This is how you deep a horror novel based on science. The writing was fantastic, keeping you in your toes and holding your breath for the next event. What elevated this novel for me was the real science background for the story. The science was so possible I could believe there are megs in the ocean!!

One of my all time favorite book series as well as movie's to watch and read over and over again no matter how many times I've read it ,it never gets old .

Was not aware that this was the reissuance of the original published in the 90's. I was at least hoping for an updated version but not much has changed. in fact, some of this reads as very dated. It's still a good story but it's still man vs giant shark and if you read this when it was first published there are no new surprises.

I had a really hard time with this. I know it was originally published in the 90s but with it's re-release they really should have gone back in and brought it into the 2022 better. The way every woman is completely described but men are not made me want to throw this across the room. I'm sure the story is fine but I can't get behind this one.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of MEG: A Novel of Deep Terror by Steve Alten. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for this ARC.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this novel. I had watched the movie first and thought it was OK. The book is SO MUCH BETTER. It keeps the reader engaged and the plot moving forward with no lulls. It has strong Jurrasic Park energy, but I thought the characters were better developed in this book. I liked that I cared what happened to Jonas Taylor, and it wasn't all about the Megalodon. Surprisingly, I enjoyed it enough that I would happily read another book in the series. Highly recommend MEG if you are looking for an action packed adventure book for the summer.

I love shark movies. I love shark movies because of the quintessential summer blockbuster film, Jaws. Last year I decided to read the novel that inspired one of my favorite films and was left feeling utterly disappointed and a little bit angry. I decided to give the genre of shark novels a second chance with Meg. This too was a mistake.

Well the film was cheesy fun with Jason Statham and rain Wilson, the book was trying to take itself far too seriously and failed at every turn. This felt more like a dude trying to cosplay his Michael Crichton fantasy than a book that really could’ve spawned legitimate sequels. It’s a quick read filled with casual Asian fetishization, half hearted attempts at scientific explanation, and giant swings in direction… like how did our hero go from “locked down at a naval hospital” on one page to chasing down the shark on the open water and getting attacked on the LITERAL NEXT PAGE.

do yourself a favor and stick to the film.

This was a really good creature book. It had points where I was on the edge of my seat. Suspenseful and believable.

Great book that I read in a day. Perfect for fans of Jaws and anyone that likes the idea of what if there is something out there. Great story with amazing characters.

I first read "Meg" when I was a teenager and I remember thinking it was a fun, creature feature of a story, however, I was less impressed with it this time around.

Originally written in the late 1990's, this story is full of sexist caricatures and misogyny. I'm genuinely surprised that the author or publisher didn't think to update the story with its re-release.

Whilst the story is a fast-paced, action-packed, adventure with a lot of fun "Oh, cool!" moments, the characterisations of the female characters is dreadful. In this day age, readers want more from their male protagonists than just thinly-veiled toxic masculinity.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love a creature feature and thought the movie version of The Meg was a great summer blockbuster, so I jumped at the chance to review the novel from which it was adapted.

As a side note, this novel was originally published in the late 1990s, so I’m wondering if it’s being re-released to coincide with a movie sequel coming soon?

Anyway, I was very glad I read it, as it’s a fast-paced and exciting story that differs plenty enough from the silver screen version to keep you interested.

This book follows Jonas Taylor, who left the US Navy in disgrace several years ago after a deep sea mission went wrong and his actions indirectly led to the death of two colleagues. Jonas thought he saw something big down there in the murky depths and panicked, but no-one believed him.

Fast-forward to the present day, and when a company that wants to open a marine research and conservation facility asks for his help in retrieving a sub that’s been lost in a deep-sea trench, Jonas reluctantly agrees. He hopes to not only do the job, but also to find some evidence that a creature presumed extinct really does still exist in order to give him validation.

Of course, ‘The Meg’ really is down there, and all hell subsequently breaks loose when a couple of them follow Jonas and his team back up to the surface.

This story takes place over a longer timeframe than the movie and also over a wider geographic area, so there are plenty more opportunities for people to be turned into giant shark fodder for maximum excitement. I also liked the fact that there is more animosity between Jonas and his wife than was the case in the movie, which makes for more conflict between her and the other characters.

Some parts did seem a little dated in terms of attitudes (women being described as ‘beauties’ for instance), but that’s to be expected in a book published more than two decades ago, and it wasn’t a major sticking point for me.

The Meg isn’t a challenging read, but it was an enjoyable creature feature perfect for a summer weekend - although perhaps not one when you plan to take to the water. Read this if you liked Jaws, Lake Placid, Crawl, The Shallows and Rogue.

I've rated three stars here, but I would actually round this up to a 3.5.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book! This was a suspenseful read, and the setting was thrilling and immersive!

This book was equally as good as all of the previous MEG Series books. Steve Alten has a way of bringing you down to the Marianna Trench with Jonas and scaring the pants off you. If I ever wanted to know what life would be be like with the Megalodon alive and thriving, this book helps me realize that. Read it! You won’t be sorry!

The Seemingly Impossible…
Offered the opportunity to return to the waters Taylor eventually does. In search of the seemingly impossible - the Carcharodon Megalodon, the enormous mother of the Great White. He’s about to face his greatest fear. A gripping thriller with much to like and a plot populated with a credible cast and fast moving, high drama.

What the hell did I just read? Listen, I love sharks and all things shark-related. This includes some movies that are so bad they're good. But Meg simply wasn't that good, and it's also filled with misogyny.

How in the hell did this book start a bidding war? It's got tons of exclamation marks and absurdly laughable moments. I mean, seriously? Check out this sentence:

"He gripped a sun-warmed rung and attempted to pull himself out of the water - only to discover that both his legs had been severed at the knees!"

Um, what? I'm pretty sure that if his legs were severed at the knees, he would have known about it before he tried to pull himself up.

Let's check out another "gem," shall we?

"Neither facts nor logic held any bearing on a woman."

The women in this book wore thongs, used sex as a weapon, and were ruled by their emotions. Clearly, Steve Alten has some issues with women.

Even the Meg was a female, along with her babies. Well, except the one male baby who has his genitals eaten by his mother. It was as if the shark herself was yet another female that had to be conquered by the male lead (who, oddly, the main female character, Terry, either instantly loved or hated until, of course, he won her over, too).

And don't even get me started on how Jonas got out of the Meg's stomach. It was completely ridiculous, as was this book.

Escapist fun of the highest order. If you love beach reads, then this is the ultimate beach read in my opinion. Never mind that the story is about a prehistoric shark! Steve Alten has written quite the entertaining thriller that should satisfy any Michael Crichton or James Rollins fan. I highly recommend this book and virtually guarantee that you will rip through this fast paced adventure in short order. Really enjoyed the ride!

“MEG: A Novel of Deep Terror” by Steve Alten is about the greatest of the “great whites” but from another geological time…the Carcharodon megalodon. Hidden in the deepest part of the Mariana Trench this prehistoric remnant species has survived for millions of years. Now it comes to life!

Certain happenings cause the modern-day world to become aware that something was occurring in the abyssal depths seven miles deep. The best naval deep-water pilot, Jonas Taylor, had a harrowing experience while on a deep-sea dive but was considered out of his mind when he mentioned that he had seen the shark that has become to be called Meg after the species name: megalodon.

Fast forward seven years and Taylor has earned his doctorate specializing in the ancient sharks as well as becoming an expert on more modern ones. This is where the novel gets interesting. He is pulled back into the depths, literally and figuratively, to solve a modern problem of underwater sensors going out and thus losing the ability to predict earth movements.

There are some good scientific possibilities about the prehistoric creature and how it came to be and to survive. How much of the story might be really possible but is at least somewhat conjecture. It is this conjecture that leads to the fun reading about Meg.

There are some subplots playing out behind the scenes concerning love and life of Jason and those with whom he is involved. All of these threads are brought to a head when it is decided to try to capture the Meg and study it.

A great read and very worthwhile even if a reader has seen the movie MEG or read Peter Benchley’s book, “White Shark.” It will certainly keep readers on their toes and the edge of their chairs as the book comes to a crashing climax. There are some scenes that a squeamish person might need to avoid but if you want adventure – this one is for you.

I love this type of book. Creature features are my favorite. It’s incredibly entertaining but full of twists and turns. I really enjoyed it.