I LOVE this book! Tatiana did a phenomenal job at world building and character development. This was such a fun story to read, and I did not expect to cry but I did. This is a book you do not want to skip or let sit on your TBR too long. I cannot wait to see what else Tatiana comes up with because her stories are just so good and are medicine for my soul.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED?????? 😭

​I cried so much... I was hooked from the start, but my nerves are absolutely shot. It was such an emotional rollercoaster that I feel completely drained now...

​I’m speechless. The concept is brilliant, the plot is nerve-wracking, and for such a short book, it’s packed with action!
​OMG, making an aesthetic for this one is going to be so hard but exciting, though I need some time to recover first...

​Warning: This book is quite triggering, 18+, and has some gruesome descriptions. If you’re faint-hearted or looking for romance (I mean, seriously?), skip this. It’s 100% Dark Fantasy Horror!!!!

​I loved that the FMC gave me major Mao Mao vibes, always chasing deadly things, wanting to taste everything, and trying to heal everyone. I also loved the subtle romance; it never overshadowed the main focus, which was friendship.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for access to this e-ARC.

I think I just found my favorite read of the month????? And it's only March 2???? My god, this really just ticked ALL MY BOXES. Annihilation vibes? Check. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood inspiration? Check. The Descent inspired? FUCKING CHECK AND CHECK. Atlantis: The Lost Empire vibes? CHECK CHECK CHECK. Holy fucking shit.

I'm not usually a YA reader, truth be told. But I love Tatiana's work so much that I had to subscribe to the Bindery imprint, Boozhoo Books, so I could be an early reader for her next book. And I am so incredibly glad that I did. First, the cover is amazing. Just gorgeous. Second, the book itself was SO CINEMATIC. I really could see the inspiration and how it all came together to create one truly disgusting dive. The body horror is top notch and I really couldn't even tell the characters were YA except for a few instances. Like I just treated this like a movie in my mind and it works SO FUCKING WELL. Have I mentioned the BODY HORROR? The amount of times I said "YUCK" out loud made my wife laugh.

I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. I cannot wait for my physical copies to come in so I can put them on my shelf (yeah I may have preordered multiple, what of it?).

DO NOT WALK, *RUN* TO BUY THIS.

Thank you to NetGally for the review copy.

A tense, creature‑filled descent into the Void. The world‑building is vivid, the danger constant, and the friendship at the center gives the horror real weight. A gripping, atmospheric read.

I would highly reccomend. 5 Star read.

4.5 stars
Tatiana proves that she has RANGE with this one!
This book very much gave Annihilation, The Last of Us, and The Descent vibes and I thoroughly enjoyed getting lost in the Void. The in-depth world building was fantastic and the body horror was top tier.

I did feel a slight disconnect with the characters, I don’t know if it’s because they’re younger but I also read Such Lovely Skin and didn’t feel that way with the characters in that book, so for me maybe it was so heavy on the world building that I felt it was a little lacking in the depth of the characters.

I started to question some things towards the end so the twist wasn’t a super big shock, but I absolutely love an open, ambiguous ending and this one was just perfect!

I’m giving What Feeds Below by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne 4.75 out of 5 stars. This was exactly the type of book I love to read. The plot sounded amazing when I first picked it up, and I’m happy to say it absolutely didn’t disappoint.
The worldbuilding in the Void was incredibly detailed, and I loved being able to picture everything so vividly while reading. The descriptions really pulled me into the atmosphere and made the setting feel unsettling in the best way.
This book also leans heavily into body horror and grotesque creatures, which I personally loved. The eerie, disturbing elements made the story even more immersive and memorable for me.
Overall, such a great read if you enjoy dark, creepy worlds and unsettling horror elements

A dark void has opened up in the ground, full of perilous dangers and horrors but for those brave enough to venture down there are rewards a plenty, if you can make it back to the surface.

Tatiana Schlote-Bonne, continues cranking out some of the best horror of the last few years. Her affinity for body horror and human emotion truly shines the brightest in “What Feeds Below”.

Once this book starts it doesn’t let go or pull its punches. Every Creature of main character encounters is worse than the next (and excuse me what teeth). All these creatures would feel right at home in a mono black MTG deck if that gives you any clue.

Proceed with caution though because phobias abound in this book. There were a few moments where I had to stop and shake off the heebie jeebies, before I descended further into the void.

This story fits somewhere in between “Gregor The Overlander” and “The Decent” with a gory smattering of Cronenberg. The novel come out October 6, 2026 but don’t wait make sure you pre-order it because this is something you don’t want to miss!!!

Some books invite you into their worlds. Others drag you straight into the abyss and dare you to keep reading. This one absolutely does the latter.

What Feeds Below by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne drops readers into a nightmare that is as mesmerizing as it is terrifying. At the center of the story is Petra, a guide who helps thrill-seeking tourists descend into the mysterious Void—a massive chasm crawling with monstrous creatures, carnivorous plants, and secrets buried far deeper than anyone should dare to go.

For Petra and her best friend Jade, the Void isn’t just a place of danger. It’s survival. It’s their only chance to claw their way out of the slums and build the future they’ve been dreaming about. But dreams have a way of turning into nightmares when greed, desperation, and curiosity push people further than they should go.

When a job spirals disastrously wrong and Jade disappears into the depths, Petra is forced to do the one thing she’s always feared: descend deeper into the Void than anyone should. And the deeper she goes, the clearer it becomes that the Void isn’t just dangerous—it’s alive, hungry, and hiding truths that could unravel everything.

What makes this story so gripping isn’t just the relentless danger or the unsettling worldbuilding (though both are incredible). It’s the emotional core of the novel—the fragile, complicated bond between two girls who have only ever had each other. Petra’s journey isn’t just about survival; it’s about identity, loyalty, and discovering who you are when the person who defined your world is suddenly gone.

Schlote-Bonne builds a setting that feels both cinematic and claustrophobic. The underground landscape teems with grotesque flora and terrifying creatures, creating an atmosphere that feels equal parts adventure and horror. Every page pulls you deeper, and the tension rarely lets up.

What Feeds Below is dark, immersive, and impossible to look away from—a story that blends dystopian adventure with botanical horror in a way that feels completely unique.

Just be warned: once you start descending into the Void, turning back isn’t really an option.

Third time is the charm with Tatiana as she delivers a rooted narrative steep in terrifying knee-jerking plant horrors. Face your deepest fears and join the land of the living dead as your body becomes entangled with mother nature’s children. A deep dive into a cave that will have you wishing you stayed inside and remained curious. A sharp and twisting narrative that is both rich in flowery diction to make you scratch your skin away. Cell by cell you will lose your mind in this terrifying tale where the what lies beneath needs to be consumed.

What do you think of when you look into the abyss? Well, here you do not need to answer that because Tatiana beautifully describes the terrors that await us within the eerie void. You will get entangled in this narrative page by page. I promise that you will fall in love with a writing style that delivers a poetic punch and grasps you with fragrant descriptions. The message here is deeper than getting lost in our existential dread…

And who does not love a story with a fantastic character development? We are thrown into the psyches before and after the void. If there even is an after. Absolutely blown away by the sheer psychoanalysis we read the actions of the protagonist. There is something special here for the horror audience. An eerie read to fall in love with beneath the surface this October. And my goddess does this cover do this narrative justice. Thank you Bindery books, Tatiana Schlote-Bonne, and Netgalley for this advanced digital copy.


Stay tuned to my blog for more updates on this fantastic upcoming young adult release!
For more tarot readings, recommendations, and reviews, check out my blog https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com

OMG THIS BOOK!!! I am still processing everything I’ve read. This book touched on phobias I don’t even know I had and then some. It was both scary and beautiful in how the author described the Void and its Flora and Fauna.

Taking place in a dystopian setting, Petra has dreams of creating a clinic to help the children of their orphanage and folks in their community. To do this, she and her best friend, Jade, take risky jobs in the Void. Until the risk is far too big.

I completely inhaled this book. And while it kept me on edge the entire time, I couldn’t put it down. This is definitely one of the top books for 2026.

As a reader with aphantasia What Feeds Below was a YA horror with delightfully vivid descriptions that I had no issue imagining, if not visualizing. The detail Tatiana Schlote-Bonne put into building this world was incredible and the epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter added an even deeper richness to this world. Petra Braun was an immensely flawed FMC and I found myself frustrated at times with the impulsive and reckless decisions she made; however, they were exactly on brand for a 17yo with the life experiences she had had thus far.
Also, this cover? GORGEOUS.

