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Candlenight
From Publishers WeeklyThis heartfelt account of Celtic terror by British author Rickman is more a socio-political commentary on globalization and nationalism than a horror novel. In Wales, where hoards of English immigrants buy up the land and dilute the cultural identity, folks in the town of Y Groes uphold the ancient traditions. There, the air is clearer, the light brighter and the population blessedly free of English inhabitants until the arrival of Claire and Giles Freeman. Giles tries desperately to fit in with the old-fashioned locals, but things become strained when his Welsh wife starts to transform into some sort of Druid priestess. An inordinate number of English deaths in this tiny town prompts Giles's American journalist buddy to investigate. Rickman's expertise with pastoral horror is reminiscent of Algernon Blackwood or Arthur Machen. He evokes a frigid beauty in the peaceful countryside peppered with pagan cemeteries and populated by angry people whose hatred is as hard and unyielding as their oak forests and black books of forbidden lore. So strong are his characterizations, he needs but a whiff of the supernatural to support his idea of the corruption of magic. Although Candlenight is only Rickman's second novel to be published here, it should add to the acclaim he received for Curfew.Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 1991
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About the author
Phil Rickman
58 books805 followersPhil Rickman, also known under the pen names Thom Madley and Will Kingdom, was a British author of supernatural and mystery novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
November 18, 2025
Siiiiiice (sais)...
CANDLENIGHT
by Phil Rickman
4 stars. In the idyllic little Welsh village of Y Groes (The Cross) surrounded by the Nearly Mountains...
Prof. Thomas Ingley, an Englishman staying at the pub and inn there, borrowed a torch from the landlord...
He was in the village to research Sir Robert Meredydd, who was presently lying in a tomb in the old Gothic church. Ingley had a theory to prove...
Stealthily breaking into the church nave...
Ingley located the tomb by moonlight and began taking notes and drawings when he saw what appeared to be a taper flame...
The flame moved as Ingley moved...
Then it went out...
In utter darkness, he grabbed his notes and exited through the dark churchyard. Ingley saw the flame again...
It was a gaseous blue...
Ingley rushed back to the inn where he pried up a floorboard in his room and hid his notes before seeing the corpse candle again...
Satisfied that his theory about Meredydd was proven, Ingley got into bed feeling a little sick. He died later that night of a heart attack...
Meanwhile...
In London, Giles Freeman and his wife Claire have inherited Claire's deceased grandfather's cottage in Y Groes...
The couple plans to live there with Giles commuting five hours to London and back for his job as a journalist...
But...
Y Groes is picturesque, quiet, and Welsh. They do not want rich Englishmen buying up their quaint cottages...
The English weren't meant to be in Y Groes. Giles tries to assimilate into the community by learning their language...
Trouble is...
The Welsh villagers don't want Giles there because he's English, calling him sais (derogatory for English) under their breath...
Claire, on the other hand, is welcomed with open arms because of her Welsh heritage...
And Giles begins suffering increasingly severe headaches...
Siiiiiice...
This is my third reading of this story. It is a slow burner, and get ready to use your Welsh to English translator a lot, but I really liked the folklore aspects.
I would say a quarter of the story is spent with the subplot of a Welsh by-election, so if politics are not your thing, you may not like this story.
THE MAN IN THE MOSS by this author is an excellent story also.
CANDLENIGHT
by Phil Rickman
4 stars. In the idyllic little Welsh village of Y Groes (The Cross) surrounded by the Nearly Mountains...
Prof. Thomas Ingley, an Englishman staying at the pub and inn there, borrowed a torch from the landlord...
He was in the village to research Sir Robert Meredydd, who was presently lying in a tomb in the old Gothic church. Ingley had a theory to prove...
Stealthily breaking into the church nave...
Ingley located the tomb by moonlight and began taking notes and drawings when he saw what appeared to be a taper flame...
The flame moved as Ingley moved...
Then it went out...
In utter darkness, he grabbed his notes and exited through the dark churchyard. Ingley saw the flame again...
It was a gaseous blue...
Ingley rushed back to the inn where he pried up a floorboard in his room and hid his notes before seeing the corpse candle again...
Satisfied that his theory about Meredydd was proven, Ingley got into bed feeling a little sick. He died later that night of a heart attack...
Meanwhile...
In London, Giles Freeman and his wife Claire have inherited Claire's deceased grandfather's cottage in Y Groes...
The couple plans to live there with Giles commuting five hours to London and back for his job as a journalist...
But...
