Watchers of the Black Rite in GET READING HORROR

Oct 24, 2019 TKBoss rated it it was amazing

WATCHERS OF THE BLACK RITE by Nikki Noir

(Review by Trevor Kennedy for Phantasmagoria Magazine)

In the town of Shale, USA, teenage lads Tyler and Bennett are out exploring the nearby North Pine Woods, whilst taking potshots at local wildlife with their air rifle. After shooting and killing what they believe is an owl, it turns out what they have actually shot is some sort of robotic spying device that it soon transpires belongs to the clandestine company which now owns that section of the forest. WATCHERS OF THE BLACK RITE by Nikki Noir

(Review by Trevor Kennedy for Phantasmagoria Magazine)

In the town of Shale, USA, teenage lads Tyler and Bennett are out exploring the nearby North Pine Woods, whilst taking potshots at local wildlife with their air rifle. After shooting and killing what they believe is an owl, it turns out what they have actually shot is some sort of robotic spying device that it soon transpires belongs to the clandestine company which now owns that section of the forest. They’ve also just happened to tread on an odd, alien-like, black goo-substance which seems to also be infecting certain parts of the woods and its residents.

When a worried Tyler reaches out to his older sister, the more sensitive Haley, for help, they soon become embroiled in a mystery that involves the local police department, lucid nightmares, ritualistic murder, more of the black goo/glue and bad kids gone, well, downright nasty.

I got a real X-Files vibe from this new novel from Nikki Noir and as a committed aficionado of the adventures of Mulder and Scully, that will always be a big plus point from me. Although, it’s more of an XXX-File, as Noir really doesn’t hold back with the graphic violence/gore and sex. The more extreme stuff is used sparingly (for the most part) but when it does happen it’s pretty out there.

There is an existential element to the book too, probably my favourite part of it, relating to the wider universe around us and the origins of life. This adds a level of depth and intrigue to proceedings.

It is a very well constructed work by the author and the characterisation of her main players is expertly realised, with all of her subjects fleshed out to a T.

There are definite overtones of the bizarro/extreme/splatterpunk sub-genres within Watchers of the Black Rite, but that is no surprise really as this is the field where Noir, who is also book reviewer, seems to have a strong background in - many of her reviews for her website are of books in this area. However, there is also a more ‘regular’, linear plot going on throughout the story, so I suppose this book is perhaps a bit of a hybrid of bizarro and more regular horror. I found shades of the exploitation film shockers of the 1970s/'80s contained as well, such as I Spit On Your Grave.

Nikki Noir is a skilled writer and certainly a talent to be reckoned with within the horror/bizarro genre expanse. Watchers of the Black Rite (which incidentally ends of a cliffhanger to be resolved in a future sequel[s]) is proof of this, although the more extreme stuff is likely to put quite a few regular mainstream readers off.

It is somewhat a bit of an oddity, in that for the most part it is written very much in the style of a mainstream novel that sometimes veers into the graphic that will appeal more to the fans of that side of things. But, of course, perhaps this was the intention of the author from the outset anyway.

Watchers of the Black Rite is available to purchase from Amazon. ...more

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