I like horror but not this kind of horror! It's set up at the start to be a supernatural horror with a weird deer monster that abducts Jenna's mom when she's a teenager, and then a decade later, she's still trying to recover. It quickly then becomes a completely other sort of horror. A former boyfriend was an abusive jerk, he got her pregnant right before she left him, and once she realizes, he kidnaps her to hold her hostage to force her to carry his baby to term. Certainly these things line up eventually, but I wasn't going to stick around through that. Too scary.
Major CW for forced pregnancy and being held against one's will.

The two main characters, Jenna and Holly, and their relationship anchored this horror novel for me. And while the monster is terrifying, it is the sections where Jenna is imprisoned and her bodily autonomy is taken away that were the most chilling.

While there is potential for this book, it is in desperate need of quality control. There's just too much faff. The sheer amount of highly specific references, overwriting, ungainly hyperbolic characterization, and drama that is far too intense in the weirdest moments, made this sound distinctly Wattpadesque. The author was clearly having fun while writing, but that fun was transferred to me the same way I imagine it would be if I were watching a kid take a fat dump in a sandbox from across the park. Feels like someone should be monitoring and correcting this behavior, especially since it's a public spectacle, but the poor thing has been left unattended.

After reading The Hollows I looked forward to this.
This book has a really strong and gripping first half, and the potential up to this point is great.
But it does not fulfil the promise. I struggled alot with the second half and I don’t know if I would have finished it if I had not committed.

This was such an interesting premise and I really enjoyed Jenna’s character, and the first 40% of this book. After that, I felt that it got a little too complicated and the main plot and character were being forgotten amongst all the chaos. The horror aspect was written well, I certainly felt uneasy reading this. I just wish it was a little more tidy and neatened up in the middle.

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.

The Ravening by Daniel Church is an intriguing read with a dark and atmospheric storyline. The book follows a small community haunted by a mysterious, malevolent force, and Church does a great job building suspense and creating a chilling setting. However, the pacing can drag at times, and some plot twists feel predictable. The characters are engaging but could use more depth. Overall, it’s a solid thriller with some strong moments, though it doesn’t quite hit its full potential. If you’re into eerie, suspenseful stories, it’s worth checking out

So, this book was okay. I picked it up because it was compared to Stephen Graham Jones, and I love his work. However, it kinda just felt like more female trauma written by a male author for male gratification. Which is not what the author probably wanted to do. IDK, it just wasn't the vibe.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

The Ravening is a veritable chunky and visceral feast of a book for fans of horror.

Our carefully crafted companion, Jenna, is haughty, naughty and flawed; unsurprisingly after the terrifying way she loses her mum when still a teen in the early chapter where the tone is set with hints of ancient horrors to yet be unleashed upon us.

Fast forward several years, multiple deliveries of bad luck and a trauma laden 6 pound chip on her shoulder – we meet back up with Jenna and things seem to be taking a turn for the better in a relationship that is blooming despite her fear of commitment and lack of trust in everyone.

And that luck of trust proves portentous, as this is where the vortex of bad luck and injustice continues to sweep her up again and again to the extent that I had to keep putting the book down to take a breather from what she had to endure. But I was never far from picking it up again as it haunted me when I wasn’t in its pages.

There’s ancient bloodlines. Savage immortal creatures. Dark woodlands. Evil posh people and cold hearted doctors. Retibution and celebration into commiseration and frustration. Other worlds (how I loved that) and even some history around the Knights Templar.

Savagery and claustrophobia that won’t put you down all interlaced with a sardonic black humour from our protagonist – who is so well constructed that I feel I know her and in being so, feel every injustice personally. I almost read from behind a cushion.

Fast paced, brutal, stressful but always with a glint in its eye delivering little reprieves to the constant onslaught of WTF moments. The Ravening is an absolute joy to read and completely exhausting in all the ways I so desperately crave from books.

Daniel Church, bigup your badass (and very talented) self and kudos to Angry Robot for allow me the privilege of reading this advance copy.

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. The Ravening is a taut, 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 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.

DNF at 20%. Our very first introduction to Elaine, whose disappearance ostensibly drives the protagonist and the rest of the story, is her saying we should bring back hitting children, which threw off any negative emotions I would have felt about her murder/disappearance/kidnapping/whatever. The way Jenna was written made me feel like the author disliked her, which was also off-putting. I love an unlikeable character, but when the author themselves doesn't like their own creation, it's just hard to read. I was also totally thrown off by the disconnect between the story itself and the marketing -- for anyone reading this, the bulk of the story up until the point where I decided to stop was about forced pregnancy and kidnapping, which was hardly the folk horror setup the blurbs promised.

The Ravening is an interesting mix of folk horror, Knights Templar history, forced pregnancy horror and kidnap trauma. The opening sequence in the woods is particularly effective - although sadly the book is never quite as strong again. I definitely found the folk horror and knights Templar aspects more enjoyable than the forced pregnancy storyline which wasn’t really to my taste - once we were back into weird metaphysical elements I was much more engaged again.

I think the biggest issue for me is that neither Jenna nor Holly are particular likeable, and i wasn’t entirely convinced by their relationship - and especially the repeated use of ‘babe’ as a term of endearment. It’s funny the things that annoy you at times…

having said that there are effective elements - I do like the greylands as a concept, and the end is rather neat. Overall a bit of a curate’s egg, and a slight disappointment after the Hollows which I loved.

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.

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, bargaining, history of the occult, human greed, queer love, strong female characters, and character focused horror novels.

Overall, not a bad read but generally quite not for me.

I loved the Hollows so very much, so I was super excited to hear that Daniel Church had written a new book. The opening scene/setting pulled me right in and I figured I was in for another tension filled horror read. Rather quickly the story moved on around 10 years and the pace and atmosphere changed dramatically. This was also short lived as the book then moved on to what felt more like a crime/mystery/horror rather than the supernatural horror I was looking forward to. Not that there was anything wrong with this part of the novel - it was much like what I was used to when I read other genres. By this stage I was still hovering around 4 stars. But I was thrown off kilter once more by the introduction of dream-like scenes (I hate dream scenes) which promptly caused me to lose interest, start skim reading and to throw one star out the window, whilst barely holding on to the next star in my hand.

I got nothing out of the historical interludes, I was driven mad by the use of the word "babe" and really didn't need the graphic sex scene.

A two star read leveled up to three simply because it's Daniel Church.

This is a forced pregnancy/kidnapping/confinement story. Needs to be called out! Not what it was advertised.

**The Ravening** is a harrowing and immersive horror thriller that delves into the darkest corners of human trauma and the supernatural. Following the success of *The Hollows*, the author presents a gripping tale that will captivate fans of intense psychological horror and unflinching narratives.

At the heart of *The Ravening* is Jenna, a woman whose life has been marred by profound loss and suffering. The trauma of her mother’s mysterious disappearance when Jenna was fifteen has left deep scars, further compounded by her recent escape from an abusive relationship. This personal history of pain and distrust sets the stage for a compelling exploration of fear and resilience.

Jenna’s newfound happiness with her girlfriend, Holly, offers a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness that has consumed her life. However, the shadow of evil—both ancient and disturbingly personal—lingers, threatening to undo the fragile peace Jenna has managed to find. The novel masterfully juxtaposes Jenna's quest for safety and love with the malevolent forces that seek to drag her back into a world of fear and despair.

The horror elements in *The Ravening* are both visceral and psychological. The author creates a claustrophobic atmosphere that heightens the sense of dread and impending doom. The malevolent entities and supernatural forces are rendered with chilling detail, making them feel both timeless and terrifyingly real. This is a story where the line between the supernatural and the personal blurs, reflecting Jenna's internal struggle and the external horrors that confront her.

What sets *The Ravening* apart is its deep emotional core. Jenna’s journey is not just a battle against external evil but also a struggle with her own demons and the scars of her past. The novel deftly explores themes of trust, survival, and the search for genuine love in a world that seems determined to crush hope.

The character development is particularly strong, with Jenna’s resilience and vulnerability portrayed with authenticity and depth. Holly’s role as a source of support and potential redemption adds complexity to Jenna’s journey, highlighting the novel’s central theme of finding love and connection amidst chaos and terror.

**The Ravening** is a compelling addition to the horror genre, offering a rich tapestry of fear, emotion, and suspense. It is a testament to the author's ability to craft a narrative that is both deeply personal and universally frightening. For readers who appreciate horror that is as psychologically engaging as it is terrifying, **The Ravening** delivers a chilling and memorable experience.

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.

The novel follows the protagonist through a series of unsettling events that blur the line between reality and delusion, making for a gripping read.
the pacing can sometimes be uneven, and certain plot elements may feel familiar to fans of the genre,
It is a strong entry in the realm of psychological thrillers and horror, showcasing Daniel Church’s ability to deliver a gripping and thought-provoking story. Good for people entering the genre.