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The Ravening
From the subversive mind behind The Hollows comes a new, page turning horror thriller, perfect for fans of The Only Good Indian by Stephen Graham JonesTwo women fight to free themselves of a terrifying thousand year old curse.Jenna lost her mum when she was a girl – a terrifying incident on a lonely road in the woods which no one, least of all Jenna, has ever been able to explain. She’s been angry, defensive and self-reliant ever since. Until she meets Holly and begins to open up just a little.But just as life is beginning to offer some promise Jenna is ripped away from Holly; kidnapped by a bizarre cult in thrall, so they say, to an ancient demon who offers the promise of eternal life in return for a particular sacrifice. A sacrifice that links Jenna, her mum, and a bloodline reaching back centuries.With its antlered demon and a shadowy otherworld behind the veil of our world, The Ravening combines cinematic horrors with a compelling story of one woman’s refusal to give up and another woman’s fight for survival against terrible odds – both of them determined to overturn very different expectations.
400 pages, Paperback
First published September 24, 2024
18 people are currently reading
473 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Church
3 books35 followersDaniel Church is a British horror writer. His writing is inspired by a lifelong passion for the genre and its roots in folklore and a fierce connection with the underdog and the marginalised in society. He grew up in Lancashire and now lives in the Wirral with his wife, who is also a writer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
November 22, 2024
An immersive horror/thriller from Daniel Church.
For the most part Church's writing had me intrigued pretty early on, with some interesting yet not wholy original concepts (what is truly original these days?) building from very early on in the story. He created several well-thought-out characters with believable motives for their actions.
The story itself is told from the perspective of a young woman, Jenna. Who's life is turned upside down on numerous occasions throughout the story, as well as the odd interlude of historic text. I thought this was a great way to build and enhance the backstory.
My only real grumble with the book was that at times it got a little bogged down re-emphasising the character's feelings and motivations. Overall this was a minor niggle but nonetheless took away a little from my enjoyment. For this reason I've decided to award this 3.5 stars but rounded up to 4.
Well worth checking out and should have something for almost everybody to enjoy.
For the most part Church's writing had me intrigued pretty early on, with some interesting yet not wholy original concepts (what is truly original these days?) building from very early on in the story. He created several well-thought-out characters with believable motives for their actions.
The story itself is told from the perspective of a young woman, Jenna. Who's life is turned upside down on numerous occasions throughout the story, as well as the odd interlude of historic text. I thought this was a great way to build and enhance the backstory.
My only real grumble with the book was that at times it got a little bogged down re-emphasising the character's feelings and motivations. Overall this was a minor niggle but nonetheless took away a little from my enjoyment. For this reason I've decided to award this 3.5 stars but rounded up to 4.
Well worth checking out and should have something for almost everybody to enjoy.
Want to read
July 16, 2024ARC received! Thank you so much, Angry Robot!
This cover has captured my attention and the synopsis definitely sounds like something that will work for me. I'm excited to get to it!!
This cover has captured my attention and the synopsis definitely sounds like something that will work for me. I'm excited to get to it!!
July 17, 2024
ARC for review. To be published September 24, 2024.
Based on the marketing done for and around this book I don’t think the author and publisher want the reader to have too much information going in. This horror/fantasy features Jenna who lost her mother in a very mysterious way when she was a teen. She is just recently shed of a controlling boyfriend and now she has a new love in her life, Holly. But there is also evil, lots of evil in her world and it does not want to let her go.
When I was actually reading this book I liked it fairly well, with its reminder that there is generally a price to pay for what one receives; I did not li e the ending, though. However, now that only a week or so has gone by I find that I don’t even remember much about it, so it didn’t make a big impression. Three stars, to be fair.
Based on the marketing done for and around this book I don’t think the author and publisher want the reader to have too much information going in. This horror/fantasy features Jenna who lost her mother in a very mysterious way when she was a teen. She is just recently shed of a controlling boyfriend and now she has a new love in her life, Holly. But there is also evil, lots of evil in her world and it does not want to let her go.
When I was actually reading this book I liked it fairly well, with its reminder that there is generally a price to pay for what one receives; I did not li e the ending, though. However, now that only a week or so has gone by I find that I don’t even remember much about it, so it didn’t make a big impression. Three stars, to be fair.
August 22, 2024
Rating: ★★★☆☆
A thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.
”But when the car broke down at night, deep in the woods and far from anywhere, you remembered magic could be black as well as white.”
The Ravening tells the story of Jenna, a woman haunted by the traumatic and mysterious disappearance of her mom on a dark woodland. Fifteen years later she’s being visited by the same entity that stole her mother on that dark night.
⟡•—— ・ ₊˚👹♱‧₊˚. ・ ——•⟡
The Ravening is a gripping blend of both horror and suspense where the author created an eerie backdrop with the help of the woodlands. The reader is plunged into a chaotic and dreadful world where, personally, i felt quite claustrophobic when imagining what it would feel like to be in Jenna’s place.
In the first 50% of the book i had my kindle gripped in my hands - i wanted to keep on reading even if it was already 4am just for the sake of finding out what happened to the main characters mom. However, it soon turned a little boring. The second half of the book’s pace is a little too dragging and i found myself skipping a few lines just to get it over with.
On another note, one of the novel’s strengths are the rich characters. Although not a lot of them, everyone had a background, a motive as to why they did the things they did; it helped Jenna’s horrors feel personal.
The main character also suffered a great development - due to her traumatic past she was extremely closed off in the beginning and her personality felt very icky at times. However, with the help of her partner, Holly, we see her blossoming into someone who can trust and love.
I’d love to read more of Daniel Church in the future - his writing style was very thrilling and captivating.
If you’re a fan of horror and mystery-thriller novels with suspenseful and atmospheric storytelling, you should give The Ravening a try.
A thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.
”But when the car broke down at night, deep in the woods and far from anywhere, you remembered magic could be black as well as white.”
The Ravening tells the story of Jenna, a woman haunted by the traumatic and mysterious disappearance of her mom on a dark woodland. Fifteen years later she’s being visited by the same entity that stole her mother on that dark night.
⟡•—— ・ ₊˚👹♱‧₊˚. ・ ——•⟡
The Ravening is a gripping blend of both horror and suspense where the author created an eerie backdrop with the help of the woodlands. The reader is plunged into a chaotic and dreadful world where, personally, i felt quite claustrophobic when imagining what it would feel like to be in Jenna’s place.
In the first 50% of the book i had my kindle gripped in my hands - i wanted to keep on reading even if it was already 4am just for the sake of finding out what happened to the main characters mom. However, it soon turned a little boring. The second half of the book’s pace is a little too dragging and i found myself skipping a few lines just to get it over with.
On another note, one of the novel’s strengths are the rich characters. Although not a lot of them, everyone had a background, a motive as to why they did the things they did; it helped Jenna’s horrors feel personal.
The main character also suffered a great development - due to her traumatic past she was extremely closed off in the beginning and her personality felt very icky at times. However, with the help of her partner, Holly, we see her blossoming into someone who can trust and love.
I’d love to read more of Daniel Church in the future - his writing style was very thrilling and captivating.
If you’re a fan of horror and mystery-thriller novels with suspenseful and atmospheric storytelling, you should give The Ravening a try.
September 17, 2024
I was unpleasantly surprised by "The Ravening". I loved the author's previous works, and though I did realize the comparison to Stephen Graham Jones was a bit of an hyperbole, I expected something equally well-written and riveting as Church's other books. It was not to be. I found the story repetitive, tediously wordy, with several unnecessary infodumps. The plot felt totally unrealistic and unconvincing, and the suspension of disbelief required proved too much for me. I did finish the book, but it took me a long while. The story also touched too glibly on such controversial themes as miscarriage, rape, forced pregnancy, baby and child killings, and abortion. Even a debut novel would have taken some time to write thoughfully about them, put them into perspective, and tighten everything up. I'm unsure what happened but I cannot recommend this book.
November 1, 2024
Review originally on JamReads
The Ravening is an atmospheric and gripping horror novel written by Daniel Church, and published by Angry Robot Books. A woman, Jenna Mcknight, whose past was marked by the strange disappearance of her mother when she was 15, who is trying to get her life back on track 15 years later after a breakup with an abusive ex; in a novel that explores themes such as body autonomy, the right to choose, and the impact of trauma many years after.
Jenna is seeking to rebuild her life with her new girlfriend, Holly, but it's still haunted by her past; nightmares are constant, feeding on that trauma provoked fifteen years ago, in a sort of experience that Jenna can't be sure if it's real or just sheer trauma. To make things worse, Jenna discovers she's pregnant, possibly by her ex, putting her between the stone and the wall, as she doesn't desire to be a mother; however, before she can't do anything about it, she's kidnapped and held hostage in the woods, where their captors pretend her to take her pregnancy to a term.
With this premise, Church creates a heavy atmospherical experience, diving into Jenna's traumas, and how that night when her mother disappeared is still coming to hurt her. She's not only having to confront her own traumas, but also a new wave of them, which slowly reveals more about the creature that has haunted her since that night. Through really vivid images, we share Jenna's experience, while the author plays with the fine line between reality and the power of fear.
The Ravening is a book that shines, especially due to how smartly the setting is used, how the woods are drawn as the base for Jenna's trauma, exploring them while we are also introduced to the creature that has haunted her. As a result, we have a really atmospherical experience that is mixed with some folk horror elements.
The novel is excellently paced, despite the challenge the own plot presents; the only problem is towards the end, as it feels a bit rushed.
If you are looking for a horror novel with a great atmosphere and that discusses themes such as body autonomy and the freedom to choose, The Ravening is one you will love. Daniel Church consolidates his voice as an excellent writer with this sophomore novel, and you can be sure that he's an author we will cover in the future.
The Ravening is an atmospheric and gripping horror novel written by Daniel Church, and published by Angry Robot Books. A woman, Jenna Mcknight, whose past was marked by the strange disappearance of her mother when she was 15, who is trying to get her life back on track 15 years later after a breakup with an abusive ex; in a novel that explores themes such as body autonomy, the right to choose, and the impact of trauma many years after.
Jenna is seeking to rebuild her life with her new girlfriend, Holly, but it's still haunted by her past; nightmares are constant, feeding on that trauma provoked fifteen years ago, in a sort of experience that Jenna can't be sure if it's real or just sheer trauma. To make things worse, Jenna discovers she's pregnant, possibly by her ex, putting her between the stone and the wall, as she doesn't desire to be a mother; however, before she can't do anything about it, she's kidnapped and held hostage in the woods, where their captors pretend her to take her pregnancy to a term.
With this premise, Church creates a heavy atmospherical experience, diving into Jenna's traumas, and how that night when her mother disappeared is still coming to hurt her. She's not only having to confront her own traumas, but also a new wave of them, which slowly reveals more about the creature that has haunted her since that night. Through really vivid images, we share Jenna's experience, while the author plays with the fine line between reality and the power of fear.
The Ravening is a book that shines, especially due to how smartly the setting is used, how the woods are drawn as the base for Jenna's trauma, exploring them while we are also introduced to the creature that has haunted her. As a result, we have a really atmospherical experience that is mixed with some folk horror elements.
The novel is excellently paced, despite the challenge the own plot presents; the only problem is towards the end, as it feels a bit rushed.
If you are looking for a horror novel with a great atmosphere and that discusses themes such as body autonomy and the freedom to choose, The Ravening is one you will love. Daniel Church consolidates his voice as an excellent writer with this sophomore novel, and you can be sure that he's an author we will cover in the future.
August 12, 2024
The Ravening is a book that was different from what I originally expected. I believe this would benefit from a longer/more descriptive synopsis as I'm not sure I would have picked it up had it been explained better. We'll come back to this - but for now, let's talk about the book itself.
The story starts off with a very strong and very creepy prologue. 15 year old Jenna is traveling with her mother along a dark, empty road surrounded by thick woods. When they hit something with their car and the vehicle refuses to start again, Jenna's mother gets out to see if she can figure out what the issue is. Alone in the car, Jenna begins to get a sense that they are not alone out here - shortly after, her mother lets out a blood curdling scream - and is never seen again. There is no blood, hair, clothing, or any trace of her mother left.
Jump to 15 year later: Jenna is 30 years old and struggling. Her childhood has left a lasting imprint and Jenna has a hard time trusting people. Riddled with trauma and abandonment issues, Jenna finds it difficult to stay fulfilled in a long term relationship. However, with her current girlfriend Holly, she seems to be in a good place and experiencing feelings she hasn't had with partners in the past.
Now, this begins to bring us to the part in the book where I went *cue meme* What happened to the Original plot of the movie?! Jenna is shocked to find out she is pregnant with her ex boyfriend's baby. When she makes an appointment for an abortion - she is KIDNAPPED by this man and held captive within a house in the woods. His goal is to force her to carry out this pregnancy and deliver the child, and then he will forcibly impregnate her a few more times to pump out a few more babies. Huh!?! This is what I mean when I say this book could do with a revised synopsis. This is a HUGE part of the plot that is not mentioned or really even hinted at in the book's description and it really threw me off. I decided to stick with it but I can see people in the future DNFing after the story takes this unexpected turn.
Now, there are certain reasons why this is happening which does connect it back to the original plot but there was a good portion of this book - I would say between the 35% and 60% mark where it wasn't holding my full attention. I felt myself zoning out and had to reread a few parts. After that, it does begin to pick up and the intrigue came back for me as this book brings in some unique horror elements and we get to learn more about the creature that lurks in the woods..
It is important to note that this story mainly focuses on Jenna more than anything else. We get to know her really well and at its core, the story is about her trauma - who she was in the past and who she is becoming in the now. We study her actions, feelings, motivations, and journey of self exploration and self acceptance throughout the book - with the clear theme being 'love will prevail.'
I would recommend this to readers who enjoy: a creature feature, ancient evil, fantasy horror, bargaining, history of the occult, human greed, immortality, queer love, strong female characters, conversation about bodily autonomy, and character focused horror novels.
Overall, not a bad read but generally quite not for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot Books for providing me with an electronic ARC of this book to review.
The story starts off with a very strong and very creepy prologue. 15 year old Jenna is traveling with her mother along a dark, empty road surrounded by thick woods. When they hit something with their car and the vehicle refuses to start again, Jenna's mother gets out to see if she can figure out what the issue is. Alone in the car, Jenna begins to get a sense that they are not alone out here - shortly after, her mother lets out a blood curdling scream - and is never seen again. There is no blood, hair, clothing, or any trace of her mother left.
Jump to 15 year later: Jenna is 30 years old and struggling. Her childhood has left a lasting imprint and Jenna has a hard time trusting people. Riddled with trauma and abandonment issues, Jenna finds it difficult to stay fulfilled in a long term relationship. However, with her current girlfriend Holly, she seems to be in a good place and experiencing feelings she hasn't had with partners in the past.
Now, this begins to bring us to the part in the book where I went *cue meme* What happened to the Original plot of the movie?! Jenna is shocked to find out she is pregnant with her ex boyfriend's baby. When she makes an appointment for an abortion - she is KIDNAPPED by this man and held captive within a house in the woods. His goal is to force her to carry out this pregnancy and deliver the child, and then he will forcibly impregnate her a few more times to pump out a few more babies. Huh!?! This is what I mean when I say this book could do with a revised synopsis. This is a HUGE part of the plot that is not mentioned or really even hinted at in the book's description and it really threw me off. I decided to stick with it but I can see people in the future DNFing after the story takes this unexpected turn.
Now, there are certain reasons why this is happening which does connect it back to the original plot but there was a good portion of this book - I would say between the 35% and 60% mark where it wasn't holding my full attention. I felt myself zoning out and had to reread a few parts. After that, it does begin to pick up and the intrigue came back for me as this book brings in some unique horror elements and we get to learn more about the creature that lurks in the woods..
It is important to note that this story mainly focuses on Jenna more than anything else. We get to know her really well and at its core, the story is about her trauma - who she was in the past and who she is becoming in the now. We study her actions, feelings, motivations, and journey of self exploration and self acceptance throughout the book - with the clear theme being 'love will prevail.'
I would recommend this to readers who enjoy: a creature feature, ancient evil, fantasy horror, bargaining, history of the occult, human greed, immortality, queer love, strong female characters, conversation about bodily autonomy, and character focused horror novels.
Overall, not a bad read but generally quite not for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot Books for providing me with an electronic ARC of this book to review.
July 18, 2024
Jenna's has experienced a traumatic past with her mother seemingly disappearing into thin air which was only the beginning of the downward spiral she encounters into her adulthood. She is met with abusive relationships or relationships that she cannot keep for long until she meets Holly and decides a camping trip would be great for the both of them. She is then thrusted into this world of darkness, bringing back her abuser and some other dark entities into her life.
The only thing intriguing about this book is the cover. The characters are insufferable, and this is a perfect stereotype of "men not being able to write female characters". Jenna is obnoxious, annoying and overly dramatic. Holly is the worst partner someone could ask for. James is a slime-ball for obvious reasons, but there was no empathy garnered for any of the characters. Even Jenna's mother is obnoxious.
The story starts in the past, but then makes the jump to present day without a smooth transition. There is a scattering of medieval folklore spread throughout the novel breaking it up, but it does not seem to have any ties to the story. Was it show that evil has always lingered throughout time? Who knows. All I know is that this book took A LOT for me not to DNF.
There was an overuse of the words bitch, lovey and babe which of course were all done by the female characters which tie back into my initial statement of why some men should not be writing female characters.
Would I recommend this book? No. Would I reread or attempt to read other books from this author? Nope.
Thank you NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The only thing intriguing about this book is the cover. The characters are insufferable, and this is a perfect stereotype of "men not being able to write female characters". Jenna is obnoxious, annoying and overly dramatic. Holly is the worst partner someone could ask for. James is a slime-ball for obvious reasons, but there was no empathy garnered for any of the characters. Even Jenna's mother is obnoxious.
The story starts in the past, but then makes the jump to present day without a smooth transition. There is a scattering of medieval folklore spread throughout the novel breaking it up, but it does not seem to have any ties to the story. Was it show that evil has always lingered throughout time? Who knows. All I know is that this book took A LOT for me not to DNF.
There was an overuse of the words bitch, lovey and babe which of course were all done by the female characters which tie back into my initial statement of why some men should not be writing female characters.
Would I recommend this book? No. Would I reread or attempt to read other books from this author? Nope.
Thank you NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 2, 2024
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Sept. 24, 2024
As a teenager, Jenna’s mom is killed by a monster that only Jenna has seen. Soon after, her now-alcoholic father dies and Jenna’s life unravels even more. Now, on her own, Jenna fights against love and letting anyone in. But she soon finds out, that the monster who killed her mother is very, very real and he wants Jenna for himself. It is up to Jenna to rely on the one thing she has sworn off forever, real love, to save her from the monsters, supernatural and human alike.
Daniel Church’s new novel, “The Ravening” is a horror novel, with an LGBTQ romance flair. It starts with a terrifying monster in the woods, that leads to Jenna’s captivity and her right to choose (how/when/if she wishes to be a mother) and then wraps up with Jenna’s ability to let her lover in and start a life together. Church’s novel is complex, with many emotionally fraught themes, but Church manages to combine all of the plot lines into something dark and sinister, and thoroughly enjoyable.
The novel is told from Jenna’s perspective, on the day her mother is killed in front of her. The mysterious monster exists only in shadow and speculation, so even Jenna doubts its’ existence, until she can’t anymore. Church’s descriptions of the “Bonewalker” (Jenna’s term for the terrifying creature) are chilling and downright frightening. The backstory of who or what the Bonewalker is is creative and mythical, and this was, by far, the most engaging part of the novel itself.
“The Ravening” is non-stop action, right from the first page. Jenna is a relatable character and I immediately built a rapport with the tough-as-nails, independent protagonist. The chapters are short, making the story easy to read, and I was desperate to find out how it ended.
Church delivers a satisfying ending that provided comfort after pages of spine-tingling, edge-of-your-seat horror, and I loved it.
“The RaveningThe Ravening” is not a feminist novel, but it has strong female themes focusing on a woman’s right to choose, but, even with the controversial theme, it is not preachy and there is no pedestal that Church preaches from. It is also mythical and theological, in relation to the monster itself, but again, Church has written the novel so it is not divisive and can be enjoyed by anyone looking for a new horror story to explore.
I was unsure of what to expect, as Church is new to me, and the reviews on this novel are mixed. But I found “The Ravening” to be creative and spooky, and I definitely will be looking forward to more horror novels from Church.
Expected publication date: Sept. 24, 2024
As a teenager, Jenna’s mom is killed by a monster that only Jenna has seen. Soon after, her now-alcoholic father dies and Jenna’s life unravels even more. Now, on her own, Jenna fights against love and letting anyone in. But she soon finds out, that the monster who killed her mother is very, very real and he wants Jenna for himself. It is up to Jenna to rely on the one thing she has sworn off forever, real love, to save her from the monsters, supernatural and human alike.
Daniel Church’s new novel, “The Ravening” is a horror novel, with an LGBTQ romance flair. It starts with a terrifying monster in the woods, that leads to Jenna’s captivity and her right to choose (how/when/if she wishes to be a mother) and then wraps up with Jenna’s ability to let her lover in and start a life together. Church’s novel is complex, with many emotionally fraught themes, but Church manages to combine all of the plot lines into something dark and sinister, and thoroughly enjoyable.
The novel is told from Jenna’s perspective, on the day her mother is killed in front of her. The mysterious monster exists only in shadow and speculation, so even Jenna doubts its’ existence, until she can’t anymore. Church’s descriptions of the “Bonewalker” (Jenna’s term for the terrifying creature) are chilling and downright frightening. The backstory of who or what the Bonewalker is is creative and mythical, and this was, by far, the most engaging part of the novel itself.
“The Ravening” is non-stop action, right from the first page. Jenna is a relatable character and I immediately built a rapport with the tough-as-nails, independent protagonist. The chapters are short, making the story easy to read, and I was desperate to find out how it ended.
Church delivers a satisfying ending that provided comfort after pages of spine-tingling, edge-of-your-seat horror, and I loved it.
“The RaveningThe Ravening” is not a feminist novel, but it has strong female themes focusing on a woman’s right to choose, but, even with the controversial theme, it is not preachy and there is no pedestal that Church preaches from. It is also mythical and theological, in relation to the monster itself, but again, Church has written the novel so it is not divisive and can be enjoyed by anyone looking for a new horror story to explore.
I was unsure of what to expect, as Church is new to me, and the reviews on this novel are mixed. But I found “The Ravening” to be creative and spooky, and I definitely will be looking forward to more horror novels from Church.
July 23, 2024
This was an easy to read book with fairly short chapters. The first part of the book is so creepy and eerie, you almost feel like you could be in the woods with Jenna and her mum. Then when we get to present day Jenna and she starts hearing/feeling similar vibes and you just know it's about to go off. The suspense doesn't really let up which is what you want in a horror book. I just didn't enjoy the plot and I didn't particularly like Jenna but that's personal preference. Despite it not being my cup of tea, I did appreciate the atmospheric vibes and the writing.
Thank you Angry Robot for the arc!
Thank you Angry Robot for the arc!
October 26, 2025
2.75🌟
I loved The Holllows and was hoping for another folk-horror inspired tale to while away Spooktober. However, this is really repetitive and the FMC is hard to get on side with. Bit of a disappointment, tbh.
I loved The Holllows and was hoping for another folk-horror inspired tale to while away Spooktober. However, this is really repetitive and the FMC is hard to get on side with. Bit of a disappointment, tbh.
August 10, 2024
The Ravening starts off strong with a traumatic back story for the FMC and the plot switches to a brief cozy romance before everything is turned upside down. I won’t say too much as this may spoil things but I certainly was not expecting a lot of what happened to happen, which is always a positive. You definitely don’t know who to trust and the atmosphere is great. The scenes in the woods are especially atmospheric and dark. I felt the FMC internal dialogue was well presented and her personal struggles well portrayed.
I read this book quickly as I wanted to find out what happens next.
I loved the cover of this book and although there are antlers in the story I felt they should have had more coverage. I feel the cover doesn’t quite fit what I read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
I read this book quickly as I wanted to find out what happens next.
I loved the cover of this book and although there are antlers in the story I felt they should have had more coverage. I feel the cover doesn’t quite fit what I read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
July 15, 2024
Started out strong with an autumnal atmosphere and a frightening hook; but, after the trip to Wales, the story swerved into territory I wasn’t expecting and kinda spiralled from there:
● I really wish there’d been content warnings so I’m adding some of the bottom of this review. Some might be a bit spoilery, so FYI. There was one thread in particular that deeply distressed me that I’d wished I’d known about beforehand:
● This author has a preoccupation with overly dramatic gun shootout scenes that just don’t fit the setting or the vibe he’s going for with UK folk horror.
● The first was intense and stressful but the 3? 4? more we had just felt like we were being punished for something.
● At first, I loved the idea of the Bonewalker but once we entered the whole concept lost me.
● Overuse of the word “babe”, which I never want to hear again after this
● Jenna was really difficult to root for: she was obnoxious, facetious, and uncommunicative.
● Why do people want to live forever? That just sounds exhausting.
Despite all of that, for this reader, The Ravening was an improvement over The Hollows and scaled back a lot of what I felt ruined that book. I’d very cautiously give Church’s next novel a read as he’s clearly developing as a writer; but, tbh I don’t think I’d seek out another one of his books in a hurry.
⚠️ Additional Content Warnings ⚠️
Death of parent, gore, violent assault and injury, forced confinement, kidnapping, imprisonment, rape, forced birth, gun violence, murder, violation of consent, attempted suicide, homophobia, bullying, violence, excessive swearing
I was privileged to have my request to read this book accepted through NetGalley. Thanks for letting me give it a go, Angry Robot! 🤖
● I really wish there’d been content warnings so I’m adding some of the bottom of this review. Some might be a bit spoilery, so FYI. There was one thread in particular that deeply distressed me that I’d wished I’d known about beforehand:
● This author has a preoccupation with overly dramatic gun shootout scenes that just don’t fit the setting or the vibe he’s going for with UK folk horror.
● The first was intense and stressful but the 3? 4? more we had just felt like we were being punished for something.
● At first, I loved the idea of the Bonewalker but once we entered the whole concept lost me.
● Overuse of the word “babe”, which I never want to hear again after this
● Jenna was really difficult to root for: she was obnoxious, facetious, and uncommunicative.
● Why do people want to live forever? That just sounds exhausting.
Despite all of that, for this reader, The Ravening was an improvement over The Hollows and scaled back a lot of what I felt ruined that book. I’d very cautiously give Church’s next novel a read as he’s clearly developing as a writer; but, tbh I don’t think I’d seek out another one of his books in a hurry.
⚠️ Additional Content Warnings ⚠️
Death of parent, gore, violent assault and injury, forced confinement, kidnapping, imprisonment, rape, forced birth, gun violence, murder, violation of consent, attempted suicide, homophobia, bullying, violence, excessive swearing
I was privileged to have my request to read this book accepted through NetGalley. Thanks for letting me give it a go, Angry Robot! 🤖
November 20, 2024
3 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2024/11/20/...
I first heard of Daniel Church when I picked up The Hollows a couple years ago, a book which turned out to be a delightfully claustrophobic chiller that’s equal parts terrifying and entertaining. As such, I was very excited to check out The Ravening, his latest psychological horror. However, despite my high hopes, something about it just didn’t fully click. While the story had its moments, as well as some genuinely cool ideas, it still never quite reached its full potential.
That said, one thing The Ravening does right is its killer prologue. The novel opens at night on a desolate stretch of forest road where fifteen-year-old Jenna and her mother are stranded after their car breaks down. While checking the engine for the problem, Jenna’s mother is suddenly and violently snatched away by some monstrous thing in the darkness, leaving behind nothing but the echoes of the woman’s screams. Her daughter, helpless to intervene, witnesses the entire incident and is left traumatized and filled with guilt.
This event would go on to shape the rest of Jenna’s life, casting a long shadow over her adulthood. No one believes what she saw that night, leading to years of ridicule from her peers as well as nasty rumors surrounding her mother’s disappearance. Struggling to cope with the psychological trauma, Jenna found herself unable to move forward or to find her sense of self. Things went from bad to worse following her father’s death, as connecting to other people became more difficult. And finally, of course, there was her fear of the forest, where her mother was swallowed up by the darkness all those years ago.
Yet, just as things in her life were starting to settle with a new girlfriend and a tiny sense of stability, Jenna’s world is rocked again when she finds out she is pregnant by the controlling ex-boyfriend she recently broke up with. Besides being unexpected, this pregnancy is also far from ordinary. Certain parties tied to ancient legends and sinister forces have taken an interest in Jenna and they’re willing to use her for their own purposes, going as far as to hold her captive and cut her off from the outside world.
An intriguing mystery? Check. Supernatural forces at play? Check. Moody, claustrophobic atmosphere? Check. The Ravening delivers on many of the characteristics of a great horror novel, and certainly the first few chapters do a good job setting the stage for a story filled with tension and dread. There was the gripping prologue, and the historical background provided which ties in a legend related to the Knights Templar to boot. The first half of the book had me completely hooked.
So, where did things start to go off track? Personally, I feel it was shortly after Jenna finds herself trapped in the bizarre prison created by her captors. For me, this was when the plot hit its peak before unraveling, becoming more scattered, moving away from its focus on survival, and turning into a repetitive, confusing tangle. The more answers we got, the less impressed I became with the mystery, with the antagonists revealed to be rather shallow, uncomplicated villains with their stereotypical dime-store motives. The Templar legend angle could also have been better leveraged, as I thought the concept behind the otherworldly monster warranted far greater depth than simply serving as another standard creature feature.
In terms of characters, Jenna’s long history of emotional scarring and the impact it had on her relationships felt undeveloped and overly simplified. Church seems to fare better when it comes to writing ensemble casts as he did in The Hollows, but when it comes down to a single protagonist—particular a female lead, in this case—he gives the impression of being out of his depth. There’s a sense of this uncertainty in Jenna’s relationship with her girlfriend Holly, where the supposed strength of their bond doesn’t really come through. You can also catch it sometimes in the stilted logic of Jenna’s inner dialogue and the things she says.
Pros: Daniel Church excels at creating an eerie and oppressive atmosphere, particularly through his use of supernatural elements. The Templar myth angle was also an interesting addition, as was the concept of the monster. Cons: The story lost a lot of its momentum as the mystery dissipated and the plot grew more convoluted. There was also the occasional lack of character depth. Overall, The Ravening is an ambitious entry to the horror genre, though I feel it is weaker than his previous novel, The Hollows. Pacing and character development issues aside though, readers who enjoy paranormal horror exploring psychological trauma and survival may find it worthwhile.
I first heard of Daniel Church when I picked up The Hollows a couple years ago, a book which turned out to be a delightfully claustrophobic chiller that’s equal parts terrifying and entertaining. As such, I was very excited to check out The Ravening, his latest psychological horror. However, despite my high hopes, something about it just didn’t fully click. While the story had its moments, as well as some genuinely cool ideas, it still never quite reached its full potential.
That said, one thing The Ravening does right is its killer prologue. The novel opens at night on a desolate stretch of forest road where fifteen-year-old Jenna and her mother are stranded after their car breaks down. While checking the engine for the problem, Jenna’s mother is suddenly and violently snatched away by some monstrous thing in the darkness, leaving behind nothing but the echoes of the woman’s screams. Her daughter, helpless to intervene, witnesses the entire incident and is left traumatized and filled with guilt.
This event would go on to shape the rest of Jenna’s life, casting a long shadow over her adulthood. No one believes what she saw that night, leading to years of ridicule from her peers as well as nasty rumors surrounding her mother’s disappearance. Struggling to cope with the psychological trauma, Jenna found herself unable to move forward or to find her sense of self. Things went from bad to worse following her father’s death, as connecting to other people became more difficult. And finally, of course, there was her fear of the forest, where her mother was swallowed up by the darkness all those years ago.
Yet, just as things in her life were starting to settle with a new girlfriend and a tiny sense of stability, Jenna’s world is rocked again when she finds out she is pregnant by the controlling ex-boyfriend she recently broke up with. Besides being unexpected, this pregnancy is also far from ordinary. Certain parties tied to ancient legends and sinister forces have taken an interest in Jenna and they’re willing to use her for their own purposes, going as far as to hold her captive and cut her off from the outside world.
An intriguing mystery? Check. Supernatural forces at play? Check. Moody, claustrophobic atmosphere? Check. The Ravening delivers on many of the characteristics of a great horror novel, and certainly the first few chapters do a good job setting the stage for a story filled with tension and dread. There was the gripping prologue, and the historical background provided which ties in a legend related to the Knights Templar to boot. The first half of the book had me completely hooked.
So, where did things start to go off track? Personally, I feel it was shortly after Jenna finds herself trapped in the bizarre prison created by her captors. For me, this was when the plot hit its peak before unraveling, becoming more scattered, moving away from its focus on survival, and turning into a repetitive, confusing tangle. The more answers we got, the less impressed I became with the mystery, with the antagonists revealed to be rather shallow, uncomplicated villains with their stereotypical dime-store motives. The Templar legend angle could also have been better leveraged, as I thought the concept behind the otherworldly monster warranted far greater depth than simply serving as another standard creature feature.
In terms of characters, Jenna’s long history of emotional scarring and the impact it had on her relationships felt undeveloped and overly simplified. Church seems to fare better when it comes to writing ensemble casts as he did in The Hollows, but when it comes down to a single protagonist—particular a female lead, in this case—he gives the impression of being out of his depth. There’s a sense of this uncertainty in Jenna’s relationship with her girlfriend Holly, where the supposed strength of their bond doesn’t really come through. You can also catch it sometimes in the stilted logic of Jenna’s inner dialogue and the things she says.
Pros: Daniel Church excels at creating an eerie and oppressive atmosphere, particularly through his use of supernatural elements. The Templar myth angle was also an interesting addition, as was the concept of the monster. Cons: The story lost a lot of its momentum as the mystery dissipated and the plot grew more convoluted. There was also the occasional lack of character depth. Overall, The Ravening is an ambitious entry to the horror genre, though I feel it is weaker than his previous novel, The Hollows. Pacing and character development issues aside though, readers who enjoy paranormal horror exploring psychological trauma and survival may find it worthwhile.
October 15, 2024
If you prefer watching videos, I've posted a full, spoiler-free discussion about my experience with THE RAVENING on my BookTube Channel!
The following is a brief summary of the transcript taken from the above referenced video review.
THE RAVENING is a gripping, atmospheric horror tale that left me questioning what was real and what was imagined. The story follows Jenna McKnight, a young woman haunted by her past and a supernatural enemy.
The novel kicks off with a heart-stopping prologue where a 15-year-old Jenna witnesses her mother's mysterious disappearance in the woods. This traumatic event shapes her life, as she grows into a hardened, resourceful woman, but the unresolved pain - the lack of closure - continues to haunt her. The book picks up 15 years later, as Jenna, now in her early 30s, is trying to get her life back on track after a recent breakup from an abusive ex.
Jenna’s new love interest, Holly, is a bright spot in an otherwise dark and intense narrative. Holly's charisma bubbles off the page, offering a brief respite from the tension. Despite Jenna’s attempts to protect her heart, her bond with Holly grows, though the story quickly steers back into its unsettling, paranormal elements.
One of the most compelling aspects of THE RAVENING for me is its setting. The dense, claustrophobic woods are almost a character in themselves, providing an eerie backdrop to the unfolding horror. This sense of confinement and fear plays a significant role throughout the book.
The supernatural threat isn’t your typical demon—it’s not about possession or murder. Without giving too much away, there's a surprising twist related to forced pregnancy, a theme that some readers might want to be aware of before diving in.
What I found fascinating was the ambiguity surrounding Jenna's experiences. Is the supernatural force real, or is it a manifestation of her trauma? Daniel Church weaves a narrative that makes you question the nature of reality, leaving much open to interpretation - especially to those like me with overactive imaginations.
Though the story does slow down midway, everything ties together neatly by the end. If you’re a patient reader who enjoys folklore-driven horror with psychological depth, this book will be worth your time. For fans of bizarre and outlandish horror in the vein of Jordan Peele, THE RAVENING offers a chilling and thought-provoking read.
I requested a copy of the ARC from the publisher, Angry Robot Books, and was approved in exchange for consideration of a review. All opinions discussed are my own and are subjective to myself as a reader.
A heartfelt thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for their support towards my enthusiasm for reading and reviewing!
Special thanks to my highest level Patrons: Ev, Sharon, Andrew, Star, Kate, Gail, Amanda F., Tara, John, Ann, & Chad K.
The following is a brief summary of the transcript taken from the above referenced video review.
THE RAVENING is a gripping, atmospheric horror tale that left me questioning what was real and what was imagined. The story follows Jenna McKnight, a young woman haunted by her past and a supernatural enemy.
The novel kicks off with a heart-stopping prologue where a 15-year-old Jenna witnesses her mother's mysterious disappearance in the woods. This traumatic event shapes her life, as she grows into a hardened, resourceful woman, but the unresolved pain - the lack of closure - continues to haunt her. The book picks up 15 years later, as Jenna, now in her early 30s, is trying to get her life back on track after a recent breakup from an abusive ex.
Jenna’s new love interest, Holly, is a bright spot in an otherwise dark and intense narrative. Holly's charisma bubbles off the page, offering a brief respite from the tension. Despite Jenna’s attempts to protect her heart, her bond with Holly grows, though the story quickly steers back into its unsettling, paranormal elements.
One of the most compelling aspects of THE RAVENING for me is its setting. The dense, claustrophobic woods are almost a character in themselves, providing an eerie backdrop to the unfolding horror. This sense of confinement and fear plays a significant role throughout the book.
The supernatural threat isn’t your typical demon—it’s not about possession or murder. Without giving too much away, there's a surprising twist related to forced pregnancy, a theme that some readers might want to be aware of before diving in.
What I found fascinating was the ambiguity surrounding Jenna's experiences. Is the supernatural force real, or is it a manifestation of her trauma? Daniel Church weaves a narrative that makes you question the nature of reality, leaving much open to interpretation - especially to those like me with overactive imaginations.
Though the story does slow down midway, everything ties together neatly by the end. If you’re a patient reader who enjoys folklore-driven horror with psychological depth, this book will be worth your time. For fans of bizarre and outlandish horror in the vein of Jordan Peele, THE RAVENING offers a chilling and thought-provoking read.
I requested a copy of the ARC from the publisher, Angry Robot Books, and was approved in exchange for consideration of a review. All opinions discussed are my own and are subjective to myself as a reader.
A heartfelt thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for their support towards my enthusiasm for reading and reviewing!
Special thanks to my highest level Patrons: Ev, Sharon, Andrew, Star, Kate, Gail, Amanda F., Tara, John, Ann, & Chad K.
October 20, 2025
What a powerful horror book!
October 17, 2024
Book was great the first half, after that was very drug out and I started to hate the main character and her attitude.
September 27, 2024
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Intriguing premise. Badass and resourceful heroine. Tight action. Fascinating dreamworld.
Cons: The supernatural aspect is a lot less prominent than one would expect, until late in the story. The main character can be abrasive and goes from mistrust to love in a jiffy. The "historical" interpolations are a bit tedious and not really necessary. There's a questionable sex scene, and a string of repetitions ("babe", "girl" "stupid cow") that get old fast.
WARNING! Blood, gore, violence, murder, dismemberment, near-drowning, fire. Familial trauma, kidnapping, imprisonment, forced pregnancy, attempted suicide, homophobia, bullying, copious swearing. Contains a detailed F/F sex scene.
Will appeal to: Those who enjoy a mixture of thriller and supernatural with plenty of action. Those who can get behind a tough female character without a maternal bone in her body.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on Edelweiss. Thanks to Watkins Publishing LTD/Angry Robot for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.
MAGICAL CRESCENDO
I'll be honest: I expected The Ravening to be less of an action-y thriller and more of a "classic" supernatural haunting. But though I would have liked to spend more time in the dreamworld Church created because it was super-cool (and because that's how I roll 😉), I appreciated how he slowly introduced more and more supernatural cues into a seemingly average (well, in a manner of speaking) abduction-and-escape story, only to finally give the fantastical elements center stage and reveal the mythological foundations of his narrative (I'm not going to be more specific in order to avoid spoilers, but basically, Church put a wild and creative spin on a well-known classical myth). It's a testament to the author's ability to weave a tale that never lets up - and to come up with a flawed, yet relatable and strong heroine - if I was able to enjoy a story employing one of my less favourite narrative devices (the aforementioned abduction-and-escape), so chances are that those of you who aren't fond of this kind of stories will be entertained enough to read on, and get to the supernatural bits in all their glory 🙂. [...]
Whole review here.
Pros: Intriguing premise. Badass and resourceful heroine. Tight action. Fascinating dreamworld.
Cons: The supernatural aspect is a lot less prominent than one would expect, until late in the story. The main character can be abrasive and goes from mistrust to love in a jiffy. The "historical" interpolations are a bit tedious and not really necessary. There's a questionable sex scene, and a string of repetitions ("babe", "girl" "stupid cow") that get old fast.
WARNING! Blood, gore, violence, murder, dismemberment, near-drowning, fire. Familial trauma, kidnapping, imprisonment, forced pregnancy, attempted suicide, homophobia, bullying, copious swearing. Contains a detailed F/F sex scene.
Will appeal to: Those who enjoy a mixture of thriller and supernatural with plenty of action. Those who can get behind a tough female character without a maternal bone in her body.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on Edelweiss. Thanks to Watkins Publishing LTD/Angry Robot for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.
MAGICAL CRESCENDO
I'll be honest: I expected The Ravening to be less of an action-y thriller and more of a "classic" supernatural haunting. But though I would have liked to spend more time in the dreamworld Church created because it was super-cool (and because that's how I roll 😉), I appreciated how he slowly introduced more and more supernatural cues into a seemingly average (well, in a manner of speaking) abduction-and-escape story, only to finally give the fantastical elements center stage and reveal the mythological foundations of his narrative (I'm not going to be more specific in order to avoid spoilers, but basically, Church put a wild and creative spin on a well-known classical myth). It's a testament to the author's ability to weave a tale that never lets up - and to come up with a flawed, yet relatable and strong heroine - if I was able to enjoy a story employing one of my less favourite narrative devices (the aforementioned abduction-and-escape), so chances are that those of you who aren't fond of this kind of stories will be entertained enough to read on, and get to the supernatural bits in all their glory 🙂. [...]
Whole review here.
August 8, 2024
DNF @ 100 pages
This is a forced pregnancy/kidnapping/confinement story. This isn't a spoiler as it happens within the first 50 pages. I don't know why it isn't mentioned in the blurb. If I'd known the real premise of this book, I wouldn't have chosen to read it.
This is a forced pregnancy/kidnapping/confinement story. This isn't a spoiler as it happens within the first 50 pages. I don't know why it isn't mentioned in the blurb. If I'd known the real premise of this book, I wouldn't have chosen to read it.
December 3, 2025
Thrilling Ride Exploring Trauma
The Ravening
DANIEL CHURCH
Angry Robot Books
Release date: 24th September 2024
This second Church/Mr B novel is another masterclass in tension, visceral horror and real emotion.
It starts with teenage Jenna in the woods and a crash, something lurking in the darkness, followed by the mysterious loss of her mother that leads to a lifetime of trauma.
After dumping a particularly abusive boyfriend who exhibits traits of coercive control, Jenna has started dating Holly, a vivacious and smart woman who makes Jenna think that maybe she might stay around a while.
Jenna of course has trouble committing since her past experiences, channelling her anger into her art and muay Thai.
When the past comes calling again, it threatens everything she’s worked towards. Evil exists in the present and sometimes it’s an ancient presence sent to hunt her.
This is an extraordinary book with a pair of strong female leads who kick ass literally and intellectually.
It’s a dark, claustrophobic exploration into grief, trauma, fear, and toxic relationships.
I can’t say much about what Jenna goes through without giving the game away but at about 15% it suddenly shifts gears and oh my gosh it’s thrilling.
It’s part folk horror, part thriller, part sapphic romance and I loved it.
Church holds nothing back when it comes to the bloody scenes and we end up dealing with a nightmare landscape.
A genuinely exciting and scary read.
The Ravening
DANIEL CHURCH
Angry Robot Books
Release date: 24th September 2024
This second Church/Mr B novel is another masterclass in tension, visceral horror and real emotion.
It starts with teenage Jenna in the woods and a crash, something lurking in the darkness, followed by the mysterious loss of her mother that leads to a lifetime of trauma.
After dumping a particularly abusive boyfriend who exhibits traits of coercive control, Jenna has started dating Holly, a vivacious and smart woman who makes Jenna think that maybe she might stay around a while.
Jenna of course has trouble committing since her past experiences, channelling her anger into her art and muay Thai.
When the past comes calling again, it threatens everything she’s worked towards. Evil exists in the present and sometimes it’s an ancient presence sent to hunt her.
This is an extraordinary book with a pair of strong female leads who kick ass literally and intellectually.
It’s a dark, claustrophobic exploration into grief, trauma, fear, and toxic relationships.
I can’t say much about what Jenna goes through without giving the game away but at about 15% it suddenly shifts gears and oh my gosh it’s thrilling.
It’s part folk horror, part thriller, part sapphic romance and I loved it.
Church holds nothing back when it comes to the bloody scenes and we end up dealing with a nightmare landscape.
A genuinely exciting and scary read.
July 1, 2024
Daniel Church is masterful in creating nuanced characters and convincing dialogue in stories supported by an elaborate mythology. Unfortunately, The Ravening takes a more circuitous route to its destination than its predecessor, The Hollows. Set in modern day, Church's latest story is contextualized by short descriptions of medieval history and associated legends that will presumably have some bearing on the events of the story. Church goes on to describe a traumatic night in the protagonist's childhood before jumping ahead to her current reality as an adult. The transition consists mostly of describing the main character's tumultuous romantic relationships, from past disasters to the current tension on a camping trip, which generates little empathy. Then, the plot takes another major turn that makes the expository parts seem irrelevant. Adam Nevill handled a similar story structure better in The Ritual. That being said, mileage may vary and fans of The Hollows should definitely give it a try.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Angry Robot for the ARC.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Angry Robot for the ARC.
July 29, 2024
Thanks to Angry Robot for this ARC, always appreciated.
Spoilers ahead
I went into this book fairly blind, as there are no trigger warnings and the blurb is vague. I don’t have any triggers per se, but I do not enjoy reading about pregnancy in any capacity. If I had known this going in, I wouldn’t have requested the book.
I did enjoy the beginning bit, and the dialogue was interesting. Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me. I would give this author another go, as long as it didn’t involve pregnancy.
Spoilers ahead
I went into this book fairly blind, as there are no trigger warnings and the blurb is vague. I don’t have any triggers per se, but I do not enjoy reading about pregnancy in any capacity. If I had known this going in, I wouldn’t have requested the book.
I did enjoy the beginning bit, and the dialogue was interesting. Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me. I would give this author another go, as long as it didn’t involve pregnancy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2024
Disclaimer: I received an e-ARC from netgalley in exchange for a review.
This novel promises to follow a young woman, Jenna, who witnessed the traumatic death of her mother on a lone forest road as a teenager, when evil comes after her once more. This description piqued my interesting and I was excited to pick it up. I also really enjoyed the first chapter and the dread it built.
However, this novel suffers for two reasons: It is too long and the summary does not even hint at a major change in plot at around the 25% mark of the book. As some other reviews have mentioned and which I wish I had read before requesting a review copy of this book, the summary could use some rewording to let readers know which direction the story will go. While the first chapter is really well written and delivers the dread I was hoping for, the story soon switches to that of a pregnant woman kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend and locked up with intention of forcing her to deliver his baby (which is not something I would have picked up had I known as it is not the type of story I enjoy). While it does ultimately tie together with the overall supernatural plot of the story, it was not what I was expecting at all and so definitely negatively influenced my enjoyment of the book.
When the first escape attempt immediately starts after she gets kidnapped, it was clear that one was doomed from the beginning and it was really interesting to read. However, due to the sheer quantity of running away and hiding and running and hiding (and on and on and on) it soon became too much and felt repetitive and tiring. From around 30% to 60% of the story I found myself very bored, as most of it was focused on (a variety of) escapes and particularly the second escape attempt dragged out even longer due to constant POV switches. Despite the many changes in scenery the actions of the villains as well as Jenna’s actions are soon repetitive as well. In the last quarter of the book my attention was piqued once more, as finally the lore was being revealed and we learned more about what exactly was going on and why all these things are happening to Jenna specifically. While I found that part interesting again, at that point unfortunately it was not enough to raise my opinion of this book higher.
I found the heavy inclusion of British vernacular intriguing and enjoyed reading the dialogue. I also liked the short flashbacks to the Templar’s which show which past events caused all this. In general, I think this could have been a fascinating horror story if it was shortened and the description revealed what can actually be expected of the story. All in all, I cannot give this story more than 2 stars.
Tw: slight fatphobia, death of parent, violence and injury, forced confinement, kidnapping, imprisonment, threats of rape, impregnation through deception (hole in condom), forced birth, threats of forced medical impregnation, gun violence, murder, forced institutionalization, graphic attempted suicide, homophobia, (past) bullying, violence, burning alive
This novel promises to follow a young woman, Jenna, who witnessed the traumatic death of her mother on a lone forest road as a teenager, when evil comes after her once more. This description piqued my interesting and I was excited to pick it up. I also really enjoyed the first chapter and the dread it built.
However, this novel suffers for two reasons: It is too long and the summary does not even hint at a major change in plot at around the 25% mark of the book. As some other reviews have mentioned and which I wish I had read before requesting a review copy of this book, the summary could use some rewording to let readers know which direction the story will go. While the first chapter is really well written and delivers the dread I was hoping for, the story soon switches to that of a pregnant woman kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend and locked up with intention of forcing her to deliver his baby (which is not something I would have picked up had I known as it is not the type of story I enjoy). While it does ultimately tie together with the overall supernatural plot of the story, it was not what I was expecting at all and so definitely negatively influenced my enjoyment of the book.
When the first escape attempt immediately starts after she gets kidnapped, it was clear that one was doomed from the beginning and it was really interesting to read. However, due to the sheer quantity of running away and hiding and running and hiding (and on and on and on) it soon became too much and felt repetitive and tiring. From around 30% to 60% of the story I found myself very bored, as most of it was focused on (a variety of) escapes and particularly the second escape attempt dragged out even longer due to constant POV switches. Despite the many changes in scenery the actions of the villains as well as Jenna’s actions are soon repetitive as well. In the last quarter of the book my attention was piqued once more, as finally the lore was being revealed and we learned more about what exactly was going on and why all these things are happening to Jenna specifically. While I found that part interesting again, at that point unfortunately it was not enough to raise my opinion of this book higher.
I found the heavy inclusion of British vernacular intriguing and enjoyed reading the dialogue. I also liked the short flashbacks to the Templar’s which show which past events caused all this. In general, I think this could have been a fascinating horror story if it was shortened and the description revealed what can actually be expected of the story. All in all, I cannot give this story more than 2 stars.
Tw: slight fatphobia, death of parent, violence and injury, forced confinement, kidnapping, imprisonment, threats of rape, impregnation through deception (hole in condom), forced birth, threats of forced medical impregnation, gun violence, murder, forced institutionalization, graphic attempted suicide, homophobia, (past) bullying, violence, burning alive
August 13, 2024
A gripping, fast paced, grotesque, and horrifying read I couldn’t put down!
From the creator of The Hollows comes, a chilling horror thriller that will captivate fans of Stephen Graham Jones's The Only Good Indian. Jenna's life has been marked by hardship, from the mysterious disappearance of her mother to escaping an abusive relationship. Now seeking solace with her new girlfriend, Holly, Jenna finds herself haunted by a malevolent darkness that refuses to let her go. It’s a suspenseful novel that pits Jenna against both ancient evils and personal demons, exploring themes of trust, self-belief, and the faint glimmer of love in a world shrouded in terror.
This book is a masterclass in the art of psychological and visceral horror, expertly blending the grotesque with profound emotional depth. Its pace is blistering, pulling readers into a maelstrom of fear and dread. As Jenna encounters a series of horrifying events, the descriptions of gore and terror span all five senses —every drip of blood and scream of fear, is rendered in striking clarity. This immersive approach ensures that readers experience the horror alongside Jenna, feeling her terror in real-time as she narrowly escapes one horrific encounter only to be thrust into another.
The Ravening is more than just a relentless horror story. It dives deep into real-life demons that shadow us daily—PTSD, grief, bullying, and self-worth. The narrative eloquently illustrates that the monsters lurking in the dark are not always the most terrifying. Often, the real monsters are the struggles and emotional battles we face in our everyday lives. Through Jenna’s experiences, the book underscores the importance of clinging to the small, cherished details that help us persevere amidst adversity. There’s even a spicy sense to ease the tension.
The historical references woven into the story enrich the plot, grounding the ancient demon at the heart of the tale in a context that feels both plausible and daunting. These elements not only enhance the believability of the demon’s existence but also serve as a testament to the long-standing struggle humanity has faced against this dark force.
Overall, The Ravening is a compelling blend of fast-paced horror and meaningful commentary on personal struggles. Its chilling atmosphere, combined with its exploration of both supernatural and real-world demons, makes it a standout in the genre. If you’re a fan of horror that goes beyond the surface and digs deep into the human psyche, this book is a must-read.
From the creator of The Hollows comes, a chilling horror thriller that will captivate fans of Stephen Graham Jones's The Only Good Indian. Jenna's life has been marked by hardship, from the mysterious disappearance of her mother to escaping an abusive relationship. Now seeking solace with her new girlfriend, Holly, Jenna finds herself haunted by a malevolent darkness that refuses to let her go. It’s a suspenseful novel that pits Jenna against both ancient evils and personal demons, exploring themes of trust, self-belief, and the faint glimmer of love in a world shrouded in terror.
This book is a masterclass in the art of psychological and visceral horror, expertly blending the grotesque with profound emotional depth. Its pace is blistering, pulling readers into a maelstrom of fear and dread. As Jenna encounters a series of horrifying events, the descriptions of gore and terror span all five senses —every drip of blood and scream of fear, is rendered in striking clarity. This immersive approach ensures that readers experience the horror alongside Jenna, feeling her terror in real-time as she narrowly escapes one horrific encounter only to be thrust into another.
The Ravening is more than just a relentless horror story. It dives deep into real-life demons that shadow us daily—PTSD, grief, bullying, and self-worth. The narrative eloquently illustrates that the monsters lurking in the dark are not always the most terrifying. Often, the real monsters are the struggles and emotional battles we face in our everyday lives. Through Jenna’s experiences, the book underscores the importance of clinging to the small, cherished details that help us persevere amidst adversity. There’s even a spicy sense to ease the tension.
The historical references woven into the story enrich the plot, grounding the ancient demon at the heart of the tale in a context that feels both plausible and daunting. These elements not only enhance the believability of the demon’s existence but also serve as a testament to the long-standing struggle humanity has faced against this dark force.
Overall, The Ravening is a compelling blend of fast-paced horror and meaningful commentary on personal struggles. Its chilling atmosphere, combined with its exploration of both supernatural and real-world demons, makes it a standout in the genre. If you’re a fan of horror that goes beyond the surface and digs deep into the human psyche, this book is a must-read.
September 30, 2024
THE RAVENING brings together locked-room thriller components with a more sort of eldritch elements. Jenna is our resourceful protagonist pitted against both of these scenarios, in a mash up that I wasn’t expecting but that certainly had great moments!
I really enjoyed the moments where this leaned more towards the paranormal/sinister aspects of the Bonewalker, Jenna’s name for the monster that haunts her dreams, but which turns out to be a very real, sinister force tracking her through the years since her mother’s death 15 years prior. This is where I think the novel came into its own.
Conversely, I found the locked-room aspect of Jenna’s (numerous) captures to be a little jarring. Though this certainly works for the plot, I found this to be not quite what I was expecting when I settled in. There are several organisations and opposing forces who want to get their hands on Jenna, for reasons which DO become clear (sort of), and so her multiple escape and recapture attempts do lend themselves to this feeling of inescapable scenario after scenario, I did find the plot a little repetitive. Especially as there were players that kept reappearing.
I found the more fantastical elements of the Bonewalker to be most enjoyable, and there are transportive scenes where the reader feels as disoriented as Jenna, which really works. The pacing also really picks up during the latter half of the story, when Jenna starts taking the fight TO the Bonewalker, instead of continously running away (which is understandable, I am in no way suggesting her actions were unrealistic).
However, though the pacing picked up and I found the paranormal elements I felt were lacking in the first half became more prevelant, I found that the Bonewalker right at the end of the book, was far too humanised. There was a segment for about 30% where I was invested in the truly paranormal aspects, where the plot was making sense, and the stakes were high – then, for me, this fell into the trap of that seems all too common in horror movies. Where the antagonist force loses the element of surprise or ‘unknowability’ and therefore becomes far less menacing.
Once we hit the last quarter of the book, I found that I didn’t have the same sense of foreboding around the Bonewalker as I did when this was purely a being of sensory horror, one that existed for Jenna and you as a reader weren’t sure if he was real.
PLOT
I do also find the elements of history to be interesting, certainly the lore that this additional narrative was attempting to provide. However this wasn’t woven in deeply enough, and by the time I found out the true reason for these side notes of history, the Bonewalker had been too humanised, we had a monologue reveal of the reasons for every action, and I lost my thread of suspense.
I did however find Jenna to be a compelling and very opinionated main character. I loved that this put a queer relationship front and centre, but I would have loved a little more character development from Jenna a bit quicker. She spent almost the entirety of the story convinced her girlfriend was also out to get her, and while I can understand the dynamics of trust issues, I found that some of their interactions were stilted as a result.
There was a lot to like, and a great premise! THE RAVENING is an interesting blend of thriller and horror elements, which I think enthusiasts of genre-bending works will enjoy!
Great premise, but this one fell a little short for me.
Thank you to Angry Robot Books for the review copy!
I really enjoyed the moments where this leaned more towards the paranormal/sinister aspects of the Bonewalker, Jenna’s name for the monster that haunts her dreams, but which turns out to be a very real, sinister force tracking her through the years since her mother’s death 15 years prior. This is where I think the novel came into its own.
Conversely, I found the locked-room aspect of Jenna’s (numerous) captures to be a little jarring. Though this certainly works for the plot, I found this to be not quite what I was expecting when I settled in. There are several organisations and opposing forces who want to get their hands on Jenna, for reasons which DO become clear (sort of), and so her multiple escape and recapture attempts do lend themselves to this feeling of inescapable scenario after scenario, I did find the plot a little repetitive. Especially as there were players that kept reappearing.
I found the more fantastical elements of the Bonewalker to be most enjoyable, and there are transportive scenes where the reader feels as disoriented as Jenna, which really works. The pacing also really picks up during the latter half of the story, when Jenna starts taking the fight TO the Bonewalker, instead of continously running away (which is understandable, I am in no way suggesting her actions were unrealistic).
However, though the pacing picked up and I found the paranormal elements I felt were lacking in the first half became more prevelant, I found that the Bonewalker right at the end of the book, was far too humanised. There was a segment for about 30% where I was invested in the truly paranormal aspects, where the plot was making sense, and the stakes were high – then, for me, this fell into the trap of that seems all too common in horror movies. Where the antagonist force loses the element of surprise or ‘unknowability’ and therefore becomes far less menacing.
Once we hit the last quarter of the book, I found that I didn’t have the same sense of foreboding around the Bonewalker as I did when this was purely a being of sensory horror, one that existed for Jenna and you as a reader weren’t sure if he was real.
PLOT
I do also find the elements of history to be interesting, certainly the lore that this additional narrative was attempting to provide. However this wasn’t woven in deeply enough, and by the time I found out the true reason for these side notes of history, the Bonewalker had been too humanised, we had a monologue reveal of the reasons for every action, and I lost my thread of suspense.
I did however find Jenna to be a compelling and very opinionated main character. I loved that this put a queer relationship front and centre, but I would have loved a little more character development from Jenna a bit quicker. She spent almost the entirety of the story convinced her girlfriend was also out to get her, and while I can understand the dynamics of trust issues, I found that some of their interactions were stilted as a result.
There was a lot to like, and a great premise! THE RAVENING is an interesting blend of thriller and horror elements, which I think enthusiasts of genre-bending works will enjoy!
Great premise, but this one fell a little short for me.
Thank you to Angry Robot Books for the review copy!
September 24, 2024
A massive thank you to the publisher who provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
**TWs: Kidnapping, forced pregnancy, sexual assault, violence, suicide attempt, abusive relationship**
With her mother traumatically and mysteriously disappearing when Jenna was young, fifteen years later, what took her mother has come back for Jenna.
As a gripping, atmospheric horror, I was hooked… for the first half. It had me asking ‘what am I actually reading?’ at least ten times, as the synopsis barely even scratches the surface on what the book is actually about. It took a rapid turn into even more messed up, and then it just… dropped off as it hit the second half.
Gone was the fast paced horror I initially enjoyed, and instead I was left with a slow and boring pace that had me wanting to DNF multiple times. It was like reading a completely different book, and what could have been a great book, turned into one I was quickly bored of.
Told from Jenna’s POV, the transition from past to present feels clunky and lacks the smoothness a transition needs. Not only this, but Jenna herself feels like a very underwhelming and extremely obnoxious MC. There’s also the annoying overuse of the word ‘babe’, (I dread to think how many times I had to read it).
Please read the trigger warnings before going into this if you decide to give it a try as there’s more than a few that can be incredibly triggering to some, and a lot of potentially triggering moments happen early on into the book. If I’d known the true synopsis of the book, I don’t think I would have picked it up, and it’s definitely marketed with little info for readers, which in this case is not a great idea.
Please read other reviews that contain spoilers to get the real gist of it, because this book is definitely not what I was expecting.
Did I like the book? The first half.
Did I love it? No.
Would I recommend it? No.
This review can also be found at Finally Got Around to it
**TWs: Kidnapping, forced pregnancy, sexual assault, violence, suicide attempt, abusive relationship**
With her mother traumatically and mysteriously disappearing when Jenna was young, fifteen years later, what took her mother has come back for Jenna.
As a gripping, atmospheric horror, I was hooked… for the first half. It had me asking ‘what am I actually reading?’ at least ten times, as the synopsis barely even scratches the surface on what the book is actually about. It took a rapid turn into even more messed up, and then it just… dropped off as it hit the second half.
Gone was the fast paced horror I initially enjoyed, and instead I was left with a slow and boring pace that had me wanting to DNF multiple times. It was like reading a completely different book, and what could have been a great book, turned into one I was quickly bored of.
Told from Jenna’s POV, the transition from past to present feels clunky and lacks the smoothness a transition needs. Not only this, but Jenna herself feels like a very underwhelming and extremely obnoxious MC. There’s also the annoying overuse of the word ‘babe’, (I dread to think how many times I had to read it).
Please read the trigger warnings before going into this if you decide to give it a try as there’s more than a few that can be incredibly triggering to some, and a lot of potentially triggering moments happen early on into the book. If I’d known the true synopsis of the book, I don’t think I would have picked it up, and it’s definitely marketed with little info for readers, which in this case is not a great idea.
Please read other reviews that contain spoilers to get the real gist of it, because this book is definitely not what I was expecting.
Did I like the book? The first half.
Did I love it? No.
Would I recommend it? No.
This review can also be found at Finally Got Around to it
September 14, 2024
Daniel Church BLEW ME AWAY with the RAVENING!
The Ravening is the latest thrilling horror adventure from Daniel Church and it is truly phenomenal. Not only is this book action-packed right from the opening chapters, but it doesn't relent until the last page. When I say that I devoured this story, I truly did. I found myself unable to put it down and it's just fantastic. Daniel Church does an amazing job (which is a reminder to read The Hollows if you haven't yet) of building suspense and building toward a magnificent conclusion that pulls all of the loose strings together.
The Ravening gives a summary description that does not EXACTLY tell what to expect in this book. However, in this case, it works WELL! The starting part of this story is full of twists and turns, which many readers are going to LOVE. There is action, heartbreak, desperation, and gore. Then it builds from there. There is no slowing of the pace for this story. It is a mad dash race to the end with everything building with generations of secrets being revealed to give some great answers to some hard-hitting questions.
All in all, this is a true masterpiece and I loved it. It has so much to offer to readers of any genre. It is character-driven, with an ending that I was desperate to know. (Seriously this ending is truly worth everything. I loved every single minute of it)!
Check this out! You won't be disappointed!
The Ravening is the latest thrilling horror adventure from Daniel Church and it is truly phenomenal. Not only is this book action-packed right from the opening chapters, but it doesn't relent until the last page. When I say that I devoured this story, I truly did. I found myself unable to put it down and it's just fantastic. Daniel Church does an amazing job (which is a reminder to read The Hollows if you haven't yet) of building suspense and building toward a magnificent conclusion that pulls all of the loose strings together.
The Ravening gives a summary description that does not EXACTLY tell what to expect in this book. However, in this case, it works WELL! The starting part of this story is full of twists and turns, which many readers are going to LOVE. There is action, heartbreak, desperation, and gore. Then it builds from there. There is no slowing of the pace for this story. It is a mad dash race to the end with everything building with generations of secrets being revealed to give some great answers to some hard-hitting questions.
All in all, this is a true masterpiece and I loved it. It has so much to offer to readers of any genre. It is character-driven, with an ending that I was desperate to know. (Seriously this ending is truly worth everything. I loved every single minute of it)!
Check this out! You won't be disappointed!
September 29, 2024
A modern reiteration of the myth of Kronos: the rite of Cronus stopped, overturned by an iron willed woman, fulled by self belief and what else: love... I am afraid I've really struggled with the narrative, which I found ludicrous. Full of stereotypes like: the rich wanting immortality, the overly rich manipulating anything and everything for their own gains; secret medical clinics conducting all sorts of experiments, conspiracies around the Knights Templar Order and so on...I really couldn't put up with everything mixed in, to make The Ravening even remotely believable!
Like other reviewers, I must say this doesn't hold a candle to Church's previous novel. While the horror elements where a bit much for me, overall it was a pleasant novel that I've truly enjoyed. Sadly I cannot say the same about The Ravening(I think the only enjoyable bit was that it was based in Manchester, Salford even hahaha, I really love that Church writes about where I live!), but hopefully the next one is going to be a good one!
*Novel from the publisher with many thanks for the opportunity!
Like other reviewers, I must say this doesn't hold a candle to Church's previous novel. While the horror elements where a bit much for me, overall it was a pleasant novel that I've truly enjoyed. Sadly I cannot say the same about The Ravening(I think the only enjoyable bit was that it was based in Manchester, Salford even hahaha, I really love that Church writes about where I live!), but hopefully the next one is going to be a good one!
*Novel from the publisher with many thanks for the opportunity!
October 2, 2024
I liked The Ravening!
Jenna's had a tough life. From the mysterious loss of her mother on a dark woodland road when she was fifteen, to the abusive boyfriend she's recently escaped, she has learned that trust hurts you in the end.
Now Jenna's found happiness with her new girlfriend, Holly. But the world is full of darkness - some of it ancient, some of it closer to home and evil, and those who serve it will not let Jenna go...
It was a fun and fast-paced read that leaned towards being a thriller with horror elements.
The first 160 or so pages were definitely my favourite part of the book! It was so creepy and unsettling, and I loved it! The second half while I was still enjoying it wasn't as gripping as the first as the book revealed a lot of the twists pretty early on, and it made everything feel slightly less creepy for me, and that was slightly dissapoining.
Jenna was a great character! I found her kinda unlikeable but in a likeable way if that makes any sense. She was awesome!
The Bonewalker was also really cool and scary and the exact kind of evil being I love!
The last thing I want to mention is that the book does deal with forced pregnancy and other things that I know may upset some people. I would say more on the topic, but I'm pretty sure mentioning it is already leaning towards spoilers, though it does appear in the book within the first 50 pages.
Overall, I did like this book a lot and read through it quickly as it was a really entertaining read, and I definitely recommend it if it sounds like the book for you!
Jenna's had a tough life. From the mysterious loss of her mother on a dark woodland road when she was fifteen, to the abusive boyfriend she's recently escaped, she has learned that trust hurts you in the end.
Now Jenna's found happiness with her new girlfriend, Holly. But the world is full of darkness - some of it ancient, some of it closer to home and evil, and those who serve it will not let Jenna go...
It was a fun and fast-paced read that leaned towards being a thriller with horror elements.
The first 160 or so pages were definitely my favourite part of the book! It was so creepy and unsettling, and I loved it! The second half while I was still enjoying it wasn't as gripping as the first as the book revealed a lot of the twists pretty early on, and it made everything feel slightly less creepy for me, and that was slightly dissapoining.
Jenna was a great character! I found her kinda unlikeable but in a likeable way if that makes any sense. She was awesome!
The Bonewalker was also really cool and scary and the exact kind of evil being I love!
The last thing I want to mention is that the book does deal with forced pregnancy and other things that I know may upset some people. I would say more on the topic, but I'm pretty sure mentioning it is already leaning towards spoilers, though it does appear in the book within the first 50 pages.
Overall, I did like this book a lot and read through it quickly as it was a really entertaining read, and I definitely recommend it if it sounds like the book for you!
October 7, 2024
The perfect spooky fall read!
I picked this up because I wanted a chilling read that would get me into the halloween spirit and it's safe to say this book delivered. Daniel knows how to build suspense and tension, most of this book I was hooked yet at the same time slowly tuning each page waiting for the next twist or turn to jump out the page at me. The story builds and builds the more you read and before you know it you're knee deep within this story and unable to put it down until you get to the end.
This novel is action packed from the beginning, Church blends the fantasy aspect in so well with the horror. Immortal creatures and ancient bloodlines are just some of the plot points that you can expect, I love a good fantasy but i've yet to read one like this, I loved how twisted and brutal this read was and even though I finished this a couple weeks ago I felt like I needed the time to digest what I had just read. Please, please, please pick this book up if you love horror and all things fantasy.
I picked this up because I wanted a chilling read that would get me into the halloween spirit and it's safe to say this book delivered. Daniel knows how to build suspense and tension, most of this book I was hooked yet at the same time slowly tuning each page waiting for the next twist or turn to jump out the page at me. The story builds and builds the more you read and before you know it you're knee deep within this story and unable to put it down until you get to the end.
This novel is action packed from the beginning, Church blends the fantasy aspect in so well with the horror. Immortal creatures and ancient bloodlines are just some of the plot points that you can expect, I love a good fantasy but i've yet to read one like this, I loved how twisted and brutal this read was and even though I finished this a couple weeks ago I felt like I needed the time to digest what I had just read. Please, please, please pick this book up if you love horror and all things fantasy.
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