A review by theoverbookedbibliophile
The Red Grove by Tessa Fontaine

dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.5

 
“The women asked: Who is safe?
And Tamsen Nightingale said: The women who shelter in this red grove are safe.
The women asked: How are they safe?
And Tamsen Nightingale said: In this red grove, no woman can be harmed. No violence may come upon her. No injury to her flesh from the flesh of another. The women asked: Who is welcome?
And Tamsen Nightingale said: Those who can walk in darkness are welcome and those who affix to the deeply woven roots are free.

—The Story of the Sisters, Welcoming Incantation”

Set in 1997, The Red Grove by Tessa Fontaine revolves around sixteen-year-old Luce Shelley who along with her mother Gloria, younger brother Roo and her aunt Gem, has spent the last eight year of her life as a part of the Red Grove, a secluded community in the redwood forests of California. Luce’s family moved to the Red Grove after an act of violence left her aunt in a vegetative state. The community, mostly comprised of women, offers a sanctuary for those seeking a haven from the violence of the outside world. Luce is deeply attached to her community, believing in its ideology and way of life. However, when her mother suddenly disappears after a disturbing incident with a visitor, Luce is compelled to question the very bonds that tie the community together and the truth behind the principles upon which the community was founded and is still governed, as laid down by its founder Tamsen Nightingale in the 1850s.

Beautiful writing, the atmospheric vibe and an interesting cast of characters render this an engaging read that revolves around themes of womanhood, secrets, belongingness and connection, trust and community. The narrative is shared from Luce’s perspective with the story of how the community originated shared in segments interspersed throughout the novel. The author deftly combines elements of family drama, coming of age, mystery (with a healthy dose of the surreal) and magical realism into a narrative that, though not quite cohesive, did hold my interest. I loved the vivid descriptions of the California redwoods, the deep connection between the community and its natural surroundings and their rituals. Luce is an endearing protagonist and though I did question a few of her choices, I was invested in her journey. Tamsen’s story was fascinating, as was the symbolism of the mountain lion. I thought the author did a remarkable job of depicting Luce’s dynamic with the members of her family and her community. However, the pacing of the novel is on the slower side and the story picks up only after the halfway mark. The story has strong feminist overtones and while I appreciated the themes that are addressed in this novel, I was a tad disappointed with the lack of intensity and depth with which certain aspects of the story were presented in the 1997 timeline. As far as the mystery is concerned, the final reveal is not entirely unpredictable, but I did like how the author chose to end the novel.

I paired my reading with the audiobook (4⭐) narrated by Erin Moon who did an amazing job breathing life into these characters and the story. The audio experience certainly elevated my experience with this novel.

Many thanks to Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the digital review copy via NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ALC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.