Y Groes is picturesque, quiet, and Welsh. They do not want rich Englishmen buying up their quaint cottages...
The English weren't meant to be in Y Groes. Giles tries to assimilate into the community by learning their language...
Trouble is...
The Welsh villagers don't want Giles there because he's English, calling him sais (derogatory for English) under their breath...
Claire, on the other hand, is welcomed with open arms because of her Welsh heritage...
And Giles begins suffering increasingly severe headaches...
Siiiiiice...
This is my third reading of this story. It is a slow burner, and get ready to use your Welsh to English translator a lot, but I really liked the folklore aspects.
I would say a quarter of the story is spent with the subplot of a Welsh by-election, so if politics are not your thing, you may not like this story.
THE MAN IN THE MOSS by this author is an excellent story also.
October 30, 2020
This author was new to me. I was surprised when i looked through the number of books he had read and the amount of reviews written about them. As I read through them, they seemed to vary widely form people that had a hard time getting into the books, to people that enjoyed it. Personally, this author's style worked for me.
The first thing that I realized was the English/Welsh dialect was thick. There have been times that this has been difficult for me in films and books, but it worked in this circumstance. The build up to the Welsh community and the antagonism between the English and the Welsh had the feel of someone that really knew what he was talking about.
I found myself having to read each word carefully. The author's style is such that a casual phrase or context can make all the difference in determing what is happening a few pages down the road. I found myself having to reread a section or two before I figured this out. After I savored the style a bit, it meshed together with the Welsh fog and the druidic atmosphere to pull me into the plot.
This author is not afraid to kill characters or change perpectives. It is a bit jarring to have a protagonist for a large piece of the story suddenly become irrelevant. It took some getting used to, but once I got it I really got it. I began to enjoy the story.
There is definitely a crescendo at the end, and the slow build helps the plot accelerate as it reaches the climax. I didn't rate this five stars because at times I felt as if characters weren't as developed as I would've liked, which left me with a feeling of disconnect. Once I begin to feel as if a character is fully rounded and realistic I tend to care more when the author puts them in jeopardy. Most of the characters are developed, but some make short appearances early and then begin to drive the plot at a much later date without having been fully established. It's a minor point in an otherwise great book.
4.5 stars
The first thing that I realized was the English/Welsh dialect was thick. There have been times that this has been difficult for me in films and books, but it worked in this circumstance. The build up to the Welsh community and the antagonism between the English and the Welsh had the feel of someone that really knew what he was talking about.
I found myself having to read each word carefully. The author's style is such that a casual phrase or context can make all the difference in determing what is happening a few pages down the road. I found myself having to reread a section or two before I figured this out. After I savored the style a bit, it meshed together with the Welsh fog and the druidic atmosphere to pull me into the plot.
This author is not afraid to kill characters or change perpectives. It is a bit jarring to have a protagonist for a large piece of the story suddenly become irrelevant. It took some getting used to, but once I got it I really got it. I began to enjoy the story.
There is definitely a crescendo at the end, and the slow build helps the plot accelerate as it reaches the climax. I didn't rate this five stars because at times I felt as if characters weren't as developed as I would've liked, which left me with a feeling of disconnect. Once I begin to feel as if a character is fully rounded and realistic I tend to care more when the author puts them in jeopardy. Most of the characters are developed, but some make short appearances early and then begin to drive the plot at a much later date without having been fully established. It's a minor point in an otherwise great book.
4.5 stars
January 20, 2022
All of the books I have read of Rickman are set in Wales and this is no exception; what is novel here is the inclusion of Welsh folklore into a horror/thriller. This is a rather slow burn to be sure, but it gradually picks up speed until the denouement. It starts off with a strange bang-- some old scholar rooting around in an old church in a small, quaint Welsh town until he sees a strange candle-like flame appear in the church... he is later found dead.
The appearance of a candle-light before someone dies is I guess some Welsh folklore, and Rickman weaves several more aspects of said lore into the story as it unfolds. The real story stars off with a young couple (Giles and Claire) moving to an idyllic Welsh village after Claire's grandfather left her a cottage upon his death. Giles, the embodiment of Englishness, immediately falls for the place and the town, but is beset by horrific headaches; Claire, meanwhile, rapidly grows apart from Giles until it seems she really hates him, or his being English...
Also woven into the story are some Welsh politics, as an MP died and there is a spot election for a new MP, contested by a range of parties, including the Welsh nationalist party (Plaid). I did not even know such a thing existed! It turns out there are two types of Welsh nationalists-- those who want more autonomy and respect for their culture, and those who hate the English and their economic marginalization at the hands of yuppies buying up quaint Welsh cottages and pushing up prices.
