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exorcismemily's review against another edition
3.0
"There was simply no preparation in life for the determined madness of others."
The Ritual has a very intriguing premise, and a few decent creepy scenes, but it fell short for me overall. It was way too long for the story being told, and there was a lot of time where I was just hoping something would happen. Evil-in-the-woods stories are ones that will usually freak me out, and this had promise, but I wanted more.
It's almost like there are two different books within this book - the second half goes spinning off into a completely different direction than the first. I didn't necessarily mind it, but it just felt strange based on what the book had appeared to be about. It also gets exhausting to read a large section of a book that may or may not be a character dreaming / going crazy.
I also wasn't crazy about the ending, and everything ended up being kind of over-the-top in order to wrap everything up.
I don't know that I would read this book again, but I would definitely try more from this author.
The Ritual has a very intriguing premise, and a few decent creepy scenes, but it fell short for me overall. It was way too long for the story being told, and there was a lot of time where I was just hoping something would happen. Evil-in-the-woods stories are ones that will usually freak me out, and this had promise, but I wanted more.
It's almost like there are two different books within this book - the second half goes spinning off into a completely different direction than the first. I didn't necessarily mind it, but it just felt strange based on what the book had appeared to be about. It also gets exhausting to read a large section of a book that may or may not be a character dreaming / going crazy.
I also wasn't crazy about the ending, and everything ended up being kind of over-the-top in order to wrap everything up.
I don't know that I would read this book again, but I would definitely try more from this author.
victoriadonohoe's review against another edition
2.0
I love the film adaptation of this, but I just couldn’t finish the book. It was tense, and I loved the setting and the creature, but three quarters of the way in and it still felt like it never really got going. I couldn’t see the point in pushing myself to get to the end.
This book could have been amazing at half the length. The protagonist wasn’t likeable enough for me to care about his endless inner monologues, and I wasn’t interested enough in his friends to care when they were killed. A great idea unfortunately spoiled by tiresome writing.
This book could have been amazing at half the length. The protagonist wasn’t likeable enough for me to care about his endless inner monologues, and I wasn’t interested enough in his friends to care when they were killed. A great idea unfortunately spoiled by tiresome writing.
bexlrose's review against another edition
3.0
Really hard one to rate because it's almost 2 different books. The first part is awesome, really good horror. Blair Witch type hiking trip gone wrong for some English male friends, picked off one by one, dark shit. Good fun.
The turning point is page 243, where it changes completely. No spoilers, so can't go into it more than that, but it is no longer interesting, scary or thrilling in the last half. Gets good again about 10 pages before the end.
I read the first half of the book really quickly, then put it down for over 5 years!!!! Have only just picked it up again and forced myself to read the remaining 200 pages.
Worth reading for the first part and then putting down. The first part is a good length of book in itself anyway. I don't really know what tor give it. The second half would be a 2, the first half a 4. I guess that makes it a 3 overall.
The turning point is page 243, where it changes completely. No spoilers, so can't go into it more than that, but it is no longer interesting, scary or thrilling in the last half. Gets good again about 10 pages before the end.
I read the first half of the book really quickly, then put it down for over 5 years!!!! Have only just picked it up again and forced myself to read the remaining 200 pages.
Worth reading for the first part and then putting down. The first part is a good length of book in itself anyway. I don't really know what tor give it. The second half would be a 2, the first half a 4. I guess that makes it a 3 overall.
stiorra's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
brysonw314's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
lilliankeys's review against another edition
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
2.0
Super disappointed
maziarzl_5736's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
1.0
joelipsett's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
2.75
cameronpetrovich's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
2.75
It says a lot about an author’s faith in their audience to interpret their writing(s) when you spend multiple chapters in a row with minimal to no dialogue or story in favor of describing rooms and scenery. It’s definitely not the worst, but doing all that just to have an ambiguous ending feels disjointed.
I’d also like to add I’m not sure if the misogyny and fat phobia are characteristics of the characters or the author, but you can’t write that without projecting.
I’d also like to add I’m not sure if the misogyny and fat phobia are characteristics of the characters or the author, but you can’t write that without projecting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Fatphobia