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Fault
A grieving mother.
A monster.
A ship crewed by the damned.
The Thing swam out of the magma in the Earth’s core and clawed its way up through the San Andreas Fault on the night that a chunk of the California coast sank into the Pacific. Millions died, including the two children of Lucille 'Ceely' Bennett, an accomplished engineer stranded in rural Montana when the cataclysm occurred. Ceely builds a submarine, complete with mechanical arms and a set of harpoons -the biggest on the market- with the intention of going down among the ruins of Los Angeles to collect her daughters' bodies. A mother's love and fury drive her to hunt the creature across oceans and decades in this tale of grief and revenge.
This story explores the darkest side of unconditional love in a cerebral and unconventional take on the horror genre.
A monster.
A ship crewed by the damned.
The Thing swam out of the magma in the Earth’s core and clawed its way up through the San Andreas Fault on the night that a chunk of the California coast sank into the Pacific. Millions died, including the two children of Lucille 'Ceely' Bennett, an accomplished engineer stranded in rural Montana when the cataclysm occurred. Ceely builds a submarine, complete with mechanical arms and a set of harpoons -the biggest on the market- with the intention of going down among the ruins of Los Angeles to collect her daughters' bodies. A mother's love and fury drive her to hunt the creature across oceans and decades in this tale of grief and revenge.
This story explores the darkest side of unconditional love in a cerebral and unconventional take on the horror genre.
396 pages, Paperback
First published August 24, 2023
About the author
Lumen Reese
16 books141 followersWriter of science fiction, fantasy, horror and contemporary fiction from Michigan.
I think a story should be entertaining, but should handle social and class issues in order to be an accurate portrayal of our world. I value honest resolution over shock-value, and happy endings wherever possible, especially for my LGBT characters. None of my books will ever use artificial intelligence, because AI is theft. You can find me on Instagram @ZoominLumen
Or follow me on Goodreads for announcements.
The Crocus Trilogy will continue in 2026 with Book Three: Heroine Death March.
And the Honoré Sloane series will continue in 2026 with: TWO SPARROWS FOR A PENNY.
Also coming in 2026: RED RIVER; a southern-gothic horror.
I think a story should be entertaining, but should handle social and class issues in order to be an accurate portrayal of our world. I value honest resolution over shock-value, and happy endings wherever possible, especially for my LGBT characters. None of my books will ever use artificial intelligence, because AI is theft. You can find me on Instagram @ZoominLumen
Or follow me on Goodreads for announcements.
The Crocus Trilogy will continue in 2026 with Book Three: Heroine Death March.
And the Honoré Sloane series will continue in 2026 with: TWO SPARROWS FOR A PENNY.
Also coming in 2026: RED RIVER; a southern-gothic horror.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
July 25, 2023
I love the awesome cover for Fault by Lumen Reese. It told me everything I needed to know. I love creature features and eagerly cracked open my ereader to begin.
And begin we did. An earthquake that sunk part of the California coast gave the creature its freedom. It reveled in it.
Lucille Bennet is in Montana for work when it hits. Her children are lost, but she refuses to leave them for the creature to eat. She proceeds to build a submarine and enters the quarantine zone to retrieve their bodies. Things sure didn’t go the way I thought and I love it.
She is rescued by a ship called the Last Chance. A ship of criminals and rejects. It is dangerous, not just for her, but anyone that takes on the job. It is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. They go to the most dangerous place, where the creature is, searching for oil. Yeah, keep drilling and maybe you’ll find another creature. Only one of three workers will survive the mission.
I am not going to share a ton of details, because the blurb stayed nondescriptive. The parts of the book share a separate character and their point of view. We have some romance and a few laughs. She wins over the crew by cooking good food and with a little help from those she makes friends with.
Fault by Lumen Reese unraveled like a B movie, and I devour them like the creature devoured anything that got in its way. Fault seems to be a bit different, not just a creature feature, but scifi and a bit of time travel?
The beginning was action packed and set the hook. The middle introduces us to the cast of characters and life aboard the Baton Rouge. The end is tense and thought provoking. All in all a very satisfying read.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Fault by Lumen Reese.
And begin we did. An earthquake that sunk part of the California coast gave the creature its freedom. It reveled in it.
Lucille Bennet is in Montana for work when it hits. Her children are lost, but she refuses to leave them for the creature to eat. She proceeds to build a submarine and enters the quarantine zone to retrieve their bodies. Things sure didn’t go the way I thought and I love it.
She is rescued by a ship called the Last Chance. A ship of criminals and rejects. It is dangerous, not just for her, but anyone that takes on the job. It is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. They go to the most dangerous place, where the creature is, searching for oil. Yeah, keep drilling and maybe you’ll find another creature. Only one of three workers will survive the mission.
I am not going to share a ton of details, because the blurb stayed nondescriptive. The parts of the book share a separate character and their point of view. We have some romance and a few laughs. She wins over the crew by cooking good food and with a little help from those she makes friends with.
Fault by Lumen Reese unraveled like a B movie, and I devour them like the creature devoured anything that got in its way. Fault seems to be a bit different, not just a creature feature, but scifi and a bit of time travel?
