The Threat Below (Brathius History #1)

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The Threat Below (Brathius History #1)

JS Latshaw

Three hundred years ago, something terrifying arose and pushed humanity to the brink of extinction. Now, a small remnant – the descendants of the few survivors who were able to escape the massacre below – lives above the clouds, on the top of a Mountain.

When they discover that their water supply is being poisoned Down Below, an expedition, including seventeen year-old girl Icelyn Brathius, must descend and face the monsters, the Threat Below, that wiped out civilization centuries ago.

Icelyn quickly learns that all is not what it seems as she uncovers secrets hundreds of years old and struggles to stay alive in a world where no human is fit to survive.

-Excerpt taken from Goodreads.

Check Goodreads to see the book’s ratings.

My Opinion

(3.5 / 5) What is it about dystopias that is so fascinating? This dystopia is about a small group of people that run from a threat and build themselves a home on the top of a mountain. There, they are protected and live secluded. 

Due to circumstances, a group is required to make the dangerous trip Down Below that will save their village. Three teens end up making this trip and change their village forever.

The first half was gripping and I found myself reading quickly. It has all the standard qualifications for a great dystopia; secrets, lies, reasonings for the secrets and lies and finally the reveals. 

The second half of the book revealed many secrets. I found these reveals left me wanting more and even with more explanation, I wasn’t satisfied. Now don’t get me wrong, this twist has the ability to hook people in without a doubt. It’s mind boggling because it’s almost realistic, and those can be the best. But it didn’t grab me.

I also didn’t like the love triangle. I’m not a fan and it just didn’t feel believable. The kisses were awkward and terribly timed. However, I never felt connected to the characters so that definitely played a part.

The protagonist was not very likeable. She was flawed in all the best ways but she frustrated me multiple times. She didn’t treat those around her with respect- kindness, yes but it wasn’t genuine. She was presented as a kind person but I don’t feel she meant it. She used people for her gain and ultimate goal (the goal was a bit too far fetched for me.)

This has some serious Planet of the Apes vibes and if you love dystopias with realistic and crazy twists, this is for you! Thank you to JS Latshaw for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It’s always nice to get the physical copy of a book, especially from Indie authors!

Detailed Content Review

Language 

F***-

H***- 19

S***- 2

A**- 1

B****-

D***- 14

Bas****-

Religious Cursing

J****-

Chr***-

G**- 43

L***-

Derogatory terms etc-

Alcohol, Drugs, Smoking

Someone holds a flask to a young woman’s nose and the smell makes her exhausted so she slumps over. 

Alcohol is forbidden but “fermentation setups” had been found. 

Intimacy, Sex, Immodesty 

A young woman and young man are kissing and hugging. 

A young man kisses a young woman as they lie on the ground. 

A creature and young woman talk about mating rituals. The creature thinks the young woman is pregnant after kissing a young man. 

A young woman kisses a young man twice. She feels electricity. 

A young woman briefly kisses a young man. 

Violence, Weapons, Crime, Blood

A man shoots a woman. She collapses and blood pools on the ground. People watch as her face changes color and she dies. 

A young woman is tied up. 

After hearing a noise, a man sees a small pool of blood where a man used to be. Another man is taken. The men were “carved into, split apart, cut in half and hollowed out…” two teens come upon the carnage of many men like this. 

A man shoots a man in the chest, killing him. Two men examine his chest and see the hole with blood. 

Another man is killed with a gun. A young man killed him. 

A young man attacks a large creature, stabbing it in the neck with a knife. He lights it on fire. The creature slaps a young man away and takes a young woman in its claws. Many creatures fight while a young man fights them also. 

Creatures kill another creature and leave a message written in its blood. They hollowed him out and leave only his bones. Teens prepare a gravesite and mourn over him. 

A man attacks a creature with a spear, stabbing it and twisting it while a young woman tries to fight him off. 

A young man and creature fight. He swings his hatchet and it knocks him down, preparing to kill him. 

Two young men punch and fight. 

When a creature spills her own blood into water, many sharks attack other creatures in the water. Blood covers the water and sharks are seen attacking. 

**SPOILER** A woman abuses human-like creatures and they dream of lashing out at her and tearing her apart. At one point, they do. One grabs her with its claws and throws her against the wall. Another claws at her throat and likes the blood it sees. Then they both claw out her insides, eating her, then hang what’s left on the wall. They run into more humans and do the same. 

A creature throws a young man into the wall. He is knocked unconscious and lies in a pool of blood. 

A young man has a wound from a shark biting his shoulder. It bleeds a lot. 

A human-like creature attacks another of his kind, gashing her abdomen and splitting her open. Many are killed. 

There is a battle between creatures. Many are killed. Humans are killed. There are many bodies strewn about. Many are choked and killed by a poison. 

Potentially Intense Themes

Two teens find a teens body hanging and hollowed out. His chest has been “scraped” out and his ribs are visible. 

A creature consumes people and animals insides. It is the reason for the wall around the village.

A young woman passes out from dehydration.

Sounds of a large animal or creature are heard many times as people try to flee. 

A young woman is being chased by a creature she can’t see but it can smell her and roars. 

A large creature that is 9ft tall, with claws, hairy, stands on fours and also walks upright. 

A large creature chases two teens. The young woman punches its gut. 

A young woman finds a human skull.

A young man’s father dies. He digs him a grave and his grief is very apparent. 

A woman hangs herself from a tree. People watch as her body sways. 

A bear swipes a young man’s leg, cutting him. He is face to face with the animal with only a small weapon. He swings the hatchet into the bears chest and felt the bears spirit pass. 

A large bird attacks a young woman, clawing at her. Her friends pull it away and they stomp on it and hack it with a hatchet. 

A shark charges at a young woman and she knows she’s going to die. 

Many almost die by drowning in turbulent waters.

**As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.