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The Cave
Trish Boreanaz lost everything when her grandpa died - her girlfriend, job, and mental health. After the funeral, she goes on a soul-searching hiking expedition by herself in remembrance of her grandfather. While on the trip, Trish suffers an accident that barely leaves her alive. She finds shelter in a cave deep in the woods. What Trish experiences in The Cave will haunt her forever. Trish is on a mission to prove to the world that she isn't just the crazy lunatic that her parents believe she is, but that what she went through is real. She will stop at nothing to fix her life and save her soul.
Will Trish be able to prove to her parents that just because she has schizophrenia doesn't mean that she is making everything up? Will Trish be able to protect everyone around her from herself? This novel will delve into the world of mental health, the connotations that come with it, and one woman's fight to live.
Will Trish be able to prove to her parents that just because she has schizophrenia doesn't mean that she is making everything up? Will Trish be able to protect everyone around her from herself? This novel will delve into the world of mental health, the connotations that come with it, and one woman's fight to live.
- GenresHorror
138 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2021
3 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 24, 2021
The storyline was intriguing and there was a nice blend between the psychological and supernatural. There were a few too many spelling and grammatical errors that had a tendency to take me out of the moment unfortunately.
Overall, it’s a debut novel worth reading and I look forward to seeing what the author puts out next.
Overall, it’s a debut novel worth reading and I look forward to seeing what the author puts out next.
April 1, 2021
The Cave by Ksenia Murray is a book about pain, loss and the inability to be truly yourself.
Let’s start with the positives, this is superbly written and well paced, everything you read feels vital to the story and nothing is lingered on more than needs be. When it comes to the horror it is superbly described, you feel every drop of blood and the images it places into your mind show vividly the gruesome nature and events that take place (and believe me, sometimes it’s hard to stomach some of the shocking things that take place, but that’s a good thing). The characters are well written and realised, they are fleshed out and real, you understand where they are coming from, there wants, needs, ambitions and how they view each other.
There are some negatives though, in regards to the editing there are some errors (a few spelling mistakes, shifting from past to present to past tense, repetition of phrases, characters being mentioned before their introduction). I also found the dialogue never felt very natural, there is also an interaction early on in the story which I would totally cut but can’t go into that because of spoilers.
None of these negatives bring you out of the book though, this is a very good and fast read at just under 200 pages, the environment feels real, the characters relatable and the story intense and at times horrifying. This is definitely something to add to your list!
7/10
Let’s start with the positives, this is superbly written and well paced, everything you read feels vital to the story and nothing is lingered on more than needs be. When it comes to the horror it is superbly described, you feel every drop of blood and the images it places into your mind show vividly the gruesome nature and events that take place (and believe me, sometimes it’s hard to stomach some of the shocking things that take place, but that’s a good thing). The characters are well written and realised, they are fleshed out and real, you understand where they are coming from, there wants, needs, ambitions and how they view each other.
There are some negatives though, in regards to the editing there are some errors (a few spelling mistakes, shifting from past to present to past tense, repetition of phrases, characters being mentioned before their introduction). I also found the dialogue never felt very natural, there is also an interaction early on in the story which I would totally cut but can’t go into that because of spoilers.
None of these negatives bring you out of the book though, this is a very good and fast read at just under 200 pages, the environment feels real, the characters relatable and the story intense and at times horrifying. This is definitely something to add to your list!
7/10
March 3, 2021
3.5 stars.
Dark places, creepy strangers, fragile families, and a hint of claustrophobia. These are the ingredients of this debut novella from Ksenia Murray, a most ambitious writer who is not afraid to go places few storytellers dare venture to.
There are so many magically wicked moments in The Cave, so many mind-bogglers, that I feel it would be traitorous to give away any of the plot---except that we’ve got a spirited heroine pitted against evils both outside and inside the human heart.
The story is remarkable. The characters are equally remarkable. The thrill count? Feverishly high. And damn, that cover!
