What do you think?
Rate this book
BENEATH
No one remembers who built the ball pit.
It stretches farther than satellites can map, forming an endless sea of neon plastic spheres swallowing everything that dives below the surface. When the first exploration team vanishes without explanation, the government commissions an unprecedented expedition: a reinforced submersible designed not for the ocean, but for a descent into the impossible depths of a seemingly normal ball pit.
Among the crew are Captain Stokes and scientific researcher Alburn, whose journal entries, audio logs, and recovered camera footage form the only surviving record of the ill-fated mission.
What begins as a scientific expedition soon becomes a slow unraveling of reality. Strange signal readings echo through the shifting layers of colored plastic. Time loses its meaning. Crew members begin acting erratically and hearing voices. Something deep below is watching…and it has been patient long enough.
As the submersible descends toward the unfathomable depths of the pit, Alburn discovers that the endless plastic sea is not a natural anomaly, but a prison. Buried beneath countless billions of hollow spheres lie secrets and, more harrowing yet, an ancient God whose dreams seep upward through the darkness, warping minds, rewriting perception, and calling its jailers ever closer. Every meter downward brings the crew nearer to a truth that humanity was never meant to uncover... and to a force desperate to break free.
It stretches farther than satellites can map, forming an endless sea of neon plastic spheres swallowing everything that dives below the surface. When the first exploration team vanishes without explanation, the government commissions an unprecedented expedition: a reinforced submersible designed not for the ocean, but for a descent into the impossible depths of a seemingly normal ball pit.
Among the crew are Captain Stokes and scientific researcher Alburn, whose journal entries, audio logs, and recovered camera footage form the only surviving record of the ill-fated mission.
What begins as a scientific expedition soon becomes a slow unraveling of reality. Strange signal readings echo through the shifting layers of colored plastic. Time loses its meaning. Crew members begin acting erratically and hearing voices. Something deep below is watching…and it has been patient long enough.
As the submersible descends toward the unfathomable depths of the pit, Alburn discovers that the endless plastic sea is not a natural anomaly, but a prison. Buried beneath countless billions of hollow spheres lie secrets and, more harrowing yet, an ancient God whose dreams seep upward through the darkness, warping minds, rewriting perception, and calling its jailers ever closer. Every meter downward brings the crew nearer to a truth that humanity was never meant to uncover... and to a force desperate to break free.
- GenresHorror
93 pages, Paperback
Published August 25, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
August 3, 2026
WHAT DID I JUST READ?!?
This story was such a wild ride, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I honestly think I loved the story so much because of the recovered footage trope, the nostalgic scenery of a Mickey D’s ball pit, and the unhinged-ness of the evil cosmic beings. If you like cosmic horror, I highly recommend reading this. It’s a quick read, and the absurdity and gore were great. My brain is still trying to recoup after reading this. Holy smokes.
Thank you to Matthew Salinas for a digital arc of this story. All opinions are my own.
This story was such a wild ride, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I honestly think I loved the story so much because of the recovered footage trope, the nostalgic scenery of a Mickey D’s ball pit, and the unhinged-ness of the evil cosmic beings. If you like cosmic horror, I highly recommend reading this. It’s a quick read, and the absurdity and gore were great. My brain is still trying to recoup after reading this. Holy smokes.
Thank you to Matthew Salinas for a digital arc of this story. All opinions are my own.
August 25, 2026
I don’t think I will ever look at a children’s ball pit quite the same way after reading Matthew Salinas’ BENEATH.
What starts as a bizarre scientific expedition into the depths of an impossible McChuckles ball pit quickly becomes something far darker. The deeper this crew goes, the more unsettling everything becomes, and I loved the way the story steadily strips away any sense of safety until there is nowhere left to run.
This is grotesque, claustrophobic horror at its best. The combination of recovered journal entries, audio recordings, and visual evidence makes the entire thing feel disturbingly real, while the psychological deterioration of the characters adds another layer of dread. You’re never quite sure what’s happening to them—or how much of what they’re experiencing can be trusted.