The beginning was action packed and set the hook. The middle introduces us to the cast of characters and life aboard the Baton Rouge. The end is tense and thought provoking. All in all a very satisfying read.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Fault by Lumen Reese.
September 21, 2023
I wanted to like this book. I desperately wanted to like this book. I love giant monster/kaiju stories and I was excited to read a book about a gigantic water based kaiju that destroyed a large part of California. While I did like small parts of this I have a lot of complaints. This review is going to have spoilers in it so read with caution.
To start with positives I really liked the monster for the short amount of time that you see it. I really liked the design and the scale of it. You could see how much of a gigantic threat this thing would be if it existed in the real world and it was terrifying. I liked the writing around him and how some of his attacks were described in the book. Also all of the food talk made me hungry. (It felt like they talked about what meals they had every day way more than a lot of other stuff in the book.)
That is pretty much the only good thing that I can say about that though. I have plenty of complaints though so buckle in.
The main monster of this book is barely in the book despite the fact that he is on the cover. The characters talk about him for sure but I wanted the actual creature to be in the book more. I swear the actual monster is on the page for a good 3-4% of the book. I don't care about your oil drilling operation book. I want to see the monster. You don't even get to see him that much when he first emerges because for some reason there is a 30 year time jump at the start of the book. At the start of the book the female main character decided that she is going to recover the bodies of her two children that died in the emergence of the monster and somehow builds a submarine in some guys barn in 10 days. (She's an engineer. I still don't buy it.) She also attached harpoon guns to the sub because she somehow thinks that this is going to injure/kill a mile long monster that just climbed out of a volcanic rift? (For serious the book mentions this thing shaking lava off itself like it was water but she thinks that harpoons are going to hurt it.) This triggers some kind of defense mechanism of the monster that shoots her 30 years into the future. So you don't even get to see the aftermath of his emergence first hand. Every time the monster shows up its gone a page or two later. Other than after picking up a survivor from an attack by it on a yacht the thing is barely talked about in passing. This severely needed more creature action.
Instead of being mainly about the actual monster thing that's actively swimming around in the ocean, the book is mainly about oil drilling. Yes, oil drilling. Apparently this thing is drawn to the vibrations from oil drilling and it would come to attack any standing oil rig so the solution the book comes up with instead of green energy or literally anything else is to invent flying oil platforms that can fly away when the monster attacks it. This leaves the oil tanker that the rig was pumping oil into vulnerable to attack and apparently this means that no-one wants to work on them. I mean its not like oil companies are multi billion dollar conglomerates that can afford hazard pay to people that are actually qualified to work on tankers like this. No, they have to hire dangerous criminals and excons that are barely qualified to take care of themselves let alone run the ship.
Speaking of excons, after out main character is pushed forward in time 30 years she is picked up out of the ocean by the oil tanker. She works out a deal where she cooks for them and they give her a space to repair her slapped together submarine. I admit that I liked most of the staff of the tanker despite the whole excon thing. (Two crew members do try to attack her and one other crew member that was trying to defend her but that is resolved quickly.) There is a romance that is shoved into the plot with the captain of the tanker and our MC that I hated. It seemed very forced and rushed. I think that the book would have been just as strong with that taken out.
I am also really not a fan of how the book ended. It is revealed at the end of the book that part of the repairs that the MC has been making to the submarine that she built was adding a device that will lure the monster to her and basically a gigantic taser to zap said monster with. She has a theory that 100% does not make sense (and it is pointed out to her that it doesn't) that maybe if she attacks this thing with electricity and provokes its defense mechanism with that it will send her back in time instead of forward and will even bring her kids back to like (she's had their bodies in a freezer in her sub this entire time). She manages to lure the monster to her with the tanker chasing her down trying to stop her, triggers the defense, have her heart stopped instead of time traveling, going to a kind of purgatory, comes back, and then decides fuck it, I'm gonna try to attack it again.
Overall I have to say that the book annoyed me and didn't make a whole lot of sense, even in a universe that contains a kaiju that destroys California. The plot is ridiculous, the romance is bad, and the monster isn't in it nearly enough. A sequel is baited at the end but I doubt I will read a follow up. Overall I'm not sure I recommend this book at this time.
To start with positives I really liked the monster for the short amount of time that you see it. I really liked the design and the scale of it. You could see how much of a gigantic threat this thing would be if it existed in the real world and it was terrifying. I liked the writing around him and how some of his attacks were described in the book. Also all of the food talk made me hungry. (It felt like they talked about what meals they had every day way more than a lot of other stuff in the book.)
That is pretty much the only good thing that I can say about that though. I have plenty of complaints though so buckle in.
The main monster of this book is barely in the book despite the fact that he is on the cover. The characters talk about him for sure but I wanted the actual creature to be in the book more. I swear the actual monster is on the page for a good 3-4% of the book. I don't care about your oil drilling operation book. I want to see the monster. You don't even get to see him that much when he first emerges because for some reason there is a 30 year time jump at the start of the book. At the start of the book the female main character decided that she is going to recover the bodies of her two children that died in the emergence of the monster and somehow builds a submarine in some guys barn in 10 days. (She's an engineer. I still don't buy it.) She also attached harpoon guns to the sub because she somehow thinks that this is going to injure/kill a mile long monster that just climbed out of a volcanic rift? (For serious the book mentions this thing shaking lava off itself like it was water but she thinks that harpoons are going to hurt it.) This triggers some kind of defense mechanism of the monster that shoots her 30 years into the future. So you don't even get to see the aftermath of his emergence first hand. Every time the monster shows up its gone a page or two later. Other than after picking up a survivor from an attack by it on a yacht the thing is barely talked about in passing. This severely needed more creature action.
Instead of being mainly about the actual monster thing that's actively swimming around in the ocean, the book is mainly about oil drilling. Yes, oil drilling. Apparently this thing is drawn to the vibrations from oil drilling and it would come to attack any standing oil rig so the solution the book comes up with instead of green energy or literally anything else is to invent flying oil platforms that can fly away when the monster attacks it. This leaves the oil tanker that the rig was pumping oil into vulnerable to attack and apparently this means that no-one wants to work on them. I mean its not like oil companies are multi billion dollar conglomerates that can afford hazard pay to people that are actually qualified to work on tankers like this. No, they have to hire dangerous criminals and excons that are barely qualified to take care of themselves let alone run the ship.
Speaking of excons, after out main character is pushed forward in time 30 years she is picked up out of the ocean by the oil tanker. She works out a deal where she cooks for them and they give her a space to repair her slapped together submarine. I admit that I liked most of the staff of the tanker despite the whole excon thing. (Two crew members do try to attack her and one other crew member that was trying to defend her but that is resolved quickly.) There is a romance that is shoved into the plot with the captain of the tanker and our MC that I hated. It seemed very forced and rushed. I think that the book would have been just as strong with that taken out.
I am also really not a fan of how the book ended. It is revealed at the end of the book that part of the repairs that the MC has been making to the submarine that she built was adding a device that will lure the monster to her and basically a gigantic taser to zap said monster with. She has a theory that 100% does not make sense (and it is pointed out to her that it doesn't) that maybe if she attacks this thing with electricity and provokes its defense mechanism with that it will send her back in time instead of forward and will even bring her kids back to like (she's had their bodies in a freezer in her sub this entire time). She manages to lure the monster to her with the tanker chasing her down trying to stop her, triggers the defense, have her heart stopped instead of time traveling, going to a kind of purgatory, comes back, and then decides fuck it, I'm gonna try to attack it again.
Overall I have to say that the book annoyed me and didn't make a whole lot of sense, even in a universe that contains a kaiju that destroys California. The plot is ridiculous, the romance is bad, and the monster isn't in it nearly enough. A sequel is baited at the end but I doubt I will read a follow up. Overall I'm not sure I recommend this book at this time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2024
I recieved an ARC of this from Netgalley.
This book really surprised me. From the synopsis I thought it would be a straight up cheesy creature feature of a book. No real depth but a whole lot of fun. What I got instead was some complicated characters dealing with loss, grief, trauma and how to move on. The book moved at a good speed and, although I would have enjoyed more of the creature being front and centre, I really enjoyed this book and practically read it in two sessions.
If you are looking for an action packed hunt of a Moby Dick style this book may disappoint. But I think what you get is actually better, and at times is much more tension filled because you really come to care for the characters.
This book really surprised me. From the synopsis I thought it would be a straight up cheesy creature feature of a book. No real depth but a whole lot of fun. What I got instead was some complicated characters dealing with loss, grief, trauma and how to move on. The book moved at a good speed and, although I would have enjoyed more of the creature being front and centre, I really enjoyed this book and practically read it in two sessions.
If you are looking for an action packed hunt of a Moby Dick style this book may disappoint. But I think what you get is actually better, and at times is much more tension filled because you really come to care for the characters.
May 21, 2023
Literally, the first half of this story was AWESOME! Ceely’s drive for vengeance and her encounter with the monster is intense.
I didn’t like the romance aspect at all and the Captain’s obsession with her was bizarre. From the half way point onwards things just got a little dull; so many descriptions of the food they ate on the ship and other trivial things just bogged the plot down.
The ending… I was hoping for a bit more, for Ceely to succeed and the whole farm scene with Tommy and the others felt totally unnecessary as well. I wish the author had stuck to more of a creature thriller and kept the action at the forefront.
Thank you BookSirens and the author for a copy.
I didn’t like the romance aspect at all and the Captain’s obsession with her was bizarre. From the half way point onwards things just got a little dull; so many descriptions of the food they ate on the ship and other trivial things just bogged the plot down.
The ending… I was hoping for a bit more, for Ceely to succeed and the whole farm scene with Tommy and the others felt totally unnecessary as well. I wish the author had stuck to more of a creature thriller and kept the action at the forefront.
Thank you BookSirens and the author for a copy.
June 16, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC ♥️
"Fault" by Lumen Reese is a remarkable novel that captivated me from beginning to end. This gripping story takes readers on a thrilling journey through grief, revenge, and the power of a mother's love. With its unique blend of science fiction and emotional depth, this book stands out as one of my favorite reads in recent years.
One of the aspects that truly stood out to me was the book's pacing. Reese masterfully weaves together different parts of the story, each told from the perspective of various characters. This narrative technique adds depth and richness to the overall plot, keeping readers engaged and eager to uncover more. The shifts in perspective allow us to witness the diverse emotions and motivations that drive the characters, making them feel incredibly real and relatable.
The core premise of "Fault" is a unique take on a sci-fi trope, which sets it apart from other books in the genre. At its heart, this novel is about the profound grief of Lucille 'Ceely' Bennett, a mother who tragically loses her two children in the cataclysm. Ceely's determination to build a submarine and retrieve her daughters' bodies is fueled by an unwavering love and fury that resonates deeply with readers.
In addition to the captivating plot, Reese skillfully intertwines a unique and unconventional romance into the story. This aspect adds another layer of complexity and depth to the narrative. The portrayal of love in "Fault" challenges traditional notions and explores the unexplored territory of relationships. It was refreshing to see this unconventional love story unfold and witness the characters' growth and transformation through their connections.
Reese's descriptive prose is a standout feature of this book. The author's vivid and evocative writing style painted vivid pictures in my mind, bringing each scene to life. I could easily visualise the settings and immerse myself in the characters' experiences. The attention to detail and the ability to create such a vivid atmosphere enhanced the overall reading experience and made it truly unforgettable.
In conclusion, "Fault" by Lumen Reese is a must-read for fans of science fiction, thrilling adventures, and stories that explore the depths of human emotions. With its impeccable pacing, unique storyline, unconventional romance, and vivid imagery, this book has all the elements of a truly outstanding read. I highly recommend "Fault" to anyone seeking an engaging and thought-provoking journey that will leave a lasting impression.
"Fault" by Lumen Reese is a remarkable novel that captivated me from beginning to end. This gripping story takes readers on a thrilling journey through grief, revenge, and the power of a mother's love. With its unique blend of science fiction and emotional depth, this book stands out as one of my favorite reads in recent years.
One of the aspects that truly stood out to me was the book's pacing. Reese masterfully weaves together different parts of the story, each told from the perspective of various characters. This narrative technique adds depth and richness to the overall plot, keeping readers engaged and eager to uncover more. The shifts in perspective allow us to witness the diverse emotions and motivations that drive the characters, making them feel incredibly real and relatable.
The core premise of "Fault" is a unique take on a sci-fi trope, which sets it apart from other books in the genre. At its heart, this novel is about the profound grief of Lucille 'Ceely' Bennett, a mother who tragically loses her two children in the cataclysm. Ceely's determination to build a submarine and retrieve her daughters' bodies is fueled by an unwavering love and fury that resonates deeply with readers.
In addition to the captivating plot, Reese skillfully intertwines a unique and unconventional romance into the story. This aspect adds another layer of complexity and depth to the narrative. The portrayal of love in "Fault" challenges traditional notions and explores the unexplored territory of relationships. It was refreshing to see this unconventional love story unfold and witness the characters' growth and transformation through their connections.
Reese's descriptive prose is a standout feature of this book. The author's vivid and evocative writing style painted vivid pictures in my mind, bringing each scene to life. I could easily visualise the settings and immerse myself in the characters' experiences. The attention to detail and the ability to create such a vivid atmosphere enhanced the overall reading experience and made it truly unforgettable.
In conclusion, "Fault" by Lumen Reese is a must-read for fans of science fiction, thrilling adventures, and stories that explore the depths of human emotions. With its impeccable pacing, unique storyline, unconventional romance, and vivid imagery, this book has all the elements of a truly outstanding read. I highly recommend "Fault" to anyone seeking an engaging and thought-provoking journey that will leave a lasting impression.
April 21, 2024
I can’t stop thinking about the review the author left on this book to defend the book from unfair criticism. That the true horror is not the creature, it is the intensity of unconditional love and the stupid decisions it can lead us make. Which yeah, okay sure, but unfortunately the marketing for this book is selling such a different story. What this book ended up being was not what I enjoy reading at all, and I’m too stubborn to DNF. Once I figured out that I wasn’t going to like this, I tried to ask myself as a mother, what would I do if this was my son? Well, I can’t say for sure, but it probably wouldn’t be any of this.
The blurb for this book sells a very cool and creative story that is, unfortunately, told within the first like… 10% of the book. The rest of the book is an unending description of everyday life aboard this boat on its way to an oil drilling mission, with like two more very brief encounters with this cool monster. It’s not even that there isn’t any fun monster action, it’s that there are detailed descriptions of literally EVERY single meal the crew eats during the span of this book. Even in kind of a dream purgatory scene, there are TWO MEALS (and a snack). There is a two page description of a simple blood draw. So many mundane things are just drawn out and overly detailed. It makes the lack of monster action feel like a slog. Like this book didn’t really know what it wanted to be, which is weird because the author was very passionate about what it is about in the aforementioned review. The romance was… too much for me.
The blurb for this book sells a very cool and creative story that is, unfortunately, told within the first like… 10% of the book. The rest of the book is an unending description of everyday life aboard this boat on its way to an oil drilling mission, with like two more very brief encounters with this cool monster. It’s not even that there isn’t any fun monster action, it’s that there are detailed descriptions of literally EVERY single meal the crew eats during the span of this book. Even in kind of a dream purgatory scene, there are TWO MEALS (and a snack). There is a two page description of a simple blood draw. So many mundane things are just drawn out and overly detailed. It makes the lack of monster action feel like a slog. Like this book didn’t really know what it wanted to be, which is weird because the author was very passionate about what it is about in the aforementioned review. The romance was… too much for me.
April 28, 2025
I received an early reader copy for this book from NetGalley for free.
I was intrigued by this book 'cause I love horror stories revolving around large bodies of water and books that are set on ships. I was hugely disappointed. The horror elements were far too minimal for my taste and I felt the author had too many elements in the plot.
Parts of the book are told from different POVs of characters, and even though I usually like this narrative choice, here it felt more of a gimmick and a way to add padding to the story. Also I found some of the side characters much more interesting than the main character.
The writing and plot had some nice moments here and there, and I found the writing easy to read but it wasn't enough to make me give this book more than one star.
If you decide to pick up this one I hope you get more out of it than I did.
I was intrigued by this book 'cause I love horror stories revolving around large bodies of water and books that are set on ships. I was hugely disappointed. The horror elements were far too minimal for my taste and I felt the author had too many elements in the plot.
Parts of the book are told from different POVs of characters, and even though I usually like this narrative choice, here it felt more of a gimmick and a way to add padding to the story. Also I found some of the side characters much more interesting than the main character.
The writing and plot had some nice moments here and there, and I found the writing easy to read but it wasn't enough to make me give this book more than one star.
If you decide to pick up this one I hope you get more out of it than I did.
March 31, 2025
With a cover this good, the book should not be this bad.
I don’t think I’ve been this frustrated by a book in a long time. What even is this mess? It’s a confused, disjointed story that makes no sense.
A mother loses her children when a monster erupts from the San Andreas Fault, sinking Los Angeles. In response, she somehow builds a fully functional submarine in a farmer’s barn in ten days—sure. Then she manages to sneak past naval blockades (because apparently, that’s easy), makes it to her ruined home, and retrieves her daughters' bodies. But before she can grieve, the lava-drenched creature attacks, and somehow, her harpoons actually hurt it. Then, because this book isn’t chaotic enough, the monster inexplicably flings her thirty years into the future.
Now she’s in her seventies, her daughters’ mummified corpses are chilling in her sub’s freezer, and she gets picked up by an oil tanker crewed by convicts (because sure, why not). She wins them over with her cooking, starts building something in secret, and—oh joy—enters a bizarre, off-putting romance with the ship’s captain, who immediately becomes obsessively devoted to her. The age gap itself isn’t the problem; it’s how weirdly the romance is handled, making it feel forced and uncomfortable.
And the monster? The supposed terrifying force of nature? Nowhere to be found. The book builds up this massive, cataclysmic entity and then just… forgets about it. Instead, we get an elderly woman’s awkward shipboard romance and a scattered, disconnected plot that never delivers on its premise.
For a story about grief, revenge, and an unstoppable horror from the depths, it is shockingly boring. What a waste. I do not recommend.
I don’t think I’ve been this frustrated by a book in a long time. What even is this mess? It’s a confused, disjointed story that makes no sense.
A mother loses her children when a monster erupts from the San Andreas Fault, sinking Los Angeles. In response, she somehow builds a fully functional submarine in a farmer’s barn in ten days—sure. Then she manages to sneak past naval blockades (because apparently, that’s easy), makes it to her ruined home, and retrieves her daughters' bodies. But before she can grieve, the lava-drenched creature attacks, and somehow, her harpoons actually hurt it. Then, because this book isn’t chaotic enough, the monster inexplicably flings her thirty years into the future.
Now she’s in her seventies, her daughters’ mummified corpses are chilling in her sub’s freezer, and she gets picked up by an oil tanker crewed by convicts (because sure, why not). She wins them over with her cooking, starts building something in secret, and—oh joy—enters a bizarre, off-putting romance with the ship’s captain, who immediately becomes obsessively devoted to her. The age gap itself isn’t the problem; it’s how weirdly the romance is handled, making it feel forced and uncomfortable.
And the monster? The supposed terrifying force of nature? Nowhere to be found. The book builds up this massive, cataclysmic entity and then just… forgets about it. Instead, we get an elderly woman’s awkward shipboard romance and a scattered, disconnected plot that never delivers on its premise.
For a story about grief, revenge, and an unstoppable horror from the depths, it is shockingly boring. What a waste. I do not recommend.
July 6, 2023
First, thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op, and the author for a chance to read and review this title before general publication. This review will be published to both Goodreads and Amazon.
I have to say that I felt a whirlwind of emotions when reading this book, and those emotions had little to do with the actual story itself. I would have given this 2.5 stars but it has been rounded up bc NetGalley and Goodreads does not do half stars.
The synopsis was: "The Thing swam out of the magma in the Earth’s core and clawed its way up through the San Andreas Fault on the night that a chunk of the California coast sank into the Pacific. Millions died, including the two children of Lucille 'Ceely' Bennett, an accomplished engineer stranded in rural Montana when the cataclysm occurred. Ceely builds a submarine, complete with mechanical arms and a set of harpoons -the biggest on the market- with the intention of going down among the ruins of Los Angeles to collect her daughters' bodies."
That all happened within the first 30 pages. She built the sub and collected her daughters' bodies within the first 30 pages. The rest of the book is a romance. With a bit of supernatural sprinkled in (she was hit by lightening and is transported 30 yrs). The character very much takes the 30 yrs in stride and doesn't appear all that phased by it. The romance starts with the ship's scribe pining after, what appears to be, every man on an all male ship. He then focuses his attention on one fellow shipmate in particular, but also mentions how good the captain looks quite a bit. The romance between the captain and Ceely is fast and a bit strange.
I felt mixed emotions because I was looking forward to an underwater adventure and got a romance instead. The writing style itself was good but the content was uninteresting. I do feel that it should be marketed as a romance and less as a sci-fi.
I was given a copy of this book with the agreement that I would give an honest review.
I have to say that I felt a whirlwind of emotions when reading this book, and those emotions had little to do with the actual story itself. I would have given this 2.5 stars but it has been rounded up bc NetGalley and Goodreads does not do half stars.
The synopsis was: "The Thing swam out of the magma in the Earth’s core and clawed its way up through the San Andreas Fault on the night that a chunk of the California coast sank into the Pacific. Millions died, including the two children of Lucille 'Ceely' Bennett, an accomplished engineer stranded in rural Montana when the cataclysm occurred. Ceely builds a submarine, complete with mechanical arms and a set of harpoons -the biggest on the market- with the intention of going down among the ruins of Los Angeles to collect her daughters' bodies."
That all happened within the first 30 pages. She built the sub and collected her daughters' bodies within the first 30 pages. The rest of the book is a romance. With a bit of supernatural sprinkled in (she was hit by lightening and is transported 30 yrs). The character very much takes the 30 yrs in stride and doesn't appear all that phased by it. The romance starts with the ship's scribe pining after, what appears to be, every man on an all male ship. He then focuses his attention on one fellow shipmate in particular, but also mentions how good the captain looks quite a bit. The romance between the captain and Ceely is fast and a bit strange.
I felt mixed emotions because I was looking forward to an underwater adventure and got a romance instead. The writing style itself was good but the content was uninteresting. I do feel that it should be marketed as a romance and less as a sci-fi.
I was given a copy of this book with the agreement that I would give an honest review.
September 13, 2023
If I could give it 3 1/2 stars I would. This was more of a strange romance in my opinion. The monster was mentioned here and there, but this was more of Ceely and Ceasar slowly falling for one another. I thought I was going to be reading a horror when you dont get much horror at all. It's centered mostly with the main character on a ship and dealing with her guilt and being held there until they can figure out what's best to do with her.
It was a slow read for me and I hate that it was. I believe it could be so much better if there would have been more moments with the creature involved. That's my opinion.
I did love how Ceely was such a loving and determined mother. She was exceptionally brave doing what she did. I know I wouldn't have had the guts to do what she did.
I thank BookSirens for allowing me to review this ARC for free.
It was a slow read for me and I hate that it was. I believe it could be so much better if there would have been more moments with the creature involved. That's my opinion.
I did love how Ceely was such a loving and determined mother. She was exceptionally brave doing what she did. I know I wouldn't have had the guts to do what she did.
I thank BookSirens for allowing me to review this ARC for free.
June 28, 2023
I really tried to enjoy this book, but I just couldn’t. I was intrigued by the description and hopeful for a creature feature. Instead, it was more of a strange sci-fi with romance sprinkled in. I found the writing style made for a difficult read. The story also moved so fast at the start; by page 25 Ceely had already lost her children, grieved her loss, built a submarine and was in the ocean to retrieve their bodies.
Props to the author for the author’s note at the start because it made me laugh.
Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing for the advanced reading copy.
Props to the author for the author’s note at the start because it made me laugh.
Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing for the advanced reading copy.
July 28, 2024
The first half was great, Ceely's seek for vengeance really started this book of strong, but the rest of it fell flat. There were too many changes in perspectives, the weirdly placed romance thrown in there that added absolutely nothing to the plot and the ending..
I wanted this to be more of a creature feature, but a story set up to be focused on this monster causing destruction is only in about 2% of this book.
I wanted this to be more of a creature feature, but a story set up to be focused on this monster causing destruction is only in about 2% of this book.
December 19, 2023
This is the perfect book to read following the Titan submarine incident. Homegirl just makes a homemade submarine to find her dead children's bodies. I can't pretend I wouldn't want to do the same thing.
I love this. The sea is so terrifying,
Aging is also terrifying.
Make this a movie. It is weird AF and fun. Listen I hope in 30 years I can still seduce a ship captain.
I love this. The sea is so terrifying,
Aging is also terrifying.
Make this a movie. It is weird AF and fun. Listen I hope in 30 years I can still seduce a ship captain.
June 28, 2023
Fault is an incredible book, but it is not a monster book by normal standards.
What I liked:
—Ceely. She is the driving force behind this entire book and I found her passages to be incredibly powerful. Her grief as a mother seeps into everything she does. She’s a powerful woman and gives major Ellen Ripley vibes.
—Atmosphere. A unique thing about this book is it doesn’t dwell on just the early days of the monster arriving like most monster books would. Instead, we see how mankind has moved on from the catastrophe and how the world continues after.
—Ending. I’m glad that the author doesn’t wrap everything up in a perfect bow where everyone gets a magical happily ever after. There’s too much pain and growth for that, and the realistic ending we’re given is much better. It leaves room for a future installment if the author wanted, but this is a full experience on its own.
What I disliked
—Cesar. While I enjoyed the idea of an unconventional relationship (it was a breath of fresh air in an otherwise stagnant pool), I disliked how “pussy-whipped” he became. It felt like he lost his own sense of character and instead was consumed by Ceely. As his own stand alone character, he had great backstory and potential depth to him.
Overall, this was an incredible read as long as you go into it knowing that it won’t be your typical monster book. It deals with all kinds of human trauma and paints a realistic picture of humanity alongside the monster. 4.5/5.0
What I liked:
—Ceely. She is the driving force behind this entire book and I found her passages to be incredibly powerful. Her grief as a mother seeps into everything she does. She’s a powerful woman and gives major Ellen Ripley vibes.
—Atmosphere. A unique thing about this book is it doesn’t dwell on just the early days of the monster arriving like most monster books would. Instead, we see how mankind has moved on from the catastrophe and how the world continues after.
—Ending. I’m glad that the author doesn’t wrap everything up in a perfect bow where everyone gets a magical happily ever after. There’s too much pain and growth for that, and the realistic ending we’re given is much better. It leaves room for a future installment if the author wanted, but this is a full experience on its own.
What I disliked
—Cesar. While I enjoyed the idea of an unconventional relationship (it was a breath of fresh air in an otherwise stagnant pool), I disliked how “pussy-whipped” he became. It felt like he lost his own sense of character and instead was consumed by Ceely. As his own stand alone character, he had great backstory and potential depth to him.
Overall, this was an incredible read as long as you go into it knowing that it won’t be your typical monster book. It deals with all kinds of human trauma and paints a realistic picture of humanity alongside the monster. 4.5/5.0
November 1, 2023
This started out sort of slow, then got really promising, and I enjoyed about 50% of it... but then it losts its steam. Or rather, it never really gained it in the first place.
The book starts of being written from Ceely's POV, a mother who lost her children to a catastophic desaster and sea monster, and she is hell bent to at least salvage her daughters' corpses, and avenge her kids.
...And then just when she finally confronts the create, the POV switches to Jacob, a meek clerk upon an oil tanker that braves the waters despite the creature's threat. I enjoyed his POV the most, but once again, once things get rolling, the POV switches to the Captain, and he doesn't last particularly long either...
The POV switches felt jarring and kicked me out of the flow of the story every time it switched. But the worst part was that throughout the whole of the book... the plot only sort of meanders. We get the daily life on the boat, and aside from some personal drama and introspective musings, nothing really happens.
The sea creatures that seems to be so central barely ever appears, and the ending is very unsatisfying.
This is advertized as horror, but there are pretty much no scary scenes. The few that could turn scary are super short, and are told in a very distant narration style.
The book still captured me, but ultimately didn't deliver what I felt was promised by it. Much more about human interactions than any sort of horror creature, and even with the characterization I found it kind of inconsistent.
The book starts of being written from Ceely's POV, a mother who lost her children to a catastophic desaster and sea monster, and she is hell bent to at least salvage her daughters' corpses, and avenge her kids.
...And then just when she finally confronts the create, the POV switches to Jacob, a meek clerk upon an oil tanker that braves the waters despite the creature's threat. I enjoyed his POV the most, but once again, once things get rolling, the POV switches to the Captain, and he doesn't last particularly long either...
The POV switches felt jarring and kicked me out of the flow of the story every time it switched. But the worst part was that throughout the whole of the book... the plot only sort of meanders. We get the daily life on the boat, and aside from some personal drama and introspective musings, nothing really happens.
The sea creatures that seems to be so central barely ever appears, and the ending is very unsatisfying.
This is advertized as horror, but there are pretty much no scary scenes. The few that could turn scary are super short, and are told in a very distant narration style.
The book still captured me, but ultimately didn't deliver what I felt was promised by it. Much more about human interactions than any sort of horror creature, and even with the characterization I found it kind of inconsistent.
July 25, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Lumen Reese for the opportunity to read and review Fault.
Overall: 3/5
Sea monster time travel?! Fault was cool. I enjoyed the story and thought it was an entertaining read. I was surprised by the romance element and slightly disappointed by how much it drove the plot, but I still enjoyed it. This isn’t something i would typically read, so it was nice to read something different.
Although I am not a romance reader, I thought those aspects written well, better than a lot of other spicier bits I’ve read before.
While i wouldn’t necessarily call this a romance novel, be warned that a romantic relationship drives a lot of the plot. The first bit is somewhat misleading and not what you will find throughout the rest of the book. Unfortunate because i really liked the first part!
All in all, this book is less than 300 pages so it’s not a huge commitment. Definitely worth giving a try!
Overall: 3/5
Sea monster time travel?! Fault was cool. I enjoyed the story and thought it was an entertaining read. I was surprised by the romance element and slightly disappointed by how much it drove the plot, but I still enjoyed it. This isn’t something i would typically read, so it was nice to read something different.
Although I am not a romance reader, I thought those aspects written well, better than a lot of other spicier bits I’ve read before.
While i wouldn’t necessarily call this a romance novel, be warned that a romantic relationship drives a lot of the plot. The first bit is somewhat misleading and not what you will find throughout the rest of the book. Unfortunate because i really liked the first part!
All in all, this book is less than 300 pages so it’s not a huge commitment. Definitely worth giving a try!
June 8, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing.
When a monster kills her daughters Ceely vows to take revenge and she will do it with all the means at her disposal, risking her own life if necessary.
The first part of the story promises to be a science fiction or horror story and is well paced, but from that point on it becomes a romance between Ceely and the Baton Rouge Captain Caesar. We also have other characters who tell their points of view as McKenzie or Jacob but always focused to some extent on the protagonist couple. It is not until the end of the book that we see the creature in action again in a conclusion that could allow for a sequel.
In summary, FAULT is not a bad book, the characters are interesting and it entertains but in my humble opinion, it is not a horror story rather a bit of science fiction with a lot of romance which is not a bad thing if you know what to expect.
When a monster kills her daughters Ceely vows to take revenge and she will do it with all the means at her disposal, risking her own life if necessary.
The first part of the story promises to be a science fiction or horror story and is well paced, but from that point on it becomes a romance between Ceely and the Baton Rouge Captain Caesar. We also have other characters who tell their points of view as McKenzie or Jacob but always focused to some extent on the protagonist couple. It is not until the end of the book that we see the creature in action again in a conclusion that could allow for a sequel.
In summary, FAULT is not a bad book, the characters are interesting and it entertains but in my humble opinion, it is not a horror story rather a bit of science fiction with a lot of romance which is not a bad thing if you know what to expect.
August 8, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I really wish the first chapter was a standalone short story because it had a completely different tone than the rest of the book. I was skimming by the end because I just didn't care about the characters and their one-dimensional motivations, and the romance subplot was contrived and unneccessary. As many other folks commented, there are so. Many. Descriptions. Of. Meals. I never felt like I knew anything about the protag beyond the reuniting with her children thing, which I didn't connect with at all. Three stars rather than two for the weird little administrative guy; I wish the book had been more about him.
I really wish the first chapter was a standalone short story because it had a completely different tone than the rest of the book. I was skimming by the end because I just didn't care about the characters and their one-dimensional motivations, and the romance subplot was contrived and unneccessary. As many other folks commented, there are so. Many. Descriptions. Of. Meals. I never felt like I knew anything about the protag beyond the reuniting with her children thing, which I didn't connect with at all. Three stars rather than two for the weird little administrative guy; I wish the book had been more about him.
February 1, 2024
What a disappointment.
The cover look great, the synopsis sounded promising and it started pretty well.
Ok, I don't believe that the prota can build a submarine in a barn no matter how great an engineer she is. But I can deal with that kind of "problem".
I was hoping for a entertaining story about a woman on the hunt for a kaiju. What I got was short sequence about a monster, timetravel an awful romance and some sex scenes that really made me uncomfortbale, because the author couldn't stress enough, that the prota looked like she was 70 years old.
I really wish i DNFed this and didn't spend so much time on it.
The cover look great, the synopsis sounded promising and it started pretty well.
Ok, I don't believe that the prota can build a submarine in a barn no matter how great an engineer she is. But I can deal with that kind of "problem".
I was hoping for a entertaining story about a woman on the hunt for a kaiju. What I got was short sequence about a monster, timetravel an awful romance and some sex scenes that really made me uncomfortbale, because the author couldn't stress enough, that the prota looked like she was 70 years old.
I really wish i DNFed this and didn't spend so much time on it.
December 24, 2023
The first half of the story was a great read. I enjoyed Ceely's determination and was gripped with the apocalyptic action. However the second half of the book I found was difficult to follow from the main characters POV. Who was telling the story? I had to think twice at times. The plot became unstuck towards the end and was confusing and unbelievable. The ending was very abrupt and I am tempted to say there should be a sequel to tie up loose ends. Overall a good, fast paced story but wished the plot had flowed better. 3 stars.
July 30, 2023
This started off horrifying and cool. Then got dull and odd. There's this gigantic aquatic creature and destruction that you can't imagine. Ceely, engineer extraordinaire, wants to rescue her deceased children from the creature by building a submarine to collect their bodies. She some how gets catapulted 30 years into the future. She ends up on a ship and what does her brilliant mind do while aboard? She works in the kitchen. How quaint. Unexpected romances happen and the ending is ambiguous, which I hate. None of the characters are very interesting--the circumstances are though. I wanted more of the creature. Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC
May 11, 2023
I loved that the mothers grief and need for revenge were so relatable. The characters all came together nicely and the ending left me wanting more.
August 28, 2023
Review incoming
September 16, 2023
Would've gotten a star more, had it an actual ending and not an unsatisfying cliffhanger.
September 27, 2023
Just not what I thought it would be
September 27, 2023
Unusual and well written
A good piece of sci fi. This was a very different kind of book, but had a good feel to it. Enjoyable read.
A good piece of sci fi. This was a very different kind of book, but had a good feel to it. Enjoyable read.
November 30, 2023
*dnf 21 percent
March 10, 2024
More romance than kaiju novel, despite how it's been marketed. And that abrupt ending......not a fan. It was like even the author was done with the tedium and wanted things to end.
Did Not Finish
December 30, 2024DNF 30%
Did Not Finish
October 17, 2025so unbelievably bad. DNF @ 20%
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