An interesting read for sure and Rickman laces the narrative with Welsh phrases and such. Nonetheless, this is really a slow, slow burn with a wide range of characters, few of which are more than classic stereotypes. I liked the Welsh folklore the most but the story was rather meh. 2.5 stars, rounding up because who else writes about Welsh folklore these days?
The appearance of a candle-light before someone dies is I guess some Welsh folklore, and Rickman weaves several more aspects of said lore into the story as it unfolds. The real story stars off with a young couple (Giles and Claire) moving to an idyllic Welsh village after Claire's grandfather left her a cottage upon his death. Giles, the embodiment of Englishness, immediately falls for the place and the town, but is beset by horrific headaches; Claire, meanwhile, rapidly grows apart from Giles until it seems she really hates him, or his being English...
Also woven into the story are some Welsh politics, as an MP died and there is a spot election for a new MP, contested by a range of parties, including the Welsh nationalist party (Plaid). I did not even know such a thing existed! It turns out there are two types of Welsh nationalists-- those who want more autonomy and respect for their culture, and those who hate the English and their economic marginalization at the hands of yuppies buying up quaint Welsh cottages and pushing up prices.
An interesting read for sure and Rickman laces the narrative with Welsh phrases and such. Nonetheless, this is really a slow, slow burn with a wide range of characters, few of which are more than classic stereotypes. I liked the Welsh folklore the most but the story was rather meh. 2.5 stars, rounding up because who else writes about Welsh folklore these days?
September 19, 2017
4 stars--I really liked it.
This is a story of a mysterious Welsh town, sleepy and old-fashioned and more special than anyplace else. Strangely enough, English visitors to the village keep dying. Very mysterious...
I really enjoyed this story of ancient magics and Welsh superstitions (no surprise there--I love stories about cults and old rituals). I didn't connect very much with Rickman's writing style (which is a shame, since I plan to read his other books too--I love his subject matter), but was so caught up in the story that it didn't matter much.
This is a story of a mysterious Welsh town, sleepy and old-fashioned and more special than anyplace else. Strangely enough, English visitors to the village keep dying. Very mysterious...
I really enjoyed this story of ancient magics and Welsh superstitions (no surprise there--I love stories about cults and old rituals). I didn't connect very much with Rickman's writing style (which is a shame, since I plan to read his other books too--I love his subject matter), but was so caught up in the story that it didn't matter much.
October 2, 2017
3.5 stars.
Enjoyed this for the underlying supernatural element and Welsh folklore, language and superstition, but I found it waaaaay too long. The writing is quality though, and that kept it going for me. I'm going to persist with Rickman's books because of this, even though so many of them seem to be a millionty pages long.
Enjoyed this for the underlying supernatural element and Welsh folklore, language and superstition, but I found it waaaaay too long. The writing is quality though, and that kept it going for me. I'm going to persist with Rickman's books because of this, even though so many of them seem to be a millionty pages long.
July 2, 2016
Clair and Giles decide to move to Wales when she inherits a house from her grandfather. Giles receives several warning that Wales is not a safe place from English people to move to but he ignores them all.
He has fallen in love with the village of Y Groes and wants to embrace the whole way of life there including learning Welsh. It is soon clear to the reader that life is not going to be easy for the incomers and that there is a lot more going on in the village than Giles is aware of.
In the heat of a by-election in the area things gradually come to a head as the story moves between Bethan, head teacher at the local school and a recent widow, and Berry Morelli – an Italian American journalist who is staying in the area. I found this book compelling reading.
The tension mounts slowly throughout the book until it comes to the shattering finale. The story is steeped in Welsh legends and customs and the claustrophic and frightening atmosphere of the small village is vividly evoked.
If you like mysteries with more than a hint of the supernatural then this should fill the bill. The writing is of excellent quality and the characters really come to life on the page.
He has fallen in love with the village of Y Groes and wants to embrace the whole way of life there including learning Welsh. It is soon clear to the reader that life is not going to be easy for the incomers and that there is a lot more going on in the village than Giles is aware of.
In the heat of a by-election in the area things gradually come to a head as the story moves between Bethan, head teacher at the local school and a recent widow, and Berry Morelli – an Italian American journalist who is staying in the area. I found this book compelling reading.
The tension mounts slowly throughout the book until it comes to the shattering finale. The story is steeped in Welsh legends and customs and the claustrophic and frightening atmosphere of the small village is vividly evoked.