And the imagery? Absolutely fucking horrifying.
BENEATH is weird, brutal, imaginative, and completely unafraid to go places most horror stories wouldn’t dare. It takes something ridiculously familiar and turns it into an abyss of cosmic horror, body horror, paranoia, and existential dread. I love when a story successfully rots something innocent. Well done!
I went into this expecting a creepy story about a ball pit. I was NOT let down by any means.
What starts as a bizarre scientific expedition into the depths of an impossible McChuckles ball pit quickly becomes something far darker. The deeper this crew goes, the more unsettling everything becomes, and I loved the way the story steadily strips away any sense of safety until there is nowhere left to run.
This is grotesque, claustrophobic horror at its best. The combination of recovered journal entries, audio recordings, and visual evidence makes the entire thing feel disturbingly real, while the psychological deterioration of the characters adds another layer of dread. You’re never quite sure what’s happening to them—or how much of what they’re experiencing can be trusted.
And the imagery? Absolutely fucking horrifying.
BENEATH is weird, brutal, imaginative, and completely unafraid to go places most horror stories wouldn’t dare. It takes something ridiculously familiar and turns it into an abyss of cosmic horror, body horror, paranoia, and existential dread. I love when a story successfully rots something innocent. Well done!
I went into this expecting a creepy story about a ball pit. I was NOT let down by any means.
August 10, 2026
BENEATH
by Matthew Salinas
“This is the temple of the one true God, the one that has always existed. We are here by design. Have none of you thought there’s always got to be a bottom to a pit, doesn’t there? A source to the madness.”
Eek. I’ve been really loving Salinas’ work this year and this book was another example of why. It’s super weird. Def some bizarro. Def some splatter elements. Def a story I recommend everyone taking a look at.
I loved how it’s formatted into journal entries and voice recording transcripts. It’s such a solid descent into madness. There’s a character named McChuckles. There’s a submersible. There’s a ball pit. Yes, a ball pit, lol.
Keeping this semi-vague as to not give any spoilers away but trust me, it’s a good one. It releases on 8/25 but can be preordered now!
#bookstagram #indiehorror #bookreview
by Matthew Salinas
“This is the temple of the one true God, the one that has always existed. We are here by design. Have none of you thought there’s always got to be a bottom to a pit, doesn’t there? A source to the madness.”
Eek. I’ve been really loving Salinas’ work this year and this book was another example of why. It’s super weird. Def some bizarro. Def some splatter elements. Def a story I recommend everyone taking a look at.
I loved how it’s formatted into journal entries and voice recording transcripts. It’s such a solid descent into madness. There’s a character named McChuckles. There’s a submersible. There’s a ball pit. Yes, a ball pit, lol.
Keeping this semi-vague as to not give any spoilers away but trust me, it’s a good one. It releases on 8/25 but can be preordered now!
#bookstagram #indiehorror #bookreview
August 27, 2026
Have you considered what is at the bottom of restaurant ball pit? You would probably guess the floor, but you'd be wrong. Creatures, horrors, and a possible god?! This was such a fun quick read. Completely unpredictable and worth every minute
August 9, 2026
Have you ever wondered what would be at the bottom of an endless ball pit? Well, "Beneath" will answer all your questions.
A crew descends into one of many ball pits that have recently appeared to conduct research, but things quickly take a much more sinister turn. Through Alburn's journal entries and video recordings from the bottom of the pit, we learn about the cosmic beings imprisoned there.
This is a fun, gore-filled cosmic horror that definitely delivers on the weirdness. If you're in need of a strange new novella, I'd highly recommend this one!
Thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC to read and review!
A crew descends into one of many ball pits that have recently appeared to conduct research, but things quickly take a much more sinister turn. Through Alburn's journal entries and video recordings from the bottom of the pit, we learn about the cosmic beings imprisoned there.
