Bane

Title: Bane

Author: Joe Donnelly

Published in: 1989

Date read: 28th May 2024

Score: 4/5

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Fantasy

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Bane" by Joe Donnelly is a chilling horror novel set in the ancient, mist-shrouded town of Arden in the west of Scotland. The story centers on Nick Ryan, who returns to his childhood home in Arden seeking a fresh start. However, Arden's deep and troubled history, lost in the mists of time, is about to reassert itself. As Nick settles in, he uncovers unsettling truths about his hometown. A sinister, ancient entity, long dormant beneath a dark rock overlooking the estuary, has been awakened. This creature, hungry and furious, has breached the ancient walls that once contained it and now seeks to unleash its revenge upon Arden. The town soon becomes gripped by a series of increasingly bizarre and violent events. The inhabitants descend into madness, engaging in murder and self-destruction, as the malevolent force exerts its influence. Cut off from the outside world, Arden becomes a living nightmare. Nick Ryan, alongside a brain-damaged man and the young daughter of a childhood friend, finds himself as the sole hope against the unleashed terror. They must stand alone against the ancient evil that is transforming Arden into a horrifying landscape of death and depravity, as history's darkest chapters repeat themselves with devastating consequences. The novel is known for its grim, atmospheric portrayal of a town succumbing to an overwhelming, primordial horror.

Comments:
I read this years after I had read his other book Shrike and was very hopeful of something that would grip me as well. It was good, there is no denying that, however, perhaps Shrike was a lot better or perhaps I had built it up too much in my mind. Well worth a read though.

Books that we've read by Joe Donnelly (2):
Bane (1989), Shrike (1994)