This was a good story and had an ending I didn't expect at all. I've enjoyed all of Tyler Jones work that I've read and look forward to more. Thanks to DarkLit Press,Tyler Jones, and Netgalley for the chance to read this free for writing a review.

Tyler Jones' 'Heavy Oceans' combines the finest elements of sea horror and cosmic horror with the story of two brothers who've gone through domestic abuse. It starts like your standard type of psychological thriller, with the younger brother visiting his sibling in Hawai, and then both getting involved in a murder. The attempt to deal with the repercussions brings them to the middle of the ocean, where they come face to face with the unexpected. By that point, Jones has managed to fill out the brothers' story as children by dropping hints left and right about some very creepy situations they experienced in the past. The book develops into a fast-paced, original, tightly plotted sea adventure, full of terror, tension, and suspense, told in style and uncanny visuals - the latter quite unique and stunning (e.g., for significant parts of the story, the ocean looms above as if it were the sky!) The characters (the siblings plus a friend and his father) are portrayed realistically and somberly, the dialogue is sharp and natural, and the ending brings much-needed closure, without foregoing the atmosphere of dread of the book's latter parts. An excellent horror story highly recommended for all types of horror fans!

Thank you to DarkLit Press and NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC!

Forget using the tin foil for an ice pack! We need to stick that on our head like in Signs and pray whatever the hell is attacking us is scared of it.

Wow, wow, wow. This book is so eerie. I don’t really read much horror so I didn’t know what to expect. I love stories about the ocean, though. There really isn’t anything scarier in my mind. Add weird worm things and massive black holes and it’s a recipe for nightmares.

The writing was incredibly immersive and as someone who basically sees a movie in their head while reading, I was having fully body reactions to some of the imagery. Especially the puppet moment. Nope no thanks I’m good! Why did I read this at night??

The relationship between Eric and Jamie was a highlight. I’m always down for a complicated brotherly bond. Are you willing to hide a body for your brother? Fight interdimensional worms with a shovel?? Sibling goals right there.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Really enjoyed this one. Quick, scary and intense! It starts fast and doesn’t let up until the final page.

This book is dark. There is little or no light that shines through the cracks of this compact and often brutal horror tale. If books like this are your cup of tea, where everyone seems doomed from the get go you can’t do much better.

3.5 stars.

Heavy Oceans is the type of book that drags you into it with a riptide of tension and terror. This book is cosmic and creepy and well-written, with Tyler Jones' signature eloquent style. Don't let the size of this book fool you. It packs a punch that leaves you reeling; once things get rolling, this book is relentless. The claustrophobic feel and pacing kept me flipping pages nervously.

The story puts two brothers and a father and son into a sticky situation that ultimately leads them on a trip out into the ocean to wrap up loose ends. Things really get going once they get out in the deep and unexplainable things start to happen.

If you are a fan of deep sea horror, cosmic unexplainable things, tense situations, and unique sea creatures; Heavy Oceans will float your boat.

Thank you to the DarkLit Press and NetGalley for providing an eArc. All opinions are my own.

I rated this book 4.5 stars (rounded down to 4).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher (DarkLit Press) for allowing access to an ARC of this book.

Heavy Oceans by Tyler Jones follows two estranged brothers, Jamie and Eric, who have both had a tumultuous life growing up and continued to have their own struggles. After having somewhat of a life crisis, Jamie travels to Hawaii to try to reconnect with Eric, who works on a fishing boat. Soon after reconnecting, a brutal attack occurs with a life-changing outcome, and the brothers end up on a fishing boat with the captain and his son in the middle of the ocean. From there, what they encounter changes all of their lives and potentially the lives of people all over the world.

After reading the synopsis and seeing the cover, I thought this book held a lot of promise...and honestly it exceeded my expectations! Sometimes I think novellas can be hit or miss - they are usually too short to really do any sort of solid world-building or character development, unless they are spin-offs of longer novels. The author did a fantastic job of giving a brief backstory to the characters, building the world, and creating the creepy, claustrophobic feeling throughout without it feeling rushed. There was even character development, and I actually had strong emotional reactions towards the main characters. The amount of gore was also great - it was enough to be shocking but not excessive or too disturbing and added a lot to the story. Finally, what really sold me on this one was the ending. I feel like good books can be ruined by a bad ending, and this one was perfect for the tone of the entire story. I can't stop thinking about it! All around, I felt like this was a very well-rounded novella.

If you enjoy movies like Jaws, Life, Alien, Underwater...this book is for you. It gives the same type of fear and dread for not only the characters, but all of mankind.

There was lots of body horror and gore. Some language and violence. There were also some mentions of domestic violence, so just be aware to read the trigger warnings prior to reading this novella, in case any of those things aren't something you would prefer to read about.

Heavy Oceans is cosmic horror book set in the middle of the ocean. But that basic understated description doesn't do it justice.

This is an exceptional book in the cosmic horror genre. The suspense, the dread inducing buildup, and the vastness of an oceanic world where all manner of horrors live all serve to keep you reading.

Two brothers are the main protagonists and we'll explore their traumatic abusive path and how they've each taken a different route trying to process these feelings. This is an underlying narrative that is relatable and filled with heart.

But make no mistake. This book has horrifying creatures both great and small. Creatures that want to rip, tear, and eat you alive. Since our characters are on a boat far from land, these sequences seem even more frightening because of the claustrophobic environment. It'll raise some hackles for sure!

This isn't a long book and it doesn't need to be. The author has done a fantastic job at keeping a good solid pace, building the tension, and delivering the terrors without the need for over descriptive passages. He's hit that sweet spot of world building where we know enough to see it in our minds but his focus is always on the story.

I highly recommend this book. I received an ARC of this book with no consideration. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.

4 ⭑

Like the book I am going to keep this review short, I loved it, it was excellent, the characters really grew into me, especially Eric, this book is a descent into madness in itself and I loved the surreality of it.
This book was good, i liked it a lot, loved seeing the emotions going through Jamie’s brain, the guilt, the resignation. But what i especially loved was reading about the course of his relation with his brother Eric. I think Jones really did a great job at portraying all kind of reaction to murder, cold as stone like Ed, guilt and questioning moral like Jamie, Eric’s own difficult emotions and obviously fear and guilt for Matty. I loved Eric’s character, his depth is unreal, sleep Eric and awake Eric mingling into one and only. I also loved the portrayal of the ocean as a living entity, mysterious and mystical.
The murder that led them venturing through the ocean at night is easily forgotten because of the events, they find themselves lost in the ocean, or is this really the ocean? Where are they? This is getting strange and I am here for it, they descended into pure madness.
How can i review this book without mentioning the amazing prose, you never get tired or bored of it, it is just that good. Mingling the supernatural to real life will always does it for me, it is really really really well done on Jones part.
If you like a crime story with supernatural parts this book is for you.

Dope!

Went into this book super blind. I’ve heard Tyler Jones is slowly making waves in the indie horror community with Midas, so I was pretty stoked when I managed to grab this off NetGalley.

I blew thru this book in a few hours so it definitely captivated me. The prologue starts off vague and ominous and then seems to completely veer off course. But once the book comes together everything is tied together so well.

I’d absolutely recommend this to anyone who loves a cosmic horror vibe. I look forward to reading more Tyler Jones in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

HEAVY OCEANS is a harrowing descent into madness and the supernatural, a tale that ensnares the reader in a relentless grip of terror and doesn't let go. The narrative is a chilling ride through a nightmarish scenario that melds the all-too-human fears of guilt, consequence, and familial obligation with the unfathomable horror of the unknown.

The book introduces us to characters caught in the throes of a crime so heinous it ripples through their very being. As they attempt to dispose of a body, each character's inner turmoil is laid bare, revealing a tangled web of fear, loyalty, and desperation. The ocean, a character in its own right, becomes a metaphor for the dark, crushing weight of their secrets, the vast, unknowable depths mirroring the abyss within their souls.

The author's deft prose conjures up scenes so visceral and suffocating that the reader can almost smell the salt in the air and feel the oppressive weight of impending doom. The narrative's cadence mimics the ebb and flow of tides, pulling one deeper into the story's dark waters. The book's atmosphere is thick with a sense of impending dread, as the ocean's vast, empty horizon mirrors the isolation and hopelessness of the characters.

In an almost Lovecraftian fashion, the story's horror stems from the existential terror of the unknown. A mysterious, seemingly supernatural phenomenon challenges the characters' understanding of reality, thrusting them into a surreal nightmare that blurs the line between life and death, earth and sky, reality and hallucination. The author masterfully uses this otherworldly event not just as a plot device but as a mirror to reflect the characters' internal chaos.

HEAVY OCEANS is not for the faint of heart. It's a book that drags you to the dark depths and leaves you to grapple with your own fears. The novel is a testament to the power of horror fiction to confront the human condition, exposing the thin veneer of civilization that barely conceals the primal, untamed nature of humanity and the universe.

The book is a masterpiece of psychological and supernatural horror that taps into the primal fear of the unknown, the burden of guilt, and the terror of losing oneself to the dark, indifferent chasms—both within and without. It's a disturbing journey, a bleak reflection on the human experience, and a stark reminder of the fine line between the world we know and the abyss that lies just beyond our comprehension.