A review by henrygravesprince
Revelator by Daryl Gregory

dark funny mysterious 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

5.0

This is a stunning piece of Appalachian horror literature under the Southern Gothic umbrella. If you like Appalachian horror or Southern Gothic lit, especially the kind dealing with complex family relationships and deep-rooted religious trauma, this is an instant recommendation from me. It’s earned a place among my favorites, and serves as a fine example of what I want when I say I love Appalachian horror.  It was a treat listening to this with my Pop, who occasionally recounted stories of his childhood that the book reminded him of. It feels incredibly authentic, not just to Appalachian history, but to Appalachia itself. 

I don’t think this book is for everyone, especially in that it portrays Appalachia in an incredible, well-rounded, authentic way (save for the monster part, depending), the culture seeping through every word, and some people are not going to be able to get immersed in that. If you don’t like books that utilize cultural dialects and/or struggle to take Appalachians seriously, I don’t think you’re going to like this book. But if that doesn’t scare you off and the subject matter interests you, I encourage you to give it a shot. The audiobook is especially stellar; Reagan Boggs did a wonderful job at bringing the cast and story to life.
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