The Descent By Jeff Long Book Review

 The Descent 

(The Descent #1)

By Jeff Long 

Published Year: 1999

Page Count: 575 pages 

Medium Used: Kindle PW 

Genre: Horror, Science Fiction, Satan, Underworld, Gore and Macabre, Expedition into the Unknown, 2026-read. 

Rating : 5/5 😀😀😀😀😀

A deeply disturbing book(but my sweet sweet cup of tea!!!). This is not for the weak minded or the sensitive souls out there. I felt like every possible from of death through murder/torture is recounted here. After reading this and taking into account all the events of face off between the underground "savage" creatures labeled Hadals and the so called "civilized" humans, I am at a loss to decide who is more brutal and animalistic. My involvement with the story got too intense and I had to force myself off for a bit. As the story progressed, it only became more often. I had to turn myself away from this darkness so that I wouldn't get consumed by it. The author has come across as someone who has done a lot of research and reading into the traditions, practices of different cultures around the world. He has laid bare a wealth of information that enriched my imagination and compounded my knowledge base. Although the story reeks with dark content like violence and death, there are also some tidbits about monasteries, meditation practices that caught my interest. 

I always frame myself as someone that wouldn't easily be shocked by insanities of this degenrate world but there are a few scenes in this book that left me speechless. I am grateful that atleast the main characters escape without much harm. I want to read the sequel. I really really want to see what happens to Satan next. I really liked the atmosphere created in the book. I liked how there was always a surprise or two looming ahead for the unwary and also how commonplace/banal murder and brutality becomes after a while. I didn't see the ending .. I envisioned it a bit differently. I would have liked for the main characters to work with Satan even if he is evil and territorial about his clans of Hadals. The notion that this Satan has been jumping between bodies and pays visits to earth often made a lot of sense if such a person should indeed exist! No matter how many eons pass, how many bodies he jumps, a monster will always remain a monster. The core nature of a soul doesn't change with lifetimes. Perhaps the behavior evolves and their consciousness broadens. He is depicted as a ruthless, self protecting, self centered creature that wiped away all trails of scientific research leading upto revealing his true identity. He has wiped himself from history so he could arise anew and awaken in a untarnished, fresh body.  What is he going to do with this new persona? What will stop him now? 

 I thoroughly appreciate the reddit post which introduced me to this book. The writer who penned his post on reddit was just as awestruck and enamored with the book as I am now. Going a bit into the story, humans discover the existence of tunnels underground. They detect the presence of savage, brutish creatures they name Hadals who must have shared a common ancestor with humans at some point in the past.  So naturally they send out an expedition to scope out the underworld. Ike is the chief navigator and Ali is the chief map maker and sent to learn of the history and languages of the Hadals. As they go deep into their expedition, we also see what's happening in the world outside. How there are some sightings of Hadals above the surface and how there are multiple failed attempts to learn of their anatomy or speech patterns. We also learn that some one has planted a spy in the expedition who is planting dangerous devices along their trail which can later be triggered by a homing device. It could potentially exterminate Hadals in one virulent attack. I would have liked the end to be different. I would have liked for the book to have a multiple sequels. I wish to read tirelessly about the practices of these fictitious creations of the author's mind .. the Hadals!! One thing that felt strange and eye opening about these "savages" is how easily, quickly they were willing to succumb to suicide/death than suffer exploitation in the hands of humans. Perhaps it makes sense .. one who can take a life easily will be as ready to give up theirs! 

There were a couple of places where logic felt off. If Shoat is the only one that can unlock the devices and trigger mass extermination, how could the soilders die from an exposure? And if Satan is shown as the only one that can jump bodies, how could that wild thing do the same in human laboratory? I am sure there is perfect logical reasoning behind these two points and they might get a briefing in the sequel. Fingers crossed!!