The Descent is a novel about what lies beneath our feet, and not just beneath our feet, but beneath our oceans; inside the core of our world. Hell is real. It's a labyrinthine network of tunnels and chasms deep under the world's oceans. They have always been among us, but kept to the shadows. A flicker under a streetlight, movement in the corner of our eyes. But now they've made themselves known. A Himalayan mountaineering group discover the first signs of their existence in a secluded cave, and in the Kalahari desert, villagers talk of something "Older-than-old", and in Bosnia, something is "feeding" on corpses in a mass grave. So begins the surfacing of Hell in our mortal plane. The passing of time in The Descent is sporadic. And over time a war rages with the underworld, cities rise and fall, and the creatures of this underworld are driven back underground. Now, with a mirror world of our own under the sea, claims are being made on territory, but with this new world largely unexplored, a team of scientists and mercenaries is being sent deep into the abyss to chart a corporation called Helios' claim on this new sub-terrain. 
 What I liked: 
 The Descent was my first read by Jeff Long. I stumbled upon it on Amazon as a book recommendation and I was immediately drawn to it by it's similarities to the horror movie of the same name. It's worth noting that, while unrelated entirely, the book and movie share similar themes, and the movie is worth checking out because I think it's one of the best horror movies out there. Jeff long is a mountain climber in real life and his knowledge of climbing is evident in his writing. His attention to subterranean details and facts is vivid and researched. I found that a little suspension of disbelief is required to fully enjoy this story, as an underground physical Hell makes a spectacular tale, but at times I had to look at things as almost an alternate reality, which it evidently very much is. (view spoiler)[ Some people are taken into enslavement by these creatures and, over time, develop conditions and sort of start to transform into them in both mental and physical ways. Horns will sprout, bones will become disfigured, and those unfortunate enough will lose all recognition of the humans they once were. (hide spoiler)] I think it's all a fascinating and original idea and it made for a great read. Jeff Long realizes his Hell in physical form, but Ali, being a nun, is in constant opposition to this Hell by nature. I like the contrast between Ali's spiritual beliefs and a tangible Hell because it raises the question: Is this underground really Hell, or do we just think it is? The biblical Hell could very much still be out there beyond this new world we've discovered, and Jeff Long never dismisses that idea. Ali serves to demonstrate that. At it's heart The Descent is an adventure story more-so than a horror story, but the horror infused within allows it to cater to those interested in both genre's without becoming overwhelmingly in favor of one or the other. It was a great read with a cliffhanger ending. I have not started Deeper, it's sequel, but am excited to do so! 
 What I didn't like: 
 I did find that the Hell Jeff Long has created is populated with more traditional monsters and much less with the demons I'm so used to reading in other works like those of Clive Barker and Lovecraft, and I found them to be much less frightening than the horrors those two can conjure up in their respective nightmare worlds. But I don't think that took away from the joy of reading The Descent. It's original, fresh, and written by a man who knows how to write a story. 
 What I really didn't like: 
 Honestly, I was expecting a bigger, deeper, more frightening world than what was actually here. Was I a little disappointed? Sure. Is this a book worth reading? Yes! Will I add Jeff Long to my list of favorite authors? You bet I will!