The Descent: The Official Movie Novelization by Christian Francis ~ a Review

by MK French

After a tragic accident, six friends reunite for a caving expedition. A collapse traps them deep underground, and they find themselves pursued by bloodthirsty creatures. As their friendships deteriorate, they find themselves in a desperate struggle to survive the creatures and each other.

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October 2025; Titan Books; 978-1835414798
ebook, print (224 pages); horror

If you've seen the movie, you know exactly what you're in for. The cover is the movie poster, and it's got the thriller and horror elements down. The movie was written and directed by Neil Marshall, the director of Dog Soldiers and Hellboy, as well as episodes of Game of Thrones, Westworld and Hannibal.

Starting in 1939, the prologue sets up the dangers of the cavern for a group of miners. Coming to the present day, we have the dizzying height of white water rafting to the horrible car crash that killed Sarah’s husband and daughter. This sets the tone for the book, as does the horror stories of caving trips gone wrong before they go in. 

While the group has some tension, there are good moments before the cave in almost halfway through the book, and then it's all downhill from there: the tension of being in a cave system they don't know anything about, the shifting shadows, the growing interpersonal tensions, and the creatures. This is a combination of disaster story and horror story, with survival on the line. The second half of the book outlines this, and we race towards the end and the fate that awaits the six women. Sometimes the price of survival is higher than expected. 

Buy The Descent: The Official Movie Novelization at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever. 

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