“Those Who Breathe the Water” by N.B. Clarke

For someone who has never been a fan of horror, both books and movies, I’ve been turning to this genre surprisingly often lately. I doubt that my preferences will change in essence, but after reading a few horror stories, which turned out to be more than overly enthusiastic descriptions of violent scenes filled with gore, I might pick up a horror novel once in a while in the future.

“Those Who Breathe the Water” by N.B. Clarke has enough moments that will make one’s hair stand on end; be warned on that account. It is a horror story, and it lives up to its declared genre. But all these bone-chilling scenes weave logically and seamlessly into the plot, which delves deep into our fears and the ways each of us chooses to face them.

Caroline returns to the place where, had it not been for the circumstances that demand her to, she would have preferred never ever to set foot again. Osprey Lake, a place of idyllic childhood memories – and of the worst nightmare that has haunted Caroline since she was eight. She is in her twenties now, but the fear that the lake had instilled in her more than a decade ago never released its grip. Caroline could have refused to come here, but the loyalty and gratitude for her best friend made her push her fears deep down. Little does she know that it was another friendship – the one from long ago – that would put her through the most challenging test.

I enjoyed the way the suspense was building and the events of the past unfolded gradually, making my nerves tingle with anticipation of something ominous. I have to admit that the plot twist caught me off guard – I didn’t see what was coming.

What I liked most about this story is that it is about the things that make life worth living: friendship, courage, and willingness to make sacrifices for others’ sake. We cannot free the world from evil, but trying is never a wasted effort. I liked the reminder I’ve drawn from this book: a seemingly hopeless case isn’t always futile to fight for.

“Those Who Breathe the Water” by N.B. Clarke isn’t for the faint-hearted, and, if you are like me, I wouldn’t advise it as bedtime reading material. But it is a great story and has a lot to offer for both genre fans and those who don’t specifically strive to be scared by their reads.