The Sea Hides Its Dead, by Megan Bontrager

It's not a secret that I love horror, and the more uncanny and unsettling, the better, so when a book is presented as The Descent meets The Ritual, it will be immediately on my radar; but trust me when I say that The Sea Hides Its Dead is more that simply that, as Megan Bontrager has not only managed to capture the oppressive atmosphere of the setting but also delivered a deeply emotional story, with a cast of characters that provokes visceral reactions and that feels extremely real. A horror novel that is excellent from start to the end, so let's dive (pun not really intended) in.

Caro is not sure what to do with her life, a young college student whose mother recently passed away, so when the opportunity arises to join as a research assistant on an anthropological expedition for her professor and lover, Edward Beck, she immediately takes it. An expedition to descend into the sea caves where the ancient Cult of the Leviathan; a team of academics and professionals that will get trapped after the entrance collapses, putting in motion an ancient trial where they will have to face and atone for their greatest sin, or die after proving they are not worthy of the Leviathan.

And it's in this kind of situation where we have the perfect excuse to analyze the characters created by Bontrager and why they feel so brilliant. Let's start by addressing Edward Beck, who will be the main antagonist. Selfish, manipulative, a character that you end up hating just as you see how he only cares about his personal glory, how he manipulates vulnerable people even if that means hurting them just in order to fulfill what he considers his goal, his destiny. You can see how he represents that kind of person that abuses their position of power, that preys on the vulnerable; but there's also a kind of messianic touch on how he behaves, how he sees himself as the chosen by the Leviathan, how this is just the culmination of all his life's work.
However, it's on the figure of Caroline where I would say Bontrager's writing shines. A complicated character, a person who has suffered and whose vulnerability is being used by Edward Beck, being groomed into a relationship where the power is clearly unbalanced; he's a jerk, he's treasoning her trust, and still, you will see how she will justify anything that comes from Beck. The reader sees the abusive relationship, but when somebody is so deep into the pit, almost hopeless, it's difficult to find that anchor that helps you to reach the surface.
Caro already experienced the abuse of a narcissistic person, and partly, I feel that was what pushed her towards Beck; through her Leviathan's test, we see her facing the first figure that created that trauma, but it's definitely Mallory the hand that helps her float above the wave. At the end, Mallory is that hope, that support she needed to survive and overcome, and that's something we all should take from this story, as many times, people need help to heal.

Almost as important as the character is the atmosphere and the setting they are put it; a dark and oppressive one, a sea cave where there's more than what they thought, delving into the Enocian scriptures and the figure of Leviathan, but always keeping that halo of mystery about the true nature of that figure. The trials put the whole group against what could be considered their biggest sin, but atoning is not as simple as repenting; an exploration of concepts such as guilt and sin that is more complex than the binaries usually paired with religion.
In terms of pacing, we have an excellent book, which keeps you tense from start to the end, while naturally introducing character work that will eventually play important roles in the story. A book that almost invites you to devour it.

The Sea Hides Its Dead is a deliciously dark horror novel, putting Megan Bontrager as a voice to follow in the future, especially if you like complicated characters that are just reflections of what real people could be paired together with a superb setting that is the perfect scenario for the story. A candidate to be one of my favourite books of the year!