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A review by justinlife
Revelator by Daryl Gregory
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I have to give credit where credit is due. This is a really well done book. It's not a book that I wanted to read and when I started it, I wasn't thrilled, but I can't deny the care that went into the structure, plot, characters, and ending. Gregory excelled with this book.
The story revolves around the women from the Wallace family. They have the ability to communicate with an old god living in the mountain in their East TN Smoky Mountain village. Only their family knows about the god, though. The woman's words are then interpreted by one of the men of the family. The story focuses on Stella, the latest Revelator and her coming of age and then moves into the future 10 years when another revelator comes up.
It's a great setup- 1930s and 40s Smoky Mountain. You get moonshiners, you get small town religions, you get southern gothic.
This novel twists and turns in ways that left me unsettled. It's hard to describe without giving it away, but I was impressed in how Gregory shows how we find ways to interpret events that are beyond our understanding. When you get to the end, you'll start to rethink earlier sections of the book with this new knowledge. All the hints were there, but we couldn't see them because why would we? You might even be tempted to reread it.
I think when I started this book, I was concerned b/c small town southern men and young girls who can speak to gods have a power dynamic there that can be problematic. I didn't want to read about an older man manipulating a girl. Fortunately, it's not really that. That part wasn't burdensome or overbearing.
The book is creepy though. The old god is creepy and if you aren't unsettled by the end, then good for you. This took me out. Even though I didn't feel like reading it and didn't want to be in this world, I have to hand it to him for really doing the work and making it work. It's a well done book.
The story revolves around the women from the Wallace family. They have the ability to communicate with an old god living in the mountain in their East TN Smoky Mountain village. Only their family knows about the god, though. The woman's words are then interpreted by one of the men of the family. The story focuses on Stella, the latest Revelator and her coming of age and then moves into the future 10 years when another revelator comes up.
It's a great setup- 1930s and 40s Smoky Mountain. You get moonshiners, you get small town religions, you get southern gothic.
This novel twists and turns in ways that left me unsettled. It's hard to describe without giving it away, but I was impressed in how Gregory shows how we find ways to interpret events that are beyond our understanding. When you get to the end, you'll start to rethink earlier sections of the book with this new knowledge. All the hints were there, but we couldn't see them because why would we? You might even be tempted to reread it.
I think when I started this book, I was concerned b/c small town southern men and young girls who can speak to gods have a power dynamic there that can be problematic. I didn't want to read about an older man manipulating a girl. Fortunately, it's not really that. That part wasn't burdensome or overbearing.
The book is creepy though. The old god is creepy and if you aren't unsettled by the end, then good for you. This took me out. Even though I didn't feel like reading it and didn't want to be in this world, I have to hand it to him for really doing the work and making it work. It's a well done book.