Have you read Into the Sublime by Kate A. Boorman? If not, no worries, that’s why you’re here, right?
So, let me explain what this book is about, if you should read it, and how scary it truly is.
Into the Sublime Plot
Into the Sublime follows four female characters on a spelunking trip. They are Amelie, the main protagonist, Devon, Gia, and H.
It begins at the end and works its way forward. Trust me, this is not a spoiler. Amelie is speaking to the police at the beginning of the novel and begins telling the cop what happened inside the cave.
The cops have questions: Where is Devon? Is Devon dead? Is it the rotting dead body they just discovered in the river? Or does Devon even exist?
Why are H and Gia so badly injured, and why is one of them stabbed in the leg? And most importantly, why is Amelie covered in someone else’s blood!?
Amelie starts innocently enough, but as her story unfolds, it feels as though she let the group into their demise. But is she really guilty? You’ll just have to read and find out.
The book is called Into the Sublime because they are going spelunking to find an underground river or lake that’s called the Sublime. However, it’s not supposed to be real. It’s an urban legend. Once you find it, it is said to grant you one wish.
So meta!
The characters are fun. H, for example, is a meta horror fiend, which makes me love her even more. She makes scary movie references every chance she gets. She even compares their expedition to the films The Descent and As Above, So Below. And I have to say, it is that exact mix of mythology.
And if you haven’t watched that movie, you definitely should. It will give you a newfound appreciation for this book, Into the Sublime.
H, is the only “meta” character where she pretty much knows and understands she’s in a horror book or something of that matter. But it made a huge impact on me, since I love horror.
Gia is hard-headed, almost as much as Devon. But Devon is deceiving. You don’t really know her motives, and sometimes, they don’t seem as pure as you think.
Amelie is manipulative. She’s been ill most of her life and has always had her way because of that. So when things don’t go her way, she twists people’s words to turn the girls against each other.
You see why this makes for a complex book. Nevertheless, it’s such an easy read, you can probably get through it in a day or two.
The horror of it all
Throughout the book, you’re unaware of what’s really in the cave. Are there monsters, weird creatures?
Dark and unfamiliar places can play tricks on you, or is it something else?
The book plays with your mind as well as theirs. You don’t really know what’s happening until the very end.
One thing is for sure: the true horror lies within our motives. You are your own worst enemy.
Your bad decisions, your inability to be rational, your lies. It’s hurtful. Not just emotionally, but also physically. It destroys friendships. And ultimately, you are the monster. You are more horrific than any cave dweller you’ll discover.
Once you get to this realization, you’ll feel bad about every lie you ever told, or every argument you started with your best friend. It really makes you feel terrible.
It holds the mirror to your face and makes you accountable for your actions. That’s what makes Into the Sublime so good.
But What About The Book Itself (Into the Sublime)
Into the Sublime is good. I wouldn’t really call it horror. It feels more like a thriller to me.
Although if you take the Descent and As Above, So Below and make them into YA films, you’d probably get Into the Sublime.
The sublime
Once they get to the underwater river or lake bed, it’s absolutely beautiful. I felt like I was right there with them, enjoying this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
What I Didn’t Like
I was expecting more horror and blood in this book. I think I wanted more monsters and weird things.
It was disappointing that some of the “monsters” turned out to be something else (I don’t want to spoil it for you).
I also didn’t like how the characters turned against each other at every opportunity. It felt very High School, which I know is appropriate for a YA novel.
I think overall, I was expecting something else.
A Few Final Words
Into the Sublime by Kate A Boorman wasn’t as good as I expected. That is not to say I didn’t like it. I enjoyed it. But I didn’t love it.
I wanted a whole lot more gore and horror, but I was left with horror-lite. Because of this, I’m giving it three bloody hatchets out of five.
Have you read it? What is your review and rating of it? Please don’t let my review skew your opinion.
