The Ravening, by Daniel Church
1 Nov 2024The Book
Synopsis:
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 Jones
Jenna's life has always been a fight. From the traumatic and mysterious loss of her mother on a dark woodland road when she was fifteen, to the abusive and controlling boyfriend she's recently escaped, she has learned that trust hurts you in the end.
Now Jenna's found what she hopes is happiness with her new girlfriend, Holly. But the world is full of darkness - some of it ancient, some of it closer to home... Evil, and those who serve it, will not let Jenna go.
The Ravening is a gripping, claustrophobic horror novel that sets a timeless nightmare against one woman and her belief in herself, and the possibility that somewhere, somehow, there is love in the world.
My Review
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 Author/s
Daniel Church
I grew up in Manchester, and I still live in the North of England, with the love of my life. I love nature, hills, woods, forest, lakes, rivers, the sea and dogs.
I also write horror fiction.
My first novel, The Hollows, was published in 2022, and was a finalist for the British Fantasy Award for Best Horror Novel.
My second novel, The Ravening, will be published in September 2024.