This is a fun, gore-filled cosmic horror that definitely delivers on the weirdness. If you're in need of a strange new novella, I'd highly recommend this one!
Thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC to read and review!
August 10, 2026
Matthew has done it again. It only took me a few hours to fly through this because I was HOOKED.
First I never would have imagined a horror story about a ball pit, but secondly I never would have imagined loving a horror story about a ball pit…. But here we are…
Imagine back when you were a kid and you wanted to go to that one fast food place. To be honest, it was never about the nuggets you told your parents you wanted… it was the play place. The jungle gym, the slide and the ball pit. Now imagine said ball pit is growing inexplicably. It also seems to be so deep the bottom can’t be found. The beginning of the story reads very much like a deep sea expedition of scientists and other necessary specialties lead by the military. But where it goes from there I never saw coming! You definitely need to try this one!
Side note- since reading this I’ve seen ball pits everywhere. I will never look at them the same. Haha.
First I never would have imagined a horror story about a ball pit, but secondly I never would have imagined loving a horror story about a ball pit…. But here we are…
Imagine back when you were a kid and you wanted to go to that one fast food place. To be honest, it was never about the nuggets you told your parents you wanted… it was the play place. The jungle gym, the slide and the ball pit. Now imagine said ball pit is growing inexplicably. It also seems to be so deep the bottom can’t be found. The beginning of the story reads very much like a deep sea expedition of scientists and other necessary specialties lead by the military. But where it goes from there I never saw coming! You definitely need to try this one!
Side note- since reading this I’ve seen ball pits everywhere. I will never look at them the same. Haha.
August 7, 2026
Something lurks beneath the ballpit in McChuckles … and it keeps going farther and farther down. So far no one’s come back from their decent, except these salvaged diary entries and voice/video footage.
Visceral descriptions galore with a funny as hell plot line, BENEATH is a short story that packs a punch in gory imagery with campy undertones.
A fun read for anyone who is skeeved out of ball pits, or parents who get paranoid of losing their kid in one. Once you read this, you won’t be able to get some of those images out of your mind next time your little ones flop into them!
Thanks so much to Matthew Salinas for letting me read and review this ahead of publication. All thoughts and opinions are my own and my review is left voluntarily.
Visceral descriptions galore with a funny as hell plot line, BENEATH is a short story that packs a punch in gory imagery with campy undertones.
A fun read for anyone who is skeeved out of ball pits, or parents who get paranoid of losing their kid in one. Once you read this, you won’t be able to get some of those images out of your mind next time your little ones flop into them!
Thanks so much to Matthew Salinas for letting me read and review this ahead of publication. All thoughts and opinions are my own and my review is left voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
a truly unsettling cosmic horror story that somehow turns a ball pit into nightmare fuel. the found footage style really works, the body horror is gnarly without feeling overdone, and the story fully commits to its absurd premise in an effectively terrifying way. another banger from Matthew Salinas!!
July 25, 2026
I knew ball pits were suspicious as heck!! 🫣
September 7, 2026
This was such a weird and fascinating book, and I honestly don’t know exactly how to explain my thoughts without giving anything away. 😂
This is definitely a cosmic horror/splatterpunk book, so if either of those aren’t your thing, I’d probably skip this one. It had some crazy gore scenes.
That said, I really enjoyed how the story makes you feel like you’re slowly going insane right alongside the main character. As he starts questioning what’s real and what isn’t, you find yourself questioning everything with him, and I thought that was one of the strongest parts of the book.
There were definitely some things that left me confused and wanting more explanation. I’m sure some of that was intentional on the author’s part, but personally, it made it a little harder for me to fully enjoy the story. There were several things that felt very open ended.
I also went into this expecting something more along the lines of a Backrooms type story because, I mean… an endless ball pit is already creepy as hell. 😂 But the story took a turn I absolutely did NOT expect, and while it wasn’t what I thought I was getting, I still really enjoyed it.
Overall, this was definitely an odd one, but I’m glad I picked it up! I’ll absolutely be checking out more from this author because I’m very curious to see what else they come up with. 👀
This is definitely a cosmic horror/splatterpunk book, so if either of those aren’t your thing, I’d probably skip this one. It had some crazy gore scenes.
That said, I really enjoyed how the story makes you feel like you’re slowly going insane right alongside the main character. As he starts questioning what’s real and what isn’t, you find yourself questioning everything with him, and I thought that was one of the strongest parts of the book.
There were definitely some things that left me confused and wanting more explanation. I’m sure some of that was intentional on the author’s part, but personally, it made it a little harder for me to fully enjoy the story. There were several things that felt very open ended.
I also went into this expecting something more along the lines of a Backrooms type story because, I mean… an endless ball pit is already creepy as hell. 😂 But the story took a turn I absolutely did NOT expect, and while it wasn’t what I thought I was getting, I still really enjoyed it.
Overall, this was definitely an odd one, but I’m glad I picked it up! I’ll absolutely be checking out more from this author because I’m very curious to see what else they come up with. 👀
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
*ARC Review*
Author: Matthew Salinas
Title: Beneath
Rating: Five Stars
Genre: Cosmic Horror
I would like to thank Matthew Salinas for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Matthew's name usually makes me think of Splatterpunk and Extreme horror right off the bat, but after reading Beneath, I think we have a new master at cosmic horror. I instantly fell in love with the outlandish concept that brought back memories of a childish fear I use to have.
Beneath is an epistolary, found footage novella that follows a crew of was it basically a submarine. Except instead of going to the bottom of an ocean, this crew is traveling to the bottom of a ball pit. Yes, you read that right, a ball pit...one without a bottom. The further down they go the stranger things are. What is waiting for them at the bottom? Something older than time itself.
This book blew me away. I remember being a kid having an irrational fear of going under in a ball pit. This only brought that fear back. I, for one, am glad ball pits aren't popular any more. This book was truly frightening with enough gore to know you are reading a Salinas story.
This gets released on August 25th, and I hope everyone gives it a shot. This is a new favorite of mine, and definitely Salinas at his best.
Author: Matthew Salinas
Title: Beneath
Rating: Five Stars
Genre: Cosmic Horror
I would like to thank Matthew Salinas for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Matthew's name usually makes me think of Splatterpunk and Extreme horror right off the bat, but after reading Beneath, I think we have a new master at cosmic horror. I instantly fell in love with the outlandish concept that brought back memories of a childish fear I use to have.
Beneath is an epistolary, found footage novella that follows a crew of was it basically a submarine. Except instead of going to the bottom of an ocean, this crew is traveling to the bottom of a ball pit. Yes, you read that right, a ball pit...one without a bottom. The further down they go the stranger things are. What is waiting for them at the bottom? Something older than time itself.
This book blew me away. I remember being a kid having an irrational fear of going under in a ball pit. This only brought that fear back. I, for one, am glad ball pits aren't popular any more. This book was truly frightening with enough gore to know you are reading a Salinas story.
This gets released on August 25th, and I hope everyone gives it a shot. This is a new favorite of mine, and definitely Salinas at his best.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Beneath is the newest cosmic horror novella from Salinas that finds terror in, of all places, ball pits in a series of chain restaurants. No one seems to recall when the colorful pits came into existence. But what they do know is that efforts to reach the bottom have failed, and no one who ventures into the plastic depths is ever seen or heard from again. Now, Alburn, a research scientist, along with a crew commanded by Captain Stokes, descend ever deeper among the bright balls in an attempt to determine what’s at the bottom, if there even is a bottom, and what became of those who went before them. What they find is an eldritch nightmare beyond anything they could ever hope to comprehend.
Told through mostly a combination of epistolary and found footage, Beneath is a quick, bizarre read that doesn’t waste time pulling punches. You’re right there with Alburn, experiencing the strange and frightening phenomena as they happen. The terror of the crew is palpable, and Salinas leaves nothing to the imagination with the visceral gore and bloody descriptions. If you’re a fan of cosmic and epistolary/found footage horror, I highly recommend this one!
Told through mostly a combination of epistolary and found footage, Beneath is a quick, bizarre read that doesn’t waste time pulling punches. You’re right there with Alburn, experiencing the strange and frightening phenomena as they happen. The terror of the crew is palpable, and Salinas leaves nothing to the imagination with the visceral gore and bloody descriptions. If you’re a fan of cosmic and epistolary/found footage horror, I highly recommend this one!
Review of advance copy received from Author
📖Recently Read📖
Beneath~Matthew Salinas
Thank you to the author @theabsurdist2723 for sending me an ARC of this book.
Something strange is happening in the ball pits at McChuckles family restaurants across the country. People are disappearing and strange movements and sounds are emanating from below the surface of the bright neon balls.
A submersible manned by researchers, including scientist Alburn, are sent down to investigate and explore the depths of the pit. As the sub dives deeper towards the bottom of the pit (if there even is a bottom) Alburn and the crew start to experience headaches, hallucinations and slowly lose their grip reality. But what they discover existing in the pit is so terrifying that it could change the world forever.
Wow!!! Beneath is unlike anything I have ever read before. It is a well written, fast paced and strange novella told through journal entries and found footage. If you’re a fan of cosmic horror, cryptids and gore this book is for you. If these things aren’t your bag, read it anyway. This book deserves your time.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Released August 25th.
Beneath~Matthew Salinas
Thank you to the author @theabsurdist2723 for sending me an ARC of this book.
Something strange is happening in the ball pits at McChuckles family restaurants across the country. People are disappearing and strange movements and sounds are emanating from below the surface of the bright neon balls.
A submersible manned by researchers, including scientist Alburn, are sent down to investigate and explore the depths of the pit. As the sub dives deeper towards the bottom of the pit (if there even is a bottom) Alburn and the crew start to experience headaches, hallucinations and slowly lose their grip reality. But what they discover existing in the pit is so terrifying that it could change the world forever.
Wow!!! Beneath is unlike anything I have ever read before. It is a well written, fast paced and strange novella told through journal entries and found footage. If you’re a fan of cosmic horror, cryptids and gore this book is for you. If these things aren’t your bag, read it anyway. This book deserves your time.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Released August 25th.
Review of advance copy received from Author
BENEATH by Matthew Salinas
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Damn!!!
Terror, suspense & intensity!!
All of the above are wrapped up neatly, or not so neatly, in this short cosmic horror story!
The fun kids restaurant McChuckles, is no longer full of laughter. The ball pits in several locations are being looked into for mysterious activity. The story follows a team that has gone down under the ball pit layers to try and discover some answers to what is going on.
I love how the story is written through journal and video entries! It’s extremely original, scary & horrifying! My jaw was truly dropped open and eyes glued to the words! The imagery is fantastic and I felt like I was watching a spine-chilling movie!
I was lucky to get an arc of this amazing, terrifying and gruesome story that I couldn’t get enough of!
**It comes out August 25th and I definitely recommend the fast read!!**
I will never look at a ball pit the same way again!! 🫣
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Damn!!!
Terror, suspense & intensity!!
All of the above are wrapped up neatly, or not so neatly, in this short cosmic horror story!
The fun kids restaurant McChuckles, is no longer full of laughter. The ball pits in several locations are being looked into for mysterious activity. The story follows a team that has gone down under the ball pit layers to try and discover some answers to what is going on.
I love how the story is written through journal and video entries! It’s extremely original, scary & horrifying! My jaw was truly dropped open and eyes glued to the words! The imagery is fantastic and I felt like I was watching a spine-chilling movie!
I was lucky to get an arc of this amazing, terrifying and gruesome story that I couldn’t get enough of!
**It comes out August 25th and I definitely recommend the fast read!!**
I will never look at a ball pit the same way again!! 🫣
August 31, 2026
This was definitely an imaginative and wildly creepy story! I may never look at a ball pit the same way again! As someone who is already a little bit of a germaphobe, ball pits have always been a place of anxiety for me, but I never once considered the possibility of one being endless… or at least seemingly endless!
The author took something that is normally associated with childhood fun and turned it into something unsettling and downright terrifying. The idea of falling deeper and deeper into a ball pit with no idea where it ends—or what might be lurking beneath the surface—is enough to make your skin crawl!
This was such a bizarre and imaginative concept, and I really enjoyed seeing where the story would go. Definitely one that will have me thinking twice before I ever climb into a ball pit again!
The author took something that is normally associated with childhood fun and turned it into something unsettling and downright terrifying. The idea of falling deeper and deeper into a ball pit with no idea where it ends—or what might be lurking beneath the surface—is enough to make your skin crawl!
This was such a bizarre and imaginative concept, and I really enjoyed seeing where the story would go. Definitely one that will have me thinking twice before I ever climb into a ball pit again!
August 31, 2026
I never liked the ball pit at a certain fast food restaurant. Never could explain why. Germs maybe. Or maybe deep down I always knew it was an entrance to something underneath.
You read that right. That is the premise, and before you laugh, don't. I thought this was going to be a fun, silly ride and Salinas had me genuinely unsettled inside a ball pit. A ball pit. The audacity.
A crew investigates a series of disappearances connected to ball pits across multiple locations, which is somehow both absurd and completely terrifying once the story gets going. What lies beneath is not something I will spoil.
What I will say is that the format is what elevates this. Recovered journal entries, video recordings pieced together after tragedy struck. Found footage energy in novella form, and it works beautifully.
You read that right. That is the premise, and before you laugh, don't. I thought this was going to be a fun, silly ride and Salinas had me genuinely unsettled inside a ball pit. A ball pit. The audacity.
A crew investigates a series of disappearances connected to ball pits across multiple locations, which is somehow both absurd and completely terrifying once the story gets going. What lies beneath is not something I will spoil.
What I will say is that the format is what elevates this. Recovered journal entries, video recordings pieced together after tragedy struck. Found footage energy in novella form, and it works beautifully.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a pretty creative idea for a cosmic horror read. I must admit I always wondered what was in the bottom of a ball pit as a kid. After reading this one, though, I'm happy that I never found out, haha. The tension in this one was great and I appreciated the journal like entries in this one. It kind of makes you feel like that you're in the book. Strange things are found in the bottom of the ball pit, but who would think to look under.
If you're looking for a cosmic horror book that has a creative premise, check out Beneath. You don't be disappointed. I felt it could have been fleshed out a bit more, but that's just me. All I know is that I won't be looking under a ball pit anymore.
This one gets a solid 4 out of 5 balls!
If you're looking for a cosmic horror book that has a creative premise, check out Beneath. You don't be disappointed. I felt it could have been fleshed out a bit more, but that's just me. All I know is that I won't be looking under a ball pit anymore.
This one gets a solid 4 out of 5 balls!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Have you ever wondered what's at the bottom of one of those ball pits that kids play in at your local fast food joint? This story might answer your question (but you might not like what you discover!!). Told from the standpoint of one of a crew sent to find out what lurks in the deep, this short book will totally grab your attention and creep you out!
I was reminded of "The Thing" with shades of Lovecraft as the cosmic horror unfolds. There are plenty of creepy moments and just enough gore to satisfy the reader. The author has created a unique plot line and I recommend this one to anyone who enjoys cosmic horror.
I was reminded of "The Thing" with shades of Lovecraft as the cosmic horror unfolds. There are plenty of creepy moments and just enough gore to satisfy the reader. The author has created a unique plot line and I recommend this one to anyone who enjoys cosmic horror.
Review of advance copy received from Author
First thing first. I had NO idea what I was getting into, let alone what this story would turn into.
That being said, this author has grown on me over the past 2 years. He has a way to create an atmosphere that is dark, bleak, and yet personable.
In a short amount of time I felt like I understood the characters and shared the obvious "WTF?" factor as their descent into insanity ensued. It's only 60 pages but it pacts a punch.
Best way I can define it is a little bit from The Mist and a touch of Event Horizon. The author admitted this was the first he wrote something like this, but I'm glad he did.
That being said, this author has grown on me over the past 2 years. He has a way to create an atmosphere that is dark, bleak, and yet personable.
In a short amount of time I felt like I understood the characters and shared the obvious "WTF?" factor as their descent into insanity ensued. It's only 60 pages but it pacts a punch.
Best way I can define it is a little bit from The Mist and a touch of Event Horizon. The author admitted this was the first he wrote something like this, but I'm glad he did.
Read
August 25, 2026🎈Beneath🎈 ARC Review
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It was an absolute privilege to get an advanced copy of this novellete. In Beneath we follow a team of researchers sent into a local McChuckles to find out what is in the ball pit and just exactly how deep it is or if there is even a bottom at all. It's told in an epistolry style of journal entry and audio recordings which is personally one of my favorite styles. As someone with thalassophobia and who was a child with the irrational fear "what if there's something in the ball pit" this story had my whole body on edge from the very beginning. I will definitely be rereading this when my physical copy arrives.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It was an absolute privilege to get an advanced copy of this novellete. In Beneath we follow a team of researchers sent into a local McChuckles to find out what is in the ball pit and just exactly how deep it is or if there is even a bottom at all. It's told in an epistolry style of journal entry and audio recordings which is personally one of my favorite styles. As someone with thalassophobia and who was a child with the irrational fear "what if there's something in the ball pit" this story had my whole body on edge from the very beginning. I will definitely be rereading this when my physical copy arrives.
September 1, 2026
3.5 rounded up to 4
Well this was a bizarre little read! really enjoyed the way this Story was told I'm a big fan of found footage and it was done really well here This was a short read, less than 100 pages but it did a good Job of getting a reasonably Complex plot accross.
That being said, there was Just Something missing for me. I found this reminicant ot Stories like The Deep by Nick Cutter and Movies like Event Horizon, both of which I love, but this didn't give me that Claustrophobic dread that I wanted from it.
Nevertheless if you enjoy mind bending Cosmic horror with plenty of gore, Beneath is definitely one to add to your TBR!
Well this was a bizarre little read! really enjoyed the way this Story was told I'm a big fan of found footage and it was done really well here This was a short read, less than 100 pages but it did a good Job of getting a reasonably Complex plot accross.
That being said, there was Just Something missing for me. I found this reminicant ot Stories like The Deep by Nick Cutter and Movies like Event Horizon, both of which I love, but this didn't give me that Claustrophobic dread that I wanted from it.
Nevertheless if you enjoy mind bending Cosmic horror with plenty of gore, Beneath is definitely one to add to your TBR!
August 26, 2026
I READ THIS AS AN ARC
I don’t know what I thought this would be but it wasn’t what I expected. I felt myself slipping slowly into insanity like the MC.
The cover alone made me want to read this when the author reached out asking for people to ARC, who doesn’t love a good ball pit??
Having worked in a soft play centre I can attest that I have found some… things, in the bottom of the ball pit. Though nothing quite like this.
It was well written and I don’t know if I was SUPPOSED to find it funny at times, but I did. It wasn’t really my thing in the end but I didn’t hate it.
I don’t know what I thought this would be but it wasn’t what I expected. I felt myself slipping slowly into insanity like the MC.
The cover alone made me want to read this when the author reached out asking for people to ARC, who doesn’t love a good ball pit??
Having worked in a soft play centre I can attest that I have found some… things, in the bottom of the ball pit. Though nothing quite like this.
It was well written and I don’t know if I was SUPPOSED to find it funny at times, but I did. It wasn’t really my thing in the end but I didn’t hate it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you are a fan of cosmic horror then you will highly enjoy this story. What I loved is how the story played out and where it played out as well, It had a mix of found footage and journal entries and keeping spoiler free, of trying to decent to the bottom of something mysterious to find its origins. It has its moments of gore and some nasty bloody parts, but overall just a really solid and fun story.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This novelette had me glued from page one, and hasn't let go (and I finished it 2 days ago). Mathew Salinas has written a scary, gruesome story about an expedition down into the depths, not of the ocean, but of the ball pit at a McChuckles Restaurant. Yes, there is humor here, but the horror is real. Told completely in an epistolary style, through journals, and audio/video found footage, this story quickly turns any laughs into screams of terror.
Well done, Sir. Very well done
Well done, Sir. Very well done
Review of advance copy received from Author
As an adult I have always kind of side eyed ball pits. As a kid, I loved them but as a parent I know they are an absolute cesspit of germs and bacteria. Now I'm reading about alternate worlds.... No thank you.
The story is super far fetched but so fun. I loved the atmosphere and pace. The book is super short so there is no deep world building or character development really, but I don't think either was needed here. The concept was totally original but used some of my favorite tropes like found footage.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.
The story is super far fetched but so fun. I loved the atmosphere and pace. The book is super short so there is no deep world building or character development really, but I don't think either was needed here. The concept was totally original but used some of my favorite tropes like found footage.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Salinas brings a fresh and original idea to horror with 'Beneath'. The premise was fun and kept you guessing 'til the end, and it was obvious some actual thought was put into the world-building and lore. I would have been more invested with meaningful and better developed characters; the atmosphere, tension building, and terror would have hit a little better.
Overall I would recommend this one as a quick afternoon read just for the originality alone. 3.5/5!
Overall I would recommend this one as a quick afternoon read just for the originality alone. 3.5/5!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I will never be able to look at a ball pit the same way ever again. In Beneath, we have ball pits with no bottoms. What happens when a crew goes into the ball pit is not what I would have thought.
This gory novella definitely takes you on a ride! I never thought I would read a horror like this. It is creepy. It is crazy and maybe even a little weird. Still, I enjoyed it!
Thank you to the author, Matthew Salinas, for the arc to read and review. These opinions are my own.
This gory novella definitely takes you on a ride! I never thought I would read a horror like this. It is creepy. It is crazy and maybe even a little weird. Still, I enjoyed it!
Thank you to the author, Matthew Salinas, for the arc to read and review. These opinions are my own.
August 26, 2026
A submersible dives into, not an ocean, but a ball pit. The mission is to find people that have gone missing and to discover what they can about the endless ball pit.
This was a fantastic cosmic horror novella told found footage style through journal entries and audio recordings. It was told in a fantastic way that didn't seem over the top. It was creepy, intense, and gory. Definitely a fantastic read and I won't look at a ball pit the same.
This was a fantastic cosmic horror novella told found footage style through journal entries and audio recordings. It was told in a fantastic way that didn't seem over the top. It was creepy, intense, and gory. Definitely a fantastic read and I won't look at a ball pit the same.
August 29, 2026
What an absolutely crazy, wild read! I have allowed my children to play in ball pits when they were small. The pit always gave me the goosebumps. When the stories came out about the weird items found in ball pits I did not let them go ever again. After reading this gore filled story I do not know if I will ever be able to look at a ball pit in the same way. Maybe it is a good idea to get rid of the ball pits left….lol.
September 6, 2026
Like if Nick Cutter’s The Deep took place in a McDonald’s ball pit, this short trip through multi-coloured hell is a claustrophobic nightmare of unfathomable possibilities. Salinas drops us into the action and things go from tense to insane in a matter of pages. I ripped through this in a single sitting and put it down with the afterimage of colourful orbs floating in my vision.
Fun, gory, and full of monsters. And balls. So many balls.
Fun, gory, and full of monsters. And balls. So many balls.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews