Ok. Here’s the deal. Jay takes a solo dive to look for something in the ocean. And then he comes across a terrifying adventure. That’s the spoiler free plot. But it’s more than that. It’s the story of how Jay comes to terms with his relationship with his dad. Everything that happens, revolves around this.

The writing is choppy and abrupt. But after the first quarter of the story, I got used to it. By the end, I couldn’t put it down because it reached a level of insanity. But on reflection, this was good. A perfect summer read if you like thrillers/horror. Be prepared for some gore though. There is a lot of body horror in this that most people won’t like.

To be honest, this is not the type of book I read. I tend to live in the world of Victorian classics, but I’ve been craving ocean stories. And this just ticked off the boxes I was craving. It was fun and I couldn’t put it down. I liked the ending and I learned so much more about whale anatomy than I ever did with “Moby Dick.” I can’t recommend this to everyone, but it will appeal to summer thriller/horror fans. And there are many trigger warnings in this, so do a little research before reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and MTV books for the advanced copy. This review is my honest opinion.

Wow! This book was an absolute journey. Daniel Kraus doesn't just 'tell' a story; you are completely IMMERSED in the story. Jay is on a personal mission to reconcile with his family and community, as well as alleviate some personal guilt regarding the strained relationship with his late father. In order to find some closure, Jay decides to take a personal dive to collect his father's remains from the depths of the ocean. On this dive, Jay happens to be swallowed by a sperm whale as it feeds on a gigantic squid.

The author does an amazing job transporting you to deep waters, beautiful kelp forests, and eventually into the mouth of the whale.. The writing is so incredibly well researched and amazingly vivid; it makes you truly appreciate the beauty and raw power of the ocean, as well as the creatures in it. I absolutely loved the alternating timeline which slowly fed me more and more information on why Jay felt the need to take this solo dive. Chapters in the present tense are titled with Jay's declining PSI level of his scuba tank, keeping you on the edge of your seat as you somehow find yourself rooting not only for Jay, but for EVERY character introduced in this story.

Kraus did a beautiful job of making the reader appreciate the connection between a father and son, as well as the ocean that both unites and divides them. This book is beautiful and terrifying, inspiring yet heart wrenching. ; I couldn't wait to see how it ends, although I didn't want the book to be over. . 10/10; 5 stars; two thumbs up for this wonderful read. Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for allowing me to read this book.

This was a beautiful story, very well written and in intricate detail. I know nothing about divers language, but I felt educated. This is a heartbreaking story of a teenage boy and his father. All to often we see these dynamics in relationships today, and maybe, just maybe, this will open someone’s heart. I can’t recommend this book highly enough! Five stars!

Whalefall by Daniel Kraus took me on an unforgettable adventure that left me with mixed emotions. From the moment I discovered the intriguing concept of a man swallowed by a whale, I was drawn into a narrative that delved into complex themes of family dynamics, guilt, depression, illness, and the intricate bond between a father and his son.

Kraus's descriptive prowess completely immersed me in the world of Whalefall. The vivid imagery painted a breathtaking picture of the ocean depths and the confines of the whale's belly. I could feel the mounting tension as Jay's oxygen levels diminished, rooting for his survival and escape with every page.

What truly fascinated me about Whalefall was its exploration of emotional depth. The story took unexpected turns, unraveling themes of grief and self-discovery that added layers of complexity. Kraus skillfully blended celestial and mythological elements with raw human emotions, creating a tapestry of experiences that resonated deeply within me.

I was particularly moved by Kraus's ability to navigate fractured relationships and the weight of unresolved loss. The characters' emotions felt authentic and tangible, reminding me of the power of human connection and resilience.

However, while Whalefall had its strengths, there were aspects that left me with mixed feelings. At times, the focus on introspection and self-discovery overshadowed the survival aspects I had anticipated. While I appreciated the thought-provoking nature of the narrative, I longed for a stronger balance between the emotional depth and the adrenaline-fueled adventure.

In the end, Whalefall by Daniel Kraus is a captivating journey that intertwines adventure with profound emotion. The descriptive prose and mounting tension kept me engrossed throughout. Despite my mixed feelings about the emphasis on introspection, the exploration of complex themes and the authenticity of the characters' emotions made the reading experience worthwhile. If you're ready for a thought-provoking and immersive adventure that delves into the depths of human emotion, then Whalefall is a book worth diving into.

Daniel Kraus takes an intriguing concept and carries it to engaging results. Whalefall is a highly engaging book, well-written and plot-driven.

Wow. This was quite a ride. A whale of a tale, you could say.

Whalefall does a superb job of creating a unique thriller blended with a story of grief, as 17-year-old Jay fights to survive in the belly of a whale while simultaneously processing the complicated loss of his estranged father, hoping to escape the suffocating grip of both. It’s moving, it’s action-packed, it’s weird, it’s scientifically accurate (as the author notes in the afterward, as scientifically accurate as it can be, given how much remains unknown about both sperm whales and oceanic life in the deep seas), it’s poetic, it’s original, it’s… just really good.

I’ll definitely look forward to reading this one again in the future.

Thank you Daniel Kraus, Atria, MTV Books, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

I wanted to love this. The cover is one of my favorites of all time and the idea of getting swallowed by a whale, while not unique in history, is unique in current literature. I really did love the parts in the whale. They were fascinating and exciting. The book is so much more than that. It examines Jay’s relationship with his father and there are insights along the way. While I do think this added a lot of depth to the story, the writing style was very choppy and at times unclear. I know it was purposeful, and I tried to get to used to it, but I just wasn’t a fan.

In the end, I still didn’t feel like I knew Jay very well. It wasn’t hard to root for him because who wouldn’t you root for when they end up in a situation like that (in a very believable way, too), but I just wish I’d felt more of a connection to him and his predicament.

I did like most of it, but my enjoyment ebbed and flowed depending on what was happening. I give the whale parts all the stars. You can tell it was very thoroughly researched. But the rest brought it down for me.

I do still recommend giving it a read. It is thoroughly unique. And this might be one of my favorite book title/story connections. Once you get through the book, you’ll realize how beautiful the title really is.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this story in advance to its release.

I was very excited to read this book because of all the great things I had heard about it. The story line was heart felt and kept the reader wanting more, but I feel it was a little overhyped. I do believe this is a wonderful story for readers who enjoy classic literature because of the way it’s written. The style of writing mirrors a classic novel where as it’s not a simple straightforward read, you do have to somewhat think about what you’re reading. I don’t believe it hindered the story at all, it was just a unique writing style.

I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to others.

I saw this book being recommended everywhere and had to check it out for myself. It was a masterpiece in my eyes. With short chapters, it was a quick read with a buildup that made it almost impossible to put the book down. This isn’t just a book about being swallowed by a sperm whale. This is a book about dysfunctional family dynamics, mainly the inability for a father and son to show their love in a way the other can grasp or understand. The ending is both destruction and beauty and written poetically. I will be buying this book when it comes out and recommending to everyone. I already can’t wait to read it a second time. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a free digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wonderful! Passionately written and just felt like someone laid their heart on the page. Wonderful! Passionately written and just felt like someone laid their heart on the page. Wonderful! Passionately written and just felt like someone laid their heart on the page.

This is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year so far, it’s fast paced and makes something unimaginable somehow become imaginable. Just as important, if not more important as being swallowed by a whale, are the complex relationships between children and parents; fathers and sons, mothers and siblings. Additionally, the mixed emotions of losing a loved one are explored, and our relationship with nature. I loved the way that John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row was weaved throughout the story as well. It was a great read, highly recommend.

When Jay goes scuba diving to try and find his father's remains, he is swallowed by a sperm whale. Jay has only the resources before him to try and escape, all while running out of air.

I devoured this book, mostly because of the thrilling nature, and partly because of the short chapters. (Thanks for that Daniel Kraus!) I'm not usually a fan of third person, present tense, but I became so absorbed in the story, the structure soon became invisible to me.

And weirdly, I enjoyed reading the acknowledgments. I love knowing the work that goes into a book like this with so much scientific elements as a factor.

I highly, highly recommend.

Thank you Atria and MTV Books for this fantastic reading experience!
If you do anything at all this year, read this book! What a ride - I am floored, wowed, flabbergasted! I typically wouldn't choose to read anything having to do with the ocean because I truly have Thalassophobia (fear of deep and dark bodies of water). But having this type of phobia only made this story that much more compelling and thrilling. Jay, a young man dealing with the suicide of his father (as well as the disaster of their relationship), decides to take one more scuba diving trip down in the ocean waters off of Monterey. He grew up scuba diving with his dad and definitely knows his way around the ocean. However, this time, his experience is an absolute nightmare when he is swallowed by a huge sperm whale - and he only has about an hour of oxygen left. And no, this isn't the experience Pinocchio's father had inside the whale.

You don't even need Thalassophobia to feel the intense emotions and heart-pounding energy. It is powerfully descriptive, The story transports you back and forth from Jay's time in the whale to his memories with his dad. And it works perfectly as everything he remembers helps him figure out what to do next. If you have ever wondered what it would be like to scuba dive in the ocean, Kraus will educate you. He did an insane amount of research, giving the reader a very detailed account of exactly how being swallowed by a whale could be.

Jay's experience (and the reader's as well) is metaphysical, a battle of the mind as well as the body. His emotions and pain, as well as his panic and fear, all combine to add to the anxiety I'm sure Kraus intended. And thankfully it delivers on all levels. Don't let this one pass you by!

I have always loved the ocean and how terrifying it can be. This book had all aspects of being terrifying, however fell a little flat. It felt more like a research paper than a horror novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC. What a wild ride of Jay’s story of dealing with his father’s death and also being trapped inside a sperm whale. I was unsure of this novel but started hearing interesting reviews so I was intrigued for sure. This quick read was heart pounding but also heartbreaking at times. A amazing story of survival.

Wow... this unique premise really drew me in. A scuba diver gets swallowed by a whale and has only an hour to escape. With comps to The Martian and 127 Hours, I was ready. And I did like this story, told in alternating timelines of the infamous scuba dive, and stories from throughout this young man's life.

What I didn't really love was two things: the writing style and the overall seriousness. The first thing made the book much more of a slog to get through. It was incredibly jumpy and almost literary, which felt really odd in a plot-driven thriller-type book. It didn't really fit with the story in my opinion, and caused me to have to put the book down earlier than I'd planned while reading.

The seriousness is definitely exception v. reality, as I was really hoping for a humorous take on the wild premise (like The Martian), rather than SCIENCE and SURVIVAL only. Just know that it's not funny at all going in.

Oh, my — after the real life tragedy of the Titanic submersible and recently reading T.J. Newman’s Drowning (the rescue of a submerged airliner), just reading the opening blurb of Daniel Kraus’ “Whalefall” puts shivers down my spine. And rightfully, so. This time Jay, the diver, isn’t blessed with the 3 days biblical Jonah had, he has only an hour of oxygen left and the protagonist pretty much has just himself, not an armada of assembling rescuers above, to escape the first stomach of a whale.

Like Newman’s “Drowning”, there’s a lot of technical jargon to be appreciated by real life divers. It’s not overwhelming — enough for a non-diver/reader to be educated about all the things (other than being swallowed by a whale) that can also go wrong.

Jay is an seventeen year old who’s mean, uncaring, and bully of a dad, Mitt, was a local Monterey diving legend and who died from suicide after being diagnosed with mesothelioma (a result of diving without wetsuits in the polluted coastal waters from cannery runoffs). Jay is diving alone, full of anger towards his dead father, and against the common sense advice to always have a dive buddy. A lot of what his father taught him is constantly reverberating in his mind.

This is an incredibly tense and suspenseful narrative. The chapter numbers are replaced by the amount of oxygen left in Jay’s tanks, and that ratchets up tension even more. If you want a good scare and a reason to never scuba dive in the ocean, this is your book. 5 stars!

Thank you to Atria, MTV Books and Simon & Schuster Publishing and NetGalley for a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO It’s mentioned that Dad had weird gold eyes, but no other eye colors, human or not, are called out.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Not expected since the story takes place in the ocean, although much of what Jay sees at first can be considered a sea garden.

I want to thank the publisher and Netgalley for this e-arc. I requested this after seeing the cover!! Love it!!

When I started reading it, I went into it pretty blind. I didn't read the synopsis before reading it and thought it would be more Horror because of the cover. I wasn't expecting to read such an emotional book. I loved the short chapters and the pacing of the book. I usually don't fly through books this fast. I wanted to know what was going to happen to the main character, Jay.

I loved how this story is so much more than Jay looking for the bones of his father. Highly recommend.

4.5/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy of this book. Loved this one by Krause. It reminded me a little of TJ Newman's books. So real, yet just a story. 5 stars

Thrilling, intense and surprisingly heart-warming? Whalefall is the kind of aquatic horror I live for. My full review is included in the link to the podcast I cohost with Mary Beth McAndrews of Dread Central.