While I did enjoy it very much, I must mention that there are some proofreading errors and grammatical issues. The frequency of these two is not as serious as other works I’ve come across, but their presence cannot be denied. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I was able to overlook these for the sake of the story, given how unique it is. To put it one way, The Cave is like a best friend. You know they’ve got some wrinkles, they’ve made some mistakes, but you still love ‘em to death.
So, without further ado, meet your new BFF! All you have to do is hit that orange “Buy Now with 1-Click” button.
Dark places, creepy strangers, fragile families, and a hint of claustrophobia. These are the ingredients of this debut novella from Ksenia Murray, a most ambitious writer who is not afraid to go places few storytellers dare venture to.
There are so many magically wicked moments in The Cave, so many mind-bogglers, that I feel it would be traitorous to give away any of the plot---except that we’ve got a spirited heroine pitted against evils both outside and inside the human heart.
The story is remarkable. The characters are equally remarkable. The thrill count? Feverishly high. And damn, that cover!
While I did enjoy it very much, I must mention that there are some proofreading errors and grammatical issues. The frequency of these two is not as serious as other works I’ve come across, but their presence cannot be denied. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I was able to overlook these for the sake of the story, given how unique it is. To put it one way, The Cave is like a best friend. You know they’ve got some wrinkles, they’ve made some mistakes, but you still love ‘em to death.
So, without further ado, meet your new BFF! All you have to do is hit that orange “Buy Now with 1-Click” button.
April 14, 2021
One of the best new women horror authors I have come across in a long time!
I'm a huge fan of Ksenia Murray, and this book will show you exactly why. The Cave has so many shocking moments, so many twists and turns, that you be hard pressed to put the book down. In fact, I finished reading it in about 3-4 days. Murray expertly weaves an original, unique horror story with the themes of loss, grief, and most importantly, the issue mental illness which is explored in heartfelt detail. Throughout the book, you're never quite sure if the main character is truly going through demonic possession, or if she is suffering from severe psychosis, but you'll find yourself really pulling for her and hope that she can save herself from the torment she's going through. A startling and beautifully written book!
I'm a huge fan of Ksenia Murray, and this book will show you exactly why. The Cave has so many shocking moments, so many twists and turns, that you be hard pressed to put the book down. In fact, I finished reading it in about 3-4 days. Murray expertly weaves an original, unique horror story with the themes of loss, grief, and most importantly, the issue mental illness which is explored in heartfelt detail. Throughout the book, you're never quite sure if the main character is truly going through demonic possession, or if she is suffering from severe psychosis, but you'll find yourself really pulling for her and hope that she can save herself from the torment she's going through. A startling and beautifully written book!
April 13, 2021
"The Cave" by Ksenia Murray was very well paced. There was never a point while reading it where I felt bored or where the story was rushed. Everything seemed to happen quite naturally.
**Trigger Warning and Potential Spoilers**
There is animal abuse, self-harm, rape, and suicide in this book and a few of these instances I could see coming and was able to mentally prepare myself, but others I did not and I actually had to skip a few paragraphs.
What I liked:
The main character appears to have schizophrenia and since the entire story is filtered through her point of view occasionally people close to her act completely different then they did just a few chapters earlier. Details change. Now, I'm conflicted, because I'm not sure if this is purposeful or not. If it is purposeful than I truly love it. If it isn't purposeful then it means this might have needed a few more read throughs.
Some of the scares and visuals are probably going to stay with me for a long time
What I had a problem with:
I didn't care for the dialogue. It felt like all of the characters had the same voice.
There were a few plot points that I wish would have been expanded upon. For example, the first time the main character was forced away when she was 17. It felt important, but the reader wasn't given any more. Also the older man from the beginning of the novel never comes back or is mentioned again. Feels like a lost opportunity to address generational trauma - did her grandfather go through something like this as well? Why did the cop have bruises on her face?
It was hard to have empathy for any of the characters. I think this is because we viewed everyone through Trish and she hated everyone, but it made it hard to connect. I really liked Sausage but... yeah I had to skip that part.
Overall there are a lot of interesting ideas in "The Cave" which I feel should actually be a longer book. I think it has a lot to say about mental health, healing, and trauma but doesn't allow itself the length to fully explore it. It has definitely got me thinking though and that, to me, is a sign of a good book.
**Trigger Warning and Potential Spoilers**
There is animal abuse, self-harm, rape, and suicide in this book and a few of these instances I could see coming and was able to mentally prepare myself, but others I did not and I actually had to skip a few paragraphs.
What I liked:
The main character appears to have schizophrenia and since the entire story is filtered through her point of view occasionally people close to her act completely different then they did just a few chapters earlier. Details change. Now, I'm conflicted, because I'm not sure if this is purposeful or not. If it is purposeful than I truly love it. If it isn't purposeful then it means this might have needed a few more read throughs.
Some of the scares and visuals are probably going to stay with me for a long time
What I had a problem with:
I didn't care for the dialogue. It felt like all of the characters had the same voice.
There were a few plot points that I wish would have been expanded upon. For example, the first time the main character was forced away when she was 17. It felt important, but the reader wasn't given any more. Also the older man from the beginning of the novel never comes back or is mentioned again. Feels like a lost opportunity to address generational trauma - did her grandfather go through something like this as well? Why did the cop have bruises on her face?
It was hard to have empathy for any of the characters. I think this is because we viewed everyone through Trish and she hated everyone, but it made it hard to connect. I really liked Sausage but... yeah I had to skip that part.
Overall there are a lot of interesting ideas in "The Cave" which I feel should actually be a longer book. I think it has a lot to say about mental health, healing, and trauma but doesn't allow itself the length to fully explore it. It has definitely got me thinking though and that, to me, is a sign of a good book.
March 12, 2021
4.5 rounded up!
I really enjoyed this book. It is fast paced and to the point with no faff which im defintely a fan of.
There are some intense moments in this that really made me have to pause and take a breath.
RECOMMEND :)
I really enjoyed this book. It is fast paced and to the point with no faff which im defintely a fan of.
There are some intense moments in this that really made me have to pause and take a breath.
RECOMMEND :)
June 15, 2021
The cover is great ! If I had encountered this book in the store I definitely would have picked it up ! And I like caves, The Descent is my jam !
You can clearly tell this is a debut novel, the choice of words, the errors in the English language, the layout of the book isn't optimal, ... nitpickers would have a field day, but not me. I liked this book and its unique story, it was worth my time !
The survival horror aspect works well for me, the overall pacing/flow is good, the worshiping was a nice touch (gave me a Lords of Salem vibe), kudos for the ballsy venture in the territory of animal cruelty, shocking, gory, ... The biggest problem I have with this book are the many unexplored threads.
Curious what the next book from this author will be. A follow-up to "The Cave" would be great !
You can clearly tell this is a debut novel, the choice of words, the errors in the English language, the layout of the book isn't optimal, ... nitpickers would have a field day, but not me. I liked this book and its unique story, it was worth my time !
The survival horror aspect works well for me, the overall pacing/flow is good, the worshiping was a nice touch (gave me a Lords of Salem vibe), kudos for the ballsy venture in the territory of animal cruelty, shocking, gory, ... The biggest problem I have with this book are the many unexplored threads.
Curious what the next book from this author will be. A follow-up to "The Cave" would be great !
April 2, 2021
Trish mourning the loss of her Grandfather goes on a hike in remembrance of him, on which she suffers a life changing accident. Finding shelter in a Cave she encounters a dark entity and a bargain is made. Surviving her ordeal Trish must convince her family and friends that she experienced a malevolent prescence who is still with her.
Murray provides a perfect blend of gory and psychological horror throughout The Cave. The extreme gore of the accident had me wincing at points (I never do well with a broken bone) and the later psychological elements of the novel kept me on the edge of my seat.
The Cave provokes the question of what is real or not, with the narrator being unreliable. Are the manifestation all part of a mental health condition, PTSD or an actual demonic possesion. This is genuinely unsettling as it could be interpreted either way and each answer creates difficult questions on how we perceive Trish and her family and friends.
A great debut novel that was a pleasure to read and review
Murray provides a perfect blend of gory and psychological horror throughout The Cave. The extreme gore of the accident had me wincing at points (I never do well with a broken bone) and the later psychological elements of the novel kept me on the edge of my seat.
The Cave provokes the question of what is real or not, with the narrator being unreliable. Are the manifestation all part of a mental health condition, PTSD or an actual demonic possesion. This is genuinely unsettling as it could be interpreted either way and each answer creates difficult questions on how we perceive Trish and her family and friends.
A great debut novel that was a pleasure to read and review
March 5, 2021
What I love most about this fantastic novel debut besides the terrific characters and prose is how it reminds me of unrelated movies & books. Well, I previously thought they had nothing in common. I expected it to remind of me of The Descent films but it really didn't. On second reading, I thought a lot about The Evil Dead even though it's very different but somehow it has the same sinister spirit that slowly builds intense horror. It also reminds me of Peter Benchley's post JAWS efforts like Beast and Creature. It all comes down to the fear of the unknown and when curiosity goes too far and a line should be drawn to not continue exploration. To make the reader feel these emotions and fears is a sign of great talent especially in terms of powerful description. I, for one, can't wait to see where this author takes us next.
March 12, 2021
We meet the grieving & sorrowful Trish in the opening pages. What quickly follows is her journey into intense psychological torment over losing an important part of the past and the present. Which will be worse for Trish as she travels this taut road? Her internal torment or those external horrors pressing in on her at a quickening pace? You decide. A must read for true horror fans. An A+ for the author!
December 13, 2021
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
After having read Ksenia’s newest collection, ‘Compendium of Creatures,’ I snagged her novella ‘The Cave’ and dove in.
I wasn’t sure what to expect, other than this sounded right up my alley.
A story about a young woman who goes on a hike and discovers something odd. Perfect.
What I liked: The story follows Trish, struggling with the reality that her beloved Grandfather has died. She doesn’t get along with her mother and now, feeling alone, decides to go on the hike her and her Grandfather had been planning.
The story itself is part soul-searching, part claustrophobic thriller. As with most dark fiction stories centered on a hike, things go sideways quickly and we soon find Trish in a survive-at-all-costs scenario.
I really rooted for Trish, I wanted to see her survive, discover what was happening, what the pull was and ultimately what was behind that voice.
The story does a great job at examining dysfunctional family relationships, while also acting as an ode to nature. These two worked well together and I think for me, was the highlight of the story itself.
What I didn’t like: The pacing of this book sometimes felt off. I can’t put my finger on it, as Murray created tension and intrigue, but for a book that is roughly 140 pages long, I’d normally read this in a single sitting, but found myself at times struggling to get back into parts of it.
Why you should buy this: If you’re looking for a different take on survival/something in the woods, look no further. This had some really creepy scenes and some truly unsettling moments and Trish was a great lead character.
After having read Ksenia’s newest collection, ‘Compendium of Creatures,’ I snagged her novella ‘The Cave’ and dove in.
I wasn’t sure what to expect, other than this sounded right up my alley.
A story about a young woman who goes on a hike and discovers something odd. Perfect.
What I liked: The story follows Trish, struggling with the reality that her beloved Grandfather has died. She doesn’t get along with her mother and now, feeling alone, decides to go on the hike her and her Grandfather had been planning.
The story itself is part soul-searching, part claustrophobic thriller. As with most dark fiction stories centered on a hike, things go sideways quickly and we soon find Trish in a survive-at-all-costs scenario.
I really rooted for Trish, I wanted to see her survive, discover what was happening, what the pull was and ultimately what was behind that voice.
The story does a great job at examining dysfunctional family relationships, while also acting as an ode to nature. These two worked well together and I think for me, was the highlight of the story itself.
What I didn’t like: The pacing of this book sometimes felt off. I can’t put my finger on it, as Murray created tension and intrigue, but for a book that is roughly 140 pages long, I’d normally read this in a single sitting, but found myself at times struggling to get back into parts of it.
Why you should buy this: If you’re looking for a different take on survival/something in the woods, look no further. This had some really creepy scenes and some truly unsettling moments and Trish was a great lead character.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews