–Michael Arnzen, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Grave Markings and Proverbs for Monsters
Lovecraftian prose is often complicated, purple and -- especially during moments of utter chaos -- nearly impossible to read in any normal sense of the word. And the characters that have peppered the Cthulhu Mythos over the past 100 years have mostly been two-dimensional male intellectuals enthralled by the chaos that breaks their brains and very little else.
But not in Cottrell’s world, which has lifted Lovecraft's setting and made the darkness almost fun to explore as she introduces modern readers to her own conception of Miskatonic University. Cottrell artfully uses the devices of New Adult horror, dark academia and character-driven adventure to open up the HPL library to a contemporary audience, while keeping the inexplicable wonders of cosmic horror at the center of the story, threatening to undo mankind. I never thought in my lifetime I'd read a Lovecraftian story that was such a delightfully fast-paced and fun read as Cottrell's Darkness Below. Its witty banter and quaffable prose was a welcome discovery, and the student/teacher dynamic she plays with was fabulous. Like the best occult thrillers, the book persistently orbits around an ever-darkening cloud of chaos, as these fantastic characters helplessly are pulled into the story's secret and hellacious vortex, but it is a descent you’ll want to join Logan and Carter on. Especially when things get icky and weird in the best sense of that loaded word. Can’t wait to see what Cottrell has next in store for us as she explores the darkness again in the sequels!
–Ross E. Lockhart, editor of The Book of Cthulhu and Cthulhu Fhtagn!
In Darkness Below, Barbara Cottrell takes Lovecraft back to school and drags the Cthulhu Mythos into the 21st century by presenting Miskatonic University not as a venerable, ivy-covered university, but as a struggling modern school, dealing with fraternity crawls, violence, and its place within haunted Arkham, and populating it with likeable, intelligent characters with agency and interior lives. Fans of Kij Johnson’s The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe and Victor LaValle’s The Ballad of Black Tom will enjoy this eldritch adventure.
Blending elements from cosmic horror, dark fantasy, and magic-school mysteries while putting a smart contemporary spin on Lovecraftian terrors, Cottrell’s fiction debut centers on Ellen Logan, a student possessing psychic abilities who moonlights as a fortune teller at the local occult bookstore to pay her way through Miskatonic University, a place of higher learning devoted to the occult and other supernatural phenomenon. Ellen’s life is turned upside down when her friend, Stephanie, is found dead, presumably from falling from the top of the campus’ clock tower. When it comes to light that Stephanie was researching a horrible accident in a long-forgotten mine, Ellen must work with her broodingly attractive, psychic-hating professor to unearth buried truths—all as she strives to hone her psychic powers and find a way to handle the harrowing cries of the doomed miners themselves.
The plot focuses on the supernatural, with ghosts, possession, Lovecraft’s “Dreamlands,” and long-dead miners in an intriguing mix. Still, Cottrell does wonders giving Ellen a natural, up-to-date voice, freshening up the familiar mythos. Unlike doom-and-gloom heroes of many works in the Lovecraftian vein, Ellen is quick to disbelief and ready to stand up for herself, even going so far to call her art history professor (one of several characters who seem to be related to Lovercraft’s a own) a “prick” to his face. Confident in her actions yet uncertain of her past, she ventures into the unknown with a gusto rare for those facing cosmic horror.
With a faculty advisor to Miskatonic’s psychic student organization, and her doting Uncle Joshua (who harbors mysteries of his own), Darkness Below shows that “light can be dark. Unclean.” But it also demonstrates, as Ellen and Professor Carter hunt down lost tomes, face unspeakable dangers, and investigate weird rituals, that darkness need not be overwhelming. Ellen’s an arresting guide, and readers who relish this milieu will be eager for the promised followup.
Takeaway: A college student faces Lovecraftian horrors and mysteries in this winning series starter.
Great for fans of: Leigh Bardugo’s The Ninth House, Ruthanna Emrys’s Winter Tide.
– IndieReader
4.8 Stars
“At Miskatonic University, students and academic study the occult. Ellen Logan discovers a mysterious book and teams up with Professor Carter to tame its power.
H. P. Lovecraft’s influence has been out of all proportion to the attention he received in the 20 or so years before his death in 1937. His weird fiction seldom left the pages of the pulp magazines of the period, but the universe he created – since referred to as the Cthulhu Mythos – was as rich and as varied as any created by his emulators. Following his death, author after author sought to expand on it, and Barbara Cottrell’s DARKNESS BELOW belongs to this tradition, even if the author approaches the mythos in a sidelong fashion. For the novel concentrates on Lovecraft’s proxy for an Ivy League college, Miskatonic University, and the adventures of one student in particular, Ellen Logan.
