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A review by kendrabetweenthelines
The Ritual by Adam L.G. Nevill
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Many reviews of this book mention that it seems like two separate novels, and I agree. The first half, during which the friends get lost in the woods, is ominous and atmospheric. For the first 150 pages, I was really excited to see how the gloomy and bleak atmosphere would develop into the ritualistic horror described in the synopsis. The second half gets into the ritualistic aspect, with a strong side of black metal and satanic panic. The second half of The Ritual was disappointing for me, mostly because the author seemed to throw away the tension and atmosphere developed in the first half. The spookiness of the faceless evil became chaotic and weird instead of scary.
My biggest problem with the book is how the author treated the women. There is a very clear contrast between how Nevill describes the male characters and how he describes the female characters. The story is told by a male character who seems unhappy with his own romantic life, but the descriptions of women went beyond character development. I was completely turned off by the rampant sexism and body shaming, particularly in the second half of this boo
My biggest problem with the book is how the author treated the women. There is a very clear contrast between how Nevill describes the male characters and how he describes the female characters. The story is told by a male character who seems unhappy with his own romantic life, but the descriptions of women went beyond character development. I was completely turned off by the rampant sexism and body shaming, particularly in the second half of this boo
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Sexism