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They Came From Below
Golden Springs is famous for two things: forty-seven miners who were buried alive in 1974 and the brothel built on their graves. When a film crew rolls into town to scout for their sci-fi movie, they find more than offbeat desert backdrops and otherworldly inspiration. A storm cuts them off, tourists vanish without a trace, and strange footprints are found leading away from a mysterious hole.
Sheriff Mani Diaz wants answers, and Cassie Carlisle might have found hers. Kamiko Jones and Arlo Macon just want to keep their film crew alive, and the desert wants something else entirely. Darkly funny, gloriously queer, and sharp as cactus spines, They Came From Below is a horror-comedy about found family, flame-throwers, and the kind of love that makes you brave when the lights go out.
Sheriff Mani Diaz wants answers, and Cassie Carlisle might have found hers. Kamiko Jones and Arlo Macon just want to keep their film crew alive, and the desert wants something else entirely. Darkly funny, gloriously queer, and sharp as cactus spines, They Came From Below is a horror-comedy about found family, flame-throwers, and the kind of love that makes you brave when the lights go out.
ebook
First published October 3, 2025
6 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
L. Dreamer
10 books104 followersLuc Dreamer is a transman, dad, and full-time wanderer. He writes queer stories with heart and soul.
Check out his website and subscribe to his newsletter if that's your thing: www.lucdreamer.com
Check out his website and subscribe to his newsletter if that's your thing: www.lucdreamer.com
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 21, 2025
Comedy horror romance!
Sheriff Mani meets Cassie when a film crew comes to Golden Springs scouting locations. A storm traps them all in the town having messed up the roads but then there are strange goings on also being reported.
I was intrigued the moment I started reading. You just knew something was going to happen when the storm rolled in and with the crew learning about the town’s history of a mining disaster. With Mani’s uncle rambling on about strange alien creatures and preparing for something coming, she really needs his help the morning after the storm. Mani was instantly curious having met Cassie, and unimpressed with her boyfriend’s attitude upon meeting them. As soon as she learns they have broken up the next morning, she can’t shake Cassie from her thoughts, and quickly after an incident when she goes to investigate the old mine, Cassie is eager to spend more time with her.
I loved how this was a team effort. A whole cast of different people, representations, working together to save the heartache of anyone else being taken by creatures that seem to have come from the mine. There was so much action and not a second to relax once they knew what they were dealing with. One thing always led to another to create an exciting drama that kept me hooked and desperate to know if they could all survive. But it wasn’t without some unexpected and emotional twists along the way too.
So funny and fascinating. The perfect lighthearted horror with sentiment, heart, and emotional moments for everyone.
Sheriff Mani meets Cassie when a film crew comes to Golden Springs scouting locations. A storm traps them all in the town having messed up the roads but then there are strange goings on also being reported.
I was intrigued the moment I started reading. You just knew something was going to happen when the storm rolled in and with the crew learning about the town’s history of a mining disaster. With Mani’s uncle rambling on about strange alien creatures and preparing for something coming, she really needs his help the morning after the storm. Mani was instantly curious having met Cassie, and unimpressed with her boyfriend’s attitude upon meeting them. As soon as she learns they have broken up the next morning, she can’t shake Cassie from her thoughts, and quickly after an incident when she goes to investigate the old mine, Cassie is eager to spend more time with her.
I loved how this was a team effort. A whole cast of different people, representations, working together to save the heartache of anyone else being taken by creatures that seem to have come from the mine. There was so much action and not a second to relax once they knew what they were dealing with. One thing always led to another to create an exciting drama that kept me hooked and desperate to know if they could all survive. But it wasn’t without some unexpected and emotional twists along the way too.
So funny and fascinating. The perfect lighthearted horror with sentiment, heart, and emotional moments for everyone.
October 5, 2025
Well, that was fun! They Came From Below is a short, queer sci-fi novel by Luc Dreamer. This is my first read by the author, and I quite enjoyed it. The writing style is easy to follow and perfectly suited to the story. The setting is a small mining town in the Nevada desert. The chapters are fairly short and have fun names.
Despite the book being on the shorter side, it feels well developed. It features a diverse cast of characters. Although there are several players, it’s easy to get to know them and their distinct personalities, and I was never confused about who’s who. I like all of the unique characters and the town dynamics. This little town comes together with a ragtag group of visitors to fight off something that comes from below, showcasing determination and resilience. The descriptions made me feel immersed. The story is engaging from start to finish, and the pacing is on point.
Bonus points for queerness not being an obstacle, the inclusion of women of color, strong female leads, sapphic relationships, sex worker representation, and nonbinary representation.
Luc Dreamer achieves a perfect balance of absurdity, humor, action, suspense, romance, spice, and a satisfying ending. I recommend it!
#action #sapphicromance #aliens #zombies #scifi #queer #sexworkers #smalltown #desert #Nevada #conspiracy #WOC #POC #miningtown #earthquakes #mudslide #butchfemme #nonbinary #filmcrew #movieproducing #sheriff #actor #epilogue #HEA #strongfemaleleads #firsttimewithawoman #actor
I received a free ARC from the author; this is my honest opinion.
Despite the book being on the shorter side, it feels well developed. It features a diverse cast of characters. Although there are several players, it’s easy to get to know them and their distinct personalities, and I was never confused about who’s who. I like all of the unique characters and the town dynamics. This little town comes together with a ragtag group of visitors to fight off something that comes from below, showcasing determination and resilience. The descriptions made me feel immersed. The story is engaging from start to finish, and the pacing is on point.
Bonus points for queerness not being an obstacle, the inclusion of women of color, strong female leads, sapphic relationships, sex worker representation, and nonbinary representation.
Luc Dreamer achieves a perfect balance of absurdity, humor, action, suspense, romance, spice, and a satisfying ending. I recommend it!
#action #sapphicromance #aliens #zombies #scifi #queer #sexworkers #smalltown #desert #Nevada #conspiracy #WOC #POC #miningtown #earthquakes #mudslide #butchfemme #nonbinary #filmcrew #movieproducing #sheriff #actor #epilogue #HEA #strongfemaleleads #firsttimewithawoman #actor
I received a free ARC from the author; this is my honest opinion.
October 23, 2025
Zombies ✅
Sapphic ✅
Hot Sheriff ✅
This is the recipe I was looking for! This book is so many things, romance, horror, campy, and so much fun! The number of actual spit takes I did while reading this book wasn’t counted, but it was enough to be counted. Dreamer is witty in his character dialogue, but his humor really shines in the chapter titles.
I don’t want to give too much away, but there is spice, and there is attraction… so much attraction that I wanted to mush faces together. The character makeup is diverse, and the plot is not as predictable as I thought going into it, which being predictable isn’t a bad thing, but this had an extra level that made it more fun!
So, to recap, this book is a blast, and I’d love to return to it.
Sapphic ✅
Hot Sheriff ✅
This is the recipe I was looking for! This book is so many things, romance, horror, campy, and so much fun! The number of actual spit takes I did while reading this book wasn’t counted, but it was enough to be counted. Dreamer is witty in his character dialogue, but his humor really shines in the chapter titles.
I don’t want to give too much away, but there is spice, and there is attraction… so much attraction that I wanted to mush faces together. The character makeup is diverse, and the plot is not as predictable as I thought going into it, which being predictable isn’t a bad thing, but this had an extra level that made it more fun!
So, to recap, this book is a blast, and I’d love to return to it.
October 4, 2025
Interesting read alien abduction taken to a new level. The characters are interesting and likable. I really enjoyed this sci first read. Looking forward to more books from this author.
September 16, 2025
They Came From Below by L. Dreamer is a stellar horror-comedy. The moment I read the description I was hooked. I am a big sci-fi/horror buff and it checked all of my boxes.
A brothel built on the graves of 47 miners that were lost in a catastrophe back in ‘74. Present time brings missing tourists, mysterious foot prints coming out of a creepy dark hole and peculiar happenings occurring around town. Add in a movie crew scouting the desert town for an upcoming sci-fi movie and you have the perfect storm.
I absolutely love this story and binge read it in one day. The cast of characters are wonderfully diverse and are the ultimate badasses (except for one - a total douche nozzle if there ever was one). The dialogue is witty and the story is fast paced with an honest to god mystery throughout. Mind you there is also romance. (Phew girl, there sure is and I am here for it!)
They Came From Below is going in my read again rotation and I wholeheartedly hope that an audiobook version is made. I can already imagine Lori Prince narrating certain scenes that would make me snort laugh.
This is a helluva good book and I highly recommend reading it. Don’t miss out and buy this book ASAP!
(I received an early ARC copy for my honest review)
A brothel built on the graves of 47 miners that were lost in a catastrophe back in ‘74. Present time brings missing tourists, mysterious foot prints coming out of a creepy dark hole and peculiar happenings occurring around town. Add in a movie crew scouting the desert town for an upcoming sci-fi movie and you have the perfect storm.
I absolutely love this story and binge read it in one day. The cast of characters are wonderfully diverse and are the ultimate badasses (except for one - a total douche nozzle if there ever was one). The dialogue is witty and the story is fast paced with an honest to god mystery throughout. Mind you there is also romance. (Phew girl, there sure is and I am here for it!)
They Came From Below is going in my read again rotation and I wholeheartedly hope that an audiobook version is made. I can already imagine Lori Prince narrating certain scenes that would make me snort laugh.
This is a helluva good book and I highly recommend reading it. Don’t miss out and buy this book ASAP!
(I received an early ARC copy for my honest review)
October 23, 2025
"Life is so fleeting. So fragile. So unpredictable. One minute you're drafting production notes, the next you're firing bullets into a reanimated alien corpse that wants to make you its baby mama..."--Kamiko
I mean, really, need I explain more? I don't, but I'm gonna anyway...
Been out of the writing game so long I don't even know how to string together an appropriate set of descriptors, but outrageous, shameless, and horny come to mind. None of that is a surprise, and honestly, this book was written with as much class as graphic alien-zombie splooge demands.
What did come as a surprise was how heartfelt and tender it was. Is there cadaver dandruff in my eye? Must be...
10/10 No notes. Marcus and Caz foreva!
I mean, really, need I explain more? I don't, but I'm gonna anyway...
Been out of the writing game so long I don't even know how to string together an appropriate set of descriptors, but outrageous, shameless, and horny come to mind. None of that is a surprise, and honestly, this book was written with as much class as graphic alien-zombie splooge demands.
What did come as a surprise was how heartfelt and tender it was. Is there cadaver dandruff in my eye? Must be...
10/10 No notes. Marcus and Caz foreva!
October 20, 2025
I loved the cover of this so much I had to read it. I was the kid who bought every Goosebumps book available! This sapphic Halloween read has a lot going on. I think ultimately there were too many characters to follow as there were 2 main couples but several others as well. It's a very far fetched - far fetched story 😂 A film crew finds themselves in the middle of an alien zombie attack in a small desert town known for its dark mining history. Everyone has to fight together to survive! NB rep!
November 12, 2025
Luc Dreamer always writes entertaining stories. They Came From Below continues that by giving us a campy, fun horror-comedy. I laughed out loud many times and spent a delightful Sunday afternoon devouring this book.
If you are looking for a quick read that will hold your attention, give this one a try!
If you are looking for a quick read that will hold your attention, give this one a try!
November 6, 2025
Brilliant! A perfect horror b-movie of a book!
November 13, 2025
Weird and strangely hot is how I described this book to a friend when I finished, and I stand by that assesment.
It's a bizarre book. I thought WTF am I reading every couple of pages. But it's also clever and funny and sexy.
I don't want to give away much of the plot because being surprised was part of the fun. If you're looking for a quick read that will keep you on your toes, this is it!
It's a bizarre book. I thought WTF am I reading every couple of pages. But it's also clever and funny and sexy.
I don't want to give away much of the plot because being surprised was part of the fun. If you're looking for a quick read that will keep you on your toes, this is it!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews