One million years of evolution didn't change our nature. Nor did it bury the horrors predating civilisation. Ancient rites, old deities and savage ways can reappear in the places you least expect.
Lifestyle journalist Katrine escaped past traumas by moving to a coast renowned for seaside holidays and natural beauty. But when a vast hoard of human remains and prehistoric artefacts is discovered in nearby Brickburgh, a hideous shadow engulfs her life.
Helene, a disillusioned lone parent, lost her brother, Lincoln, six years ago. Disturbing subterranean noises he recorded prior to vanishing, draw her to Brickburgh's caves. A site where early humans butchered each other across sixty thousand years. Upon the walls, images of their nameless gods remain.
Amidst rumours of drug plantations and new sightings of the mythical red folk, it also appears that the inquisitive have been disappearing from this remote part of the world for years. A rural idyll where outsiders are unwelcome and where an infernal power is believed to linger beneath the earth. A timeless supernormal influence that only the desperate would dream of confronting. But to save themselves and those they love, and to thwart a crimson tide of pitiless barbarity, Kat and Helene are given no choice. They were involved and condemned before they knew it.
The Reddening is an epic story of folk and prehistoric horrors, written by the author of The Ritual and three times winner of The August Derleth Award for Best Horror Novel.
Praise for Adam Nevill's horror novels:
"a mind-twisting journey into the dark backwoods of terror. Deeply disturbing and absolutely riveting." Jonathan Maberry, NY Times Bestselling author on The Ritual.
"A ruthless and psychologically brutal book" This is Horror on The Ritual.
"Best of all, though, is his depiction of the elemental forces of evil that haunt the hostile arctic wastelands. Superb." The Guardian on The Ritual.
"Often horror loses its power when evil shows its face; in this case it only gets more disturbing" The Sunday Times on The Ritual.
"This is riveting, and Nevill is fast becoming Britain's answer to Stephen King." The Guardian on Last Days.
"An effectively creepy novel that will leave you sleeping with the lights on" SFX on Last Days.
"Readers will lose all hope of peaceful, undisturbed sleep. Highly recommended” Library Journal - Starred Review on Last Days.
"A wonderfully creepy and disturbing novel." The Independent on House of Small Shadows.
"Nevill’s foray into folk horror is a nail-biting success." Rue Morgue on House of Small Shadows.
"Haunted-house maestros Shirley Jackson, Carlos Ruiz Zafón, and Peter Straub would approve—this sets the bar for the best horror novel of the decade." Booklist on House of Small Shadows.
"If there were six stars to be given instead of five, this one deserves them!" Suspense Magazine on No One Gets Out Alive.
"bleak, disturbing and terrifying - and horribly compelling" The Independent on Lost Girl.
"the author's vision of our near future is horribly plausible." Financial Times on Lost Girl.
"original, surprising, and eyes-to-the-wall terrifying" SciFiNow on Under a Watchful Eye.
Industry Reviews
"Supernatural horror does not get much better than The Reddening. If you’re a fan of slow build-ups, heavy atmosphere, superb and intricate plotting, bloodletting and a novel which has a unique sense of time and place then you are going to love this quality story. 5/5." Gingernuts of Horror.
“The Reddening is an intense, chokehold of a novel. It grips from the start and holds you down as it makes you consume the horrors within.” This is Horror.
"I enjoyed this book so much and cannot recommend it enough to all horror-loving readers. Pick this one up for the gore, high tension, and superb writing. 5 Stars" Night Worms.
"The Reddening is initially a slow burn tale that ramps up to be a pacey multi-faceted horror that is so well written Adam Nevill is seriously starting to challenge Clive Barker as my favourite author I can offer no higher praise" Kendall Reviews.
"Powerfully visceral in all senses of the word, but it’s also fiercely intelligent - this is powerful, razor-sharp writing." Hypnogoria.
"The Reddening is another horrific gem to be added to the author’s back catalogue. The novel succeeds in being distressing yet captivating, unsettling but also often heartfelt. It’s quite the emotional rollercoaster, exactly how every good horror novel should be." The Eloquent Page.
"Be warned: The Reddening is not a book to read alone. The sense of impending doom is there from the get-go. But it is genuinely hard to put down. Just keep the lights on." Pop Mythology.
"The Reddening served as my introduction to the work of Adam Nevill. That being said, I hadn’t even finished the book before buying 3 more of his novels, it’s that good." Steelrain Reviews.
"Easily a strong 5/5 on this one." Horrorbound.
"One of the most disturbing things I’ve read in quite some time." Anthony Watson.
"The Reddening" is Nevill’s Devon Wickerman, and under his spell you might well, like me, shrivel into Edward Woodward hollering a heartfelt, yet impotent “Jesus. Jesus Christ!” Patti's Blogspot.
"If you like horror with complex storylines, wonderful characters, a rough coastal setting, archeological digs, cannibalism and cults, then you’ve found the right book. My rating is 5/5 stars!" She Reads With Cats.
"This horror is cosmic in the Lovecraftian tradition." Carmilla Voiez.
