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A review by gawdz0rz
The Ritual by Adam L.G. Nevill
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
includes a peek into some more recent parts of norwegian history. i won’t say more than that outside spoilers.
kinda feels like the book splits into two different books like halfway through?
author writes a little weird about women’s bodies. “he was smelling her cunt through a nose he knew to be smashed flat.” no he wasn’t. that’s not true.
some other thoughts:
the tie-in of black metal and the 90s church burnings in norway to the characters’ backgrounds was great. and luke pointing out the conflicting beliefs (different tattoos, getting sacrificed to what was believed a pagan god on an inverted cross, etc.) showed the timeline of some people in that same scene moving between satanism and paganism (or what is now called “odinism”), sincerity not required. and then there’s showing the bigoted beliefs of some in the black metal scene—burzum, for example, being one of the bands fenris listed, was founded by varg vikernes, a nazi. and that wasn’t the only nazi band listed.
finally, i’m not sure i like how the beast in the woods was kinda just brushed off as some random demon or “mother” or whatever, rather than something way more important to the story.
kinda feels like the book splits into two different books like halfway through?
author writes a little weird about women’s bodies. “he was smelling her cunt through a nose he knew to be smashed flat.” no he wasn’t. that’s not true.
some other thoughts:
the tie-in of black metal and the 90s church burnings in norway to the characters’ backgrounds was great. and luke pointing out the conflicting beliefs (different tattoos, getting sacrificed to what was believed a pagan god on an inverted cross, etc.) showed the timeline of some people in that same scene moving between satanism and paganism (or what is now called “odinism”), sincerity not required. and then there’s showing the bigoted beliefs of some in the black metal scene—burzum, for example, being one of the bands fenris listed, was founded by varg vikernes, a nazi. and that wasn’t the only nazi band listed.
finally, i’m not sure i like how the beast in the woods was kinda just brushed off as some random demon or “mother” or whatever, rather than something way more important to the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fatphobia, Misogyny, Torture, Grief, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Animal death, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, and Vomit