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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
I’ve never read a thriller like this one. It gives off very much southern backwoods, gothic cryptid, weird religious cult vibes. The main character is a total feminist baddie. Everything about the storytelling was absolutely perfect - the author revealed exactly what they needed to in time, and I never in a million years could have guessed all the twists and turns this book would make. I loved the way the narrative jumped between the present and past, and tbh I think this book used this feature more effectively than any other I’ve ever read.
My only warning is that it does use plenty of explicit language.
My only warning is that it does use plenty of explicit language.
I really liked the premise of this, but I felt like the execution didn't work for me, and if it wasn't for having the audiobook and for it being the book of the month read for my book club, I don't think I would have finished the book.
Things that I didn't enjoy: it didn't feel like a southern gothic horror, the pacing (bouncing between the past and present too often), and the name of the monster felt like a meme.
Things I did like: the plot was interesting (even with the execution not feeling right), I liked the characters (Stella and Sunny especially), and I thought the ending was good.
Things that I didn't enjoy: it didn't feel like a southern gothic horror, the pacing (bouncing between the past and present too often), and the name of the monster felt like a meme.
Things I did like: the plot was interesting (even with the execution not feeling right), I liked the characters (Stella and Sunny especially), and I thought the ending was good.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a great read!! It kept me guessing through the whole thing. If you like the podcast Old Gods of Appalachia than this is a book for you.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really wanted to like this, but it was neither scary/spooky/creepy nor particularly compelling in its stylistic choices. I found the main character irritating and the attempts at humor fell flat. I thought Sunny was pretty interesting but she was present so little… and I don’t understand Stella’s obsession with protecting a girl she never expressed any care for.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
This was a solid library read. I like that Mr Gregory blended bootlegging in the Appalachian mountains with the horrors that might lurk in their depths. I did see a lot of the twists spelled out pretty clearly plot wise, but I liked the characters, and I'd at least take a look through some of his other books.
Definitely still fresh in my mind, but my initial gut reaction is 4.5 stars. Might trend to 4, but we shall see.
I'm reading this one as part of religious horror month in my book club and while this book is not *outright* that theme, this is a very subtle contender to the genre. I very much enjoyed how we got to see both the horror of Ghostdaddy, but also the growth of the cult that was Stella's family. I found myself struggling a little in the beginning to start, but fully was immersed by 15%. The last few chapters felt like they flew by.
Overall, I'm very impressed with this and I'll certainly be looking to get more Daryl Gregory in my TBR as a result.
I'm reading this one as part of religious horror month in my book club and while this book is not *outright* that theme, this is a very subtle contender to the genre. I very much enjoyed how we got to see both the horror of Ghostdaddy, but also the growth of the cult that was Stella's family. I found myself struggling a little in the beginning to start, but fully was immersed by 15%. The last few chapters felt like they flew by.
Overall, I'm very impressed with this and I'll certainly be looking to get more Daryl Gregory in my TBR as a result.
This is a quality piece of speculative southern gothic weirdness. The story ping pongs back and forth between a young girl's coming of age in the 1930s within a bizarre paranormal end-times cult and her life after she thinks that she's escaped. The format is cleverly crafted around a number of little mysteries that unfold both for our hero in her later years, and for us in her time communing with their God in the Mountain.
I feel that the book was mistakenly marketed as a horror book. I really loved it at a piece of dark speculative historical fiction, but I fear that it's not only going to satisfy anyone looking for horror thills, and frankly is missing a whole audience of readers that might have avoided this thinking it was horror.
Mostly this is a solid character study, an examination of life in the holler in Tennessee in the 30s and 40s, and a spotlight of misogynistic power grabs in evangelism. Because so much time was spent on building the characters' stories, I quickly found myself putting aside my expectations and resolved to just enjoy the writing and characters' stories. Despite leaning to the slow side for the first two acts, I still screamed through the book. And the rather incendiary ending felt entirely rewarding for me as I was was heavily invested in the mystery and the reveals and I got some surprising action to boot.
All in all, I highly recommend it to those who love weird literature. I'm totally going to check out this author's other work.
I feel that the book was mistakenly marketed as a horror book. I really loved it at a piece of dark speculative historical fiction, but I fear that it's not only going to satisfy anyone looking for horror thills, and frankly is missing a whole audience of readers that might have avoided this thinking it was horror.
Mostly this is a solid character study, an examination of life in the holler in Tennessee in the 30s and 40s, and a spotlight of misogynistic power grabs in evangelism. Because so much time was spent on building the characters' stories, I quickly found myself putting aside my expectations and resolved to just enjoy the writing and characters' stories. Despite leaning to the slow side for the first two acts, I still screamed through the book. And the rather incendiary ending felt entirely rewarding for me as I was was heavily invested in the mystery and the reveals and I got some surprising action to boot.
All in all, I highly recommend it to those who love weird literature. I'm totally going to check out this author's other work.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Solid ending that gave me chills. The bouncing back and forth got exhausting.