Theres so many mysteries left to be unraveled in this story. The Void is such an interesting setting for the story and left me wanting more. I would read an entire collection about the Void. I was hooked from the first page and can’t wait to read something else by this author.

'What Feeds Below' is a captivating horror thriller set in an underground cave system. As the characters explore, they discover vicious creatures, an abandoned city, deadly plants, and lots of giant mushrooms. It's an adrenaline pumping adventure with nonstop action.

Despite her difficult childhood, Petra wants to see the best in people. She's extremely dependent on her friendship with Jade, who's her only family and safety line. With that gone, she goes through a quest to find her inner strength. My only complaint about her character is that she’s too passive for too long.

Petra packs a lot of information in the first few chapters. It feels like you get to join her on one of her guided tours, which was a fun way of adding to the worldbuilding. The setting is engaging, scary, claustrophobic, and detailed. Some of the resulting horror elements are so disturbing that I was anxious to turn the page.

One thing that stood out is the way this story examines the ethics of danger tourism. The guides keep the tourists safe by putting their own lives at risk, for very little money. It kept reminding me of the dangers faced by the Sherpas who help people climb Mount Everest. I thought that was an intriguing and relevant problem to have hovering over the characters’ heads.

Overall, this book is full of botanical horror and would make a wild movie.

Thank you to Netgalley, Bindery Books, and Boozhoo Books for this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge fan of botanical horror and pretty covers. What Feeds Below got my attention immediately with just the cover.

What begins as an adventure story for two girls who want to improve their lives quickly turns into a rescue mission gone wrong and reveals horrible truths. Much like the movie The Descent, the relationship between friends becomes the main focus even with the dire circumstances around them. I truly felt like I was seeing a friendship many of us have gone through and felt the ache of it from high school me. Adding on carnivorous plants and mutants who will attack you just adds so much more. This is a fast paced story that will leave you holding your breath and panicking right with the characters.

I'm still thinking about the ending 🥲

I fear this rewired my brain and my brain chemistry will never be the same.
The world building is immaculate. I just kept thinking, holy crap, the amount of research that had to have gone into this!! The carnivorous Void plants, the medicinal purposes, the mutations!! It is all so well-described, you can perfectly envision the setting and all that lurks in the deep.
The horror embedded throughout is so good. There’s a lot of body horror and it is SO well done. Like, the curiosity about all of it captured my attention in the best way possible.
Petra is all of us who have felt lost and desperate for approval. She chooses what’s right over what’s easy, just incredibly admirable. You’re rooting for her the entire time.

I loved the conception and execution of this lost city and the journey to the depths of it. That ENDING!! I am unwell.
This was an easy 5 stars.

Huge thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Fast paced. Suspenseful, gory, read in one sitting!
This was good.
All the horror girls will love this one

I received an ARC from NetGalley and this review is voluntary

First time reader of this author, and I'm hooked.

The synopsis does a good job at providing a general overview of the story. Contained inside, the author provides the reader with a lot of information, not just about the history and inner workings of the Void itself, but also about the relationship between our protagonist Petra and what can be described as her adopted sister, Jade. There's a mixture of gore and psychological horror. As we come to understand, the deeper one goes into the Void, the more they are not alone.

At times I found the level of detail to slow down the read a bit; however, it was those same details that also pulled everything together.

And yes, during some of the more chilling or monster-fueled scenes, don't expect anything less than an anatomy lesson once the claws pop.

One of the sections of detail I appreciated was the passages at the beginning of each chapter. The source material differed each time, but it gave an insider's view of the Void, and each account became darker as the story progressed. I'd be curious to see a branch off novel that goes more in depth of the history of the Void, centered around primary sources.

Thank you to the publisher for this opportunity, and as always to the author, for this creation. All around amazing job, definite recommendation.

If you were on the internet when Flesh Pit National Park was popular and wanted to go spelunking inside, this is the story for you. Definitely recommend for fans of Annihilation, The Magnus Archives, and The Last of Us.

I encountered this book on Instagram and saw it was advertised as a mix of Annihilation and Made in Abyss, so naturally, I caught an ARC faster
than a snagglegrass catches a bird. And I'm so happy I got it because WFB was everything I could have asked for AND MORE.

The best thing about this book is the worldbuilding. It's soooo lush and immersive. The author either has a vast knowledge of natural biology or is very good at convincing readers she does. The entire Void ecosystem is incredibly well thought out: the way certain species have come to thrive in the Void, evolved to attract & attack their prey (which might often be unlucky Void divers...) I won't give spoilers, but I will say that the phrase "anal teeth" has been burned to my mind for good. Besides the Void, the world on the surface is very interesting, from the cults to the menace that are Void diseases. All people have stone-related names, which I thought was a great detail :D What Feeds Below also does a very good job of depicting the problems of tourism: Rich tourists spend immense amounts of money on experiencing the wonders of the Void, while locals risk their lives to provide those experiences and are still barely able to make a living.

The story is filled with action, but not overwhelmingly so. Pacing is solid. The ending... Initially I disliked it, but after revisiting the earlier chapters and having some time to digest the book (much like a skinleech would digest a limb) I've grown to understand it. Now my only problem with the ending is that it came waaay too soon 😭 I need a second book right now, even though the first one isn't even out yet.

PS: The body horror in this one is very well written. A couple of passages literally made me go "EW EW EW"out loud, which has never happened before. You have been warned. 😭

An enormous thank you for the ARC goes to Tatiana Schlote-Bonne and Bindery Books.

What a fun read! Right away I could recognize my favorite shows and anime being depicted in the story. Pacing got a little slow in the middle but I enjoyed the twist at the end. Jade seemed a little black and white for a villain but the creature depictions were great. Pretty cover too. Best one so far!

I really enjoy botanical and fungal horror, so I thought that this book was great. It’s definitely not for the squeamish because there are some truly gruesome descriptions and some pretty nasty body horror. I have Tatiana Schlote-Bonne’s other books and after finishing this one, the others are now high priority reads.

I am screaming. This book... hands down one of the best I've read this year. If I could rate it 6 stars, I would.

I loved how much detail there was, the amount of worldbuilding in a book this short is really impressive. There were really cool excerpts at the beginning of each chapter that fed you information about the Void without slowing the story down.

I also loved how it was focused more on friendship and family over romance, especially because of how much Petra was going through! The girl deserves a break. Especially with that ending, whew. I will admit the twists did almost completely surprise me with how deeply submerged I was in the story.

All in all, amazing book. I wish I could read it all over again. An expansion of this universe would also be really cool, no pressure though!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with this ARC!

I really enjoyed this horror book. It was really entertaining. I binged read it! Had a great time! 🤩

Thanks to Bindery Books and NetGalley for this eARC, to be published on October 6th, 2026.

Thank you to Netgalley, Boozhoo books and the author for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!

This is an amazing YA horror book! The imagery is beautiful, the body horror skin crawling and the topics being explored were done so really well. One of the main themes is being dependent on someone else because you think you're not good enough on your own and that one hit hard. I read this in a single sitting because it was so good. I will have to purchase a throphy copy when this book releases because the cover art is stunning!

Huge thank you to Netgalley and Tatiana for this phenomenal example of YA horror.

I consumed this in 6 hours, I really didn't want it to stop. It left me so hungry for more; the ending is still sitting with me several days later.

"The darkness isn't empty, it's hungry"

At the edge of the City of the Void, there lies a chasm descending miles into the Earth. A dangerous tourist attraction, the locals attempt to make a living guiding wealthy visitors down. Each level becomes more dangerous as you go, and very few have survived their way to level 6 and back, so the deeper you go, the bigger the payout.

Each layer features mutating flora and fauna; deeper layers have rare gems that sell for a pretty penny. Don't spend too much down there, or you too could become a resident of the void!

Jade and Petra have spent the past 5 years at an orphanage together; best friends and practically sisters. They spend their days guiding tourists down the 1st and 2nd level, hoping to make enough money to be set up for their future.

Jade pushes Petra to try and go deep for a better payday, and one day Petra is convinced; one trip to the third level, find something rare, and maybe they'll be set for life?

Or maybe the job will go wrong, and, it does.
Petra must venture further than she ever has in order to save her best friend. Can she succeed before the void changes them all forever?

Tatianna's brain is a work of art, creating an immersive and visually stimulating world in novel format. It might make you laugh/cry/want to throw your e-reader across the room at 1:00am.

