The Ritual

The Plagueborne Trilogy #1

by Mitchell Lüthi

A devastating plague is sweeping the continent of Greater Virren...
Its origin is unknown, its dominance of the land near complete. In times of grim desperation, pestilence has given way to superstition, and the citizenry are now more divided than ever.

Yet the city of Rothenburg remains inexplicably untouched...
The Council has grown convinced of their immunity, even as their neighbours are consumed before them. As the world teeters on the brink of collapse, a zealous religious order has re-emerged. They claim to have discovered the source of the plague… but can they be trusted?

The plague will never reach Rothenberg...
Katarina Lorenz, a noble of the city and veteran of the civil war that shook the continent, remains unconvinced. She conspires to leave the city with her companion Tannhauser, to find out what's really going on beyond its walls.

THE RITUAL is the first in a trilogy of gripping high-fantasy novelettes. The debut possesses all the beloved hallmarks fans of the genre will recognise, but is distinguished by its gritty atmosphere and confrontation with some of the most unsettling chapters of human history.

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Fiction

137 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 25, 2018

About the author

The Pilgrim Illustrated Limited Edition Kickstarter is launching in September 2024! Check it out here: https://t.ly/xsNeh

The limited edition includes 12 full-page illustrations by artist Tyrone Le Roux, 9 character illustrations by Filipe Pagliuso, full-colour book ends by Alicja Tereszczenko, an illustrated slipcase by Anthony Ventura, custom interior design, medieval chapter drop caps, metallic rose gold on the front, spine, and rear, gold-edged pages, and a ribbon bookmark.

Mitchell Lüthi is a writer and producer based in Cape Town, South Africa. He has written a number of scripts, short stories, and radio plays. "Pilgrim" is his first full-length novel.

In addition to his writing, Lüthi produces and scores the Sentinel Creatives Podcast. With a passion for storytelling, Lüthi has established himself as a versatile writer who can create compelling narratives across various genres.

His short story, "The Bone Fields", received an honorable mention in the 2020 L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Competition. The story is available in the Write Like Hell: Kaiju anthology.

Reviews

[Nabarun Sengupta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book - The Ritual
Author - Mitchell Luthi
Occasionally you come across a book which, disguised as a fantasy, pierces through your heart with it's hard hitting emotions. The Ritual is one such novellete which takes up devastating plague as it's underlying theme and weaves around it a net of mysteries.
The book starts with the protagonist Miss Lorenz going out of her city Rothenberg in search of confirmation of rumours related to the reoccurrence of plague in the countryside. There she meets with members of a banished religious extremist group who claim to have traced the origin of the deadly cursed disease. They blame it on a girl and accuses her to be a witch and goes out of their way to punish her. Upon investigation, Lorenz lands upon some miraculous secrets revealed by the girl which can alter the course of the deadly disease forever.
Will Lorenz succeed in her quest? Will she get her desired revenge for an unfortunate incident in her past? Has that girl something to do with the spread of the epidemic?
To know the answers to the above questions, it's recommended that you lay your hands upon this crisp novellete which ends on a cliffhanger and is bound to make the reader wait for the next installment.

[Catherine Pratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first started reading this book, I got confused. Reason as to why is because I was reading the Black Hussars before the ritual. It was the first story in this book then The Ritual was the last story. But it's ok, I read both stories anyway. I have been wanting to read this trilogy for months, finally read the first book. In some parts the book was kinda boring but the action in the book made up for it. Overall it's a great book and I actually liked it. I am not really find of this genre but I am really starting to like it. I thank Mitchell for being such a great story teller and for writing these books. Hope to read more of his work aoon.

I got a free copy of the book and is voluntarily leaving a review

[Thushara · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE RITUAL


SERIES: The Plaugeborne Trilogy #1

AUTHOR: Mitchell Lüthi

FORMAT: Kindle

MY RATING: 4/5 Stars


"THE RITUAL" by Mitchell Lüthi is the first in a high fantasy novellete series named Plaugeborne, following Katarina Lorenz and her sidekick Tannhauser.

Synopsis:

The continent of Great Virren is engulfed by the deadly plague... Except the City of Rothenburg.


The City Council is itself convinced of the illogical reasons for their immunity, oblivious to something darker lurking in the deep woods.

A banished zealot religious order reemerges, taking things into their own hands, unknowingly worsening things.

Unconvinced, Katarina along with Tannhauser set out for a journey in search of answers and possibly a remedy for the Plauge.



WHAT I LIKED:

~ This book found its inspiration from the Witch hunting and prosecution, which is considered as one of the "darker chapters of human history". This book is definitely atmospheric. The creepy and chaotic mood is present throughout the book. The people's beliefs and superstitions of that particular time period is showcased accurately. This also tells us how people can be cruel in desperate times.

~ The writing style is good. It's not too flowery and no overwhelming description. Characters, places and settings are described to the required level. Absence of repetition allows the reader to be in ease with the plot. Too much info is not given to the readers. The reader gets to digest the provided facts as the story progress.

~ The pacing was correct for me personally. Not too slow or not too fast. Just the right amount.

~The characters are not pretentious. They can be easily connected with.

~ Also the book has a gorgeous cover.

Even though, the story was a little bit predictable, especially towards the end. This book has left me wanting more from this world. Overall, this book was a great read. Recommends this to all Fantasy lovers.


................................

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprised and delighted by this!

I figured this would pan out as a run-of-the-mill fantasy romp redolent of an all-male DnD campaign, with all the tired tropes and predictable twists. But as an indiscriminate devourer of fantasy, I figured I'd give it a shot, especially as the price was well within my budget. *slimy winky face*

Instead of plundering the well-established canon, the author has written and presented this book in a far more novel fashion, as it reads more like a piece of historical fiction made more familiar with flecks of fantasy, and sometimes horror - and read well it does. Even the most painstaking, meticulous readers will race through this, as the scenes play out seamlessly against each other, and it's altogether fairly short, albeit packed with content. No small measure of planful decision-making was applied here, I think.

It's also highly refreshing that the author has seen fit to make a female the star of the show (Katarina Lorenz), who's neither unbelievably tough and stoic, nor excessively hail-fellow-well-met or submissive. Rather, we've been given a character that's sensitive, yes, but also tenacious, steadfast, well-educated, and driven by a sense of justice - on which there isn't much of a premium in Rothenburg. Neither is she the token female! Yes, there are actually other female characters in this novel, and they actually interact with each other meaningfully -- god forbid!

This review's become a tad long, so I'll end it here. But suffice to say, I'm thoroughly impressed, and you will be, too. Pick it up and spread the word, and bring on the rest of the trilogy! Some of us are waiting!

[booksandreads8 · Rating 4 out of 5]

[REVIEW]
This book is a novella in a series called ‘The Ritual’. It is a great introduction to the series.
* The story is about a devastating hit of plague, that is killing the continent of greater Virren. But there is one city which is immune to it. The city of Rothenburg is untouched.
* The mystery is shaking. The book follows a journey of finding the origin of that plague, and what twists & turns come in the way. It is soul gripping. The cliffhanger is a great move.
* One of the most beautiful thing is that a female is the star of the book. The character development of Katrina is brilliant. I really liked the book. It is an amazing novella. The author has done a good job at world & character development. Language is easy and very simple to follow. The cover is beautiful and alluring.
* I rated this book a 4/5 🌟.

[Dianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short novella grabbed my attention with a stellarcover.  I know we are not supposed tojudge a book by its cover, but I totally do. I am drawn to bold and vibrant covers and this one pulled me in. Once Iread the synopsis I knew I had to read this book. 
This was a 4/5 star read for me.  The book opens up by introducing us toKatarina.  We are introduced to her town,Rothenberg, and quickly we realize that Katarina was going to be a fierce andstrong women destined to do some great things in this story.  This is just book one in a trilogy and I canalready see the compassion that drives Katarina along with desire to learn thetruth and do what she thinks is necessary to save herself and her town.  
I still currently have mixed feelings about her friend,Tannhauser.  He has shown some hesitationand I’m not sure if he will be up to doing what is necessary, but I also lovethat in the end he goes with Katarina and follows all her plans even when he isunsure about them.  His love for hisfriend and his faith in her is all he needs and he follows her direction.  I feel that this will be good or bad.  He will be there to slow down Katarina andmake sure she thinks through her plans, which would be good and helpful to keepher out of trouble, but also I am fearful that in the end his hesitation mayget in the way of the journey that will be necessary.  
This story was a unique story, which I feel is gettingharder to do these days.  I am eager toread more and find out what happens. There were a few times I got a little confused or lost in the story and theflow was just a bit off, but over all I found this a great story that wasdeveloped well.  Things moved a longquickly (and that’s to be expected with a 47 page novella).
I love reading stories where the characters are willing topush boundaries and seek to learn the truth and to do what they believe isright.  This story did not disappoint,Katarina was exactly what I like in a main character.  I felt so empowered and hopeful after readingThe Ritual.  In true trilogyfashion this book also left me wanting more!


[Pradeepa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, yet gripping till the end!

Katarina, the curious, empowering and the witty lead character sets out to find the reason behind the sudden outbreak of the plague in her province, though she was stopped by her father, the head of the Council as he had his own reasons to believe. The character Katarina was much enjoyable as she always wanted to push things to uncover the truth.

Unable to contain with her father’s decision, she seeks the help of her friend to travel away far from the city to find something more than she already knows. They come across few people who are kept afar by the Council and a girl who is held in custody for she is believed to be the reason for the outrage as well as the death of few. Unable to accept, Katarina sets to find the truth and what happens next is full on wittiness and action. A special mention would be to the friend character as one would find him supporting Katarina even if it would involve risking his own life.

Even though the end was more like hanging in the middle of the sentence, I thoroughly enjoyed each and every moment reading.

My Rating: 4/5

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The description of "The Ritual" immediately caught my attention and I was not disappointed!
Gritty, but not overwhelmingly so, the author has created an intoxicating blend of fantasy and history.

A plague is wrecking havoc across the continent of Greater Virren and yet the province of Rothenberg remains mysteriously untouched. Fear and rumour spread as the populace begins to panic, but are their superstitions unfounded, as the Council of Rothenberg claims? Is there something more to it than that? A fanatical religious order re-emerges. They claim to know the truth of the origins of the plague and set about enforcing their will with zealous fury.

A strong cast of unique characters and troubling themes reminiscent of our own history, this novelette provides a brilliant portrayal of human tragedy.

I found myself immersed from the very first page. An effortless read and certainly worth recommending!

[Derek Roday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grimdark without being overtly so. Epic without being derivative. I got a copy of the audiobook as I don't have as much time for reading these days. It's well produced, with a suitable score that isn't too in your face.

[bibliophilic_existentialist · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐
Didn't have quite the punch that The Black Hussars had,, still well written though and the ending nevertheless hooked me to read The Zealot. Very interested to read what will happen next.

[Bishal Baishya]

The book having 3 section as name suggests revolves around the medival fight of the society against disease of mass death in medival Europe.  The author has worked quite well in making the imagination of the story in coincidence with the ideas revolving that time. Including then society and public authority structure along with the religious extremism is also put a little which does feel good.

The protagonist is a lady, which is quite simply more common in these kind of historical stories written presently. A good concept especially with the story line making her reasoning the events looks good. But her character has some glitches. In early parts she was shown as a person of strong intellect but her actions in later part gets blurred with that fact. Secondly the ending with her actions of trust and revolt in most dedicated to society manner and the fight for justice is really appreciated.

In most such stories there is one clear point villain or the bad guy or girl. But here there is not exactly a good one nor certainly the worst one. Thinking of that it feels quite relatable and realistic.

The language of the story changes often. Sometimes it's the way of narration of a medival time, and sometimes it just changes to a general industrial time narration and sometimes a modern era one, which does strike a difference.

The author did work in creating the geographical and landscaped scenery on the mind of reader. A thing which was bit less compared to story line that does sometimes makes reader lose his or her attention.

The changes in paths of people and different beliefs coming for one single desire to see well being is something quite positive.


As a whole the book is a must read except in certain scenes where there is involvement of actions, which I felt can improve more. If you want to spend the winter reading it, then take a coffee with chips and get to your couch. This book won't be disappointment, in fact a much curious read.

#Recommended by My Secret Bookclub

[OldBird · Rating 4 out of 5]

TL;DR: A dark fantasy series sampler/starter that's slow to build but holds plenty of promise.

Katerina Lorenz has suspicions about the plague sweeping the lands. Despite the numbers succumbing, the city of Rothenberg and the surrounding province has been spared. The city Council cares not so long as it stays that way. Undeterred, she and her friend Tannhauser set out to investigate a possible supernatural cause. But then they meet Ezekiel, a member of a banned sect of witchfinders, and while his intentions to protect Rothenberg may align with Katerina's, his actions are guided by a vicious zealotry that could cost them dear.

While I felt a little confused at first, once we settled into Katarina's story everything flowed quite nicely. It took a little while to establish the world of Greater Virren - a little bit more of a primer on The Order, Prelates and the general setting of Rothenberg would have helped a lot - but once we do get the gist it's compelling stuff. There's a fine fantasy mystery full of magic and intrigue in a world where religious sects, mistrust of those in authority and intolerance of those who are different have come together in a perfect storm that could doom their homeland. It's all a bit D&D in a good way.

However the formatting of the text, particularly lack of line breaks for dialogue, made it more difficult and confusing to read than it could otherwise have been (I think that's why I often felt lost and unable to keep up with conversations).

A good first instalment, with a cliffhanger that feels like the natural end-of-chapter rather than abrupt cut off. If you don't mind short serialised stories then it's well worth a read.

[M.R. Pin · Rating 5 out of 5]

🇬🇧 / 🇵🇹

🇬🇧
After reading The Black Hussars I was expecting a bit more of the same story and maybe the interest level would be a little low now... But it wasn't!!

The Ritual, for me, became a more interesting part of the story, more mysterious and more thrilling!! I absolutly loved Katarina and her sharp tongue, showing she is a woman who can defend herself!! Even if a big old Tannhauser is by her side!!

I really enjoyed the mystery around the story, the fact that in the whole book we don't really know what's in the woods, howling... It gives a kind of dark aura to the scene, a ambience of fear!!

The Prelator surely is someone easy to dislike in the story as it represents something we also see nowadays, a man who acts as a judge but answering to the interests of others instead of being imparcial!! And with him we see an organization as some of the ones we also have... Being them a group of people from The Order but not recognized by them, yet they still act as they believe and justify their acts as "for The Order".

Katarina and Tannhauser for me are very interesting characters with an interesting personality, good natured and with the sense of goodness in them!! I believe there's much more to learn about them and about their personalities, although I do like how they are built!!

But the best of all the best?? The cover!! The cover art is just DELICIOUS!! Congratulations for the artist!!

Thanks to Mitchell Luthi for the ARC of these series!!

🇵🇹
Depois de ler The Black Hussars, esperava um pouco mais do mesmo e talvez até tenha iniciado com o nível de interesse mais baixo... Mas não é menos interessante!!

The Ritual, para mim, tornou-se uma parte mais interessante da história, mais misteriosa e emocionante!! Adorei a personagem Katarina com a língua afiada e com a postura de uma mulher que se sabe defender!! Mesmo tendo um grande e velho Tannhauser ao seu lado!!

Gostei especialmente do mistério em redor da história, da doença que se aproxima das populações, do facto de ao longo de todo o livro não sabemos realmente o que anda pelos bosques a uivar... Dá um ar mais obscuro às cenas que acontecem, um ambiente de medo!!

O Prelator é facilmente detestável na história e acaba por representar o que já vemos no nosso mundo, um homem que julga alguém mas que responde aos interesses de terceiros no lugar de ser imparcial e justo!! E com ele temos também uma organização como também vemos por cá... Sendo eles um grupo de pessoas da Ordem, mas que não são reconhecidos pela mesma, no entanto ainda actuam como acreditam ser correcto e justificando as suas acções como sendo actos para a Ordem!!

Katarina e Tannhauser para mim são personagens muito interessantes, com uma personalidade curiosa, boa disposição e com sentido de bondade e justiça!! Acho que há muito mais a aprender sobre ambos e sobre as suas vidas e personalidades, no entanto gosto da forma como estão construídas!!

Mas o melhor do melhor?? A capa!! A arte da capa é absolutamente fantástica!!

Obrigado ao autor Mitchell Luthi pela cedência do ARC desta série!!

[Cully Mack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katarina, a Nobel and veteran of a civil war, leaves the safety of Rothenburg city with her companion Tannhauser to search out the truth of a plague ravaging the land. The world outside is filled with banished religious zealots, one being Ezekiel who is on a mission to burn all witches. But one witch holds a secret, and its truth is imaginative and unexpected!
The characters are not the same as The Black Hussar and the narrative is set in a different timeframe. I would have liked to have seen a stronger connection between the books as they are in the same world of Greater Virren. I kind of feel the author missed a trick here. It left the novelette reading as stand-a-lone (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), I just would have liked to see the books more connected.
This is a first in a trilogy of novelettes and is a great start and set up for what follows. I thoroughly enjoyed this well-developed world and Katarina is a unique, strong female lead who doesn't fall into common fantasy tropes.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this in exchange for a review

This book contains two novelettes: the prequel The Black Hussars and The Ritual. It also contains a sample of The Zealot (which I think is set in the same world.)

There’s a nice blending of description and action in the novel, so the writing is easy to visualise and become immersed in. The pacing throughout is consistent – they rollick along, with no slow spots and the action sequences are excellent. I really enjoyed Luthi’s writing. My only complaint is that they ended too soon for me.

For fantasy readers, these tales will tick all the boxes and leave you wanting more. In particular I loved The Black Hussars – I mean who wouldn’t love story featuring battle bears that’s are at least 15 hands high to 20 hands high. (I’m hoping there’s a full length novel for these.)

4 stars.

[Yanique Gillana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was unexpected and I liked it.

The atmosphere was well executed, and the world building was handled ok for the length of the novella. The grimy medieval setting was great and the characters were interesting. This was a very short story, but the author managed to really set up the series with this one.

I liked the twist and I'm curious about where the story goes from here, but it will be interesting to see the plague ravished world in the sequels. This was my issue. The author provided us with a lot of information about the world, but we got to see very little of it even though the characters did do a bit of traveling. I felt like I knew lots about the world, but I didn't see very much of it and wouldn't be able to describe the scenery with any detail. For a story that's this atmospheric, I think more attention needs to be paid to the surroundings.

[Carol 27 · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this is a very quick read, it’s also a terrific introduction to the Plagueborne trilogy. The story is well written with well-defined and compelling characters. I enjoyed Katarina’s intellect, reasoning, courage and strength of resolve to get things done despite the odds against her. The revelation of why Rothenberg has been untouched by the plague was an interesting and ironic surprise. I look forward to the continuation of the story in The Zealot.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sasha Greyjoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptional read, from the first pages I was engrossed. Mitchell Lüthi paints the environments and characters he has created with a rich and believable brush leaving a lasting impression. I could imagine myself walking the streets of Rothenberg partaking in the festivities. A refreshing take on a favorite genre, great job by the fresh author. I look forward to reading the upcoming books in the series. I’m Hooked!

[Hollyann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was shorter than the Black Hussars and you could tell. While the Black Hussars had worldbuilding and character interwoven into the action, the Ritual didn't have very much of those things. I don't feel like I know the world or the characters and if I didn't already have the next book, I might not continue. It's just not a complete story with an arc. It really just seems like part one. Hopefully with the next book, which is much longer, it will make a full story.

[Scott Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dynamite truly comes in small packages.

Thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. For a newcomer to the genre, there's an ambitious sense of nuance and detail here. From the expansive setting and the endearing cast of characters, to the dialogue and intriguing plot, I've read countless books three times its length that are half as good. I can't wait for the next installment!

[Anna Luciano · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a really enjoyable read, it's well written and the characters are very well thought out. The high intensity of the story will have you gripped from the start and if you enjoy fantasy and conspiracy with a dark twist this book is for you. A great first instalment to the trilogy, I can't recommend this book enough.

[Carole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Strange dark fantasy novelette

I read the prequel, included on Kindle Unlimited, and I was fascinated by this dark world (the bears!). Moving into the actual book was a total turnaround. Since it is a trilogy, perhaps moving on, the trails will be picked up. I was impressed with the characterization and by the creation of a creepy dark fantastic world.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, really enjoyed this book! It's short, but manages to pack an awful lot in. The writing is enjoyable and easy to read, the plot is gripping (but leaves a bit of a cliff-hanger), and the characters are great. A large entertainment reward for a small time commitment.

My thanks to the author and StoryOrigin for a free copy to review. This review is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

[Darryl Temple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing on from the Black Hussars…

We’re engrossed further into a dark land of plague and witch hunting, characters with questionable motives and allegiances. Mysterious howls roam the forest and the taint of something more, more of which I will be reading…

Loving it so far,

The covers are amazing too

[Benjamin Small · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've enjoyed a couple of books by Mitchel L., but this one was a bit beyond his reach I fear. There is clearly a lot of ambition to do a fresh world building for a fantasy series, but man are the characters ever hokey. I made it about 15% through but the scene where they are sparring in the courtyard and trying to weave relationships and backlog into was just... corny.

[Maxine · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book from start to finish!!!
Great read, fantastic writing and so captivating...can’t wait for the next one.
Plus the artwork is awesome.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating! Definitely worth picking up if you catch it on promotion, and even after that!

[Justin Probyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read - really captivating. Looking forward to the second and third installation.

[B.T. Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smooth story telling

Dark, fascinating, and makes you wonder how it will end. A refreshing read for fantasy fans. All hail dark fantasy.

[Lisa Whitehead · Rating 2 out of 5]

An amazing cover, a not so amazing story.
Short, no depth.