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The Burn Line
Win a free print copy of this book!
22 days and 04:56:30
20 copies available
U.S. only
There's something lurking in the stifling darkness and labyrinthine tunnels that run below London... something old, something vicious, and something very, very hungry.
It's the hottest summer on record and London is dying. Prices are high, pay is low, and stressed commuters are packed onto London Underground trains again like the pandemic never happened. To add to the misery, the temperatures underground just keep climbing and climbing, the heat trapped in the clay with nowhere to go.
Then one fateful morning five travellers on an unlucky tube carriage find themselves bound together as witnesses to a single horrific event - an event they can't quite seem to remember.
They make an unlikely team - a weary tube driver, a disillusioned civil servant, an ambitious city trader, an overwhelmed hotel worker, and an unhoused young man just trying to get by - but now they must come together to confront what they have seen and stop it in its tracks before it kills them all.
From the dark and twisted mind behind Thirteen Storeys, Family Business, and podcast sensation The Magnus Archives, The Burn Line is a sinister and socially conscious horror masterclass perfect for fans of Stephen King, Jordan Peele, and Black Mirror.
It's the hottest summer on record and London is dying. Prices are high, pay is low, and stressed commuters are packed onto London Underground trains again like the pandemic never happened. To add to the misery, the temperatures underground just keep climbing and climbing, the heat trapped in the clay with nowhere to go.
Then one fateful morning five travellers on an unlucky tube carriage find themselves bound together as witnesses to a single horrific event - an event they can't quite seem to remember.
They make an unlikely team - a weary tube driver, a disillusioned civil servant, an ambitious city trader, an overwhelmed hotel worker, and an unhoused young man just trying to get by - but now they must come together to confront what they have seen and stop it in its tracks before it kills them all.
From the dark and twisted mind behind Thirteen Storeys, Family Business, and podcast sensation The Magnus Archives, The Burn Line is a sinister and socially conscious horror masterclass perfect for fans of Stephen King, Jordan Peele, and Black Mirror.
368 pages, Paperback
Expected publication August 25, 2026
About the author
Jonathan Sims
14 books1,371 followersJonathan Sims is a writer, performer and games designer whose work primarily focuses on the macabre, the grotesque, and the gentle touch of creeping dread. He is the mind and the voice behind acclaimed horror podcast The Magnus Archives, as well as story-game design duo MacGuffin & Co., and some of your favourite nightmares. He lives in Walthamstow with the two best cats and an overwhelming backlog of books that he really should get round to.
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
i'm really struggling to rate & review this one... it's not bad at all, it just didn't blow me away either. i liked it enough to pick up something else from this author in the future though.
as a southern girl who often feels like her skin is melting off when she steps outside during the summer, i loved the setting of a stifling, claustrophobic underground London. the psychological horror elements are done really well & i think the author did a good job of adding his own fresh twist to the creatures here that most of us are familiar with. they're genuinely a little creepy. anytime i'm given a diverse cast that's always a plus too! (Tash was my favorite.)
where i get conflicted on the rating is the pacing & writing. parts one & five were the strongest sections of the book for me. the beginning has great tension, & the way the creatures are described immediately made me picture something similar to , which i LOVED. but the further i got into part two, the pacing started to drag for me & i had that issue until about halfway through part four. the writing was good overall, but it fell a little flat in certain areas.
the covid references were just really random to me, not because it makes the book feel dated or anything like that, i think with the news of the hantavirus it definitely feels more relevant BUT i just don't think it added anything to the plot? it never really tied into anything significant. it felt more like the author was mentioning covid just to mention it. i honestly kept forgetting the story was supposed to be set during covid & then a few chapters later there'd be another reference & i'd just be like "oh right..."
i’m not too into podcasts, but this definitely piqued my interest to check out The Magnus Archives, & i’ll definitely be checking out more books from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
as a southern girl who often feels like her skin is melting off when she steps outside during the summer, i loved the setting of a stifling, claustrophobic underground London. the psychological horror elements are done really well & i think the author did a good job of adding his own fresh twist to the creatures here that most of us are familiar with. they're genuinely a little creepy. anytime i'm given a diverse cast that's always a plus too! (Tash was my favorite.)
where i get conflicted on the rating is the pacing & writing. parts one & five were the strongest sections of the book for me. the beginning has great tension, & the way the creatures are described immediately made me picture something similar to , which i LOVED. but the further i got into part two, the pacing started to drag for me & i had that issue until about halfway through part four. the writing was good overall, but it fell a little flat in certain areas.
the covid references were just really random to me, not because it makes the book feel dated or anything like that, i think with the news of the hantavirus it definitely feels more relevant BUT i just don't think it added anything to the plot? it never really tied into anything significant. it felt more like the author was mentioning covid just to mention it. i honestly kept forgetting the story was supposed to be set during covid & then a few chapters later there'd be another reference & i'd just be like "oh right..."
i’m not too into podcasts, but this definitely piqued my interest to check out The Magnus Archives, & i’ll definitely be checking out more books from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Jonathan Sims, Poisoned Pen Press & NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review
Rating: 3.75/5 ⭐
CW: Explicit |
Moderate |
Mild |
My chosen soundtrack(s): The line - Jed Kurzel | Gyroscope - Boards of Canada (the beat reminds me of the sound of train tracks)
⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆
The Burn Line follows a group of diverse characters who are all, in some way or another, down on their luck, living an unfulfilling existence or are in some way or another struggling under London's (metaphorical) thumb.
A dangerously hot heatwave is reigning over the city, reaching temperatures that would make it "illegal to transport cattle on the Central line because it was too hot." Unfortunately, there are no such regulations in place to protect humans, which is why we join our cast of characters in the London Underground.
Five strangers find themselves in a tube car, all for different reasons, yet with something pivotal in common. The travellers feel as if they just woke up from some type of dream. Dazed and unsure of how they found themselves where they are.
Traces of a mysterious, ashy, oily substance can be found on and around them, and a permeating, unpleasant sweet smell dominates the air alongside the heat.
It's confusing and unsettles them all. Whether they acknowledge or deny it, blame it on exhaustion or the heat, something horrible and life-changing has bound their fates together.
The group tries to leave what happened behind them, but the London Underground doesn't easily let go of what was once in its clutches...
⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆
Representation
╰┈➤ BIPOC MC, Senyo, described as black, and it's mentioned that his parents came from Ghana
╰┈➤ South-Asian MC, Elise, described herself as white-passing but is implied to be South-Asian
╰┈➤ Chronically ill/ mostly invisibly disabled MC, Elise, has Diabetes and relies on insulin
╰┈➤ Transfem MC, Tash
╰┈➤ Unspecified, either bi/pan or lesbian MCs
╰┈➤ WLW dynamic
╰┈➤ Genderqueer SC (they/them)
╰┈➤ Mental health rep, through multiple (main) characters,
Themes
Non-spoilery | Altruism, dehumanisation, dissociation, empathy or the lack thereof, heat wave, London as a microcosm, memories, ordinary/everyday run-of-the-mill people, post-pandemic aftershocks, selfishness, social/political issues, solidarity, survivor's guilt.
Somewhat-spoilery |
Tropes/What To Expect
❥ Multi POVs
❥ Something followed them home...
❥ Mysterious and tense
❥ Diverse, flawed, complex characters
❥ Social/political commentary
❥ Found family
⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆
What I liked/loved
✧ The set-up of the first chapter was an amazing introduction to the atmosphere of the story and offers vivid descriptions of the characters.
Before even a single sentence of dialogue is uttered, we already get some idea about who these completely different people are.
✧ The diversity. The characters we share a headspace with all come from different backgrounds, races, identities, and walks of life. Who they are as people, what their jobs are, their familial and non-familial relations, their ambitions, etc., all impact the way they experience and view the world. Which brings me to my next point.
✧ The multi-POVs worked really well. I loved that we got to experience characters we already knew through another character's perspective, putting them in a new context, getting to know them again through a different framing. We also got some overlap of POVs of the same events, which was fascinating to read.
I liked every character's POV I've read, but I loved spending time in Aaron's and Seyo's headspace the most.
✧ Amazing social and political commentary, which I can't really discuss truly in depth without spoilers, but just trust me when I say there is some interesting discourse.
Now, for those who have already read it: The Burn Line is very much a commentary on It's something very reflective of our current lived reality, which made it really easy to immerse and sympathise with the characters.
I specifically enjoyed the discourse on
I do think some exploration of those topics was a little on the nose, but I had a fun time regardless.
✧ Characters as commentary devices. It's narrative, it's character work, it's personal. This read is extremely character-driven.
Our group is complex, flawed, and nuanced. Some I instantly loved, others surprised me by changing my opinion on them in ways I hadn't expected. Some made me roll my eyes or beg them to get that stick out of their arse. Their complexity makes them the perfect devices for exploring these social and political discourses on a personal level.
✵ Through Aaron, we explore altruism, empathy and kindness in situations that often force a person to grow hard and cold. Where selfishness is survival, yet not always the given choice.
✵ I love that we explore through Senyo how we sometimes have no choice but to be a part of a system we morally and fundamentally do not agree with. How being 'a part' of something is impactful in both negative and positive ways. That 'few against the many' goes both ways.
✵ Will was such a fascinating character to me. Someone complex, bursting with ambition and a certain desperation for success. Trying to win a game regardless of starting with an undeniable disadvantage. How something at some point has got to give.
✵ Through Elise, we explore what it's like to constantly have to make yourself palatable and presentable even when doing so is extremely exhausting.
✵ Tash takes us along the undesirable living situations she has to navigate and the unfortunate reality of having extra safety measures to think about when queer and/or trans.
Each character is in some way its own exploration of a corner of the social/political microcosm that makes up London, which mirrors worldwide circumstances.
✧ The first half of the book builds great suspense and has that "something is wrong, but I don't know what" feeling that keeps you engaged and turning another page.
✧ Though the disability/chronic illness aspect doesn't have a huge presence, I'm glad it was more than a footnote. It impacted Elise as a character, how she navigates the world and of course, her literal health and safety. I'm always thankful for non-lazy representation.
✧ There are lots of original takes on established horror tropes/themes/aspects. I love being surprised like that!
✧ Sims truly has a large vocabulary to invoke disgust with. Which is honestly really impressive. I don't think I've ever seen the word 'ooze' this much in one singular book.
What I didn't like/felt lacklustre about
✦ Though marketed as a horror, it wasn't really a horror to me. Yes, it was mysterious, dark, sometimes eerie, and it definitely contains some body horror, but I still wouldn't categorise it as such. Especially because a large part of the book was character-driven, mystery and at some point quite action-fueled. It feels like a genre-bend of multiple categories. So keep that in mind when deciding if this is the read for you.
✦ I did NOT care about the romance sub-plot. You can't just declare that there is a romantic relationship without anything to base it on. No scenes, no chemistry, nothing. We surely are told about it, but there is zero evidence that made me believe their "love".
Not every book needs romance! If it doesn't add anything, just leave it out! This plot point truly was the embodiment of the phrase "yes, girl, give us nothing".
I've noticed this with a lot of queer rep in books. When there is queer rep, there is often a romance dynamic to, I don't know, prove this queerness? It has a certain amatonormativity to it that I simply don't care for. I'd rather have single, well-developed queer characters than an empty romance plot just for the sake of it.
✦ There were some pacing issues.
The first third of this book is all about mystery and suspense. This segment I loved.
This is followed by a segment where some things are revealed, but not a lot happens. It felt a bit like waiting, which felt slow to me.
The last third is almost survivalist, which I do enjoy, but it did become a little campy. There was somewhat of a different tone to the start of the book. Where it was once quite serious, introspective and deep, the third part became a bit more comedic and wacky. I didn't mind it, I had fun! But I did have to switch gears for a moment.
✦ I have one question I don't have an answer to, and I'm not sure whether I missed it or if we are supposed to be left wondering. Either way, it is bothering me! If anyone knows who this is referring to, let me know:
I might just be a bit stupid, my brain may just be as cooked as the London Underground.
Conclusion/Notes
I picked up The Burn Line just in time to fill that Summerween craving I've been having, and it definitely was a good snack for my growling stomach!
The plot is original, fun and unique in its creature and worldbuilding, albeit a bit campy after a certain point. The suspense kept me on my toes, and I was genuinely invested in the survival of our main characters. Which I think showcases where this book shines: its characters.
I loved meeting Elsie, Senyo, Tash, Will and Aaron, and to me personally, they were the showstealers of it all. They were layered, complex, messy, and sometimes made choices I did not agree with, but not once was I not invested in them.
Overall, The Burn Line is a fun read. It wasn't life-changing, but it definitely made me feel less like shit about my own suffering of these ridiculously high temperatures, because the characters in this book definitely had a worse heatwave experience than I did. For that I am thankful!
The Burn Line is set to release on Aug 25 2026.
⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆
⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆
Want to buddy read this book now or in the future? You can do so on Storygraph, where I post more spoilery updates.
Follow me on Spotify for specific reading playlists like this one: 📚 This Connection Is Muddled With Rot | 📚 Horror/Thriller Reads
StoryGraph | Instagram | TikTok | Spotify | Overview of all reading playlists | last.fm
Rating: 3.75/5 ⭐
CW: Explicit |
Moderate |
Mild |
My chosen soundtrack(s): The line - Jed Kurzel | Gyroscope - Boards of Canada (the beat reminds me of the sound of train tracks)
⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆
The Burn Line follows a group of diverse characters who are all, in some way or another, down on their luck, living an unfulfilling existence or are in some way or another struggling under London's (metaphorical) thumb.
A dangerously hot heatwave is reigning over the city, reaching temperatures that would make it "illegal to transport cattle on the Central line because it was too hot." Unfortunately, there are no such regulations in place to protect humans, which is why we join our cast of characters in the London Underground.
Five strangers find themselves in a tube car, all for different reasons, yet with something pivotal in common. The travellers feel as if they just woke up from some type of dream. Dazed and unsure of how they found themselves where they are.
Traces of a mysterious, ashy, oily substance can be found on and around them, and a permeating, unpleasant sweet smell dominates the air alongside the heat.
It's confusing and unsettles them all. Whether they acknowledge or deny it, blame it on exhaustion or the heat, something horrible and life-changing has bound their fates together.
The group tries to leave what happened behind them, but the London Underground doesn't easily let go of what was once in its clutches...
⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆
Representation
╰┈➤ BIPOC MC, Senyo, described as black, and it's mentioned that his parents came from Ghana
╰┈➤ South-Asian MC, Elise, described herself as white-passing but is implied to be South-Asian
╰┈➤ Chronically ill/ mostly invisibly disabled MC, Elise, has Diabetes and relies on insulin
╰┈➤ Transfem MC, Tash
╰┈➤ Unspecified, either bi/pan or lesbian MCs
╰┈➤ WLW dynamic
╰┈➤ Genderqueer SC (they/them)
╰┈➤ Mental health rep, through multiple (main) characters,
Themes
Non-spoilery | Altruism, dehumanisation, dissociation, empathy or the lack thereof, heat wave, London as a microcosm, memories, ordinary/everyday run-of-the-mill people, post-pandemic aftershocks, selfishness, social/political issues, solidarity, survivor's guilt.
Somewhat-spoilery |
Tropes/What To Expect
❥ Multi POVs
❥ Something followed them home...
❥ Mysterious and tense
❥ Diverse, flawed, complex characters
❥ Social/political commentary
❥ Found family
⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆
What I liked/loved
✧ The set-up of the first chapter was an amazing introduction to the atmosphere of the story and offers vivid descriptions of the characters.
Before even a single sentence of dialogue is uttered, we already get some idea about who these completely different people are.
✧ The diversity. The characters we share a headspace with all come from different backgrounds, races, identities, and walks of life. Who they are as people, what their jobs are, their familial and non-familial relations, their ambitions, etc., all impact the way they experience and view the world. Which brings me to my next point.
✧ The multi-POVs worked really well. I loved that we got to experience characters we already knew through another character's perspective, putting them in a new context, getting to know them again through a different framing. We also got some overlap of POVs of the same events, which was fascinating to read.
