This book is impossible to categorise. Is it horror? (Bits of it definitely are.) Is it fantasy? Is it a thriller? Is it some type of dystopian morality tale? Is it just all of these things mixed together? It is certainly unlike anything you will have read before. The closest I can get to describing it is Lord of the Rings meets Game of Thrones meets The Birds. It was completely outside my reading comfort zone, but I was thoroughly gripped from start to finish. The book starts of very Hobbit-like with four people (?) setting off on some kind of quest. I wasn’t sure who they were to begin with, and for the first few chapters you have to concentrate quite hard to sort out who is who and what is going on, as the narrative jumps between quite a few different viewpoints, and there is no clear definition of who is doing what or why. Eventually, all is revealed, but you do need to stick with it to begin with until it shakes itself out. There is plenty of action to keep you occupied while the strands arrange themselves, and I found the book really gripping from the off, and it only got more and more so as it went along. By the end, the strain on my nerves was almost too much to bear, because I absolutely NEEDED things to work out a certain way, such was my absolute loathing for one of the characters, but I wasn’t sure it was going to end to my satisfaction. The book is a visceral read. I know I referred to LOTR, but the violence level is definitely more George R. R. Martin than J. R. R. Tolkein. Graeme is not shy about bumping off what appear to be central characters, or people you have grown attached to, and he does it in some imaginatively gory ways. There is a strong element of horror in the book, particularly in the first half, and I felt this very strongly. It was oppressive and nerve-shredding, not a book for relaxing in the bath with for sure. If you want something to get the adrenaline pumping, this is it. Graeme has done some fantastic world-building in this book, I could really picture the setting for the novel and completely bought into it. There are a lot of interesting ideas explored here, and some really well-constructed characters. He may have created the most hateful antagonist of any book I have come across in a long while, which has the effect of making the reader totally invested in the outcome of the quest. The whole thing came together very effectively, and I am really pleased for him, because I know this book has been a labour of love. This book isn’t going to be for everyone, but it is very original, action-packed, immersive and evocative. I hope lots of people pick it up and experience it for themselves, because it is unlike anything else you will have read this year.

Carrion is a trip. As it follows Graeme Cumming’s debut novel Ravens Gathering, this reviewer expected horrific characters, characters to root for, surprise plot twists, and immersive setting descriptions. All of which were delivered with just the right pacing and amount of dialogue. The characters, setting, and world parameters are rooted in fantasy (sorcery, mythological creatures), and the story also features thriller and horror elements. It’s not exactly “our world” but it is certainly recognizable, which gives those thriller and horror elements even more weight. From the mundane task of cutting wood to descriptions of landscapes, physical descriptions of people and creatures to the nitty gritty details of action sequences, the descriptions are straightforward yet all-consuming. Using shifting perspectives between chapters, Graeme Cumming keeps the pace at a satisfying level—not too quick as to reduce the importance of certain moments in each chapter, but not slow and dull either—while effectively mounting tension and anticipation, which are crucial for presenting the surprise twists and exposure of certain details. In some fantasy stories, there’s a tendency to throw so many plot points, characters, settings, and big picture ideas, but in Carrion, the small and specific bubble of characters and setting allows the build up, stakes, and consequences to not overwhelm the reader. So as the reader learns along with the protagonist, and gets perspectives from other characters, many of the actions and plot points become more reasonable and clear, which allows for belief in the story and in the hope of the protagonist succeeding in his quest. Even in the slow moments of time there is no monotony; being thrust into the characters’ reality and journey makes those moments when they bare their heart and feelings all the more affecting. The story mainly features a group of four friends, with one of them leading the way to the story’s purpose. The conversations, arguments, and realizations among them felt real in each moment as well as generally realistic. They acted how a non-fictional person would act in dangerous or confusing situations. Even in the aftermath of the climax, the ripple effects in their friend group were not sugar-coated, which is not a “risk” a lot of authors take with this beloved use of friends within a narrative. Finally, it has to be said that when Graeme Cumming writes a villain, he really writes a villain. And the villainous character in Carrion is evil to the core. This is the where the story may not work for readers who cannot sit through intensely graphic and evil descriptions, but feelings of total disgust for this character effectively intensifies the stakes of the story, the successes of the protagonist, and what is possibly to come in the future.

I have to say that considering Carrion isn’t my usual kind of read I have thoroughly enjoyed it. Having read, and loved, Graeme Cumming’s previous book Ravens Gathering I was very much looking forward to reading Carrion. I was even more intrigued knowing that it was going to be so much different to Ravens Gathering. There are a couple of similarities though such as the birds which did their job of creeping me out in this book as much as they did in the last! How amazing is that cover by the way!!? I definitely think this book benefits from spending enough time completely immersing yourself in the story. I started it well then found myself not having as much time as I’d like to read it over the following few days, going to bed too late etc. which really frustrates me, but from about half way I found more time to read larger amounts, and I easily found myself completely captivated. It’s a wonderfully entertaining story to get yourself lost in and forget about the real world for a while. It is quite violent at times and certain parts make for uncomfortable reading, but these scenes just serve to highlight the evil nature of certain characters. There are some excellent characters throughout this story. Not all likeable, of course, but all quite fascinating and with fabulous names. I think Willow was my favourite character. The story moves along at quite some speed as it is so full of action. The danger Salin and his friends face in their quest is quite terrifying at times and there are some devastating losses along the way. Salin is a brave and intelligent soul. I was particularly disturbed by the sorcerer, the beast, and also the Troll. I have to say that I was most impressed when I found out what the beast really was. I honestly never twigged. Very clever writing! Time inevitably brings change and sometimes that change can be immense in such a short space of time, but everything evolves at the pace it is meant to and to interrupt evolution in any way could have a catastrophic effect. There are always going to be people in this world who thrive on power and do everything in their power to upset the natural order of the world. Maybe there is an ‘order’ who keep their eye on us and make sure we don’t interfere with our destiny. Who knows!? It certainly makes you think. I know this is fiction, but still…. I loved that the message to Salin was to “Choose your words carefully. Words have power”. This is true on so many levels. In the case of Carrion these words have the power to transport you to another place and time where you can experience the action, adventure, suspense and intrigue of a story full of magic and mystery.