A Five Star Read.

From taking my breath at 3000PSI to giving me life at 0, this beautifully written book turned out to be as cathartic as it was thrilling.

I was initially drawn to the diving aspects and quickly descended into the deeper aspects. Daniel Kraus takes the classic father and son tension story and weaves it strategically into a survival tale (or should I say "fluke"). While there is a lot more pre-sale book focus on the scientific plausibility of being swallowed by a whale and the physical aspects of it, the story is so well-written that I didn't care about validity or not. Frankly, I was more snared in the scientific dynamic of the two main characters and the push and pull of parenting, for personal reasons. Hence, some life changes of my own as a result of a phrase that hit me like a two-ton heavy thing, "Sons need to hold their father's accountable."

My bottom line is this: the whale and sea aspects were marvelous. For men, who have struggled with dynamics of parenting or being a son, there will be some deep soul searching opportunities. This is not to say there will not be an appreciation for women of the book as it is so rich in storyline, writing style, and many other nuances that everyone walks out a winner.

Thanks to the writer who really put his all into making this a very special book.

What an amazing book! I went through a rollercoaster of emotions while reading it. The combination of learning diving facts and exploring the ocean, while dealing with claustrophobia, was truly fascinating. I found myself torn about who I was rooting for, and it hasn’t been since Wilson in Castaway have I cried over the loss of companionship from an inanimate object.

So this book was not on my radar at all, but I really enjoyed it! The concept of being swallowed by a whale was fascinating and right up my alley!

This book follows 18 year old Jay and his journey of grieving his father’s death. Jay’s father, Mitt, was a diver and lover of the sea. When Mitt takes his own life after receiving a terminal health diagnosis, it leaves Jay with questions and regrets for the things left unresolved with his father.

On a quest to find his father’s remains, Jay goes on a dive based on the location his father took his last dive. The dive is going well until Jay finds himself inside the mouth of a sperm whale. He journeys into the whale’s stomach and also goes through a reflective journey of his relationship with his father.

Things I loved about this book:
🐋 Chapters in present day were marked with his current PSI levels and past chapters were marked with the year they took place.
🐋 Pacing was good and I felt an urgency to keep reading to see what was gonna happen next.
🐋 Story was engaging, reflective, and relatable—especially if you’ve ever had any family drama. Those emotions are unique to work through, and the things Jay was feeling about his father made for a complex plot.

Thank you to Atria books for the invitation to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

After years of being out of practice, young Jay Gardiner decides to go on a dive excursion at the last place his father was seen when he went overboard into the freezing waters of the Pacific Ocean, and to try to locate his estranged fathers remains. In the midst of his dive Jay encounters a giant squid being pursued by its arch nemesis, a sperm whale. The squid is subsequently caught by the whale and takes Jay down with it. Yes, he gets swallowed by a whale! He has one hour of oxygen to figure out how to escape!

I have to say the first third of the book dragged for me. There was a lot of dive gear lingo that went over my head and I didn’t truly get pulled into the story until Jay was swallowed by the whale. The depiction of him being stuck in the whale was described with such clarity and accuracy that I felt claustrophobic reading the book. It was so well written. I don’t want to spoil anything descriptions of the anatomy etc were FASCINATING! The book ending went a different direction than what I was expecting. And I have to say it was a little bit odd but overall, this book was really good.

My profuse thanks to Netgalley and MTV/ATRIA books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
RIP Beaky

Whalefall is about Jay, a 17 year old son of the popular and well-known scuba legend Mitt Gardiner. After the unforgivable guilt he’s felt following his dad’s suicide off Monastery Beach in Monterey Bay, Jay has tasked himself with locating his father’s remains. Finding himself swallowed by a sperm whale with one hour left of air, he must face his demons and figure out how to escape.

Whalefall is very scientific but it feels relatable for laymen. I really enjoyed the scientific jargon and felt it was clear enough for people who don’t have marine or aquatic knowledge, but it added an air of authenticity. The science-talk felt a bit similar to Project Hail Mary: a few formulas and more discussion of how it worked: for anyone who thought it was too confusing, it’s also very easy to skip so I wouldn’t let this scare you away.

