Ryan Berridge Redefines Horror and Adventure in the Rattler Trilogy
PHOTO: Ryan Berridge, acclaimed author of The Rattler Trilogy, combines maritime adventure with suspenseful horror to create grippingly authentic stories.
Blending Maritime Action With Supernatural Horror
Ryan Berridge, Sheffield-based author of The Rattler Trilogy and Where Were You?, combines psychological horror, gripping action, and morally complex characters with seafaring adventures influenced by Stephen King and Bernard Cornwell.
Ryan Berridge, an acclaimed author from Sheffield, England, is redefining the boundaries of horror and adventure fiction with his unique blend of supernatural terror and gritty maritime storytelling. Known for his bold narratives and emotionally charged characters, Berridge has quickly established himself as a powerhouse in self-publishing. His works, including the pirate-themed Rattler Trilogy and the haunting short story collection Where Were You? Ten Terrifying Tales, have earned high praise for their visceral action, moral complexity, and captivating ambiguity.
Berridge‘s Rattler Trilogy, which spans The Rattler, Snake Huntress, and The Golden King, transports readers into the brutal, unpredictable world of pirates, where survival and leadership are tested in equal measure. Central to this trilogy is the journey of Sam, a young pirate who rises from inexperience to captaincy while navigating the perils of the sea and the supernatural. Reflecting on his inspiration, Berridge shares how his own struggles, including working long days and dealing with the premature birth of his daughter while facing an unsupportive employer, shaped the darker emotions underpinning Sam’s story. These personal challenges gave the trilogy a raw emotional edge, infusing it with themes of anger, resilience, and human complexity.
Ryan Berridge captivates readers with vivid storytelling, emotional depth, and an extraordinary blend of horror, adventure, and historical grit.
Mythical creatures that seem to emerge from the ocean’s depths add a layer of mystery to The Rattler. However, Berridge deliberately keeps the descriptions of these monsters ambiguous, drawing parallels to the age-old tales of sailors. He leaves it to the readers to debate whether these creatures are real or figments of the imagination, a strategy inspired by both Stephen King’s knack for tension and Bernard Cornwell’s historical storytelling, particularly The Last Kingdom series. The juxtaposition of horror elements with historical adventure allows Berridge’s pirate world to feel both otherworldly and grounded in realism.
In Snake Huntress, the trilogy’s second installment, Berridge deepened the moral complexity of Sam’s journey, forcing him to make increasingly difficult decisions as a pirate captain. Speaking of this evolution, the author emphasized that Sam’s growth was deliberately flawed, with wrong decisions and misguidance shaping his character. This exploration of leadership, combined with Sam’s struggle to distinguish between the lesser of two evils, makes him a protagonist who captures both the triumphs and tragedies inherent in human ambition.
For the climactic conclusion in The Golden King, released in July 2023, Berridge sought thematic closure by taking Sam to the peak of his abilities only to challenge him with his eventual downfall. The tense, unpredictable storytelling of the final chapters leaves readers gripping the edge of their seats, unsure of what lies ahead. Berridge noted that his aim was to ensure the story remained suspenseful, particularly as it approached its final moments.
Before venturing into large-scale pirate adventures, Berridge honed his storytelling skills with his debut work, Where Were You? Ten Terrifying Tales. This pandemic-themed horror collection allowed him to experiment with a variety of styles, perspectives, and narrative techniques. From simultaneous narratives to shifting points of view, Berridge used this early project to discover his voice and refine his craft, lessons that became invaluable when transitioning to the expansive world-building required for the Rattler Trilogy.
One hallmark of Berridge’s writing is his ability to deliver intense and vivid action sequences while maintaining emotional depth. To achieve this, he takes an unconventional approach—writing battle scenes in a single draft. By doing so, he aims to capture the unfiltered chaos and unpredictability of combat, ensuring the realism isn’t lost to over-planning or unnecessary brutality. He remains mindful of avoiding gratuitous violence, instead relying on his supporting characters to convey moments that might otherwise verge on being overly graphic.
Drawing inspiration from literary giants like Stephen King and Bernard Cornwell, Berridge strikes a balance between tension and historical grit. He acknowledges that while pirates are often romanticized in fiction, the reality of their lives was far darker. By introducing “monsters” into the seafaring chaos, Berridge elevates the narrative, invoking the unsettling uncertainty that King’s horror is known for, while grounding it in Cornwell-inspired adventure.
To aspiring authors hoping to blend genres as seamlessly as he has, Berridge offers simple yet profound advice: Write consistently. For his Rattler Trilogy, he committed to writing 1,000 words a day, regardless of quality. According to him, even on days when his writing felt nonsensical, the act of staying consistent kept the story alive in his mind, allowing his subconscious to work through the narrative.
With a compelling mix of horror, maritime survival, and human drama, Ryan Berridge’s bold storytelling challenges conventional genre boundaries. His ability to craft morally complex characters, weave unpredictable plotlines, and keep readers enthralled ensures his works leave a lasting impact. For those yet to discover the Rattler Trilogy or Where Were You?, Berridge’s storytelling offers an enthralling escape into the depths of human psyche and the mystery of the sea.
Source: Reader’s House Magazine