This novel feels like a descent into the Marianas trench and a climb up Mount Everest. There were so many times I went "this is so unsafe, why would anyone do this-oh this already happens in the real world".

This is for fans of movies like the Descent, Annihilation, and anyone else wanting an amazing YA horror.

Expected to come out October 6th, 2026, so I highly recommend you pre-order ASAP!

I'm not going to stop shutting up about this,

5🍄s/5!

THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD. I immediately requested it because of how gorgeous that cover is and the book held up to my expectations. It was such an emotional rollercoaster, I was literally holding onto my seat at times. I have no notes. The premise is so cool, and the execution even more so. The world building and character development were phenomenal especially. Tatiana is a brilliant writer. It did contain some trigger warnings (it's very gruesome at times) so please check those out beforehand but omg, I'd recommend this to anyone who loves a good YA body horror!

Omg so so so good. I read this all in one day, that’s how good it was. Definitely for fans of Made in the Abyss. The world-building was incredible and so immersive. I could read a million more books set in this world. Definitely pick this one up when it is out!! Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

I just couldn’t stop reading this once I got started and it is crazy! The botanical body horror and the tension of the three characters that are descending to the bottom and all of the crazy mutations and descriptions of plants and animals and people is just unbelievable and so creepy scary. The ending leaves you unsure of what’s going to happen next, this book is fantastic and scary and gross and sad and gave me anxiety and I absolutely loved it!

What Feeds Below by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne is one of those books that slowly pulls you under its spell until you realize you’re completely consumed by the story. The atmosphere is dark, eerie, and beautifully written, creating a sense of tension that lingers on every page. I loved how unsettling and immersive the world felt—it’s the kind of horror that creeps into your mind and stays there long after you finish.
The writing is vivid and haunting, and the story builds in a way that kept me turning pages late into the night. If you love horror that is atmospheric, disturbing, and deeply gripping, this book absolutely delivers.
A chilling, unforgettable read that horror fans shouldn’t miss.

tatianaaaaa! sooo when does the movie come out??? this was like if the descent x annihilation x atlantis the lost empire had a baby & the descent is one of my favorite horror movies of all time so naturally i was living, laughing, & loving What Feeds Below.

i will read anything & everything Tatiana puts out, i don't care what it's about just take my damn money! i have been a fan since Such Lovely Skin & every book gets better & better. this had me glued, GLUED I TELL YOU, from the very first pg.

this genuinely had me on the edge of my seat. not only am i claustrophobic, so you'll NEVA EVA see me near a cave, but you'll also never catch me venturing too deep into any large body of water (you never know what's in there)...mix those two together with mutant creatures hunting you down?? oh this was like reading my biggest nightmare!

this was packed with action, so cinematic it read like a movie! the imagery was vivid, the way Tatiana describes the void & all the flora, fungi & fauna is perfectly detailed. the body horror was juuust gross enough to push the whole reading experience to the next level. the twist?! i'm kind of mad at myself for not fully seeing it coming. the way i absolutely devoured this, i can't rate it any less than 5 Stars✨ this was such a fun read

What Feeds Below has an intriguing, yet simple premise that’s bloomed into a rich world and a slick, action packed story. It follows the journey of teenage orphans, Petra and Jade, as they dive into the Void - a mysterious giant hole in the middle of their city that’s split into several levels that get progressively more dangerous. Their aim is to get to the Sixth Layer, which promises riches and technology that could improve their lives on the surface.

There’s hints of pop-culture references here. The setting reminded me of Delicious in Dungeon, Annihilation and The Descent, while some of the monstrous fauna and flora in the Void could’ve crawled out of the Last of Us and Silent Hill f.

But don’t be mistaken - the Void and its accompanying surface world are unique, vibrant, and contain about a thousand ways to die. Look at that creature? Death. Smell this plant? Also death. Breathe the air? Believe it or not - death. Fans of parasites, spores and insect horror - you’ll be right at home in the Void (just don’t stay there too long, otherwise you’ll transform into a Voidling…). Schlote-Bonne does a brilliant job of making the reader feel the tension from surviving in a gritty underworld, and just how claustrophobic the Void’s layers are.

I loved the world building in the chapter snippets - interviews with Void Divers, recipes, cult propaganda - they really added so much to the lore in so few words. The world itself is incredibly rich and alive. Having finished the book, I absolutely want more time there.

What Feeds Below is incredibly graphic. Schlote-Bonne doesn’t shy away from a gruesome injury and toe curling body horror. There were several moments that had me muttering ‘...bloody hell,’ to myself, particularly if I was eating lunch at the time. I loved that literally no one was protected by plot armour - it was quite a refreshing thing to have an author who doesn’t pull their punches. Likewise, I really enjoyed that the build up to the inevitable plot twists had me guessing right up until the resolution.

What Feeds Below is an apt title, as I absolutely devoured it in a day. This is a fun, gross, imaginative book with a brilliant and satisfying ending. Perhaps I am in danger of transforming into a Voidling, because I absolutely want more from Schlote-Bonne and the Void!
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Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books and Boozhoo Books for the ARC copy
Publication date: 06 October 2026

Incredible.
What Feeds Below follows the adventures of Jade and Petra, two orphans who go Void diving to make money.
Having a giant, not fully understood whole in your town is wonderful for the tourism industry.
Schlote-Bonne writes some of the most horrifying scenes you can't help but read. I thought her work was incredible in "The Mean Ones" but this is truly next level (or layer).
There's so many things I love about this story be it Petra's insecurities, the world building, the gore... I could go on.
I think one of my favorite touches about the book that's so squarely makes it YA is how the kids cannot undress in front of each other. They've almost died together multiple times and yet they cannot undress in front of each other. They have to turn around. Just fantastic writing. It made me giggle every single time.
I binged this in about 24 hours and it was the best thing I've read in a while.
If Schlote-Bonne writes it, I will devour it.

I would like to start by expressing my gratitude to NetGalley and Bindery Books for granting me access to this ARC. Additionally, I want to thank the author for crafting such a horrifyingly beautiful read.

SUMMARY - Best friends Jade and Petra, both orphaned in their youth, embark on Void Tour diving to seek treasure for eager tourists. The Void is a deep chasm that plunges into the earth, inhabited by terrifying flora and ferocious monsters lurking within its treacherous landscape. Their motivation? To escape the slums and for Petra to establish her own clinic, providing care to both people and the children at the orphanage.
All they have to do is hunt for relics or gems that will allow them to do this. While Petra is okay playing it safe in the first two levels, Jade insists they head further and reach the sixth layer because that is where the real treasure is. There big pay out! Petra, hesitant but not wanting to disappoint Jade, who has been a consistent and the only person Petra could ever trust, she agrees.
However, when a job goes wrong and Jade goes missing, Petra must dive deeper than she feels comfortable to save her. Is she ready to face what’s down there or will it consume her.

Thoughts - Ok, these are the types of books I live for… a book that brings on fear and phobias you didn’t know you had, even though you know you are safe. The feeling of being in the situation on these pages gave me both thrills and chills. It’s a psychological and emotional trauma that I thrive on. The ending was pure perfection, and every single chapter had me hooked. The pace of this book was incredible, and the world-building was on another level. I mean, we are talking about subterranean, botanical, sporror (spore horror), fungal horror. The details of each page were vivid and raw, the emotion visceral. I genuinely enjoyed this book; I love plants, having a florist background, and learning about fungi, plant science, and medicine. It’s so intriguing to me, so this really helped fill the craving for such genres.
Now let me talk about Jade and Petra for a sec. They start out as great characters, both super eager to fulfill the dreams of opening a clinic. But as you move through the book, oh my god, could they both get any more frustrating? I mean, yes! To Petra for character growth, but why was she so codependent or even overdependent for so long? I mean, I know why. But why?! Kudos to the author for creating Jade's characteristics and the way you slowly saw her change over time. These characters surely made the story, and let’s not forget Flint, because without him, this story wouldn’t have had the same outcome. I would also like to thank the author so much for leading me astray. While my mind knew the outcome, my very being knew what was coming. My goddamn heart was like, "Oh no, that’s not what’s happening; look at the pages, it’s going to be okay." I fell for everything I shouldn’t have, and now I’m questioning if my amateur detective skills are failing me. Or was the book just that good that I was hoping for something else? Let’s go with that!
I will say this: the only negative aspect I could think of in the book was not enough gore. I’ve read more intense scenes, so I needed something really shocking, but that is probably the only thing I could say. I think the psychological horror was just the right amount to send me off the cliff, so it’s still a 5-star read; I think maybe even higher. I am 100% rereading this when it releases. And the ending was absolute perfection, even if my heart doesn’t agree.
Now let’s dive into the world itself. I’m talking giant fungi, illuminated fungi, plants towering and deadly as predators. Pools of clear, glowing acid and creatures (osteopotus) that are something out of your nightmares. Each layer has a different layout, predators, fungi, and flora, but the fourth layer was the most interesting, in a claustrophobic, skin-crawling sense. I mean, who wouldn’t be creeped out about absolute darkness in deep water in tunnels where one wrong movement could trap you in there for eternity? Just that image makes me squirm. The layers created by the author really took phobias to another level. It wasn’t just horror with gore, but an atmospheric psychological horror with intense immersion and viscerally disturbing imagery. The fast pace of it all had me turning pages as quickly as breathing, and now I’m hungry for more. I highly recommend What Feeds Below as a great horror read. Thank you, Tatiana, for creating an epic journey to absolute chaos.

4.5⭐️!! this was sooo unique and fun to read! so well thought through and original—i was hooked from start to finish! the closest thing i can compare it to is stranger things on crack. if you’re a fan of watching people fight for their lives against mutant creatures, this is PERFECT!

thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an e -arc in exchange for an honest review!

wow I really enjoyed this! it was a very unique fantasy-esque horror novel that had me excited to see what would happen next. The premise of a sort of Extra terrestrial void/underground cave system in the middle of a town, that housed some unearthly creatures who may or may not kill you, and that could mutate things that live or enter is was built by the author really well and I haven't read anything like it!! The body horror was also really done although it did make me a bit squeamish haha! Also the plot twist at the very end!!!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'm always very happy about an ARC and being able to give it a Review! <3

She did it again. Another absolutely amazing fantasy horror story. I mean… just look at the cover!! She really gives 110%, even with that.

The story starts off exciting and honestly stays exciting the whole time. It reminded me a little bit of the movie The Descent. And the friendship between the two girls was just so beautiful and real that I spent the entire time hoping they’d both make it out okay!! I was rooting for them the whole way through… until the ending happened. But I’m not saying more than that. ;)

The only thing I wish the book had included were some drawings of the creatures from the different levels. Of course I can imagine them, but come on, if you can design such an incredible cover, that would’ve worked too! :) Even a small map of the different levels would have been really cool!

That being said, I really hope Tatiana Schlote-Bonne somehow knows that I exist and starts sending me her new books in the future, because I’ve loved everything she’s written so far! And honestly, her books also just look so beautiful on your bookshelf. :) hehe

Thank you so much to Netgalley for this ARC!

This book was PHENEMONAL! I blew through this book in two days, honestly if I had the time I could have finished it in one, I was just that enthralled in the book. It's super fast paced and never slows down which is really hard to pull off. It follows orphans Petra and Jade who are Void Divers. In this world a large chasm has opened and it is separated into layers which get more and more dangerous as you get closer to the core. People believe its the core that is mutating the animals and plants in the Void. There are also relics in the furthest layer which belonged to a civilization that used to live there which are now worth a fortune. Petra and Jade are saving up to open a clinic at the orphanage to help others, Petra is gifted with her knowledge of plants and plans on using their healing properties to improve the lives of the children. Together they start doing escort missions where they take rich tourists into the Void and promise their safety in return for money but unfortunately for them their dive into level three does not go as planned.....
I would highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys epic adventures and dark fantasy. Also I loved the representation of STRONG female characters. I gave this book an easy 5 stars and cannot wait to read more by this author.

I absolutely loved this book! The cover, the concept, the pacing, the creatures, EVERYTHING! I hadn’t read any of the author’s other works before, but this one had me completely hooked. I couldn’t put it down and devoured it in no time. The gloomy and haunting atmosphere is amazing, and the way the author depicts the horrors that unfold throughout the story is just chef’s kiss. The concept of the void was completely new to me, and wow, I absolutely loved how it was brought to life.

And the ending?! WHAT?! AHHH!? Please, PLEASE let there be a sequel! I need it!

Thank you to Netgalley, Bindery Books, Boozhoo Books and the author for the ARC.

I cannot wait to own this book. I loved every second of it so much and it definitely is a six star book for me.
The inspiration of Made in Abyss is very clear, but I also feel it also gives Annihilation vibes. I absolutely love botanical horror and I think this book also did that justice.
The horror scenes were so incredibly well written and I just felt it creeping under my skin at times. I did have my suspicions about some things that were proven correct, but there was still so much story and twists along the way. I absolutely loved the ending, which I will not clarify too much other than it's the type of ending I adore. This book has skyrocketed to the top of my buylist and I wish it was out already so I can share the experience with others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boozhoo Books for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

6 STARS

Like journey to the centre of the earth but more grotesque?!?! Uhm say less.

I thoroughly enjoyed this so much I could not put it down! I think it took a couple of chapters for the book to find its pace and create its atmosphere (wish layer 1 and 2 had had more description to match the magic of the later layers) but as soon as it did sucked in!

Actually I don’t have a lot to say, I was disgusted, shooketh, flabbergasted, and wholeheartedly entertain the whole time.

Truly just loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bindery Books, and Boozhoo Books for the eARC!

I absolutely devoured What Feeds Below by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne. This was everything I want in a horror-fantasy and more. I felt all the emotions reading this book, I couldn’t put it down!

From the very first page, the atmosphere is suffocating in the best way. The Void feels alive: dark, hungry, and utterly unforgiving. The imagery of carnivorous plants and lurking monsters is both beautiful and deeply unsettling. It’s the kind of setting that crawls under your skin and stays there. I caught audibly gasping at the descriptions of the monsters, and the way they devoured their prey.

What really made this a 5-star read for me, though, was the emotional core. Petra and Jade’s friendship felt so real and raw, and the way the story explores loyalty, fear, and desperation added so much depth to the horror. Every choice felt high-stakes, and I was completely invested in Petra’s descent, both physically and emotionally. There is nothing like the feeling of betrayal from a best friend. I loved the character development of Petra throughout the book. She went from relying on Jade for everything, to being the one to kill her in the end.

The pacing is intense, the worldbuilding is incredibly vivid, and the horror elements are equal parts gruesome and mesmerizing. It reads like a nightmare you don’t want to wake up from.

If you love dark, immersive worlds, complex friendships, and horror that lingers long after the last page, this is an absolute must-read.

I need to start by sending out the biggest thanks to the author and netgalley for approving me to review this book! It is quite literally the best thing I have read this year no doubt!

Immediately you know that the author is amazing since the writing is incredibly immersive and descriptive. I cannot begin to describe how it felt for me while reading this since I saw myself inside the Void as well and journeying alongside these characters. Which by the by, the characters are so well done and carry emotion within. Absolutely this story would be so successful if written into a series or movie. The depictions within this world and the things living inside is the stuff of nightmares and oh so good for horror baddies like myself!

Literally a 6 star read! Run and preorder this and read it!

I had such a fun time reading this and flew right through it! The prose is incredibly cinematic. Every scene plays out so clearly it almost demands a film adaptation. And I would absolutely sign a petition to see this on screen because the visuals are already there on the page.

And what visuals they are! Monstrous creatures are described in gory detail. It was truly stomach churning at times and several scenes left me scratching at my neck as the feeling of suffocation transcended the page. I loved every single minute of it.

The beginning is a bit of a slow burn, but it is 100 percent worth it. That buildup is what makes the world feel so real and fully realized. By the time things really take off, you are completely in it. It is such a fun, gory read, but it also hits with surprising emotional depth. There are moments that are genuinely tender and human and balances out the horror found throughout.

This book has fully cemented Tatiana Schlote-Bonne as an autobuy author for me.

I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have received an advanced copy of What Feeds Below from the author and Bindery Books! 🫶

It’s time to give a standing ovation to What Feeds Below because this book is unhinged times infinity and I binged this book like I would eating a giant bowl of buttered popcorn! 🥹🖤 Yes, I indeed read the entire thing in one sitting and could not get enough! 🫶

I can’t believe I am saying this because every single book I have read of Tatiana Schlote-Bonne has been a 5 star read for me BUT this one is my new ultimate favorite and I am so obsessed! 😍 This is horror fantasy at its finest and the feeling of atmospheric dread and suspense I felt is *chef’s kiss* 🖤 The world-building is breathtaking and the gore scenes are out of this world. I love Petra so much and thought she was so relatable with her clumsiness and her determination and drive to do anything to save her friend! 🫶

If you love horror fantasy books this book is an absolute must-read! 🫶

“What Feeds Below,” by Tatiana Schlote-Boone

This book was so eerie and immersive, I felt like I was holding my breath the entire time. The concept alone hooked me — void diving into these underground, water-filled depths where something is very, very wrong. It’s not just exploration… it’s survival. The deeper they go, the more everything feels off, like the environment itself is watching and waiting. And the horror?? SO GOOD. The parasitic water creatures that feel genuinely unsettling — not just scary, but wrong in a way that sticks with you. The idea that the void mutates humans over time adds this constant tension because it’s not just about what’s out there… it’s about what you might become. And the ending?? Utterly perfect.

5 out of 5 stars. Creepy, unique, and completely absorbing. The atmosphere is what really made this a 5-star read for me. It’s dark, claustrophobic, and heavy with this quiet dread that never really lets up. The kind of book where every movement feels dangerous and every shadow feels alive. Also the cover is amazing.

-Void Diving
-Underwater/ Underground Horror
-Parasitic Monsters
-Body Horror
-Mutation Horror

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

Thank you to NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars rounded up.

"What Feeds Below" takes you on an emotionally fueled, high-stakes voyage through the dark depths of The Void- an incredibly imaginative and rather grim subterranean post-apocalyptic world full of life- altering treasure and eco-terrors.

Most notable is how exquisite, transportive, and wholly original Schlote-Bonne’s vivid atmosphere, lore, and world building is. From the first page, I felt utterly immersed and exhilarated, eager to dive deeper into the abyss. I felt engaged and invested in this world and our characters throughout, only becoming more consumed as it went on. The pacing and story progression is excellent, balancing its constantly evolving story and emotional journey with nail biting tension laced action, mystery, and gripping revelations.

It effectively balances fantasy-adventure with a diverse blend of horror including aquatic monsters, fungal and botany horror, and body horror. Its horror palette extends beyond this, exploring one’s personal fears that have the power to either unravel you from the inside out or unleash an inner strength suppressed beneath the surface.

Beyond the stellar world building and dark curiosities at the forefront we are also given multi-dimensional, messy, and realistic characters. Our heroine, Petra, has a willful determination, admirable loyalty, and an unrelenting, hopeful spark despite her life containing so much loss and cruelty. She struggles with being co-dependent, with grief defining her, and most notably with realizing her own worth and strength independent from others. She is finding her way still, but within this is an empathetic, relatable character you can easily root for among the ever-escalating danger and unexpected turns. One particular turn at the end took me by surprise and positively elevated the core journey and message the book leaves you with.

While it will certainly appeal to horror afficionados, this is accessible to those who don’t normally gravitate to horror as nothing we experience through the character is too graphic or gory. The most startling, evasive terrors are largely psychological and the looming realities of what could happen. The core tone is that of a survival adventure story with a high focus on relationship dynamics and character growth. It's ideal for young adult readers and more mature readers alike, offering universal themes and explorative human discovery. While it’s quite unique the tone, content, and spirit of the story is most in line with a mix of "The Descent", "Six of Crows", and "They Bloom at Night".

Schlote-Bonne is quickly proving her ability to deliver on one-of-a-kind Young Adult stories full of depth, darkness, and righteous fight, perfectly marrying fantasy, horror, and a prominent and rather profound inner exploration of flawed, realistic characters. While her voice is always prominent and there are connective elements between her novels, it's impressive how unique each work she pens is from the other. At this point with 3 out of 3 stimulating and original books, she’s earned the right to be an automatic “Add to the TBR” author. I eagerly anticipate the next weird and wondrous story she comes out with next.

"What Feeds Below" is perfect for those who appreciate dark, imaginative dystopian worlds with an undercurrent of self-discovery, perseverance, and hope.

This book literally itched my brain just right.
I needed another spooky story with emotions and plants that weren't right.

Petra and Jade are amazing characters and ugh the backstories kinda made me cry..
I love when books make me feel and got dayum I definitely felt with this book. I really need more of her writing and her books.

I really appreciate the fact that I got to read this early. AHHH. I have a new fav author

Fabulously horrifying and original. Schlote-Bonne crafted a detailed, gorgeously gorey world filled with complex characters. I loved the descriptions of various monsters, the Void, and the perils of traveling through it. The story was tons of fun, had high stakes, and great messages about independence and friendship to boot. The ending pulled at my heart strings. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bindery books for the ARC

I remember reading a review of this book by one of my friends, and when I got Netgalley and requested this book and it was approved, I was overjoyed 🤩
This is the very first ARC that was ever accepted for me, and so I am really grateful for the chance to read and review this book :)

The World:
In a desolated continent, there is this supernatural thing called the Void. The Void is a very dangerous area, yet those wo venture deep into it are handsomely rewarded. There are six layers to the Void: The First being the safest, least dangerous layer, and the Sixth being the most dangerous, with only ten people having made it back alive from there. So, why do many people want to even go there? Because the risk is worth the reward. Obscuris is a city that sunk into the bottom of the void that was very advanced, with relics that can sell for lot´s of money. So, all the relics people would find in the void could be auctioned of for great amounts of money. The void has also been advertised as a tourist destination, so many rich people desire to travel within the Void. However, to some rich pampered fools, the Void is too dangerous. The solution? Hiring Void Divers, people with plenty of experiences in diving in the Void.

The Characters:
-Petra (Pet): She´s 17 years old and a void diver, however, the deepest she has ever dived is the second layer. She´s an orphan who would like to build a clinic to help the orphanage she grew up in and others. She´s a huge botany fan who knows basically all there is to know about Void plants and mushrooms. I loved her character! She wasn´t boring, had a real personality and was so passionate about the things that she loved, it was really refreshing :)

-Jade: Petra´s best friend and void diving partner. She´s wild and reckless, has always been there for Petra

-Flint: The love interest. He and Petra have a little of a backstory, that isn´t really positive. Both of their fathers were Void divers together, but one day only his father comes back, and Petras dies in the Void. Then things just went down hill. He was an amazing character, logical and calm. I loved the fact that the author didn´t force him to be enemies with Petra, they still help each other, it´s just that she holds a grudge on him

The Plot:
When Petra loses Jade on their first excursion in the third layer of the Void, she asks Flint to help her save Jade. They´re successful, and then Jade manages to convince Petra to go with her to the sixth layer, so that they can have enough money to open the clinic and never need to dive again. Petra caves and agrees, and Flint joins them because he wants to solve his mothers murder ( I can´t explain that or I am just straight up spoiling) Stuff happens, it´s crazy, go read it for yourself when it comes out 🙃

The Writing:
AMAZING! I loved how smooth it was, it never felt slow or choppy. To me, the story was perfectly paced, and the descriptions? Positively gruesome 🤮

Verdict:
This was amazing, go pre-order it, I am so honored that I could read the probably best new book of 2026 in advance (and it was my first ARC 🥹) Tatiana, where have you been my whole life?

Holy ride


First the world building and the imagery that the Void had! I know it’s a scary place but I kinda want to go (I’d so become mindripper food who am I kidding?!)

BIT OF A SPOILER
Jade 😒 YOUUUUU YOU DIRTY DOG YOU! I was suspicious of you before our boy Flint said his part but HOW DARE YOU EVER SPEAK ILL OF OUR PETRA!

That ending 😫 I was cheering hoping for a good outcome for Flint and Petra I saw them having a family running the shop and clinic him armless her leg less (idk it was a bit poetic to me) JUST TO BE WALLY WHOOPED to be reminded the Void takes what it wants.

I loved this book and Tatiana Schlote-Bonne had become an auto read/buy

What Feeds Below by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne is an absolute standout. From the very first page, I was pulled into its unsettling, immersive atmosphere. It is beautifully written and deeply haunting in a way that lingers long after finishing.
I absolutely loved this book.

What Feeds Below is the kind of book that doesn’t just pull you in, instead, it drags you down kicking and screaming, but somehow… you don’t really want to escape.
This book was a brutal and immersive blend of horror and fantasy that feels like diving head first into something alive. The Void isn’t just a setting, but it breathes, it watches, it makes you feel unsettled. And the deeper the story goes, the more suffocating and grotesque everything becomes, in the best way possible.
The world building was a little too much at first, and made me feel slightly overwhelmed, must admit, however, after everything clicked in, I was in for a ride.
This universe was so vivid and disturbing, packed with monstrous creatures, fungal horror, and unsettling environments that made my skin crawl. I’m honestly not a big horror fan, and usually steer away from it, but I just couldn’t keep this book down! And I gotta say I was pleasantly surprised by that.
Petra and Jade’s friendship was one of my favorite parts of the book. Their dynamic, which involved equal parts devotion, pressure, and desperation, had me gripping my seat whenever, things started to go wrong, making me so damn scared of anything happening to them.
Honestly? I didn’t really know what to expect when I went into this book, but this one surely delivered everything and then some. 10 outta 10 would recommend’

What Feeds Below is definitely going to be my top read of 2026, I'm calling it already! Five stars in every aspect, from depth of characters, to rich settings, to unpredictability, and completely un-put-down-able!

Hands down, one of my favorite horror books of the year! I absolutely loved the premise of this book. It was such a fantastic blend of horror fantasy and sci fi that i really enjoyed and the pacing was top tier! I saw someone say it feels like a video game or a movie and i definitely have to agree! Tatiana describes the environment and the void creatures with such vivid and horrifying detail, it really pulls you in and won't let you go. I also really appreciated the humor that was laced within, that gave you a bit of a break from the horrors that you're being put through. There's a but of mystery as well that that constantly had me guessing until I got close to the end. Its hard to talk about without spoiling it just how much the last half of the book had me screaming (and also unlocked several new fears that I didn't know I had.) Everything I love about horror is in this book.

Sorry to my boss, but I was reading this on company time because I could not put it down. If you feel like your life is missing something, it's this book. Like, oh my godd, how do I convince everyone and their mom to read it?

A terrific world-building book with such descriptive and immersive details that made me feel physically squeamish, anxious, and deeply unsettled. It unraveled every expectation I had and replaced it with something deeper, something more. What starts off slow (almost gave up, PLEASE DON'T), as we dive into the mechanics of this world, quickly transforms into a gripping and all-consuming intensity

What Feeds Below is told from Petra's pov as she and her best friend, Jade, navigate through their world surrounding a mysterious one-mile-wide, six-layered hole named The Void. As you descend into the Void, it gets progressively more dangerous, with creepy and mutated monsters that can kill you in the most gruesome way possible. However, mystic artifacts can be found from a secret and old civilization that can be sold for modern currency on the surface.

On the verge of turning eighteen, Petra and Jade, both orphans, are soon to be displaced. Petra's dream is to open a health clinic where she can use her vast knowledge of Void plant life to create medicine and care for the poor. Petra and Jade become Void Divers in hopes of finding rare artifacts that they can sell to save up money for the clinic. When they get separated during a dive, Petra, the cautious half of the duo, is desperate to save her found family and turns to an estranged friend, Flint, for help to find Jade. In return, she will help him descend to the sixth layer for a secret that he's guarding closely. And hollllllyyy SIX-HELLS (ifykyk) is the journey that they take.

If you've made it this far into my review, I'm hoping that I've somehow convinced you to read this book, and please do, so we can talk about it because that ENDING? TATIANA SCHLOTE-BONNE, I AM SICKKKK OVER THIS, and I need compensation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to the author for this eARC!
Might contain spoilers!

This book had me on the tip of my toes. I did not really know what to expect, but it wasn’t this!🤩
I never read anything like it, this book makes me want to explore these kind of books more often. My heart was beating so fast when Jade and Petra got seperated. The anxiety and emotions of Petra so pure and realistic. Her nickname “Pet” leaving a trail of goosebumps on my skin. It is up to you it figure out if those where positve of not. Tears where shed for sure. And I haven’t even said started about Flint yet!
The orphanage put an extra aspect to the story, all when the void itself could carry the story on its own.
The beauty— the horror— the betrayal and manipulation. The raw pain and fear and disgust I felt out of pure horror sometimes. The way my stomach dropped when the thing I feared happened.
But I also felt something else while reading this book.
The story told me something about found family, about trusting your friends as deep as you can, about hope, about the strength we have within us.
And it learned me something new. A quote I carry with me from now on, a meaning only the main characters and I will understand.
“I can fight like hell.”

Tatiana is a master of writing such weird and creepy books. I am in love with her writing, this book solidified that for me.

What Feeds Below is a really unique book in my opinion. The world building is so well done, it is eerie, immersive and interesting. The descriptive language was exceptional, I could literally picture everything I was reading. I was so immersed in this book, my mum would try and say things to see if I was paying attention to anything else, I was not.

The main character, Petra, was a plant enthusiast. I am not one myself, but the way in which the plants were described grabbed my attention so well. I wanted to learn all the possible healing properties and how they could cause harm.

I loved the concept of The Void itself, The Void diving and the normal-ish life on the outside. I thought everything about this was so cool and so original, as I was reading I was constantly thinking about how good a screen adaptation would be. The creatures withing the Void layers were all super different. Having first person POV of how it felt with the creatures inside of you and such, was some of the best body horror I have honestly ever read. I was so grossed out but also desperate to keep feeling all the weirdness. I loved how they adapted to the surroundings and smaller creatures feared more dangerous ones. Divers weren't the only ones in danger, the creatures were too. It was a survival of the fittest type thing. The mutation aspect was so intriguing as well, I wanted to see from first person point of view how the mutations felt. The ending gives me hope we may see Petra again and she may be more connected to The Void after coming out. I could kind of figure there was something off but I hadn't expected the exact twist we got at the end, which was very refreshing.

I do find myself wishing this book was longer. I wanted to learn more about Petra's father, where her mother went. I wanted to see Petra and Flint's romantic relationship develop in real time, rather than being told they're together in the final pages. There are a few unanswered questions for me, but they aren't the type that leave me disappointed, they just leave me wanting more.

Also, I have to mention this cover. This is a book I'd pick up in store just for the cover. She is STUNNING.

I highly, highly recommend reading What Feeds Below. Its fast-paced, gory, unique and suspenseful. This was absolutely brilliantly done, I can't wait to see what Tatiana comes up with next.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

In What Feeds Below by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne, we follow our main characters Petra and Jade as they journey into the deep, dark, mysterious unknown. They face terror-inducing circumstances that they must figure out and overcome if they want to stay alive and ever see daylight again.

First off, the cover, are you kidding me?? S t u n n i n g. Who wouldn’t want that gorgeous cover on their shelf?! Hats off to the artist. I’ve read The Mean Ones by this author and really enjoyed it so I’m familiar with her work. Now on to this book … Holy spinedrinkers! Get ready for a freaking adventure! When I tell you I had an absolute blast reading this, I mean that shit. From the very first page, the dread slowly starts to creep up, and the unease starts setting in. That uneasy feeling continues to build as the story unravels and you descend into the void. On every page there lurks new plant life and creatures, both beautifully unique and equally terrifying. The shear amount of creativity alone it must’ve taken to come up with all the names and descriptors of the different flora and fauna. So, so clever. As a botanical lover, I was no doubt eating it up. There was some really great character work done, and I was fully invested in the girls safety making it out. Some scenes had me literally gasping, “oh, f*ck!” Because truly, anything was possible and you never knew heads from tails, who you could trust or who or what was safe. This book is perfect for those who enjoy rot horror and don't mind when things get a little messy. I loooooved all the body horror and the fact that the tension and dread lingered until the very last paragraph. I’m not about to spoil the ending but things ended exactly as I was hoping for! This book is a YA offering, and I know some people may be wondering or even on the fence, so I did want to mention that I’m well into my 40s (I identify as GenX) and I fully recommend this for younger and older readers alike. The writing was excellent, it had me hooked and held my attention. The plot and characters never felt immature or underdeveloped, and it tackled themes of feminism, friendship, survival, grief and loss exceptionally well, and with the sensitivity it all deserved. Basically this was really fun nightmare fuel, providing the perfect escapism.

Thank you SO much to Tatiana Schlote-Bonne, NetGalley and Bindery Books for the early e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Pub Date: Oct 06 2026

🍄‍🟫ARC REVIEW🍄‍🟫

PUB DATE: 10/6/2026

“If you didn’t know better, you’d think the pools look inviting, but in reality, their acid liquifies anything that falls in. They’re people-soup makers.“

“Maybe if I just play dead, but who am I kidding. Dead is their favorite kind of food.“

This is going to be a contender for TOP read of the year. Annihilation X The Descent X The Abyss. Eco horror to the MAX. This is classified as upper YA but don’t let that fool you… it’s absolutely suffocating and genuinely scary. This one will stay with you long after the final page. MUST READ!

Thank you @netgalley @bindery_books @thebuffwriter

If you're scared of spelunking, this book isn't for you. If you aren't, you will be. A fantastic YA horror novel and the ending just gave me chills.

I’m a little dead inside, I think. I always feel that way after Tatiana is done with me. Does not surprise me at all. This book is definitely my favorite so far, and really only keeping it from a 5 because of the last page because I’m a stupid hope filled fool.
The imagery was incredible. I could clearly see this world and all its horrors, and all the amazing things that would draw you in before they ate you alive. The uneasiness of the situation, the behaviors, all of it was just top notch. More than once I definitely felt my blood pressure spike and the nausea creep in. I cannot recommend this enough lol

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✦ TLDR ✦
This was incredible! The imagery of this book had me unsettled in the best way possible! It was so vivid it was like lying there watching a movie. The characters were complex, the world had so much depth and there was actually a scene in here that genuinely freaked me out (which has never happened). I will be recommending this book to anyone and everyone because it is such a great YA horror!

✦ Writing ✦
The writing was honestly my favourite part of this book. Usually the plot or a character is the seller but this had me in a chokehold. The creatures were described in such grotesque detail and the environment had me almost wishing I could see it for myself, it felt sort of like Pandora from Avatar with the unique flora.

✦ Pacing ✦
The first chapter or so was slow, it very much eased you into the world. But once it picked up, it picked up. It was non-stop, fast-paced thriller/action content. Just when you think that it would slow down into a lull, bang, things were going down again.

✦ Characters ✦
I loved the main character. She was smart, funny, but riddled with self-doubt despite being a badass. And the other characters were also super intriguing. I almost hoped this would keep going because I just wanted more! And I must say, that ending was insane.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the crew at Bindery Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars rounded up
I was locked and loaded with this book. One of my most anticipated reads on ‘26 and it did not disappoint. Tatiana will take you on a journey through the Void that’s gone be a fun time. Buckle right up right up and enjoy the ride. It’s gruesome, suspenseful, claustrophobic, and even though it’s YA, there’s no shyness when it comes to the gore. The Void creeped me the heck out and all I could do was imagine myself there. Uncertain waters and caves give me the heebie jeebies🙂‍↔️

Botanical horror is a genre I haven’t explored much but I’ll say that this definitely makes me want to more! The Mean Ones was my top read of last year, and just as that one, Tatiana pours her himself into books that much you can tell. It just makes them that much more special.

absolutely loved this!! oh my god

like, dare i say, the perfect horror novel??

the body horror and gore were extremely gruesome and disgusting in all the best ways. the characters were so well written and fun to follow. i even really appreciated the nuanced discussion on the ethics of danger tourism (can you tell i’m a geography major? lol)

this book genuinely had some of the best world building i’ve ever read. the void and all the creatures and plants are so impeccably described and creepy and disturbing and beautiful and just everything.

ugh i’m obsessed. literally cannot recommend this enough

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

HOLY SH*T. If The Descent and Annihilation made a baby this would be it. 📖

This was an absolutely ~stunning~ book and sooo incredibly imaginative. Sci-fi horror packed with creatures, carnivorous plants, crystal clad caves and other botanical nightmares. Creepy, crawling and claustrophobic all contrasted beautifully with lush descriptions of creatures and caverns alike. All tied together with two genuinely likeable and endearing FMC’s on a moving, perilous journey of determination, brains and sheer grit. Quite possibly one of my all time faves 🤍

Put it on your TBRs immediately!! Incredibly grateful to be an advanced reader for this one 🍄

🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 ♾️

Also the cover?! Come onnnnn 🥹

Oh. My. God. This was WELL worth staying up to 4am to finish. The descriptions of the void are so visceral, the world felt so immersive, and the story left me reeling. Reminiscent of DanMachi, and I always LOVE a good Dungeon-type novel. Absolutely captivating, I want (NEED) this to have a sequel, I want back in this world!

I could not put it down. The cover caught my eye, but it took three pages for me to be hooked. The world-building is IN-SA-NE. I was sad finishing it because I wanted to learn more about the plants and the creatures! I enjoyed the depiction of dark tourism from the POV of people suffering from it. I am generally not a fan of fast-paced stories, but Tatiana Schlote-Bonne did it perfectly.

4.5 rounded up

Was going to read a few pages of this to see if this is what I’d be reading next and ended up devouring the whole thing in one sitting lol. This really sucked me in from page 1.

If you like any kind of botanical horror books this should be on your list. Felt like I was diving right there with them. The premise is simple but the character work is great and felt like a really immersive story. I zipped right through it (doesn’t hurt that it’s novella length). The body horror is plentiful take care if you’re squeamish.

The pacing and world building were perfect in my opinion. You’re given just enough to create the atmosphere and make it eerie. The cast of characters is pretty minimal and the focus is all on Petra and Jade and their friendship.

Was the ending predictable? Maybe a little but somehow it still punched me in the gut and wouldn’t have been a hit any other way.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bindery Books for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I could not put this book down and read it in a day. It absolutely blew my mind and it took me a few days to absorb everything I had read. The descriptive detail with which Tatiana explained the world we found ourselves was unbelievable and so immersive I found myself vividly imagining everything I was reading.

The story follows orphaned best friends Petra and Jade who work as guides for treasure hunting tourists by taking them into the depths the Void. This is the only way they can earn enough money to get them out of the slums and into a life that they want to live. The Void is a a chasm which the city is built around with six layers and is full of dangerous plants and mutated animals. The deeper you go in the levels the more dangerous and lucrative it is. Petra has always played it safe by taking jobs in the upper levels of the Void where the girls have a better understanding of the layout and the dangers. Jade on the other hands wants them to take more of the dangerous jobs to speed up the time it will take for them to get the money they need to put their dreams into action. So of course, given that Petra always agrees with Jade, the girls take a dangerous job to take a tourist deep into the Void in hope that the payout will get them out of the business and out of the slums. It becomes the one final job....where everything goes wrong.

The writing in this is superb, the world building is rich, the characters are complex and the creatures/ plants are absolutely awesome. I loved reading about the different layers within the Void and the intricate details about each creature and plant were fantastic. In amongst the cave diving, rock climbing, deep diving and various adventure there is also a story of friendship and courage and personal growth. While there are a few moments within which are a bit predictable the overall story is so intriguing that you will not be able to put it down. I will now be reading everything Tatiana writes.

What Feeds Below is a beautifully crafted scifi/fantasy horror with lush visuals, tight pacing, and plenty of tension and gross scenarios! It was definitely influenced by plenty of other media - Annihilation, for example - but reminded me most of a much darker Journey to the Center of the Earth! I loved all of the biology of the Void, and variety in the environments and creatures they encountered.

Although it is a YA book, the death count is pretty high, and the action creepy and gory. The dynamic among the three main characters is probably the most YA aspect, and admittedly a few of plot points were a bit predictable, but not in a way that detracted from the experience. And the ending was fantastic!

I 👏🏻 ATE 👏🏻 THIS 👏🏻 ONE 👏🏻 UP 👏🏻
this books was so fun! Super fast paced and exciting. The world building is incredible and the setting SUPER unique. Absolutely fascinated by this universe. The story itself is dark and full of great action sequences. Plus, it has some really good death scenes and gore. I love our main character, she’s a great POV to follow. I would have taken 500 more pages of her just exploring the void and being nerdy about all the weird plants 🌱
5/5. No notes. Read it when it comes out.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bindery Books for the ARC!

This was a unique and suspense driven horror novel about a world that contains a void full of monsters and creatures unlike the ones that we know. The people of this world must deep dive, literally, into the void to search for their fortunes and Petra and Jade are two of these adventures. When one such trip leaves Jade behind, Petra must gather the strength she has never had before to go and rescue her best friend. She recruits the help of Flint and the two of them dive into the void to not only save Jade, but discover what horrors are below.

The writing in this book is incredible and it will keep you invested from the first page. The world that the author has built is vast and I honestly hope that there will be more, it's such a unique and intriguing plot that I definitely will be rereading this one for years to come!

What Feeds Below
This story revolved around tour guides leading surfacers into the depths of the void which holds mythical powers and creatures.

Each level is growingly dangerous and the two main characters are the tour guides Jade and Petra.

A lot of this story was focused on the journey more than the horror and when the horror did come up it was more grotesque and lacked the scare or fear factor. The world itself was very interesting and the general lore. Surfacers wanting trinkets from the magical lower levels and others believing conception in the void will give a baby powers.

This reminded me of some of those adventure to dinosaur world cartoons with Fallout lore and grime. Voidlings reminded me of the ghoul concept with lack of radiation poisoning. Instead fungal

I wasn’t sure if this was a YA upon reading it because of some elements covered, but felt the character really read as YA. This is YA.

I think for me, I was expecting more horror with this book. I really liked her book Such Lovely Skin.

If the void was a reading slump, this book was the rescue team, because I was hooked. From the very first page, I couldn’t put it down. It completely consumed me. I love anything creepy and atmospheric, and as a bit of a biology nerd, and a horror and gore junkie, this hit the spot perfectly.

Right from the start, I was intrigued by the void itself. There’s this constant tension that makes you feel slightly on edge, but in the best way, like watching a horror movie where you just know something bad is coming. And that ending?! Absolutely haunting. I’m still thinking about it and probably will be for awhile!

If I had one small complaint, it’s that it felt a little unrealistic at times that both Petra and Flint, despite being such experienced drivers, kept making such big mistakes. But honestly, I get that the story needs those moments to actually be a story.

I also didn’t always love Petra. I understand why she was written to be insecure, but at times it made her feel a bit frustrating and overly needy to read.

That said, none of this stopped me from loving the hell (or should I say void?) out of this book.

I am officially a FIEND for What Feeds Below. I need this adapted into a movie or series immediately, and while we’re at it, can we get at least five special editions? Thanks.🫶🏻👀

I’m actually obsessed with this. Easy top read for 2026 for me.

This book just throws you into the Void and does not let you breathe. Everything is so vivid and gross and alive in the worst way. The creatures, the fungi, all of it had my skin crawling the whole time.

It’s so cinematic too. I could see every single scene like a movie in my head.

I was fully glued to this. Chaotic, intense, a bit unhinged, but still had those little emotional moments that hit when you least expect it.

Also yeah…you will never see me near a cave or deep water again after this lol.

There’s something especially cruel about a story that starts with survival and then slowly strips even that illusion away. What Feeds Below leans hard into that kind of dread.

The Void isn’t just a setting, it feels alive in the worst possible way. Every layer down tightens the tension, and you can feel the weight of it pressing in. The monsters and carnivorous plants are terrifying, sure, but it’s the sense that the darkness itself is watching, waiting, that really got under my skin.

Petra and Jade are the emotional core, and their dynamic hit me harder than I expected. Petra’s need to hold on and Jade’s hunger to risk everything creates this constant push and pull that feels real and messy. It’s not just about survival or escape. It’s about what you’re willing to sacrifice to matter to someone else, and that lands in an uncomfortable, but human way.

Once things go wrong, and they do, the story shifts from dangerous to relentless. Petra’s descent isn’t just physical. It’s emotional, psychological, and a little haunting. The deeper she goes, the more the story peels back what the Void actually is, and those reveals don’t come easy. They linger.

If I had one small critique, it’s that some moments felt like they could have gone even further into the horror. The atmosphere is so strong that when it pulls back slightly, you notice. But even then, the tension never fully lets go.

This is one of those reads that leaves you with that heavy unsettled feeling. Not just because of what’s in the dark, but because of what the characters carry with them into it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bindery Books, and Boozhoo Books for the advanced reading copy!

I had so much fun with What Feeds Below! When I had applied for this arc, I immediately felt like it was giving off Annihilation vibes and I was so happy that the story absolutely delivered on that aesthetic.

There were some suspicions that I had early on, that yes were a bit obvious...but did that make this story any less fun? No. I felt that there were three ways that this story was ultimately going to go, and I was satisfied with what the Author went with.

I loved how gory this story was. Being that it's tagged as a Teen/YA novel, I really didn't think that the Author would lean as hard as she did with the gore elements. So I personally, really appreciated that. I actually think that this could even pass under a New Adult rating.

The ending was a gut punch. It definitely gave me nostalgic horror movie memories.

I would recommend this book to anyone who just wants to have a creepy-horrific-gory-adventure. And for readers who really love a good 'ol horror ending that is not expecting the story to be wrapped up in sunshine and rainbows.

This was an exciting and creepy read. Once I started, I did not want to put it down. The author does a great job creating an interesting world and environment with some perfectly creepy body horror moments. This story is more than just a basic 'best friends on an adventure' story; the stakes were real and we are right there alongside Petra trying to figure out who and what we can trust while in the Void.

The Petra and her best friend Jade are orphans who live in the impoverished city surrounding the Void, where locals make their money by guiding the rich and stupid into the void in search of adventure and treasure. However, the void is teeming with plants and creatures who not consider humans a main food source. Petra and Jade have to make their way deeper than they have before, coming face to face with some truly horrifying creatures who feed on both the body and mind.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.


What feeds below is a YA Horror/Thriller book that follows the lives of Petra and Jade in this strange world as what they called “void divers”

Blurb on the book

“At the edge of the City of the Void, a massive chasm extends miles into the earth, its treacherous terrain overrun with vicious monsters and carnivorous plants.
For orphaned best friends Petra and Jade, guiding treasure-seeking tourists down into the Void is the only way to earn enough to pull themselves up out of the slums for good.
Petra prefers to play it safe and take jobs only in the Void's upper levels, where the dangers are better understood, while Jade wants to risk a descent to the deepest and most mysterious Sixth Layer. Because the deeper they go, the better the payout, and the sooner their dreams can become reality. Their friendship is Petra's whole world, and Jade's approval means everything-so Petra agrees to do it Jade's way.
When their job goes wrong and Jade is lost in the Void, Petra must plunge deeper than she's ever dared to save her friend. But she doesn't know the truth of the Void... or what really waits for her in its depths.”

I really enjoyed this book! There were a couple times I thought I knew what was going to happen and then something completely different happened.

The ending is one of those times!!!! I love a good twist and that’s exactly what this was. I didn’t expect it to be at the very end but I loved it!

4.5/5 stars!

Thank you NetGalley and Boozhoo Books for this eARC! I'm voluntarily leaving a review, and all thoughts are my own.

What Feeds Below is a delightfully creepy story! The main character, Petra, works with her friend Jade to show tourists around a creepy place called the Void. These tours are the only way for her to make money and save up for her dream job, as she and Jade are otherwise poor and live in an orphanage. After a Void dive gone wrong, Petra tries to save her friend Jade. However, dangers and secrets are high inside the Void, and Petra might just lose her life on this mission.

This story is nothing short of a masterpiece. The characterization of Petra, Jade, and Flint, Petra's childhood friend, is phenomenal. Each of these characters, along with the minor characters, has a distinct voice and personality. Petra especially is well-characterized, as she loves plants, can tie great climbing knots, and is tenacious. She has low self-esteem and prefers to play it safe, but she'll do whatever it takes to help her loved ones. In addition to the main characters, the setting itself is a prominent character. The Void is a dangerous, mysterious chasm that contains six layers. Each of these layers has various quirks and dangers such as overgrown animals, mutated humans called Voidlings, monsters, a whole oceanic layer, and carnivorous plants. There are all sorts of rumors surrounding the Void, including the existence of Skinwalkers, beings of the Void who steal the skin of an unsuspecting person in the Void. While the Void's existence is supernatural, the worldbuilding surrounding the Void feels scientific in a way my science-loving self appreciates.

Sociopolitical commentary, specifically critiques about places reliant on tourism to survive, is heavily prevalent in this story. The Void's existence and treasures have made tourists eager to travel to the town, the City of the Void. As the Void is so dangerous, tourists need to buy special equipment and must have a tour guide to make it out safely. The tourism industry of the Void is heavily dangerous, as many people with the job come back scarred or not at all. Sadly, for a poor person, being a tour guide is the best way to make money to live off on. The author shows all of this while deftly balancing the other aspects of the story.

What Feeds Below is not a story to sleep on. This story is both for horror fans and for those who don't usually read horror. There's action, tension, suspense, and even a hint of romance. There are also additional snippets of information about the world at the beginning of the chapters, which I think made the story richer! This was my first six star read of the year, and I truly cannot recommend What Feeds Below enough!