I specifically liked the growth Jay had and the way he received closure after his fathers death. He and his dad had a very tumultuous relationship with a lot of misunderstandings. I really liked that finding an escape wasn’t the sole outcome. While on the face, this is a horror/thriller, it’s really a book about grief and acceptance.

I absolutely was feeling the stress as the book continued and loved how real it felt - I couldn’t figure out how it was going to end and continued to try guessing how it would go.

This is an intense but oddly heartwarming book and I highly recommend it.

ARC was provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book nearly defies description, but I’m going to try. While diving to find his father’s remains, 17-year-old Jay is sucked into the belly of a sperm whale. The story is told in alternating timelines, showing Jay’s horrific current reality and his past fraught relationship with his father.

The science is well-researched, as are the imaginative descriptions of what it might be like in the belly of a whale. It reminded me of Andy Weir’s writing in that the science is strong but washes over you without taking you out of the story. You’re left blinking in the sunlight, feeling smarter yet dazed by the story.

It was well-paced, incredibly original, and realistically gruesome, and the ending left me with tears in my eyes. Speaking of the ending, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to discover what would happen to Jay. There’s a touch of either magical reality or oxygen-deprived hallucination (it’s left open to the reader), but mostly it’s a deep dive (pardon the pun) into father-child relationships and the expectations that can tear them apart.

Don’t get me started about the stunning cover art. Will Staehle’s exceptional talent caught my attention, and the story lived up to its terrifying and awestruck beauty. (Check out his IG for more of his famous covers and some of the backstory and inspiration that went into them! @unusualco )

Big thanks to NetGalley and MTV Books for a pre-publication copy of WHALEFALL, available 8 Aug 23. (This Tuesday!!)

WHALEFALL is a combination of stories rolled into one.

It's the story of Jay and his locally, well-known, seafaring father, Mitt. It's the story of Jay growing up being constantly drilled on ocean facts by his dad, nearly to the exclusion of everything else. It's the story of a diver breaking the rules and going out on his own. It's the story of a boy becoming a man. And finally, it's the story of Jay being swallowed by a whale.

All of this is imparted at a breakneck pace, infused with the the tension of a dwindling air tank. For me, this was a wonder of modern fiction.

With short chapters, (each headed by how much PSI of air is left), alternating what is happening right now, and what Jay went through with his dad growing up, the reader is compelled to keep reading. Here's the thing though, Kraus writes in such a way that the reader doesn't even notice that 100 pages have gone by before Jay even gets inside the whale. Sounds like there was plenty of time for the reader to be bored, right? But I never was, not once.

Kraus' writing is a marvel. He was able to weave in real science and then brought it to life. Squid beaks have never been so interesting! Kraus' writing has always been able to capture my imagination, but that is especially so with this book. Considering that this is a book about one guy and his dead father and that there are no other human characters in it, other than in flashbacks, I mean, to me that is mind blowing. I can't think of another book that is even remotely like this one. (Other than the bible story of Jonah, that is. And compared to this one? Jonah falls short. Sorry, God.)

Since I was first introduced to Kraus' writing in his collaboration with George Romero, (at the request of Romero's estate), [book:The Living Dead|52379448], I have read several other works of his and have never failed to come away impressed. At this point, I am convinced that anything he writes will be good or even great, and Mr. Kraus' work will be on auto-buy from here on out.

WHALEFALL is a remarkable book. I immersed myself in it and never felt the need to come up for air. As such, it gets my highest recommendation!

*Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and MTV books for the eARC in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*

We suffer our own storms...a theme that runs deep throughout this incredibly terrifying quest Jay undertakes in the attempt to recover his father, a renowned seaman and diver who succumbed to a terminal illness by intentionally disappearing into the ocean. Jay had a complicated relationship with his Dad Mitt. Everybody loved Mitt, the stereotypical tattooed environmentalist hippie with unconventional diving methods, but Jay felt like he could never live up to Mitt's expectations. When Mitt got sick, Jay was not ready to accept the fate that would befall Mitt. Saddled with immense guilt, Jay decides to help his grieving mother and sisters by rescuing the remains of his father, as he knew the sea spots Mitt frequented on his dives. Jay finds himself in an impossible situation sitting inside of a sperm whale...with limited oxygen and supplies to boot. As the clock ticks, Jay's memories of Mitt become vital to his survival- and don't forget, only 1 hour of oxygen left! This book awed me completely. Told through the present and the past, you will be on the edge of your seat the whole time! The deep sea is a dark, foreboding place-to not yield to panic is truly next level! One line that I loved in this book- How far ahead do angels of the deep track the collision courses of terrestrial bodies? If you're religious, there's plenty to be said of land and universe, but what of the sea? You are alone, but not alone with the mysteries of the sea. This is a pick for me for best of 2023, and can't wait to read more from Daniel Kraus. Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC!

This is not a book I'd have picked up on my own, even if I liked the blurb (and I did)....and that would have been a real shame on my part because this such a compelling read. I am glad that I clicked yes when I got the email from Netgalley.

This is about more than just trying to survive being swallowed whole by a sperm whale. Which doesn't happen immediately btw. There is a build up to that and to me that build up is worth it. We have grief, trauma, guilt, abuse, depression and the will to live. Told in Jay's POV, there are alternating chapters of the present and the past. The present is Jay gearing up to jump in the ocean to retrieve his father's bones from where committed suicide the year before. The past is triggered memories from thoughts he's having in the now. By the time Jay is swallowed by the whale my heart was bleeding for him and I wanted nothing more than to hug him and tell him we has nothing to feel guilty for....and that this was a fool's errand.

I want to add that while I love documentaries about the ocean and marine life, I know nothing about deep sea diving other than knowing I'll never do it. With that being said, at no point did the author lose me with that. I knew exactly what was going on and what Jay was talking about as he was suiting up. Also I am quite afraid of open water (yes even though I was the documentaries from the safety of my own home LOL) which just heightened the horror for me when we are actually in the water.

This was a thrilling and will written book. I can see where people who love an action novel. I prefer to read novels that involve more than just an action plot. This was still an enjoyable read for me.

I am terrified, but fascinated by the ocean and Whalefall is the perfect example of why!

Jay is a young man that has just recently lost his father. They didn’t have the best relationship, and it got even worse towards the end. He decides to go on a dive to the bottom of the ocean to find his dad’s bones as a way to heal.

While diving, Jay is distracted by a giant squid. Unfortunately, that means that he doesn’t see the sperm whale that comes to eat the squid. Jay ends up being swallowed by the sperm whale.

The main chunk of the book alternates between chapters of Jay reflecting on the past and of him trying to escape the belly of the whale.

This is a wonderful book. It made me feel so many different emotions while reading it. I was so stressed out, but I couldn’t stop reading. This is a book that is going to stick with me for a long time.

Thank you net galley for the opportunity to review!

This is a book with a totally unique concept that I've been excited to read ever since I was approved for it on NetGalley. It's one of the few books I'll say I really liked but will absolutely never read again. I even hesitate to call it horror apart from its setting, which is absolutely nasty and stomach churning (no pun intended). This book is existential, reflective, emotional and sad, and very hard-hitting. It examines a heartbreaking father-son relationship amidst a devastating survival story, and it does so very well.

I loved the metaphors and the role Jay's father plays in being a medium for conversation. Seriously, most of this book is so good. The only downside I have is due to the slight feeling of plot convenience with some of the things going on within the whale's stomach, but it wasn't anything book-ruining for me.

Overall, I read that I would certainly recommend, if you can come to terms with the nauseating setting.

content warnings: gore, body horror, animal death, death of parent, alcoholism, pandemic, terminal illness

I don't know about you, but being stuck in a whale sounds like quite literally one of the worst possible things that could befall a person. I mean. Not only are you in mortal peril, but you are in something's stomach. Suffice it to say, things are not going well for Jay. Add to it, the whole reason he is out for this dive is to try to recover his father's body. So this wasn't exactly a fun adventure gone wrong, it was a horrible adventure gone even more wrong.

Jay is dealing with a lot of guilt and mixed feelings after his father's death by suicide after a pretty rough cancer diagnosis. Jay left home and did not return before his father's death, and he holds guilt, but also resentment at his father's treatment of him. And frankly, rightfully so, as his dad was incredibly hard on Jay, and mostly didn't care who Jay wanted to be, just who the dad wanted Jay to be.

And as you can guess from, well, everything about the cover and synopsis and title of this book, Jay ends up in the literal belly of a whale. The book is basically half survival, and half Jay coming to terms with his fraught relationship with his father that he never was able to mend. And I think also, his relationship with his mom and sisters, which he probably will want to work on a bit if/when he gets out of that whale.

I won't give anything away, other than to tell you that Jay's story is absolutely as harrowing as you'd expect. I liked how the author included the quieter, introspective moments about Jay's past to balance it out, because if it had been all whale guts all the time, things would have been rough. The way the author alternated, it was never overwhelming in either direction. I will say, I would have loved an epilogue. This book felt like it needed one, and that is probably my biggest qualm. But it was certainly a unique experience, and if you learn nothing else, you will maybe grab a few whale-swallowing survival tips, so it's a win-win.

Bottom Line: As if dealing with difficult parents isn't hard enough, try doing so inside a whole damn mammal.

Seventeen-year-old Jay Gardiner and his father, Mitt, had a complicated relationship. Try as he might, Jay could never seem to please Mitt, a grizzled diver whose temper and restless nature made it nearly impossible for him to hold down a steady job. Now, a year after Mitt's death by suicide, Jay is setting out on a dive from Monastery Beach to try to recover his father's bones from the Pacific Ocean -- one last attempt at assuaging some of the guilt he feels over their relationship.

But not long into his dive, things go terribly wrong: Jay gets between a sperm whale and its prey, and finds himself sucked into the first of the massive creature's four stomachs. With only one hour of oxygen remaining, Jay must face impossible odds -- and reckon with his most destructive demons -- in order to save his own life.

Whalefall is that rare, special book that manages to be both cinematically propulsive and emotionally rich, and it is without a doubt one of my favorite reads of the year so far. The description leans heavily on the hook of a boy being swallowed by a whale (and I mean, why wouldn't it? What a concept!), but this book is deeply, strikingly human as it delves into Jay's emotional torment and fraught history with his father. The book moves between the present -- in chapters headed by the PSI number representing Jay's remaining oxygen -- and the past, as we learn more about Jay's painful relationship with Mitt. There is an urgent immediacy to both timelines: We are right there with Jay in the sperm whale's belly, just as we are with him in his past pain. And in order to survive, he has to face down the trauma of both the present and the past.

Daniel Kraus combines accurate scientific information with vivid, striking descriptions of undersea life and poignant revelations about grief, healing, and our most important relationships, and it all kept me completely riveted. It really is remarkable how he was able to accomplish such emotionally resonant observations while also telling a suspenseful, action-packed survival story -- but he did, and the results left me in awe. I will be buying a copy of this for my teenage sons to read as soon as it's released on August 8 -- and so I can read it again for years to come, too. Thank you to Atria/MTV Books and NetGalley for the early reading opportunity.

Whalefall by Daniel Kraus is a gripping and suspenseful thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The story follows Jay Gardiner, a diver who is swallowed by a sperm whale while searching for the remains of his deceased father. Jay is trapped in the whale's stomach with only one hour of oxygen left, and he must use all of his skills and ingenuity to escape.

Kraus does an excellent job of creating a sense of claustrophobia and dread as Jay struggles to survive in the whale's belly. The descriptions of the whale's interior are both realistic and horrifying, and the reader can't help but feel Jay's panic as he realizes that he is running out of time.

In addition to being a thrilling survival story, Whalefall is also a moving exploration of the relationship between fathers and sons. Jay's relationship with his father was complex and often troubled, but his time in the whale's belly gives him the opportunity to reflect on their relationship and come to terms with his father's death.

Whalefall is a well-written and suspenseful novel that will keep you hooked from beginning to end. It is a must-read for fans of thrillers, survival stories, and father-son relationships.

Overall, I highly recommend Whalefall to anyone looking for a thrilling and thought-provoking read.

I was drawn to this book based on the description that it was about a scuba diver that was swallowed by a whale and he has only one hour to escape before his oxygen runs out. While I agree with this description I feel like it did not quite describe the book. The first half of the book focuses on the main characters grief over the loss of his father to illness/suicide and the unresolved issues that he has from it. Approximately halfway through the book he is swallowed by the whale and the focus shifts to escaping while still processing and coming to terms with the loss of his father. It was an emotional read and the second half was packed with fast paced action.

I’ll be honest that I genuinely didn’t jump into this thinking I would love it as much as I did. I was expecting a fast-paced, anxiety inducing thriller in the likes of Falling and Drowning. This book is not that. This book is, yes a survival story, but most importantly a story about grief and reconciliation. In understanding where the people in our lives come from, and if we can’t understand them, accepting them as they come. It’s a story of human nature entwined in a lesson of the cyclical nature of life. I will give a heads up that if someone stays away from body gore and/or are squeamish I’m not sure if this one is for you. Overall, incredibly heart-wrenching and suspenseful!

I picked up Whalefall thinking it was about a young man being swallowed by a whale, but it turned out to be so much more than that. This is a story about fathers and sons, unmet expectations, grief...and, of course, whales.

I flew through this book in just 2 days. The short chapters and almost real-time narrative made it impossible to put down, and the amount of detail truly made me feel like I was in the whale with Jay, both physically and emotionally. If you are sensitive to gore, keep that in mind before picking this one up! The author also made excellent use of flashbacks to help us get to know Jay and his late father, Mitt. Their relationship felt authentic and added real motivation for Jay's actions. Overall, this was an excellent book and one I would definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria, and MTV Books for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!

"WhaleFall" is an absolute masterpiece that left me in awe! This touching and powerful book delves into the complex relationship between a father and son, Jay and Mitt, that is both heart-wrenching and beautifully portrayed. The story takes us on a journey of loss, redemption, and the profound connection between humans and the ocean.

Jay's memories of his father, who struggled with alcoholism and held a tumultuous relationship with his son, are vividly depicted. Despite their differences, the love they both shared for the ocean remained their only common ground. When tragedy strikes, and Mitt tragically passes away, Jay embarks on a quest to find his father's remains in the vastness of the ocean.

The harrowing and heart-pounding moments in the underwater canyon are brilliantly depicted, making the reader feel as if they are right there alongside Jay. The author's attention to detail and scientific accuracy bring the story to life, creating mesmerizing visuals and a deep sense of immersion in Jay's perilous journey.

Jay's struggle for survival within the belly of a sperm whale is both beautiful and barbaric, and the portrayal of his emotions and introspection throughout this ordeal is profoundly moving. The book skillfully weaves together past and present, exploring Jay's complex feelings towards his father, his grief, and his search for meaning in the face of loss.

The depth of the characters is exceptional, and the way the story explores themes of family, love, and acceptance resonates deeply with readers. Jay's growth and reconciliation with his past are brilliantly written, making him a truly compelling and relatable protagonist.

"WhaleFall" tugs at the heartstrings and brings tears to the eyes with its poignant storytelling. The author's ability to elicit such strong emotions is a testament to their exceptional writing prowess. The novel beautifully captures the essence of a father-son relationship, flawed yet undeniably profound.

As a reader, I found myself completely immersed in the world of Jay and Mitt, feeling every emotion and rooting for Jay's survival and self-discovery. The story's beauty lies not only in its suspenseful plot but also in the heartfelt exploration of grief, love, and the bond between humans and the vast ocean.

In conclusion, "WhaleFall" is an outstanding literary gem that I cannot recommend enough. This book is an emotional rollercoaster, filled with captivating storytelling, breathtaking visuals, and thought-provoking themes. With its perfect blend of heart and suspense, it easily earns a well-deserved 5-star rating.

What would you do if you were accidentally swallowed by a whale? Jay's about to find out.

This book had such a weird premise but ended up being an incredibly great book. This was a totally different type of thriller than I'm used to. - there's no killer on the loose or a dangerous situation to run away from. It wasn't quite an adventure thriller either. Yes, Jay's fighting against nature to survive but it was him against a whale, not him against the elements. To add to this, the author worked in a lot of coming of age and reflective elements about Jay's relationship and history with his father.

At times, the endless minutiae about scuba diving felt overwhelming and tedious, but a lot of it actually became relevant later and I could see why that information was provided. I learned so much about whales and scuba diving. This was an incredible ride. I couldn't stop reading and I can honestly say this was a completely unique book.

Highly recommend this one!

A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.