Challenge Corner discussion

An epic survival-thriller about four teens who get lost in the Paris catacombs for days—a gripping and propulsive story of love, danger, betrayal, and hope… even when all seems lost.

Ruby is terrified to cave to her feelings for Sean and risk him crushing her heart.

Sean is pumped to spend a week with Ruby in Paris on their senior class trip, and he’ll wait however long until she’s ready to take things further.

But when Ruby’s best friend sneaks out the first night to meet a mysterious French boy, Ruby goes after her with two classmates, but caves to another temptation: attending mystery boy’s exclusive party in the Paris catacombs, the intricate web of tunnels beneath the city, home to six million long-dead Parisians. Only they never reach the party.

Underground, as something sinister chases them, they get lost in the endless maze of bones, uncovering dark secrets about the catacombs… and each other. And if they can’t find a way out, they’ll die in the dark beneath the City of Light.

Aboveground, Sean races to find the girl he loves as a media frenzy over the four missing teens begins.

From award-winning author and rising YA star Diana Urban comes a twisty tale of four teens lost in the dark beneath the City of Light and the race to find them.

I started this today.

=> chp 9

Quite the interesting start.
Also interesting how she is presenting the information and I like that she is indeed trying to give the background and history of the catacombs in case someone doesn't know enough before reading this.

The girls are so different yet so similar at the same time.

(view spoiler)[I keep waiting to see how Ruby will turn out alone.
I also can't fathom where Selina went.
And it seems that Olivia is interested in Sean?

Sean on the other hand is adorable. (hide spoiler)]

Really enjoying this so far.

=> chp 24

I am hooked. The suspense if fueling me and I can't stop reading.

(view spoiler)[I wasn't expecting one of the girls to actually die.... I am so sad for Olivia.
I really don't like Val at this point.

And Sean is teetering on very close clues.... I hope he manages to help! (hide spoiler)]

So I kinda binged this.
It was so addicting.

(view spoiler)[
I honestly ran to search if Les gardiens des morts are a real thing or real cult since there's an "inspired by true events" in the beginning of the book.
I went to Paris twice, and couldn't visit the Catacombs in both times, once for renovation another because of heat.
Now I equally want to go visit it but also not go there at all.
(hide spoiler)]


(view spoiler)[It is so sad how the girls died. But honestly, I like "real" books. Like someone was bound to get badly hurt.
I love how each character got their spotlight and we were able to get their story, have their voice. They were so different and so true and real.
Val kept seeming fishy, but I love how in the end Ruby rationalised it that it's attachment issues from both of them.
I am at least glad she got Selena back. And also there's a shot for her and Sean. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[I kept wondering how things will go bad, but the twists and the link to Julien and his parents was artsy and masterful. It took me by surprise and I like when books give me that several times. (hide spoiler)]

Starting this now. I am going into this blind lol.

(view spoiler)[ why are high school girls going into the catacombs with an adult man!!! (hide spoiler)]

because Val..... 😂😭

Grace wrote: "because Val..... 😂😭"

I am not a fan of hers. lol. It's crazy how fast this reads. I am already on page 70.

Ahh some how I got to page 182. This book is addictive. I like it so far. (view spoiler)[Obviously I feel like some of the characters (cough cough Val) are very unlikeable, the book overall is good. I even like Julien so far even though he is a random dude who brought 4 girls underground. (hide spoiler)]

Page 196 (view spoiler)[ nevermind about Julien. I hate him. He had a map the whole time. What's he playing at?? (hide spoiler)]

Felicia wrote: "Grace wrote: "because Val..... 😂😭"

I am not a fan of hers. lol. It's crazy how fast this reads. I am already on page 70."

I know! I binged it in one sitting yesterday

I finished. (view spoiler)[ I don't know how I feel. I don't think I was that sad about Val. The whole story felt karmic and so what happened to Val was karmic. (hide spoiler)]

Btw (view spoiler)[ I wouldn't have known how to redeem Val too... she was too far gone (hide spoiler)]

Grace wrote: "Btw [spoilers removed]"

Quite sad how manipulative she was. Obviously her home life affected her more than she let on.

Grace wrote: "=> chp 24

I am hooked. The suspense if fueling me and I can't stop reading.
..."

(view spoiler)[Right?! I did not expect someone to actually die. I'm kind of questioning if she's actually dead. I know she probably is but I just can't figure out how this will end.

Julien is hiding something. He was super weird when they asked about his friends and I question if he actually had friends there or if he was maybe just trying to fit in. Also, when they were about to swim he told them that if he didn't come back then tell them, I assume the skelaton-faced people, that they just got lost and they would be fine. Or did he mean the police?

I'm not sure what to think about him.

This book is certainly addictive and I'm so curious to see where it goes!!

Sean is getting so close to clues! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 30
(view spoiler)[It's kind of wild to me that this school trip is just carrying on. I understand it's paid for but 4 kids are missing?! It's wild.

They're about to go into the catacombs and I'm so excited to see what they find!

This book has been a wild ride so far! (hide spoiler)]

Brittni wrote: "Chapter 30
[hidden spoilers]..."

It is wild indeed 😂 I guess as you said, already paid for and Mdm La Capitaine can be scary.

Also been wondering what you meant by (view spoiler)[they're going into the Catacombs (hide spoiler)] until I checked and realised who you mean.

End

(view spoiler)[Holy. I went into this completely blind and did not see any of this coming. I really didn't think anyone would actually die but here we are haha. That was wild.

I agree with you two, Val was too far gone. She had fucked up and was being so annoying about it anyways.

I had a feeling Julien had something sneaky going on based on a few comments he made and things that happened. It seemed they were definitely looking for him. The twist involving his parents was interesting though and super sad that he found out that they had been killed.

I found the ending a little abrupt but also it kind of made sense. All of that for her to be drugged and wake up in the hospital, not really know how it all ended.

I'm glad Selena was the one that made it out and they were able to sort some things out. Also love that her and Sean have a chance. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[ I'm also glad Selena made it out and they figured things out.

yes it was quite the jump to how they saved her, but it made some sense.
I'm curious if Julien made it alive... (hide spoiler)]

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RESTARTING SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2025


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RESTARTING AUGUST 21ST, 2025


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Through Ch. 12 / pg. 101 / 29%

I can't read most of the above spoilers because they don't have chapter numbers so I don't know what they cover. I can agree with the idea that this one reads quickly which I love.

(view spoiler)[This one hooked me right from the start. Ruby juggling her travel vlogging, her feelings for Sean, and the awkward tension with Selena pulled me in.

When Val follows her mysterious French boy into the catacombs it takes quite the turn! Of course, we now know he is Julien. I really liked how quickly the mood shifted. The tunnels at first felt like a secret adventure and teens giving in to peer pressure, but the bones, the silence, the twists in the passages made it downright chilling. You can feel the panic start to creep in!

Sean's perspective aboveground adds a nice layer of urgency, reminding me that the danger isn't just "down there" and time is ticking.

The Paris catacombs are such a backdrop, and I like how they appear to double as a metaphor for the characters' secrets and fractured trust. Definitely a strong, suspenseful start for me. (hide spoiler)]

oohhh I love your analysis and how you likened the catacombs to the characters.

it honestly kept me on my toes

That's cool, thanks. I wasn't able to read more yesterday so I'm getting back to it now. :)

Through Ch. 23 / pg. 176 / 51%

(view spoiler)[Boy, the tension really ramped up here! Ruby and the girls are still trapped in the catacombs, and the weight of being lost is really starting to press on them. They have fewer options and every step they take just seems to make the situation more desperate.

The writing makes you feel the walls closing in. The darkness, the tight air, the endless tunnels, so the fear really sinks in! Urban makes the reader (ME) feel the fear of being trapped underground. Every turn they take can be dead end. I feel like even the air feels heavy and it's hard to breathe. They have LITTLE light and I can feel the dark catacombs, the bones, the dead body (bodies), ugh. It's such a suffocating, closed-in feeling.

Ruby and Selena keep clashing. Val's boldness is cracking, and Olivia's trying to keep the peace. (Do I have all that right?) lol
Sean's chapters aboveground balance this all out because you can feel his panic and how desperate he is to get help before it's too late.

One of the scariest moments so far is when they realize they'll have to hold their breath and go through the water, with Julien leading them. Trusting Julien in that moment adds another layer of fear. You just don't know if he's leading them to safety or into more danger.

Sean staying behind after his dad ordered him to come home proves just how much Ruby really does mean to him. I hope his dad is more forgiving! (hide spoiler)]

Through Ch. 37 / pg. 262 / 75%

(view spoiler)[Oh. My. God. I did NOT expect anyone to die! The loss of Olivia crushed me. She had been steady and resourceful, and to see her die just because her inhaler slipped away...devastating. It drove home how fragile every single moment in the catacombs is.

The group feels different now. The energy shifts some. Julien is still leading, but even he's been shaken. I could feel the fear clawing at all of them, and me too! The catacombs feel like living, breathing villains!

And the action! The underwater squeezes, the near-misses, the scraping through jagged stone. It had me sitting on the edge of my seat. The atmosphere is just so claustrophobic and relentless.

And then that guy...omg! He showed up like a predator in the darkness, using the cave to his advantage. The catacombs were bad enough, but add a killer in the mix? No, thank you! Watching them fight him off and finally end it was both terrifying and a relief. But it also showed me how far they've been pushed. These kids aren't just surviving the catacombs, they're surviving the worst of humanity in them.

And, bless Sean. He's a winner and one to keep! (hide spoiler)]

Finished last night but dozed off and didn't get a chance to post my final thoughts so here they are.

(view spoiler)[I had wondered all along if Julien was a "good" guy because he just seemed TOO anxious to get them to "the party" and then there wasn't even a party. I don't often like books that have cults in them and I thought in some ways that the cult of bone worshippers was a bit on the silly side. I was sad to see Val killed too even though her personality almost made her deserve it. lol I was happy that Sean and Ruby ended up together and all of the parents seemed to be more accepting now that they know what it's like to almost lose their child. In reality, what a horrible experience that would have been for everyone! (hide spoiler)]

12 chapters

this does read quick
(view spoiler)[
ugh, so many mistakes already
Selena running off was terrible

Julien feels. . .off somehow.

but Val feels really manipulative.
It feels like she's trying to get Olivia and Sean together?
and it seems like she did something to torpedo Ruby's friendship with Selena

and I don't get why they are running from police if they are lost!! I mean, sure, they are doing something bad but they are kids! Lost in the catacombs. getting caught might be their only way to get out!

and I agree, Sean is adorable so far (hide spoiler)]

23 chapters

I agree, the tension is definitely ramping up

(view spoiler)[ and now we know Val has betrayed Ruby a few times
and now Selena is accusing her of shoving her head back down in the water. how much is Val willing to sacrifice to keep their friendship the way it is? it's really frightening.

love that Sean is up there trying to fight for Ruby. I thought he'd bad together with Aliyah (Selena's g-friend) but they don't seem to be working together yet.)

that dead body was terrible, the people chasing them is just wild - what is really going on here? (hide spoiler)]

37 chapters

(view spoiler)[
hmmm. . .that attack was awful, but why were they specifically looking for Julien?
and who deleted Ruby's footage? was it Julien? or Val?

and yeah, the loss of Olivia was really sad- just awful that they were so close. ugh

I'm glad Sean is up above still fighting for them. it really doesn't seem like the police are even looking

and is that. . .3 dead bodies now? 1 found, Olivia, and then the guy that attacked them that Julien killed? (hide spoiler)]

and done

I wasn't sure (view spoiler)[ when I first started this if it would be paranormal ghosts or whatnot chasing after them or real people.

the cult, the deaths, the terrible sacrificial bone chair things - wild but interesting. I'm glad they were found

Val's death was awful - crazy and fast.
I was sad to learn all that she had done to manipulate them
and I had a feeling Julien head lured them there (hide spoiler)]

I just got this one from the library so I will read it in the next week or so.

ooh curious to see what you think!