“The Reddening” by Adam Nevill: A Tale of Prehistoric Horrors, Cults, and Ancient Mysteries

If you're looking for a book that explores generational cults, secret drug ring conspiracies, ritualistic sacrifice, and ancient hellhounds, then The Reddening by Adam Nevill is the perfect read for you. This book delves into prehistoric horrors that may not have actually been left behind in history, and it has a little bit of everything to satisfy any horror fan's needs.

The Reddening takes place in a coastal and rural set of villages in England. It starts off with an avid hang glider noticing a fissure in a cliffside, which leads to a massive dig site revealing an ancient history of human sacrifice, ritualistic burials, and cannibalism. Meanwhile, in the present, people have started to go missing around the area where the cave was discovered. With the backdrop of rumors circulating of illegal drug fields hidden somewhere among the farm lands as well as rumors of mythical red folk being spotted, there's definitely a sense of impending doom.

The book alternates between the two main protagonists, Kat and Helene, who are both great characters that rise to the occasion despite being put through some pretty intense situations. One minor complaint about The Reddening is that it took a while to get invested in the story, but once grounded, it was hard to put down. The horror in the book mainly comes from the people and town surrounding our characters, as the thought of being the only person not on the inside of some cult and suddenly feeling like everyone is out to get you is pretty scary.

Overall, The Reddening is a good read for anyone looking to dive into something pretty deep. If you're in the market for something a little more casual, then it might be best to add this to your list of books to read and come back to it when you're ready to commit some time and attention to it. The harsh world of cults, drug rings, and ancient mysteries in The Reddening will be waiting for you.