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itsrafaela's review against another edition
5.0
Someone hold my purse; I am in shock: this book is so good that I am shaking. Seriously, I loved this so much.
Before I give my detailed review, I'd just like to mention that English is NOT my first language, therefore I apologize in advance for any typo, grammar error or any kind of mistake in my writing. But as the book is not yet planned to be translated in my language (I think), I have the solemn duty to convince English-speaking people to read this book, talk about this book and love this book, so one day my country will want it too. Because I sure need this book in Portuguese.
Anyway. About the book: I took an interest for it because I thought it was a dystopian fantasy, maybe even sci-fi. I was NOT expecting it to be what it is. But that's not a bad thing, I love it when books are not what I expect, because expectations are ordinary. Surprises are nice. As soon as I started reading it, I felt like I was reading one of those reaaaaaally good creepy pastas. The ones that send creeps down your spine and make you shudder at every gush of air. The ones that make you feel scared to leave your room after sundown.
That's Red Valley. That's what Red Valley made me feel while reading. I felt anxious, but in a good way, and I felt scared, but also in a good way. The writing and the main character make you feel like you're there, right by her side, watching her go about her mission, talking to these people, fighting the evil ones and slapping that damned sheriff and anyone who tries to get in her way.
The Laughing Boys have me the real creeps, more than any other creature. The dudes at the bar too. There was something about them. And River... wow. I want so much to know more about them all, but at the same time, what makes them so special is how little we know about them. It's what makes them scary. The more we know about things that scare us, the less we feel scared, right?
The plot twists were... wow. I cursed at least twice. Out loud. I was- I don't even have words for what I was. But I was so shocked at them. I really did NOT see them coming. And the ending was amazing. That lady, that entity... I have a feeling about her, but I shall not share it.
Man, there was never a moment of boredom in this book. Things just kept happening. And I didn't feel like it was rushed, either. It was just the right pacing to make us feel like Sadie - like there was never a moment of peace -, while at the same time we could digest the things happening.
I loved this book so much. I loved Sadie, but most of all, I loved Beto. I know, there are a lot of great characters in there, but Beto was IT for me. That dude deserves a spin-off.
I'm not sure my review helped, since I mostly said only good things. But if I found any bad stuff while reading, I didn't bother to take notes, because all the good things are just way bigger. In the great scheme of things, this book is pure and simply GREAT. I do not give 5 stars lightly, but man did I give them to this one as fast as light.
Thank you so much, Rebellion and Net Galley, for the opportunity to read this. And thank you, Walter Woodwater, for writing this.
p.s.: On my blog and social media, I shall post a translated version of this very same review, somewhere in August. If you don't mind.
Before I give my detailed review, I'd just like to mention that English is NOT my first language, therefore I apologize in advance for any typo, grammar error or any kind of mistake in my writing. But as the book is not yet planned to be translated in my language (I think), I have the solemn duty to convince English-speaking people to read this book, talk about this book and love this book, so one day my country will want it too. Because I sure need this book in Portuguese.
Anyway. About the book: I took an interest for it because I thought it was a dystopian fantasy, maybe even sci-fi. I was NOT expecting it to be what it is. But that's not a bad thing, I love it when books are not what I expect, because expectations are ordinary. Surprises are nice. As soon as I started reading it, I felt like I was reading one of those reaaaaaally good creepy pastas. The ones that send creeps down your spine and make you shudder at every gush of air. The ones that make you feel scared to leave your room after sundown.
That's Red Valley. That's what Red Valley made me feel while reading. I felt anxious, but in a good way, and I felt scared, but also in a good way. The writing and the main character make you feel like you're there, right by her side, watching her go about her mission, talking to these people, fighting the evil ones and slapping that damned sheriff and anyone who tries to get in her way.
The Laughing Boys have me the real creeps, more than any other creature. The dudes at the bar too. There was something about them. And River... wow. I want so much to know more about them all, but at the same time, what makes them so special is how little we know about them. It's what makes them scary. The more we know about things that scare us, the less we feel scared, right?
The plot twists were... wow. I cursed at least twice. Out loud. I was- I don't even have words for what I was. But I was so shocked at them. I really did NOT see them coming. And the ending was amazing. That lady, that entity... I have a feeling about her, but I shall not share it.
Man, there was never a moment of boredom in this book. Things just kept happening. And I didn't feel like it was rushed, either. It was just the right pacing to make us feel like Sadie - like there was never a moment of peace -, while at the same time we could digest the things happening.
I loved this book so much. I loved Sadie, but most of all, I loved Beto. I know, there are a lot of great characters in there, but Beto was IT for me. That dude deserves a spin-off.
I'm not sure my review helped, since I mostly said only good things. But if I found any bad stuff while reading, I didn't bother to take notes, because all the good things are just way bigger. In the great scheme of things, this book is pure and simply GREAT. I do not give 5 stars lightly, but man did I give them to this one as fast as light.
