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Horror Lurks Beneath #2
They Cling to the Hull
A cruise vacation becomes a fight for survival and sanity...
Riley boards the cruise ship Aria with plans to steal her inheritance back from her wealthy uncle.
But this isn’t the Aria from the brochure. It’s been replaced. The hallways bend in on themselves in impossible ways. Monstrous threats creep out of the off-limits Deck Two. And a stranger claims this has all happened before, in a skyscraper that appeared overnight.
Riley must survive the haunted ship and solve its mysteries, or the Aria will claim her soul forever.
They Cling to the Hull is the terrifying sequel to It Waits on the Top Floor, from the “unhinged imagination” of “one hell of a writer” (Shirley Jackson Award winner Daryl Gregory).
This series is meant to be read in numerical order.
Riley boards the cruise ship Aria with plans to steal her inheritance back from her wealthy uncle.
But this isn’t the Aria from the brochure. It’s been replaced. The hallways bend in on themselves in impossible ways. Monstrous threats creep out of the off-limits Deck Two. And a stranger claims this has all happened before, in a skyscraper that appeared overnight.
Riley must survive the haunted ship and solve its mysteries, or the Aria will claim her soul forever.
They Cling to the Hull is the terrifying sequel to It Waits on the Top Floor, from the “unhinged imagination” of “one hell of a writer” (Shirley Jackson Award winner Daryl Gregory).
This series is meant to be read in numerical order.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 20, 2021
56 people are currently reading
507 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
July 16, 2024
Ben Farthing, boy, did you not disappoint with this sequel! Riley boards a cruise ship expecting it to be the Aria, only to realize after she's onboard that this ship is nothing like the advertised one. In fact, she has never encountered such chilling monstrosities—and no, I'm not referring to the elderly individuals aboard.
As Riley experiences the secrets the ship reveals to her, she soon encounters our favorite father, Chris. Together, they work to uncover the purpose behind the appearance of this otherworldly vessel.
'They Cling to the Hull' was creepy and exciting—I loved it. Honestly, I didn't want to finish it just so I could make it last longer. I know it might sound like I'm overhyping it, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially as one of my first reads of the year. I enjoyed the second one more than the first. :)
As Riley experiences the secrets the ship reveals to her, she soon encounters our favorite father, Chris. Together, they work to uncover the purpose behind the appearance of this otherworldly vessel.
'They Cling to the Hull' was creepy and exciting—I loved it. Honestly, I didn't want to finish it just so I could make it last longer. I know it might sound like I'm overhyping it, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially as one of my first reads of the year. I enjoyed the second one more than the first. :)
August 29, 2021
This is now my third book by Ben Farthing, so he must be doing something right! 😉
This is the sequel to "It Waits On The Top Floor" which I thoroughly enjoyed!
It was great to revisit Chris and Eddie after their eerie escapades in the first book. It's more about Chris in this book and the lengths he will go to to secure a stable future for Eddie and a possible takeover of the world as we know it!
I enjoyed this book even more than the previous as Ben's writing is more fluid, showing his progression as a writer, and the story is once again action packed, fast paced, creepy, surreal and horrific! I couldn't put it down and was thinking about it when I wasnt reading.
Another great cosmic/sci-fi horror from Ben, and it looks like there may be a third book to this series!! I for one, very much hope so, and it will be an instant buy from me!! 😁
🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
This is the sequel to "It Waits On The Top Floor" which I thoroughly enjoyed!
It was great to revisit Chris and Eddie after their eerie escapades in the first book. It's more about Chris in this book and the lengths he will go to to secure a stable future for Eddie and a possible takeover of the world as we know it!
I enjoyed this book even more than the previous as Ben's writing is more fluid, showing his progression as a writer, and the story is once again action packed, fast paced, creepy, surreal and horrific! I couldn't put it down and was thinking about it when I wasnt reading.
Another great cosmic/sci-fi horror from Ben, and it looks like there may be a third book to this series!! I for one, very much hope so, and it will be an instant buy from me!! 😁
🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
October 8, 2021
This was a great sequel - there's always the worry that follow up books won't be as good as the first, but no issues with this one. It takes a different approach than the first book and I think it pays off well for doing so.
It was great to see Chris again, but I'm glad he left Eddie at home, and I really enjoyed learning more about Riley - though I did want to shake her at first when she didn't believe Chris. The descriptions and scene-setting were spot on again and, scarily, I could picture everything.
The suspense was there throughout, plus all the usual horror elements, but this time there was also a fight between some crazy cultist along with the new threat from the Deviser. So much going on kept me reading until the end in one sitting - I was completely hooked and can't wait to see if there's a third installment.
Keep up the great work Ben, I really hope there's more books to come and maybe Riley could join Chris on his mission, as they're a good team? I recommend this to anyone who loves horror, and if you haven't already read "It Waits on the Top Floor", you need to do so.
*I received a complimentary copy of the e-book from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
It was great to see Chris again, but I'm glad he left Eddie at home, and I really enjoyed learning more about Riley - though I did want to shake her at first when she didn't believe Chris. The descriptions and scene-setting were spot on again and, scarily, I could picture everything.
The suspense was there throughout, plus all the usual horror elements, but this time there was also a fight between some crazy cultist along with the new threat from the Deviser. So much going on kept me reading until the end in one sitting - I was completely hooked and can't wait to see if there's a third installment.
Keep up the great work Ben, I really hope there's more books to come and maybe Riley could join Chris on his mission, as they're a good team? I recommend this to anyone who loves horror, and if you haven't already read "It Waits on the Top Floor", you need to do so.
*I received a complimentary copy of the e-book from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
August 24, 2021
This series is simply terrific. It’s spine-chilling over and over in a way that only well written sci-fi horror can deliver!
Riley, an intelligent young woman seeking a future that doesn’t include minimum wage, discovers a purpose important beyond her wildest dreams (or nightmares). Chris, a new father with baggage from the first book, is on a quest to save the world for his new son. Together they fight horrific alien threats, a delusional cult of alien worshippers (including Riley’s uncle), and their own terrors. All on a monstrous cruise ship of mysterious provenance.
Don’t worry if you haven’t read the first book - Mr. Farthing tells you what you need to know - but do go back and read it because it’s excellent! I can’t wait for the next book!
Riley, an intelligent young woman seeking a future that doesn’t include minimum wage, discovers a purpose important beyond her wildest dreams (or nightmares). Chris, a new father with baggage from the first book, is on a quest to save the world for his new son. Together they fight horrific alien threats, a delusional cult of alien worshippers (including Riley’s uncle), and their own terrors. All on a monstrous cruise ship of mysterious provenance.
Don’t worry if you haven’t read the first book - Mr. Farthing tells you what you need to know - but do go back and read it because it’s excellent! I can’t wait for the next book!
November 25, 2023
A Fast Paced Adventure Story
This was loads of fun to read. The plot kept moving and there was tons of action too. Even explosions this time around. Chris is back fighting the bizarre things from the other dimension, this time with the help of a young lady named Riley. But they both need a lot of bravery to face the otherworldly horrors inside this cruise ship!
The tale is well described. Especially the horrid creatures themselves. Truly ghastly! Many are downright disgusting! Many take on the semblance of sea creatures which is very appropriate as they are out at sea.
Plus the stakes are higher now too. The world itself is at stake. Will they be able to stop the invasion? And if you think about it, the story actually points out that an invasion doesn't have to come from outer space. What would an invasion from another dimension even look like??
I liked Captain Silva even though he had a small role in here. Its hard for a rational man to face the things on his ship.
And the very ending was quite the surprise. It wasn't anything I had expected. But it just shows that messing around with this stuff can be dangerous and have unintended consequences.
Hopefully it's answered in book 3. Because this one sure ends with a type of cliffhanger.
This was loads of fun to read. The plot kept moving and there was tons of action too. Even explosions this time around. Chris is back fighting the bizarre things from the other dimension, this time with the help of a young lady named Riley. But they both need a lot of bravery to face the otherworldly horrors inside this cruise ship!
The tale is well described. Especially the horrid creatures themselves. Truly ghastly! Many are downright disgusting! Many take on the semblance of sea creatures which is very appropriate as they are out at sea.
Plus the stakes are higher now too. The world itself is at stake. Will they be able to stop the invasion? And if you think about it, the story actually points out that an invasion doesn't have to come from outer space. What would an invasion from another dimension even look like??
I liked Captain Silva even though he had a small role in here. Its hard for a rational man to face the things on his ship.
And the very ending was quite the surprise. It wasn't anything I had expected. But it just shows that messing around with this stuff can be dangerous and have unintended consequences.
Hopefully it's answered in book 3. Because this one sure ends with a type of cliffhanger.
December 30, 2024
Terrifying and anxiety inducing! So excited to start book 3!
September 2, 2025
What do you do after saving the world? Obviously you do it again, but on a mysterious ship! Another fun read!
February 8, 2022
Much like its predecessor, THEY CLING TO THE HULL is a great Lovecraftian horror piece by Farthing. Whereas the first book in the series was slightly let down by its child protagonist, however, Farthing focuses here on two adults, both of whom are well written and likable [along with a returning favorite of mine, personally]. It obviously leaves the reader with some questions, as less is tied together than we saw previously, but it's also clear that Farthing is building toward another sequel that will hopefully close his several threads.
February 5, 2022
Nightmares
I have had nightmares but I would never want them to come to life like this one did. Boy what a exciting book to read.
I have had nightmares but I would never want them to come to life like this one did. Boy what a exciting book to read.
September 15, 2021
Full disclosure - I received a copy of this book via BookSirens, but have voluntarily provided a review. All opinions are my own.
Hell Cruise
It’s been about a year since Chris Haberman and his son Eddie escaped the mysterious skyscraper that popped up overnight in Richmond. For a year he’s been watching and waiting for the Deviser to make its next move and stop it before it could wreak any more havoc. After a year of watching and waiting Chris receives a mysterious message about a cruise ship that is not what she seems. The Aria of the Seas, an aging luxury liner, was quietly switched out with a near replica and the Deviser’s followers have booked passage as they believe that this is where the entity has chosen to manifest next. Using what little funds he has, Chris books passage with one goal in mind – sink the ship and send the Deviser and its weird cult of fanatical followers down with it. It’s not until the voyage is underway that he meets up with a kindred spirit. Riley, the niece of the current cult’s leader is also aboard the Aria as she has come to steal back her inheritance from her eccentric uncle. With the Deviser’s minions hard at work and the cult hot on their heels, Chris and Riley race against the clock to sink the Aria before the Deviser can get a foothold into the world.
They Cling To The Hull, the follow up to It Waits On The Top Floor, is the second in the Horror Lurks Beneath series of books by Author Ben Farthing. After reading the first book, I was eagerly anticipating this follow up and I was not disappointed. Farthing has taken a setting that typically evokes feelings of relaxation and leisure and has added a dread so palpable that it kept me reading at a breakneck pace to see what would happen next. Chris Haberman is now a substitute teacher trying to make ends meet for he and Eddie, but he cannot pass up the chance to confront and destroy the evil he first encountered in the mysterious skyscraper. On the ship he is joined by Riley, a woman determined to steal back her father’s prized pocket watch from her eccentric Uncle. Little do the two know that while their paths may seem to be completely different, they share a common goal. I wasn’t sure what Farthing was going to unleash that would have topped the horrors in the skyscraper, but I was not disappointed. The ending also left a big question mark as to whether we will see Chris (and possibly Riley and Eddie) tracking down and confronting the Deviser a third time, but if there is another chapter to be written in this series, I will be eager to read it.
Hell Cruise
It’s been about a year since Chris Haberman and his son Eddie escaped the mysterious skyscraper that popped up overnight in Richmond. For a year he’s been watching and waiting for the Deviser to make its next move and stop it before it could wreak any more havoc. After a year of watching and waiting Chris receives a mysterious message about a cruise ship that is not what she seems. The Aria of the Seas, an aging luxury liner, was quietly switched out with a near replica and the Deviser’s followers have booked passage as they believe that this is where the entity has chosen to manifest next. Using what little funds he has, Chris books passage with one goal in mind – sink the ship and send the Deviser and its weird cult of fanatical followers down with it. It’s not until the voyage is underway that he meets up with a kindred spirit. Riley, the niece of the current cult’s leader is also aboard the Aria as she has come to steal back her inheritance from her eccentric uncle. With the Deviser’s minions hard at work and the cult hot on their heels, Chris and Riley race against the clock to sink the Aria before the Deviser can get a foothold into the world.
They Cling To The Hull, the follow up to It Waits On The Top Floor, is the second in the Horror Lurks Beneath series of books by Author Ben Farthing. After reading the first book, I was eagerly anticipating this follow up and I was not disappointed. Farthing has taken a setting that typically evokes feelings of relaxation and leisure and has added a dread so palpable that it kept me reading at a breakneck pace to see what would happen next. Chris Haberman is now a substitute teacher trying to make ends meet for he and Eddie, but he cannot pass up the chance to confront and destroy the evil he first encountered in the mysterious skyscraper. On the ship he is joined by Riley, a woman determined to steal back her father’s prized pocket watch from her eccentric Uncle. Little do the two know that while their paths may seem to be completely different, they share a common goal. I wasn’t sure what Farthing was going to unleash that would have topped the horrors in the skyscraper, but I was not disappointed. The ending also left a big question mark as to whether we will see Chris (and possibly Riley and Eddie) tracking down and confronting the Deviser a third time, but if there is another chapter to be written in this series, I will be eager to read it.
October 13, 2021
"They Cling to the Hull" is a compelling follow-up to "It Waits on the Top Floor" that takes the vertical horrors of a mysterious 120-story house of horror and makes it horizontal with a cruise ship setting.
The ships are huge structures filled with claustrophobic spaces and constant cues that for all that space there's nowhere to go - making an excellent venue for cosmic horror and incomprehensible monsters. A lean cast of characters helps focus the limited, unpredictable environment (one of my favorite parts of the first novel).
… and it is definitely a follow-up, building from the first and taking some of it's events as a given instead of being a stand alone that gives you the backstory. There's also a tight focus on two POV characters, meaning some big plot moments and action events happen off-stage because they weren't there to be witnesses. Not a typical choice, but it works because the pace here is all forward motion with limited dawdling, and it keeps this a page-turner. Recommended. (I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. )
The ships are huge structures filled with claustrophobic spaces and constant cues that for all that space there's nowhere to go - making an excellent venue for cosmic horror and incomprehensible monsters. A lean cast of characters helps focus the limited, unpredictable environment (one of my favorite parts of the first novel).
… and it is definitely a follow-up, building from the first and taking some of it's events as a given instead of being a stand alone that gives you the backstory. There's also a tight focus on two POV characters, meaning some big plot moments and action events happen off-stage because they weren't there to be witnesses. Not a typical choice, but it works because the pace here is all forward motion with limited dawdling, and it keeps this a page-turner. Recommended. (I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. )
September 10, 2021
We get to go on another exciting adventure with Chi's, he is back from the first book. This time, he meets Riley on a strange mysterious cruise ship. Riley was there to steal back a pocket watch, that was her father's, that her uncle stoled.
They know that this cruise ship is not what it appears to be.
Together they have to find a way to stop the evil that's in the ship.
I loved this book! It really grabs ahold of you and won't let you go!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
They know that this cruise ship is not what it appears to be.
Together they have to find a way to stop the evil that's in the ship.
I loved this book! It really grabs ahold of you and won't let you go!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 1, 2021
An excellent creepy horror story. I enjoyed this book more than the first in the series. Well written with likeable characters. The suspense starts building from the start. I definitely recommend reading this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
June 30, 2022
Hark! A rambling review:
As the second book in the "Horror Lurks Beneath" series, it picks up not too long after the events of the first. I know it's probably obvious* but they should definitely be read in order, as Chris frequently references the events of the first book.
*To everyone but me, of course. The reason I picked up this series was that I saw this book first and wanted to read it (can you blame me? Look at that cover!!). Thankfully I checked Goodreads before buying it and saw that it was #2 in a series.
I am a sucker for horror at sea because it taps into the same kind of fears as space horror does: isolation from civilization and the knowledge that your small, not-so-safe vessel is the only thing keeping you alive in a dangerous and unforgiving environment. This book taps into that even harder by bringing in the dimension of the Deviser, the entity from the first book that the rich cult of idiots thinks is Santa Claus (more on the cult later). Talk about a rock and a hard place! I love the imagery of this other dimension. You get a peek at it in the first book, but here the characters get close and personal with it, and the sense of awe and dread is palpable. I think the author did a great job at capturing the sense of something far too large for human comprehension here, and I don't say that lightly. It's very difficult for me to imagine something incomprehensibly massive, so whenever other books touch upon this, I'm like, "It's sooooo big people are losing their sanity? Funny, but Godzilla's never had this effect." It's not so much a problem with the suspension of disbelief but that I have a somewhat "benign" version of something too large to exist as my only comparison. Here, the problem is non-existent. The Deviser is. Incomprehensibly. Massive.
Now that I'm done raving about scale, onto--the Plot:
It's pretty basic, not gonna lie. Here is where it loses a bit of that Cosmic Horror sense of inevitability and hopelessness (not in a bad way, but I tend to classify Cosmic Horror with, among other characteristics, some level of nihilism). Chris tries to stop the Deviser coming through, and he is empowered to do so. Like any action horror, the actual sense of horror is lost when the main characters have what feels like a viable means of overpowering their eldritch obstacles, which Chris and Riley (to some extent) do. It's not like there is a guarantee of their success, but it doesn't feel like, say, a Lovecraft protagonist going up against the Dunwich horror, where the same basic plot is playing out, but the characters harbor no illusions that their actions are a permanent fix, not when powers far beyond their understanding are at play. Because the victory is tempered with the sense of inevitability, there is still a leftover feeling of dread. Although this book is part of a series so you KNOW it's not over, it does not--as of yet--feel hopeless. Like Leon in Resident Evil 4, the world is terrifying but his weaponry makes you fear the monsters a little bit less. Plus, the immediate threat is absolutely killable (the Deviser/evil corporations? Not so much).
I definitely want to mention that this book adds little details that make me super excited to see how they play out in the next book. I won't spoil it, but there is now an undercurrent of interdimensional happenings that go beyond the main "foil the Deviser" storyline.
Now for the cult:
Falls pretty flat. Motivations for these guys are painfully trite. Money (for the Extra Evil members) and worship (for the "innocent" members). There is absolutely nothing deeper. I feel like they only exist to have more human antagonists to replace Micah, who I LIKED A LOT. She felt, at least in comparison, far more layered in her motivation to understand the building. These guys provide the Macguffin to justify Riley's presence (not that I dislike Riley; this is more of a reflection on the cult than her). It's a shame, because I love the idea of a cult that worships Cosmic Deities that view them as little more than ants at best. Micah was such a good version of this; it's just extra disappointing that her followers don't even approach her shadow.
None of the cult members have any kind of development, except MAYBE Aunt Wendy, which again is a shame.
This brings me to: the Characters
Chris is Chris. I will forever love him for going from begging his wife to stay to saying, "You need to leave" when she calls Eddie's biological mom his "real" mom (in the first book). Certain things can permanently bind me to a character, and that is one of them.
Riley: she's okay. Her determination is steel, and she is downright cold when it comes to her sense of justice. I actually really like that, because it would be too easy to make her a generic "would even help her enemies" kind of good guy. Chris has that in the bag already (and I love him for it), so I'm glad she's different.
Is anyone else important? No. Eddie is at home, so he doesn't count. Krystal is simply there to be annoying. Anyone else is window dressing.
WAY TL;DR:
Plot basic, main characters cool, side characters flat, human antagonists cardboard cutouts, Deviser MASSIVE, other dimension AAAAAAAAHH, starfish hungry, veins stabby, Cthulhu Fhtagn!
Recommended for people looking for a Lovecraftian-esque Action-Horror experience.
As the second book in the "Horror Lurks Beneath" series, it picks up not too long after the events of the first. I know it's probably obvious* but they should definitely be read in order, as Chris frequently references the events of the first book.
*To everyone but me, of course. The reason I picked up this series was that I saw this book first and wanted to read it (can you blame me? Look at that cover!!). Thankfully I checked Goodreads before buying it and saw that it was #2 in a series.
I am a sucker for horror at sea because it taps into the same kind of fears as space horror does: isolation from civilization and the knowledge that your small, not-so-safe vessel is the only thing keeping you alive in a dangerous and unforgiving environment. This book taps into that even harder by bringing in the dimension of the Deviser, the entity from the first book that the rich cult of idiots thinks is Santa Claus (more on the cult later). Talk about a rock and a hard place! I love the imagery of this other dimension. You get a peek at it in the first book, but here the characters get close and personal with it, and the sense of awe and dread is palpable. I think the author did a great job at capturing the sense of something far too large for human comprehension here, and I don't say that lightly. It's very difficult for me to imagine something incomprehensibly massive, so whenever other books touch upon this, I'm like, "It's sooooo big people are losing their sanity? Funny, but Godzilla's never had this effect." It's not so much a problem with the suspension of disbelief but that I have a somewhat "benign" version of something too large to exist as my only comparison. Here, the problem is non-existent. The Deviser is. Incomprehensibly. Massive.
Now that I'm done raving about scale, onto--the Plot:
It's pretty basic, not gonna lie. Here is where it loses a bit of that Cosmic Horror sense of inevitability and hopelessness (not in a bad way, but I tend to classify Cosmic Horror with, among other characteristics, some level of nihilism). Chris tries to stop the Deviser coming through, and he is empowered to do so. Like any action horror, the actual sense of horror is lost when the main characters have what feels like a viable means of overpowering their eldritch obstacles, which Chris and Riley (to some extent) do. It's not like there is a guarantee of their success, but it doesn't feel like, say, a Lovecraft protagonist going up against the Dunwich horror, where the same basic plot is playing out, but the characters harbor no illusions that their actions are a permanent fix, not when powers far beyond their understanding are at play. Because the victory is tempered with the sense of inevitability, there is still a leftover feeling of dread. Although this book is part of a series so you KNOW it's not over, it does not--as of yet--feel hopeless. Like Leon in Resident Evil 4, the world is terrifying but his weaponry makes you fear the monsters a little bit less. Plus, the immediate threat is absolutely killable (the Deviser/evil corporations? Not so much).
I definitely want to mention that this book adds little details that make me super excited to see how they play out in the next book. I won't spoil it, but there is now an undercurrent of interdimensional happenings that go beyond the main "foil the Deviser" storyline.
Now for the cult:
Falls pretty flat. Motivations for these guys are painfully trite. Money (for the Extra Evil members) and worship (for the "innocent" members). There is absolutely nothing deeper. I feel like they only exist to have more human antagonists to replace Micah, who I LIKED A LOT. She felt, at least in comparison, far more layered in her motivation to understand the building. These guys provide the Macguffin to justify Riley's presence (not that I dislike Riley; this is more of a reflection on the cult than her). It's a shame, because I love the idea of a cult that worships Cosmic Deities that view them as little more than ants at best. Micah was such a good version of this; it's just extra disappointing that her followers don't even approach her shadow.
None of the cult members have any kind of development, except MAYBE Aunt Wendy, which again is a shame.
This brings me to: the Characters
Chris is Chris. I will forever love him for going from begging his wife to stay to saying, "You need to leave" when she calls Eddie's biological mom his "real" mom (in the first book). Certain things can permanently bind me to a character, and that is one of them.
Riley: she's okay. Her determination is steel, and she is downright cold when it comes to her sense of justice. I actually really like that, because it would be too easy to make her a generic "would even help her enemies" kind of good guy. Chris has that in the bag already (and I love him for it), so I'm glad she's different.
Is anyone else important? No. Eddie is at home, so he doesn't count. Krystal is simply there to be annoying. Anyone else is window dressing.
WAY TL;DR:
Plot basic, main characters cool, side characters flat, human antagonists cardboard cutouts, Deviser MASSIVE, other dimension AAAAAAAAHH, starfish hungry, veins stabby, Cthulhu Fhtagn!
Recommended for people looking for a Lovecraftian-esque Action-Horror experience.
September 1, 2021
I don't know where Farthing came up with the idea of the Deviser, but it is incredibly terrifying! This book is super fast-paced and impossible to put down. The characters are awesome and the world building is phenomenal. If you like thrillers, read this! You won't be disappointed!
September 12, 2021
What a great book! This was my first Ben Farthing read. I didn't realise there was an earlier book in the series, but it really didn't matter. Wherever necessary, the background is filled in perfectly along the way.
I will definitely be reading IT WAITS ON THE TOP FLOOR. 👍
I will definitely be reading IT WAITS ON THE TOP FLOOR. 👍
October 14, 2025
Riley wants her watch back from her Uncle Nathaniel, he stole it from her inheritance. All Riley knows is Nathaniel will be aboard the Aria of the Seas, a cruise ship. With her friend Krystal, Riley boards the ship with a sole objective in mind, get back the watch. People and anomalies aboard the Aria have a different reason to be there, though, and Riley will need help to survive their awful influence.
I enjoyed this book thoroughly, the water setting really leant itself to a different type of monster and to a new set of behaviour from the Diviser. I really liked the monsters in this one, and the inclusion of the grey things, which I'm fascinated by and want to learn more about. The imagery of the Diviser's plane, and how characters felt in it, was visceral and felt very surreal, madness inducing. I also enjoyed the Captain of the ship, his character felt very well-rounded for the small amount of time we saw him; also Marjorie, if you don't love her, you're wrong, she's excellent.
I enjoyed this book thoroughly, the water setting really leant itself to a different type of monster and to a new set of behaviour from the Diviser. I really liked the monsters in this one, and the inclusion of the grey things, which I'm fascinated by and want to learn more about. The imagery of the Diviser's plane, and how characters felt in it, was visceral and felt very surreal, madness inducing. I also enjoyed the Captain of the ship, his character felt very well-rounded for the small amount of time we saw him; also Marjorie, if you don't love her, you're wrong, she's excellent.
January 7, 2025
Plot: 5
Characters: 4
Writing: 4.5
Entertainment: 4
Method: Kindle (free at time of reading)
This book took me forever to finish, but I really liked it. I think something was off with the pacing which is why I kept putting it down. But ultimately I was super entertained for the majority of the book.
First, I love a cruise, and I love a horror set on a cruise ship. It’s such a unique setting, and I love that Ben Farthing chose a ship. I also loved the nautical kind of cosmic horror he incorporated in this book.
I also just really appreciate how he writes this kind of… almost absurd horror. He comes up with really unique ways for things like psychology and physics to work and interact, and it’s actually pretty believable. The characters react in a real way, and I never get pulled out of the story because “are you kidding me, nobody would say/do that!”
If you liked the first book, I think you’ll really like this one too, if you don’t mind maybe a slightly slower pace. I would absolutely recommend these books to anybody who wants to dip into cosmic horror a little. Both of these books are pretty short, and I think they’re really good palette cleansers for some heavier more gruesome or emotionally charged stories. (Don’t get me wrong though, there is a good amount of gore in this one in particular, but not… gratuitous. Just enough for you to grasp the lovecraftian horrors that persist, lol)
Characters: 4
Writing: 4.5
Entertainment: 4
Method: Kindle (free at time of reading)
This book took me forever to finish, but I really liked it. I think something was off with the pacing which is why I kept putting it down. But ultimately I was super entertained for the majority of the book.
First, I love a cruise, and I love a horror set on a cruise ship. It’s such a unique setting, and I love that Ben Farthing chose a ship. I also loved the nautical kind of cosmic horror he incorporated in this book.
I also just really appreciate how he writes this kind of… almost absurd horror. He comes up with really unique ways for things like psychology and physics to work and interact, and it’s actually pretty believable. The characters react in a real way, and I never get pulled out of the story because “are you kidding me, nobody would say/do that!”
If you liked the first book, I think you’ll really like this one too, if you don’t mind maybe a slightly slower pace. I would absolutely recommend these books to anybody who wants to dip into cosmic horror a little. Both of these books are pretty short, and I think they’re really good palette cleansers for some heavier more gruesome or emotionally charged stories. (Don’t get me wrong though, there is a good amount of gore in this one in particular, but not… gratuitous. Just enough for you to grasp the lovecraftian horrors that persist, lol)
Read
June 12, 2025This book picks up about a year after "It Waits on the Top Floor" and is just as strange as its predecessor. Instead of a building popping up overnight, it's a cruise ship, which makes Chris' job that much more difficult. At least he has some help this time.
I'm really liking this series and I hope the last book holds the same energy these two have. While's there somewhat less space to cover in this book, there's a little less of the action and horror aspect, but the dread and anxiety for the reader of why what needs to be done needs to be done is that much more prominent.
There are a handful of errors; wrong words, misspells, etc, nothing overly drastic, but noticeable nonetheless.
I give this book 4 of 5 Paws and can't wait to dive into the final book.
I'm really liking this series and I hope the last book holds the same energy these two have. While's there somewhat less space to cover in this book, there's a little less of the action and horror aspect, but the dread and anxiety for the reader of why what needs to be done needs to be done is that much more prominent.
There are a handful of errors; wrong words, misspells, etc, nothing overly drastic, but noticeable nonetheless.
I give this book 4 of 5 Paws and can't wait to dive into the final book.
March 17, 2024
Absolute Feral Fear-ride Into Mental Oblivion
They Cling To The Hull picks up the story pretty much where we last saw our adventure weary Chris and his adopted son.
In no time at all, an entire new and twisted phase of the other’s
inter dimensional terraforming
plot-trap would no doubt spring on the every ready and zealous cult that sought to worship the entity and thus doom the entire world. It was happening once again and this time on a retiring cruise liner. Set for her last voyage. This time Chris is taking no chances, like it or not his son stays with his grandparents.
A brilliant second book. Terrifying ending.
They Cling To The Hull picks up the story pretty much where we last saw our adventure weary Chris and his adopted son.
In no time at all, an entire new and twisted phase of the other’s
inter dimensional terraforming
plot-trap would no doubt spring on the every ready and zealous cult that sought to worship the entity and thus doom the entire world. It was happening once again and this time on a retiring cruise liner. Set for her last voyage. This time Chris is taking no chances, like it or not his son stays with his grandparents.
A brilliant second book. Terrifying ending.
August 2, 2025
A decent sequel. There are good moments on the boat that are spooky but most of them are overshadowed by Farthing trying to describe the scene. There were moments where I was ready for a monster but instead got to know the placement of a stack of chairs and how tall a blob was and where it sat in the room.
The best friend could've been better used. Wish Farthing had either made her a part of the cult or killed her off, either way the impact would hit better.
Also think that the cult and the Devisor stuff was equally balanced in this one. Nicely done. Still wished for more suspense.
The best friend could've been better used. Wish Farthing had either made her a part of the cult or killed her off, either way the impact would hit better.
Also think that the cult and the Devisor stuff was equally balanced in this one. Nicely done. Still wished for more suspense.
February 10, 2022
Sequel to IT WAITS ON THE TOP FLOOR , the action moves from a towering skyscraper to a cruise ship that "popped up" out of nowhere. Instead of the top floor of a building holding secretes they are now hidden in the lower decks ... but not for long. Swiftly moving action and a few truly hideous monsters take you along for an unexpected ride. Chris returns sans son but soon teams up with a young woman who is there for her own reasons. Book 2 in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest and unbiased review.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest and unbiased review.
June 25, 2022
This second addition to the "Horror Lurks Beneath" series did not disappoint. I love this blend of action and cosmic horror. I especially love Chris, our protagonist. He is not perfect and his motivation for everything is his love for his adopted son, Eddie. New character Riley was a worthy addition to the series and I felt she and Chris worked well together. Robert and Cam, important secondary characters from the first novel, "It Waits on the Top Floor," make cameo appearances but I hope we get to see more of them in the up coming "We Hide Our Faces" due out July 31, 2022.
January 6, 2024
I really enjoyed this overall! It kind of gave me adult Goosebump vibes with the setting and how the start of the book panned lost, which is always a win for me. I thought the setting was really fun and the initial creepiness of the different creatures, and seeing things clinging to the hull was really well done. I actually didn’t realise this was part of a series at first, so I was initially really confused by some of Chris’s storyline until I realised that there was a book that came before this. I am really looking forward to checking out the other books in the series though.
February 4, 2024
Fun read
I quite enjoyed this story more than the first one. It was good to read about Chris again and the introduction of new characters. Riley was a force to be reckoned with. Though this was a bit scary at times, it wasn't as terrifying which I liked. I'm looking forward to the final chapter of Chris and Riley's story but sad to say goodbye.
I quite enjoyed this story more than the first one. It was good to read about Chris again and the introduction of new characters. Riley was a force to be reckoned with. Though this was a bit scary at times, it wasn't as terrifying which I liked. I'm looking forward to the final chapter of Chris and Riley's story but sad to say goodbye.
February 22, 2022
cool follow up
The second book in the Horror Lurks Beneath series is the sequel a reader of book one wants for part 2. If you liked book one, idk why you wouldn’t like book 2 just as much! Good series.
The second book in the Horror Lurks Beneath series is the sequel a reader of book one wants for part 2. If you liked book one, idk why you wouldn’t like book 2 just as much! Good series.
April 8, 2022
It's good, make sure you start at book one
Read the title of the review. Pretty straightforward. Good book. Good sequel. Good series. Not too short and not too long with great imagery.
Read the title of the review. Pretty straightforward. Good book. Good sequel. Good series. Not too short and not too long with great imagery.
May 4, 2023
Exactly what you want out of the second book in a trilogy - keep the stuff that worked in the first book, throw in some surprises, expand the world, and generally turn everything up a little hotter.
I'd write more but I'm in too big a hurry to get to book 3.
I'd write more but I'm in too big a hurry to get to book 3.
March 24, 2022
One of my motivations behind finishing this series is for the ex wife to come back and possibly be eaten/assimilated/repaired. I can't be the only one, right?
September 25, 2023
good addition to the series
interesting direction for the series, leaves you with a few questions and it was fast paced enough to keep you engaged.
interesting direction for the series, leaves you with a few questions and it was fast paced enough to keep you engaged.
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