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The Land Below #3
The City Below
THE CITY BELOW continues the adventures detailed in THE LAND BELOW and THE SEA BELOW
Our adventurers have escaped a conflagration only to find themselves in a great underground city.
They quickly discover they are not alone.
And when a natural disaster threatens to engulf them it becomes a battle for survival.
Can they find the route home to the sun before it is closed to them forever?
Our adventurers have escaped a conflagration only to find themselves in a great underground city.
They quickly discover they are not alone.
And when a natural disaster threatens to engulf them it becomes a battle for survival.
Can they find the route home to the sun before it is closed to them forever?
109 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 10, 2021
68 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
William Meikle
408 books1,849 followersI'm a Scottish writer, now living in Canada, with more than thirty novels published in the genre press and over 300 short story credits in thirteen countries.
My work has appeared in a number of professional anthologies and I have recent short story sales to NATURE Futures and Galaxy's Edge. When I'm not writing I play guitar, drink beer and dream of fortune and glory.
For an intro to me, my writing and my accent see my Youtube channel
My work has appeared in a number of professional anthologies and I have recent short story sales to NATURE Futures and Galaxy's Edge. When I'm not writing I play guitar, drink beer and dream of fortune and glory.
For an intro to me, my writing and my accent see my Youtube channel
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 26, 2022
Entertaining horror listening 🎶🔰
Another will written fantasy world 🌎 horror paranormal adventure thriller short story by William Meikle (The Land Below book 3). Danny, Ed, and Stefan race to escape from the land below escaping from savage beast, lava flows, and very unfriendly natives. They escape back to the surface of earth 🌎. I would recommend this series and author to 👍 readers of fantasy haunting horror paranormal novels 👍🔰. Enjoy the adventure of reading or listening to books 📚. 2022 😮☺☺🐕
Another will written fantasy world 🌎 horror paranormal adventure thriller short story by William Meikle (The Land Below book 3). Danny, Ed, and Stefan race to escape from the land below escaping from savage beast, lava flows, and very unfriendly natives. They escape back to the surface of earth 🌎. I would recommend this series and author to 👍 readers of fantasy haunting horror paranormal novels 👍🔰. Enjoy the adventure of reading or listening to books 📚. 2022 😮☺☺🐕
February 18, 2024
Book 1: 3 stars
Book 2: 3 stars
Book 3: 4 stars (this one)
I did not like the author's style that much, but the series kept me going, and i finished all 3 books.
It was an interesting series of short books.
Book 2: 3 stars
Book 3: 4 stars (this one)
I did not like the author's style that much, but the series kept me going, and i finished all 3 books.
It was an interesting series of short books.
July 31, 2022
Interesting Series
Kept me enthralled from beginning to end. The adventure of finding a world existing below a mountain filled with dangerous animals and humanoids was exciting and is definitely a page
turner. The well developed characters had me cheering them on and wondering whether they would all make it back above ground in the normal world. The author is brilliant in bringing to life the struggles and eventual triumph of the main characters! Would definitely enjoy seeing the characters return in another adventure. Will be watching for it!
Kept me enthralled from beginning to end. The adventure of finding a world existing below a mountain filled with dangerous animals and humanoids was exciting and is definitely a page
turner. The well developed characters had me cheering them on and wondering whether they would all make it back above ground in the normal world. The author is brilliant in bringing to life the struggles and eventual triumph of the main characters! Would definitely enjoy seeing the characters return in another adventure. Will be watching for it!
March 3, 2022
This author took me on a great adventure. Colorful characters and a dog that is just way too cool, populate this fast paced adventure. I read all 3 books in the series in a week. Lots of fun. Enjoy!
October 24, 2022
Only sad it ended!
I absolutely loved this series! It was not your run of the mill center of the earth book. I am only sad that there won't be any more books in the series as I feel closure was not quite given.
I absolutely loved this series! It was not your run of the mill center of the earth book. I am only sad that there won't be any more books in the series as I feel closure was not quite given.
March 3, 2022
A fitting end?
This book was a little better than the last one. I wish more detail had been put into describing the creatures the characters encountered.
This book was a little better than the last one. I wish more detail had been put into describing the creatures the characters encountered.
Read
February 21, 2024DNFed at 4%. Bored
January 28, 2022
Danny, Ed and Stefan have made a monumental discovery – a hidden city under the Earth. With paves streets, temples, homes and even terraced gardens the abandoned landscape was equal parts eerie and amazing. Can the three adventurers find their way back up top amidst all the dangers that lurk below?
This story picks up exactly where the previous story left off (The Sea Below) and in a similar vein to both the other books in the series is an action orientated adventure style of short story. This time though, Danny and Stefan are determined to escape back up to the surface and Ed, too, soon realizes the three of them need to regroup and agrees to head for the surface.
I have to admit I’ve come to adore our three main adventurers – the younger Ed who has an unquenchable thirst for adventure and discovery, the more elderly Stefan who remains brave and strong – the wiser, more seasoned local and calm head of the ground. And Danny, the old soldier and reluctant hero of the group. I love how while the three characters are quite different, they’re each at heart strong, brave and heroes in their own right, and through those adventures they’ve forged a friendship and bond that has been amazing to follow along with and watch develop. While I absolutely found their time discovering amazing sights and monsters under the ground has been well worth the read – these three characters and their interactions, growth and slowly building friendship has been a true joy to read and journey along with.
