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Ice Cave
Saxon Smith is on the research trip of a lifetime in Antarctica to explore a remote ice cave system. A previous expedition found hints that the much warmer subsurface caves could support life and Saxon wants to make that discovery and make a name for himself.
The small team descends into a cavern hollowed out of the ice by volcanic activity expecting lichen and arthropods and maybe the remains of extinct life, what they find is a lost world of dinosaurs that have adapted to the permanent twilight, cool temperature, and constrained location.
The expedition now face a terrifying fight for survival against savage theropods that have learned to herd and trap, and with their ice cave ecosystem starting to fail, they’re ravenous.
The small team descends into a cavern hollowed out of the ice by volcanic activity expecting lichen and arthropods and maybe the remains of extinct life, what they find is a lost world of dinosaurs that have adapted to the permanent twilight, cool temperature, and constrained location.
The expedition now face a terrifying fight for survival against savage theropods that have learned to herd and trap, and with their ice cave ecosystem starting to fail, they’re ravenous.
136 pages, Paperback
First published January 21, 2020
154 people are currently reading
131 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
March 11, 2020
So, it's not bad. It's quick moving and I liked our things that chomped. The author took one group of chompy things in a very interesting direction - one I didn't expect. It could use a wee edit for typos.
I didn't like our characters. There are four of them:
* The tool who apparently keeps his brain in his pants
* The wanna be bro who thinks he's very smart
* The most beautiful, sexiest woman in the world, who apparently also keeps her brain in her pants
* The NPC - seriously, she has no personality or purpose
Had the characters been fleshed out more, I'd have liked this better.
I'll not seek out any sequel to this one, but would likely try the author again some time.
I didn't like our characters. There are four of them:
* The tool who apparently keeps his brain in his pants
* The wanna be bro who thinks he's very smart
* The most beautiful, sexiest woman in the world, who apparently also keeps her brain in her pants
* The NPC - seriously, she has no personality or purpose
Had the characters been fleshed out more, I'd have liked this better.
I'll not seek out any sequel to this one, but would likely try the author again some time.
August 28, 2023
This is a fun, fast-paced, not-too-strenuous adventure novella. A group of scientists explore some ice caves in Antarctica and fall into a lost world. Obviously, some of the inhabitants think soft and defenseless humans make a nice snack. Will anyone escape? The story has an interesting twist at the end.
July 18, 2022
This was a super rushed read that turned bloody and deadly real quick. While doing some explorations in Antarctica, a team finds a place hidden under the ice. A place hidden from the world where creatures long thought extinct still roam. When the scientists stumble across life in the depths they think they've hit a goldmine. Every scientist hopes to be the first to explore something, study it and name it. This group however will soon learn to be careful what you wish for. After finding a centipede and delving deeper into the cave system, one by one the group is attacked and taken out. Sadly the biggest foe that we meet are raptors. Long known to be scary, smart and vicious, I was kind of let down that this was the route the author took. I felt like the possibilities were endless and even the raptors seemed to just be normal raptors, nothing special about them even having survived millennia under the ice. Plus given the cover, I was thinking more on the lines of dragon than dinosaur. Overall it was an OK read, super quick but still not as exiting as I'd expected.
May 4, 2020
ANTARCTICA! Very creatively imagined, both the "new world" the scientists discover, and also in their varied responses to the discovery, the dangers, and the consequences. The conclusion is also intriguing, unexpected, and scary.
March 1, 2023
Trigger warnings: gore, body horror, death, blood, animal death, death of a friend, graphic descriptions of dead bodies
2.5 stars
Look, I am ALWAYS going to be here for a lost world style story, and this definitely isn't the first book that I've read where there's a lost world under Antarctica. And I'm even MORE here when the story involves dinosaurs. This one took a LITTLE too long to get to the lost world, while also feeling like it was very rushed. The ending was satisfying, and there were some genuinely shocking moments in here. But it wasn't nearly as good as I was hoping it would be, and I think at least like 30% of that is because the cover has a T rex on it and this only features raptor-y type dinosaurs. Sad face.
2.5 stars
Look, I am ALWAYS going to be here for a lost world style story, and this definitely isn't the first book that I've read where there's a lost world under Antarctica. And I'm even MORE here when the story involves dinosaurs. This one took a LITTLE too long to get to the lost world, while also feeling like it was very rushed. The ending was satisfying, and there were some genuinely shocking moments in here. But it wasn't nearly as good as I was hoping it would be, and I think at least like 30% of that is because the cover has a T rex on it and this only features raptor-y type dinosaurs. Sad face.
February 4, 2021
Saxon enjoys his time in the laboratory but he can’t pass up the opportunity to go with three other Scientists to Antarctica and follow up on a previous expedition’s findings of a warmer subsurface of caves. The possibility they might discover life in Antarctica – or even a new species – thrills Saxon and he knows this is his chance to make a name for himself. But what they find fills the team with fear and awe – can they survive where their curiosity has led them?
I absolutely love “monster eats the crew” style of stories and add in a Scientific exploration and Antarctica and there was no chance I could pass up on this story. I was really pleased therefore when my whim paid off and this was a great, quick read. I enjoyed Saxon’s character and also found the other three members of their party to be interesting and different enough they didn’t feel like cardboard cut outs. There was some understandable – though slightly cliched – tension between the other characters but since this is the authors first book I was willing to give him some slack. There’s also a few typo’s that I really feel the editors should have picked up and will hopefully be fixed in future editions.
That said I found the meat of the story to be really well handled. I enjoyed the pace – while the length of the story is somewhat short there isn’t a lot of fat or waffling which really pleased me. The story starts as the expedition is beginning – already entering the ice cave in Antarctica and we can see the various elements of the team dynamic already in play. This helped me get a good feel for the other characters and I was glad I enjoyed Saxon’s perspective and character.
Some readers might find a few small sections of the story a little too close to horror or gory for their liking. Personally, I felt the author walked a good balance between a monsters/realistic style of writing and going too far into the horror/thriller dark edginess. To be fair though, there is a bit of “blood and guts” once the monsters start killing off the party. So I feel readers should be aware that while there’s no titillation or glorification of the violence, neither is this a “behind closed doors” style of story either.
While the trope of “hidden ecosystem in Antarctica” is not new I felt the author brought enough novelty and his own imagination to the table that it felt fresh and kept my attention from the start. I admit I’m a sucker for these sorts of stories but I feel this book was really well written – particularly considering it’s the author’s first. I felt the monsters were extremely creepy and realistic – I got a few good frights while reading and the tension and thriller aspects of the story were really well handled.
I really enjoyed this story and will definitely be keeping an eye out for more from this author. Recommended.
I absolutely love “monster eats the crew” style of stories and add in a Scientific exploration and Antarctica and there was no chance I could pass up on this story. I was really pleased therefore when my whim paid off and this was a great, quick read. I enjoyed Saxon’s character and also found the other three members of their party to be interesting and different enough they didn’t feel like cardboard cut outs. There was some understandable – though slightly cliched – tension between the other characters but since this is the authors first book I was willing to give him some slack. There’s also a few typo’s that I really feel the editors should have picked up and will hopefully be fixed in future editions.
That said I found the meat of the story to be really well handled. I enjoyed the pace – while the length of the story is somewhat short there isn’t a lot of fat or waffling which really pleased me. The story starts as the expedition is beginning – already entering the ice cave in Antarctica and we can see the various elements of the team dynamic already in play. This helped me get a good feel for the other characters and I was glad I enjoyed Saxon’s perspective and character.
Some readers might find a few small sections of the story a little too close to horror or gory for their liking. Personally, I felt the author walked a good balance between a monsters/realistic style of writing and going too far into the horror/thriller dark edginess. To be fair though, there is a bit of “blood and guts” once the monsters start killing off the party. So I feel readers should be aware that while there’s no titillation or glorification of the violence, neither is this a “behind closed doors” style of story either.
While the trope of “hidden ecosystem in Antarctica” is not new I felt the author brought enough novelty and his own imagination to the table that it felt fresh and kept my attention from the start. I admit I’m a sucker for these sorts of stories but I feel this book was really well written – particularly considering it’s the author’s first. I felt the monsters were extremely creepy and realistic – I got a few good frights while reading and the tension and thriller aspects of the story were really well handled.
I really enjoyed this story and will definitely be keeping an eye out for more from this author. Recommended.
October 7, 2020
This book *HEAVILY* plagiarizes James Rollins' Subterranean. Do not buy it. Do not read it. Do not support plagiarism. Thank f*ck that Amazon allowed me to get my money back on this piece of literal garbage.
April 17, 2022
The discovery of a lost ecosystem in the Antarctica tundra?! Yes, please!
While I wish there was a bit more to the novella, I still really enjoyed the story.
While I wish there was a bit more to the novella, I still really enjoyed the story.
Read
January 28, 2020Ice Cave
There will be a sequel. I liked the way the book started off and was really excited to read it but I had to skim thru all of the f words and got distracted. Therefore, two stars. Probably won't read the next one. Hate it. Could have been so good.
There will be a sequel. I liked the way the book started off and was really excited to read it but I had to skim thru all of the f words and got distracted. Therefore, two stars. Probably won't read the next one. Hate it. Could have been so good.
February 8, 2020
This was an interesting read. The story had my attention throughout and is well written. A new author for me and a different type of genre from my usual reads. Glad I read and recommend reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 5, 2020
This is actually a 3 star book, as characters were not really consistent or fleshed out enough to have so much focus on motives and personalities.
Writing itself is also a bit inconsistent at times where you have to reread in order to figure out who did say that.
However, when the book flowed it did well enough that I was fully immersed.
What did work for the book and why I end of giving it 4 stars:
- interesting spin on a tried formula
- fast paced and short. A lot of its short comings would have been harder to ignorer if the story had been longer.
- there actually was an aftermath which is rare in these kind of books
- the protagonist grew on me after a while
Writing itself is also a bit inconsistent at times where you have to reread in order to figure out who did say that.
However, when the book flowed it did well enough that I was fully immersed.
What did work for the book and why I end of giving it 4 stars:
- interesting spin on a tried formula
- fast paced and short. A lot of its short comings would have been harder to ignorer if the story had been longer.
- there actually was an aftermath which is rare in these kind of books
- the protagonist grew on me after a while
January 15, 2021
Not my normal type of book....there was mention of an established relationship but that’s it. Would have liked to see the aftermath for him mentally and with Doug. For instance....Doug is a solider and possibly has seen action so it’s possible he may have or understand PTSD or survivors guilt. If the guys stayed together it would be interesting to see if he picked up on Saxon’s because I don’t see how Saxon would not have any. Overall, I felt like I was reading an action movie and I liked that. It was pretty good. Also there were some funny lines l liked; “I left my solider at home but I have a knife.” Haha.
August 28, 2020
This is a bit different than I have been reading lately in that it involved dinosaurs instead of bigfoot. It was a nice change of pace though you knew ever bad decision they made in the beginning of the book would more than come back to haunt them.
The characters were interesting and the action pretty fast paced. There was a few times when something happened quickly that I wish he would have spent a big more time on and times when I thought he had spent too much time on something that could have been shortened.
Not too gory either which was nice.
The characters were interesting and the action pretty fast paced. There was a few times when something happened quickly that I wish he would have spent a big more time on and times when I thought he had spent too much time on something that could have been shortened.
Not too gory either which was nice.
October 29, 2020
A fun read
This was a fairly short story. I read most of it while standing in a very long line to vote for the 2020 election. Hey needed something to do besides focus on how uncomfortable the face mask was while outside in muggy weather in a ridiculously long and very slow moving line.
I think I’d have liked it to have been a bit longer to be honest. I love stories like this.
Decent characters. Very descriptive and easy to build that mental image of where the characters are ans what was going on.
Quite enjoyed it.
This was a fairly short story. I read most of it while standing in a very long line to vote for the 2020 election. Hey needed something to do besides focus on how uncomfortable the face mask was while outside in muggy weather in a ridiculously long and very slow moving line.
I think I’d have liked it to have been a bit longer to be honest. I love stories like this.
Decent characters. Very descriptive and easy to build that mental image of where the characters are ans what was going on.
Quite enjoyed it.
January 16, 2022
thriller fell down the hole
The story is laced with plot holes.
1.The location of the unground cavern was to close to a research station to not’ e had seismic testing of the area not to have found it sooner.
2. The size of the area doesn’t fill accrete to support a large population for diversity and if it was larger it would’ve set it sooner to be found.
3. With all those people living together for 6 months leave let room for secret relishing-ships.
4. The groups idiotic idea of not get supplies for a long expedition was dumb when exploring an ice cavern.
The story is laced with plot holes.
1.The location of the unground cavern was to close to a research station to not’ e had seismic testing of the area not to have found it sooner.
2. The size of the area doesn’t fill accrete to support a large population for diversity and if it was larger it would’ve set it sooner to be found.
3. With all those people living together for 6 months leave let room for secret relishing-ships.
4. The groups idiotic idea of not get supplies for a long expedition was dumb when exploring an ice cavern.
January 20, 2025
The cover looked rather spectacular, some classic winter horror set in Antarctica. After the first chapters we were back on the ground: An expedition team, some rivalry among the team members, discovers some lost world underneath some ice tunnels. Is something alive in this world? Well, as one of the female members is taken by a mysterious beast the two main protagonists try to find and rescue her. Can she be saved? Your typical creature feature horror. If you're a fan of Jurassic Park you might risk a glance. Otherwise no absolute must read. Entertaining at parts though!
November 15, 2021
I had such a fun time reading this book! It hit some of my favorite subjects, and I am a total sucker for sci-fi adventure mixed with horror and suspense. This novella took me no time to read. I couldn't put it down! For a full spoiler free review, please read my blog post.
https://robinknabel.squarespace.com/r...
I enjoyed Nichols' other novella The Lost Sea and am looking forward to reading more!
https://robinknabel.squarespace.com/r...
I enjoyed Nichols' other novella The Lost Sea and am looking forward to reading more!
June 19, 2020
Could have been so much more.
Interesting idea. Book description made you expect so much more then you get. Is a short story not even properly edited. Basic errors that are easy to notice, words missing from sentences or in wrong order.
BATA readers exist for a reason people, so that what you publish is actually worth reading!
Interesting idea. Book description made you expect so much more then you get. Is a short story not even properly edited. Basic errors that are easy to notice, words missing from sentences or in wrong order.
BATA readers exist for a reason people, so that what you publish is actually worth reading!
June 21, 2020
4 1\2 Stars
This one was pretty good. It didn't have the best reviews so I wasn't expecting much so was pleasantly surprised. An expedition to the Antarctic discovers a cave system that goes deep underground to a lost world. Four go into the lost world, question is how many will come out.
This one was pretty good. It didn't have the best reviews so I wasn't expecting much so was pleasantly surprised. An expedition to the Antarctic discovers a cave system that goes deep underground to a lost world. Four go into the lost world, question is how many will come out.
December 21, 2021
Good but not great
This was an interesting story of four scientists who find dinosaurs living under the ice in Antarctica. However, for scientists they didn't make very smart decisions.
This was an interesting story of four scientists who find dinosaurs living under the ice in Antarctica. However, for scientists they didn't make very smart decisions.
February 19, 2022
interesting short story
Interesting short story. Has potential to lead somewhere. I have read a few books now about finding dinosaurs waiting for an author to lead the story on but was a good read.
Interesting short story. Has potential to lead somewhere. I have read a few books now about finding dinosaurs waiting for an author to lead the story on but was a good read.
March 5, 2020
Good story
A good story though was short and felt rushed to me. A different take on a dinosaur tale. Interesting characters.
A good story though was short and felt rushed to me. A different take on a dinosaur tale. Interesting characters.
March 14, 2020
Very strong story and if you're looking for anything remotely resembling happiness, it's not here. Objectively, this is a 4* but for my personal reading taste it's a lot lower.
June 20, 2020
Primordial Island.
It started out fairly good. Began to lose interest after a few chapters. Read like a made for tv series. Ok but not riveting.
It started out fairly good. Began to lose interest after a few chapters. Read like a made for tv series. Ok but not riveting.
July 13, 2020
Boring
Predictable. Typical. No science. There is not much else to say about it. I would not recommend this to anyone.
Predictable. Typical. No science. There is not much else to say about it. I would not recommend this to anyone.
October 1, 2020
Fast moving Dinosaur fiction!
Good book - moves quickly, good development of characters and suspense. recommend for sci fi fans of lost world books.
Good book - moves quickly, good development of characters and suspense. recommend for sci fi fans of lost world books.
January 7, 2021
Good pace and good story, would have liked more dinosaurs in it but could open up for a possible sequel.
February 20, 2021
Good
I like stories about rinks and this was good, but too short. Need to wait for next book. I liked.
I like stories about rinks and this was good, but too short. Need to wait for next book. I liked.
July 1, 2021
Enjoyed reading it. Is there a part 2?
September 4, 2021
It was pretty good. Kind of came off like a B movie but other than that it was enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews