Skip to main content

Ararat

Review

Ararat

I think horror/adventure may be my new favorite combined genre. I love when an author can seamlessly blend two genres like this, leave readers feeling breathless, slightly creeped out, and considering leaving all the lights on to sleep. ARARAT did that for me.

Adam and Meryam are adventure writers and filmmakers, and if they can find the time between adventures, soon they will be married. Before the nuptials even get to the planning stage, though, once again they’re off on an adventure of a lifetime. A recent earthquake in Turkey reveals a hidden cave on the side of Mount Ararat, and Meryam convinces Adam that the wedding planning needs to stop --- the potential resting spot of Noah’s Ark awaits them. They are aiming to be the first ones to scale Mount Ararat and set foot in the newly revealed cave.

There’s just enough to keep you quickly turning the pages but not enough to make you stop reading.... ARARAT is wonderfully fast-paced and leaves you breathless to the last page."

A race up the mountain ensues with a group of scholars and archaeologists close behind Adam and Meryam’s team. What they discover once inside is something no one could have imagined, even in their worst nightmares. The ancient structure deep in the mountain is hiding a secret --- a misshapen cadaver. The news quickly spreads among the excavation team that some sort of ancient demon has been unearthed.

While fear sets in among them, a brutal blizzard takes hold of the mountain, trapping everyone with the supposed demon. Infighting, anxiety and general mayhem become a part of everyone’s daily routine. While the weather rages outside, inside the cavern no one is sleeping, and everyone is carefully watching each other wondering what will happen to them. Worried and scared for their lives, the team looks for leadership, and when individuals begin disappearing, everyone demands that action be taken.

There are several wonderful facets to this novel. Noah’s Ark harboring a potential demon is a major one. The religious aspect lends gravitas to the story that could simply just play on a general fear, but gives it that extra push over the edge. I loved the archaeological slant as well, but do wish it was explored further. Let’s be honest, though, archaeological explanations are not why you’re reading this book. You’re reading it for the creep factor; seriously, a demon on Noah’s Ark is the appeal here. Yes, there are many avenues to explore, and some would have filled out the story a little more, but then you’d just be waiting for the scary bits anyway.

Author Christopher Golden practices restraint, which in a story of this nature is extremely important. There’s just enough to keep you quickly turning the pages but not enough to make you stop reading. That’s a hard line to follow, but Golden accomplishes this without missing a beat. ARARAT is wonderfully fast-paced and leaves you breathless to the last page.

Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski on April 21, 2017

Ararat
by Christopher Golden