If you like mysteries with more than a hint of the supernatural then this should fill the bill. The writing is of excellent quality and the characters really come to life on the page.
May 21, 2019
Phil Rickman is a particular shade of literary addiction to me. I picked this book up to thumb through, and found myself diving in. There's something about his writing that I find a pleasure to read. It is not a certain poetic quality, or a brilliance of plots, it is simply the rhythm of how he plays things off.
This is his first novel, and it's an excellent one for it, setting up a lot of the patterns that would letter be re-referenced and honed. Like most of his novels, this one is long and has lots of characters and has a mix of folklore and mysticism and modernism and characters who casually smoke and old churches with some aspects of The Other being good and some being bad and it usually coming down to some plucky folks who do not so much conquer the night as endure it. A romance plot or two sneaks in, and works well enough. If you have read any of Phil Rickman's novels and didn't like the games he was playing, you probably won't like this one (though elements are a bit more horror-tinged here, at least slightly, and more likely to actually kill you, so that might fulfill something for folks who do not like the slight mysticism-at-a-distance element that he later uses). Likewise, if you've read one or two of them and liked it alright but do not want to see the same sort of pattern, you probably should skip. Otherwise, you will probably like this. And if you have not read a Rickman novel, I'd say this one is a good one to start.
Whether or not he dives too much into the "Magical (angry) Welshman" trope, I'll leave it to people who know more about the history and the stereotypes than I. Later Rickman is a bit more even handed in such regards. Here, it is mostly thriller-fodder.
This is his first novel, and it's an excellent one for it, setting up a lot of the patterns that would letter be re-referenced and honed. Like most of his novels, this one is long and has lots of characters and has a mix of folklore and mysticism and modernism and characters who casually smoke and old churches with some aspects of The Other being good and some being bad and it usually coming down to some plucky folks who do not so much conquer the night as endure it. A romance plot or two sneaks in, and works well enough. If you have read any of Phil Rickman's novels and didn't like the games he was playing, you probably won't like this one (though elements are a bit more horror-tinged here, at least slightly, and more likely to actually kill you, so that might fulfill something for folks who do not like the slight mysticism-at-a-distance element that he later uses). Likewise, if you've read one or two of them and liked it alright but do not want to see the same sort of pattern, you probably should skip. Otherwise, you will probably like this. And if you have not read a Rickman novel, I'd say this one is a good one to start.
Whether or not he dives too much into the "Magical (angry) Welshman" trope, I'll leave it to people who know more about the history and the stereotypes than I. Later Rickman is a bit more even handed in such regards. Here, it is mostly thriller-fodder.
October 16, 2020
Unfortunately, this one was a major fail for me, friends. Despite all of the positive reviews it felt like a chore to read all the way through. I was looking for something scary to set the mood for October, but I found Candlenight dry and disturbing.
Mixing politics and horror was simply not a combination that worked for me. I was drawn in by the intriguing promise of Druid lore and a spooky Welsh atmosphere. That is a combination I can get behind! But instead I got a book that was steeped in heavy-handed xenophobia (the central theme) and black magic (not the fun kind).
It may have helped if the characters were charming and likeable, but alas, there were only two that I cared for. The author has a very unique writing style both in the way sentences are phrased and the decision to switch frenetically between different pov’s inconsistently. The cliffhanger ending that demanded I read the sequel added insult to injury.
I think ultimately, I was not the right reader for this book. I should have quit early on, when I sensed that this wasn’t a good fit. However, I do think Candlenight will appeal to the more cerebral horror fan who prioritizes plot over character development and enjoys a dark and dreary story with a splash of politics.
Mixing politics and horror was simply not a combination that worked for me. I was drawn in by the intriguing promise of Druid lore and a spooky Welsh atmosphere. That is a combination I can get behind! But instead I got a book that was steeped in heavy-handed xenophobia (the central theme) and black magic (not the fun kind).
It may have helped if the characters were charming and likeable, but alas, there were only two that I cared for. The author has a very unique writing style both in the way sentences are phrased and the decision to switch frenetically between different pov’s inconsistently. The cliffhanger ending that demanded I read the sequel added insult to injury.
I think ultimately, I was not the right reader for this book. I should have quit early on, when I sensed that this wasn’t a good fit. However, I do think Candlenight will appeal to the more cerebral horror fan who prioritizes plot over character development and enjoys a dark and dreary story with a splash of politics.
July 5, 2012
There's always something about novels set in small towns in the countryside, that are inherently spooky. Candlenight was not the normal I have come to expect from most horror novels but it was still pretty interesting. By normal I mean it wasn't a blood fest or full of dead bodies. It reminded me of how superstitions and towns really give power to certain forces. I felt this when I read Rickman's book Curfew. The town warns people to stay away by not telling them to stay away. Instead of everyone talking about how to get rid of the supernatural thing that's hurting people, they pretend that it doesn't exist. I really enjoyed reading this. Rickman is descriptive and has a way for sucking me into the town with his use of imagery and character profiles. I can't wait to read more by him. He's quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.
July 27, 2018
Phil Rickman has long been a favourite author of mine, I love his Merrily Watkins series, this however, is a darker more supernatural book... He takes a rural paradise and underlies it with a sinister and malevolent structure of locals who on the surface seem pleasant enough... He does his usual trick of making you believe that something otherworldly is happening, but with an undercurrent of making you doubt it at the same time... To quote a character from the book...' not possible is it really, see' ...
I like a good many more English people have always been aware of the Welsh race as being hostile to us as a nation, and with the way the English have treated them, you can understand the national loathing, but this takes all of that to another level... Hatred and a misguided sense of keeping the community pure taken to extremes...
A brilliant classic horror that is believable...
I like a good many more English people have always been aware of the Welsh race as being hostile to us as a nation, and with the way the English have treated them, you can understand the national loathing, but this takes all of that to another level... Hatred and a misguided sense of keeping the community pure taken to extremes...
A brilliant classic horror that is believable...
May 6, 2018
Why are there no English people living in the Welsh village of Y Groes? Everywhere else has the English buying houses as holiday homes and pushing the prices up for locals. And why do English people have a habit of dying there?
A spooky, engaging read.
A spooky, engaging read.
November 26, 2020
My husband and I have just bought our first home here in Wales, so the theme of Candlenight really resonated with me on a personal level. Rickman absolutely nailed the Welsh phrasing as well. I could hear the accent in the dialogue, which is incredibly hard to do.
One of the things Candlenight did suffer from was the inherent sexism that male thriller writers from the '90s had, but I ended up overlooking that for the most part as I'm a fan of Rickman's and thankfully know he's grown out of that phase.
Where Rickman really excelled in this book was in distinguishing people who are Welsh nationalists from those who are anti-English. The Welsh Independence movement is really trying to bridge that divide at the moment, so it's quite topical. Rickman obviously loves Wales but understands what it feels like to be Sais.
I knew that Candlenight was set in Wales, but I didn't realise it would be quite so Welsh. I really enjoyed that about it, but I suspect I'm a bit biased in that regard, given that I'm married to a Welshman and have chosen to make my home here. I really enjoyed the folklore elements, and really really loved the focus on Owain Glyndwr who has definitely become, not only a real source of historical pride but a folk hero around these parts.
One of the things that I really appreciated being included was a mention of the flooding of the Welsh Valleys for English Reservoirs. It's something that is still very relevant to Welsh identity, and you'll often see Cofiwch Dryweryn (Remember Tryweryn) painted as white writing on a red background all over Wales. The original graffitied stone wall is in Llanrhystud, and it's become a political slogan for Welsh Nationalism.
As far as the narrative was concerned, the pacing was great, the plot was really well developed, and there was just enough ambiguity in it to make the supernatural vs rationalist explanations murky, which I always like. Where the book failed to impress, however, was in its characterisation. I felt the characters were all a little bit flat and underdeveloped - especially the female characters who seemed to be more warm vaginas for the male protagonists to park themselves when things got hectic, rather than real characters in their own right. It was a very male-driven story.
While the story was exciting and really drove me to keep reading, the end got a little...messy. Nothing was fully fleshed-out in an attempt to preserve an air of mystery. Although I did enjoy the slight undercurrent of time travel that the book seemed to have, while simultaneously wishing it had been explored more.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading Candlenight. It was really well researched, and sympathetic, which is pretty rare for what is, essentially, a popcorn thriller. And thankfully, Rickman has grown out of his 90's representation of women in the intervening years.
One of the things Candlenight did suffer from was the inherent sexism that male thriller writers from the '90s had, but I ended up overlooking that for the most part as I'm a fan of Rickman's and thankfully know he's grown out of that phase.
Where Rickman really excelled in this book was in distinguishing people who are Welsh nationalists from those who are anti-English. The Welsh Independence movement is really trying to bridge that divide at the moment, so it's quite topical. Rickman obviously loves Wales but understands what it feels like to be Sais.
I knew that Candlenight was set in Wales, but I didn't realise it would be quite so Welsh. I really enjoyed that about it, but I suspect I'm a bit biased in that regard, given that I'm married to a Welshman and have chosen to make my home here. I really enjoyed the folklore elements, and really really loved the focus on Owain Glyndwr who has definitely become, not only a real source of historical pride but a folk hero around these parts.
One of the things that I really appreciated being included was a mention of the flooding of the Welsh Valleys for English Reservoirs. It's something that is still very relevant to Welsh identity, and you'll often see Cofiwch Dryweryn (Remember Tryweryn) painted as white writing on a red background all over Wales. The original graffitied stone wall is in Llanrhystud, and it's become a political slogan for Welsh Nationalism.
As far as the narrative was concerned, the pacing was great, the plot was really well developed, and there was just enough ambiguity in it to make the supernatural vs rationalist explanations murky, which I always like. Where the book failed to impress, however, was in its characterisation. I felt the characters were all a little bit flat and underdeveloped - especially the female characters who seemed to be more warm vaginas for the male protagonists to park themselves when things got hectic, rather than real characters in their own right. It was a very male-driven story.
While the story was exciting and really drove me to keep reading, the end got a little...messy. Nothing was fully fleshed-out in an attempt to preserve an air of mystery. Although I did enjoy the slight undercurrent of time travel that the book seemed to have, while simultaneously wishing it had been explored more.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading Candlenight. It was really well researched, and sympathetic, which is pretty rare for what is, essentially, a popcorn thriller. And thankfully, Rickman has grown out of his 90's representation of women in the intervening years.
February 4, 2014
Candlenight is probably the spookiest book Phil Rickman has ever written.
If you come to this one belatedly, after enjoying his Merrily Watkins mysteries, in which there are usually logical explanations for all manner of unearthly happenings, then you are in for a bit of a shock.
Something truly sinister seems to hovering around the idyllic Welsh village of Y Groes. What appears a perfect place to live has a decidedly dark side.
In Y Groes the weather is inexplicably milder, the people more traditionally Welsh, secrets are zealously guarded, and a mythic Welsh hero is even rumoured to be buried there – though nobody knows where.
Despite its Christian chapel, Y Groes has a tradition that goes back to the age of the Celtic Druids. But this isn’t a tradition of benevolent white-garbed bards passing on oral histories. This is the alternative to all that – the kind of tradition that requires sacrifice to maintain power.
As American journalist Berry Morelli and Welsh language teacher Bethan McQueen discover, it’s not their own that these agents of the darkness sacrifice, but their enemies. And that’s anyone from outside – but especially anyone who has the misfortune to be English.
Candlenight is a riveting read in the same style we have come to enjoy in Rickman’s Merrily books. This one pre-dates the first in that series, but his skill at developing characters and creating atmosphere is obvious right back here at the beginning.
Review by Kerry Hennigan
February 4, 2014
If you come to this one belatedly, after enjoying his Merrily Watkins mysteries, in which there are usually logical explanations for all manner of unearthly happenings, then you are in for a bit of a shock.
Something truly sinister seems to hovering around the idyllic Welsh village of Y Groes. What appears a perfect place to live has a decidedly dark side.
In Y Groes the weather is inexplicably milder, the people more traditionally Welsh, secrets are zealously guarded, and a mythic Welsh hero is even rumoured to be buried there – though nobody knows where.
Despite its Christian chapel, Y Groes has a tradition that goes back to the age of the Celtic Druids. But this isn’t a tradition of benevolent white-garbed bards passing on oral histories. This is the alternative to all that – the kind of tradition that requires sacrifice to maintain power.
As American journalist Berry Morelli and Welsh language teacher Bethan McQueen discover, it’s not their own that these agents of the darkness sacrifice, but their enemies. And that’s anyone from outside – but especially anyone who has the misfortune to be English.
Candlenight is a riveting read in the same style we have come to enjoy in Rickman’s Merrily books. This one pre-dates the first in that series, but his skill at developing characters and creating atmosphere is obvious right back here at the beginning.
Review by Kerry Hennigan
February 4, 2014
November 12, 2018
I enjoyed this just as much as CURFEW. Slow-burn, atmospheric horror with a real story behind it, and I especially dug the Welsh history/folklore behind the story. Only reason it took so long to get through is because I had other reading I needed to do for my CD column which got in the way.
I do have to say, though, when I read reviews of a book I thoroughly enjoyed that say "Well written but not scary" (wasn't that hideous "ice sculpture" at the end pretty horrifying?) or "boring nothing happens until the end," I truly do wonder about my place in the horror genre, and if my work will ever gain more traction. I suppose that's why it's so important to write for yourself first, then audience second.
I do have to say, though, when I read reviews of a book I thoroughly enjoyed that say "Well written but not scary" (wasn't that hideous "ice sculpture" at the end pretty horrifying?) or "boring nothing happens until the end," I truly do wonder about my place in the horror genre, and if my work will ever gain more traction. I suppose that's why it's so important to write for yourself first, then audience second.
November 26, 2011
Not as good as either Curfew or December. Welsh nationalism is more than a little distracting from the supposed supernatural element here (actually Welsh nationalism is the all-too-prosaic inspiration for the supernatural agents, as well).[return][return]As always, Rickman creates interesting and likable characters, but there is a feel that maybe Rickman rushed this one a bit. One opportunity he missed is the main English character, who he unwisely kills off. Rickman's lead characters are often bumbling, lovable loser types. Giles is driven and a bit of a bastard, though fundamentally decent. A whole book with him in the lead would have been an interesting change for Rickman.
August 18, 2008
I finsihed reading this book at the weekend and I was completely enthralled with. I love anything to do with mythology and this book has plenty of walsh mythology and legend and Phil Rickman sets a brilliant atmosphere and a sutble horror surrounds the village and the people that inhabit the place. I decided to look up the legends that are mentioned within the book and found loads of sites and bits of information on the internet. A great book.
October 21, 2022
Very slow burn start but the end really pays off. The supernatural/ folk horror elements are extremely subtle. This might not be a book for those who like more obvious horror or who want a bigger reveal at the denouement.
April 27, 2025
Candlenight was Phil Rickman’s debut novel and it shows. It sets out to weave folk horror with social and political commentary, but struggles to build real atmosphere or genuine suspense for much of its length. On the horror scale, this book is mostly a snooze fest. It's not even slow-burn horror, it’s barely smoldering for most of the story. Attempts to create tension or dread feel half-hearted, and there’s a persistent flatness that undermines what should be a claustrophobic, creeping unease. The setting is screaming out of atmosphere, for heavy dread or fear.
The decision to include a by-election subplot was a major misstep. While it provides some cultural commentary on Welsh-English tensions, it adds almost nothing to the folk horror aspects of the story. It bogs down the narrative, distracting from what little momentum the horror plot was trying to build. The cultural resentment might have been interesting in another novel, but here it feels tacked on and largely irrelevant to the supernatural themes.
It’s only in the last fifty pages or so that this book starts to deliver on its folk horror promise. The tone darkens, real danger emerges, but it’s a long, slow journey to get there and by the time it arrives, much of the impact is lost.
The decision to include a by-election subplot was a major misstep. While it provides some cultural commentary on Welsh-English tensions, it adds almost nothing to the folk horror aspects of the story. It bogs down the narrative, distracting from what little momentum the horror plot was trying to build. The cultural resentment might have been interesting in another novel, but here it feels tacked on and largely irrelevant to the supernatural themes.
It’s only in the last fifty pages or so that this book starts to deliver on its folk horror promise. The tone darkens, real danger emerges, but it’s a long, slow journey to get there and by the time it arrives, much of the impact is lost.
April 10, 2020
Three and a half stars, rounding up to four. I came across this book on a list of haunted house stories I'm reading my way through, and that was a grossly inaccurate listing I can tell you. This isn't a haunted house story at all, but it is a horror, and a very entertaining one at that. Sort of rural Gothic, but Welsh rural Gothic of all things, with myth and history and murder all tied up in a remote village that's positively seething with nationalism. That was the really interesting thing about this book, for me - the underlying hostility the Welsh have for the English. Living on the other side of the world as I do, the Welsh-English relationship is not something that often crosses my radar, though I'm aware of course, at least vaguely, of the fraught relationship between them, the history of conflict and violence. It doesn't surprise me that resentment remains (although I'm hoping not to the level depicted here!). It does make it a particularly interesting angle for a horror story to take, however... and it also makes me want to find some good basic books on Welsh history to fill in the gaps. Oh well, even more to add to my tottering to-read pile...
April 19, 2015
My second time through this book. I enjoyed reading this. It had a firm hold on me toward the end. It makes me want to read more of Rickman's work.
I can't help but feel there are bits missing. Like we're not getting a complete picture. It's like the characters haven't been fully fleshed out. Take, for example, Miranda. I'm not sure what her purpose is. If it's to deliver a message, fantastic. But the message seems more like embellishment to the icing that's already on the cake. Don't get me wrong, redheads with a bit of fire to their personality are right up my alley. I just think that she wasn't as fully constructed as she could have been. The message she had wasn't enough justification for her being there. I hope that makes sense to someone.
I can't help but feel there are bits missing. Like we're not getting a complete picture. It's like the characters haven't been fully fleshed out. Take, for example, Miranda. I'm not sure what her purpose is. If it's to deliver a message, fantastic. But the message seems more like embellishment to the icing that's already on the cake. Don't get me wrong, redheads with a bit of fire to their personality are right up my alley. I just think that she wasn't as fully constructed as she could have been. The message she had wasn't enough justification for her being there. I hope that makes sense to someone.
December 19, 2020
This was a fast and fun read and not as predictable as I thought it would be.
There was one drawback which kept this from being a five star book. The modern pagans in this book were really dumb; they believed the old lie about human sacrifice and incorporated it into their worship. Very disappointing.
There was one drawback which kept this from being a five star book. The modern pagans in this book were really dumb; they believed the old lie about human sacrifice and incorporated it into their worship. Very disappointing.
February 4, 2017
Good and creepy with some really lovely descriptive writing and witty dialogue, though at times I felt like the political stuff went on too long and didn't really add anything to the main story line or my understanding of the characters or of the historical background.
November 24, 2020
The author came recommended. The story is a bit Stephen King-ish; not my usual cup of tea. However, I liked the way it was written and found it flowed well. The ending was a bit meh, but I otherwise enjoyed it.
February 12, 2023
Another great story from the master of Welsh mystical thrillers. Loved it.
July 14, 2017
I was recommended this book by Ged, the manager of Waterstones in Wrexham, and I have to say I wasn't disappointed. A little confused in parts, but on the whole this was a great book.
To start with, the emphasis on the Welsh/English animosity got on my nerves, but it is true - there is still a lot of hatred towards the English and I don't think it has a place in today's society.
The story tells of a Welsh village, Y Groes, which seems to have something supernatural going on. It would appear that, based on historical activities (shall we say), the 'land' expects offerings on a regular basis; said offerings usually being English.
It also indicates that Owain Glyndwr is buried in the church there and that he is somehow linked to what is going on in the town, as he was said to have magical powers. How true this is (re the magic) I don't know.
The book does meander along for pretty much three quarters of the way before anything really starts to heat up. It doesn't seem boring, though, as you become friends with the characters and really feel their plight at the climax of the book.
Well worth a read and I'll certainly be reading another of his books!
To start with, the emphasis on the Welsh/English animosity got on my nerves, but it is true - there is still a lot of hatred towards the English and I don't think it has a place in today's society.
The story tells of a Welsh village, Y Groes, which seems to have something supernatural going on. It would appear that, based on historical activities (shall we say), the 'land' expects offerings on a regular basis; said offerings usually being English.
It also indicates that Owain Glyndwr is buried in the church there and that he is somehow linked to what is going on in the town, as he was said to have magical powers. How true this is (re the magic) I don't know.
The book does meander along for pretty much three quarters of the way before anything really starts to heat up. It doesn't seem boring, though, as you become friends with the characters and really feel their plight at the climax of the book.
Well worth a read and I'll certainly be reading another of his books!
November 26, 2013
I am sure from reading other reviews that this is a very popular author however, for me , this just did not work. I had previously read Crown of Lights and although not totally enamoured with it, I thought that I would try another of Mr Rickmans novels. Whether it was the language or the Welsh Nationalism but I gave up at page 300 with another 200 pages to go. I found it very difficult to read and by the time I gave up had no liking for any of the characters and had no interest how the book finished. Sorry but not for me
October 1, 2012
Good - creepy & atmospheric, not my usual sort of read but it got me hooked really quickly. Phil Rickman is particularly good at giving the reader a sense of place, though in this case its put me off visiting Wales for a bit!
March 4, 2009
Not *quite* as good as "Curfew", but still a VERY good read with some deliciously creepy parts. Highly recommended.
January 31, 2011
Meh...this got really good reviews and I wanted to like it, but it wasn't actually scary. At first, I was hoping for a ghost story and I was really excited and then...not so much. Disappointing.
June 1, 2012
I found this book intriguing. Not sure I "liked" it really. I'd have to read it once or twice more to REALLY get the nuances, but I did like the macabre feel of it. It was mildly disturbing.
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