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A review by azrah786
The Liar of Red Valley by Walter Goodwater
3.75
[This review can also be found on my BLOG]
**I was provided with an early review copy through the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
CW: blood, violence, gore, death, death of a parent, cancer, police brutality, drug use, abortion
If you’re a fan of suspenseful stories involving strange small towns with secrets and something supernatural then you’ve got to check this book out!
Red Valley, California isn’t like your ordinary small town. Here is a place where magic and monsters make up the society just as much as the people and place. It is an area that has been safeguarded for centuries by an entity known as the King; where an individual known as the Liar has the power to alter reality; where there is a tree that never dies and a house that disappears into time; and most importantly where all is in harmony so long as you follow the rules. However, Sadie’s world starts to unravel when the mantle of the Liar unexpectedly gets passed onto her and all the secrets and lies of the town become hers to keep.
Walter Goodwater has brought something really fresh and fascinating to the contemporary fantasy genre. Though it does have certain horror elements particularly in the form of supernatural, eldritch-esque creatures and a bit of gore I wouldn’t exactly label this book as a horror. I felt more along the lines of a dark fantasy story to me.
The writing seamlessly immerses you into the small town atmosphere which is captured perfectly. Predominantly through Sadie we are introduced to the various magical and quite often uncanny aspects that make Red Valley the place that it is, things that had once been on the periphery of her day to day life that she now has to come face to face with.
The various characters we come across are all equally interesting and I really liked Sadie who has a surprisingly unyielding personality for someone in her situation. I couldn’t help but root for her and quite enjoyed reading her journey of taking up the role of the Liar. The power of the Liar itself and all the lore behind it so original and I don’t think I am going to get over it anytime soon. The same goes for this absolutely brilliant, mind blowing twist that I can guarantee most people won’t even predict!
However, I did feel like the climax of the book was rushed. Though the pacing does well to ramp up the tension and suspense as we move through the story, there was A LOT going on and I think certain plot points were resolved pretty quickly. I also wish more time had been allowed to flesh out some of the side characters and the primary character relationships.
That being said there is a sense of more stories lying in wake from the numerous individuals around the town and hidden around its obscure corners that you can’t help but be curious about. I really hope the author revisits this world in the future and having finished this book in time to catch the RP Bookclub Podcast episode of this month (you should definitely check that out too), Goodwater hinted a potential spin off story with a certain duo and I would be so down for that!
Final Rating – 3.75/5 Stars
**I was provided with an early review copy through the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
CW: blood, violence, gore, death, death of a parent, cancer, police brutality, drug use, abortion
If you’re a fan of suspenseful stories involving strange small towns with secrets and something supernatural then you’ve got to check this book out!
Red Valley, California isn’t like your ordinary small town. Here is a place where magic and monsters make up the society just as much as the people and place. It is an area that has been safeguarded for centuries by an entity known as the King; where an individual known as the Liar has the power to alter reality; where there is a tree that never dies and a house that disappears into time; and most importantly where all is in harmony so long as you follow the rules. However, Sadie’s world starts to unravel when the mantle of the Liar unexpectedly gets passed onto her and all the secrets and lies of the town become hers to keep.
Walter Goodwater has brought something really fresh and fascinating to the contemporary fantasy genre. Though it does have certain horror elements particularly in the form of supernatural, eldritch-esque creatures and a bit of gore I wouldn’t exactly label this book as a horror. I felt more along the lines of a dark fantasy story to me.
The writing seamlessly immerses you into the small town atmosphere which is captured perfectly. Predominantly through Sadie we are introduced to the various magical and quite often uncanny aspects that make Red Valley the place that it is, things that had once been on the periphery of her day to day life that she now has to come face to face with.
The various characters we come across are all equally interesting and I really liked Sadie who has a surprisingly unyielding personality for someone in her situation. I couldn’t help but root for her and quite enjoyed reading her journey of taking up the role of the Liar. The power of the Liar itself and all the lore behind it so original and I don’t think I am going to get over it anytime soon. The same goes for this absolutely brilliant, mind blowing twist that I can guarantee most people won’t even predict!
However, I did feel like the climax of the book was rushed. Though the pacing does well to ramp up the tension and suspense as we move through the story, there was A LOT going on and I think certain plot points were resolved pretty quickly. I also wish more time had been allowed to flesh out some of the side characters and the primary character relationships.
That being said there is a sense of more stories lying in wake from the numerous individuals around the town and hidden around its obscure corners that you can’t help but be curious about. I really hope the author revisits this world in the future and having finished this book in time to catch the RP Bookclub Podcast episode of this month (you should definitely check that out too), Goodwater hinted a potential spin off story with a certain duo and I would be so down for that!
Final Rating – 3.75/5 Stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Drug use, Gore, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, and Death of parent
Moderate: Abortion