I liked every character's POV I've read, but I loved spending time in Aaron's and Seyo's headspace the most.
✧ Amazing social and political commentary, which I can't really discuss truly in depth without spoilers, but just trust me when I say there is some interesting discourse.
Now, for those who have already read it: The Burn Line is very much a commentary on It's something very reflective of our current lived reality, which made it really easy to immerse and sympathise with the characters.
I specifically enjoyed the discourse on
I do think some exploration of those topics was a little on the nose, but I had a fun time regardless.
✧ Characters as commentary devices. It's narrative, it's character work, it's personal. This read is extremely character-driven.
Our group is complex, flawed, and nuanced. Some I instantly loved, others surprised me by changing my opinion on them in ways I hadn't expected. Some made me roll my eyes or beg them to get that stick out of their arse. Their complexity makes them the perfect devices for exploring these social and political discourses on a personal level.
✵ Through Aaron, we explore altruism, empathy and kindness in situations that often force a person to grow hard and cold. Where selfishness is survival, yet not always the given choice.
✵ I love that we explore through Senyo how we sometimes have no choice but to be a part of a system we morally and fundamentally do not agree with. How being 'a part' of something is impactful in both negative and positive ways. That 'few against the many' goes both ways.
✵ Will was such a fascinating character to me. Someone complex, bursting with ambition and a certain desperation for success. Trying to win a game regardless of starting with an undeniable disadvantage. How something at some point has got to give.
✵ Through Elise, we explore what it's like to constantly have to make yourself palatable and presentable even when doing so is extremely exhausting.
✵ Tash takes us along the undesirable living situations she has to navigate and the unfortunate reality of having extra safety measures to think about when queer and/or trans.
Each character is in some way its own exploration of a corner of the social/political microcosm that makes up London, which mirrors worldwide circumstances.
✧ The first half of the book builds great suspense and has that "something is wrong, but I don't know what" feeling that keeps you engaged and turning another page.
✧ Though the disability/chronic illness aspect doesn't have a huge presence, I'm glad it was more than a footnote. It impacted Elise as a character, how she navigates the world and of course, her literal health and safety. I'm always thankful for non-lazy representation.
✧ There are lots of original takes on established horror tropes/themes/aspects. I love being surprised like that!
✧ Sims truly has a large vocabulary to invoke disgust with. Which is honestly really impressive. I don't think I've ever seen the word 'ooze' this much in one singular book.
What I didn't like/felt lacklustre about
✦ Though marketed as a horror, it wasn't really a horror to me. Yes, it was mysterious, dark, sometimes eerie, and it definitely contains some body horror, but I still wouldn't categorise it as such. Especially because a large part of the book was character-driven, mystery and at some point quite action-fueled. It feels like a genre-bend of multiple categories. So keep that in mind when deciding if this is the read for you.
✦ I did NOT care about the romance sub-plot. You can't just declare that there is a romantic relationship without anything to base it on. No scenes, no chemistry, nothing. We surely are told about it, but there is zero evidence that made me believe their "love".
Not every book needs romance! If it doesn't add anything, just leave it out! This plot point truly was the embodiment of the phrase "yes, girl, give us nothing".
I've noticed this with a lot of queer rep in books. When there is queer rep, there is often a romance dynamic to, I don't know, prove this queerness? It has a certain amatonormativity to it that I simply don't care for. I'd rather have single, well-developed queer characters than an empty romance plot just for the sake of it.
✦ There were some pacing issues.
The first third of this book is all about mystery and suspense. This segment I loved.
This is followed by a segment where some things are revealed, but not a lot happens. It felt a bit like waiting, which felt slow to me.
The last third is almost survivalist, which I do enjoy, but it did become a little campy. There was somewhat of a different tone to the start of the book. Where it was once quite serious, introspective and deep, the third part became a bit more comedic and wacky. I didn't mind it, I had fun! But I did have to switch gears for a moment.
✦ I have one question I don't have an answer to, and I'm not sure whether I missed it or if we are supposed to be left wondering. Either way, it is bothering me! If anyone knows who this is referring to, let me know:
I might just be a bit stupid, my brain may just be as cooked as the London Underground.
Conclusion/Notes
I picked up The Burn Line just in time to fill that Summerween craving I've been having, and it definitely was a good snack for my growling stomach!
The plot is original, fun and unique in its creature and worldbuilding, albeit a bit campy after a certain point. The suspense kept me on my toes, and I was genuinely invested in the survival of our main characters. Which I think showcases where this book shines: its characters.
I loved meeting Elsie, Senyo, Tash, Will and Aaron, and to me personally, they were the showstealers of it all. They were layered, complex, messy, and sometimes made choices I did not agree with, but not once was I not invested in them.
Overall, The Burn Line is a fun read. It wasn't life-changing, but it definitely made me feel less like shit about my own suffering of these ridiculously high temperatures, because the characters in this book definitely had a worse heatwave experience than I did. For that I am thankful!
The Burn Line is set to release on Aug 25 2026.
⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆
“We have more power together.” “But they do it anyway(...) “That’s the thing. We don’t get to have power. If we try, all that changes is how hard they kick us when they take it away.”
⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆
Want to buddy read this book now or in the future? You can do so on Storygraph, where I post more spoilery updates.
Follow me on Spotify for specific reading playlists like this one: 📚 This Connection Is Muddled With Rot | 📚 Horror/Thriller Reads
StoryGraph | Instagram | TikTok | Spotify | Overview of all reading playlists | last.fm
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Review in the June 2026 issue of Library Journal
Three Words That Describe This Book: Multiple Points of view, Social Commentary, Horror-Mystery
Draft Review: Fans of the Magnus Archives podcast rejoice, its creator has written his first book, an entertaining and immersive eldritch horror-mystery set during a sweltering heat wave, featuring a monster in the London Underground. In consecutive chapters to open the novel, readers meet five strangers on a train car. One by one they tell their story of that fateful day as each experiences an unsettling moment of dissociation, notices a distinctly awful smell unlike any bad odor they have encountered on the Underground before, and comes away with a gray, flaky film clinging to them. The dread and unease from that fleeting moment follows each, first as a nagging bad feeling, then manifesting into a pale humanoid creature, stalking them. A story where every detail matters, bonkers in all the right ways, producing claustrophobic chills, and providing a biting social commentary, readers will dive into the tunnels and root for this motley group of former strangers turned found family as they work together to stop a terrifying monster and save the people of London (and themselves) from a terrible fate.
Verdict: With a huge built-in audience, libraries need to have this one available, but it is also an excellent suggestion for fans of Chuck Tingle, Alma Katsu’s Fiend, and Jeffrey Cranor and Joseph Fink’s Welcome to Night Vale.
Other words: Eldritch, found family. bonkers (but just the right amount, still serious horror), dark humor, stifling, claustrophobic immersive, popular podcast now writing a book, entertaining, terrifying, multiple points of view
First, it must be said that the author is the creator of the very popular original, horror-mystery podcast The Magnus Archives. It has a Welcome to Nightvale feel, but instead of a town it is focused on an archive and the supernatural mysteries that come from that.
So right away, you have an audience for this book at your library-- the millions of people who have enjoyed the podcast. Also fans of Welcome to Nightvale and its spin off books.
The story is original, entertaining, with an eldritch feel, and so stiflingly claustrophobic. We start on a London Underground car. It is the middle of the worst heat wave in London ever. This is important to the story because everyone is sweatier and more out of it than normal.
There are 6 people on the car. Part 1 of the novel is 5 of those people telling the story of their day on that train car. Elise (works for the transit ministry as a coder), Senyo (an Underground driver and union leader), Tash (an overnight hotel clerk), Will (a finance guy), and Aaron (young homeless man).
One by one they tell their story of that day. This is a great way to start the book because readers get to meet each character from inside their head. It sets up the fact that all 5 had a moment of dissociation on the train and that they knew something strange happened. They also note a strange bad smell-- very different from regular Underground smells and a weird flaky film that gets on them. The dread and unease from that experience followed them throughout their days and even moved into something stalking them (maybe) at home in their nights.
(Side note, I had two books with smell playing a big part in the story for this column-- Fabulous Bodies is the other)
And it increases the mystery around the 6th person. Which comes into play.
But the bouncing around of character helps to keep the story moving and allow the reader to understand the motivations of each character before they understand each other.
Here is the thing that Sims does well-- all the details matter. The five characters notice and work on things in their jobs, things that all get used in the story-- but not in a way that feels forced. I liked that. So for example, the heat wave and how and why the Underground is so hot and how people have been trying to fix that for years that comes into play. That is one example.
I always appreciate when the details that build characters and place also playing a role in the plot.
Like all good horror, the story is resolved but the chance of the monster coming back to find them is very possible. Sequel?
The social commentary about how hard it is to live in London with rising costs, racism, and how poorly the homeless are treated, and how the rich are getting richer, etc...it is all woven in to the story.
The monster deep in the tunnels is well built. It is more than they even realize at first and how they seek it all out and fight it is believable. Everyone uses the skills and professions they have to help solve the mystery. They really need to work together as a unit to save themselves from being the next victim. For example, Senyo has access to the Underground CCV for each car at anytime. Will has access to a very rich man who may know something about all of this. etc...
And in the process-- the found family they create is heartwarming. Even after the terror.
This is a solid, entertaining horror story with some social commentary. The mixture of dark humor with serious social issues and terror was done well, but it is a little over the top at times. That makes is a fun read and I cannot fault the author for that.
Paris nicely with Alma Katus's Fiend (ancient evil tied to the rich and social commentary) and Fabulous Bodies by Chuck Tingle (bonkers, smell plays a part, social commentary, mystery aspects) And of course fans of Welcome to Nightvale.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Multiple Points of view, Social Commentary, Horror-Mystery
Draft Review: Fans of the Magnus Archives podcast rejoice, its creator has written his first book, an entertaining and immersive eldritch horror-mystery set during a sweltering heat wave, featuring a monster in the London Underground. In consecutive chapters to open the novel, readers meet five strangers on a train car. One by one they tell their story of that fateful day as each experiences an unsettling moment of dissociation, notices a distinctly awful smell unlike any bad odor they have encountered on the Underground before, and comes away with a gray, flaky film clinging to them. The dread and unease from that fleeting moment follows each, first as a nagging bad feeling, then manifesting into a pale humanoid creature, stalking them. A story where every detail matters, bonkers in all the right ways, producing claustrophobic chills, and providing a biting social commentary, readers will dive into the tunnels and root for this motley group of former strangers turned found family as they work together to stop a terrifying monster and save the people of London (and themselves) from a terrible fate.
Verdict: With a huge built-in audience, libraries need to have this one available, but it is also an excellent suggestion for fans of Chuck Tingle, Alma Katsu’s Fiend, and Jeffrey Cranor and Joseph Fink’s Welcome to Night Vale.
Other words: Eldritch, found family. bonkers (but just the right amount, still serious horror), dark humor, stifling, claustrophobic immersive, popular podcast now writing a book, entertaining, terrifying, multiple points of view
First, it must be said that the author is the creator of the very popular original, horror-mystery podcast The Magnus Archives. It has a Welcome to Nightvale feel, but instead of a town it is focused on an archive and the supernatural mysteries that come from that.
So right away, you have an audience for this book at your library-- the millions of people who have enjoyed the podcast. Also fans of Welcome to Nightvale and its spin off books.
The story is original, entertaining, with an eldritch feel, and so stiflingly claustrophobic. We start on a London Underground car. It is the middle of the worst heat wave in London ever. This is important to the story because everyone is sweatier and more out of it than normal.
There are 6 people on the car. Part 1 of the novel is 5 of those people telling the story of their day on that train car. Elise (works for the transit ministry as a coder), Senyo (an Underground driver and union leader), Tash (an overnight hotel clerk), Will (a finance guy), and Aaron (young homeless man).
One by one they tell their story of that day. This is a great way to start the book because readers get to meet each character from inside their head. It sets up the fact that all 5 had a moment of dissociation on the train and that they knew something strange happened. They also note a strange bad smell-- very different from regular Underground smells and a weird flaky film that gets on them. The dread and unease from that experience followed them throughout their days and even moved into something stalking them (maybe) at home in their nights.
(Side note, I had two books with smell playing a big part in the story for this column-- Fabulous Bodies is the other)
And it increases the mystery around the 6th person. Which comes into play.
But the bouncing around of character helps to keep the story moving and allow the reader to understand the motivations of each character before they understand each other.
Here is the thing that Sims does well-- all the details matter. The five characters notice and work on things in their jobs, things that all get used in the story-- but not in a way that feels forced. I liked that. So for example, the heat wave and how and why the Underground is so hot and how people have been trying to fix that for years that comes into play. That is one example.
I always appreciate when the details that build characters and place also playing a role in the plot.
Like all good horror, the story is resolved but the chance of the monster coming back to find them is very possible. Sequel?
The social commentary about how hard it is to live in London with rising costs, racism, and how poorly the homeless are treated, and how the rich are getting richer, etc...it is all woven in to the story.
The monster deep in the tunnels is well built. It is more than they even realize at first and how they seek it all out and fight it is believable. Everyone uses the skills and professions they have to help solve the mystery. They really need to work together as a unit to save themselves from being the next victim. For example, Senyo has access to the Underground CCV for each car at anytime. Will has access to a very rich man who may know something about all of this. etc...
And in the process-- the found family they create is heartwarming. Even after the terror.
This is a solid, entertaining horror story with some social commentary. The mixture of dark humor with serious social issues and terror was done well, but it is a little over the top at times. That makes is a fun read and I cannot fault the author for that.
Paris nicely with Alma Katus's Fiend (ancient evil tied to the rich and social commentary) and Fabulous Bodies by Chuck Tingle (bonkers, smell plays a part, social commentary, mystery aspects) And of course fans of Welcome to Nightvale.
July 27, 2026
A group of strangers experience something mysterious on the London underground which they can’t explain. Suddenly events begin to happen that causes them to seek each other out.
Something is lurking in the depths of London and people are disappearing. The group begins to realize that they must take matters into their own hands.
Nicely developed characters that I’d love to meet again.
Something is lurking in the depths of London and people are disappearing. The group begins to realize that they must take matters into their own hands.
Nicely developed characters that I’d love to meet again.
April 8, 2026
A story that’s equal parts creepy & intense. You’ll be rooting for the main characters and the bonds of friendship & family they form in this wholly original horror standalone!
July 14, 2026
I have very mixed feelings about this book.
The premise immediately caught my attention. Five strangers experience something horrifying on a London Underground train, only to discover that they can't remember exactly what happened during those missing moments. When they realize whatever they encountered isn't done with them yet, they reluctantly join forces to uncover the truth before it finds them again.
I really liked the writing. Jonathan Sims does an excellent job creating atmosphere and I especially appreciated how vividly he captured the suffocating heat of the London Underground. Between the overcrowded trains, the relentless temperatures and the claustrophobic tunnels, I could almost feel myself sweating alongside the characters.
I also enjoyed the multiple POVs. Spending time with each of the five main characters gave the story a lot more depth and I found it easier to understand their motivations and connect with their individual struggles.
My biggest issue was the pacing.
For me, the first half felt like a very slow burn, so slow that I occasionally found myself waiting for something significant to happen. Once the story picked up, I was much more invested, but I do think it took a little too long to get there.
Overall, I enjoyed the atmosphere, the character work and the creeping sense of dread. I just wish the story had reached that intensity a little sooner.
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Thank you to NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.
https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...
The premise immediately caught my attention. Five strangers experience something horrifying on a London Underground train, only to discover that they can't remember exactly what happened during those missing moments. When they realize whatever they encountered isn't done with them yet, they reluctantly join forces to uncover the truth before it finds them again.
I really liked the writing. Jonathan Sims does an excellent job creating atmosphere and I especially appreciated how vividly he captured the suffocating heat of the London Underground. Between the overcrowded trains, the relentless temperatures and the claustrophobic tunnels, I could almost feel myself sweating alongside the characters.
I also enjoyed the multiple POVs. Spending time with each of the five main characters gave the story a lot more depth and I found it easier to understand their motivations and connect with their individual struggles.
My biggest issue was the pacing.
For me, the first half felt like a very slow burn, so slow that I occasionally found myself waiting for something significant to happen. Once the story picked up, I was much more invested, but I do think it took a little too long to get there.
Overall, I enjoyed the atmosphere, the character work and the creeping sense of dread. I just wish the story had reached that intensity a little sooner.
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Thank you to NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.
https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...
April 25, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
This is a really good example of the kind of thing you can do with horror as a social commentary. More than anything, this book is a big, bundled class discussion and dissection, and the things that happen to the characters are in aid of that discussion.
The thing is, the characters are equally well fleshed out and developed, and so you get a delicious horror banquet that hits all the right notes in all the right places.
While we have five characters to follow, all of which are interesting but not overwhelming. All of them are well developed, and they don’t tend to take too much or too little of the narrative. I think my favourite characters were Elise and Aaron, just because they were so well written. The description of the public service was very apt, and I laughed more than once at some of the absurdity.
The monster threat in this was exceptional, and I think a really good twist on the normal lore. It just felt like it had a lot more work and care put into it, and I really appreciated it from a horror standpoint. The only thing I did feel could have been improved was the ending, but even that was only by a little bit.
The writing was exceptional too, and I think it’s definitely a testament to what horror should be- social commentary, a touch of wry humour, and, at the heart of it all, really good characters who make reading the book a delight.
This is a really good example of the kind of thing you can do with horror as a social commentary. More than anything, this book is a big, bundled class discussion and dissection, and the things that happen to the characters are in aid of that discussion.
The thing is, the characters are equally well fleshed out and developed, and so you get a delicious horror banquet that hits all the right notes in all the right places.
While we have five characters to follow, all of which are interesting but not overwhelming. All of them are well developed, and they don’t tend to take too much or too little of the narrative. I think my favourite characters were Elise and Aaron, just because they were so well written. The description of the public service was very apt, and I laughed more than once at some of the absurdity.
The monster threat in this was exceptional, and I think a really good twist on the normal lore. It just felt like it had a lot more work and care put into it, and I really appreciated it from a horror standpoint. The only thing I did feel could have been improved was the ending, but even that was only by a little bit.
The writing was exceptional too, and I think it’s definitely a testament to what horror should be- social commentary, a touch of wry humour, and, at the heart of it all, really good characters who make reading the book a delight.
April 16, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a copy of this e-ARC!
The Burn Line was my first exposure to Jonathan Sims and it is safe to say I believe that the hype is well deserved. This book was eerie, placing a new spin on a beloved horror trope of mine, vampires. Sims’ ability to produce dread is fantasy, the description of these monsters are revolting and nasty, the body horror was excellent when it became present.
However, the biggest gripe I had with this story was the character’s relationships. I enjoyed all of the individual characters from what we got of them, but I think this story would’ve benefited a lot more from either: a) being longer to show rather than tell the development between the cast, especially with the family dynamic. Yes, the situation is high stakes, and there’s a nasty white freak chasing them around; but, whenever the dynamics between the characters were mentioned I found myself wanting more out of it (ie Tash and Elise, Aaron and Senyo) or b) having the amount of POVs cut down to strengthen individual characterization, as I personally felt as though it felt spread thin.
I would have found myself rooting for them and their individual arcs a lot more if I were shown bonding rather than largely told about it. A lot of it seemed to have happened off page and that aspect disappointed me the most in this story, especially when it becomes so vital to the narrative later on.
The Burn Line was my first exposure to Jonathan Sims and it is safe to say I believe that the hype is well deserved. This book was eerie, placing a new spin on a beloved horror trope of mine, vampires. Sims’ ability to produce dread is fantasy, the description of these monsters are revolting and nasty, the body horror was excellent when it became present.
However, the biggest gripe I had with this story was the character’s relationships. I enjoyed all of the individual characters from what we got of them, but I think this story would’ve benefited a lot more from either: a) being longer to show rather than tell the development between the cast, especially with the family dynamic. Yes, the situation is high stakes, and there’s a nasty white freak chasing them around; but, whenever the dynamics between the characters were mentioned I found myself wanting more out of it (ie Tash and Elise, Aaron and Senyo) or b) having the amount of POVs cut down to strengthen individual characterization, as I personally felt as though it felt spread thin.
I would have found myself rooting for them and their individual arcs a lot more if I were shown bonding rather than largely told about it. A lot of it seemed to have happened off page and that aspect disappointed me the most in this story, especially when it becomes so vital to the narrative later on.
June 16, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars
✨✨Atmospheric and tense, but a bit too slow at times✨✨
The Burn Line is a very atmospheric, creepy, and tense read! I really enjoyed it for the most part.
The setting of a stifling hot London Underground and 5 travelers trying to figure out what’s going on, why they can’t remember some stuff, and what is killing people was really intriguing. I definitely wanted to keep reading and figure it all out!!!
I did struggle with what to rate this one and that doesn’t happen to me often. Some of the pacing was a little off for me, it was really slow in some parts. The rest was pretty fast paced though and I did really like how well done the tension building is. I think maybe it was because of how many POVs there are why it was slow at times.
I’m pretty happy with the ending. As a whole, I really liked The Burn Line!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released August 25, 2026 .
✨✨Atmospheric and tense, but a bit too slow at times✨✨
The Burn Line is a very atmospheric, creepy, and tense read! I really enjoyed it for the most part.
The setting of a stifling hot London Underground and 5 travelers trying to figure out what’s going on, why they can’t remember some stuff, and what is killing people was really intriguing. I definitely wanted to keep reading and figure it all out!!!
I did struggle with what to rate this one and that doesn’t happen to me often. Some of the pacing was a little off for me, it was really slow in some parts. The rest was pretty fast paced though and I did really like how well done the tension building is. I think maybe it was because of how many POVs there are why it was slow at times.
I’m pretty happy with the ending. As a whole, I really liked The Burn Line!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released August 25, 2026 .
Want to Read
April 2, 2026A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Read
July 14, 2026Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review
Obviously I'm here as a Magnus Archives fan, and I'm so thrilled to be so up to date that I got to read this before its pub date, but I'm also into horror anyways so I like to think I wasn't swayed too much by preconceived notions. Not sure that there has ever been a more timely book release as the UK succumbs to yet another heatwave, the pace of this story had a slow, simmering build that I really enjoyed. Sims' descriptions of the heat on the London Underground were replaying in my mind when I was there over the weekend and that wasn't even a horror element, just setting the scene.
I don't think this follows the found family trope in the standard way, but circumstances really do throw these characters together from all walks of life and require them to have each other's backs.
Overall, I wasn't blown away. I do think we've seen this style of Underground horror before, which is not to say that I didn't have a great time, the building of suspense was fantastic and each character's background was relevant to the unfolding story. And I loved the 'eat the rich' energy throughout!
Obviously I'm here as a Magnus Archives fan, and I'm so thrilled to be so up to date that I got to read this before its pub date, but I'm also into horror anyways so I like to think I wasn't swayed too much by preconceived notions. Not sure that there has ever been a more timely book release as the UK succumbs to yet another heatwave, the pace of this story had a slow, simmering build that I really enjoyed. Sims' descriptions of the heat on the London Underground were replaying in my mind when I was there over the weekend and that wasn't even a horror element, just setting the scene.
I don't think this follows the found family trope in the standard way, but circumstances really do throw these characters together from all walks of life and require them to have each other's backs.
Overall, I wasn't blown away. I do think we've seen this style of Underground horror before, which is not to say that I didn't have a great time, the building of suspense was fantastic and each character's background was relevant to the unfolding story. And I loved the 'eat the rich' energy throughout!
May 23, 2026
You see that one month gap earlier this year where I appear to not read anything? Yeah, I was binging the entirety of The Magnus Archives.
I was truly, endlessly impressed by the horror anthology, how it all culminated, and how utterly brilliant Jonathan Sims’ mind is.
So, imagine my utter delight when I find THE BURN LINE on Netgalley (thank you to them & Poisoned Pen Press!) and was approved for an e-ARC less than 24 hours after requesting it. Naturally, I dived in immediately, even though my TBR is growing longer than the Great Wall of China.
In The Burn Line, six strangers in London emerge from the Underground rattled and anxious from an experience they can’t remember, but is affecting them in their day to day life in a way they can’t explain. The only thing that connects them is this incident, and their terror is made all the more oppressive by Sims’ description of the oppressive London heat wave and burden of barely scraping by in a world made for the elite and wealthy.
The multiple perspectives that this book offered was brilliant and kept me endlessly compelled— you’re kept on the edge of your seat as they attempt to figure out what exactly happened while still trying to get by in their day to day lives. There were many elements that were reminiscent of The Magnus Archives and heightened my experience reading The Burn Line, although I am not sure—for readers unfamiliar with TMA—whether this would be interpreted as foreboding or as an element that muddles the remainder of the plot.
Although the beginning of the book was a bit slow to take off (and you don’t learn about the true origins of “the incident” until the later portion of the novel), the latter half of TBL was worth the wait. The last 30% of the book in particular reminded me of the video game The Quarry—and, since I have been looking to fill that void since its release, I am happily satiated.
My only other qualm with THE BURN LINE was how jarring it was realizing the time period it took place in. TBL takes place in the direct aftermath of the worst of the pandemic and also directly following when the Queen of England dies. Thus, being transported back into a time where everyone is wearing masks and mourning her royal majesty was a bit,,, peculiar. I think this novel could have greatly benefited from a qualifier that it takes place in 2022 (in the synopsis?), as reading it four years after the events of the book did somewhat remove me from the plot.
Otherwise, this was a near perfect read. Perhaps I’m biased because of my enjoyment of The Magnus Archives, but this was such a good horror read for me. I’m so happy I took a chance on this and will make Jonathan Sims one of my auto-buy authors from this point forward.
I was truly, endlessly impressed by the horror anthology, how it all culminated, and how utterly brilliant Jonathan Sims’ mind is.
So, imagine my utter delight when I find THE BURN LINE on Netgalley (thank you to them & Poisoned Pen Press!) and was approved for an e-ARC less than 24 hours after requesting it. Naturally, I dived in immediately, even though my TBR is growing longer than the Great Wall of China.
In The Burn Line, six strangers in London emerge from the Underground rattled and anxious from an experience they can’t remember, but is affecting them in their day to day life in a way they can’t explain. The only thing that connects them is this incident, and their terror is made all the more oppressive by Sims’ description of the oppressive London heat wave and burden of barely scraping by in a world made for the elite and wealthy.
The multiple perspectives that this book offered was brilliant and kept me endlessly compelled— you’re kept on the edge of your seat as they attempt to figure out what exactly happened while still trying to get by in their day to day lives. There were many elements that were reminiscent of The Magnus Archives and heightened my experience reading The Burn Line, although I am not sure—for readers unfamiliar with TMA—whether this would be interpreted as foreboding or as an element that muddles the remainder of the plot.
Although the beginning of the book was a bit slow to take off (and you don’t learn about the true origins of “the incident” until the later portion of the novel), the latter half of TBL was worth the wait. The last 30% of the book in particular reminded me of the video game The Quarry—and, since I have been looking to fill that void since its release, I am happily satiated.
My only other qualm with THE BURN LINE was how jarring it was realizing the time period it took place in. TBL takes place in the direct aftermath of the worst of the pandemic and also directly following when the Queen of England dies. Thus, being transported back into a time where everyone is wearing masks and mourning her royal majesty was a bit,,, peculiar. I think this novel could have greatly benefited from a qualifier that it takes place in 2022 (in the synopsis?), as reading it four years after the events of the book did somewhat remove me from the plot.
Otherwise, this was a near perfect read. Perhaps I’m biased because of my enjoyment of The Magnus Archives, but this was such a good horror read for me. I’m so happy I took a chance on this and will make Jonathan Sims one of my auto-buy authors from this point forward.
July 29, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
———
I think this book excels in its world-building of an oppressively hot London, as well as in its overall building of suspense and unease. These characters are trauma-bonded by something truly horrific in its inability to be understood. Most of their motivations are clear, and their group conflicts are natural-feeling considering how different they all are.
However, what I think falls flat is that some things remain vague even to the end with no real resolution. It definitely leaves it open to further expansion into this universe, easiest done I feel through a companion novella. I also felt its pacing lagged at times, offering unneeded tangents that were less relevant to the plot than just added to place this story within a specific period of time: post-COVID, around Queen Elizabeth II’s passing.
Overall, I still enjoyed this book. I think the creatures and everything about how they move, eat, and more had truly disgusting descriptions that I appreciated. I loved how diverse the cast was and the way they interacted with one another. And I would definitely read more from this author.
———
I think this book excels in its world-building of an oppressively hot London, as well as in its overall building of suspense and unease. These characters are trauma-bonded by something truly horrific in its inability to be understood. Most of their motivations are clear, and their group conflicts are natural-feeling considering how different they all are.
However, what I think falls flat is that some things remain vague even to the end with no real resolution. It definitely leaves it open to further expansion into this universe, easiest done I feel through a companion novella. I also felt its pacing lagged at times, offering unneeded tangents that were less relevant to the plot than just added to place this story within a specific period of time: post-COVID, around Queen Elizabeth II’s passing.
Overall, I still enjoyed this book. I think the creatures and everything about how they move, eat, and more had truly disgusting descriptions that I appreciated. I loved how diverse the cast was and the way they interacted with one another. And I would definitely read more from this author.
July 11, 2026
the last like,, 25% of this book was sooo good but I can't let that make me forget the rest of it haha
the pacing was off and it was just super boring (until it finally picked up), the characters were fine but they didn't grab me. the end was very fun, it felt like a great call of cthulhu campaign, but even that wasn't mind-blowing.
I think this could have been great if it was shorter, faster, and set entirely on/around the Tube
(unfortunately I said beforehand this means I'm not allowed to buy his next book bc i liked the previous two even less but i keep trying because I adore his writing on TMA and the Mechanisms)
the pacing was off and it was just super boring (until it finally picked up), the characters were fine but they didn't grab me. the end was very fun, it felt like a great call of cthulhu campaign, but even that wasn't mind-blowing.
I think this could have been great if it was shorter, faster, and set entirely on/around the Tube
(unfortunately I said beforehand this means I'm not allowed to buy his next book bc i liked the previous two even less but i keep trying because I adore his writing on TMA and the Mechanisms)
April 7, 2026
4 Stars!
I received an e-ARC of The Burn Line, but that did not affect my rating or review.
This was really unsettling in a way I liked. One of my favorite things about it was the way the creature was described. I thought the descriptions of its physical appearance, the way it moved, and the way it kept appearing and disappearing were all really effective. It was deeply creepy and horrible, and the fact that it stayed mysterious for so much of the book made it even more unsettling.
The barely seen, hard-to-understand creatures are always the scariest to me, and I thought this book handled that really well. The whole thing felt unstable and off in a way that made the horror work even better.
If you like creepy atmosphere, urban horror, and mysterious creature horror, I’d definitely recommend it.
I received an e-ARC of The Burn Line, but that did not affect my rating or review.
This was really unsettling in a way I liked. One of my favorite things about it was the way the creature was described. I thought the descriptions of its physical appearance, the way it moved, and the way it kept appearing and disappearing were all really effective. It was deeply creepy and horrible, and the fact that it stayed mysterious for so much of the book made it even more unsettling.
The barely seen, hard-to-understand creatures are always the scariest to me, and I thought this book handled that really well. The whole thing felt unstable and off in a way that made the horror work even better.
If you like creepy atmosphere, urban horror, and mysterious creature horror, I’d definitely recommend it.
July 31, 2026
2/5 stars
While I haven't read the author's previous novels, I am pretty familiar with his podcast, The Magnus Archives, which I enjoyed but did not love; at least not as much as many people seem to. Still, it's because of the podcast that I know just how well Sims can write horror (some episodes have stuck with me 5 years after the end of the show) but unfortunately this book fails to showcase much of the talent Sims has.
The premise is great: something is killing people on the Tube and a group of strangers has to band together to find out what it is and how to stop it. A bit simple maybe, but oftentimes in horror novels or movies things become too complicated so sometimes simple is best. The first chapter opens with a creepy, queasy feeling incredibly well... and then we have to re-hash the exact same thing happening 4 more times through every other main character's POV which takes up the entirety of the first section.
It's not until Part II where the plot honestly starts to kick in, which is about 20% into the novel and about 10% too late in my opinion. But now the plot is interesting enough that I'm captivated by it and am excited to see where it leads until I hit a wall at 60% when George comes into the picture.
The fact that everyone buys his story so readily is ridiculous because it sounds as if he's made it up on the spot, and yet the group goes along with it and decide to follow this man who they all privately don't trust into the depths of the Tube system to hopefully kill this creature that has been hunting them. Sure, I guess? Obviously they have to do something but going in on their own would have been better than this. I just don't understand how things got to this point when the middle bit was going so well.
The final battle ensues, Chekhov's insulin injection is used to keep some characters back to explore more, one of the worst one-liners I have ever read is used completely unironically, and at this point I have lost almost all interest I held in the book and I'm ready for the book to be over.
And it does end. Kind of. There's an epilogue where everything is wrapped neatly with a bow that doesn't feel particularly earned and that's it. Except also not because the threat is still very much there despite everything our heroes went through, so it felt like it was all for nothing. I can tell Sims was going for the found family trope here at the end, but again, it doesn't feel earned. We're told over and over again that certain people have become close in either romantic ways or not, but we don't ever really get to see that for ourselves, which is disappointing.
I think this would have worked better as a novella or a short story. Like I mentioned, for a good 40% of this book I was entirely locked in and eager to see how the story was going to progress, but then it went off the rails and not in a good/fun way. I also believe that having
The writing is done well, I appreciated the representation found throughout, and the concept is great, but unfortunately this book didn't work for me as much as I wanted it to.
My thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.
While I haven't read the author's previous novels, I am pretty familiar with his podcast, The Magnus Archives, which I enjoyed but did not love; at least not as much as many people seem to. Still, it's because of the podcast that I know just how well Sims can write horror (some episodes have stuck with me 5 years after the end of the show) but unfortunately this book fails to showcase much of the talent Sims has.
The premise is great: something is killing people on the Tube and a group of strangers has to band together to find out what it is and how to stop it. A bit simple maybe, but oftentimes in horror novels or movies things become too complicated so sometimes simple is best. The first chapter opens with a creepy, queasy feeling incredibly well... and then we have to re-hash the exact same thing happening 4 more times through every other main character's POV which takes up the entirety of the first section.
It's not until Part II where the plot honestly starts to kick in, which is about 20% into the novel and about 10% too late in my opinion. But now the plot is interesting enough that I'm captivated by it and am excited to see where it leads until I hit a wall at 60% when George comes into the picture.
The fact that everyone buys his story so readily is ridiculous because it sounds as if he's made it up on the spot, and yet the group goes along with it and decide to follow this man who they all privately don't trust into the depths of the Tube system to hopefully kill this creature that has been hunting them. Sure, I guess? Obviously they have to do something but going in on their own would have been better than this. I just don't understand how things got to this point when the middle bit was going so well.
The final battle ensues, Chekhov's insulin injection is used to keep some characters back to explore more, one of the worst one-liners I have ever read is used completely unironically, and at this point I have lost almost all interest I held in the book and I'm ready for the book to be over.
And it does end. Kind of. There's an epilogue where everything is wrapped neatly with a bow that doesn't feel particularly earned and that's it. Except also not because the threat is still very much there despite everything our heroes went through, so it felt like it was all for nothing. I can tell Sims was going for the found family trope here at the end, but again, it doesn't feel earned. We're told over and over again that certain people have become close in either romantic ways or not, but we don't ever really get to see that for ourselves, which is disappointing.
I think this would have worked better as a novella or a short story. Like I mentioned, for a good 40% of this book I was entirely locked in and eager to see how the story was going to progress, but then it went off the rails and not in a good/fun way. I also believe that having
The writing is done well, I appreciated the representation found throughout, and the concept is great, but unfortunately this book didn't work for me as much as I wanted it to.
My thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
✦
3.5/5
There is a heavy, echoing sort of tension to this story that makes reading it feel as claustrophobic as living it would.
I found myself really liking the general direction of the plot, and I absolutely loved the characters: almost everyone was genuinely likable, and I appreciated that their personal growth felt like it naturally belonged to them rather than just being filler for the mystery. Seeing them all slowly lean on each other felt earned and very real for the world they’re stuck in.
I did find the second half of the book bit of a mixed bag, though: some of the twists didn't quite land for me, and they felt either too fake and forced on the characters or a bit too easy to spot. Even if those payoffs lacked the sharp punch I was hoping for, the moody atmosphere and the people made it a solid, lingering read.
✦
I thought it was “eat the rich”, not get eaten by them??
✦
3.5/5
There is a heavy, echoing sort of tension to this story that makes reading it feel as claustrophobic as living it would.
I found myself really liking the general direction of the plot, and I absolutely loved the characters: almost everyone was genuinely likable, and I appreciated that their personal growth felt like it naturally belonged to them rather than just being filler for the mystery. Seeing them all slowly lean on each other felt earned and very real for the world they’re stuck in.
I did find the second half of the book bit of a mixed bag, though: some of the twists didn't quite land for me, and they felt either too fake and forced on the characters or a bit too easy to spot. Even if those payoffs lacked the sharp punch I was hoping for, the moody atmosphere and the people made it a solid, lingering read.
✦
I thought it was “eat the rich”, not get eaten by them??
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to review this arc.
I was immediately drawn to the premise. I tend to enjoy the whole strangers forced to become unlikely allies thing. I liked the creatures and the tense atmosphere that’s present throughout most of the book. The characters were developed enough to make me care about what happens to them, and the end was fairly satisfying.
My biggest issue with the book was the pacing. I devoured the first half of the book. I was absolutely loving the slow-burn horror and steadily increasing sense of dread, but then it became too much of a slow-burn. The 50%-75%ish portion really dragged for me. I was just waiting for SOMETHING to finally happen. When it finally did, it was great. I just wish it didn’t take so long to get there.
I struggled a little bit with what to rate The Burn Line. The beginning half was definitely giving me 4-5 star feels, but I was feeling more 3-4 stars by the end. I’m landing in the middle at 4 stars. Overall, I do recommend if you’re in the mood for a slow-burn urban horror.
I was immediately drawn to the premise. I tend to enjoy the whole strangers forced to become unlikely allies thing. I liked the creatures and the tense atmosphere that’s present throughout most of the book. The characters were developed enough to make me care about what happens to them, and the end was fairly satisfying.
My biggest issue with the book was the pacing. I devoured the first half of the book. I was absolutely loving the slow-burn horror and steadily increasing sense of dread, but then it became too much of a slow-burn. The 50%-75%ish portion really dragged for me. I was just waiting for SOMETHING to finally happen. When it finally did, it was great. I just wish it didn’t take so long to get there.
I struggled a little bit with what to rate The Burn Line. The beginning half was definitely giving me 4-5 star feels, but I was feeling more 3-4 stars by the end. I’m landing in the middle at 4 stars. Overall, I do recommend if you’re in the mood for a slow-burn urban horror.
June 4, 2026
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Utterly original and un-put-down-able! I am usually not one for “creature” horror but this was fantastic. I love the fact that the reader is kept in the dark for a lot of the story and you have to piece together what happened. I love the characters, I love the “eat the rich” attitude throughout, and I loved the omnipotent narrator voice that took over at times. And did you catch that Thirteen Storeys Easter egg in there? Chefs kiss. I was thoroughly immersed in this world in the dark underground where you know it’s not just nothing in the dark. One of my favorite books of the year so far 👏
Utterly original and un-put-down-able! I am usually not one for “creature” horror but this was fantastic. I love the fact that the reader is kept in the dark for a lot of the story and you have to piece together what happened. I love the characters, I love the “eat the rich” attitude throughout, and I loved the omnipotent narrator voice that took over at times. And did you catch that Thirteen Storeys Easter egg in there? Chefs kiss. I was thoroughly immersed in this world in the dark underground where you know it’s not just nothing in the dark. One of my favorite books of the year so far 👏
July 25, 2026
Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC! I’ve never experienced the London railway system but I imagine it is similar to Boston. This book does a great job getting you into the atmospheric setting, in the railway you can just imagine how hot, smelly, and stagnant the air is. When five strangers all experience something so horrifying and life altering they can’t let it go…or something won’t let them go.
It is gothic and creepy and horrifying like a car crash you can’t look away from. These ghoulish creatures are something out of a nightmare and remind me of a slow moving dementor that is equally effective at destroying its prey.
The first quarter of the book moved slowly but then the last 2/3rds picked up speed. The 5 individuals all have different experiences and interactions with each other and I felt like I really would have liked more into before meeting them. As they go along, we start to see more character development and some are not as they appear.
Overall a great summer horror read, that would make a fantastic movie.
It is gothic and creepy and horrifying like a car crash you can’t look away from. These ghoulish creatures are something out of a nightmare and remind me of a slow moving dementor that is equally effective at destroying its prey.
The first quarter of the book moved slowly but then the last 2/3rds picked up speed. The 5 individuals all have different experiences and interactions with each other and I felt like I really would have liked more into before meeting them. As they go along, we start to see more character development and some are not as they appear.
Overall a great summer horror read, that would make a fantastic movie.
July 16, 2026
Reading this book during a London heat wave really made it hit way too close to home. I enjoyed the multiple perspectives, with each character facing their own struggles and having clear motivations for their behaviour, and I liked the found family dynamic that developed between them. The social commentary tied to the monster also worked for me and made the pay off more satisfying. It was maybe a bit slow and repetitive in the middle once the characters had met each other and were deciding what to do, but it picked up in the last third and was a good read.
July 29, 2026
In this dark and mysterious horror tale, we meet 5 completely different protagonists that ride a London tube train in the sweltering heat. They all come to realize they’ve lost time and memory while on the train and something sinister is putting them in danger long after. can this misfit team come together to face the unknown horror and figure out how to survive it?
I felt the beginning of the book was slow, but necessary to introduce each character and give them the time needed to really give the reader a sense of their situation in life and personality. It did pick up and by the last of the book, it was an adrenaline rush. What a unique horror story that kept me on edge. 3.75 ⭐️, rounded up. Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher for gifting my ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
I felt the beginning of the book was slow, but necessary to introduce each character and give them the time needed to really give the reader a sense of their situation in life and personality. It did pick up and by the last of the book, it was an adrenaline rush. What a unique horror story that kept me on edge. 3.75 ⭐️, rounded up. Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher for gifting my ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 2, 2026
I could not put this book down! I can’t be too detailed without going into spoiler territory, but I loved this read. Throughout there’s a tension and anxiety of “what’s going to happen?” and “what is even going on?” I liked that we got so many POVs and they were each given distinct personalities and enough insight into them so that I felt something for them. I thought the premise was very unique and was done in a page-turning way. I had a suspicion about something from early on, but that didn’t ruin my experience in any way. I also really enjoyed the social commentary. Highly recommend.
July 21, 2026
eARC provided by NetGalley, Jonathan Sims, and Poisoned Pen Press.
3.5 stars
The Burn Line is a surprisingly fun summer read for those sweltering days when you can't avoid the heat no matter what you do. This was a refreshing horror read in some ways, leaning heavily on the themes of class and gentrification while also managing to be an anxiety inducing thrill ride.
Jonathan Sims hits on the concerns plaguing those of us living in the world today like financial insecurity, crappy jobs, and the climate crisis while also finding a way to incorporate supernatural horror. Setting a creature feature in an underground train system scratches a certain kind of itch and gave me chills. I was picturing how ominous those dark, nearly empty tunnels are when you're looking out the window of a train car and can't see a thing. Once the book picks up steam in the second half I found it difficult to put down and had to stay up reading until the wee hours of the morning to see how it would end.
The first half of the book started out slow and not because it was building suspense. Using multiple POV's to tell this story wasn't necessary and unfortunately didn't add much depth or interest to the characters as we shift between their perspectives. The first two times the book cycles through each character after their mysterious incident on the train came across as repetitive. It would have better served this story to hear more grounding information about each character before their encounter with the monster.
I'm torn about the commentary on class divide here, mostly because I think it would have worked had we not been reminded so often how much rich people tend to suck. The way the commentary played into the creatures and their existence was unique and interesting, though the mechanics of how it worked were a bit murky and I didn't quite understand. This was an entertaining read I would recommend to fans of Darcy Coates, Kiersten White, and books about things that go bump in the night.
3.5 stars
The Burn Line is a surprisingly fun summer read for those sweltering days when you can't avoid the heat no matter what you do. This was a refreshing horror read in some ways, leaning heavily on the themes of class and gentrification while also managing to be an anxiety inducing thrill ride.
Jonathan Sims hits on the concerns plaguing those of us living in the world today like financial insecurity, crappy jobs, and the climate crisis while also finding a way to incorporate supernatural horror. Setting a creature feature in an underground train system scratches a certain kind of itch and gave me chills. I was picturing how ominous those dark, nearly empty tunnels are when you're looking out the window of a train car and can't see a thing. Once the book picks up steam in the second half I found it difficult to put down and had to stay up reading until the wee hours of the morning to see how it would end.
The first half of the book started out slow and not because it was building suspense. Using multiple POV's to tell this story wasn't necessary and unfortunately didn't add much depth or interest to the characters as we shift between their perspectives. The first two times the book cycles through each character after their mysterious incident on the train came across as repetitive. It would have better served this story to hear more grounding information about each character before their encounter with the monster.
I'm torn about the commentary on class divide here, mostly because I think it would have worked had we not been reminded so often how much rich people tend to suck. The way the commentary played into the creatures and their existence was unique and interesting, though the mechanics of how it worked were a bit murky and I didn't quite understand. This was an entertaining read I would recommend to fans of Darcy Coates, Kiersten White, and books about things that go bump in the night.
August 1, 2026
To be published August 25, 2026
I’m very into using vampires as a metaphor for how capitalism drains and rots everything it touches for the benefit of the rich. Jonathan Sims: this is a banger of a book. Absolutely stifling atmosphere apt for the tail end of summer. Great commentary on social inequality with funnier moments present at well. This was a highly entertaining read!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!
I’m very into using vampires as a metaphor for how capitalism drains and rots everything it touches for the benefit of the rich. Jonathan Sims: this is a banger of a book. Absolutely stifling atmosphere apt for the tail end of summer. Great commentary on social inequality with funnier moments present at well. This was a highly entertaining read!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!
July 18, 2026
A compelling concept that smolders but doesn't quite ignite.
Jonathan Sims brings atmospheric dread to the suffocating depths of the London Underground.
A solid, spooky, and fiercely political weekend read for fans of Sims' style. However, its heavy handed execution and detached characters keep it from truly sticking the landing.
Jonathan Sims brings atmospheric dread to the suffocating depths of the London Underground.
A solid, spooky, and fiercely political weekend read for fans of Sims' style. However, its heavy handed execution and detached characters keep it from truly sticking the landing.
Did Not Finish
July 19, 2026Thank you to Edelweiss+ for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I don't think i was in the right headspace to read this. It starts off pretty repetitive so I've decided to circle back later.
I don't think i was in the right headspace to read this. It starts off pretty repetitive so I've decided to circle back later.
Want to Read
April 6, 2026gimme gimme gimmee !!!
Did Not Finish
July 18, 2026Trigger warning of death and suicide along with transphobia and body dysmorphia
July 20, 2026
The horror in this one didnt get me at all but the characters were the strongest in all of Jonathan Sims' books
Especially the insights into homeless life were quite interesting
Also a neat easter egg to connect this to Thirteen Storeys
Especially the insights into homeless life were quite interesting
Also a neat easter egg to connect this to Thirteen Storeys
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