The Ritual: A Novel

Four university friends venture into the Scandinavian wilderness near the Arctic Circle hoping to escape their everyday problems and reconnect. Luke, the only one still single and struggling financially, finds himself increasingly at odds with his more successful companions, creating tension within the group. With minimal hiking experience between them, the friends take a shortcut that quickly becomes dangerous. Lost, hungry, and surrounded by ancient forest, they discover an abandoned dwelling decorated with old artifacts and scattered bones—evidence of ancient rites and pagan sacrifice. The discovery suggests something still inhabits the forest, a presence that has begun stalking them. As the four attempt to find their way to safety, they confront the harsh reality that survival among these primeval trees will not come easily.