Miskatonic’s grounds have the moneyed, old-world feel of the Harvard Yard, and a sinisterness appropriate to the institution’s position as the home of occult studies. It is the sort of place where students look to rob graves in pursuit of good grades, the sort of place surrounded by stores that sell textbooks and spells, and where premeds worry they are suffering from lycanthropy. Studying there involves risk, not from flunking due to the courseload, but from mortal supernatural dangers; “Go in peace, and may God be with you on the dangerous path you tread” is the university’s motto. Cottrell combines Lovecraftian characters, such as professor Andrew Carter (a descendant, it is speculated, of Lovecraft’s Randolph Carter), with a great deal of well-judged characterization of Ellen. So many of Lovecraft’s characters are drawn somewhat sketchily, their ancillary nature obvious to the eye; they are often present primarily to drive the plot rather than as points of interest in themselves. Cottrell, on the other hand, is adamant that DARKNESS BELOW should be character-driven. It is a good decision that pays off in the form of a rounded and believable protagonist whose backstory, murky and unknowable as it is, creates depth and interest.
Ellen is psychic, an orphan – Cottrell is aware of the parallels with Dickens, or Harry Potter for that matter, and lampshades them effectively – and strikes up a partnership with Professor Carter as a series of otherworldly goings-on, such as an earthquake caused by psychic forces and the destruction of a fraternity house by a fiery creature, take place on campus. Carter is Miskatonic’s star professor, by turns conceited, irascible, and impatient. But when Ellen gains access to a secret book exuding incredible power, she, Carter, and a linguistics professor, Connie Blake, seek to protect themselves from the forces within – and from the malevolent attentions of Professor Pierce.
Though the plot is familiar, it is never contrived, and Cottrell’s excellent grasp of pacing means that the novel never drags. The naturalistic dialog is complemented by subtle intimations of prejudice experienced by psychics – an offhand reference to the suspicion that fell on the younger Ellen that she was a witch; passing references to the burning of witches – that enhance believability, as does Ellen’s stormy relations with her overbearing professor. The allusions to an unnatural, hellish episode taking in place during the Second World War culminate in a horrific mining accident that Cottrell expertly intertwines into Ellen’s unraveling narrative. The result is an effective, exciting story that is as surprising as it is enthralling.
IR Verdict: DARKNESS BELOW by Barbara Cottrell is a compelling and unnerving exploration of Lovecraftian horror set in the grounds of Miskatonic University.”
– Kirkus Reviews
Cottrell pays homage to the work of H. P. Lovecraft in this first paranormal New Adult novel in a planned series.
Miskatonic University has known its share of darkness. Set on a hill above the spooky New England town of Arkham, the school’s buildings once housed an asylum for the mentally ill with a torturous reputation. Now it trains its students—many of whom have extrasensory gifts—in the investigation of the paranormal. College junior Ellen Logan came to Miskatonic to hone her psychic abilities. In her spare time, she works at the local New Age bookshop, helping customers with their supernatural problems. When Ellen’s friend Stephanie Lansdale dies in a fall from the university’s clock tower—seemingly by suicide—Ellen finds she now has some supernatural problems of her own. Stephanie’s boyfriend, Joey Richards, disappears soon afterward, leaving Ellen a strange leatherbound book and a million questions. It seems Stephanie and Joey were researching a tragedy that happened in a local mine back in the 1940s. Now, with the help of Miskatonic’s legendary professor of the weird, Andrew Carter, Ellen takes up the investigation, which leads her to discover an evil beyond her comprehension. Cottrell marries some of the baroque style of Lovecraft’s fiction with a contemporary New Adult tone; here, for instance, Ellen’s professor unbinds her after performing a magic ritual: “Ellen propped herself on her elbows, watching him untie her. A warm flush coursed through her, surging between her legs. Crush. The word, like the sensation, struck like a bolt out of the blue. Oh God, do I have crush on Andrew Carter?” The fictional universe in these pages has a metafictional relationship with Lovecraft’s mythos; Lovecraft’s horror stories and the Batman videogame Arkham Asylum also exist in it, for example, and some purists may grumble at this narrative choice. Fans of spooky tales of academia, though, are sure to enjoy this creepy offering and look forward to sequels.
A goosebump-inducing dark fantasy set at a supernatural institute of higher learning.
–James Sabata, Author of Caduceus & host of TheNecronomi.com podcast
“Darkness Below mixes elements of fantasy, horror, and mystery. The combination is unsettling and captivating, pushing you on a ride to discover what’s truly lurking beneath the surface. Barbara Cottrell’s debut gives us a nostalgic feel with a modern twist. She plays in Lovecraft’s sandbox, but the terror that rises is all hers. Highly recommended. The rest of the series cannot arrive soon enough.”
– Reviewed by Melanie Kennedy for Readers' Favorite
“Darkness Below by Barbara Cottrell is one of the best paranormal horror stories I’ve read in a while. Ellen Logan is a psychic. And where’s the best place for a psychic to gain higher learning but Miskatonic University? With its history of being built on the remnants of an insane asylum, it only makes sense that the university is dedicated to investigating the supernatural. A desperate plea from one of her fellow students forces Ellen into the most dangerous investigation of her life. Someone is trying to summon a monstrous entity to harness its power and will stop at nothing to get their way. With the help of her mysterious professor, uncle, and fellow psychics, Ellen must step up to the plate to save not only herself but potentially the whole world from the evil lurking below.
I absolutely loved Darkness Below. No words could do it justice, but I’ll try my best. It is so incredibly well-written and captivating. Barbara Cottrell has created a magnificent world steeped in art, emotions, and the supernatural. I loved her references to real art pieces and artists as I found myself Googling them and marveling at how beautiful their horror and absurdity could be – much like the Shadows of Miskatonic universe. I was so happy to read that Barbara will be continuing the series, as I need to read more about Ellen and her will-they-won’t-they relationship with a certain gentleman. I would highly recommend Darkness Below to anyone that wants to read a well-written, enticing story with fleshed-out characters and loads of suspense.”
– Reviewed by Cecelia Hopkins for Readers' Favorite
“Darkness Below by Barbara Cottrell introduces Ellen Logan, who is experiencing distressing visions of being trapped underground. She is sure there is a connection with the death of her friend Stephanie. Moreover, there is something wrong with the members of the Delta Delta Tau fraternity. When she enrolls in a course administered by Andrew Carter at Miskatonic University, she discovers he is an old friend of her adopted uncle, Joshua Logan. Ellen and Andrew must join forces to investigate. What is the connection with the Bentham Mine? Can they free a [SPOILERS] before its mother arrives and creates chaos?
Darkness Below by Barbara Cottrell was a superbly crafted novel that referenced the mythos of the popular Call of Cthulu game. The writing style was polished and the dream inserts were intriguing. I liked the original character of Ellen and identified with her struggle with identity and recognition. Professor Andrew Carter was cleverly slotted in as the supposed grandson of horror master H.P. Lovecraft’s Randolph Carter. His character combined the perfect amount of egotism, cynicism, and sympathy to create dramatic tension. The character of Connie Blake reflected another name from the golden age of weird fiction. This character seemed benign as he offered explanations, but became disquieting and creepy when he hijacked Ellen’s mind. The Nazi connection was a great match for a story whose inspiration harked from the 1930s. I liked the ironic twist that made Ellen the fulfillment of a prophecy. Darkness Below by Barbara Cottrell combined action and character to create a tale that should appeal to fans of tentacled literature.”
– Reviewed by Sarah Stuart for Readers' Favorite
Darkness Below is even more intriguing than horror stories by well-known authors such as Stephen King, Anne Rice, and Ramsey Campbell. Blond and beautiful, Ellen is a student at the fabled Miskatonic University, Massachusetts. A lonely girl, isolated and virtually friendless, she encounters the charismatic lecturer Dr. Carter, a prodigy from her Uncle Joshua’s past. Friend or enemy? As a psychic, Ellen is aware of the danger that is stalking her. Now and then “he” breaks in with a short piece. Deep, down, and dark. “He” is angry with his mother for leaving him with her magic artifact and the force within it. How does “he” impact Ellen? Did he survive an explosion in 1945 and is he still alive? This paranormal tale by Barbara Cottrell will draw you in and perhaps not let you go.
Darkness Below is a compelling story from the first page. I found my curiosity instantly aroused and it never diminished. There is a riveting reality to Ellen and her life, which in retrospect is impossible. References to normality contrast with doubt about the existence of a university dedicated to the study of the supernatural in its most gruesome forms. Ellen undertakes assignments, like arguing why Hades chose Persephone as his bride – a familiar Greek myth. Descriptions of even minor characters are brilliant: “The librarians, severe, sallow-faced men dressed like funeral directors, exhibited an unhealthy attachment to their books.” Five stars are insufficient to show my admiration of this work by Barbara Cottrell.