User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
First, let’s discuss the elephant in the room. Is this written in the oral history format like
Daisy Jones & The Six? Yes. Does it have sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll? Yes. Will it take you back in time like
Daisy Jones & The Six? Yes.
Is this the same story as
Daisy Jones & The Six? Nope. It is not. Opal is nothing like Daisy, and as much as I loved Daisy Jones, I will say I loved this one even more.
The book starts in 2016, when S. Sunny Shelton is the editor in chief of Aural Magazine. She is writing a book about Opal Jewel and Nev Charles. She plans to interview them and all of those around them. But who are Opal and Nev?
In the 1970’s, Nev, a white Brit, comes to New York to try his hand at becoming a successful singer. He’s looking for a yin to his yang, and happens to find Opal, a Black American woman, on amateur night at a bar in Detroit. Opal is fierce. She’s not classically beautiful and is not the best singer in the world...and yet, she has star quality and the ability to enhance rock music with her powerful voice.
Opal agrees to record an album with Nev, and they sign a deal with Rivington Records. Although their first album doesn’t set the world ablaze, they have high hopes for their future. Things come to a head when the record company signs a new band that proudly displays Confederate flags and has a crude following. A promotional event leads to a chaotic, dangerous, and fatal situation that literally had my blood boiling. Even so, that event put Opal and Nev in the news, and things were never the same for them.
So why is Sunny writing about them? They are in talks to reunite for a special concert. In addition to that, her own father was the man who was killed at their promotional event in the 70’s. On top of that, he was having an affair with Opal while his wife was pregnant with Sunny.
This is a story that is rich in atmosphere, has fully dimensional characters with faults, and masterfully weaves in real events to add to the authenticity of the time periods of past. I couldn’t get enough. I had to stop reading at one point and let my mind adjust to a shocking revelation. I cared about the characters, felt their wounds, hurt when they hurt, and felt uplifted when they experienced joy.
Mark my words: Author Dawnie Walton is going to be a star! While this is her first book, her talent is outstanding. She has tons of experience under her belt, and I will eagerly follow her writing career and grab her next novel as soon as possible.
Opal and Nev felt so real and authentic. If they had been, I would’ve spent the next few days diving into their Wikipedia page(s) and digging out old interviews and footage on YouTube.
The novel doesn’t shy away from tough topics, and Walton doesn’t mince words. It’s a true gem and reflection of the 70’s era (good and bad) and our current era (good and bad).
I have no doubt that this will be on my
top of 2021 list. Do yourselves a favor: Grab a copy when this is published on 3/30/21.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster/37 Ink and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
Rating: really liked it
I loved Daisy Jones and the Six - it’s oral history format just really worked for me. So, I was anxious to see what Walton would do with it. Well let me tell you, she moves it up a notch. This is so much more than the story of a musical duo. It’s the story of our times.
The writing is something special. “That’s what the South was like for me. Sweet on the first taste, but something gone sour underneath. It’ll try to trick you, now - the sugar berries and the quiet and those lovely spread out houses. But after that day with Auntie Rose, I could smell the rotten, too.”
Walton totally nails the time and the place. She intersperses just enough of what was happening in the real world to anchor the story. But beyond that, I felt like I was in the recording studio, the initial concert and at the reunion.
Opal and Nev are both fully fleshed out, with all the strengths and faults. I loved watching how their different decisions led to how their careers and lives played out. And let me just say, I wasn’t expecting this to be suspenseful, but boy, was it. As the story progresses, I couldn’t wait to see how it would play out. The story rings true. By taking us through the years, we see how little progress we’ve made. It makes a great point about white privilege. Put this one on your radar. I’m convinced it’ll be one of the hits of 2021.
My thanks to netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance copy of this book.
Rating: really liked it
What happens when an unknown young black singer from Detroit is hand-picked by a young white red-haired singer from the UK to be his unlikely partner in a musical rock duo? Grab some popcorn and sit back, because this is the compelling story of Opal & Nev.
This engaging fictional story of 70’s Afro-Punk rock duo Opal & Nev explores how these two misfits from different worlds found each other against all odds, and what happened not only to launch their short-lived musical journey together, but the racially-charged events that ultimately tore them apart and sent their lives in different directions.
What I liked:
Style: Author Dawnie Walton has created an interview style oral history - a la Daisy Jones & the Six - that seamlessly blends real, recognizable names from the 70’s up through current music and culture with her fictional duo of Opal & Nev, et al. It’s so effective, in fact, that I initially double-checked to make sure Opal & Nev and the remaining cast of characters weren’t actually real! This gave it the feeling of a legitimate memoir, which in turn gave it more depth, and I enjoyed seeing names I recognized scattered throughout. In that vein, the book spans several decades, so it offers a nice historical overview of what was going on in America, including the changing of presidents and ideologies of those times.
Characters: Opal is one fierce, intelligent, strong-willed woman who doesn’t back down in her desire to see her fellow African Americans treated with dignity and fairness, even when some of those actions cost her or those around her. The story really belongs to her, even if she shares title credit with Nev. Speaking of Nev, this ginger-haired, caucasian Brit is the more elusive and mysterious member of the duo. Less focus is devoted to him, but his laid-back, seemingly good-natured personality was the perfect counterpoint to Opal’s vocal, creative, free-spirited ways. A couple other standouts were Opal’s entertaining bestie and stylist, the flamboyant Francophile Virgil La Fleur, and S. Sunny Shelton (aka SarahLena Curtis), the interviewer/author of the story within this story and the daughter of Jimmy Curtis, a drummer who Opal had an affair with and whose death plays a central role in this story.
Relevance: The book explores or touches on timely and relevant social issues including the seedlings of the Black Lives Matter and Me Too movements regarding racism, racial justice, and sexism, and the advent of legalized gay marriage. It also looks at some of the greedy and questionable practices of the music industry and the temptation of the media to represent certain popular narratives at the exclusion of truth. This gives the book some meaning and heft, rather than just being a standard sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll story.
Where I struggled:
Pace: As much as I enjoyed the story, sometimes it felt like the narrative was starting to drag a little or feel redundant. Some (OK - most) of that is a “me” thing: I get bored with listening to people talk. Ask my poor husband - he knows what I’m like when my eyes start to glaze over. Whether they actually were long, these chapters
felt long, like my progress to the finish line was turtle-level
slooooooow.
Conclusion: All things said, those who are patient readers who enjoy a historical fiction/interview-style rock ‘n’ roll memoir should enjoy this very good, extremely well-written story. Kudos to Ms. Walton for her stunning debut!
★★★★
Thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and author Dawnie Walton for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. This will be published on March 30, 2021.
Rating: really liked it
I thought The Final Revival of Opal and Nev would be a love story. It is, but not the one I expected. Opal and Nev aren’t romantically involved, but rather partners in a famous, fictional rock duo.
So where’s the love? It’s between readers and music, the 1970s, the fight against racism, and author Dawnie Walton’s skillful words.
The structure of Walton’s novel is, well… novel. The duo’s story is revealed through a series of interviews and articles rather than as a linear narrative. It’s almost like a transcript of a lengthy “Behind the Music” episode, which will work for many readers but might feel choppy to others.
Given the oral history technique, audiobook listeners will want to take note. Those who choose the audio format will be treated to a full cast of narrators that bring the documentary-style story to life.
Want to immerse yourself in the world of sex, drugs and rock’n’roll for a few hours? This Opal is a gem.
My thanks to Dawnie Walton and Simon and Schuster for the gifted review copy via NetGalley.
Blog: www.confettibookshelf.com
Rating: really liked it
Who doesn’t like to dive into an oral-history fiction after the blooming popularity of Daisy Jones and the Six! The storytelling style with interviews, the nerve breaking rising of a band and catastrophic tragic events sealed its members’ faiths! I’m sold with this concept!
It’s not realistic to compare this novel with Daisy Jones and Six even though both of them related with the relationship dynamics of band members and forbidden love story. This book’s main focus in questioning inequality, racism with rebellious, liberating tone! The music they make is the product of their inner resentment, anger, revolutionary thoughts, fears and the songs they create were honest reflection of their turmoils, conflict emotions.
At the beginning, we’re introduced to S. Sunny Curtis, powerful journalist via her editor notes who hears a rumor about Opal and Nev’s getting together for a reunion concert on 2017 and we observe how her path crossed with Opal in her mid sixties at the hall.
She defines Opal as Nev Charles’ one time partner in stage, ebony skinned provocateur, fashion rebel, singer/ screecher/ Afro-Punk ancestor , the unapologetically Black Feminist resurrected via GIFs and Instagram Quotes for intense political times: also her father’s crazy ex-girlfriend.
Her father was Jimmy Curtis-drummer of Nev and Opal’s band who has been killed at the concert by a group of racists beat him to death.
Sunny wants to write a book about the musical legacy of the band and surprisingly Opal accepts this offer.
Sunny has conflict feelings about Opal going back and forth between adoration and grudge. She knows Opal financially supported her to get better education, pursuing her dream to be a journalist but she also resents her because of her father’s murder.
The story is told from different POVs but it’s mainly centered on Opal, Opal’s two years younger half sister Pearl and Sunny. Their stories are intercepted for a heart wrenching, powerful resolution.
From the beginning, Opal and Pearl’s childhood story, their moving to the south, their yearning for fathers’ loves, ( Opal has no memory about her father and Pearl’s father has also died at the war in Korea.) their pure joy to sing at the church choir, their happiness when they have new clothes.
I felt like I could foresee where the story was going easily but with a shocking twist, the story went into another direction I would never ever see it coming, kept reading with dropped jaw.
And the ending was truly magnificent, earned my extra points and adoration for this brilliant book!
In first three months of the year, I’ve already read so many unique, original, stimulating, powerful, thought provoking, epic debuts and I’m finally announcing this book is one of them which I strongly recommend to the genre lovers!
I’m rounding up my 4.5 stars to 5 provocative, unconventional, surprising, liberating, moving, emotional stars!
Rating: really liked it
Rock-DuoOpal and Nev are the most unlikely of partners who could not be more different. With such a range of personalities, background, culture, race, image and behaviours, they provide such a fascinating contrast in an industry that is always seeking the new outrageous star. The development of their journey from their family background to music industry fame is fascinating, and it does require a double-take to realise that this is a purely fictional story. Delivered in an epistolary format, the structure works brilliantly in delivering a documentary-style narrative where the sense of information flowing from the most appropriate observer keeps us enthralled.
Neville Charles (Nev) is a very creative songwriter musician from England and manages to impress New York City based, Rivington Records, to sign him and work to promote his unique musical style. While the record label backs him they also feel there is something missing and they embark on a quest to find the missing piece – a perfect duo fit for Nev. One night in Detroit they hear Opal Robinson and her sister Pearl, sing in a bar and Nev knows instantly that Opal is the one. While not as beautiful as her sister or as good a singer as her sister, Opal has that je ne sais quoi, that enigmatic something that is riveting, and Nev knows he has found his partner. Nev is white, ginger-haired and very reserved, Opal is black, bald, and fiercely flamboyant - yet they work.
Dawnie Walton shows great craft in building her characters, especially considering the format of the novel. Opal and Nev are fascinating characters, well developed and intriguing. They have a strong belief in themselves but also show their uncertainty and the precarious nature of the industry. The introduction of the rock and roll lifestyle also has its impact, particularly on Opal who isn't one to hold back. A defining moment happens when the band’s black drummer Jimmy Curtis is killed in a racially motivated attack at a concert and it brings the band to an end.
With the talk that Opal and Nev are planning a reunion concert forty years later, the newly appointed editor of Aural Magazine, S. Sunny Shelton/Curtis, wants to cover their story. In a juicy twist, Sunny is the daughter of Jimmy Curtis, a father she never met but who was having an affair with Opal at the time of his death. With Sunny as the novel’s facilitator, this is essentially a story within a story and her editor's notes add a great element to the book.
Amongst other things, this is a powerful story about racism and sexism, and a contemporary look at the societal injustices that glaringly pervade our lives. Walton has written a very intelligent story at various levels, from an entertaining glimpse of rock and roll that excites many fans, to an acute social commentary on the issues facing our world today. There are often disconnect issues with the episodic style and I felt that happened here which also slowed the story at times, but that said, this is a wonderful read and hugely impressive as a debut novel.
I would recommend this book and I have Michael David to thank for pointing me in the right direction. I would also like to thank Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC copy in return for an honest review.
Rating: really liked it
I really enjoyed this one! I listened to the audiobook which has a full cast, which was so much fun and definitely the way to go if you plan to read this one! This has major Daisy Jones & the Six vibes with the way it follows a band in the 1970’s and is told in an interview style format. I absolutely love Opal Jewell as a character, she’s iconic!!!
Here’s the reading vlog where I read this book: https://youtu.be/QByD-7NKM_8
Rating: really liked it
Love love loved the audio of “The Final Revival of Opal and Nev”. I’m not sure that if I read this (rather than listening), it would have been as enjoyable. This is an anthology of a fictious punk rock duo, but it’s in the form of a podcast or oral history with multiple narrators providing their insight to the band and the individuals associated with the band. We hear from the music promoters, fans, managers, band members, etc. Plus, it’s a dive into the music and cultural past, showing how music inspired culture, making this an interesting historical fiction story. Remember free concerts? Festivals? Do you recall the Altamont incident where a black man was beaten by Hells Angels at a free concert featuring the Rolling Stones? You shall be reminded.
This oral history begins with the fictitious Sunny Shelton named as the first-ever Black editor of Aural, a fictional print magazine. The stakes are high for Sunny. Sunny’s backstory is that her father was a black drummer for Nev and Opal when they performed at a concert that also featured a southern country band whose emblem is the Confederate Flag. When the fans of the two music groups collided, Sunny’s father was brutally beaten and killed. Thus, Sunny has a particular interest in this band. Mostly, her interest lies with Opal Jewel.
Nev found Opal in the late 1960’s in Detroit, where she performed with her sister. Nev, a pale white man, tall with ginger hair, contrasted beautifully with Opal. She is a powerful black woman who loves to dress for affect. The real Grace Jones came to mind when I pictured Opal. Meanwhile Nev is British and uninteresting in looks. But when the two are on stage, it’s powerful. They amazingly rise to fame in the 1970’s as an interracial rock duo. They fall apart after a tragic promotional concert when Sunny’s father is murdered. It is Opal who suffers most from the tragedy; culture is not kind to black performers, especially women.
Through the oral history, we learn of music events that occur and their relevance to pop culture. It’s a fun and entertaining journey. Author Dawnie Walton exposes racial and gender inequities during that time.
Truly, what’s best is the entertainment value of listening to this unique structure. Compiling all the differing voices made this a fun listen. Kudos to Simon and Schuster Audio productions because I feel that the amazing audio made this story for me. In fact, I googled Nev Charles to see if he was a true musician (he is not). And of course, the wonderful Bahni Turpin (she voices Opal) made this exceptional. I am a huge fan of hers.
My word of caution if you listen to this is that you will be duped into believing this is a real story. It is NOT. But, it could be. The historical references make this believable in a fun way. Music lovers, treat yourself! Listen to this outstanding audio.
Rating: really liked it
AN AFROPUNK ROCK N ROLL DUO IN THE SEVENTIES??? YES YES YESSSSSS
Rating: really liked it
My favourite decade - the 70’s. Bell bottoms, disco, hippies, drugs ...and rock and roll, Baby.
This is a unique biographical fictional account -Also being dubbed an oral history, of the brief claim to fame this duo had and a chance, decades later, for a reunion.
In New York City, a showcase concert is about to take place.
Opal & Nev have released an album but it’s not getting any attention.
The event is arranged with The Bond Boys (red neck hoodlums) being the headline. But some shit goes down involving a confederate flag and I give zero fucks black singer, Opal, is not about to let them hang out their racial laundry.
In a swift turn of events, chaos ensues and the drummer, Jimmy, is murdered protecting her.
This was a jolting read. Written by Jimmy’s daughter, Walton. She Interviewed Nev, Opal and some other key players. But Opal, what a woman. An activist in the most powerful sense; a rebel in many others. But unique and original and not afraid to stand up for her rights.
What’s the most disturbing is the deep racial tensions that still exist today. The injustice that remains.
4⭐️
Rating: really liked it
An impressive debut novel. And I'll get this out of the way now, do not shy away from reading this book because you think it will be too similar to Daisy Jones & The Six. Other than using an oral history format to tell the story of a fictional band, they really do branch off in different directions. I like both books, but The Final Revival of Opal & Nev definitely tackles tougher topics.
It's the 1970s and Rivington Records based in NYC would love to add some stars to their roster. Aspiring British singer/songwriter and lanky redheaded white male, Nev Charles, is looking for that special someone to join him in making music. After an exhaustive search he sees Opal singing in a Detroit bar. She's a young Black woman, and while she might not have the best voice or a fit that boring definition of conventional beauty, she sure has "it", that presence that all stars seem to possess in spades. That's how Opal and Nev got their start so many years ago. In 2016 the duo might reunite and music journalist, S. Sunny Shelton, is in the process of collecting an oral history of the pair.
Given the title I did assume the book would focus equally on Opal and Nev. However it kinda evolved more into Opal and Sunny's story and I'm glad it did. The strength of this novel is showing racism in both its obvious and subtle forms. It's something that pops up right from the start with Opal as a young girl in Birmingham, Alabama and continues all the way into the 2016 storyline. When you read about the 1970s significant event in the story it makes your blood boil for many reasons. One of those being that fifty years later, that fictional scenario could easily play out in real life.
When I initially finished the book I kept thinking that Nev wasn't a fully developed character like Opal. But my opinion of how Nev was written changed for the better. Now here is where I try to figure out how to express my thoughts without veering into spoiler territory. The best I can come up with is saying the author made a smart choice in how she wrote that character. I think I was too dumb to realize it at first.
Sign me up for any book Dawnie Walton writes in the future. Highly recommend checking this book out.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance digital copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
Rating: really liked it
I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book, being a fan of Daisy Jones & The Six and The Songbook of Benny Lament, but it ended up being a big disappointment for me. I didn’t like the writing style at all. It felt like listening to a magazine with different interviews, no personal connection, dialog and emotion between the characters themselves. The extensive editor notes throughout the book were annoying and distracting. In my opinion, Sunny had no place in this story because she couldn’t offer any real insight. I would’ve enjoyed a first-person or third-person perspective centered on Opal, her life, her thoughts, her fierceness and her path to fame. So much potential, such poor execution.
Rating: really liked it
The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton is a 2021 37 Ink publication.
Opal and Nev were a dynamic, groundbreaking rock duo during the 70s. But when their recording label signs a group that miraculously makes it onto the music charts, the couple gets caught up in the studio’s attempt to book all their artists in the big Rivington musical festival.
Things go awry when the featured group takes the stage waving a confederate flag, prompting Opal to act. When a melee breaks out it leads to the death of Jimmy Curtis, the band’s drummer, and the duo’s promising career…
Nev goes on to success in Britain, while Opal takes a less commercial, excursion into Afropunk music, having taken the brunt of the fallout of the Rivington festival.
Now, there are rumors that Opal and Nev may be planning a reunion. As the first black editor of Aural magazine, Sunny Shelton is set to do a cover story about the duo. But her interest in this story is very, very personal, because Sunny just happens to be Jimmy Curtis’ daughter, and she’s about to interview, Opal- the woman who was having an affair with her father while her mother was pregnant with her…
Well, wow! Just wow!! This book is so realistic that I Googled 'Opal & Nev' to see if they were a real musical duo – or if this story was based on a true story. I had to keep reminding myself the book was fictional!
Nev is certainly a central part of the story, but he’s overshadowed, rightfully so, in my opinion, by Opal.
Opal is quite the character- and while her stylist- Virgil, attempts to steal the show now and again, Opal is absolutely THE star of this show, hands down. She’s outlandish, bold, bald, outspoken and takes no prisoners.
The story is written exactly as a journalist would approach it- in the format of an oral history. There are many interviews piecing together the events that led to that fateful show and the fallout that followed. But, as the story progresses, it tightens up to a point of supreme, edge of your seat suspense. I was riveted!
The story eventually narrows the spotlight to Sunny and Opal. The author adeptly creates a parallel between them, and their individual struggles, both personally and professionally. Sunny draws strength and inspiration from Opal that she had not anticipated, as the two women come to a special understanding.
Overall, I was drawn to this book by the lure of sex, drugs, and rock and roll, set in the 1970s, but the story goes far deeper than a surface rock saga. (Some are making comparisons to other books that feature 70s fictional bands- also employing an oral history format, but, while I may have enjoyed those books, this story blows them straight out of the water!!! NO comparisons, in my opinion- to be rudely blunt) It is so effective, I really, really wanted Opal & Nev to be real people, and still can't shake the feeling that they aren't.
The story explores many angles of women and race, juxtaposing the past with the present with a dynamic style. The story is deep, gripping, gritty and dazzling. I couldn’t put it down!! It may be early days yet- but I can assure you, this book will be on my list of favorites in 2022.
Highly recommend!!
Rating: really liked it
I had more fun reading Opal & Nev than just about any other book last year. Opal is such a compelling character, with a voice and story that is timely in all the right ways. With a few exceptions, other characters were less compelling. The story was told as an oral history, with the characters quoted directly telling their own stories. This worked for some characters (Opal, Virgil), and less so for others (Chet, Nev). It was probably a bit too long to maintain momentum. Still, a fun read.
Rating: really liked it
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster/37 Ink, and Dawnie Walton for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 3.30.21!**
Opal Jewel is a rare gem, with a cut, clarity, and color all her own. Growing up as a relative unknown in Detroit alongside sister Pearl, she gets an opportunity for a big break when her golden pipes get her noticed at a tiny club. Enter Nev, gangly British red-headed rocker with a punk edge who is looking for just the right unique and soulful voice to complement his tunes (a Merry Clayton for his "Gimme Shelter") and Opal's distinctive look and even more distinctive sound seem the perfect fit. As the duo's popularity rises, so do the stakes, and at a fateful concert one night, another band on the label, good ol' boys with lots of radio airplay, has the audacity to brandish the Confederate Flag unashamedly during the showcase. This situation ultimately sparks violence that results in the death of drummer Jimmy, who has a special connection to Opal, and the band never fully recovers from this chaos.
Jimmy's daughter Sunny is left to pick up the pieces and as the new editor of Aural, sets out to peel back the layers of the magic that was Opal and Nev, and to document their ascent and descent through an all-encompassing and no-holds-barred oral history of the rock 'n roll duo. What she discovers, however, could be crushing for the upcoming reunion tour Opal and Nev have planned and calls to question the glue that held these two together---not to mention what ACTUALLY happened during that fateful concert, so many years ago. Was this dynasty built on nothing more than a dream? Is this music still even relevant in today's vastly different world...or does a broken nation need it more desperately than ever?
Walton has created quite a world in Opal and Nev, and the beauty of this book lies in its characterization and the development of so many personalities. In an oral history, voices need to be distinct, clear, and to shine, and Walton's characters do just that. She masterfully weaves in traces of pop culture to ground this alternate reality in our actual reality, with mentions of everyone from Janelle Monae to Parliament Funkadelic, to give Opal a place among the rock royalty we know and love. Opal's friend Virgil is a particular highlight, a fierce and fabulous fashion designer who has a personality big enough for his own book! Certain portions of the novel, particularly, had me lost in the world Walton designed and removed from reality entirely. Another giant piece of the puzzle here is Walton's commentary on white supremacy and race relations, central obviously not only to Opal's own tale, but to the cultural climate of 2021. Her commentary is fairly straightforward but helps to connect the lines between the fires first stoked so many years ago that unfortunately still roar in today's world, and I always appreciate the brutal honesty about the ugliness we still need to fight as a world, as hard as it might be to read.
On the other hand, where this novel faltered for me was pacing. The 3 parts of this book didn't feel particularly balanced, and I would go through long sections that I felt could have been much shorter and yet other portions I wish had been more detailed. Jimmy as a character felt unexplored to me and I believe he could have had a more dominant role in the narrative if Walton had examined his character on a deeper level, even if only through the eyes of other narrators. He was such an important component to the story and yet still felt at times like a background character, so that was an odd juxtaposition for me as a reader. I also struggled at times with the plot: this has nothing to do with Walton's ability as a writer and is solely based on the
events of the plot itself. I would find myself growing irritated or bored with the choices some characters made at times and had a hard time reconciling that frustration. While there were some kinks that worked themselves out by the end, I just wanted more for our protagonists, especially Opal. This is the flip side of the fantastic characterization she developed throughout the book: when you grow to really care about characters, you want them to have the world on a string!
The Final Revival of Opal and Nev is a strong debut novel by an incredibly gifted writer who undoubtedly has a bright future, full of fascinating stories to tell. I am sure Walton saw some of Opal in herself, and I look forward to watching her similarly meteoric rise to the top: may she rock on and prosper! 4 ⭐, rounded up from 3.5