While our group’s explorations are full of new discoveries, danger still lurks everything – from enemies as well as monsters. I really enjoyed the pace to this story – it wasn’t crazily fast but it was definitely a good clip most adventure readers should really enjoy.
This book seemed to me to span a good mixture of adventure, suspense and paranormal “monsters dwelling below the earth” and I feel should appeal to a wide range of readers and they should thoroughly enjoy it. While it can definitely be picked up by itself, I feel reading this will have a stronger impact and better experience by going back and reading the two previous installments first. These are short, sharp, witty and exciting stories and well worth the investment in reading them in order.
This story picks up exactly where the previous story left off (The Sea Below) and in a similar vein to both the other books in the series is an action orientated adventure style of short story. This time though, Danny and Stefan are determined to escape back up to the surface and Ed, too, soon realizes the three of them need to regroup and agrees to head for the surface.
I have to admit I’ve come to adore our three main adventurers – the younger Ed who has an unquenchable thirst for adventure and discovery, the more elderly Stefan who remains brave and strong – the wiser, more seasoned local and calm head of the ground. And Danny, the old soldier and reluctant hero of the group. I love how while the three characters are quite different, they’re each at heart strong, brave and heroes in their own right, and through those adventures they’ve forged a friendship and bond that has been amazing to follow along with and watch develop. While I absolutely found their time discovering amazing sights and monsters under the ground has been well worth the read – these three characters and their interactions, growth and slowly building friendship has been a true joy to read and journey along with.
While our group’s explorations are full of new discoveries, danger still lurks everything – from enemies as well as monsters. I really enjoyed the pace to this story – it wasn’t crazily fast but it was definitely a good clip most adventure readers should really enjoy.
This book seemed to me to span a good mixture of adventure, suspense and paranormal “monsters dwelling below the earth” and I feel should appeal to a wide range of readers and they should thoroughly enjoy it. While it can definitely be picked up by itself, I feel reading this will have a stronger impact and better experience by going back and reading the two previous installments first. These are short, sharp, witty and exciting stories and well worth the investment in reading them in order.
October 24, 2021
Having narrowly avoided the burning towers and baboons, the team have jumped from the fire, straight back into the fire!! The team race across an underground city, trying to stay ahead of the locals and the fire chasing them. Fast paced story, told from Danny's and Ed's view point, as they race to escape the underworld.
December 3, 2021
Absolute Delight
The final part of the trilogy wraps up our adventurers’ exploration of this world underground with its fascinating ecology and lost societies.
The book never bores you and the tension is nonstop.
The last sentence implies they may still return to this weird underground land so there is hope for at least one more subterranean adventure.
The final part of the trilogy wraps up our adventurers’ exploration of this world underground with its fascinating ecology and lost societies.
The book never bores you and the tension is nonstop.
The last sentence implies they may still return to this weird underground land so there is hope for at least one more subterranean adventure.
December 15, 2021
Very long for a short book.
Honestly some parts were so hard to read, felt like most words were just fillers . The sheer amount of times the author had to tell you about the group having cigarette breaks was painful as heck. Should have ended this series at 2, not much happened
Honestly some parts were so hard to read, felt like most words were just fillers . The sheer amount of times the author had to tell you about the group having cigarette breaks was painful as heck. Should have ended this series at 2, not much happened
October 28, 2021
entertaining short series
The stories within the three book series are interesting. Would have appreciated more detail around the remains found in the book series.
The stories within the three book series are interesting. Would have appreciated more detail around the remains found in the book series.
December 24, 2021
Great book
Just when you think the adventure perils couldn't get any worse, they do. Really good story about the adventures of Danny, Ed and Stefan. I recommend reading.
Just when you think the adventure perils couldn't get any worse, they do. Really good story about the adventures of Danny, Ed and Stefan. I recommend reading.
December 26, 2021
A brief, fun read, but not all that memorable.
January 2, 2022
Finished all to quickly. Decent enough time filler. Good premise and characters, though I despise Ed.
March 17, 2025
3.5 stars
This the final book in William’s The Land Below trilogy, and while it offers a solid conclusion to the adventure, it doesn't quite live up to the high standards set by some of the his other works. For me William Meikle has proven himself a master of blending adventure, horror, and supernatural elements, but this series feels more like a missed opportunity—one that, while still entertaining, doesn’t quite hit the mark in the way readers might expect after his previous successes.
The story follows Danny, Ed, and Stefan as they attempt to escape the underground city they’ve discovered, filled with dangerous creatures, collapsing tunnels, and hostile natives. On paper, this should have been a gripping finale. Unfortunately, while the action is fast-paced and there are certainly moments of excitement, the series as a whole feels somewhat repetitive, with the characters continually facing the same types of dangers without much in the way of new revelations or twists.
The underground world Meikle created is fascinating at first—an ancient, eerie land with tunnels, carnivores, water creatures, land creatures, a city full of abandoned temples, overgrown gardens, and ominous streets—but by the third book, the setting starts to feel more like a backdrop than a fully realized part of the narrative. The concept of a hidden world beneath the earth is still intriguing despite the enormous amount of literature dedicated to it by various authors over centuries, but the exploration of it doesn’t have the same impact here that it did in earlier books. It all starts to feel a bit too familiar, and the pacing, which should be relentless in a finale, slows down at times, bogged down by repetitive encounters with monstrous creatures and environmental hazards.
The characters—Danny, the older soldier; Ed, the eager adventurer; and Stefan, the seasoned local—are certainly likable, but their development seems to plateau in this final book. While they share a strong bond, by the end of the trilogy, their individual arcs feel unfinished or even secondary to the action. Their interactions and growth, which were highlights of the previous books, aren’t as engaging here, and it’s hard to shake the feeling that the series would have benefited from more focus on their personal journeys, rather than constantly pushing them into new physical challenges.
The pacing, too, is a mixed bag. While the book moves at a decent clip, the excitement often gives way to long stretches of exposition or unnecessary action sequences. The stakes feel high, but they don’t seem as impactful as they should, especially when compared to Meikle’s other works, where the stakes and tension are much more finely tuned. The culmination of the trio’s adventure back to the surface feels rushed, with little sense of true peril or the kind of emotional payoff that would make the trilogy’s conclusion truly satisfying.
In the end, The City Below provides a decent wrap-up to the series and all readers would enjoy the series and the short books which altogether would total into a full novel, but it doesn’t deliver the punch readers might have expected. For a fan of the series, it’s worth reading to see how everything concludes, but overall, it falls short of the exciting, well-crafted storytelling that Meikle has demonstrated in his other works. This trilogy has its moments, but ultimately, it doesn’t live up to the author’s reputation for high-quality, gripping adventure and horror.
For those new to William Meikle’s writing, I’d recommend starting with some of his standalone novels and/or other series that have a bit more polish and depth. The Land Below trilogy, while enjoyable in parts, lacks the impact and lasting impression of Meikle’s best works.
If you are looking at a short novel with punches then this could be your series.
This the final book in William’s The Land Below trilogy, and while it offers a solid conclusion to the adventure, it doesn't quite live up to the high standards set by some of the his other works. For me William Meikle has proven himself a master of blending adventure, horror, and supernatural elements, but this series feels more like a missed opportunity—one that, while still entertaining, doesn’t quite hit the mark in the way readers might expect after his previous successes.
The story follows Danny, Ed, and Stefan as they attempt to escape the underground city they’ve discovered, filled with dangerous creatures, collapsing tunnels, and hostile natives. On paper, this should have been a gripping finale. Unfortunately, while the action is fast-paced and there are certainly moments of excitement, the series as a whole feels somewhat repetitive, with the characters continually facing the same types of dangers without much in the way of new revelations or twists.
The underground world Meikle created is fascinating at first—an ancient, eerie land with tunnels, carnivores, water creatures, land creatures, a city full of abandoned temples, overgrown gardens, and ominous streets—but by the third book, the setting starts to feel more like a backdrop than a fully realized part of the narrative. The concept of a hidden world beneath the earth is still intriguing despite the enormous amount of literature dedicated to it by various authors over centuries, but the exploration of it doesn’t have the same impact here that it did in earlier books. It all starts to feel a bit too familiar, and the pacing, which should be relentless in a finale, slows down at times, bogged down by repetitive encounters with monstrous creatures and environmental hazards.
The characters—Danny, the older soldier; Ed, the eager adventurer; and Stefan, the seasoned local—are certainly likable, but their development seems to plateau in this final book. While they share a strong bond, by the end of the trilogy, their individual arcs feel unfinished or even secondary to the action. Their interactions and growth, which were highlights of the previous books, aren’t as engaging here, and it’s hard to shake the feeling that the series would have benefited from more focus on their personal journeys, rather than constantly pushing them into new physical challenges.
The pacing, too, is a mixed bag. While the book moves at a decent clip, the excitement often gives way to long stretches of exposition or unnecessary action sequences. The stakes feel high, but they don’t seem as impactful as they should, especially when compared to Meikle’s other works, where the stakes and tension are much more finely tuned. The culmination of the trio’s adventure back to the surface feels rushed, with little sense of true peril or the kind of emotional payoff that would make the trilogy’s conclusion truly satisfying.
In the end, The City Below provides a decent wrap-up to the series and all readers would enjoy the series and the short books which altogether would total into a full novel, but it doesn’t deliver the punch readers might have expected. For a fan of the series, it’s worth reading to see how everything concludes, but overall, it falls short of the exciting, well-crafted storytelling that Meikle has demonstrated in his other works. This trilogy has its moments, but ultimately, it doesn’t live up to the author’s reputation for high-quality, gripping adventure and horror.
For those new to William Meikle’s writing, I’d recommend starting with some of his standalone novels and/or other series that have a bit more polish and depth. The Land Below trilogy, while enjoyable in parts, lacks the impact and lasting impression of Meikle’s best works.
If you are looking at a short novel with punches then this could be your series.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews