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What Feeds Below
Not yet published
Expected 6 Oct 26The darkness isn’t empty. It’s hungry.
At the edge of the City of the Void, a massive chasm extends miles into the earth, its treacherous terrain overrun with vicious monsters and carnivorous plants. For orphaned best friends Petra and Jade, guiding treasure-seeking tourists down into the Void is the only way to earn enough to pull themselves up out of the slums for good.
Petra prefers to play it safe and take jobs only in the Void’s upper levels, where the dangers are better understood, while Jade wants to risk a descent to the deepest and most mysterious Sixth Layer. Because the deeper they go, the better the payout, and the sooner their dreams can become reality. Their friendship is Petra’s whole world, and Jade’s approval means everything—so Petra agrees to do it Jade’s way.
When their job goes wrong and Jade is lost in the Void, Petra must plunge deeper than she’s ever dared to save her friend. But she doesn’t know the truth of the Void . . . or what really waits for her in its depths.
At the edge of the City of the Void, a massive chasm extends miles into the earth, its treacherous terrain overrun with vicious monsters and carnivorous plants. For orphaned best friends Petra and Jade, guiding treasure-seeking tourists down into the Void is the only way to earn enough to pull themselves up out of the slums for good.
Petra prefers to play it safe and take jobs only in the Void’s upper levels, where the dangers are better understood, while Jade wants to risk a descent to the deepest and most mysterious Sixth Layer. Because the deeper they go, the better the payout, and the sooner their dreams can become reality. Their friendship is Petra’s whole world, and Jade’s approval means everything—so Petra agrees to do it Jade’s way.
When their job goes wrong and Jade is lost in the Void, Petra must plunge deeper than she’s ever dared to save her friend. But she doesn’t know the truth of the Void . . . or what really waits for her in its depths.
Paperback
Expected publication October 6, 2026
47 people are currently reading
4081 people want to read
About the author
Tatiana Schlote-Bonne
3 books436 followersTatiana is the author of the horror novels Such Lovely Skin, The Mean Ones, and What Feeds Below (Fall 2026.) She has an MFA from The Nonfiction Writing Program at the University of Iowa. When she’s not writing, she’s either gaming, lifting weights, or teaching people how to lift weights. She is of Japanese, Mexican, and European descent, and lives in Iowa. Find her on IG @thebuffwriter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 251 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sorry to my boss, because I was reading this on company time, I really could not put it down. If you feel like your life is missing something, it's this book. Like, oh my godd, how do I convince everyone and their mom to read it?
A terrific world-building book with such descriptive and immersive details that made me feel physically squeamish, anxious, and deeply unsettled. It unraveled every expectation I had and replaced it with something deeper, something more. What starts off slow (almost gave up, PLEASE DON'T), as we dive into the mechanics of this world, quickly transforms into a gripping and all-consuming intensity
What Feeds Below is told from Petra's pov as she and her best friend, Jade, navigate through their world surrounding a mysterious one-mile-wide, six-layered hole named The Void. As you descend into the Void, it gets progressively more dangerous, with creepy and mutated monsters that can kill you in the most gruesome way possible. However, mystic artifacts can be found from a secret and old civilization that can be sold for modern currency on the surface.
On the verge of turning eighteen, Petra and Jade, both orphans, are soon to be displaced. Petra's dream is to open a health clinic where she can use her vast knowledge of Void plant life to create medicine and care for the poor. Petra and Jade become Void Divers in hopes of finding rare artifacts that they can sell to save up money for the clinic. When they get separated during a dive, Petra, the cautious half of the duo, is desperate to save her found family and turns to an estranged friend, Flint, for help to find Jade. In return, she will help him descend to the sixth layer for a secret that he's guarding closely. And hollllllyyy SIX-HELLS (ifykyk) is the journey that they take.
If you've made it this far into my review, I'm hoping that I've somehow convinced you to read this book, and please do, so we can talk about it because that ENDING? TATIANA SCHLOTE-BONNE, I AM SICKKKK OVER THIS, and I need compensation.
Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
A terrific world-building book with such descriptive and immersive details that made me feel physically squeamish, anxious, and deeply unsettled. It unraveled every expectation I had and replaced it with something deeper, something more. What starts off slow (almost gave up, PLEASE DON'T), as we dive into the mechanics of this world, quickly transforms into a gripping and all-consuming intensity
What Feeds Below is told from Petra's pov as she and her best friend, Jade, navigate through their world surrounding a mysterious one-mile-wide, six-layered hole named The Void. As you descend into the Void, it gets progressively more dangerous, with creepy and mutated monsters that can kill you in the most gruesome way possible. However, mystic artifacts can be found from a secret and old civilization that can be sold for modern currency on the surface.
On the verge of turning eighteen, Petra and Jade, both orphans, are soon to be displaced. Petra's dream is to open a health clinic where she can use her vast knowledge of Void plant life to create medicine and care for the poor. Petra and Jade become Void Divers in hopes of finding rare artifacts that they can sell to save up money for the clinic. When they get separated during a dive, Petra, the cautious half of the duo, is desperate to save her found family and turns to an estranged friend, Flint, for help to find Jade. In return, she will help him descend to the sixth layer for a secret that he's guarding closely. And hollllllyyy SIX-HELLS (ifykyk) is the journey that they take.
If you've made it this far into my review, I'm hoping that I've somehow convinced you to read this book, and please do, so we can talk about it because that ENDING? TATIANA SCHLOTE-BONNE, I AM SICKKKK OVER THIS, and I need compensation.
Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
April 11, 2026
I swear this book almost cured my aphantasia. I could actually almost picture things in my head for once, which is basically a medical miracle. Usually I'm the first person to say, "Please, no movie adaptation, just let the book be a book,” but I need to see this on a screen. Hollywood, do your thing, please.
Petra and Jade are teen orphans in a city built around a massive chasm: the Void. It's miles deep, overrun with monstrous flora and fauna, and lucrative enough that people (including Petra and Jade) will risk their lives guiding tourists into it for the payout. The deeper you go, the more dangerous and lucrative it gets. Petra is fine staying in the upper layers; Jade is not. When Jade goes missing during a tour, Petra has to go after her. Who knows how deep she will have to go to find her best friend? She hasn’t even spent a full hour in the Third Layer. And the Sixth Layer has exactly ten known survivors.
The world-building goes deep (pun intended). The Void truly feels alive. It feels like its own character, oozing with weird diseases, mutations, and creatures that are technically animals but maybe not? fungal, botanical nightmares, claustrophobia, you name it. It's clear that Tatiana knew exactly what kind of world she was writing about. While Petra descends, you also get excerpts from in-world books that flesh out the history of the Void and how deeply it has shaped the world around it. And then there are the creatures. my absolute favorite part of this book. I do love me some body horror, and man, does this book do it well. Like the first creature they meet, the one that kills by shoving little tiny baby hands through a body like it’s trying on a new skin suit? Chef's kiss 🤌🏻 and that’s just the warm-up.
Some parts felt predictable; I saw the plot twist coming, and the characters definitely act their age in the way YA characters tend to, but I didn't care. I'm not the target audience anyway. The other parts more than made up for it. I just wanted to keep reading. Isn't that kind of crazy? In a way, I knew what I thought was going to happen (and turns out I was right), but I was so hooked by the incredible world Tatiana created and the insane Void creation she was going to put on the next page that I just couldn’t stop reading.
The pace is fast and balanced. Some people say it starts slow, but I disagree. It's the perfect balance between backstory and action. Once Petra drops into the Void (which doesn’t even take long), you’re right there with her, clinging to the edge of your seat (or, in my case, my bed at 2 am). I read the whole thing in a day, which is wild because I am truly a slow reader.
If you're looking for the perfect Halloween read (release date is Oct 6), add this title to your TBR and start counting down the days. You're in for a treat.
Aa huge thank you to NetGalley, Bindery Books/Boozhoo Books, and author Tatiana Schlote-Bonne for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Petra and Jade are teen orphans in a city built around a massive chasm: the Void. It's miles deep, overrun with monstrous flora and fauna, and lucrative enough that people (including Petra and Jade) will risk their lives guiding tourists into it for the payout. The deeper you go, the more dangerous and lucrative it gets. Petra is fine staying in the upper layers; Jade is not. When Jade goes missing during a tour, Petra has to go after her. Who knows how deep she will have to go to find her best friend? She hasn’t even spent a full hour in the Third Layer. And the Sixth Layer has exactly ten known survivors.
The world-building goes deep (pun intended). The Void truly feels alive. It feels like its own character, oozing with weird diseases, mutations, and creatures that are technically animals but maybe not? fungal, botanical nightmares, claustrophobia, you name it. It's clear that Tatiana knew exactly what kind of world she was writing about. While Petra descends, you also get excerpts from in-world books that flesh out the history of the Void and how deeply it has shaped the world around it. And then there are the creatures. my absolute favorite part of this book. I do love me some body horror, and man, does this book do it well. Like the first creature they meet, the one that kills by shoving little tiny baby hands through a body like it’s trying on a new skin suit? Chef's kiss 🤌🏻 and that’s just the warm-up.
Some parts felt predictable; I saw the plot twist coming, and the characters definitely act their age in the way YA characters tend to, but I didn't care. I'm not the target audience anyway. The other parts more than made up for it. I just wanted to keep reading. Isn't that kind of crazy? In a way, I knew what I thought was going to happen (and turns out I was right), but I was so hooked by the incredible world Tatiana created and the insane Void creation she was going to put on the next page that I just couldn’t stop reading.
The pace is fast and balanced. Some people say it starts slow, but I disagree. It's the perfect balance between backstory and action. Once Petra drops into the Void (which doesn’t even take long), you’re right there with her, clinging to the edge of your seat (or, in my case, my bed at 2 am). I read the whole thing in a day, which is wild because I am truly a slow reader.
If you're looking for the perfect Halloween read (release date is Oct 6), add this title to your TBR and start counting down the days. You're in for a treat.
Aa huge thank you to NetGalley, Bindery Books/Boozhoo Books, and author Tatiana Schlote-Bonne for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
tatianaaaaa! sooo when does the movie come out??? this was like if the descent x annihilation x atlantis the lost empire had a baby & the descent is one of my favorite horror movies of all time so naturally i was living, laughing, & loving What Feeds Below.
i will read anything & everything Tatiana puts out, i don't care what it's about just take my damn money! i have been a fan since Such Lovely Skin & every book gets better & better. this had me glued, GLUED I TELL YOU, from the very first pg.
we follow best friends Petra (Pet) & Jade who make a living as tour divers guiding treasure seeking tourists into the Void. the Void is a massive chasm full of terrifying mutated animals, fiends, plants that want to eat you & quite literally anything else that could possibly kill you. Petra always wants to play it safe by never diving deeper than the second layer but Jade insists the deeper they go, the better the payout & the faster they can make their dreams come true. when a new job goes terribly wrong & Jade turns up missing, Petra has no choice but to go deeper into the depths of the Void to find & save her.
this genuinely had me on the edge of my seat. not only am i claustrophobic, so you'll NEVA EVA see me near a cave, but you'll also never catch me venturing too deep into any large body of water (you never know what's in there)...mix those two together with mutant creatures hunting you down?? oh this was like reading my worst nightmare!
this was packed with action, so cinematic it read like a movie! the imagery was vivid, the way Tatiana describes the void & all the flora, fungi & fauna is perfectly detailed. the body horror was juuust gross enough to push the whole reading experience to the next level. the twist?! i'm kind of mad at myself for not fully seeing it coming. the way i absolutely devoured this, i can't rate it any less than 5 Stars ✨ this was just such a fun read
pre read── .✦
tatiana always writes such fun books, i know this won't disappoint!
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
i will read anything & everything Tatiana puts out, i don't care what it's about just take my damn money! i have been a fan since Such Lovely Skin & every book gets better & better. this had me glued, GLUED I TELL YOU, from the very first pg.
we follow best friends Petra (Pet) & Jade who make a living as tour divers guiding treasure seeking tourists into the Void. the Void is a massive chasm full of terrifying mutated animals, fiends, plants that want to eat you & quite literally anything else that could possibly kill you. Petra always wants to play it safe by never diving deeper than the second layer but Jade insists the deeper they go, the better the payout & the faster they can make their dreams come true. when a new job goes terribly wrong & Jade turns up missing, Petra has no choice but to go deeper into the depths of the Void to find & save her.
this genuinely had me on the edge of my seat. not only am i claustrophobic, so you'll NEVA EVA see me near a cave, but you'll also never catch me venturing too deep into any large body of water (you never know what's in there)...mix those two together with mutant creatures hunting you down?? oh this was like reading my worst nightmare!
this was packed with action, so cinematic it read like a movie! the imagery was vivid, the way Tatiana describes the void & all the flora, fungi & fauna is perfectly detailed. the body horror was juuust gross enough to push the whole reading experience to the next level. the twist?! i'm kind of mad at myself for not fully seeing it coming. the way i absolutely devoured this, i can't rate it any less than 5 Stars ✨ this was just such a fun read
pre read── .✦
tatiana always writes such fun books, i know this won't disappoint!
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
Want to Read
April 7, 2026 ── 🍋🟩🐈⬛ ᝰ .ᐟ pre-read.
it's been a while since i had an arc and i'm excited to read this one!
advanced reader copy received from netgalley
it's been a while since i had an arc and i'm excited to read this one!
advanced reader copy received from netgalley
November 9, 2025
Beta read review: you guys, I read this in ONE SITTING because I couldn't put it down. Absolutely cannot wait to read the final copy again and gift it to everyone next year because I think it might already be my favorite book of 2026 😱
April 11, 2026
𐔌 . ⋮ what feeds below 🍄 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
what to expect:
— a horror/fantasy blend set in a massive, dangerous underground void
— two best friends with a very intense, codependent dynamic
— creepy creatures, carnivorous plants, and some body horror
— survival + rescue mission
— strong atmosphere and worldbuilding
this book has it all.
𐔌 . ⋮ plot 🍄 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
the plot of what feeds below is pretty straightforward at its core, but the way it plays out makes it feel a lot bigger.
it follows petra and jade, two orphaned best friends who make a living guiding people into this massive underground void filled with monsters, dangerous terrain, and genuinely horrifying things. the deeper you go, the more money you make, so even though it’s risky, they keep doing it because it’s their only way out of the life they’re stuck in.
petra is more cautious and prefers staying in the upper levels, where things are at least somewhat predictable, while jade is the opposite. she wants to go deeper, take bigger risks, and chase something more. their dynamic is very much built on that tension, with petra constantly trying to keep up with jade and not lose her.
everything kind of spirals when a job goes wrong and jade is lost somewhere in the void. from that point on, the story turns into a descent (literally and figuratively), with petra going deeper and deeper into layers she’s never dared to enter before, trying to find her. and the further she goes, the more dangerous and unknown everything becomes, not just physically, but in terms of what the void actually is and what it does to people.
𐔌 . ⋮ characters 🍄 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
one thing i really liked in what feeds below was the characters. even though the book is only around 220 pages, i feel like petra’s growth is very real and noticeable. at the beginning, she’s a lot more cautious and hesitant, someone who sticks to what she knows and avoids unnecessary risks. she prefers staying in the upper levels of the void where things are at least somewhat predictable, which says a lot about how she approaches life in general.
but as the story goes on, especially after jade is lost, she’s forced to push past all of that. she goes deeper than she ever wanted to, both physically and mentally, and you can really see that shift in her. it never feels rushed or unrealistic, which i appreciated.
jade, on the other hand, is basically her opposite. she’s more reckless, ambitious, and constantly chasing something bigger. she’s the one pushing them to go deeper into the void in the first place, because she wants a better life faster, no matter the risk.
i also want to mention flint, because i actually really liked what he brought to the story. he’s one of the people petra ends up traveling with during the descent, and he adds a different kind of energy to the group. where petra is more cautious and jade is impulsive, flint is a bit more grounded and practical, which helps balance things out.
he’s not overly complex, but he doesn’t feel flat either. his presence makes the journey feel less lonely, and i liked the way his dynamic with petra developed over time. it never takes over the story, but it adds just enough to make the group feel warmer in a way and give petra someone to bounce off of besides jade.
he also helps highlight petra’s growth, especially in the way she starts to trust others more and rely less on just jade.
𐔌 . ⋮ writing 🍄 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
the writing style was one of my favourite parts of the whole book. it felt very cinematic to me, like i was watching everything play out. the descriptions are so vivid that the void, the creatures, and everything happening down there feel really real and almost too easy to picture. a lot of the scenes genuinely felt like something straight out of a movie.
the atmosphere is also done really well. it’s very immersive and intense, especially as the story goes deeper into the void. everything starts to feel more claustrophobic and more dangerous. the setting feels like an actual part of the story, almost like its own character.
i also really liked how the horror elements were written. the body horror and creatures are described in a way that’s detailed enough to be unsettling without feeling overdone, and it adds a lot to the overall tension. this is definitely one of those books that would translate so well to screen.
𐔌 . ⋮ final thoughts 🍄 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
overall, i had a really good time with what feeds below. i can’t wait for this to hit shelves so i can get my own copy, and i’ll definitely be recommending it to other people.
i would say to maybe check the trigger warnings before going in, just in case. there are some darker elements (especially body horror and general horror themes) that might not work for everyone.
publishing date : october 6th, 2026
𐔌 . ⋮ pre-read 🍄 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
this mix of horror and fantasy sounds right up my alley, so i’m really excited to dive into this one. 🤞🏻
thank you to netgalley and bindery books for providing me with an arc of what feeds below by tatiana schlote-bonne in exchange for an honest review.
what to expect:
— a horror/fantasy blend set in a massive, dangerous underground void
— two best friends with a very intense, codependent dynamic
— creepy creatures, carnivorous plants, and some body horror
— survival + rescue mission
— strong atmosphere and worldbuilding
this book has it all.
𐔌 . ⋮ plot 🍄 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
the plot of what feeds below is pretty straightforward at its core, but the way it plays out makes it feel a lot bigger.
it follows petra and jade, two orphaned best friends who make a living guiding people into this massive underground void filled with monsters, dangerous terrain, and genuinely horrifying things. the deeper you go, the more money you make, so even though it’s risky, they keep doing it because it’s their only way out of the life they’re stuck in.
petra is more cautious and prefers staying in the upper levels, where things are at least somewhat predictable, while jade is the opposite. she wants to go deeper, take bigger risks, and chase something more. their dynamic is very much built on that tension, with petra constantly trying to keep up with jade and not lose her.
everything kind of spirals when a job goes wrong and jade is lost somewhere in the void. from that point on, the story turns into a descent (literally and figuratively), with petra going deeper and deeper into layers she’s never dared to enter before, trying to find her. and the further she goes, the more dangerous and unknown everything becomes, not just physically, but in terms of what the void actually is and what it does to people.
𐔌 . ⋮ characters 🍄 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
one thing i really liked in what feeds below was the characters. even though the book is only around 220 pages, i feel like petra’s growth is very real and noticeable. at the beginning, she’s a lot more cautious and hesitant, someone who sticks to what she knows and avoids unnecessary risks. she prefers staying in the upper levels of the void where things are at least somewhat predictable, which says a lot about how she approaches life in general.
but as the story goes on, especially after jade is lost, she’s forced to push past all of that. she goes deeper than she ever wanted to, both physically and mentally, and you can really see that shift in her. it never feels rushed or unrealistic, which i appreciated.
jade, on the other hand, is basically her opposite. she’s more reckless, ambitious, and constantly chasing something bigger. she’s the one pushing them to go deeper into the void in the first place, because she wants a better life faster, no matter the risk.
i also want to mention flint, because i actually really liked what he brought to the story. he’s one of the people petra ends up traveling with during the descent, and he adds a different kind of energy to the group. where petra is more cautious and jade is impulsive, flint is a bit more grounded and practical, which helps balance things out.
he’s not overly complex, but he doesn’t feel flat either. his presence makes the journey feel less lonely, and i liked the way his dynamic with petra developed over time. it never takes over the story, but it adds just enough to make the group feel warmer in a way and give petra someone to bounce off of besides jade.
he also helps highlight petra’s growth, especially in the way she starts to trust others more and rely less on just jade.
𐔌 . ⋮ writing 🍄 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
the writing style was one of my favourite parts of the whole book. it felt very cinematic to me, like i was watching everything play out. the descriptions are so vivid that the void, the creatures, and everything happening down there feel really real and almost too easy to picture. a lot of the scenes genuinely felt like something straight out of a movie.
the atmosphere is also done really well. it’s very immersive and intense, especially as the story goes deeper into the void. everything starts to feel more claustrophobic and more dangerous. the setting feels like an actual part of the story, almost like its own character.
i also really liked how the horror elements were written. the body horror and creatures are described in a way that’s detailed enough to be unsettling without feeling overdone, and it adds a lot to the overall tension. this is definitely one of those books that would translate so well to screen.
𐔌 . ⋮ final thoughts 🍄 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
overall, i had a really good time with what feeds below. i can’t wait for this to hit shelves so i can get my own copy, and i’ll definitely be recommending it to other people.
i would say to maybe check the trigger warnings before going in, just in case. there are some darker elements (especially body horror and general horror themes) that might not work for everyone.
publishing date : october 6th, 2026
𐔌 . ⋮ pre-read 🍄 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
this mix of horror and fantasy sounds right up my alley, so i’m really excited to dive into this one. 🤞🏻
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
i devoured this the way a void creature would consume a human who's fallen into its cave: wholly. immediately. with relish and abandon.
wow. wow wow wow. i discovered this book by accident today; requested an advance reader copy today; received said copy today; and now i'm somehow DONE because this story is just that compulsively readable.
before we dive into it all i just needed you to know that, as i was reading, melanie martinez's VOID (one of my fave songs off her portals album) played on a loop in my head and it was weirdly fitting? i will be inserting clips from the music video (which looked like it was filmed right in the third or fourth layer of the void) throughout this review......
a quick synopsis: petra and jade are teenaged orphans living in a sprawling metropolis that has grown around a deep chasm overrun with monstrous flora and fauna: the void, capable of mutating the human divers who stray into its depths.
as divers themselves, petra and jade make a living by taking tourists into the void, with the ultimate goal of someday saving up enough to open their own medical clinic at the orphanage.
divided into six layers, each progressively deeper and more dangerous than the last, the void was discovered two hundred years ago: a natural hellhole in an uninhabited continent. when explorers finally made their way to the very bottom, they discovered . when the book opens, petra and jade are gearing up to take a client deeper into the void than they've ever ventured before—and something goes wrong on the trip, leaving jade stranded in the void and petra terrified without her. somehow, petra has to find a way to save jade and survive the horrors of the void: but what is awaiting her in the depths will be far worse than anything she could have imagined.
without a doubt my absolute favourite part of this novel were the ravenous monsters that populate the void.
they're a little cuddlier near the surface—winged deer, giant parrots, six-armed monkeys—and become increasingly disturbing the further down you go. (for readers who would rather be surprised than know about the monsters in advance, i'm putting the following sentence under spoiler tags so you can choose your own adventure.)
there are , and . there are creatures with , creatures part- and part-; something that has evolved to .
these monsters had me riveted. if you're like me—that is, fascinated by the gory and macabre; drawn to body horror and monstrous world-building—i guarantee you will find this novel just as un-put-downable.
if there was one small gripe i had, it would be the untapped potential of this book's emotional core.
we have a very interesting central cast here: three characters who have a fraught history and conflicted, yet intense, bonds and dynamics. i would have loved to see more interactions between the characters outside of flashbacks and the high-octane mission to save jade. i could feel the tensions between them, but i wanted more. more flint. more jade. more petra, and the others around them. as an example of what i thought was untapped potential: the scenes involving were incredibly strong from an emotional standpoint, and i would've loved to read more interactions and scenes to really hammer it home.
(i'll be the first to admit, though, that that could simply be my own greediness for more of the characters!!! from the overwhelmingly positive reviews from early readers so far, other people don't necessarily share my gripe, and understandably so—what feeds below is a VERY strong offering to the upper-YA-horror niche.)
i am also of two minds about . on the one hand, .
and this hit me hard, because i relate on a personal level to . seeing this play out in a speculative YA horror novel was interesting and something i appreciated.
on the other hand, i feel like undermined the emotional depth of the book: was something that i'd immensely enjoyed, a tether to humanity amidst the monsters and gore. without this, the emotional pull of the story felt diminished, and while i do love my monsters, i don't necessarily want a story carried by them.
lastly, the author mentioned that this novel was inspired by made in the abyss, an anime i hadn't yet heard of and am now definitely going to watch. to me, what feeds below is journey to atlantis meets caitlin starling's the luminous dead, with creatures straight out of the last of us and love and monsters that would put those in naomi novik's scholomance to shame. (if you understood this last sentence, congratulations and i think we should be friends 😂)
bottom line: this was such a fast-paced, twisted ride—and the most stunning cover i've seen all year. it's been so so long since i've been utterly immersed in a book like i was with what feeds below. i highly recommend this to adventure-hungry readers who find themselves drawn to body horror, gore, and monstrous world-building. tatiana schlote-bonne, i have my eyes on you!!!!
thank you netgalley and bindery books for an advance e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
wow. wow wow wow. i discovered this book by accident today; requested an advance reader copy today; received said copy today; and now i'm somehow DONE because this story is just that compulsively readable.
before we dive into it all i just needed you to know that, as i was reading, melanie martinez's VOID (one of my fave songs off her portals album) played on a loop in my head and it was weirdly fitting? i will be inserting clips from the music video (which looked like it was filmed right in the third or fourth layer of the void) throughout this review......
a quick synopsis: petra and jade are teenaged orphans living in a sprawling metropolis that has grown around a deep chasm overrun with monstrous flora and fauna: the void, capable of mutating the human divers who stray into its depths.
as divers themselves, petra and jade make a living by taking tourists into the void, with the ultimate goal of someday saving up enough to open their own medical clinic at the orphanage.
divided into six layers, each progressively deeper and more dangerous than the last, the void was discovered two hundred years ago: a natural hellhole in an uninhabited continent. when explorers finally made their way to the very bottom, they discovered . when the book opens, petra and jade are gearing up to take a client deeper into the void than they've ever ventured before—and something goes wrong on the trip, leaving jade stranded in the void and petra terrified without her. somehow, petra has to find a way to save jade and survive the horrors of the void: but what is awaiting her in the depths will be far worse than anything she could have imagined.
without a doubt my absolute favourite part of this novel were the ravenous monsters that populate the void.
they're a little cuddlier near the surface—winged deer, giant parrots, six-armed monkeys—and become increasingly disturbing the further down you go. (for readers who would rather be surprised than know about the monsters in advance, i'm putting the following sentence under spoiler tags so you can choose your own adventure.)
there are , and . there are creatures with , creatures part- and part-; something that has evolved to .
these monsters had me riveted. if you're like me—that is, fascinated by the gory and macabre; drawn to body horror and monstrous world-building—i guarantee you will find this novel just as un-put-downable.
if there was one small gripe i had, it would be the untapped potential of this book's emotional core.
we have a very interesting central cast here: three characters who have a fraught history and conflicted, yet intense, bonds and dynamics. i would have loved to see more interactions between the characters outside of flashbacks and the high-octane mission to save jade. i could feel the tensions between them, but i wanted more. more flint. more jade. more petra, and the others around them. as an example of what i thought was untapped potential: the scenes involving were incredibly strong from an emotional standpoint, and i would've loved to read more interactions and scenes to really hammer it home.
(i'll be the first to admit, though, that that could simply be my own greediness for more of the characters!!! from the overwhelmingly positive reviews from early readers so far, other people don't necessarily share my gripe, and understandably so—what feeds below is a VERY strong offering to the upper-YA-horror niche.)
i am also of two minds about . on the one hand, .
and this hit me hard, because i relate on a personal level to . seeing this play out in a speculative YA horror novel was interesting and something i appreciated.
on the other hand, i feel like undermined the emotional depth of the book: was something that i'd immensely enjoyed, a tether to humanity amidst the monsters and gore. without this, the emotional pull of the story felt diminished, and while i do love my monsters, i don't necessarily want a story carried by them.
lastly, the author mentioned that this novel was inspired by made in the abyss, an anime i hadn't yet heard of and am now definitely going to watch. to me, what feeds below is journey to atlantis meets caitlin starling's the luminous dead, with creatures straight out of the last of us and love and monsters that would put those in naomi novik's scholomance to shame. (if you understood this last sentence, congratulations and i think we should be friends 😂)
bottom line: this was such a fast-paced, twisted ride—and the most stunning cover i've seen all year. it's been so so long since i've been utterly immersed in a book like i was with what feeds below. i highly recommend this to adventure-hungry readers who find themselves drawn to body horror, gore, and monstrous world-building. tatiana schlote-bonne, i have my eyes on you!!!!
thank you netgalley and bindery books for an advance e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
April 3, 2026
Tatiana Schlote-Bonne's third novel is a masterclass in world building. It is remarkable how fast we get into the world of the Void and all of the people and creatures that populate it. I could probably write a review just describing the creatures that inhabit the void. There is so much imagination that goes into them and each one is more nightmarish than the last, leading to multiple times that the book physically caused me to jump or cringe in horror. While I would never, and I mean never, want to actually go into the Void myself, I would love to see this world created for the screen at some point in the future because it is absolutely begging for it.
As for the plot itself, this is a fantastic, search and rescue mission where the situations that the characters find themselves in get worse and worse until I was on the edge of my seat and chewing my fingernails waiting to see what was going to happen. And the main three characters, especially Petra, are fully drawn and had me rooting for them, mostly anyway. Schlote-Bonne is such a talent and with each book she gets more and more confident in her storytelling. This book had to have been quite a challenge, horror/fantasy with some Sci-Fi thrown in, and she absolutely nails it. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!
As for the plot itself, this is a fantastic, search and rescue mission where the situations that the characters find themselves in get worse and worse until I was on the edge of my seat and chewing my fingernails waiting to see what was going to happen. And the main three characters, especially Petra, are fully drawn and had me rooting for them, mostly anyway. Schlote-Bonne is such a talent and with each book she gets more and more confident in her storytelling. This book had to have been quite a challenge, horror/fantasy with some Sci-Fi thrown in, and she absolutely nails it. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!
March 19, 2026
I had such a fun time reading this and flew right through it! The prose is incredibly cinematic. Every scene plays out so clearly it almost demands a film adaptation. And I would absolutely sign a petition to see this on screen because the visuals are already there on the page.
And what visuals they are! Monstrous creatures are described in gory detail. It was truly stomach churning at times and several scenes left me scratching at my neck as the feeling of suffocation transcended the page. I loved every single minute of it.
The beginning is a bit of a slow burn, but it is 100 percent worth it. That buildup is what makes the world feel so real and fully realized. By the time things really take off, you are completely in it. It is such a fun, gory read, but it also hits with surprising emotional depth. There are moments that are genuinely tender and human and balances out the horror found throughout.
This book has fully cemented Tatiana Schlote-Bonne as an autobuy author for me.
And what visuals they are! Monstrous creatures are described in gory detail. It was truly stomach churning at times and several scenes left me scratching at my neck as the feeling of suffocation transcended the page. I loved every single minute of it.
The beginning is a bit of a slow burn, but it is 100 percent worth it. That buildup is what makes the world feel so real and fully realized. By the time things really take off, you are completely in it. It is such a fun, gory read, but it also hits with surprising emotional depth. There are moments that are genuinely tender and human and balances out the horror found throughout.
This book has fully cemented Tatiana Schlote-Bonne as an autobuy author for me.
Read
March 5, 2026I blurbed this one!
"Fast-paced, suspenseful, and plenty gory, What Feeds Below is a richly-imagined fantasy horror novel that you'll want to devour in one sitting rather than feed on for days, but be careful: it'll linger long after you've gobbled up the final page."
"Fast-paced, suspenseful, and plenty gory, What Feeds Below is a richly-imagined fantasy horror novel that you'll want to devour in one sitting rather than feed on for days, but be careful: it'll linger long after you've gobbled up the final page."
April 6, 2026
Review of Advanced Reader Copy received from Netgalley
One word. Wow.
If ‘What moves the dead’ by T.Kingfisher and ‘Annihilation’ by Jeff Vandermeer had a baby, it would be ‘What Feeds Below’.
I could not put this book down, I was hooked off the first sentence and read the entire thing in one sitting which is so rare for me due to my terrible attention span.
This book featured the main character Petra and her best-friend Jade. In this world, there’s the void, a giant crater full of unique creatures and terrifying tales. These best-friends are ‘void divers’, they explore the deepest and darkest depths of the void. During one of their dives, they get separated and they have to find eachother again. But it isn’t that simple, while on this journey to reunite they have to avoid the danger lurking around every corner, plants that can kill, pools of acid, mutated animals and other divers who were not lucky enough to escape the Voids grasp.
This book has such beautiful world building, i honestly felt as if i was watching a movie. I could picture everything and it was surreal.
I tried to guess the plot twist at the end and everytime I thought it could be something I was immediately surprised. This book kept me on my toes and the ending WASNT EVEN THE ENDING, there was MORE!
This book was so amazing, I wish I could read it for the first time again!
AUTO-BUY AUTHOR! INSANE!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
One word. Wow.
If ‘What moves the dead’ by T.Kingfisher and ‘Annihilation’ by Jeff Vandermeer had a baby, it would be ‘What Feeds Below’.
I could not put this book down, I was hooked off the first sentence and read the entire thing in one sitting which is so rare for me due to my terrible attention span.
This book featured the main character Petra and her best-friend Jade. In this world, there’s the void, a giant crater full of unique creatures and terrifying tales. These best-friends are ‘void divers’, they explore the deepest and darkest depths of the void. During one of their dives, they get separated and they have to find eachother again. But it isn’t that simple, while on this journey to reunite they have to avoid the danger lurking around every corner, plants that can kill, pools of acid, mutated animals and other divers who were not lucky enough to escape the Voids grasp.
This book has such beautiful world building, i honestly felt as if i was watching a movie. I could picture everything and it was surreal.
I tried to guess the plot twist at the end and everytime I thought it could be something I was immediately surprised. This book kept me on my toes and the ending WASNT EVEN THE ENDING, there was MORE!
This book was so amazing, I wish I could read it for the first time again!
AUTO-BUY AUTHOR! INSANE!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 24, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I’m going to keep this pretty vague because this is 100% a go in blind kind of book, but wow… this delivered exactly what it set out to do. I was creeped out and on edge the entire time. It leans into body horror with some sci-fi/fantasy elements, and it has that weird, slightly quirky vibe that reminded me of T. Kingfisher. This was such an easy read in the best way. Everything just flowed so naturally, and before I knew it I had basically binged the whole thing.
This story hooks you fast and does not let go. The atmosphere is tense the entire time, very claustrophobic, and just deeply unsettling… and honestly, really twisted. I’m still pretty new to horror, especially body horror, but this felt like a really approachable way to branch into the genre without losing any of that creep factor.
If you’re into YA horror, or just looking to dip your toes into something darker and a little weird, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a try. Just know, if you’re not into claustrophobic settings, body horror, or insect horror… this one absolutely goes there.
And that ending…this one is going to stick with me for a while.
I’m going to keep this pretty vague because this is 100% a go in blind kind of book, but wow… this delivered exactly what it set out to do. I was creeped out and on edge the entire time. It leans into body horror with some sci-fi/fantasy elements, and it has that weird, slightly quirky vibe that reminded me of T. Kingfisher. This was such an easy read in the best way. Everything just flowed so naturally, and before I knew it I had basically binged the whole thing.
This story hooks you fast and does not let go. The atmosphere is tense the entire time, very claustrophobic, and just deeply unsettling… and honestly, really twisted. I’m still pretty new to horror, especially body horror, but this felt like a really approachable way to branch into the genre without losing any of that creep factor.
If you’re into YA horror, or just looking to dip your toes into something darker and a little weird, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a try. Just know, if you’re not into claustrophobic settings, body horror, or insect horror… this one absolutely goes there.
And that ending…this one is going to stick with me for a while.
Want to Read
March 7, 2026⋆˚✿˖°
pre-read: gorgeous cover depicting a city with a void overrun by monsters and carnivorous plants? say no more.
pre-read: gorgeous cover depicting a city with a void overrun by monsters and carnivorous plants? say no more.
December 17, 2025
Read for work, creature descriptions had me fully creeped out and the ending 😫😫😫😫😫😭😭😭😭😭😭
March 20, 2026
6 STARS. REVIEW COMING. OMG
Okay, it is no longer 4am and I’ve gathered myself a little bit. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Like journey to the centre of the earth but more grotesque?!?! Uhm say less.
I thoroughly enjoyed this so much I could not put it down! I think it took a couple of chapters for the book to find its pace and create its atmosphere (wish layer 1 and 2 had had more description to match the magic of the later layers) but as soon as it did, I was sucked in!
Actually I don’t have a lot to say, I was disgusted, shooketh, flabbergasted, and wholeheartedly entertained the whole time.
Truly just loved it.
Okay, it is no longer 4am and I’ve gathered myself a little bit. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Like journey to the centre of the earth but more grotesque?!?! Uhm say less.
I thoroughly enjoyed this so much I could not put it down! I think it took a couple of chapters for the book to find its pace and create its atmosphere (wish layer 1 and 2 had had more description to match the magic of the later layers) but as soon as it did, I was sucked in!
Actually I don’t have a lot to say, I was disgusted, shooketh, flabbergasted, and wholeheartedly entertained the whole time.
Truly just loved it.
Read
February 14, 2026What Feeds Below by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
First- let me say a huge THANK YOU to Tatiana and Boozhoo Books for allowing me to read the Advanced Copy, which releases on October 6th.
Now on to the good stuff…
Wow!!!! What a WILD ride!!! This is a YA horror that had spore horror, body horror, world building, fantastical creatures, cave diving, strong FMCs and so much more!!
I used to play World Of Warcraft, heavily! And I honestly felt like I was playing WoW, on a quest with my friends. This book was such a fun read but also had my heart racing and my face stuck in a “ew 😨” expression most of the time. The detailed descriptions used for the beings that lived in the Void made my skin crawl, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
This was one hell of a story and I am here for it 👏 I know what my bookclub will be reading in October!!!
A quick word about Tatiana: I was raised on horror. Reading R.L. Stein and Stephen King, watching horror movies at a very young age. But nothing has been quite as relatable as Tatiana’s stories. She writes characters that relate to me on levels I never knew existed. Her books capture my attention from the beginning and have me gutted throughout the entire read. She’s quickly become one of my absolute favorite authors and an auto-buy. She’s also very sweet and down to earth and I love how she interacts with her readers. You can tell she truly cares about her audience and the work she puts out.
If you like horror, I highly recommend checking out one of her books!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
First- let me say a huge THANK YOU to Tatiana and Boozhoo Books for allowing me to read the Advanced Copy, which releases on October 6th.
Now on to the good stuff…
Wow!!!! What a WILD ride!!! This is a YA horror that had spore horror, body horror, world building, fantastical creatures, cave diving, strong FMCs and so much more!!
I used to play World Of Warcraft, heavily! And I honestly felt like I was playing WoW, on a quest with my friends. This book was such a fun read but also had my heart racing and my face stuck in a “ew 😨” expression most of the time. The detailed descriptions used for the beings that lived in the Void made my skin crawl, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
This was one hell of a story and I am here for it 👏 I know what my bookclub will be reading in October!!!
A quick word about Tatiana: I was raised on horror. Reading R.L. Stein and Stephen King, watching horror movies at a very young age. But nothing has been quite as relatable as Tatiana’s stories. She writes characters that relate to me on levels I never knew existed. Her books capture my attention from the beginning and have me gutted throughout the entire read. She’s quickly become one of my absolute favorite authors and an auto-buy. She’s also very sweet and down to earth and I love how she interacts with her readers. You can tell she truly cares about her audience and the work she puts out.
If you like horror, I highly recommend checking out one of her books!!
April 7, 2026
Holy shit.
That book was UNREAL. I was completely and utterly lost between these pages. The world building and imagery of the Void is vibrant and lively while also being downright TERRIFYING. I was also pleasantly surprised with how juicy and graphic the descriptions were!
The creatures and beings residing within were all so unique and had my skin CRAWLING. The cave anglers? It’s pretty much my fear of house centipedes amplified by 10000000. There were also many times I felt claustrophobic and caught myself holding my breath. The sense of dread I got from reading What Feeds Below was unlike anything I’ve ever read before. And do not even get me STARTED on those damn skinleeches 😭 That was the first time my stomach has ROILED from reading 🤢
What Feeds Below will be released on 10/6/2026 so be sure to preorder your copy now!!
A huge thank you to NetGalley for this incredible ARC!
That book was UNREAL. I was completely and utterly lost between these pages. The world building and imagery of the Void is vibrant and lively while also being downright TERRIFYING. I was also pleasantly surprised with how juicy and graphic the descriptions were!
The creatures and beings residing within were all so unique and had my skin CRAWLING. The cave anglers? It’s pretty much my fear of house centipedes amplified by 10000000. There were also many times I felt claustrophobic and caught myself holding my breath. The sense of dread I got from reading What Feeds Below was unlike anything I’ve ever read before. And do not even get me STARTED on those damn skinleeches 😭 That was the first time my stomach has ROILED from reading 🤢
What Feeds Below will be released on 10/6/2026 so be sure to preorder your copy now!!
A huge thank you to NetGalley for this incredible ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Tatiana Schlote-Bonne, Bindery Books | Boozhoo Books & NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review
Rating: 4.25/5 ⭐
CW: Explicit |
Moderate |
Mild |
My chosen soundtrack: Subterranean Wombs - Jolly Damper, Nick Grimes
If you love Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Annihilation, The Last of Us, and/or the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3, you should definitely check out 'What Feeds Below'. This book is made for you.
Representation
╰┈➤ Unspecified BIPOC rep, Flint, is described as having dark-brown skin
╰┈➤ Disability rep, Flint lost his leg and uses a prosthetic, and seems to have use of one eye only, and (extreme spoilers),
Themes
Dark tourism, conspiracy theories, hazard pay, poverty, herbalism, botany, dead advanced civilization, commodification & materialism, greed, sentient flora and fauna, botanical horror, humans' destruction/exploitation of nature, uncanny valley, what's real or not real?, self-worth issues, codependency, and selfishness as a tool of survival.
What I liked
✧ Each chapter opens with a little anecdote, a quote, or an excerpt of media on The Void. I loved how this structure could be used to set the tone or give us the info needed for each chapter.
✧ Besides the chapter openers, the book also does an amazing job of teaching us about this world without feeling info-dumpy.
✧ The worldbuilding takes the cake in this one. It feels unique, detailed, insane, yet still believable due to the amazing writing. I appreciate that we get to learn about this world through the eyes of our MC, Petra. Her being a herbalist/botanist makes her focus on more than only the bad and scary. The Void is both beautiful and horrifying. It can take but also give, and Petra does an amazing job of showcasing this duality. Even when Petra is scared and/or fighting for her life, she still admires and respects all nature and (un)living things in The Void.
✧ The Void highlights how we, as humans, are also just part of the food chain. It respects the order of nature and doesn't glorify human sentience as something superior. Yet it does so without dismissing humans as something docile or harmless. Humans/humanoids are still able to be frightening in their own right.
✧ The prose is descriptive and does an amazing job at helping the reader visualize this complex and incredible world. Which I imagine is not easy to do, since this universe contains some crazy concepts and creature designs.
✧ I personally love it when contemporary problems are explored through non-contemporary concepts, which Tatiana Schlote-Bonne did an amazing job at.
✧ Discourse on capitalism, poverty, lack of accessible healthcare, and hazard pay.
✧ Discourse on (dark) tourism, commodification, materialism, and consumerism.
✧ If you know me, or have followed me for a little while on Goodreads, you'd know I have quite the hyperfixation on things like sentient nature, carnivorous plants, funky fungi, and overall just 'something is wrong with the forest' vibes. This book felt like it was made for me! I LOVE botanical horror and, in turn, loved this book. If you've read C.G. Drews's work or books like What the Woods Took you'll probably end up loving this one as well.
✧ I love how an advanced civilization of the past basically haunts the plot.
✧ Explores the concept of uncanny valley and how humans/humanoids are spine-chilling in their own ways.
✧ Explores the complexities of being in a co-dependent dynamic. For example, the constant comparisons, the level of dependence and/or lack of independence, learned helplessness, and the 'us against the world' mentality that seems to rule these types of dynamics.
✧ Discourse on selfishness as a means of survival and empathy as a form of weakness in a world where it's 'every person for themselves'.
✧ This book is very plot-driven yet still contains an interesting and satisfying character arc.
✧ In the end,
✧ Very much a spoiler, but this quote made me laugh my ass off:
✧ I love the universe Tatiana Schlote-Bonne has crafted in this book, and I would definitely read anything else in the same setting. The worldbuilding was just top-tier. Be it a prequel or a different diver's story, I would pick it up immediately. I would be delighted to explore The Void for a little longer.
What I didn't like/felt lackluster about
✦ This might just be because I'm a lesbian, but I didn't feel any chemistry between ; besides aesthetic attraction, I didn't really get her crush on him. Regardless, I did enjoy both their characters on their own.
✦ I predicted a huge plot point, but honestly, the amazing worldbuilding made up for it. And even while knowing what was going to happen, I still really enjoyed seeing those predictions come to fruition on these pages. Which is a compliment to Tatiana Schlote-Bonne, she's truly amazing at building tension and taking us along in high-stakes, at times violent situations.
Conclusion/Notes
'What Feeds Below' is an amazing botanical and creature horror that I wholeheartedly devoured.
It explores interpersonal conflicts, societal issues, and economic inequality through grotesque creatures and even more grotesque situations our characters are forced to be in.
This book reads like an adventure story, if a dreadful, disgusting, and often gruesome one. The scenery keeps changing, and the stakes keep growing. It showcases the horrific yet beautiful unrestrained power of nature and explores how humanity fits or doesn't fit into it. It explores selfishness, empathy, and how poverty forces us on journeys we would never have taken otherwise.
'What Feeds Below,' however, is a journey I can enthusiastically recommend to all readers who love (botanical) horror. With a release date that fits the theme, I urge you to pick this one up during spooky October!
Follow me on Spotify for specific reading playlists like these: 📚 Horror/Thriller Reads | 📚 Something is wrong with the forest | 📚 Collapse Of Society
Rating: 4.25/5 ⭐
CW: Explicit |
Moderate |
Mild |
My chosen soundtrack: Subterranean Wombs - Jolly Damper, Nick Grimes
We never should’ve come down here.
- Anonymous, Voices from the Void
If you love Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Annihilation, The Last of Us, and/or the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3, you should definitely check out 'What Feeds Below'. This book is made for you.
Representation
╰┈➤ Unspecified BIPOC rep, Flint, is described as having dark-brown skin
╰┈➤ Disability rep, Flint lost his leg and uses a prosthetic, and seems to have use of one eye only, and (extreme spoilers),
Themes
Dark tourism, conspiracy theories, hazard pay, poverty, herbalism, botany, dead advanced civilization, commodification & materialism, greed, sentient flora and fauna, botanical horror, humans' destruction/exploitation of nature, uncanny valley, what's real or not real?, self-worth issues, codependency, and selfishness as a tool of survival.
What I liked
✧ Each chapter opens with a little anecdote, a quote, or an excerpt of media on The Void. I loved how this structure could be used to set the tone or give us the info needed for each chapter.
✧ Besides the chapter openers, the book also does an amazing job of teaching us about this world without feeling info-dumpy.
✧ The worldbuilding takes the cake in this one. It feels unique, detailed, insane, yet still believable due to the amazing writing. I appreciate that we get to learn about this world through the eyes of our MC, Petra. Her being a herbalist/botanist makes her focus on more than only the bad and scary. The Void is both beautiful and horrifying. It can take but also give, and Petra does an amazing job of showcasing this duality. Even when Petra is scared and/or fighting for her life, she still admires and respects all nature and (un)living things in The Void.
✧ The Void highlights how we, as humans, are also just part of the food chain. It respects the order of nature and doesn't glorify human sentience as something superior. Yet it does so without dismissing humans as something docile or harmless. Humans/humanoids are still able to be frightening in their own right.
✧ The prose is descriptive and does an amazing job at helping the reader visualize this complex and incredible world. Which I imagine is not easy to do, since this universe contains some crazy concepts and creature designs.
✧ I personally love it when contemporary problems are explored through non-contemporary concepts, which Tatiana Schlote-Bonne did an amazing job at.
✧ Discourse on capitalism, poverty, lack of accessible healthcare, and hazard pay.
"You know what the real monster in the Void is? Capitalism. No reason any sane person ought to go deep in there. (...) And you know who's benefited the most out of it all? The creatures. (...) We're the ones feeding them."It doesn't glorify being forced to take on dangerous jobs; it heavily criticises it. A lot of the skills our characters possess are direct results of having to survive in a place where nothing is given for free. Many choices, current and past, that our characters make would have been completely different if not for the fact that, in this universe, there is simply not enough to go around. Becoming a void diver is, unfortunately, for many, the only option available.
“People let their kids play in here?” Henry asks.
“Usually no,” I answer. “But those kids don’t have parents. And they’re not ‘playing,’ they’re training to become Void divers.”
✧ Discourse on (dark) tourism, commodification, materialism, and consumerism.
✧ If you know me, or have followed me for a little while on Goodreads, you'd know I have quite the hyperfixation on things like sentient nature, carnivorous plants, funky fungi, and overall just 'something is wrong with the forest' vibes. This book felt like it was made for me! I LOVE botanical horror and, in turn, loved this book. If you've read C.G. Drews's work or books like What the Woods Took you'll probably end up loving this one as well.
✧ I love how an advanced civilization of the past basically haunts the plot.
✧ Explores the concept of uncanny valley and how humans/humanoids are spine-chilling in their own ways.
✧ Explores the complexities of being in a co-dependent dynamic. For example, the constant comparisons, the level of dependence and/or lack of independence, learned helplessness, and the 'us against the world' mentality that seems to rule these types of dynamics.
✧ Discourse on selfishness as a means of survival and empathy as a form of weakness in a world where it's 'every person for themselves'.
✧ This book is very plot-driven yet still contains an interesting and satisfying character arc.
✧ In the end,
✧ Very much a spoiler, but this quote made me laugh my ass off:
✧ I love the universe Tatiana Schlote-Bonne has crafted in this book, and I would definitely read anything else in the same setting. The worldbuilding was just top-tier. Be it a prequel or a different diver's story, I would pick it up immediately. I would be delighted to explore The Void for a little longer.
What I didn't like/felt lackluster about
✦ This might just be because I'm a lesbian, but I didn't feel any chemistry between ; besides aesthetic attraction, I didn't really get her crush on him. Regardless, I did enjoy both their characters on their own.
✦ I predicted a huge plot point, but honestly, the amazing worldbuilding made up for it. And even while knowing what was going to happen, I still really enjoyed seeing those predictions come to fruition on these pages. Which is a compliment to Tatiana Schlote-Bonne, she's truly amazing at building tension and taking us along in high-stakes, at times violent situations.
Conclusion/Notes
'What Feeds Below' is an amazing botanical and creature horror that I wholeheartedly devoured.
It explores interpersonal conflicts, societal issues, and economic inequality through grotesque creatures and even more grotesque situations our characters are forced to be in.
This book reads like an adventure story, if a dreadful, disgusting, and often gruesome one. The scenery keeps changing, and the stakes keep growing. It showcases the horrific yet beautiful unrestrained power of nature and explores how humanity fits or doesn't fit into it. It explores selfishness, empathy, and how poverty forces us on journeys we would never have taken otherwise.
'What Feeds Below,' however, is a journey I can enthusiastically recommend to all readers who love (botanical) horror. With a release date that fits the theme, I urge you to pick this one up during spooky October!
Follow me on Spotify for specific reading playlists like these: 📚 Horror/Thriller Reads | 📚 Something is wrong with the forest | 📚 Collapse Of Society
March 6, 2026
Third time is the charm with Tatiana as she delivers a rooted narrative steep in terrifying knee-jerking plant horrors. Face your deepest fears and join the land of the living dead as your body becomes entangled with mother nature’s children. A deep dive into a cave that will have you wishing you stayed inside and remained curious. A sharp and twisting narrative that is both rich in flowery diction to make you scratch your skin away. Cell by cell you will lose your mind in this terrifying tale where the what lies beneath needs to be consumed.
What do you think of when you look into the abyss? Well, here you do not need to answer that because Tatiana beautifully describes the terrors that await us within the eerie void. You will get entangled in this narrative page by page. I promise that you will fall in love with a writing style that delivers a poetic punch and grasps you with fragrant descriptions. The message here is deeper than getting lost in our existential dread…
And who does not love a story with a fantastic character development? We are thrown into the psyches before and after the void. If there even is an after. Absolutely blown away by the sheer psychoanalysis we read the actions of the protagonist. There is something special here for the horror audience. An eerie read to fall in love with beneath the surface this October. And my goddess does this cover do this narrative justice. Thank you Bindery books, Tatiana Schlote-Bonne, and Netgalley for this advanced digital copy.
Stay tuned to my blog for more updates on this fantastic upcoming young adult release!
For more tarot readings, recommendations, and reviews, check out my blog https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com
What do you think of when you look into the abyss? Well, here you do not need to answer that because Tatiana beautifully describes the terrors that await us within the eerie void. You will get entangled in this narrative page by page. I promise that you will fall in love with a writing style that delivers a poetic punch and grasps you with fragrant descriptions. The message here is deeper than getting lost in our existential dread…
And who does not love a story with a fantastic character development? We are thrown into the psyches before and after the void. If there even is an after. Absolutely blown away by the sheer psychoanalysis we read the actions of the protagonist. There is something special here for the horror audience. An eerie read to fall in love with beneath the surface this October. And my goddess does this cover do this narrative justice. Thank you Bindery books, Tatiana Schlote-Bonne, and Netgalley for this advanced digital copy.
Stay tuned to my blog for more updates on this fantastic upcoming young adult release!
For more tarot readings, recommendations, and reviews, check out my blog https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com
Want to Read
December 28, 2025dare i say it... my new all-time favourite cover?
Did Not Finish
April 24, 2026DNF @ 58%
Thank you Net Galley for granting me this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I regret to say that this book simply is not for me. I’m not entirely sure if the problem is me or the book, I just know that we aren’t compatible for reasons I’ll list below, and for that reason I have chosen not to finish.
What Feeds Below sounds like it was going to be right up my alley: a mysterious void, weird sci-fi/horror beasties, a story of friendship and survival. The blurb instantly captured my interest and I was really excited to try another Bindery book. Also worth recognising how stunning that cover is!!
Unfortunately, for me anyways, this book didn’t deliver on a single one of its promises. Sure, there is indeed a big-ass void full of strange besties, but that was where the similarity to the description stopped.
I was promised lyrical prose and a visceral, well described world. What I was given read more like your standard Ao3 fic (right down to the format of broad statement > “snarky” comment from MC (that was cringe not snarky)). The conversations between characters were clunky as hell and felt so awkwardly manufactured. There were also no real way to distinguish between character voices - like every single line of dialogue could have come from a single character or ten and I wouldn’t be able to tell.
The descriptions were there but the prose was not lyrical and I felt like we only got really shallow, surface level descriptions of most of the void area and its inhabitants. The characters were likewise incredibly shallow - tbh they were more a combo of tropes in a trench coat than they were characters. I get that this is a YA story and we’re dealing with our main POV MC who is a 16-17 year old, but this did not read that way. Our MC is supposed to be toughened by growing up rough (her mum tried to child traffic her for gods sake) and yet she was the most wildly unreliable and immature character. I don’t think it’s wrong for her to be either of those things as a 17yo, but I just wanted a bit more balance and consistency in how she was written.
Overall this felt incredibly unpolished and juvenile - not because it’s a YA story, because it feels like the book someone wrote in high school and then never did the full re-write they should have done prior to attempting publication. I was disappointed by the consistent lack of depth for absolutely everything. I also think I have a fair idea of what the “plot twist” will be when it comes (supposedly about 80% of the way in) but more importantly I just don’t care about it enough to stick around and find out.
There are so many positive reviews for this story so I definitely may be the problem here and I want to acknowledge that. Maybe I have lost the love for YA stories and so am more harsh when criticising them, maybe I’ve just been too deep in my Ao3 feels the last week or two and everything feels that same to me.
Thank you Net Galley for granting me this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I regret to say that this book simply is not for me. I’m not entirely sure if the problem is me or the book, I just know that we aren’t compatible for reasons I’ll list below, and for that reason I have chosen not to finish.
What Feeds Below sounds like it was going to be right up my alley: a mysterious void, weird sci-fi/horror beasties, a story of friendship and survival. The blurb instantly captured my interest and I was really excited to try another Bindery book. Also worth recognising how stunning that cover is!!
Unfortunately, for me anyways, this book didn’t deliver on a single one of its promises. Sure, there is indeed a big-ass void full of strange besties, but that was where the similarity to the description stopped.
I was promised lyrical prose and a visceral, well described world. What I was given read more like your standard Ao3 fic (right down to the format of broad statement > “snarky” comment from MC (that was cringe not snarky)). The conversations between characters were clunky as hell and felt so awkwardly manufactured. There were also no real way to distinguish between character voices - like every single line of dialogue could have come from a single character or ten and I wouldn’t be able to tell.
The descriptions were there but the prose was not lyrical and I felt like we only got really shallow, surface level descriptions of most of the void area and its inhabitants. The characters were likewise incredibly shallow - tbh they were more a combo of tropes in a trench coat than they were characters. I get that this is a YA story and we’re dealing with our main POV MC who is a 16-17 year old, but this did not read that way. Our MC is supposed to be toughened by growing up rough (her mum tried to child traffic her for gods sake) and yet she was the most wildly unreliable and immature character. I don’t think it’s wrong for her to be either of those things as a 17yo, but I just wanted a bit more balance and consistency in how she was written.
Overall this felt incredibly unpolished and juvenile - not because it’s a YA story, because it feels like the book someone wrote in high school and then never did the full re-write they should have done prior to attempting publication. I was disappointed by the consistent lack of depth for absolutely everything. I also think I have a fair idea of what the “plot twist” will be when it comes (supposedly about 80% of the way in) but more importantly I just don’t care about it enough to stick around and find out.
There are so many positive reviews for this story so I definitely may be the problem here and I want to acknowledge that. Maybe I have lost the love for YA stories and so am more harsh when criticising them, maybe I’ve just been too deep in my Ao3 feels the last week or two and everything feels that same to me.
April 5, 2026
What Feeds Below by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne. Expected publication date 06/10/26
Thank you so much to Tatiana, Bindery Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Without detailing any spoilers I What Feeds Below centres on a town built around a “hole” with a mile wide diameter named the void. This unearthly dimension includes 6 levels packed with beautiful and deadly scenery, and imaginative beasts and animals. The book follows the Journey of our main protagonist Petra, and her best friend/soul sister Jade as they navigate the levels of the void, become separated and fight what lies below in a tense and beautifully chaotic story.
I resonate with Petra’s character namely her willingness to follow others and lack of self esteem despite being one hell of a strong 17 year old. The character development was the icing on the cake, and although I was able to foresee some points of the plot I was guided towards each area beautifully, without it feeling too obvious.
The pacing was excellent, the story never felt stagnant or bulked out with unnecessary information. Prior to reading this book I saw another ARC recipient write that this story almost cured her aphantasia, as an individual who also sadly cannot picture images in my minds I have to agree that this may be the closet I’ve gotten. The flora and fauna, relics, forests, cave systems, forgotten dwellings of old and the monsters that dwell across the levels felt within my grasp.
I do not have any areas I believe this novel could be improved on. It made me feel completely separated from the outside world and was a form of pure escapism. I would read this novel again, and will be sure to buy a physical copy.
If you enjoy horror/sci-fi in with what feels like dystopian world building then you must read this one. Five stars, enough said ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you so much to Tatiana, Bindery Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Without detailing any spoilers I What Feeds Below centres on a town built around a “hole” with a mile wide diameter named the void. This unearthly dimension includes 6 levels packed with beautiful and deadly scenery, and imaginative beasts and animals. The book follows the Journey of our main protagonist Petra, and her best friend/soul sister Jade as they navigate the levels of the void, become separated and fight what lies below in a tense and beautifully chaotic story.
I resonate with Petra’s character namely her willingness to follow others and lack of self esteem despite being one hell of a strong 17 year old. The character development was the icing on the cake, and although I was able to foresee some points of the plot I was guided towards each area beautifully, without it feeling too obvious.
The pacing was excellent, the story never felt stagnant or bulked out with unnecessary information. Prior to reading this book I saw another ARC recipient write that this story almost cured her aphantasia, as an individual who also sadly cannot picture images in my minds I have to agree that this may be the closet I’ve gotten. The flora and fauna, relics, forests, cave systems, forgotten dwellings of old and the monsters that dwell across the levels felt within my grasp.
I do not have any areas I believe this novel could be improved on. It made me feel completely separated from the outside world and was a form of pure escapism. I would read this novel again, and will be sure to buy a physical copy.
If you enjoy horror/sci-fi in with what feels like dystopian world building then you must read this one. Five stars, enough said ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 25, 2026
Opening the book with a liability waiver to enter the Void? Sign me up!!! What Feeds Below is a subterranean cave horror, perfect for adventure spiral readers. It’s a thrill of a story that had me equal parts amazed + physically reacting to the more grotesque scenes within.
Petra and her best friend Jade get by earning nox escorting the rich as diving guides on Void adventures. The farther you go through the 6 levels, the more deadly it gets. Some go just for the experience, but many go in search of treasure and rare artifacts.
Petra’s a young self-taught botanist with a mission to gain enough nox to fund a clinic with Jade next to the orphanage they live in. To fill it with all kinds of medicine and have her own healing garden to help the poor in the edge City of the Void. This diving team has only gone as far as the second level, though Jade often tries convincing Petra to accept deeper gigs for a higher payout by enticing her with all of the Void-only plants she could imagine to gain extracts from for new medicines.
This book is a fast paced rollercoaster through a terrifyingly wonderous underworld full of carnivorous plants and mutated monsters. The girls accept a dive posting to the third level for the first time and while it starts off safe and routine, when it gets bad it DOESN’T STOP! Tatiana doesn’t let readers breathe as we’re forced along this downward spiral of betrayals, twists, and graphically horrific run-ins with unimaginable deadly creatures. Please… never let a Cadaver Giant or a Skinleech find me 👀
Highly recommend this one! Releasing on October 6th, 2026 you won’t want to miss this dive into the Void!
***Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.**
Petra and her best friend Jade get by earning nox escorting the rich as diving guides on Void adventures. The farther you go through the 6 levels, the more deadly it gets. Some go just for the experience, but many go in search of treasure and rare artifacts.
Petra’s a young self-taught botanist with a mission to gain enough nox to fund a clinic with Jade next to the orphanage they live in. To fill it with all kinds of medicine and have her own healing garden to help the poor in the edge City of the Void. This diving team has only gone as far as the second level, though Jade often tries convincing Petra to accept deeper gigs for a higher payout by enticing her with all of the Void-only plants she could imagine to gain extracts from for new medicines.
This book is a fast paced rollercoaster through a terrifyingly wonderous underworld full of carnivorous plants and mutated monsters. The girls accept a dive posting to the third level for the first time and while it starts off safe and routine, when it gets bad it DOESN’T STOP! Tatiana doesn’t let readers breathe as we’re forced along this downward spiral of betrayals, twists, and graphically horrific run-ins with unimaginable deadly creatures. Please… never let a Cadaver Giant or a Skinleech find me 👀
Highly recommend this one! Releasing on October 6th, 2026 you won’t want to miss this dive into the Void!
***Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.**
April 26, 2026
I never thought I’d be one to like either of these topics, but combine them together and I love dystopian horror. I mean.. just look at the illustration of What Feeds Below and how can you not want to read this?? I loved every second of this journey through the Void.
What Feeds Below perfectly executes a dystopian journey of two best friends venturing through a chasm called the Void. We follow the adventures of Pet and Jade, who traverse this horrific environment in order to raise the money to open their clinic and thus, hoping to end their dangerous, Void traveling career. This novel excels in character development in a limited time frame and depicts the Void organisms and topography in a graphic and precise manner. I felt that so much was accomplished in this dystopian standalone that was less than 300 pages. My only warning for future readers is that body horror is prevalent in this work; if that’s something that bothers you, this might not be the book for you!
Thank you so much to @bindery_books @bookcon @thebuffwriter for the ARC of What Feeds Below!! I truly enjoyed the journey into the Void!
What Feeds Below perfectly executes a dystopian journey of two best friends venturing through a chasm called the Void. We follow the adventures of Pet and Jade, who traverse this horrific environment in order to raise the money to open their clinic and thus, hoping to end their dangerous, Void traveling career. This novel excels in character development in a limited time frame and depicts the Void organisms and topography in a graphic and precise manner. I felt that so much was accomplished in this dystopian standalone that was less than 300 pages. My only warning for future readers is that body horror is prevalent in this work; if that’s something that bothers you, this might not be the book for you!
Thank you so much to @bindery_books @bookcon @thebuffwriter for the ARC of What Feeds Below!! I truly enjoyed the journey into the Void!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
✦⚬───────────────────────────✧───────────────────────────⚬✦
ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ/ꜰɪɴɪꜱʜᴇᴅ: 17 ᴍᴀʀ/17 ᴍᴀʀ
ᴅɪꜱᴄʟᴀɪᴍᴇʀ: ɪ ɢᴏᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ꜰᴏʀ ꜰʀᴇᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ/ᴘᴜʙʟɪꜱʜᴇʀ ᴠɪᴀ ɴᴇᴛɢᴀʟʟᴇʏ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴍʏ ᴏᴘɪɴɪᴏɴ ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ꜰᴜʟʟʏ ᴍʏ ᴏᴡɴ.
✦⚬───────────────────────────✧───────────────────────────⚬✦
Rating: 4/5
⊹₊ ˚‧┈┈┈┈✿ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴀʟ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ ✿┈┈┈┈‧ ˚ ₊⊹
The atmosphere of this book was so vividly done! It was gross and creepy in the best way.
The Void itself was definitely the strongest part of the book for me. The book is not just throwing some monsters are you and calling it a day, everything was thought out. It was so descriptive that I could picture it all.
The book starts out a bit slow, but I really liked that as it helped build the world for me and made the descent feel immersive to me. Once the action starts it barely stops. I read this whole book in one go because it's extremely readable and kept me entertained.
Where the book starts slow which I enjoyed, for me personally the ending went a bit too fast. I feel like it could've used some extra pages to make it feel less fast, but that could be just a me-thing. For me it just didn't feel entirely satisfying with the plot twist, it happened as quick as it was over.
I didn't love the main character, but she's only 17 (and this is a YA book, I'm not YA) and on the other hand I don't like perfect mc's either. I did love her dedication to the orphanage/greenhouse and her interest in botany.
Overall I had a great time reading this, it was a vivid horror that kept me hooked. It isn't scary, but it is creepy, gory and dangerous.
And the cover is sooo beautiful!
ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ/ꜰɪɴɪꜱʜᴇᴅ: 17 ᴍᴀʀ/17 ᴍᴀʀ
ᴅɪꜱᴄʟᴀɪᴍᴇʀ: ɪ ɢᴏᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ꜰᴏʀ ꜰʀᴇᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ/ᴘᴜʙʟɪꜱʜᴇʀ ᴠɪᴀ ɴᴇᴛɢᴀʟʟᴇʏ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴍʏ ᴏᴘɪɴɪᴏɴ ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ꜰᴜʟʟʏ ᴍʏ ᴏᴡɴ.
✦⚬───────────────────────────✧───────────────────────────⚬✦
Rating: 4/5
⊹₊ ˚‧┈┈┈┈✿ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴀʟ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ ✿┈┈┈┈‧ ˚ ₊⊹
The atmosphere of this book was so vividly done! It was gross and creepy in the best way.
The Void itself was definitely the strongest part of the book for me. The book is not just throwing some monsters are you and calling it a day, everything was thought out. It was so descriptive that I could picture it all.
The book starts out a bit slow, but I really liked that as it helped build the world for me and made the descent feel immersive to me. Once the action starts it barely stops. I read this whole book in one go because it's extremely readable and kept me entertained.
Where the book starts slow which I enjoyed, for me personally the ending went a bit too fast. I feel like it could've used some extra pages to make it feel less fast, but that could be just a me-thing. For me it just didn't feel entirely satisfying with the plot twist, it happened as quick as it was over.
I didn't love the main character, but she's only 17 (and this is a YA book, I'm not YA) and on the other hand I don't like perfect mc's either. I did love her dedication to the orphanage/greenhouse and her interest in botany.
Overall I had a great time reading this, it was a vivid horror that kept me hooked. It isn't scary, but it is creepy, gory and dangerous.
And the cover is sooo beautiful!
March 10, 2026
4.5 Stars
This was a wild blend of horror, sci-fi and fantasy. I had the BEST time reading this. I think it might be my new favorite from Tatiana.
I don't know how she nails the body gore while writing because there's only a handful of authors who have ever made my stomach turn. It was nasty as hell in here, but I LOVED it. Also, the world building and the creatures were incredible. It was uniquely written in her style and touch, but also so vibrantly different from her other novels.
IT WAS FUN. I had FUN!!! And the plot twist?? got me GOOD.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc!
This was a wild blend of horror, sci-fi and fantasy. I had the BEST time reading this. I think it might be my new favorite from Tatiana.
I don't know how she nails the body gore while writing because there's only a handful of authors who have ever made my stomach turn. It was nasty as hell in here, but I LOVED it. Also, the world building and the creatures were incredible. It was uniquely written in her style and touch, but also so vibrantly different from her other novels.
IT WAS FUN. I had FUN!!! And the plot twist?? got me GOOD.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc!
Want to Read
December 29, 2025This cover stopped me in my tracks
April 24, 2026
Before this review, I would like to thank Naomi from Boozhoo Books, and Tatianna for letting me be a part of the cover reveal last year! It was my first time being a part of a cover reveal, and it was so much fun! I immediately did the preorder as soon as the sale went live, and I highly encourage you to do so as well because there’s so many amazing preorder gifts that will be included!
I would also like to thank them both, and in conjunction with NetGalley for my ARC.
The first time I had seen the cover art, I knew I needed to read this story. There’s something eerie, creepy, and alluring! It’s almost hypnotizing, kind of like one of the creatures in the Void.
Characters:
As a foster child, I genuinely appreciated the FMC being presented as a strong young woman. Sure she has flaws, but ultimately she is a hero. And I believe more foster children (current and formerly) deserve to read and see characters like Petra portrayed like she is. Too often foster kids are patronized, feel meaningless, feel powerless. Everything Petra does is aligned to helping improve medical care and for the foster home’s improvement as well. Her dedication and perseverance is explicitly obvious.
“We’re way too deep in the Void to be adopting plants. These ones will eat you.”
These characters/creatures are also: disabled representation, orphan representation, codependent, narcissistic, diverse, and their flaws are a main focus that helps to propel the story. They’re multilayered, and more than just the Six Layers of the Void. They’re original and have strong relationships, whether it be supportive or antagonistic. Additionally they’re believable within the confines of the story’s realm.
Plot:
Action packed, addictive, clever plotting, epic scope, fast-paced story that is plot driven and character driven, gripping, exciting, predictable but still satisfying, suspenseful, and well-structured.
“Tiny fish swam between barnacle-covered rib cages. Eels undulated in the gaping eye sockets of long, alligator-like gutweaver skulls.”
Setting:
Atmospheric, dark, dystopian, eerie, ethereal (one specific moment at the end comes to mind), evocative imagery, expansive, immersive world-building (Although fiction, I could very clearly see the people, plants, and wildlife vividly in my mind as if they were real!), mysterious, otherworldly, and the setting extremely fits the story with the vivid descriptions!
Writing Style:
Beautifully written, descriptive, easy to read, funny (at times, but certainly NOT a comedic read!), and original.
Content Warnings:
Abuse, child loss, death, grief, murder, and violence.
I would also like to thank them both, and in conjunction with NetGalley for my ARC.
The first time I had seen the cover art, I knew I needed to read this story. There’s something eerie, creepy, and alluring! It’s almost hypnotizing, kind of like one of the creatures in the Void.
Characters:
As a foster child, I genuinely appreciated the FMC being presented as a strong young woman. Sure she has flaws, but ultimately she is a hero. And I believe more foster children (current and formerly) deserve to read and see characters like Petra portrayed like she is. Too often foster kids are patronized, feel meaningless, feel powerless. Everything Petra does is aligned to helping improve medical care and for the foster home’s improvement as well. Her dedication and perseverance is explicitly obvious.
“We’re way too deep in the Void to be adopting plants. These ones will eat you.”
These characters/creatures are also: disabled representation, orphan representation, codependent, narcissistic, diverse, and their flaws are a main focus that helps to propel the story. They’re multilayered, and more than just the Six Layers of the Void. They’re original and have strong relationships, whether it be supportive or antagonistic. Additionally they’re believable within the confines of the story’s realm.
Plot:
Action packed, addictive, clever plotting, epic scope, fast-paced story that is plot driven and character driven, gripping, exciting, predictable but still satisfying, suspenseful, and well-structured.
“Tiny fish swam between barnacle-covered rib cages. Eels undulated in the gaping eye sockets of long, alligator-like gutweaver skulls.”
Setting:
Atmospheric, dark, dystopian, eerie, ethereal (one specific moment at the end comes to mind), evocative imagery, expansive, immersive world-building (Although fiction, I could very clearly see the people, plants, and wildlife vividly in my mind as if they were real!), mysterious, otherworldly, and the setting extremely fits the story with the vivid descriptions!
Writing Style:
Beautifully written, descriptive, easy to read, funny (at times, but certainly NOT a comedic read!), and original.
Content Warnings:
Abuse, child loss, death, grief, murder, and violence.
March 30, 2026
ARC review via NetGalley
Ouf, gobbled up this book just as fast as some sort of Void creature would have gobbled me up if I tried venturing through these levels myself.
When this book first showed up on my Instagram feed and featured a description saying it was for fans of The Descent, I was immediately intrigued. The Descent is one of those movies I never stopped thinking about, despite watching it almost 20 years ago at this point, due to it scaring the living daylight out of me. I wondered if a book of a similar storyline could have the same effect.
Spoiler: I think it will.
“It's me and Jade against the world.”
What Feeds Below follows Petra and Jade, two best friends who are practically sisters, and their adventure into the Void. A cave-dive adventure far beyond any real life one. This one is filled with interesting, beautiful and totally-going-to-eat-you plants and everything my nightmares are made of: murderous, multi-limbed creatures and lots of darkness. Their initial adventure goes wrong (duh) and we follow them on their journey further and further into the depths of rocky hell.
“Finding her was easy, too easy. When do things ever work out this well in the Void?”
This book was partially predictable. I mean, there’s only so many ways rope diving into a monstrous cave can go. My jaw, however, dropped more than once. I felt tight when we crawled through enclosing spaces. I wanted to swim as fast as possible going through a level. I squealed at descriptions of creatures. I started doubting characters. I was pulled through the world building of this book so easily and so happily. I feel like I should have seen the plot twist coming once we’re nearing the end of the levels of the Void but I was living in denial.
I could have gobbled this book up in one sitting easily. I paced myself for two reasons: I was really enjoying this book and didn’t want it to end, and well… I also did not want to keep reading it in the dark.
I truly think this is going to be one of my top reads for 2026.
Ouf, gobbled up this book just as fast as some sort of Void creature would have gobbled me up if I tried venturing through these levels myself.
When this book first showed up on my Instagram feed and featured a description saying it was for fans of The Descent, I was immediately intrigued. The Descent is one of those movies I never stopped thinking about, despite watching it almost 20 years ago at this point, due to it scaring the living daylight out of me. I wondered if a book of a similar storyline could have the same effect.
Spoiler: I think it will.
“It's me and Jade against the world.”
What Feeds Below follows Petra and Jade, two best friends who are practically sisters, and their adventure into the Void. A cave-dive adventure far beyond any real life one. This one is filled with interesting, beautiful and totally-going-to-eat-you plants and everything my nightmares are made of: murderous, multi-limbed creatures and lots of darkness. Their initial adventure goes wrong (duh) and we follow them on their journey further and further into the depths of rocky hell.
“Finding her was easy, too easy. When do things ever work out this well in the Void?”
This book was partially predictable. I mean, there’s only so many ways rope diving into a monstrous cave can go. My jaw, however, dropped more than once. I felt tight when we crawled through enclosing spaces. I wanted to swim as fast as possible going through a level. I squealed at descriptions of creatures. I started doubting characters. I was pulled through the world building of this book so easily and so happily. I feel like I should have seen the plot twist coming once we’re nearing the end of the levels of the Void but I was living in denial.
I could have gobbled this book up in one sitting easily. I paced myself for two reasons: I was really enjoying this book and didn’t want it to end, and well… I also did not want to keep reading it in the dark.
I truly think this is going to be one of my top reads for 2026.
April 1, 2026
This book had me up until 2am unable to put it down with the grotesque descriptions of the horrific sights literally seeping their way into my dreams.
This is an incredible eco-horror in which Schlote-Bonne does and incredible job of world building in a way that is accessible to all readers. I find that when I’m reading horror I struggle to imagine what some of the more disturbing images look like if the aren’t based on reality. The author offers world building that is comparative to a fantasy novel. I think this allows for the descriptions to be more accessible because we start off with a whole new world base.
I love the character growth and relationship exploration of the characters within this novel. As well as the clever word play for names of the characters and creatures. The overall themes of trust, found families and investing your all into someone is so prevalent for the YA category and something that I don’t think is explored enough. I love that this book didn’t focus on romantic love as a subplot, but rather on futures and goals. Sometimes love tropes get old for me.
While the author does an incredible up at setting the reader up to mostly expect how the book will end, I still enjoy the very final twist ending. I hope to read more of Schlote-Bonne’s work in the near future. I also oddly hope we get to see this particular book become a part of a short duology series in which the theme of the next books being a direct reflection of the themes and ending of this book. I don’t want to say too much because this is a spoiler free review. But, needless to say, I was hooked!
Thank you to the publisher for an eARC
This is an incredible eco-horror in which Schlote-Bonne does and incredible job of world building in a way that is accessible to all readers. I find that when I’m reading horror I struggle to imagine what some of the more disturbing images look like if the aren’t based on reality. The author offers world building that is comparative to a fantasy novel. I think this allows for the descriptions to be more accessible because we start off with a whole new world base.
I love the character growth and relationship exploration of the characters within this novel. As well as the clever word play for names of the characters and creatures. The overall themes of trust, found families and investing your all into someone is so prevalent for the YA category and something that I don’t think is explored enough. I love that this book didn’t focus on romantic love as a subplot, but rather on futures and goals. Sometimes love tropes get old for me.
While the author does an incredible up at setting the reader up to mostly expect how the book will end, I still enjoy the very final twist ending. I hope to read more of Schlote-Bonne’s work in the near future. I also oddly hope we get to see this particular book become a part of a short duology series in which the theme of the next books being a direct reflection of the themes and ending of this book. I don’t want to say too much because this is a spoiler free review. But, needless to say, I was hooked!
Thank you to the publisher for an eARC
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