Reviews - Revelator | The StoryGraph

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823 reviews for:

Revelator

Daryl Gregory

4.03 AVERAGE

eden_42069's review against another edition

4.25

dark mysterious medium-paced

himynameismichael923's review against another edition

4.0

2022 Horror Reading Challenge: Cosmic Horror

Revelator… what can I say about you. This is a slow burn folk horror, that turns cosmic horror in its final moments. I want to quickly say, how insignificant that ending will make you feel. This story is set in two timelines, in the mountains of Tennessee. It follows our storyteller, Stella, when she is a child and as an adult. There are cult vibes, and a sense of uncertainty about what is going on. I really loved how the author keeps dropping you breadcrumbs throughout the tale. There are some real jaw dropping reveals here. The amount of backstory we get with all these characters, is one of the many strengths of this book. The world building is so rich that , it almost feels historic. If you’ve ever wanted a book about a moonshine running heroin, dealing with the trama from her family’s cultish religion, Revolator is for you.

iremslibrary's review against another edition

3.5

dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

featherinthewind's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Oh my god. This book was amazing from start to finish and had a plot that both spooked me and made me anxious.

dngoldman's review against another edition

3.25

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective tense

Revelator is a well-written southern gothic novel with a supernatural twist, with a plot that is revealed slowly. Set in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee during two timelines 1938 and ‘48, the book effectively captures a time when the United States was on the brink of becoming the modern world we know today—more federal and less local, more materialistic and less mysterious.

The story begins with a thrilling premise: “Stella Wallace met her family’s god when she was 9 years old.” This opening sets the stage for a gripping tale that intertwines family secrets, supernatural elements, and the struggle for power.

The novel follows Stella Wallace, who, as a child, encounters her family’s god, an entity known as the Ghostdaddy. After a tragic incident (revealed later) Stella flees her home but returns years later for her grandmother Motty’s funeral. She discovers that her grandmother had adopted a mysterious ten-year-old girl named Sunny, who holds a direct link to Stella’s past and her family’s destructive faith. As Stella navigates her return, she confronts her family’s dark secrets and the god they worship.

Gregory uses the plot to explore several profound themes: male dominance over female experience, the power derived from interpreting stories, the untranslatable nature of divine revelation, the corruption of religion for personal gain, and the sacrifices people are willing to make for their own benefit. The book feels like an alternative, unearthed story that could have been part of the Bible, with many parallels to Genesis1

While Revelator is well-crafted and intriguing, it never quite reaches the level of emotional power that could make its horror elements truly come alive. The novel is more interesting and plot driven than viscerally frightening. Despite its strengths, it lacks the emotional depth that could have made the ideas more impactful and the horror more unnerving.