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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a wild ride! A fun, fast read that I really enjoyed! Great atmosphere of mystery/creepiness, some solid twists and turns, and well-drawn characters.
I enjoyed it, but I'm settling on a 3.75 because it did leave me with some lingering questions:
I enjoyed it, but I'm settling on a 3.75 because it did leave me with some lingering questions:
Clara. She was NOT one of its children (she had children of her own, and the foundling Esther was the first to commune with Ghostdaddy), so how did she find it and come to understand it enough to set up those soldiers for death? Why did it tolerate her presence, but not the soldiers? And why have none of the Uncles tried to enter the cave? I know only the "Revelator" can do that safely, but so could Clara, and Hendrick seems like just the sort of arrogant prick to try to cut out the middle-woman, especially since it seems like he didn't know that ALL the Revelators (not just Sunny) were its children. (Ok, sure, it's the fault of the patriarchy that Clara did not get to write her OWN book and therefore we'll never know the truth, but I feel like there could have been some clearer indications from the Birch women who DID know.) Hendrick. How did he not know that the other Revelators were not human? His own sister, and three generations after her, were all foundlings, and he never knew that? Abby seemed to, so I guess it was kept from Hendrick deliberately. (Though Abby didn't know about the sows? I found it a bit confusing just keeping track of who knew what.) The diamond ring. What did it mean to Ruth? She was very upset that it was missing. Just because she thought Stella was stealing valuables? Why did Motty wear it around her neck, so that other people (Ruth) could see it? Why would she want a memento of Stella's first kill? It seems unusually careless of her, especially considering it was evidence in a death/murder. It felt like maybe a bit of a clunky way to start building up the story of Lunk's death, that didn't completely ring true to the characters. Ghostdaddy. Why was it hiding in a cave where the earth was poisoning it, when it could leave anytime? Where did it come from that our planet was toxic to it? What did it want? I mean, yes, a body that it could take over to avoid death. But now that it's out in world, sharing "one body, ever blooming" with Sunny, what will it do? "Ever blooming" and those little dolls imply that it will continue compulsively procreating, but to what end? I wish there had been more of a sense of what or WHO it was, in a broader sense, to establish the stakes of letting it get out. Stella. She is such a kick-ass female character, and it was so satisfying watching her navigate this extremely patriarchal society (AND patriarchal family cult) with an incredible strength of spirit. But finding out that she (and similarly Motty) was actually not even human kind of undercut the joy of watching her run circles around all the ignorant men pretending they know what's best. They weren't losing battles of wits to a regular human woman, but to an offshoot of their God. I wish the author had found a way to more firmly attribute Stella's strength of character to her humanity, rather than her otherworldly knowledge/nature.
Anyway, despite some minor notes, I really enjoyed it. Solid southern gothic cult creeper!
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
medium-paced
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is one of the strangest, most captivating, and unnerving books I've read in a long time. I cannot recommend it enough.
This is by no means your standard horror or sci-fi book (as I am not entirely sure which genre it constitutes as. Both, I think). It takes place largely between 1938 and 1948, telling the story of a Southern Appalachian family and their close-knit, secretive baptist religion that worships The God in the Mountain. The women of the Birch family are the revelators, the only ones who can "commune" with the God. It is a sacrificial, terrifying, beautiful, and revered role and one that is regarded to the highest degree.
I did not know where this story would go, with punch after unrelenting punch coming from every direction. It was terrifying and glorious.
This is one of my favorite things I've had the pleasure of reading. It is unique and captivating, and though it starts slow, this Southern Gothic tale will draw you in.
This is by no means your standard horror or sci-fi book (as I am not entirely sure which genre it constitutes as. Both, I think). It takes place largely between 1938 and 1948, telling the story of a Southern Appalachian family and their close-knit, secretive baptist religion that worships The God in the Mountain. The women of the Birch family are the revelators, the only ones who can "commune" with the God. It is a sacrificial, terrifying, beautiful, and revered role and one that is regarded to the highest degree.
I did not know where this story would go, with punch after unrelenting punch coming from every direction. It was terrifying and glorious.
This is one of my favorite things I've had the pleasure of reading. It is unique and captivating, and though it starts slow, this Southern Gothic tale will draw you in.