The Ritual, by Adam L.G. Nevill
The Book
Synopsis:
When four old University friends set off into the Scandinavian wilderness of the Arctic Circle, they aim to briefly escape the problems of their lives and reconnect with one another. But when Luke, the only man still single and living a precarious existence, finds he has little left in common with his well-heeled friends, tensions rise. With limited experience between them, a shortcut meant to ease their hike turns into a nightmare scenario that could cost them their lives. Lost, hungry, and surrounded by forest untouched for millennia, Luke figures things couldn't possibly get any worse. But then they stumble across an old habitation. Ancient artefacts decorate the walls and there are bones scattered upon the dry floors. The residue of old rites and pagan sacrifice for something that still exists in the forest. Something responsible for the bestial presence that follows their every step. As the four friends stagger in the direction of salvation, they learn that death doesn't come easy among these ancient trees . . .
My Review
The Ritual is a folk horror novel, written by Adam L.G. Nevill, published by St. Martin Press. A piece that makes the most of the fear of the unknown that is associated with wilderness, mixed together with old myths and black metal, to deliver a creepy and enjoyable novel, putting our characters through the worst time of their lives.
Four old-time friends reunite for a hiking trip in the Scandinavian wilderness; they are no longer young and they have little left in common. Frustrated and tired, they decide to take a shortcut across the forest; but this shortcut becomes the worst of their nightmares, as they find a place of dark ritual and a bestial presence that still haunts the zone. And that's not the only danger hunting them.
A novel that is divided into two really different parts, something that I feel plays against the own plot. The first part is absolutely brilliant, not only playing with the fear associated with the wilderness and the unknown, but we see how the group slowly breaks up due to the pressure and their differences; the supernatural threat is just a small element that introduces more tension, boiling the water where the frog is swimming. Many of the folkloric elements add to the atmosphere, creating an oppressive setting, especially as we dive into what's happening in the heads of our characters.
In contraposition, the second part, while still being really good, doesn't reach the brilliance of the first half; in part, I feel it is because it removes the subtlety of the threat, diving instead into the imagery and the madness of certain characters. It is true that plays with the trope of the survivor having to deal with even more, but it ended being too long.
Overall, The Ritual is a great folk horror novel, a piece that any lover of the genre must read, because Nevill has an ability to flawlessly create an oppressive atmosphere that slowly descents upon the characters, while fleshing the human element that resides at the core of the of the story. A classic!
The Author/s
Adam L.G. Nevill
ADAM L. G. NEVILL was born in Birmingham, England, in 1969 and grew up in England and New Zealand. He is an author of horror fiction. Of his novels, The Ritual, Last Days, No One Gets Out Alive and The Reddening were all winners of The August Derleth Award for Best Horror Novel. He has also published three collections of short stories, with Some Will Not Sleep winning the British Fantasy Award for Best Collection, 2017.
Imaginarium adapted The Ritual and No One Gets Out Alive into feature films and more of his work is currently in development for the screen.