In the heart of the north, in a frigid land ruled by snow and ice, lives a demon known as the Face Stealer. Apaay has heard the story. She’s witnessed his victims — people devoid of eyes, noses and mouths. No one and nothing is safe, and once he returns to his hidden lair, those stolen faces are never seen again.

When tragedy strikes and her own sister’s face is stolen, Apaay embarks on a perilous journey to find the Face Stealer’s lair and steal back her sister’s face. However, she soon finds herself trapped in a labyrinth ruled by a sinister girl named Yuki. 

The girl offers Apaay a deal. If she can find her sister’s face hidden within the labyrinth — a feat that has never been done before — she will be set free. But the labyrinth and those who inhabit it are not as they seem.

Time is slipping. Apaay is determined to escape with her sister’s face, but in the deadly labyrinth, she with need all her strength, wit and determination to survive.

Below is a dark YA fantasy inspired by Inuit mythology. I knew little else going into this story, but I already loved the idea of exploring a mythology and culture I was unfamiliar with and hadn’t discovered in any other books I’d read. Like with all mythologies, though, the story leans toward being odd and sometimes creepy.

The frigid north is a harsh landscape, cruel and as much a threat to Apaay as any enemy. This battle for survival against the villains and the world was only made more real by the lyrical, descriptive writing.

Apaay is nothing if not a survivor. I admired her courageous attempts to save her sister and her loyalty to her friends. If anything, it was her fight and determination that kept her alive throughout this story.

However, the slow pace of this book might not be for some readers. Even I found myself as lost as the Character amidst the snow and cold and countless scenes featuring walking or imprisonment. And while the writing was good, I also found many descriptions and actions to be unclear and was frequently confused by what was happening.

All in all though, Below is definitely a book I would recommend for readers who want to immerse themselves in something new and unexplored.

Rated: Moderate, for one or two uses of moderate language. Violence is a prominent part of the story. A character kills a polar bear shapeshifter, not realizing it was a mother seeking only to defend her children. Animal-to-human shapeshifting transformations reveal two naked boys. A character nearly freezes to death. A character nearly drowns. A captive character loses hope and attempts to starve herself to death. A village is viciously massacred, though only the aftermath is witnessed. The death of a pet is featured. Sexual content includes some innuendos. An unmarried girl becomes pregnant and is afraid to tell her parents or the father. A character is forced to strip naked and face the elements. Later she is covered in a blanket as she heals, though it is unclear when she is eventually given her clothing back.

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