I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Valley and the Flood by Rebecca Mahoney Narrator: Phoebe Strole
Length: 10 Hours 28 Minutes
Published by Penguin on February 23, 2021
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Magical Realism, Social Themes, Death & Dying, Fantasy, Contemporary
Pages: 368
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: Library, Publisher
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"A tense and beautiful tale about the monsters we make and the memories that haunt us." —Kate Alice Marshall, author of I Am Still Alive and Rules for Vanishing
Rose Colter is almost home, but she can't go back there yet. When her car breaks down in the Nevada desert, the silence of the night is broken by a radio broadcast of a voicemail message from her best friend, Gaby. A message Rose has listened to countless times over the past year. The last one Gaby left before she died.
So Rose follows the lights from the closest radio tower to Lotus Valley, a small town where prophets are a dime a dozen, secrets lurk in every shadow, and the diner pie is legendary. And according to Cassie Cyrene, the town's third most accurate prophet, they've been waiting for her. Because Rose's arrival is part of a looming prophecy, one that says a flood will destroy Lotus Valley in just three days' time.
Rose believes if the prophecy comes true then it will confirm her worst fear—the PTSD she was diagnosed with after Gaby's death has changed her in ways she can't face. So with help from new friends, Rose sets out to stop the flood, but her connection to it, and to this strange little town, runs deeper than she could've imagined.
Debut author Rebecca Mahoney delivers an immersive and captivating novel about magical places, found family, the power of grief and memory, and the journey toward reconciling who you think you've become with the person you've been all along.
Why Did I Listen To The Valley And The Flood by Rebecca Mahoney?
The Valley And The Flood by Rebecca Mahoney has such a unique concept. I’ll admit that I first picked it up because I had assumed there was a cult aspect and I do love reading books about cults. However, that isn’t really what the book is about. Rather, I kept listening because of main character Rose’s character growth and for the magical realism aspect. This was a quiet sort of book that hit just right with me at the time that I had read it.
What’s The Story Here?
Rose Colter is driving through the Nevada desert one night when her car breaks down. She begins to hear a voicemail from her best friend Gaby over the radio. “Rose, are you there?” So, Rose goes to the nearest radio tower which is located in Lotus Valley. There, she learns that her arrival in town is part of a prophecy which ends with the town being destroyed by a flood. There’s also prophets which populate the town. As it turns out though, this is a book about PTSD and the very real trauma that Rose is dealing with.
What Did I Think Of The Valley And The Flood?
It’s kind of hard to go into detail on The Valley And The Flood because it is a story where things are revealed bit by bit. Also, I don’t want to spoil you. What I will say is that I appreciated the exploration of trauma within. I thought the author handled it in a sensitive manner and was quite thoughtful as well. Additionally, I wasn’t sure what to make of the flood and magical realism aspect, but in the end, it really worked for me. This was a genuinely good book and quiet too. I think it’ll end up going under the radar, because it is so different from what else is out there. Still, it is totally worth picking up.
How’s The Narration?
The audiobook of Rebecca Mahoney’s The Valley And The Flood is narrated by Phoebe Strole. It is 10 hours and 28 minutes unabridged. Strole has a voice that is youthful, so she was fitting to narrate Rose’s story. Overall, I tend to like Strole’s narration and this book was no exception. I am glad I listened to this book, but kind of think I would have processed it a bit better had I physically read it or listened to it a bit further out from having a baby (I am super sleep deprived which means not processing things perfectly). Still, this book was really good and I do recommend it.
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The cover is gorgeous! I’d read it for that alone. (It helps that you enjoyed the book, haha.)
Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear?