Sign in with Facebook
Sr3yas's Reviews > The Ritual
The Ritual
by
I read this novel over a year back, and I recently watched the movie adaptation of the story which brought me back to the sinister uncharted woods of Scandinavian forests, where the unspeakable thing lurks in the shadows, cunningly stalking its prey.
The novel tells the story of four long-time friends getting together for a hike in the woods, but the trip is not going smoothly as they planned. These guys are no longer young men, and they are grumpy about the whole trip. They decide to take a shortcut through the woods to gain time and that, my friend, is what I call the rookie mistake.
Goodbye, Walk in the Woods. Hello, Blair Witch Project!
The story is divided into two parts, and the plot and the style of story warrant such division. The first part plays with the terror: the anticipation and the dread of being stalked, and second part let the reader catch their breath, maybe for a bit too long. That's why I thought the first half was creepy and excellent, and the second half is a bit of a let down after the spectacular beginning. Nevertheless, Nevil's writing throughout the book is scary good, especially the abandoned cottage scene.
At the end of the day, characters going into an unexplored area and coming face to face with indescribable horror is a classic tried and tested horror trope, but Nevil's execution brings the story to a whole new level, even though the horror factor flat lines in second half.
Still, Recommended.
by
Dizzy with exhaustion, weary like the dying, you hang between the bindings of vine and the scaffolding of sticks. And wait...Wait for it.
I read this novel over a year back, and I recently watched the movie adaptation of the story which brought me back to the sinister uncharted woods of Scandinavian forests, where the unspeakable thing lurks in the shadows, cunningly stalking its prey.
The novel tells the story of four long-time friends getting together for a hike in the woods, but the trip is not going smoothly as they planned. These guys are no longer young men, and they are grumpy about the whole trip. They decide to take a shortcut through the woods to gain time and that, my friend, is what I call the rookie mistake.
Goodbye, Walk in the Woods. Hello, Blair Witch Project!
The story is divided into two parts, and the plot and the style of story warrant such division. The first part plays with the terror: the anticipation and the dread of being stalked, and second part let the reader catch their breath, maybe for a bit too long. That's why I thought the first half was creepy and excellent, and the second half is a bit of a let down after the spectacular beginning. Nevertheless, Nevil's writing throughout the book is scary good, especially the abandoned cottage scene.
At the end of the day, characters going into an unexplored area and coming face to face with indescribable horror is a classic tried and tested horror trope, but Nevil's execution brings the story to a whole new level, even though the horror factor flat lines in second half.
Still, Recommended.
Sign into Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ to see if any of your friends have read
The Ritual.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
September 28, 2016
– Shelved
September 29, 2016
–
Started Reading
September 30, 2016
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-28 of 28 (28 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
RKanimalkingdom
(new)
Apr 02, 2018 06:19AM
See, this is why I don't go on hikes. I don't go anywhere creepy at night. If I'm bored, hello books!
reply
|
flag
Oh yes ! After all 'Going for a hike trip in woods with friends' comes 2nd after road accidents in list of factors most likely to get you killed !
Great review! Did you end up watching the Netflix movie of this Sreyas? My husband and I did and we liked it until the end. The abandoned cabin part was excellent!!(view spoiler)
Fab review, Sreyas! 😉 Those pics! 😱😱😱 Headless rake? I bet that such a story would have made your trip woods more exciting? 😉
R wrote: "See, this is why I don't go on hikes. I don't go anywhere creepy at night. If I'm bored, hello books!"Ahaha, the books you read tell a different story :p But TBH, I don't think I can go to a nighttime hike in the forest either unless there is a licensed experienced guide with me. I'm not that "let's explore the unexplored" guy :p
Rusty wrote: "Oh yes ! After all 'Going for a hike trip in woods with friends' comes 2nd after road accidents in list of factors most likely to get you killed !"According to urban legends and parents of India, Bhangarh of Rajasthan is number 1 in the list of supernatural deaths :p
Ginger wrote: "Great review! Did you end up watching the Netflix movie of this Sreyas? My husband and I did and we liked it until the end. The abandoned cabin part was excellent!![spoilers removed]"
Lol, Thanks, Ginger! Yup, I watched the movie and it was ok. The cabin part is the creepiest in both book and movie! As for the rest, there is a lot of difference in scenes, but the core of the story remains the same.
(view spoiler)
Sr3yas wrote: "Rusty wrote: "Oh yes ! After all 'Going for a hike trip in woods with friends' comes 2nd after road accidents in list of factors most likely to get you killed !"According to urban legends and par..."
If only Ed and Lorraine Warren lived in India :D
Orient wrote: "Fab review, Sreyas! 😉 Those pics! 😱😱😱 Headless rake? I bet that such a story would have made your trip woods more exciting? 😉"Thanks a lot, Orient! Headless rake is a pagan god, you need to worship it or stuff will happen :o Lol, my camping was in a controlled environment with fences and stuff, and the only non-human entities stalked us were a bunch of fearsome monkeys, looking for food. BTW, you should totally read it the next time you go on a camping trip!
Rusty wrote: "Sr3yas wrote: "Rusty wrote: "Oh yes ! After all 'Going for a hike trip in woods with friends' comes 2nd after road accidents in list of factors most likely to get you killed !"According to urban ..."
Shhhh, Ram Gopal Varma might hear you and create a shitty movie. :p
Sr3yas wrote: "Ginger wrote: "Great review! Did you end up watching the Netflix movie of this Sreyas? My husband and I did and we liked it until the end. The abandoned cabin part was excellent!
Thnx so much bro ! I finally did it . Really , GR is the best social site in the world . Meeting kind people like you is rarity . Thnx again :p
You read it!! Yay! I wish you loved it like I did but the movie helped me too 💕
Rusty wrote: "Thnx so much bro ! I finally did it . Really , GR is the best social site in the world . Meeting kind people like you is rarity . Thnx again :p"Pfft, it's nothing. Someone helped me when I first joined GR, I'm just passing the torch.
Melissa � Dog Lover � wrote: "You read it!! Yay! I wish you loved it like I did but the movie helped me too 💕"Haha, Thanks, Mel. I actually read the novel long before the movie and the Netflix adaptation made me revisit the novel :p BTW, I hope you're feeling fine. Cheers!!!
I'm just here waiting. ....
I hope with all my heart that everything works out fine, Mel.
TU I have my biopsy surgeries Thursday. Then on from there. I will keep everyone informed. I start the chemo sometime after all tests ect. I dread it all. And I hope it's not terminal. He's going to check to see if it's moved into my colon, bladder or lymph nodes too. Yay for my damn bday month 😕😡
Fingers crossed, Mel. Let's see how it all goes. 
