This novel tells the story of Opal and Nev, a musical duo of the 1979’a. This story tells of their rise to new, their influence and the fall of their career. Through interviews, the musicians and the people who were instrumental in their success details moments and situations that’s helped to shapes their music
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This was a nice story, I enjoyed the format and the different characters . I listen to the end of it on audiobook and the full cast was amazing . I wish there was more romance and drama. Overs it it was an interesting read!

This is an extremely powerful book that takes on racism and sexism in the music world and beyond. It makes clear that you don't have to be a confederate flag toting redneck to be racist and that the people we love can hurt us more deeply than our enemies. I loved the interview format and the whole book is an easy and entertaining read. I am looking forward to reading more by this author. This is a confident and thoughtful debut.

“Opal Jewel was indeed everything: classic and modern, petite and immense, formal and casual, bold and restrained.”

Quick Summary: It’s 2016 and Sunny Shelton, the newly appointed Editor-in-Chief of music magazine, Aural, is writing about the story of Opal Jewel and Nev Charles. She has exclusive information that the duo will be making a historic reunion at an upcoming music festival. The Final Revival of Opal & Nev follows Sunny as she interviews a variety of characters to learn more about the events that lead to their break up and the truth about a tragic night that changed all of their lives forever.

This will obviously get lots of comparisons to Daisy Jones & the Six- both being written as oral histories about fictional rock bands. But that’s about as far as the comparison goes. For me, Daisy Jones fell flat and I always thought it was because it was written as an oral history/interview format. So I was half-expecting to not enjoy The Final Revival of Opal & Nev due to this but NO I WAS SO WRONG. HOLY S***. This book stands on its own and completely blew me awayyyy. And by the way… it’s a debut. Wow- the writing was just SO good.

I read a lot of books and a lot of them are good but this one felt different. It seeped into my soul in a way that most do not. Tension was gradually built throughout this in a way that I found impressive for a story where you’re supposed to already know what happened. This book is packed with social commentary and timely themes that cover racism (overt & covert), feminism, sexism, and fame.

And finally, how can I end this review without a plug for the queen of the novel, Opal. A rockstar literally and figuratively-- I absolutely loved her.

My favorite book of the year so far. The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is hard to put down. I recommend this for everyone.

An easy 5 stars.

Thank you @netgalley and 37 Ink/Simon & Schuster for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This is the story of Opal Jewel, an independent young woman trying to share her music, spread her messages of equality, and not lose who she is along the way, even if that’s exactly what society wants. Following her journey as half of a rock ‘n’ roll duo, its eventual break up and later reunion, we see how many of the issues of racism and sexism she faced in the 1970s, when the band began, still ran true in 2016 at the reunion.

Written as an oral history by an editor with personal ties to the story, I enjoyed being able to see the events from multiple perspectives. It emphasized how multi-layered and complex situations can be and the pivotal role of the most intricate details. Symbols from music, fashion and color all support the immense power of choice as well as the importance of balancing your own moral compass and advocating for yourself and others.

The main characters are well-crafted, flaws and all, making it a believable story. The author also accurately captures time and place through an approachable writing style, highlighting things that are better but also things that have unfortunately stayed the same. As seen at the reunion concert in the book, so many themes of racism and sexism still echo true today.

Whether you enjoyed the oral history format from Daisy Jones and the Six or you are looking for a relevant read in today’s times, keep an eye out for this book hitting the shelves on March 30th.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was mostly fantastic. Very Daisy Jones / Behind the Music-y. The only thing I have a complaint about is how open and ambiguous the ending was. I don't like open-ended endings. But I loved Opal. I was glad when she did what she did onstage at the end. 3.75 stars rounded up.

Everything here was in place to make this a great book. There is the turbulence of my childhood, the 70s and how it connects to the present day climate. There is the strange combination of a pale redhead from England and a bald black kid from the US. There are so many themes I love here. Things that are relevant and current even though they are happening decades ago should make for a great story. The story is good. The delivery though...it left me wanting.

I really wanted to like the way this was presented. The interview/documentary style has worked before. I found it especially effective in a very similar story. However, it was slow to move and get into in this case. The writing style seemed to be dry and the characters told their stories in a detached way that kept me form getting fully engaged. There was so much here that was an important reflection on past and current takes on racism, sexism, and political discord. The message and even the story of the two vastly different characters coming together were great. The event that forever linked them was horrifying and timely. The way it was told was the problem for me. It didn’t do the story justice. Too much tell and not enough letting the reader become engrossed in the experience.

The Final Revival of Opal and Nev follows a journalist’s attempt to track the tumultuous rise and fall of 70s rock and roll duo Opal and Nev, especially after a shocking revelation from a surprising source changes everything.

As someone who does not fall into the historical fiction reader camp, this book was phenomenal. I have a love for historical fiction that has something to say and this was exactly that. In terms of plot, the book went exactly where I thought it was going to go and if you are familiar with stories such as these, in books and real life, then you probably also know where this will go, too. If you have the inkling of where this book is headed, it allows you to read much deeper into everyone’s interviews from the get-go.

Speaking of the characters, all of them were so well developed. I imagine this has something to do with the way the narrative structure is formatted but regardless, each voice was distinct, including the journalist’s voice, Sunny. It was nice to see journalism done so well in this book because there is a clear way that Sunny structures her story to say a lot without saying anything herself. That said, the Editor’s Notes read more like a regular narrative structure than a journalistic note added into a book. At times I forgot this was supposed to be the published novel Sunny is writing as opposed to a series of published articles because of the Editor’s Notes at the start of a lot of chapters. As the book starts to get more and more into the present day, the line between journalistic historical narrative and viewpoint narrative got more and more blurred. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, just something to note.

For a debut, this surprisingly did not read like one. It was mostly well-paced, followed an intriguing narrative all the way through, had natural moving dialogue, and had amazing overarching themes that were deliberate, smooth, and subtle. The skill that Walton shows is amazing, and I cannot wait to see this writing grow. She made me believe that these characters existed, and there is a lot in here to enhance this story. Not only is everything that Opal, a black woman in the 70s entertainment industry, goes through real and visceral, it also contained so much to learn from. I can see white liberals gaining a lot from reading this if they are open to seeing the faults in their own attempts at allyship. But, I can see that this book wasn’t made for white liberals. The audience is seemingly Black women here. There are tidbits of culture that seem deliberately written and this led me to believe that at the crux of the story is a tale of empowerment for Black women, specifically. Though I would encourage you to read reviews from the Black community to really discuss the representation at length.

I will say the one thing I really wanted was for a little more of everything. While I think Walton did exceptionally with the oral storytelling, I almost wish we had gotten half of the text as excerpts from the book and half as a viewpoint narrative, from anyone really. Even though the story isn’t about the revelations that come up in Sunny’s interviews, seeing the repercussions or lack thereof, would have driven home the point Walton was seemingly trying to make. Even if the point was to focus on just Opal, I would’ve accepted a perspective from her or Sunny to explain the aftermath. I would have loved to get a little deeper into the mindset and thinking of those involved in all of this. Since I knew exactly where this was all going, I would have just loved for it to go that much further because it felt like a plateau rather than a climax and resolution. Simply by virtue of knowing the big twist (which wasn’t even really a big twist and I would argue wasn’t supposed to be), it felt like there wasn’t anywhere else to go with the story so the ending sort of just happened. However, maybe that was the intent. To really only tell parts of the story. To focus on growth rather than trauma. I don’t really know.
Again, as this is out of my wheelhouse, I think I was a little more critical with my rating here but I loved every second of reading this, despite how angry I got at times at some of the things coming out of people’s mouths during their interviews. I haven’t had a historical fiction do that in almost a decade.

I cannot recommend this book enough and I am so glad I already have a physical copy to keep on my shelves and reread, which I am already itching to do.

Again, as a last reminder, please seek out reviews from own voices reviewers for a better discussion of the representation and the subtle nuances Walton no doubt has here. Those reviews will be much better to learn and gauge from than I could ever offer here.

I enjoyed Opal and Nev. i would recommend it to anyone who loves musician backstories or stories about race relations.

This is Danie Walton's debut historical fiction book detailing a story about an early Afropunk/rock-n-roll duo from from different races and places coming together to make music. Opal, a fierce/independent black woman, comes from Detroit and Nev, a white British dude with red hair, from across the pond in the UK. Needless to say that sort of coupling made for some interesting music and moments. I thought the discussions of racism and sexism both in 70s music scene when the duo was just starting out and in the present day were well done.

I must say, I really enjoyed reading this book as it was written in the interview/oral history style. It made the story feel so immersive. All of the side characters giving their perspectives on certain events only made the story/picture more whole in my head. It played out like an episode from VH1's Behind the Music, which I loved when I was younger. From the descriptions of Opal's stage costumes and the songs they sang, to the Opal & Nev album covers I wanted to hear and see it all! I really wish there had been art included in this book....pages filled with pictures of Opal's costumes and album covers would have been really cool to see. #wishful thinking

Many thanks to #NetGalley and @simonandschuster for the egalley in exchange for an honest review.

Nev Charles finds Opal Robinson, now Opal Jewel in a small Detroit talent show while searching the country for a partner to create with him. They develop a strong relationship and make long lasting controversy with their music, especially after their performance at the Rivington Showcase. Together they make another album and tour, until the grief of loss and pressure from the tour send Opal to Paris for a break. When she returns, things don’t return to normal as she wishes they would. Nev, healing from his opioid addiction, turns his back on her and their partnership. Fast forward thirty years, a young reporter, Sunny, is writing a book about the two, and their rumored tour later that summer. As Sunny investigates the novel, secrets from the past arise and could just end the revival before it begins.

I wanted to love this book, but I just found it just alright. I’m not sure if it was the writing style or material, but it moved very slow for me and didn’t hold my interest long. There were intriguing parts, but most of it felt unnecessary. The end was redeeming and helped bring it to a satisfying close.

Race, class and gender come under the spotlight in this oral history of fictional 1970s Afro-punk duo, Neville Charles and Opal Jewel, whose unlikely partnership shot to fame in the wake of a concert that erupted into violence and the accusations that dogged Opal. When Rivington Records signed the orange-haired British artist, Neville Charles, an exhaustive search commenced to find a performer to do his style and sound justice. Nev’s choice, against the advice of his record label boss, is bald-headed, black, working-class and fiercely independent Opal Robinson from Detroit. Having teamed Nev up with flamboyant and confrontational Opal, their career together is chronicled through their own words with the input of those around them in the early seventies. When what appears to be their final shot at breaking into the big time comes it entails taking part in a showcase headed up by a rival band signed to their label and parading the Confederate flag in front of their redneck biker fans. The impudent actions of Opal in retaliation are the catalyst for a violent clash in which her black married boyfriend, Jimmy Curtis, is killed. S Sunny Shelton is the daughter of Jimmy Curtis and the first black woman to be made editor of Aural music magazine and when she is given word of a possible reunion between the duo in 2016 it provides the ideal opportunity for her to confront her personal history and Opal’s part in her father’s death.

Despite Nev’s continued success as an artist in his own right, sixty-six-year-old and now reclusive Opal has not performed for twenty-five-year but is seriously considering a reunion gig. When an inflammatory allegation from one of the key players in the events of the riot threatens to scupper the reunion and reframe the flashpoint moment by leaving a question mark over the instigator, Sunny struggles to keep a lid on her anger. Undecided as to whether to reveal the unconfirmed accusation to Opal and bitter about the death of the father she never knew, Sunny struggles to get under the skin of Opal, now regarded as black feminist icon. Written as a series of interviews the book really captures the characters, their humour and their flaws and conjures up a vivid picture of the times. Whilst the first half of the novel captured my interest and was unexpectedly suspenseful setting the scene for what should have been a riveting second half the story seemed to lose its way and became less about the specific night of the riot and a more general conversation about the Black Lives Matter movement. Although the story does circle back and briefly address the controversial night when S Sunny Shelton’s father died the book disappointingly ends up feeling more about the social issues and less about the band, with the character development of Nev disappointingly skimpy.

3.5 rounded up

“I drank her in, I mean really looked at her – all her vibrant colors, the sparkle on her eyelids, her dimensions and sharp edges. Her rarity. It put me in mind of a gemstone…a jewel. Opal Jewel.”

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is fictional oral story about Opal and Nev, told in a style very much like, yes, as many have mentioned, Daisy Jones, which I enjoyed. Opal, bold, bald and black, ‘A punk warrior goddess’; Neville (Nev) melancholic, maudlin, melodramatic; two very opposite individuals whose fate brought them together. Rumor had it that Nev and Sunny were planning to get together to perform for a 2016 reunion concert, and music journalist, S. Sunny Shelton, who was also the daughter of drummer Jimmy Curtis, was writing their story in a series of interviews to be written as a book, while also trying to find the truth to what happened to her father on that fateful evening.

Opal & Nev centered around music and systemic racism in the 70’s, sex, drugs, rock and roll, and what it meant to be a Black woman then in the music industry.

“Being a nigger in this country during the 1960s meant that you constantly lived with the possibility of violence.”

But you’d soon realize, it hasn’t changed much since. Opal was judged, mistreated, misunderstood; called names, abused mentally and physically, was told she could never succeed, but she bounced back. Every. Single. Time. She rocked her life her way, on her own terms, but also rolled with the punches and did what she needed to do, to show the world who she was and prove the naysayers wrong. Unfortunately, because of her skin color, she had to work extremely hard for her to achieve her dreams. And when she asked for what she deserved, “folks seemed to think I was a terrorist.”, that she was being “ungrateful”. But that didn’t deter her from achieving her dreams. It simply made her stronger, to go all out and fight for her rights and her voice to be heard. “My armor was me, by best asset. It kept me protected in this world. A world that either hated me or just didn’t know what to do with me.”

I thought, overall, this was a strong debut, and besides its delivery style that has been often compared to Daisy Jones, this book had a whole different story to offer – one I found that was strong, relevant and timely. I loved reading about Nev's journey leading to meeting Opal, which was one of my favorite parts of the book – how Nev insisted that she was THE one he wanted to be working with, the lengths he went through to get her to sign the contract and how she played hardball. It was fun, funny and entertaining. I think this was when the spotlight was all on Opal, and her character shone brilliantly.

The peak of the story for me, was the Rivington riot, which was done really well – the chaos, the biker-gang, the Confederate flag and the incident that led to Jimmy’s death; it was all riveting and felt so real. I thought, wow, this is it. The story was about to take off. Unfortunately, everything slowed down. There wasn’t much going on except for the recollections of that event and The Photo from the interviewees.

But my patience paid off when the paced picked up at the end, although the build-up to the most-anticipated reunion felt a little slow. I thought the ending and how everything came together - the reunion, stage, the performance, the racket that took place, and the resolution at the end, won my heart.

What deterred me from fully enjoying this novel though, were its characterization and plot. I found there were too many recollections from the past, from not only the main characters but also various sources involved, so much so at times it felt a little dragged, and the plot was compromised because of it.

While I enjoyed and appreciated the distinctive voices of some of the characters, especially Opal, Virgil and Nev, I found my interest and focus waning a little whenever they weren’t in the story. I also wanted more exploration of the characters, to help me empathize a little more, to feel their anger and frustrations for the injustice they experienced, to feel part of their story and the band, but I somehow felt detached. Also, maybe more on Opal’s relationship with Jimmy, since he was the reason that drove Sunny to write this story and that he had a special relationship with Opal. I thought it’d give the ending a more heartfelt, heartbreaking, yet triumphant umph at the end.

And the unfortunate event that took place at the reunion concert, was disheartening yet real - how ‘justice’ was interpreted by those in power towards the white and people of color – why were the bikers not apprehended? Why was Opal the only one being judged for her actions? What about those who started it? Others who were involved?

In Opal’s words, “I remember now. Because it didn’t matter that I was violently offended, that I had been a victim, that as a human being I deserved respect. When the fighting started, all I id was try to defend myself and Jimmy, but that didn’t matter either. All that mattered was that there was a hospital full of injured and pissed-off white folks, and thousands of dollars in property damage, and a nigger they thought couldn’t take a joke.”

Overall, a strong debut; one I didn’t fall head over heels with, but didn’t regret reading either. Would I recommend it? Yes, if you loved Daisy Jones style of storytelling, and that you’re a patient reader, patient enough to wait for a good ending.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

This book follows a rock n roll duo who shot to fame in the 70's. When I heard this was comparable to Daisy Jones & The Six, I had to read it. I enjoyed the oral history format and that the book highlighted social issues in the music scene. However, I do agree with reviews below that the story is "choppy" at times and includes too many editor interruptions. It was also difficult for me to really connect with the characters. Overall, I wanted to love this book but came away thinking it was just okay. I seem to be in the minority here so I would still recommend to those who love music and oral history.

Thank you Net Galley and 37 Ink for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review!

This was a great read! I love the oral history format with the interviews and stuff.

The format is like Daisy Jones or Evelyn Hugo but the content to different. This book deals a lot with racism in the United States. The riot that is the main focus on the book seems to be based partly off of a real riot where Meredith Hunter was beat to death by members of the Hell's Angel's, who were acting as security for the event.

I bookmarked the book so much, because there was so much I wanted to go back to. And let me tell you Opal may be one of the best characters I've ever read. She is amazing and strong and stands up for everything she believes in.
It took me a while to read this book bit while it is fiction it is a heavy read. It really was great though. I cannot wait to have it on my shelves.

This may be one of the top books of 2021!!

Thank you Netgalley and 37ink for this eARC. This book is out March 30th 2021

"There was more for me out in the world and I deserved every single drop of it."

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is a tribute to the way in which music can reach across generations and distances to unite listeners, empower marginalized audiences, and form bridges of inclusivity. Dawnie Walton packs a punch in her debut novel, deftly addressing themes like race, class, gender, privilege, and power dynamics.

"I looked at her face, that fierce expression she’s got, and for the first time I felt like I could have some power too."

I was concerned at first by the comparisons to Daisy Jones and the Six, and I wondered whether Walton’s story would stand out as original, despite similarities in theme and structure. Like Daisy Jones by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Opal & Nev is told as an oral history, with the perspective shifting between a dozen first-person narrators, interview-style, as they recount (decades later) their experience in the sex-drugs-and-rock-n-roll scene of the 1970s.

"Isn’t that the kind of story we should aim to be telling—how it is that this rock-and-roll music could reach a sheltered Black girl like me, and make her feel not just seen and heard, but empowered?"

But Walton’s characters and their histories are unique and effortlessly likeable, and I was pleasantly surprised by the impact and depth that she brought to the table with Opal & Nev. And the celebrity “cameos” added a whole new layer of vibrancy that really brought the story to life. I could totally see this book becoming a docudrama-style miniseries!

"Don’t underestimate our spirit, baby, because we’ll surprise you every time."

I did struggle with the frequent changes in perspective/narration, and I think I would have enjoyed the audiobook version so much more - attaching a different “voice” to each character would have helped me to keep the story straight.

"The voices of Black women like Opal should not be discounted or diminished in deference to those who have hijacked our shine..."

But ultimately, the story was strong enough to overcome the challenges I had in staying focused. Watching Opal find her own voice and unleash her own power, and seeing how she used that to inspire others, was deeply moving. In the book, Opal is described, by a close friend, as “a champion for those who are marginalized, bullied, discriminated against” - she is exactly the musical hero we all need! A fun, fierce, super enjoyable read!

"Why do you think she is resonating now? There are sadly legions of these people who need her essence today."

——

A huge thank-you to Dawnie Walton, Simon & Schuster, 37 Ink, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This novel is written in the form of an oral history of both halves of a fictional musical duo from the 1970s: Opal, a black woman from Detroit, and Nev, a white man from England. In addition to the interviews, there are “editor’s notes” from the (fictional) editor of the book, Sunny, who has a personal connection to the story - the father she never met was a drummer who was killed before she was born during an Opal & Nev performance. Now, decades later as Opal & Nev are set to reunite at a music festival, music magazine editor Sunny sets out to interview them and those in their orbit and tell their story. Using this format, it’s amazing how real the characters feel (even the small side characters), and how they really come to life. Plus, the book takes on not just music, memory, and the price of fame, but deeper issues like racism and sexism.

It’s a plus and minus for this book that it comes out several years after Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Daisy Jones & the Six, also a fictional oral history of a fictional 70s band, although the stories are nothing alike. A minus in the sense that even though Dawnie Walton was working on this book years before Daisy Jones came out, it doesn’t have the surprise factor of being the first novel written in that format. But maybe a plus in the sense that there are so many people like me who loved Daisy Jones and will be that much more eager to read another book in a similar format.

Either way, this book stands on its own and is absolutely terrific, one of the best books I’ve read so far this year. 4.5 stars.

In a very similar style/format of Taylor Jenkins-Reid's Daisy Jones and The Six, this oral music history will captivate you from beginning to end.

Where are my Daisy Jones fans at?! I have a book you're going to totally LOVE.

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is written in oral history format and tells the story of a beloved rock ’n’ roll duo who shot to fame in the 1970s New York. Opal is a fiery, independent and unique singer who duets with Nev Charles— a skinny, British songwriter. Together, the pair find success writing and performing politically charged music.

Unfortunately, their success was brief and tragic. Through this book, you slowly learn the backstories and where it all went wrong. This book is captivating, ugly, and raw. While the format may be similar, Opal & Nev dives much deeper into societal injustices that are still facing us today.

Ultimately, I got a little bogged down in the extra characters and thought this book moved too slowly. It was still a really good read, though! Four stars!

Thank you NetGalley and 37 Ink for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The Final Revival of Opal & Nev publishes on March 30, 2021.

<i>The Final Revival of Opal & Nev</i> reads like a riveting oral history documentary on a favorite rock group from the past. It is an intimate look behind the scenes into Opal and Nev's personal lives and the formation, rise, fall, and reunion of the duo. Opal and Nev have a complex relationship, and their potential success as a group is cut short by tragedy and controversy.

I enjoyed <i>The Final Revival of Opal & Nev</i>. With its inclusion of historical events and real people, artists, places, and songs, it’s easy to forget that Opal, Nev, and the many other interview subjects are fictional characters. I found myself immersed in this story. For me, at times, there was a little too much detail, so a few parts of it dragged a bit. However, it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment.

Amongst the large cast of characters, Opal, with her larger-than-life personality, is the clear standout. She's fiercely independent, has an unconventional style and attitude, and is the definition of Afro-punk before that term existed. Opal attacks the world head-on, determined to do what she thinks is right no matter the cost. Imagine her impact if Opal existed in real life!

Some heavy messages are weaved into the story of Opal and Nev. The role of racism and sexism in the duo's rise and fall provides relevant insights both then and now. There is plenty to reflect on after reading this book with its exploration of those topics and ambition and integrity.

Overall, <i>The Final Revival of Opal & Nev</i> is an impressive debut novel. I look forward to enjoying this book again by listening to the audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the digital copy to read and enjoy. This voluntary review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster/37 Ink, and Dawnie Walton for an ARC of this book!**

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 only 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 of the book itself: this has nothing to do with Walton's ability as a writer and is solely based on 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: rock on and prosper! 4 stars