The Descent: A Novel (Descent Series Book 1)

I just finished reading The Descent and both exhilarated and sad. Exhilarated at one of the best books that I've read in a long time, and sad that it's over. I've looked at several of the reviews, and they are all over the place. I will try to make my review as helpful as possible. The writing, itself, is excellent - way above the average. I have immense respect for the writing talents of Mr. Long. He really knows how to turn a phrase. The characters are developed as well as they need to be (though I've read a review that said otherwise). The two main characters are pretty well drawn (remember this is not a psychological thriller or a Stephen King book), while the secondary characters are not deeply developed, but drawn well enough to move the plot. The plot is a mixture of horror, science fiction, adventure, romance and high stakes (government and evil corporation) thriller. After choosing this book as a horror story, I started reading it, forgetting about the full description, and was immediately grabbed by the horrific and thrilling first three chapters. This was going to be a truly creepy horror story. Then it morphed and the government and corporations got involved. I was disappointed, at first, and thought I had misjudged the book. But as I kept reading, both the plot and the fate of the characters I came to care about, I got thoroughly hooked all over again in what was now a thrilling and suspenseful adventure into the unknown. Yes, there was an evil corporation and, yes, there was the army involvement (the type of plots that don't interest me), but there was also the expedition into the dark and unknown world beneath our own, the amazing secrets they discover, and the fate of the two main characters I grew to care so much about. Add to that the mystery of the true origins of human life and the future of our civilization, and you have one epic novel. One reviewer titled their review "Too long" and then said it needed an extra chapter or two. Huh? I was happy at the length of it. And I didn't find the ending too abrupt. Yes more time could have been spent on the last chapter "The Ascent" but I think the reader would have gotten completely frustrated with waiting for the ending.I really loved this book. I loved it so much that I think I am going to read it all over again right now. I have never done that and I have tons of other books on my Kindle waiting to be read. I just enjoyed this book so much. I hope I have been helpful. There have been times that I have given books rave reviews and later said to myself that I was too generous. That won't happen here. If you love horror/adventure/thriller, based on an archaeological mystery, with some romance thrown in, and can put up with (or like) the government/corporate conspiracy aspects, you will really enjoy this book. I don't know how many people will even see this review, but I hope that I will have helped at least one person.

I loved this book. I hated this book. Does it seem as though I'm conflicted?When I first started reading this book I could not put it down. It not only drew me in but it dominated my dreams. I started having nightmares.What a great premise: A separate civilization exists in a subterranean world right under our noses. Not only that but they are a spin-off species of homo sapiens called homo hadalis. They have evolved for thousands of years and quite possibly had a developed culture long before man discovered fire. Because of their unique environment they have evolved differently than man. They look like...well...they look like demons. Sightings of these creatures throughout history could explain the origin of demons in religions beliefs. Ok, thousands of years ago some poor peasant catches sight of one of these hadals, freaks out and runs to local priest, describes what he saw and "bingo"...demons straight from hell. But just because they look like what we call demons doesn't mean they are and this is where the book begins to go off track.As it becomes increasingly apparent that we are not alone on this planet the scope and scale of this story mushrooms. When the military gets involved and it's us against them, I am so there! But when the story takes a theological and religious turn, forget it. You lost me. I am the perfect reader. I'll believe just about anything you want to tell me. Take me where ever you want go. If you make it just half way believable I'll go along with it. But when the author introduces the "Beowulf Circle" I'm gone. I have never heard such convoluted, theological mumble jumble in my life. This group of eclectic religious and scientific braniacs get together to stop, what they have deduced is a plot by Satan. Satan? Where the hell did that come from? (Sorry for the pun) Just because these hadals look like what we call demons their leader must be Satan? This is where I began to hate this book. And I hated that I was beginning to hate the book because I loved the book. I didn't want to hate it. (Do I need psychological help?) Anyway, to save my sanity and to insure my continued love of the story whenever the Beowulf Circle talked about Satan, I changed the name of Satan to Santa Claus. "Santa Claus is using the hadals to his own twisted purpose." "Santa Claus is the ultimate traitor." Because their ridiculous theories were pulled out of thin air and were totally laughable, Santa Claus fit right in.The religious and theological missteps aside, this is a great read. I highly recommend this book. Just remember to bring along Santa Claus because, trust me, at some point you are going to need him.

Si bien la edición en español está sobrevalorada en su precio, nada mejor que leer a Jeff Long en su idioma original. La obra es genial, tiene un comienzo sensacional y, aunque no mantiene el ritmo narrativo a lo largo del resto de la obra, los datos que da son muy interesantes. No es tanto una historia de terror, sino de ciencia ficción, pero en la que hay muchos datos científicos y filosóficos que te hacen reflexionar. La historia que va entretejiendo Long en la novela tiene incluso, como dijo otro usuario, connotaciones teológicas. Invertir menos de $150 pesos por este libro NUEVO, en lugar de gastar $3000 trayéndolo de España (y usado) es una ganga. Si tu nivel de inglés es intermedio aprenderás muchísimo más inglés leyendo este libro. No te vas a arrepentir. Vale la pena y mucho.

ce roman est super: il y a tout: peur, suspense, amour, sentiments, legereté, beauté des mots.Une equipe se retrouve sous terre a explorer le monde chtonien, et des surprises incroyables vont survenir. L horreur et la beauté sont la en meme temps.

Wow, what a read. Now, I would consider myself to be a fairly seasoned reader of books. I have seen many different topics & many different styles of writing. The Descent really stuck out as original. Amazingly descriptive. Amazing character development and range. Simply amazing storytelling. The first 4-5 chapters were dedicated to introducing the characters in their various scenarios as books often do. Nothing new there, no, but then once that is out of the way there is a brilliant section which moves forward at such an exciting and fast pace, the time spanned over months and events go from marginal to monumental in a matter of pages. The global scale & vividness of such an event seems too colossal but somehow the writer pulled it off marvellously capturing the vastness, but also the personal nature & relating events. I was astounded. I don't think I can claim to be astounded by another book quite in this way. What follows on from this is a fast paced exciting storyline, delving into new territories that no reader is familiar with. To create such a descriptive environment from a blank canvas is a mean feat. I have read several other under-the-ground novels, but none that quite touch this. I loved the (although brief) progression of civilisation into a new world, how it developed. It reminded me of the Red/Green/Blue Mars series - how colonisation of a planet happened.The first read of this book a few years ago elevated into my top 20 reads (yes I am a nerd - I have 'top' lists, albeit mental ones, I am not quite so nerdy to write them down. Yet.)My second read of this book recently, and we have it in the top 10. what an awesome read.I look forward to getting my hands on the sequel, Deeper, although am slightly concerned it might fall into the regular sequel trap. Wilbur Smith pulled it off with some of his series' (although also managed to spectacularly fail aswell with others!). Lets hope Mr. Long can manage another great.

Buenísimo servicio y libro, la historia bastante atrapante pero el final deja mucho que desear.

Eine grandiose Idee, sehr gut umgesetzt. Leider bleiben viele Figuren recht flach.