The Ritual

De: Adam Nevill

Narrado por: Matthew Lloyd Davies

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 artifacts 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....

©2011 Adam Nevill (P)2018 Tantor

Quite a trek! Very raw and very good!

First off I’ll say, as someone who enjoys horror and doesn’t mind gore, I really liked both the story and the performance.

It’s a pretty dark book, four European guys “take a holiday” and things don’t go as expected. It’s got some very descriptive violence, lots of fluids and viscera, probably not a good listen for the kiddy’s..or the squeamish. Another thing that might be a turnoff for some listeners the narrator has a British accent. I will say though, he is very easy to understand (speaking as an American who sometimes has a hard time understanding people with heavy British accents). He is also very easy to listen to, he does a good job of making characters voices unique. Probably one of my favorite narrators after listening to this.

I did feel like the book was a bit long. The guys go on a hike for their holiday, four childhood friends who have drifted apart trying to reconnect and step out of the day to day grind for a little adventure. Pretty quickly the bickering starts and a division opens between the group…..there’s the fairly successful family guys, out of shape and entitled…..on the other side there’s the single guys, use to hiking and drinking beer.
The first half of the book is this interplay and that felt a bit long at times. Then the craziness begins and what was a holiday turns into more of a struggle for survival.

The book is engaging from the beginning and very scary at times. There’s also a little bit of history and a lot of folklore. There’s also a monster and little people. There’s even a rock n roll band and a sweet old grandmother.

If you are alright with gory violence, goats and face paint I really think your going to like this book!

What you think is going to happen…..is wrong…. It’s worse.

A beautiful, painful whirlwind of emotions

I fell in love with the movie, and when I found out it was a book I immediately started listening. The narrator KILLS this performance, putting the characters’ feelings into his voice in an immersive way. He nails the anger, the grief, the despair, the fatigue, the hope, the determination- it’s wonderful. When his voice broke with real feelings I fell in love with him as a narrator.
The story itself was wonderful as well. It is a different story from the movie, but I don’t begrudge either for that. I wish I could have a visual adaptation of this book that told the same story, but not to replace the movie we already have.
If you are or ever feel like any kind of outsider you might strongly relate to the protagonist. I certainly did. Every time tragedy befell him, it felt worse than the last, and several times I found myself crying. The way the book is written is just gripping. Feelings and places and happenings are described so perfectly I can see and feel them. The story is a long slog, but it’s SUPPOSED to be. The protagonist goes through one pain after another, until he’s begging for the end, but it doesn’t stop there. The hurts keep coming, forcing him to keep moving. When the book finally ends, it’s a massive relief. I loved every second of it.

Good Listen but could've been better

This book had the potential to be so much more than what it was. The 2nd half of the book kind of lets us down as it lacks the same suspenseful air of the front half, and the names of the antagonists hint at so much more than what was given. A bit of a let down there. Not sure how much research Nevill did into the Wilde Hunt but his knowledge didn't lend to the mythological storytelling.

The protagonist is not very bright and not very likable. It's one thing to being inside the head of bitter person falling further and further into insanity, but the repetitive nature of his thoughts, the circling of perspectives, and the long stream of an unclear consciousness failed to draw me in. He didn't seem so much psychotic as simply uncomprehending of his circumstance and unable to respond with anything other than anger and violence.

The author also switches from 3rd person to 2nd person... It's rather jarring, and I still don't quite know if it was a successful transition method or not.

As far as narration goes, it was alright. It was a touch strange how he pronounced a few things. Sadly his Swedish accent came through as being rather difficult to comprehend and a lot of conversation was lost due to that.

Intense

Not 5 stars only because the ending was very unsatisfying. I wanted to know more

Amazing!!!

book was awesome it was kinda long but worth the listen. I saw the movie even though they are completely different from each other they are both equally well done and amazing

Excellent performance

You really get a feel for the different voices of the story.

Although the story was very good, it was a bit different than the movie, which was my expectation. This was more of an issue on my part than the author.

Excellent Narrator

I found the story very good mostly, but wish the ending went a little further. It left me with an unfinished feeling.

Would have been scarier if it wasn't so repetitive

There were times while listening, especially during the second half, where i thought the incessant talking and inner monologuing was never going to end. Maybe it would have been tolerable if it had been anything different but it was the same conversations, realizations, and inner thought monologues for what felt like hours upon hours. There was more than one instance where I literally yelled out loud "oh my God, I don't think I can take much more of this"!

It felt like the first half of the book really ramped up the fear, the isolation, the unknown, and you are so geared up for it and then it takes a hard right turn. Which is fine, but it is so long after that before anything happens. By then the fear and anticipation built up in the first half are gone and I was just over it.

The narrator was fine. The horror takes a huge nosedive though. If you love horror like me, do yourself a favor, skip the book and watch the movie on Netflix. This book builds up the horror and then slowly drains it away until you realize nothing is going to happen until the very end, and by then you don't care what happens. You just want it to be over.

spooky

I enjoyed the story a lot. The audio performance was great! Brought the story to life.

Creepy and exciting.

Good performance. Great suspense. Just when you expect the end, it ramps back up! I'd compare it to something between The Evil Dead and Texas Chainsaw Massacre.