Thank you so much, Rebellion and Net Galley, for the opportunity to read this. And thank you, Walter Woodwater, for writing this.
p.s.: On my blog and social media, I shall post a translated version of this very same review, somewhere in August. If you don't mind.
arphil518's review against another edition
3.0
Overall this is an ok book. Not at all what I was expecting based on the synopsis, but was still a good read. I am a lover of thriller and suspense books (which is what I thought this would be) but this book was more about mystical creatures than anything. Not a bad book just not what I enjoy reading or what I thought the book would be like.
sunflower7skull's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I didn't love this book - like another user said, despite the fast pace, there doesn't seem to be a lot of urgency until about 70% of the way through, which just isn't something I care for. The main character seemed underdeveloped in terms of personality as well. I listened to the audiobook and didn't care a ton for the voices and accents the actor did, but I think they did a fine job regardless. I really liked the mythology / fantasy aspects however, and the idea has a lot of potential. I also appreciated that there was no romantic subplot for the female lead, and there were some great healthy relationships surrounding the lead.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Car accident, Gore, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Death of parent, Racism, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Cursing
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Drug use, Drug abuse, Abortion, and Lesbophobia
lshea5's review against another edition
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I found the story was too convoluted with the rules of the magical powers the protagonist possessed. The story was sold as a horror novel but I feel it would be better suited as fantasy.
seang81's review against another edition
4.0
What a strange and unique novel - it's lovecraftian with some Americana and a little bit of urban fantasy. The book revolves around a young protagonist and her inheritance of 'The Book Of Lies' - a way of covering things up for others that comes at a cost. The plot goes fast, with death, horror, supernatural elements all melding together to a breakneck finish which almost comes too fast. Hopefully this is the first in a new series - recommended.
jax036's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you NetGalley, Walter Goodwater and Rebellion for the opportunity to read and review this book. Walter Goodwater has woven a fascinating tale. His world building was spectacular, I was engaged by the magic of his world from the very start. The concept of the Liar of Red Valley was captivating. Sadie is a strong lead character. I was surprised by one of the twists and that does not happen very often. Highly recommend. I will be reading more Walter Goodwater and would love to go back to Red Valley if he ever chooses to write more about this town.
booklover180's review against another edition
4.0
To survive in the magical town of Red Valley, you must follow three rules: Do not trust the Liar. Do not go in the River. Do not cross the King.
But there's more than meets the eye in this town. There's a powerful King who oversees the land, a sheriff who's determined to bring down the King, mysterious creatures lurking amongst humans, and the Liar—who guards the town's secrets and has the power to reshape the world.
Sadie is Red Valley's newest Liar. She inherited her mother's powers after she unexpectedly passes away. The story evolves as Sadie struggles to accept her mother's passing and comes to terms with her new responsibilities as the Liar.
As Sadie learns more about what it means to be the town’s newest Liar, Red Valley erupts into chaos. It's up to Sadie to get to the heart of Red Valley's secrets and try to restore order.
I was drawn into this story from the very beginning. I was thoroughly immersed in this magical world and didn’t want the story to end. This story was action-packed, creative, and fast-paced— everything I look for in a great novel!
I felt an immediate connection with Sadie. She’s such a strong and independent character which I found to be very refreshing!
Throughout the book, there are several surprising twists that I did not see coming. This helped to keep the pacing feel fast and fresh. I would love to see this novel turn into a movie or TV series. I’d be the first to watch!
Add this to your TBR pile if you love fantasy and mysteries!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Rebellion/Solaris for providing an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
But there's more than meets the eye in this town. There's a powerful King who oversees the land, a sheriff who's determined to bring down the King, mysterious creatures lurking amongst humans, and the Liar—who guards the town's secrets and has the power to reshape the world.
Sadie is Red Valley's newest Liar. She inherited her mother's powers after she unexpectedly passes away. The story evolves as Sadie struggles to accept her mother's passing and comes to terms with her new responsibilities as the Liar.
As Sadie learns more about what it means to be the town’s newest Liar, Red Valley erupts into chaos. It's up to Sadie to get to the heart of Red Valley's secrets and try to restore order.
I was drawn into this story from the very beginning. I was thoroughly immersed in this magical world and didn’t want the story to end. This story was action-packed, creative, and fast-paced— everything I look for in a great novel!
I felt an immediate connection with Sadie. She’s such a strong and independent character which I found to be very refreshing!
Throughout the book, there are several surprising twists that I did not see coming. This helped to keep the pacing feel fast and fresh. I would love to see this novel turn into a movie or TV series. I’d be the first to watch!
Add this to your TBR pile if you love fantasy and mysteries!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Rebellion/Solaris for providing an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
kchisholm02's review against another edition
2.0
Thank you Netgalley for sending me an arc in exchange for my honest review.
Overall, I feel a bit let down with the path this novel took towards its conclusion. The novel's description promised myth, magic, monsters, and a strong female lead. I was excited to read something new. A new take on Sci-Fi and fantasy. As I read on, though, it grew harder and harder to stay engaged with the book. I didn't have a need or desire to keep reading and get to the end to discover how it all worked out for the characters.
Things I wish were more developed within the novel:
--Sadie's character--As a reader we never truly feel connected or sympathetic with her. We could possibly share similar experiences, i.e. losing a loved one, isolation from community, but the emotional connection does not go any further between character and reader. Sadie comes off to the reader as impulsive and lacking a wide range of emotions including concern for others, concern for self, love, joy, and anger. As readers we don't get to know Sadie personally. Event after event takes place, and our ability to create a connection becomes stunted because we are continually moving on to the next step in the story.
--The boundaries of magic--There were many instances I caught myself saying "How did that happen?" or "How would that be possible?" when there was magic involved in the novel. As a reader, it never felt as if we were completely informed of how the bounds of the Red Valley functioned. When I had to ask myself these questions, it stopped the flow of consciousness of the story, and I found myself focused more on the "how" and "why" rather than the actual story taking place.
--The urgency behind the goal--Throughout the whole novel, as a reader I never felt there was any sort of urgency taking place or that Sadie created an atmosphere where we needed to read on to see what her outcome was. If I put this book down, the scene taking place did not create enough emotional distress to cause me to immediately pick it back up at my next available time and start reading. I wanted more anticipation and more fear throughout the novel. There were monsters and magic and the King you shouldn't cross; I needed the emotional atmosphere to match it.
--The monsters--Walter Goodwater had a phenomenal idea with his characters the Laughing Boys, the Crying Boys, the Long Shadows, the Hunter, the King, and the River. I loved the idea behind them and their place in the story. What I needed, though, was more of a background on them. We learn how Laughing Boys come to be, but there is little included on the others. These characters are hard to care for and fear because they don't possess qualities a reader can imagine and interpret and then come to associate with evil. They would become stronger characters had we as readers been given more details on their own origins.
This novel had a lot of good pieces to it, but there were sections that fell short. It read as if there was too much going on, and it was difficult to keep every event and detail straight. I was truly excited to read the story of the Red Valley and the Liar, but this novel just didn't grab my attention as I had hoped. When I finished the novel, I was left unsatisfied. I didn't really believe the novel was over because it felt unfinished and abrupt.
I really wanted to like this novel, and I tried really hard to get into it, but in the end I just felt I was missing too much to truly enjoy reading it.
Overall, I feel a bit let down with the path this novel took towards its conclusion. The novel's description promised myth, magic, monsters, and a strong female lead. I was excited to read something new. A new take on Sci-Fi and fantasy. As I read on, though, it grew harder and harder to stay engaged with the book. I didn't have a need or desire to keep reading and get to the end to discover how it all worked out for the characters.
Things I wish were more developed within the novel:
--Sadie's character--As a reader we never truly feel connected or sympathetic with her. We could possibly share similar experiences, i.e. losing a loved one, isolation from community, but the emotional connection does not go any further between character and reader. Sadie comes off to the reader as impulsive and lacking a wide range of emotions including concern for others, concern for self, love, joy, and anger. As readers we don't get to know Sadie personally. Event after event takes place, and our ability to create a connection becomes stunted because we are continually moving on to the next step in the story.
--The boundaries of magic--There were many instances I caught myself saying "How did that happen?" or "How would that be possible?" when there was magic involved in the novel. As a reader, it never felt as if we were completely informed of how the bounds of the Red Valley functioned. When I had to ask myself these questions, it stopped the flow of consciousness of the story, and I found myself focused more on the "how" and "why" rather than the actual story taking place.
--The urgency behind the goal--Throughout the whole novel, as a reader I never felt there was any sort of urgency taking place or that Sadie created an atmosphere where we needed to read on to see what her outcome was. If I put this book down, the scene taking place did not create enough emotional distress to cause me to immediately pick it back up at my next available time and start reading. I wanted more anticipation and more fear throughout the novel. There were monsters and magic and the King you shouldn't cross; I needed the emotional atmosphere to match it.
--The monsters--Walter Goodwater had a phenomenal idea with his characters the Laughing Boys, the Crying Boys, the Long Shadows, the Hunter, the King, and the River. I loved the idea behind them and their place in the story. What I needed, though, was more of a background on them. We learn how Laughing Boys come to be, but there is little included on the others. These characters are hard to care for and fear because they don't possess qualities a reader can imagine and interpret and then come to associate with evil. They would become stronger characters had we as readers been given more details on their own origins.
This novel had a lot of good pieces to it, but there were sections that fell short. It read as if there was too much going on, and it was difficult to keep every event and detail straight. I was truly excited to read the story of the Red Valley and the Liar, but this novel just didn't grab my attention as I had hoped. When I finished the novel, I was left unsatisfied. I didn't really believe the novel was over because it felt unfinished and abrupt.
I really wanted to like this novel, and I tried really hard to get into it, but in the end I just felt I was missing too much to truly enjoy reading it.