritance.
If the novella has a drawback, it’s that the brevity leaves some threads underexplored—particularly Jayce’s relationships and the mythology behind her transformation. Readers may wish for a deeper dive into her emotional landscape or the origins of the oceanic voice. Still, the lean structure keeps the tension taut and ensures every page drips with unease.
July 19, 2025
I love reading about pirates and this series has been so good! I like how each book is a standalone and you could read in any order. I have read them in order so far and this book in particular was of my favorites so far! I still think the first book in the series is my favorite but I feel like they just keep getting better! The description of the book really caught my attention and I couldn’t wait for this book to be released! I highly recommend this book and this series so far if you enjoy tales of the sea and pirate themed books. I look forward to reading the next one, “Of Black Flags and Devil Birds.”
Ranking for Dark Sails Series (so far):
1. Flesh of the Sea
2. It Bubbles Under the Skin
3. Queen O’Nine Tails
4. Dead Soil
5. The Nine Teeth of the River Styx
6. Dead Men’s Chests
7. Island of the Unclaimed
Ranking for Dark Sails Series (so far):
1. Flesh of the Sea
2. It Bubbles Under the Skin
3. Queen O’Nine Tails
4. Dead Soil
5. The Nine Teeth of the River Styx
6. Dead Men’s Chests
7. Island of the Unclaimed
May 20, 2025
I think Caitlin Marceau might be one of my new favourites.
Queer horror done beautifuly. The imagery- phenomenonal.
If, like me, you're not a big smut person don't be put off by the initial intimacy the rest of the narrative is far more poetic and haunting.
Queer horror done beautifuly. The imagery- phenomenonal.
If, like me, you're not a big smut person don't be put off by the initial intimacy the rest of the narrative is far more poetic and haunting.
February 20, 2025
This quick read packs a punch! If you like horror with heart, and visceral body horror then give this novella a read! Fun!
October 23, 2025
was a really interesting horror novella, I enjoyed the parallels between Jayce and Bridget and Marguerite and Claudine. the descriptions of the blisters was very detailed. short and cute book.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews