Austin Horror Book Club 👻📕

Revelator by Daryl Gregory (2021)

In the mountains of Tennessee, a young girl named Stella grows up in a family bound by an unusual and secretive religion—one centered around a mysterious god hidden deep within their home.

As Stella comes of age, she begins to question the traditions she’s been taught to accept without doubt. But in a place where belief is everything and outsiders are not to be trusted, curiosity can be dangerous.

Spanning decades, Revelator is a haunting blend of Southern Gothic, folk horror, and coming-of-age drama—where faith, family, and fear intertwine in ways that are as unsettling as they are unforgettable.

Daryl Gregory is an award-winning author known for blending genres in clever and often unsettling ways. His work spans horror, science fiction, and dark fantasy, often exploring big ideas—identity, belief systems, memory—through deeply human stories.

He’s the author of novels like Spoonbenders and We Are All Completely Fine, and his writing has earned multiple award nominations, including the Shirley Jackson and World Fantasy Awards.

Themes to Keep in Mind While Reading (Non-Spoiler)

Faith vs. Control
When does belief become something more… coercive?

Family as Sanctuary (and Trap)
The same bonds that protect can also confine.
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The Cost of Knowing
What happens when you learn the truth?

Before the event …

• Read the book.
• Keep your RSVP up-to-date. If you can't make it out, update your RSVP at least 24 hours beforehand. Attendance will be taken and "No Show"s marked.

At the event …

• We’re a friendly welcoming bunch and we love new folks!
• Please purchase something (even if just a soda) while you’re at the restaurant. They’re running a business but being super awesome by giving us a space to meet for free. Also, please tip our servers. We’re a big bunch to wrangle.