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Sacrament: Visit Clive Barker’s dark fantasy in latest thriller

Readers picking up the book, “Sacrament,” are instantly pulled into the intriguing cover, which is a deep purple with a single red fox in the middle of a charred forest. Flipped to the back cover, the book’s author page reveals a picture of Clive Barker. Coming from Liverpool, England, with degrees in English literature and philosophy, he seems to be another average novelist. It isn’t until beginning the journey into his book, that one will truly see how dark this man’s soul is.

“Sacrament” revolves around a man named Will Rabjohns, whose living may seem a bit strange. His passion is to photograph animals that are on the verge of extinction. His most prized negatives reek of death and chaos. Preparing sometimes weeks at a time for the perfect picture, Will is always ready to sit and wait until the truth is caught on film. During a trip to an icy cold, remote town, Will realizes he needs to get away for a while. Though he loves his work, he hasn’t found the meaning that should come with his devotion. He is lost and needs answers, guidance and love.

Will’s adventure is brought to an abrupt halt by a horrendous freak-accident. As he slips into a coma, Will revisits his past, and most importantly his childhood. There he begins the revolution of his life, where memories and insights suppressed by time are brought back, and driving questions are answered.

The tension unfolds casually enough to catch the reader offguard. The necessity to find out what happens and why is at times almost unbearable, as the author charms his audience into his own dark fantasy. This story visits supernatural beings, psychological revolutions and true meanings under the guise of an eloquent classic. To not read this book would be denying the discovery of things in this world one may otherwise miss.