I went into ARARAT
(Headline) knowing full well that the tale was going to rock. I just had a
hunch. That the author is an established one definitely helped but the topic is
what really drew me in. How could not it be when eventually it’s all about a
bunch of doomed individuals stuck in a haunted cave inside Mount Ararat while a
blizzard rages? Mind you, I always had a thing for evil spirits roaming dark
places but when the entity is an unearthed malevolent force that can infiltrate
anyone of these survivors I’m more than sold. I’m salivating.
At about 300 pages, ARARAT takes its time before getting to the violence and gore. But once
reached (in the last third or so) the reader is left with jaw-dropping moments
and an adrenaline stance to still keep turning the pages. The novel, however,
is blessed with more than just action sequences. There are real people in this,
not just cardboard copies of what they’re supposed to be. All thanks to Golden’s
savoir-faire which makes them come alive with their flawed attributes and
introspective ways (a conflict of spiritual beliefs, for example). Yes, some
are better developed than others but as a whole most leave you feeling like you
know them quite a bit. So when evil surfaces, and believe me it does in a big
way, these characters are more than just a body count. I literarily was rooting
for any of them to make it in the end. And the plot is very well-handled. I
never felt like the story dragged on. In fact, I could even have welcomed a few
more chapters just so I could take a longer breather in between killings.
Suffice to say, I highly recommend ARARAT, especially to anyone who loves adventure mixed with horror. Though, to
me, it feels more like the other way around. No other adventure novel has ever
left me looking over my shoulder like ARARAT
did. I still get goosebumps just thinking about it. I’m sure others will feel
the same way once they start reading.
Thanks
to the publisher and NetGalley for
the chance to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Until next post—Martin
 |
| US edition |
