DNF - Did not finish. I did not connect with the writing style or plot and will not be finishing this title. Thank you, NetGalley and Publisher for the early copy!

This was a good story, I was intrigued as to what was gonna happen and I'm glad I picked it up! Want to read more from this author

First I want to thank netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. When I first read the blurb about this book for some reason I expected it to be all thriller. Instead I would say it's more of a thriller mixed with fantasy and unfortunately fantasy is just not my genre. The book is basically about a family who pass on the ability to write down a lie and it becomes the truth. It was well written, i enjoyed the characters, but just the fantasy element of it made it hard for me to get through. For those of you who enjoy fantasy/thrillers I am positive you will love this book.

Book: The Liar of Red Valley
Author: Walter Goodwater

Summary:
Do not trust the Liar.

Do not go in the River.

Do not cross the King.

In Red Valley, California, you follow the rules if you want to stay alive. But even that isn’t enough to protect Sadie now that she’s unexpectedly become the Liar: the keeper and maker of Red Valley’s many secrets.

In a town like this, friendships are hard-won and bad blood lasts generations, and when not everyone in town is exactly human, it isn’t a safe place to make enemies.

And though the Liar has power—power to remake the world, with just a little blood—what Sadie really needs is answers: Why is the town’s sheriff after her? What does the King want from her? And what is the real purpose of the Liar of Red Valley?

Review: I enjoyed this book. I felt it was an interesting blend of urban fantasy, mystery, and thriller. I also loved how Sadie evolved through out the book.

I opted to listen to the audio version, available through Borrowbox.

The details
Read by: Munirih Grace

The narrator
I couldn't stand the voice actress for this one. She really grated on me. I think this would have benefitted from a full cast. The voices for male characters really didn't work... it was like that stereotypical voice a sister does to take the mick out of their brother!

The story
This was an urban gothic fantasy horror set in a small town, in modern day America. The premises had this really unique concept surrounding lies and secrets, with a supernatural edge to it. It was one that I was pretty excited for.

Unfortunately I just didn't connect to the narration and execution of the plot. I think it felt maybe too modern for my liking. I feel like I haven't read a newer urban fantasy for a good while (I've recently gone back to read popular YA urban fantasy and they're just built different) so I think I find the blend of modern fantasy is just too jarring for me. It also read more YA to me than Adult (which I believe was it's intended target audience). I enjoy YA but when it's aimed at a different group, I expect it to feel different.

I also struggled to keep up with the different threads of plot, which may be due to listening rather than reading. It just felt a bit tangled and convoluted for me.

I was forever on the cusp of dnf'ing this but I really thought I'd suddenly love it, however unfortunately that was not the case, for the bulk of the story - to my great disappointment.
It is frustrating because the middle bit of the very last 15% had me so hooked but I couldn't appreciate it to the fullest because of all my earlier struggles in this world.

I believe this is just a standalone and I think I would have left it at that, had there been more to come.

Not many books grab me within 2 pages, and insist that I keep reading, regardless of what is going on in my day. The Liar of Red Valley grabbed me quick, and I absolutely HAD to keep reading. Enjoy my review of The Liar of Red Valley by Walter Goodwater!

My Thoughts
I really enjoyed asking myself questions for my book review when I wrote my review of The Asha Anderson series, so I thought I would do that again for The Liar of Red Valley. The book overall was a pretty simple read, with a pretty simple premise, so I didn’t have many “deep” questions to ask myself. That was not to say that I didn’t love Liar, because I did. I was super curious about The King, and what he represented.

Does The Liar of Red Valley have any Trigger Warnings?
Not much about The Liar of Red Valley was triggering to me, but Sadie did lose her mom, unexpectedly. Losing her mom, then being expected to take over the duties of someone she knew almost nothing about, could be triggering for some people. I don’t think it would be so traumatic that people can’t enjoy the book, but it is something to be cognizant of when reading the story.

The Laughing Boys were super weird and creepy. I was a little traumatized by people who would willingly allow a demon to possess them, just for a “great high.”

What Genre would I fit The Liar of Red Valley into?
When I started reading, I would have classified The Liar of Red Valley as a horror book. I was having to stay careful not to read too late at night, because I didn’t want to make it hard to fall asleep. As I continued reading, however, I grew into calling it a “paranormal thriller,” rather than horror, because I gradually learned more about what was going on.

What about the Plot did I love the most?
I absolutely loved Sadie’s evolution while she was learning to navigate her duties as the town Liar. She began knowing nothing, and even the King, for whom she supposedly worked, was no help. She expected the townspeople to be scared of her, because that’s how they treated her mom, but her growth into her identity was pretty cool.

Was the scenery believable?
I was able to visualize so much about Red Valley. During Sadie’s meeting with the king, I kind of freaked out a little bit. It didn’t help that I was reading at night with the lights out, but the descriptions of the scenery and the descriptions of the King were just a smidgen freaky. If you scare easy, I recommend reading with the lights on.

Which character was the most relatable?
I absolutely loved Sadie, the main character. She got dumped in this horrible crap-show, but she did her best, she remained loyal to her friends, and she did what she could to protect her town. When she became the Liar officially, she used that power to protect her friends.

She also seriously had some attitude. The kind I always wished I had, while staying kind, of course.

Which character did I love to hate?
A couple people fit this character. Sadie’s “father,” Bryan, was kind of a douche. The sherriff of the town, as well, was horrible. The sherriff, for sure, was my “elevator shaft” character. He was supposed to protect the people of Red Valley, but all he really seemed to care about was taking down the King. It was a very confusing situation, and the sherriff didn’t make it any easier.

Would I recommend this book?
Yes, I absolutely would! The Liar of Red Valley definitely had some freaky parts, and I had times when I regretted reading at night, but all in all, the book was well-written, the story was fun, and I loved connecting with some new characters.

The Liar of Red Valley only has a couple small trigger warnings, and you definitely don’t want to read at night.

Unless you like being scared.

I for sure recommend this book, because it’s got a great plot, some great world building, and a villian who is sure to scare the pants off you a couple times. I hope you get a chance to grab this book, because I very much enjoyed it, and hope you will too!

A different type of book than what I normally read but it was enjoyable. A fantasy set in a normal world is how I would describe it. The Liar in the title is paid to write a lie down in her journal and then it becomes a truth. The skills to do this are passed down the generations. If you want a good life in Red Valley then you follow the rules set by the King and controlled by the King's men. An interesting read.

Do not trust the Liar.
Do not go in the River.
Do not cross the King.

Those three sentences pulled me in right from the beginning. This wasn't my normal type of reading because it was a mystical, horror story, but it didn't disappoint. Imagine you were able to make a lie come to life. What would you lie about? In this book, Sadie, a. young woman finds herself the The LIar of Red Valley. People come to her to tell her their lies, she writes them down in her book, they sign with blood, and then they give up a part of their life to make that lie come true. Would YOU want this job?

This book has everything from monsters, a king, mythical creatures, time-travelers, and of course, friends. It takes place in modern times in CA, which also made it interesting to me.

Pros:
1) It made me want to keep reading.
2) The characters were interesting.

Cons:
1) The perspective changes suddenly at times, but most of it is told from Sadie's point of view
2) The author threw in his political beliefs in small parts. It never matters to me if I agree with the author or not; I just don't like when they work that into a story.,

I gave this book four out of five stars. It doesn't come out until July 2022, but you can pre-order it on Amazon right now. I was given this book for my honest review.

What is the job of the Liar? Why does every seem after Sadie?
The questions keep coming, But then the king wants Sadie.
This book ls filled with magic and adventure that will keep you on your toes.

There are only three rules: Don’t trust the Liar. Don’t cross the King. Never, ever go in the river.

Sadie broke the first rule a lot of times, she trusted the liar, after all the liar was her mother. Now her mother is dead and Sadie has to become the new liar and learn to make out who’s a friend and who’s the enemy.

This book took me by surprise, in a lot of ways. The characters were amazing, I loved Sadie with all my heart. She had to grow so much and so fast and she had so many obstacles she had to overcome, it was breathtaking at times.

The book was full of twists I didn’t see coming and it was suspenseful the whole time. I couldn’t put it down and whenever I had to, I ached to pick it up again and start reading. It was just so good.

This was a change from my usual genre, and it was nice to read something different. I’m middle of the road with my review, I enjoyed it and it held my interest wanting to know where it would go and what would happen. But in the same sense I was sometimes wondering “what the heck”, but overall it was a good read.

The Liar of Red Valley is a very unique book that starts off at a face pace and doesn’t let up until the final words. It’s fast paced adventure never seems forced nor does it seem unrealistic within the realms that Goodwater characters inhabit.

The characters are very relatable and realistic and they all work within the concept of the story. The story follows Sadie whose mother has died and as she is trying to make sense, she is realising that things are not what they seem in the small town that she has lived in her whole life. The other characters are well drawn out and three dimensional with enough of their own quirks to keep you entertained and fully engaged.

The plot is a mind bending affair as Goodwater has done the unthinkable and mixed so many genres, fantasy, the occult, mystery, horror, comedy and drama giving the reader a mix mash that works on every level. Should it work, probably not but Goodwater shows that under his capable hand that he is a force to be reckoned with. He masterfully keeps the reader guessing and he is able to untangle the plots effectively and emotionally to bring home a book that is thought provoking exciting and excellent on every level.

The Liar of Red Valley stands on its own and is a must for readers who like their books fast paced, engaging, excellent characters and a fun twisting turning plot. An excellent book to read and the only complaint is that you are left wanting more and that is not a bad thing.

I thank NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

A decent urban fantasy read set in the fictional town of Red Valley where the King keeps humans (all of which seem to have supernatural powers of some sort) safe from the creatures that exist outside.
Unfortunately, this novel is full of tropes and pretty much predictable.
For me, it lacks the unexpected twists and turns to keep me on my toes.
Well written, although the main characters leave me wanting for more oompf. They are a bit flat and cookie-cutter stereotypes.
I don't get much horror from this novel. It feels like it will appeal more to readers of YA paranormal/urban fantasy.

I LOVE THIS BOOK

Basically all I watch is Shudder and like to think that I’ve seen almost every horror movie out there. And let me tell you.. this author’s imagination is amazing. I’ve NEVER seen or read about some of the things he describes 👏🏻👏🏻 also the fact that I randomly stumbled on my favorite genre with this one (magical realism) filled me with absolute glee.

Only reason I’m giving it less than 5 stars is because it seemed a teeeeny bit rough (or perhaps just lost in the in-between of YA/adult?). But this was an ARC.

I am a member of the American Library Association Reading List Award Committee. This title was suggested for the 2022 list. It was not nominated for the award. The complete list of winners and shortlisted titles is at <a href="https://rusaupdate.org/2022/01/readers-advisory-announce-2022-reading-list-years-best-in-genre-fiction-for-adult-readers/">

What a fabulous surprise this book was! A really atmospheric tale that starts off with a bang and doesn't let up. I loved Sadie as a protagonist - she is grumpy and stubborn and feisty and works really well in this story. I thought the plot and pacing were great and would love to read more books in this world. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who liked the first series of True Detective, as the vibes are very similar. A great find.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

WOW! It's one of those books that should be rated 10/5 as it's brilliant, riveting and gripping.
Three rules to rule them: Do not cross the King/Do not go in the River/Do not trust the Liar
We meet the Liar at the beginning of the book and learn something about her. But things change as Sadie, the daughter, becomes the new Liar.
The world building is fascinating, we know that it talks about this century but it could anytime or anywhere.
Sadie is great character and I like her. The plot is told by different POVS but hers are the best parts.
The author is a talented storyteller and the story kept me reading and turning pages.
I know I'm late to the party but I feel like I discovered a gems.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Did not get to this book in 2021.
My review is not a reflection of the work or the writing/plot itself, but rather speaks to other books that caught my attention more.
Hate I didn't manage to squeeze this one in, but there are so many books and only so much time.

I would look to Goodreads or other reviewers on Netgalley who read the title and will offer their unbiased opinion.

A very unusual premise for a book, which the author pulls off with aplomb. Very original ideas - which somehow seem explain a lot about some people and places I have known :-)

The Liar of Red Valley is an unusual book for sure. And wouldn't be the sort of book I'd necessarily pick up if I saw it in a bookshop. But I found it surprisingly engaging and did enjoy it for its uniqueness.

Sadie lives in Red Valley, a town of two halves separated by a River. Her mother was the town Liar, a person who the townsfolk came to to tell their secrets, and undo them with a lie written in a ledger.

But now Sadie's mom has died, and the baton is passed to her. And she is clueless at first.

All she knows is that the dark forces in Red Valley want something from her - the ledger. But where is it?

Finding bravery she didn't know she possessed, Sadie is ultimately going to unite the town against monsters and the all powerful ruler of their town.

Quirky, dark and entertaining, this is a surprising hit with me.